Forester

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)

A good day out, having been a bit of a “brave” decision to go in the end. Felt like about one in five fans stayed away, be interested to see he actually turnout figure. The covid pass checks were non existent/ineffective. I thought our passing game was strong yesterday, with lots of good patient build up balanced by the occasional, and well judged, hoof defensively when under pressure. I only recall one moment when we chose the wrong ball from deep and that was Bednarek who lost concentration first half and handed them the ball with a lazy cross field pass. I though Romeu, JWP, KWP and Broja were our best players. I don’t get the criticism of Forster, who I though got some good punches in from set pieces first half and his distribution was fine. Walcott didn’t really impact the game, but I would say he worked hard off the ball. I assume we will see Stuart in for Spurs. Having trooped out of that place many times being battered, very happy with three points and in fact four from two London trips. Delighted to hit 20 points one game ahead of minimum requirement too. Would bite your arm off for a point against Spurs who are flying under Conte.

A viewpoint from someone who has been loyal and supportive of Ralph here: I am now two games away from seriously considering we may need to make a change. The next two games are critical and we absolutely need to avoid poor results or we will be needing to beat Wet Spam away (thrashed there every season since Puel days) or a resurgent Spurs under Conte to be above the one point per game at the halfway mark. And as I have commented on other thread, this is an unusual season in that no one is cut adrift, Newcastle will spend big, Norwich are improving and Burnley are, well, Burnley and I imagine will find a way to grind out results. So I am not there yet, but the Board cannot let things continue. It is insane to play 4222 in every single game, particularly when the DMs are also encouraged to press. Earlier in the season I thought Ralph was genuinely being more flexible but we are back to where we were second half of last season. Everyone accepts that our squad is not a top eight set up, but greater flexibility tactically would without doubt bring us more points. And there isn’t a huge gap between us and Wolves in eight, just five points. Those five points could be picked up by effective match management. There has been much boasting of the squad being deeper this season. December and January traditionally are the months where squad rotation and covering injuries/suspensions become vital. So far this is not evident in results.

As a generally very loyal and understanding fan, this is beginning to push patience to the limit. A promising first 20 mins followed by the now familiar carving open of Saints’ defences. Second half score line could have been far worse in reality, and while the far end of the ground the last goal looked like a keeper error. As I have mentioned many times before, we are going nowhere other than the championship if we continue to ship an average of two goals per game which is the current trend. While attractive to watch while it lasts, and perhaps suitable for playing relegation rivals, our naivety in playing just two midfielders who both press high up leaves us so exposed away from home to strong teams. Tactical flexibility appeared early in the season, and it seemed we were capable of keeping clean sheets, but now we are back to where we were in the second half of last season just doing the same thing over and over again. This week is massive, with a minimum of three points needed out of next two games and hopefully four otherwise I fear we will be stranded below one point per match at the halfway point with big spenders Newcastle and ever resilient Burnley both fancying their chances of finishing above us.

Lewis Tino, Stephens, Lyanco, KWP JWP, Diallo Redmond, Moi, Brojer, Adams

I won’t resurrect the old arguments on Puel as we will be here forever but definitely would not include him in the Pellegrino category! I think we should give Ralph the season and see whether we feel we are moving in the right direction. Right now we are not in the danger zone and probably need four points from next four games to remain so. It’s not the time to rock the boat in what is a tight table this year.

Hugely frustrating and sounds as if McCarthy, who had actually been very good throughout, was unprofessional in not asking to come off with our third sub unused. I thought that was as good an attacking display in the first half as we have seen this season, but everyone around me said the same…”will we regret not being further ahead having dominated”! We just can’t kill teams off when we play well and while the specific circumstances today at the end were farcical, in general hanging on to 1-0 with so little momentum in the second half just invites these situations. On the plus side I though Salisu, Romeu and Redmond were excellent and Broja continues to improve. He is a real handful. Next week looks tough but that is what we have a squad for.

Forster KWP, Lyanco, Salisu, Perraud Romeu, JWP Redmond, Moi Adams, Tella

Long journey for an awful performance. For my part I don’t think it was the three at the back per se that was hardest to fathom, although if you are doing that against Liverpool front three you have to be either very deep with midfield picking them up or super high to get tight on them with wing backs tucking in. We did neither. For me the biggest crime was picking three pure forwards, meaning that we usually had just eight behind the ball rather than the ten we needed when out of possession. I personally would also have gone three at the back, but with two of Tella, Redmond or Moussa working with one of the three strikers (probably Adams). That would have given us pace on the counter, but feeling like 5, 4, 1 out of possession.

Realistic to imagine we may be in top half going to Anfield

Spot on. Lessons 1,2 and 3 from our four top eight seasons: clean sheets win you games, clean sheets win you games, clean sheets win you games,……

Stepped off a plane with ten minutes to go so didn't see any of it but big cheers in customs at final whistle! Have said before clean sheets are the key dimension for any of the “non big six” (whatever that means these days) to finish in or around the European spots. Check the record books, everyone remembers the Manes and Pelles but reality is that our four top eight finishes were built on defensive prowess. Fair play to Ralph, we now look like a team who will average conceding one goal per game, and that really does deliver you points.

Think Le Tissier could have legitimately claimed to be best penalty taker in world at the time. Too young to have seen Ron Davies but know many people that think he was best in air. Have a look on YouTube for his four goals at Manure

Having re-read this I meant Stuart to play as one of the two tens, not Adam. Redmond has been excellent last few games, just not able to finish but good assists. Thought Tella was disappointing at Chelsea. I don’t disagree with you re the keepers, just think the overall goals conceded this season has been ok

McCarthy Tino, Bednarek, Salisu, KWP JWP, Romeu Armstrong (A), Moi Redmond, Adams I have been loyal to a few senior players here despite the impressive midweek performances of others. Would suggest McCarthy, Bednarek, Adams and JWP all need big performances to remain in team as genuine competition now as evident at Chelsea

This thread is a comedic classic!

Lottery of penalties, this was a very good draw having made nine changes. Our Achilles heel of ability to finish highlighted again, but very good performance with KWP for me stand out performer, and surprised but delighted to say that our back three looked excellent. Having travelled to Sheffield I feared the worse when saw Lyanco and Valery in line up but credit where due both were excellent as was Salisu. Amongst the doom and gloom, Ralph deserves credit in addressing defensive frailties from last season and we now look like a side than can average one goal conceded which gives us a chance of being competitive and what is more impressive is that this includes multiple defensive line ups so far this season. Just need to improve decision making in final third.

Forster KWP, Bednarek, Lyanco, Small Diallo, Romeu Teller, Armstrong (S) Armstrong (A), Adams

Away on holiday so watched on TV. For all the great things he did, Tino clearly at fault for first goal. Thought he played very well apart from that, as did Diallo who has looked full of energy these last two games. Disappointed not to win it but a point note end of the world. Watford game looks tougher after yesterday but if we win that then seven points from three games is what I was hoping for.

Thought Redmond was superb, he was everywhere working so hard and great for the assist. Top performances too from Salisu, Diallo and Moi. As per separate thread we are one point behind what I would have predicted based on fixture list and if we get at least four points from next two games I won’t be unhappy at all with first part of the season. Three clean sheets, with three different centre back pairings, is very encouraging too.

Sorry only just seen this! Bit of both, I was only one player out (Redmond)

Yep I think that is why it’s important to wait until Xmas before really understanding where we are at. Most people don’t have that much patience but after tomorrow we will have played four of last season’s top six already.