ErwinK1961

Theres plenty of sticks to beat Ralph with, but think this is pretty harsh, Djenepo - scored a couple of excellent goals early on, but other than that has generally offered zilch. Made of glass and spends most time injured. Walcott - was he ever decent? Think he got a free pass to start with due to the connection, but generally offered nothing. Spent loads of time injured. Adam Armstrong - numbers looked good to start with, but he missed quite a few gilt edged chances. Broja came in, took his chance and Armstrong got sidelined. Has been harshly treated though and why Long has been picked ahead of him is baffling. Tella - flashes of promise, would you not credit Ralph for bringing him into the squad? Wouldn’t say he was great then has become shit, he’s been pretty much the same level Ely - was shite when he joined, bit of rehabilitation at Celtic, has come back and did ok. Would you not credit Ralph for his reintroduction into the squad? Id given up on him completely, so what he’s delivered this season has been a bonus for me (albeit still very average). Redmond - had his best season under Ralph... He’s reverted back to the bang average player he has been though for most of his time here, probably because thats what he is… bang average. Broja - by all accounts he didn’t start initially as his application appeared to be questioned. Ralph gave him some words, he bucked his ideas up and was excellent for a few months. Appears his attitude has dwindled again and doesn’t look like he can be fcked for the last couple of months (not only one). S Armstrong - best of a bad bunch, but I don’t think he’s as good as people make out. Another one with injury problems. Would a change of tactics or manager make these players any better? Possibly, but wouldn’t expect a significant difference. They’re all just bang average to poor footballers (possible exception for Broja), playing at a bang average to poor level. This is the reason most fans (and no doubt Ralph) want to see wholesale changes in the No 10 / Striker area

Hmm, I wouldn’t say that’s new either really. They’ve been pretty steadfast in supporting Ralph for a long time, didn’t see that changing.

That read to me like a rehash of old information. Ralph mentioned several weeks ago that they would consider offering Fraser fresh terms (not that he’ll ever sign it mind). And stories we want a GK, CB and attackers have been doing the rounds for weeks. Nothing new in that article really

Crikey, that’s a big call. Think he offers us more all round from right back. No issue with Small wanting to play, probably frustrated with a lack of opportunity rather than expecting to have played a load of games. Not sure about the “only interested in Championship / top of League One” though - you’re as good as the team that will take you.

Assume you’ve lumped on at 100/1?

100/1 if you fancy it

100-1

I think it’s already been said, but just feels like we’re missing another body in the centre of midfield. Asking two CM’s to play this way, press, cover every blade of grass etc. just isn’t going to succeed over 38 games.

True, I think the point I was making was more the transfer market value of players has moved on, but we haven’t. What VVD would have cost when we bought him would not have been the same two years later. We were/are still shopping in the same £10-15m bracket, but those types of players that we used to buy are now £20-25m.

Spot on, this is where our comparison with Leicester ended. They sold Maguire for £80m, spent £36.5m on Fofana. We sold Van Dijk for £75m and replaced him with Vestergaard for £18m. They sold Kante, signed Tielemans for £32m. We sold Mane, replaced him with Redmond for £12m You get what you pay for.

Oh good, another goalkeeper on the coaching team.

No use getting in a new manager, without their being a major overhaul of the squad at the same time. We’ve got bang average GK’s, a defence like a sieve, absolutely no creativity in attacking midfield and forwards that couldn’t finish their dinner. We could bring in a Dyche and we’d probably look more solid at the back, but we’ll still be crap going forwards. We could get an attacking manager and score loads of goals, but we’ll still concede a shed load the other end. I’m in the Ralph out camp as I think we need a change overall, things are just very stale. But I can’t see anything changing with our league position/ambitions if there’s no major squad overhaul.

Why would Bazumu or Green come here to be third choice GK and play in the B Team? And how often do you see a number 3 getting first team minutes? If we’re going to sign someone like that, they’ll come here on the promise they will be challenging for the number 1 shirt.

Or he’s helping knock his price down 😉

If that’s the case then I’m sure we’d be all over it, absolute no brainer. Suspect it’s not that straightforward and likely to be bollox.

Ever seen him play?

Think this is Liverpools now, gutting.

Would like to see a sprinkling of experience bought in too. The type of 30 year old that’s been there done that, that we’ve ignored in the past because no re-sell value. Think it would be invaluable for the young players. Would love to see a CB bought in like that, plus a GK. Someone to do a job like Dawson at West Ham or Evans at Leicester.

Second half collapses, he’d fit right in 😉

Fck me, it’s a football forum not the Old Bailey.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2018-10-04/international-call-up-alex-mccarthy-england-october-1819

80/1 if you fancy a go.

The point is Forster doesn’t want to be here. So how can you keep someone who doesn’t want to sign a contract?

I’m in the Ralph out camp, but the players can well and truly fck off as well. 99% of them have been an embarrassment for the last couple of months, like the manager or not you still have to put a shift in.

Cant see it as; 1) why would he come here? 2) we’d have to pay compensation and we never do that