Fitzhugh Fella

How anyone can think Redmond is worthy of a starting place is utterly beyond me sorry. He epitomes everything wrong about us at present.

We’ve only had two owners to be fair. I think fans don’t understand the concept of being owned by an individual. We can’t demand their removal like we used to with Lowe. He was accountable to the shareholders and the bank whereas Gao answers to no one in this country. And to add perspective there are a lot more dodgy owners out there who would do more harm than Gao by potentially asset stripping. I hate the fact we seem hamstrung financially and are having to compete against clubs with so much more financial clout but raging against Gao solves nothing. The manner of our defeat today really is worrying. I was and probably still am in the keep Ralph camp but not by much. We are going to have to cope and deal with the fact there’s no magic money tree and we need a manager who can work on a shoestring and wheel and deal. Not convinced Ralph is that man I am afraid. A loss next weekend is unthinkable but have the players got what it takes? They are mentally fragile with little leadership on display.

I know where you are coming from but the most influential man at the club (football wise) is the manager. Responsible for player recruitment (he has a veto); tactics, player selection and motivation. With success comes praise which he got in bucket loads earlier in the season but this recent run with 4 points out of 36 tells its own tale and as you know time is one commodity few flailing PL managers get.

If he isn’t better than Redmond then the poor lad really is in trouble.

If Redmond doesn’t play we have every chance of 3 points, if as I suspect he will start I may we’ll go for a long walk on the Common as I simply cannot watch him any more.

I think Ralph is here for the forseeable as he has made himself virtually impossible to be sacked. Not only would it cost a lot to pay him off but the whole club's much-vaunted plan drawn up by the manager over the last 12 months would have to be shredded. Although Turkish claims I have a personal vendetta against the manager that is not true. Up until Xmas I was full of hope and confidence but this last 2 months have been the most miserable I can remember. He has made so many mistakes. Letting Valery go (yes I know he doesn't rate him but he's better than nothing) and if he didn't rate him and Vokins to go into the season without full-back cover on either side is mad. Then we have Ramsay, awarded a new contract at the weekend but overlooked for a player out of position. Doesn't add up but either way it is criminal our lack of full-back cover. Ralph's blindness when it comes to Redmond is glaring. Redmond has been very poor for a long time and yet he is hardly ever dropped. It's all very well pointing to our injuries. Yes it has been dire, but other clubs are suffering - one of the nationals compiled a chart last week of all the PL clubs who have missed players through injury and we were approx half way with Palace the worse off. Plus Ralph went public in saying he prefers to work with smaller squads. A bit premature. He has a lot going for him, he "gets" the fans and they "get" him. He knows his PR, he works hard, takes an interest in the youth (unlike all his predecessors except Mo Po), and I believe him to be a very committed workaholic. He has a great relationship with the Board too, but despite this something is seriously wrong. Even if we did sack him who would come in and steady the ship? The only name I can think of is Eddie Howe but there are plenty out there who say he is over rated and he ultimately flopped at Dean Court. I think our only hope is to grit our teeth and pray he somehow stops the rot, but should we lose against Sheffield the klaxons should start to sound big time. Beating Bournemouth might kickstart things but I can't see us winning a semi-final against strong opposition the way we are at present anyway. It's all a little depressing especially with Bertrand and Ings looking to leave a sinking ship.

“Redmond just short of confidence” Are you joking? He’s short of skill, bravery, nous, direction, intelligence, ability, wherewithal and aggression. Other than that he’s my first choice. He’s been shite for two years now but Ralph can’t see it.

Sorry the manager has screwed up again with his team selection. Tella is preferable to Redmond, Ramsay, good enough for a new contract still can’t oust a central defender at right back and Armstrong as a central holding midfielder is wrong and a waste. I hope I will be proved wrong but I genuinely think we are beaten before we start and that’s just not good management.

Do we sell every player who “wants” first team football? No this was all about getting 13m in the bank and was a mistake. Ralph didn’t rate him, so we let him go and now we will probably have to spend more than 13m to get a player the same standard.

No it’s not but there’s no point arguing with someone who hates behind a clock of anonymity. Come out from behind your keyboard and spin your vile but we all know you haven’t got the bollocks. Go on brave heart prove me wrong

God you are such a sad person

Some thoughts that came to me while reading the article - I don’t think there is such a thing as a ‘good’ owner out there for us. Sobering thought. To have a manager that is regarded as unsalable is a dangerous road to go down. The Board - wisely or not - have hitched their wagon very firmly to the manager but despite what the article says I am sure Gao wouldn’t hesitate to pull the plug on all of them if things went south. in our 135 year history why have we had money worries for nearly all of them except the 3 years when Marcus Liebherr took over. Have the fans put Ralph on too high a pedestal - he certainly is not The Messiah. Football is fucked while the playing fields are so slanted towards clubs that have untold (corruptly obtained) riches hurled at them. All in all a bit depressing.

You always talk sense on here so I read your posts with interest (sometimes hoping you will deliver an answer to what is becoming a bit of a nightmare). I think however, with respect, you are being a tad kind to Ralph. Yes the players let him down but a good manager makes sure the players they pick don't let him down through clever management. Ralph is good at basics, getting the Board and the fans onside (that's clever) and while things go smoothly he looks the dog's bollocks, but when things go off piste he can't cope. He tries to get clever (square pegs etc) and (leaving our 2 proven goalscorers benched). Sooner or later he must take responsibility for overseeing our two worst results and worst run in league form in over 130 years. Ted Bates had no money when he took over (he had to beg the transfer fee for his first signing from the supporters club), but he managed to avoid those 3 horrendous records that Ralph has managed to conjure up.

Ralph has fatal flaws imo. If he sticks to basics and things go well he is a good manager, he has empathy with the board and the fans but, when things get tough (injuries etc) he starts being clever, square pegs in round holes etc and he digs in, eg. (never dropping Redmond who long ago stopped looking PL quality). He left our two goalscorers on the bench today, bad mistake because at the end of the day goals win matches. (Look at Palace last night at Brighton - they had two forwards who put the ball in the net when it mattered.) Either Ings or Minamino should have started. But do we get rid and risk another Puel/Pellegrino? Rather stick with Ralph than that. I know he hasn't had much money, but he's not learning. I can't remember a more depressing run of results in a more depressing time and while Corona is not Ralph's fault, my faith in him is evaporating.

We seem to have one player at least who is undroppable.

Can’t believe that one decent through pass trumps all the dross he has served up this season (and last). Sorry he’s a nice bloke and there once lurked a decent footballer in there somewhere but he isn’t brave with the ball, his decision making is poor and he lacks a footballing brain. Certainly not PL standard in my eyes.

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with Tony or the guy who made this?

You talk reasonable sense but there is an element of happy clappy especially when you try and persuade us all that Redmond should not be a whipping boy. Sorry but his contribution is woeful woeful woeful.

trousers, can I suggest you concentrate more on the game than trying to expose the people who post on here? You have much to offer but waste your intellect trying to take the piss out of trolls

https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tony-funnell/

I wish he would ship out

Yes this is a sensible post. Ralph is far from the messiah some painted him as, but unless the Board have something special up their sleeves (which is highly unlikely)he will be going nowhere just yet. I must admit my confidence in him is sliding however.

Redmond and impact are two words that are incompatible

It is mental, but it sort of sums up where football has traveled over the recent 10-15 years and I think it echos the thinking of the Board. I agree it is depressing.

Ralph the best manager in the world right now? No other manager has two 9-0s on his CV that’s for sure.