Forester

I felt far better leaving the ground yesterday than I did with a point against Leeds. As others have said, a brilliant finish from a hugely expensive player was the only difference. If we play that way most weeks we will pick up points. The new signings all bring something albeit we will have to be patient with some ups and downs. The biggest plus for me, having been banging on about the need to average conceding one goal per game if we are going to get anywhere, is that we actually look capable of doing that. For me that is the critical stat, conceding two per game will send us down. The two centre backs look like they enjoy playing with each other. And as a big critic of Moussa I have to say fair play to the lad, he really has worked hard to help out the team in an unfamiliar position.

If we go two goals behind I fear things will get toxic in the stadium. Looks like game will be played with temperature around 33 degrees in the shade, possibly hottest ever match at St Mary’s. Bizarrely it hit 30 degrees on October 1st when we played Watford in championship if anyone remembers that. Hottest October day on record!

Yes. Twice finished in top ten, including 7th and Europe slot, with inferior resources

I am sorry but while this sounds fun it’s just plain wrong. Go look at our four top eight finishes and read the table. We conceded only 1 to 1.2 goals per game and won lots of 1-0s. Reality is everyone outside the big six needs a solid defense to finish in top half

I had us down for relegation prior to the transfer window given the end to last season. I am feeling a little bit more optimistic given the new additions, albeit am sure they will take time to show up at this level. However I think there are two big moments in the season that will define us: - what happens, given end to last season, if we make the expected poor start? Do the club fire Ralph and if so who do they bring in? Dyche, Howe (if sacked by then) or Rafa could in my opinion all improve us. - on the upside, I think the long break for World Cup could really suit us. We saw that in the “COVID season” where we were able to “go again” with energy. So notwithstanding the uncertainty on the first of these two points I think we will survive but it will always feel like we are in a relegation season, so somewhere between 14th and 17th. Two more signings would give me more confidence, namely another striker and a loan full back until Tino is fit

I would be sorry to see Adams go, but assuming we got a good price and lined up replacement it would be utterly criminal to sell him before we play them at home in two weeks time

Source?

Assuming this one gets over the line I am greedy and still want one more striker and another centre back, with a loan option for full back until Tino is fit. Very soon we are going to need to start selling some players quickly too!

Five games in August means the pressure will build very quickly if results are poor and you have to say that already for Ralph the Leeds game looks huge. While in reality everyone plays everyone twice, momentum is crucial and after a shocking end to the season (was it five points from twelve games?) I could easily see this becoming six points from 17 games which would just be incredible.

I would take Ings back for either season loan or half the money we got. But you would have to budget that he would start probably only 15 games. Even so he would get you five goals, and so you need two front line goal scorers who are going to get you 12 to 15 each in addition to Ings. The Minamino who played for Liverpool last season looked a big upgrade on the loan version we saw

I may be wrong, but unlike other positions I think it is possible to read more into a keeper in League One than an outfield player in terms of readiness for the Premier League. At least in some respects. He has been playing in a mid table side and therefore will have been exposed to plenty of goal bound attempts. Additionally there is much more (as we remember) of an aerial bombardment at that level. In that sense there are parts of a keeper’s game that are individualistic which I do think bear scrutiny. Where it is harder to assess I think is on the floor given weaker team mates, character and “commanding your defence” etc. It is very relevant though that he has already been capped ten times as full international.

If only to show that the Brentford debacle has been neither forgotten or forgiven: McCarthy KWP, Valery, Stephens, Lyanco, Perraud JWP, Romeu, Moi, Teller, Adams So eight changes

Three options who I believe would both wish to come and that we could easily make happen: Benitez Dyche Cooper (with or without promotion for Forest) Am sure there would be section of fan base who would oppose all three. Cases for: RB proven top flight manager in and beyond this country. Did good jobs at Liverpool, Chelsea (despite fan opposition) and Newcastle. Walked into a mess at Everton and was sacked prematurely not helped by many injuries. Point to prove SD did great job at Watford and Burnley, winning promotion twice and took Burnley to Europe. Would have a little bit more money to play with and is hungry. Could also get Cornet, Mee and Tarkowski with a bit of luck! SC only managed three seasons, took Swansea to play offs twice (which Potter didn’t manage to do in his one season) including final and took over Forest in the autumn when they were in drop zone. Looks a Premier League manager of the future Top of my shopping list is someone who can teach us to keep clean sheets or it’s an uphill battle. I could get happy with any of these three. Easy to forget that each of our top eight managers in Premier League (Strachan, Poch, Koeman and Puel) had all enjoyed success, as well as being fired, before coming here.

Members reposted from match thread… Truly awful performance with a clear lack of motivation, ability to defend and resilience once we went behind. The contrast of our efforts in the last third of the season versus others in that midfield “nothing to play for”pack is stark. Look at Brentford, Palace and Brighton in recent weeks. I have never called for Ralph to go, even after both 9-0 defeats, but he has had a near fully fit squad to choose from, which we were told is bigger than ever to cope with injuries, and yet we are looking at the second consecutive season of dive bombing and will almost certainly go backwards again in terms of points and position. This now after three and a half years is his squad, his players, and he is responsible. i didn’t join in the abuse he got today, as I want him to go with dignity at the end of the season, but I did boo the players off at the end of the game for the first time in years as they were utterly embarrassing today. God knows what the last two games are going to be like.

Truly awful performance with a clear lack of motivation, ability to defend and resilience once we went behind. The contrast of our efforts in the last third of the season versus others in that midfield “nothing to play for”pack is stark. Look at Brentford, Palace and Brighton in recent weeks. I have never called for Ralph to go, even after both 9-0 defeats, but he has had a near fully fit squad to choose from, which we were told is bigger than ever to cope with injuries, and yet we are looking at the second consecutive season of dive bombing and will almost certainly go backwards again in terms of points and position. This now after three and a half years is his squad, his players, and he is responsible. i didn’t join in the abuse he got today, as I want him to go with dignity at the end of the season, but I did boo the players off at the end of the game for the first time in years as they were utterly embarrassing today. God knows what the last two games are going to be like.

I think this is right. While not mathematically safe, one more point I am confident will be enough. Of all the scary scenarios, the ones I think are most likely are Everton and Burnley catching us. Making Leeds take eight points rather than seven would turn the dial for me, hence saying a draw at Brentford I am sure will do it. However huge wake up call for the club, and if we lose our last three games (which is quite likely ) a reminder that in three of the last five seasons we will have failed to exceed 40 points.

Finding this really difficult to call one way or another. Trying to be balanced, and conscious there are theoretically nine points to play for: Case for defence: - three and a half seasons under Ralph and we have avoided feeling seriously at risk of relegation (excluding the salvage half season when he arrived). Ask lots of clubs in the championship if they would swap places - when it’s good it’s very good. We go on good long runs of points and can compete with top teams when we do, and style of play when in this form is attractive to watch - genuinely good guy who has bonded with fans - he doesn’t throw toys out of pram with board and accepts financial constraints (up to now) Case for prosecution: - we are not improving, are unlikely to finish with either more points or higher in table than last two seasons - the supposed “bigger squad” has not helped the final third of the season - the Ying to the Yang of “attractive football” is that we struggle to keep clean sheets, which were the cornerstone of the four top eight finishes (check the goals conceded column), meaning we often have to score twice to avoid defeat - firing a manager for finishing eighth and taking us to a cup final en route without conceding a single goal a few years back shows how far the bar has shifted On balance I think I would like to see what Ralph could do with a much better budget , and hopefully the Dragon will give him this. And I would expect a better plan B which should not always involve just two central midfielders

Today was a hard reminder that if you aren’t on it in the Premier League, either concentration defending or passing game, you get beaten. Like Norwich away second half, this was a horror show and 2-1 flattered us

Then beat Liverpool in final with last minute own goal from Dick Van Dyck diving header in front of Saints fans…..

Remarkable turnaround and should be thought of in this position as a real talent

As a serial critic of Valery the right back, that is the third very strong centre back performance he has put in this season, with exception of one poor back pass today. Looked very good at Chelsea in League cup and home to Spurs too. if you suspend judgement based on prior performances and just look at pace, timing of interceptions and reading of the game he has looked a totally different player. Quite amazing, and I confess I would have sold him last summer.

Well that was an odd game. Always a good atmosphere at Molyneux, but my god does that side know every trick in the book to slow the game down. Felt it was a scrappy first half, we looked like a team who were playing their third game in a week. Looking forward to seeing the VAR tonight, the penalty felt like an absolute age before ref was sent to the screen. Think it was Tella who gave the ball away in a dangerous position that started the move. Then clear goalkeeping error from Forster, who to be fair has been good since getting back in the side. Stunning free kick from JWP, a couple of big headed chances missed by Salisu and Perraud. Can forgive the third goal as we were throwing everything forward to equalise. I thought Lyanco was excellent today, really growing into Premier League football, and Perraud again very good after Brentford display. Both are beginning to look very good signings after inconsistent starts to their time with us. Biggest disappointments for me were Broja and Tella, perhaps one game too many in a week.

Lots of very good performances last night but a rare three man central midfield formation was I think a first under Ralph, effectively playing without tens, and my god it looked good. The three absolutely dominated the middle of the pitch. Credit to Ralph as I think that is the fourth different formation we have seen so far this season, and that flexibility is making a big difference to our campaign.

Feels very early to say anything too positive, but a few things are clear to me: - Gao May have been a disappointment re funding, but at least he didn’t interfere with the management of the club and I feel current management team have done well overall. Pleased Semmens is staying (for now) - We were though incredibly reliant (more so than most) on player transfers given no net spend, and it feels like one bad summer could have done for us (it nearly did the year before Ralph) - FC Michy Land (spell check please) and Brentford have, pound for pound, been two of the most successful clubs in Europe in recent times. Feels too simple to call it a coincidence

Fresh legs needed and an eye on Newcastle game….. Forster KWP, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud Romeu, JWP Armstrong (S), Smallbone, Adams, Armstrong (A)