captainchris Posted 26 February, 2019 Share Posted 26 February, 2019 Apart from a couple of players this side is Championship quality at best. The only chance to stay up is RH going back to the high press game where it is not so reliant on individuals but discipline and fitness, and if the training sessions have been stepped up fitness should not be a problem. I cannot understand why RH has not stuck with what gave him most success. Certainly agree - why has Ralph stopped the pressing - just odd.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 26 February, 2019 Share Posted 26 February, 2019 After tonight's results, a gift horse. What will we do? Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 26 February, 2019 Share Posted 26 February, 2019 This is a 50-50 game...not by any means a walk over or done deal. In fact I would go as far to say we'll end up with a draw or loss. Either would signal our relegation - a win would be great but would not signal our safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austsaint Posted 26 February, 2019 Share Posted 26 February, 2019 This is a 50-50 game...not by any means a walk over or done deal. In fact I would go as far to say we'll end up with a draw or loss. Either would signal our relegation - a win would be great but would not signal our safety. It is a 50 - 50 game and the scary bit is Fulham look a better attacking side than us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 26 February, 2019 Share Posted 26 February, 2019 It is a 50 - 50 game and the scary bit is Fulham look a better attacking side than us.We have no strikers of note. Anybody looks a better attacking side than us. Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintZamboni Posted 26 February, 2019 Share Posted 26 February, 2019 Draw puts us safe by goal difference. Small victories and all that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKD Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Predictable saints performance coming up tonight. Be the better team in a very average first hour, then Fulham will nick one on the counter / against the run of play, and we’ll then grab a late goal to make it 1-1. It’s really not enjoyable watching us anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusic Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Predictable saints performance coming up tonight. Be the better team in a very average first hour, then Fulham will nick one on the counter / against the run of play, and we’ll then grab a late goal to make it 1-1. It’s really not enjoyable watching us anymore.Simce Hasenhuttl came in it has been enjoyable IMO. Poor results the last couple, but before that we looked a decent side and were getting good results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100%Red&White Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Draw puts us safe by goal difference. Small victories and all that You're right but when you consider the following 2 fixtures it will likely be very short-lived. That's what makes 3 points so important tonight, anything but a win will almost certainly see us back in the bottom 3 after the weekend, and probably the next, and then we have a 3 week break from playing. We could find ourselves down there for weeks to come. Everyone has to be up for this tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Ralph saying tonight is not must win !? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Ralph saying tonight is not must win !? I think he said it is a should win game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DT Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 We have no strikers of note. Anybody looks a better attacking side than us. Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Realistically they look better in defence too, tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Pete Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Ralph saying tonight is not must win !?I think he's trying to take some of the pressure off the players to be fair. They need to be bang up for this but not scared ****less of losing. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Realistically they look better in defence too, tbh Don't forget midfield, almost complete lack of any creativity. Not too sure about goalkeeping either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 After tonight's results, a gift horse. What will we do? Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Well, we will not be playing after a long spell without games. We're always disappointing when we play following a break, so I'm more hopeful than against Arsenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Apart from a couple of players this side is Championship quality at best. The only chance to stay up is RH going back to the high press game where it is not so reliant on individuals but discipline and fitness, and if the training sessions have been stepped up fitness should not be a problem. I cannot understand why RH has not stuck with what gave him most success.I can't comment on the Arsenal game as I didn't see it. But it's hard to high press a team with 10 behind the ball looking to go long at every opportunity. Against the likes of Cardiff and Burnley who pack their own half it's hard to press them into mistakes and then capitalise on those mistakes with quick balls forward as they are sat so deep. Teams like that sit deep and wait for you to break them down while looking to sucker punch you. We lack any guile or skill in the current squad to break down teams like that. We had better luck against the likes of Leicester and Everton because they felt they where good enough to play out from the back and take they game to us. That's when the high press works best. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suhari Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Big day for RaHa today. Must win... simple as. Presumably Fulham will try to copy Cardiffs approach. 2 CB (Bed and Yoshi please); Rom sitting in front; Austin upfront; Redmond of course.. then fill in the blanks with anyone who fits the shirt. Get PEH, Armstrong and JWP to shoot on sight (if they can get it low and vaguely on target......asking too much?)... and hope Austin taps in the rebounds. Not much of a plan, but it is hard to polish a turd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajjuk Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I can't comment on the Arsenal game as I didn't see it. But it's hard to high press a team with 10 behind the ball looking to go long at every opportunity. Against the likes of Cardiff and Burnley who pack their own half it's hard to press them into mistakes and then capitalise on those mistakes with quick balls forward as they are sat so deep. Teams like that sit deep and wait for you to break them down while looking to sucker punch you. We lack any guile or skill in the current squad to break down teams like that. We had better luck against the likes of Leicester and Everton because they felt they where good enough to play out from the back and take they game to us. That's when the high press works best. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Yeh basically this, our style actually suits playing against better teams and probably playing away from home more. Cardiff parked the bus and we lacked the creativity/clinical finishing to break them down, the kicker though was that they scored from two set pieces, pretty much their only chances of the game which shouldn't happen. But it was still lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warsash saint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Big day for RaHa today. Must win... simple as. Presumably Fulham will try to copy Cardiffs approach. 2 CB (Bed and Yoshi please); Rom sitting in front; Austin upfront; Redmond of course.. then fill in the blanks with anyone who fits the shirt. Get PEH, Armstrong and JWP to shoot on sight (if they can get it low and vaguely on target......asking too much?)... and hope Austin taps in the rebounds. Not much of a plan, but it is hard to polish a turd. Cardiff were happy with a point (the fact we gifted them 3 is a different matter) Fulham & in a desperate position & cant afford to sit back - they need 3 points. Fingers crossed that opens the game up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I can't comment on the Arsenal game as I didn't see it. But it's hard to high press a team with 10 behind the ball looking to go long at every opportunity. Against the likes of Cardiff and Burnley who pack their own half it's hard to press them into mistakes and then capitalise on those mistakes with quick balls forward as they are sat so deep. Teams like that sit deep and wait for you to break them down while looking to sucker punch you. We lack any guile or skill in the current squad to break down teams like that. We had better luck against the likes of Leicester and Everton because they felt they where good enough to play out from the back and take they game to us. That's when the high press works best. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Cardiff played out from the back most times and there was no press at all...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Yeh basically this, our style actually suits playing against better teams and probably playing away from home more. Cardiff parked the bus and we lacked the creativity/clinical finishing to break them down, the kicker though was that they scored from two set pieces, pretty much their only chances of the game which shouldn't happen. But it was still lucky.Same for Burnley we where within a whisker of all 3pts and screwed it up with poor defending. Been the story of the last few seasons really poor defensive mistakes screwing us out if points. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Cardiff played out from the back most times and there was no press at all...!Like hell they did. They where happy to sit deep and rarely looked to get out of their own half. They came for a draw and looked to nick a goal with a quick break or set piece. No way can you compare Cardiff's style of play with the likes of Everton or Leicester. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 No game is must win when there are still more than enough games and points available. Winning tonight will have a huge impact and it could possibly be the end for Fulham if they get another negative result. All id like tonight is a committed performance from the players, no huge howling mistakes and if we don't come out on top then so be it. Whatever the result what I do not want to see is the usual suspects saying ' we should have signed a striker in January' 'We shouldn't have let Cedric go' blah blah blah just like they think they have all the obvious answers, when if truth be known they probably have none. The negativity and I told you so after a poor result is just not needed and unfortunately you can not go back in time and change any of it so whats the ****ing point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colman1860 Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Defining moment of the season. If we don't win then 16th or even 17th will be beyond us and we could finish 19th. If we draw we will literally be 17th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Damn nice weather so no excuse for not having a full house tonight. The most exciting part of the evening could be the team announcement, any XI from a fit XV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Like hell they did. They where happy to sit deep and rarely looked to get out of their own half. They came for a draw and looked to nick a goal with a quick break or set piece. No way can you compare Cardiff's style of play with the likes of Everton or Leicester. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Actually they played out from the back a lot in that game. I did not mention Everton or Leicester.... We did not press Cardiff.... We could have done but didn’t. We have have pressed less and less as the games have passed. Whilst you can say Cardiff got plenty behind the ball (much of it forced by our right back playing far too high) They did not kick it long all the time. You have to watch the game and just tar a team with no football brush... We allowed Cardiff to play quite a bit of football in that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Matty 76 Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I've changed my mind about 20 times on what I'd like to see from the line-up tonight. I THINK this is what I want. Gunn Valery - Yoshida - Bednarek - Bertrand Romeu - Hojbjerg Ward-Prowse - Armstrong Austin - Redmond Not sure he'll drop Vestergaard though so I'd be fine with him in over Yoshida. Biggest problem with that is the glaring lack of pace other than Redmond. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Actually they played out from the back a lot in that game. I did not mention Everton or Leicester.... We did not press Cardiff.... We could have done but didn’t. We have have pressed less and less as the games have passed. Whilst you can say Cardiff got plenty behind the ball (much of it forced by our right back playing far too high) They did not kick it long all the time. You have to watch the game and just tar a team with no football brush... We allowed Cardiff to play quite a bit of football in that game. No we didn't, they were crap. They only scored because we were hopeless defending a corner, allowing them an unchallenged knock down and tap in, followed by Stephens calmly passing them the ball in acres of space in our own half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 No game is must win when there are still more than enough games and points available. Winning tonight will have a huge impact and it could possibly be the end for Fulham if they get another negative result. All id like tonight is a committed performance from the players, no huge howling mistakes and if we don't come out on top then so be it. Whatever the result what I do not want to see is the usual suspects saying ' we should have signed a striker in January' 'We shouldn't have let Cedric go' blah blah blah just like they think they have all the obvious answers, when if truth be known they probably have none. The negativity and I told you so after a poor result is just not needed and unfortunately you can not go back in time and change any of it so whats the ****ing point? OK, how about "We shouldn't have sold a striker in January"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatboy40 Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Damn nice weather so no excuse for not having a full house tonight. I take it you're paying then? (otherwise I have an excuse) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 (edited) Actually they played out from the back a lot in that game. I did not mention Everton or Leicester.... We did not press Cardiff.... We could have done but didn’t. We have have pressed less and less as the games have passed. Whilst you can say Cardiff got plenty behind the ball (much of it forced by our right back playing far too high) They did not kick it long all the time. You have to watch the game and just tar a team with no football brush... We allowed Cardiff to play quite a bit of football in that game.I did watch the game I was there. I have to question what you where watching if you believe half of what you have written there though. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Edited 27 February, 2019 by doddisalegend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 No we didn't, they were crap. They only scored because we were hopeless defending a corner, allowing them an unchallenged knock down and tap in, followed by Stephens calmly passing them the ball in acres of space in our own half.Exactly large parts of the game they didn't have a player in our half of the pitch and our CBs where camped out around the half way line. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vectraman Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Realistically they look better in defence too, tbh Apart from they've let in 61 goals and we have let in 46.....which kind of disproves that theory! In fact they have the worst defence in the premier league... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suhari Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I've changed my mind about 20 times on what I'd like to see from the line-up tonight. I THINK this is what I want. Gunn Valery - Yoshida - Bednarek - Bertrand Romeu - Hojbjerg Ward-Prowse - Armstrong Austin - Redmond Not sure he'll drop Vestergaard though so I'd be fine with him in over Yoshida. Biggest problem with that is the glaring lack of pace other than Redmond. My preference to. There is the issue of Mitrovic bullying our CBs, but we surely can't go 3 at the back in a home game like this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I keep changing my mind about the line up also. We need pace, and for the one striker we have that can historically score goals, to be given chances. 4-2-3-1 McCarthy Valery Bednarek Vestergaard Bertrand Hojbjerg Romeu Sims Armstrong Redmond Austin Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Stephens, Targett, JWP, Johnson, Gallagher/Long. Then ****ing go for it. Funnily enough I'm one of the people that rates JWP, but despite his goals lately, he's the one I'd cut for a more attacking player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren2 Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I'll be absolutely destroyed if I see Long in the starting 11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 two things to encourage success tonight 1. Revoke Longs car park permit so he can't get in. 2. Smash Mitrovic in first 5 mins so he is (temporarily) injured and has to go off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloggy saint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Obviously I'd like a win tonight but a draw wouldn't be a disaster. Out of the bottom 3 and then it's a case of equaling or bettering Cardiff's results until the end of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Obviously I'd like a win tonight but a draw wouldn't be a disaster. Out of the bottom 3 and then it's a case of equaling or bettering Cardiff's results until the end of the season. They are dreadful away. Nothing more than win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vectraman Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I'll be absolutely destroyed if I see Long in the starting 11. I’d have long up front with Austin so he can create some chances for him with his pace! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Billy Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I can't comment on the Arsenal game as I didn't see it. But it's hard to high press a team with 10 behind the ball looking to go long at every opportunity. Against the likes of Cardiff and Burnley who pack their own half it's hard to press them into mistakes and then capitalise on those mistakes with quick balls forward as they are sat so deep. Teams like that sit deep and wait for you to break them down while looking to sucker punch you. We lack any guile or skill in the current squad to break down teams like that. We had better luck against the likes of Leicester and Everton because they felt they where good enough to play out from the back and take they game to us. That's when the high press works best. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk I would still go back to the high line because the current system is not working in any case. We need to do something to protect our fragile defence and the current system is not doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloggy saint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 They are dreadful away. Nothing more than win And we are dreadful at home, so a draw it is then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
so22saint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 This is a 50-50 game...not by any means a walk over or done deal. In fact I would go as far to say we'll end up with a draw or loss. Either would signal our relegation - a win would be great but would not signal our safety. Interestingly the Fulham fans on the 15.35 out of Waterloo think exactly the same thing. And they are right. It's a massive 6 pointer. However they have Mitrovic and we don't have anybody... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Obviously I'd like a win tonight but a draw wouldn't be a disaster. Out of the bottom 3 and then it's a case of equaling or bettering Cardiff's results until the end of the season. Technically correct but I think a draw would sap morale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 I would still go back to the high line because the current system is not working in any case. We need to do something to protect our fragile defence and the current system is not doing that.My point was I don't think it was a deliberate change away from the press just that the press works better against some teams than it does others. Cardiff and Burnley being two teams it's not great against. Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 3 points = great 1 point = meh 0 points = wtf (aka swmb meltdown) Personally I think it’ll be meh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Can't help thinking we need to drop one of JWP or Hojberg to bring Armstrong in and give more intelligent runs up front. Good to see Yoshida back in though. Sent from my SM-J600FN using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 Got a chance with Stephens dropped. Thought we might have gone 4 at the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 27 February, 2019 Share Posted 27 February, 2019 if that team can't beat an utterly woeful fulham, then Championship me up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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