sydenhamssocks

We were in league 1 when Adkin’s came in. Happy days

Yeah. And he seems to make an immediate impact. Dutch cup win in first Feyenoord season . League title in his second and of course the Europa cup final and a Scottish cup win in his first season at Rangers. He was assistant with Dutch U21 but no other specific reference to younger players. But as you mentioned, he’s not had a squad of world beaters at Rangers or possibly Feyenoord for that matter. Maybe the kind that can pull a group together and galvanise them quickly and get a response on the pitch. That would be handy, if nothing else !

An Interesting one. Has a similar-sh path to Koeman. Cup wins. league titles and champions league winner as a player. Was assistant to Koeman when he was appointed Feyenoord manager. Then managed them himself soon after Koeman joined us. Took Rangers to Europa cup final in his first season. Struggled in Europe this year, but selling arguably their two best players in the summer, Calvin Bassey to Ajax and Joe Aribo to us, hasn’t helped. Would he suit us and the premier league ? I guess Aribo might know….

Not pathetic at all. A personal passion and everything that goes with it, that’s all. Ron was my first hero too, closely followed by Mick. These ‘reflection years’ I find myself in, have made me yearn for the Saints to give me something special to share alongside my kids. When Gabbi equalised at Wembley, I really thought we were about to have that moment. Don’t give up just yet 😉

100% ! I share your vintage, your feelings and the handing on of the curse. 😕

Spot on! Semmens and Ralph are as thick as thieves. Cosied themselves up together/ contract before new owners came in. There was an arrogance about them at that forum which showed their true colours. They both need to go and let SR run it with their own choice of CEO and manager.

True. But they still had to be blended together and Howe might not have been up to that. But he seems to be so far.

Totally agree. The cry is always ‘who can we get that’s better’. In the main it’s not always about a ‘better’ manager, it’s about a ‘different’ manager. With a different approach. Whether he’s better or not comes with the performances and results as nothing is guaranteed. Everything is a gamble to a certain extent and I think Ralph has had his time. Fresh approach required for our clearly talented young players and probably one or two of the older ones would benefit too.

A long term project is something that’s not easy to pull of in the short term world of the premier league. ‘Throw a team together’ is exactly what’s happening It’s not really spurious logic as hypo mentioned the system that Ralph operates. I presume it worked for him elsewhere, hence his devotion to it. I think there’s a lot of talent, albeit young, in the squad but footballers are sensitive souls it appears and the right managerial approach, inspiration, man management and support can make all the difference. I think with the right appointment soon, the players would respond and the ‘project’ would move ahead. As Neil Warnock said ‘ when the players have heard all your jokes and don’t laugh anymore, it’s time to go’

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 A comprehensive and accurate account of the forum/Blackmore show ! Agree on every point. It’s a cosy trio that’s starting to show its arrogance and disdain when the natives are a bit restless!

Semmens and Ralph are right pair. They’ll sink each other and probably us.

All questions just laughed off really. Telling us what the DNA of the club is. Crap! Laughing at people who are trying to articulate questions. Blackmore not helping. Clowns.

Nothings changed. Starts with Blackmore licking all the arses followed by a nutcase with the opening crap. Ralph tries to get all his disclaimers into first answer ! Onwards and upwards 😂

Positive stuff by the new owners in there first move. Hope it continues

100% ! 🎯

And was 5 years at Leicester’s academy, so no stranger to the English game. Really strong player. Showed up well in both cup finals. He’s left sided and I noticed a couple of overlapping runs with decent crosses today, whereas more centre back role v Frankfurt. So flexible too. Good signing. he can bring Van Bronkhorst and assistant Steven Davis as well 😉

And not long ago Rohl was appointed assistant coach of the German national side. He’s no mug and may well have been the key to Ralph’s original plans. We’ll never know.

And neither he should, he’s 37. I didn’t say he would be of use to us now. My point is the qualities he’s always had still serve him well. A style and type of midfielder we haven’t really replaced and would be beneficial if we had one now. Having watched the game, his role was a little more than a ‘cameo’. He was instrumental in taking control of the midfield and Rangers getting back on the front foot. Dispatched his penalty well too. Sadly the level of some of our current midfielders would struggle to do that in a league game never mind a major final despite having youth on their side. An understated classy player who’s know-how would be wasted if not utilised in a coaching capacity some day.

Yet at 37 stood out when he came on in a European Final. There’s a few of ours wouldn’t do that !

Absolutely this ! Smashing player.

These and all the other terrible stats Ralph has racked up are exactly why he should be on his way now. Everyone sees it. Why not the new owners

Ha! There’s a ‘pair’ of you

Why have you put embarrassed in quotation marks ?

Absolutely this !

Just wish he’d f**k off! Don’t like his style. Don’t get the Ralph ‘love in’. Fed up with his varied excuses for poor performances and his poor record. Don’t agree he’s improved many players. Quite the reverse in some cases. Don’t agree that we should be eternally grateful that he’s saved us from relegation with a low budget and we should celebrate the mediocrity of scraping by. (Even Hughes managed that) Don’t like the calculated cosying up to the fans with nicely timed ‘I love the club’ bollocks from the admin. The reason we’ve had the record defeats and the poorest ever runs of results is there in plain sight. Good old Ralphy boy, the Austrian Klopp. He’s mugged us off brilliantly. 👏🏼👏🏼