nta786

Who said Salisu can’t speak English?! i heard him say ball pretty clearly there

We need to learn how to defend the long ball/knock-down. Other CB’s are able to defend them with ease, ours since the start of the year have forgotten

1-0 Everton

Ramsdale has been pretty average I think and the fact he is facing so many shots every game means he’ll make the odd decent save or so. Reminds be a little but similar to David Marshall for Cardiff around 7 years ago. Sheffield Utd spent around £40m on Brewster and Ramsdale combined- what a waste of money

Hmm- if the yardstick is to have 2 players for each position, then for the 2 ‘number 6’ positions- we have 3 players in total- JWP, Romeu and Diallo (out of 4 needed) However, I’m not suggesting we need another as we have other positions we need to prioritise- but let’s just say Diallo was a player that came through academy instead (he is very young after all), would people think differently and say we need another CM?

I disagree with this one- we didn’t quite batter them- we were quite toothless when they went to 9 men. Also I think Shelvey had a glorious chance to make it 4-1, I think we got what we deserved that game.

To wade into the debate- I don’t think Stephens would be good enough for midfield. His passing looks okay from the back whre generally you are given more time and space on the ball to look up and find a pass- in midfield he’d likely be found wanting.

Watching the Newcastle game and some genuine burst of speed from Almiron, I just think why do all our players look so slow in comparison? I remember Ralph saying his game really emphasises pace but I feel like all our players go backwards on that front? Do we need better coaching/fitness methods? If we got someone like Almiron they’d get slower over time. Perhaps I’m only bringing this up because we are on such a poor run, and yes I am totally aware that speed doesn’t necessarily translate into a good footballer, but it sure does bloody help.

KWP, Romeu, Minamino, Diallo, Walcott, Obafemi and Smallbone all ruled out for this Everton game this Monday.

https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/everton-v-southampton-1-3-21-preview-match-report-and-motm-poll.112107/ Some of these comments on there- I do despise em- but frustratingly we never get the better of em up there.

Yep exactly the way I see it. I am also inclined to give Ralph some benefit of the doubt- this is an odd season with short turnaround times between games which makes the way we want to play and the distances we want to cover each game even more unsustainable. Of course, he isn't faultless- there does seem to be a stubbornness to the way he wants us to play which isn't working in his favour. However, I don't see any alternative options over Ralph at the moment in the market and nor do I trust the board to even find a suitable replacement. Ralph needs to go back to the drawing board for sure, but this run isn't entirely down to him- there are numerous factors.

Ralph needs to change things up, it's all becoming predictable and almost like the cat's been let out of the bag. When things went pear-shaped under Koeman for a bit (think we lost 5 in a row!), we reverted to a 3-5-2/5-3-2, and one of my favourite games under Koeman was that 3-0 win at SMS where we had key injuries to several players too. Forster Ramsay Salisu Bednarek Vestegaard Bertrand JWP Armstrong Minamino Ings Djenepo/Tella We have 6 days to rectify this situation and try work something different on the training ground. If we can somehow shore up the defence, then the clean sheet will be key to get anything out of this game.

Ralph’s interview: [Bielsa said the scoreine didn’t reflect the game] “But in the end we are losing. This is the whole story of the season, it always works like this. We have chances we dont score. The goal we did score was a second too early played and it is tough to take but in this moment we need to do better” “Leeds deserved the win they had more energy in the 2nd half. The players gave up and this is not what i want but we did exactly what we was not meant to do- gave leeds 1 v 1 duels and they take their chances” “In 2nd half we were stretched. Before the goal we did not finish our chances. In 2nd half one player was in striker one was in number 10 position and not flexible but Leeds showed us our weakness immediately. “ “We were not good enough.”

I have some sympathy- these players without Ralph and under anyone else would be gone by now- all these players are distinctly average/ lower half PL players apart from Ings. Unless we move with the times and into the next rung of good transfers in the £15m to £25m mark; finding gems at £8m to £14m will only take you so far. However; compare this Leeds squad to ours- can we expect to do better than Leeds? That’s one gauge of Ralph’s ability- would he have taken Leeds to 35pts the way Bielsa has? I’m not sure. The alternative might be to hire someone else, sure we may get a new manager bounce but I am certain if we do that our PL status will be gone in a few seasons with the way we are run. My blame largely lies with Gao at the moment, but also at Les Reed for wasting the little money we had.

3-0.

I’m not calling for Ralph’s head but his stock will be at an all time low now surely.

2-0 Dallas seals it we are rubbish.

Gosh even the commentators are now sticking it in. 7-0 this, 7-1 that.

We have been restricted to shots outside the box. There doesn’t seem to be any attacking plan but cautiously recycle around the box and shoot from long distance. We seem bereft of ideas on the attacking front- Ralph needs to work on this

Watching Bednarek trying this attacking role at right back Not working The problem we have is square pegs in round holes and some pretty average pegs which wouldn’t keep the clothes hanging

Wow big save from Macca

Tella and Redmond off, Minamino and Ings on

I think if we take both decisions in isolation (the free kick goal and the penalty), then yeah for sure they are the right decisions. I think it is terrible refereeing from Marriner though, had no control of the situation for the free kick. But with the way the last few weeks have gone referees just leave a bitter taste in my mouth- seems like we can’t buy a decision these days. It’s not always the decisions that lead to goals either that have been frustrating- Chelsea were getting underserved corners last week etc etc

Fuck off Bamford acores

Wow and now Adams goal doesn’t count.