SaintZamboni

I don’t mind that if it’s a 541/343. We needed something different that allowed more solidity if the wing backs go bombing forward. Elyo is better more central as well. Think we’ll be ok for a draw

Today was the day I lost faith in Hassenhuttl. I’ve always enjoyed our style of play and think he’s a decent person and manager. However, the beatings that we take and the inability to get us solid have taken their toll. Playing our full backs so high and wide is absolute suicide when there’s no cover. Brentford just got the ball forward into their powerful front men who then just had to deal with our liability centre back pairing. Also, what’s happened to the press? It used to be clear and obvious that we had a system. Strikers come narrow, ball goes wide to the full backs and the press is on. Midfield step up and we look for a turnover. Now? I haven’t a clue. I also think Adams in our best link up striker and always seems to get chances (even if he fluffs them). Playing Broja/Long/Armstrong ahead of him can only be a ploy to keep Broja here next season. All in all, I’m done with our season.

We are a shambles in defence. No leadership, poor positional sense and wide open far too often

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/payroll/ This is an estimated wage table for the season. If that’s a better indicator than transfer spend we should about 13th in the league. We have the same points as the team in 13th but worse gd. So perhaps Ralph is doing about as well as can be expected given transfer spend and wages.

I’m pretty sure this kind of conversation was being had about Adam’s and he’s come good. Clearly being a goal scorer in the championship isn’t enough to have you ready for the premier league. Keep him here, get him playing and up to speed and hope he finds his feet.

I can see this being a typical saints performance. We’ll go for it and get picked off. Palace are strong and have pace on the break. We’ll leave ourselves exposed and get beat. Usually I’m an optimist about us, I always think we can get after teams but we don’t have any balance at the moment. 4222 and we attack but can’t defend, 541 and we offer no threat but might keep a clean sheet.

We’re one point behind and have scored more than Brighton. Ralph has had less to work with than him, half the expenditure according to transfermarkt. So why do you rate potter so highly? Because Brighton are consistently average? I’m as frustrated as anyone that we’re so hot and cold but when people credit Brighton, palace (whoever is 9th at the current time) it doesnt show a lot of perspective in my opinion. BTW, this post is for many of the comments on here, not just this one.

I don’t know about you but they showed the by line replay here and the ball was well in play. Barely even grazing the line.

This is ridiculous Ralph bashing in a game that’s 0-0. Leeds are giving it the big press, just like we used to. We were always shit in the second half after doing it though. If they go the same way it’ll suit us. Looks like we’ve changed shape to a diamond/433 with Elyo coming into the middle.

Have just taken a browse through their forum to see how they feel about this. They don’t like Ralph very much and seem to think because they beat Villa and Villa beat us that they’ll just walk it. Flawless logic of course. We’re playing our best line up and I’m hoping for a response so going Saints 2-0

Fresh legs to press like mad in the first half. Run west hams legs out and then add some quality through 5 changes. Not ideal but, like Coventry, will be great if we qualify and rest a few. Will be a stick to beat Ralph with if not

Article today on givemesport linking Ings with a move as he’s not fancied at Villa. Seems like another who might blow their career momentum for £

I’m confident that we’re going to score. It’s all about how open we’re willing to be because they have game changers, we don’t.

Reckon we’ll grab a point here. We’ve been on a reasonable run and we’re starting to look a bit more organized and feisty. Back to the side that played city, all being well with fitness

Wanted to chip in now the dust has settled. I don’t get the Ralph has to shoulder blame for the weak side nonsense. He did, he put on Redmond and changed shape when Lyanco got injured, if that’s not owning the mistake of the starting set up then what is? It also flies in the face of those who questions his ability to react to situations. He did and we won. Seeing the way lots of premier league sides have struggled we’ve done well to come out in the next round having rested some players. It wasn’t perfect but it wasn’t Leicester or United! Even Liverpool we’re labored for long periods against a well drilled Cardiff this weekend.

Nobody wants to show for the ball or take responsibility. Ward Prowse, Diallo and Lyanco are trying but we’ve just lost one of those. Shape is all wrong too so hopefully this reshuffle changes that.

Think it’s about time somebody gives a shout out to Perraud for his performance today. Not perfect by my god did he earn his spot today. Worked his ass off, got up and down the pitch, made so many challenges and almost always managed to leave a little something behind to shithouse them. Hopefully he’ll keep moving forwards and we’ll continue to have some balance down the flanks

Time for fresh legs up top. We need scrap and pace into the corner flags

We’re still the better side but we’ve got to be so careful of getting caught on the break.

KWP so naive there, Bowen obviously looking to get it into his left foot but shows him inside onto it. Bednarek with no look around to sense for attackers. So poor

We’re about to find out

Why can’t we play this style of possession based, calm football when we’re winning games?…

Just thought I’d add my two cents. Interesting to see, despite all the criticism to the contrary of Ralph, that he did change strategy second half. We started with the usual defend and hang in there but after Tella’s ‘injury’ and then the Long/Djenepo substitution the high press reappeared . It didn’t yield the chances we sometimes get but it was noticeable. It did yield the wide open midfield we usually get though! Maybe that’s the adaptation we’ll now see? Thought Tella and Broja we’re a handful because they actually applied some pace and pressure to our attack. Changing them was a good cal but only if they both continue this on Saturday.

That guy is shit from dead balls

We have to stop relying on our full backs for width when it leaves us wide open every single time. Get more midfield cover or wider midfielders so they can cover any overlaps.