gordonToo

I agree. At its most simplistic, the game is all about good players and we just do not have enough of them. Ralph's system is good for disrupting the opposition but if that advantage cannot be converted into goals it ultimately becomes self defeating when we tire in the second half of games. As I've said before there are just 3 options. Invest in the squad, change the system or change the manager.

Exactly this. Skill by itself is now no longer enough at this level.

Those were the days when football was fun. Great memories.

My view is that he lacks the basic speed to unsettle Premiership defences, the nous to release the ball consistently to a Saints player, a shot that is often little more than a scuff and a non-existent heading ability. Other than that he's not bad.

Cliché perhaps but results will determine the outcome here as it always does. Ralph's system is OK for Man City but we lack the quality to pick defences apart and finish chances clinically. I sense the players know this too, hence the interminable safety first recycling to nowhere. And no, I don't have a solution.

Tommy Mulgrew, Jimmy Melia, Dave McClaren, etc etc etc

This x100. Backup squad player at best. Hopeless, hopeless, hopeless.

Re Redmond, isn't he in the team to run at the opposition's defence as per Ralph's system? If Theo was fit, Redmond would be on the bench.

Nothing. It's great to watch but it places huge, unsustainable demands on the players. It's clear that using the Academy as backup is not tenable hence the need to either invest in the squad or change the system.

Maybe it's just a question of whether Ralph's style is compatible with a club of Southampton's size and resources? Either he gets the backing to invest in the squad, or he changes his system, or we look elsewhere. Personally, I don't think he will change the system so it comes down to ownership and backing.

That would have been Stoke if Stan Matthews was playing. He would have been 49 and from what little I remember he seemed disinterested. Maybe a couple of tough tackles had put him off!

On the evidence of the way he took his goal, a class player. Made others look ponderous. Reminded me a bit of David Connolly at his best.

To continue a theme, Shelvey's chance early in the second half came when Redmond failed to keep up with him.

What no one has mentioned is the unimpeded run goal scorer Willock had from midfield.

I guess the irony is lost on him.

Sometimes you just have to believe what you see with your own eyes. Results will determine the eventual outcome for the manager but sides look to have us sussed now and it's going to be a struggle.

Too many passengers today.

He'd already made up his mind. He's a known MU fan boy.

Fair point and the 29 points may save him but something isn't right here.

I don't but another 0-9 is just not good enough. Sorry.

I know. But it's a results business and Ralph's strategy looks to have blown up again.

Gut feeling is that he needs to go. Two humiliating 0-9 defeats is two too many.

Nope. No end product.

1958 I think, a 5-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in the old 3rd Division (South). Stood in the crowd at the Milton end so only had a limited view of the game. All I can remember as a 10 year old is John Page trapping a high ball with his thigh and thinking that must have hurt! Happy days.

JS passes straight to an Arsenal player and it's 0-1. David Luiz does the same at the other end and we make nothing of it. Sums up the state of play really.