Red

For whatever reason it's not working and we need to change it. Easier to change the manager than most of the squad. For all his German, Austrian and European knowledge Ralph hasn't brought in a single decent player, including before Brexit. Getting rid of the only full back cover for peanuts. Sorry but he's lost it, and so it seems the players as well - they are no longer playing for him. Seems they have sussed him out too.

Our start was shite not laboured - against a better team we would have lost the game within the first 20 minutes. Of course the changes were not designed to put pressure on us (not sure where you got that idea from?), but they did - because we reverted to a more defensive set up and hence invited Burnley on to us. What I meant was make the changes to freshen things up but keep the formation, so by all means sub a tiring Armstrong but replace him with a like for like. Yes we recovered well but it took us four to five times as many chances as Burnley to score one more goal, even with Ings and an improved Redmond - which is a worry as we will not get that against better sides. Chance conversation is a big concern as some of the top teams in some games only have one chance and they convert it. Great we won, but we need to keep learning and improving and not sure that is the case or has been under Ralph. Still we should be safe now and let's rejoice in that for now.

Yes the team did, not sure Ralph helped much to that end. Tactics first 20 minutes were completely different and strange - clearly the fast press was out of the window - Burnley did more of that than we did. No real attacking intent or taking the game to them. Lack of authority at the back. Once again changes were slow (although earlier than most games) and strange. Ok Armstrong was spent but why change a winning formation and invite pressure on us? We were lucky today and needed four times the chances Burnley had to score one more than them - this will not happen against better sides. I like Ralph (just about) but he is no messiah and is tactically very limited and doesn't know how to change things when we are on the back foot. Could we do better than Ralph in our circumstances - where's that black box?

He was nearly at the half line passing the ball forward at one point - would never have happened in past times. Good to see the confidence return. Nothing he could have done for either goal.

This. The more clubs involved the more likely we will get a better price for him. Bin dippers seem to think they have a 20% sell on clause as well which is not great. To be honest I would be happy to get enough to be able to replace him with a decent younger up and coming (proven to a point and not completely untested) forward - possibly from Europe. It appears Ings wants to leave and if so let him, but for a fair deal to all sides, which is not to Spurs as history indicates. I am not sure he will prosper elsewhere mind.

Already mentioned on beeb

I wouldn't worry too much - plenty of prospective candidates. Bertie, Stephens, McCarthy, Adams, and ones on loan (Val, Long. Leaving out the ones we want rid of). Sure there's more I haven't thought of

Interesting goal celebration and post match comments - seems to show fans reaction/comments does affect his game. Which begs the question why doesn't the club enlist a motivational / confidence booster coach - they are not that expensive compared to other operating costs in football. Number of other players and indeed Ralph would benefit from this also IMO

It wasn't starting it he had a problem with, just turning it off when it got blocked and he turned it over to clear the blockage! "One man went to mow, one man went to mow a meadow", and "Charlie Charlie, give us a wave!" the opposition fans had some banter with those.

Really - you want to blame the owner after the great display today by our strongest team (apart from Ings who has hardly been a superstar)?

Agreed. Ings apart (who frankly has been well below average lately), this is the strongest team we could have fielded and we were rubbish - have no issue with giving it everything and losing but can you honestly say we did today? Surely Ralph has at least some culpability for that? Ralph is not the messiah and sometimes you just need to move on for both parties - is there a reason why he has ever stayed for a long period at any of his pervious clubs?

Agree with this. I have been a great (loyal?) supporter of Ralph but I think it's time for a change. He has been given long enough and it's just not getting any better, and yes might be unlucky etc. but several good managers (IMHO) have not cut it for whatever reason - Poch at Spurs, both Nigel's here, Rodgers at Bin dippers, Wilder at SU etc. etc. He is bereft of new ideas and failing to inspire the team. Honestly how can you say you are happy with being stuffed 5-2 by City??? Ok, I get it you don't dish the players in public, but a response along the lines of "I though we were great for the first 15 minutes where we took the game to City, and it was a great display of what our team can produce at our best. Unfortunately our lack of concentration and individual errors failed to capitalise on that great start and we have to work to improve that" would be better and not damming any individual player but saying the team display was not good enough! Rested players for this game to no benefit, and two goals from a team that cannot score for toffee is just simply poor tactics. Even if we survive this season, without drastic change we are going down next. season - we will not have the same start and opposition will be better prepared.

Agree. Let's face it no one expects anything from us in this game, so vital that we do not risk any one of the players returning from injury - if there is the slightest doubt over KWP, Mini, Diallo, Armstrong etc. please please do not risk them as we have more winnable games coming up

How about Mitrović if Fulham go down. I think in a better side with more service and Adams as support he would be ok - not brilliant but we can't afford a £50+ forward. Should be relatively reasonable fee wise

He already is

Also don't care if it's luck - I would rather have a lucky keeper than an unlucky one (not that I think it's luck). If nothing else dropping Mac for a few games will make him try harder to get back rather than think he's first choice regardless of how he performs. Don't see a down side here really

I don't disagree, but my point is did we need to let Valery go on loan (when Ralph has publicly said we don't like loans to develop players). 2 years ago Val was first choice over Ced and whilst he has regressed since, surely he is an option to keep even as a sub? I doubt we are making much if any money on the loan - probably subbing his wages, so why not keep him until someone wants to actually buy him?

Have you nothing constructive to say ever - someone new posts and you and your ilk have to trample all over them as the forum overlords? Feel sorry for you. I know I guess I have taken the bait. Take a break you and the other constant bores on here and welcome some fresh blood/thoughts, unless of course this is an exclusive club?

Quotes from Ralph - "If you had given me one that was possible to sign and that we were able to get then we would have done it. You can be sure of that," he said. "You can be sure that we tried everything to get players in, within our limits that we have," he continued. "It was not possible to find an alternative. We were chasing players until the last minute but they decided not to let them go - so we took Takumi Minamino instead." Interesting - seems he is not in the total control of all things that some on here seems to think. Also, why leave it to the last minute to "chase players" and take Mino just because we couldn't get any defenders?? Last pick in the school kick about? Yet at the same time we decided to let Val go on loan for a pittance - he is better than the options we have currently. Are we that much of an amateurish outfit these days? Something clearly not right at the club at present

So 4 managers on with more or less the same squad of players with more or less the same net outcome (overall) might be a clue as to where the problem lies. Do get the feeling that Ralph has lost a bit of self belief lately and that is reflecting on to the soft players (mental attitude and lack of aggression). The most annoying thing at the moment is as soon as something goes against us we throw in the towel - where is that fighting spirit of we'll get revenge against that injustice or balls up??? We are so soft, it's unbelievable - we start well (usually) but literally the slightest thing against us and we fold like a house of cards. When decisions go against us, we meekly accept them compared to other teams where they surround the officials and make out there's been GBH. I would accept a defeat if we really fought in the game but we seldom do. Start well, opposition punch us on the nose, and we go home crying to mummy, instead of standing up and punching back - no coincidence we have the worst record for dropped points. We desperately crave some of the Mark Dennis, Mark Wright, Mick Mills, Golac, Case, Benali, etc. types in the team right now

I was probably two rows behind you - narrowly avoided getting pushed onto the pitch. So glad the wall collapsed as I thought I was going to pass out if it hadn't! Still a great night though!

What I don't get is despite his fitness etc. issues over several months why he was trust into the first team without any build up in the B team? Surely a risk for player and club. He's done well so far and good on him for that, but why the deviation from the norm?

Very poignant - on Valentines day where was our heart? Accept a well fought defeat, but 2nd half we just seemed lay down our arms and concede defeat (could have said we dropped our drawers and ........)

No it's not. I don't want Ralph to go but he does have a few blind spots. He does not have a plan B, leaves it way too late to make changes when the game is going away from us, blindly sticks with players out of form (McCarthy, Redmond ). Yes we have had some horrible decisions go against us, but the players seem to fold like a house of cards when something goes against us, instead of saying feck that I am going to fix that injustice - that is all about attitude and confidence and all down to Ralph. If he doesn't have the skills for that, than hire someone who can help him do that. We are a team and need all the help we can get. We are fragile as feck and desperately in need of some backbone, so why not hire someone to help Ralph do that? Will cost a lot less than some of our subsided loans out.

No he shouldn't resign, and overall he has been great for us. However I think he has a few blind spots - maybe because he is strong in his own belief/stubborn etc. He never seems to want to revert to a plan B (I believe he does have plans B and C but seldom seems to utilise them for whatever reason). After all he did change the kamikaze high defending tactics of the first two games. But you do have to question why after 4 or 5 down at OT he didn't just ask the payers to park the bus? There was no way we were going to get anything out of the game at that stage, and for anyone that thinks it was the players choice, you could clearly hear Ralph encouraging the team to push up in the commentary. Ah well if he was perfect he wouldn't be our manager - same as the players.