Ralph Hasenhuttl

[The Cat]

1 hour ago, DT said:

Article read to me a bit like a journo ‘briefing’ aimed a getting an easy ear and putting out some positive messages in order to tickle the season ticket sales. Actually hope the Forster bit is true but suspect not. Also think we’re supporting Ralph because it is cheaper and we have no money. Hope there are firmer hands on the tiller. 

Why would you hope the Forster thing is true? There's a crap load of better keepers than him, many of which wouldn't cost much. He's literally so painfully average I don't understand what you are watching.

[SuperSAINT]

To me, the Forster going & us wanting a young no.2 feels like something we’d do.  The City keeper certainly fits the profile.  A prem move for him, but not so far down the squad that he’d never play. 

[S-Clarke]

49 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

To me, the Forster going & us wanting a young no.2 feels like something we’d do.  The City keeper certainly fits the profile.  A prem move for him, but not so far down the squad that he’d never play. 

In most cases that's a sensible approach, but our first choice goalkeepers are shit so we really cannot go with a young one who will be good in a year or so. We need a starter from day 1, but sadly I think what you suggest is likley to happen. Young GK to play second fiddle to McCarthy.

[Saint Garrett]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

In most cases that's a sensible approach, but our first choice goalkeepers are shit so we really cannot go with a young one who will be good in a year or so. We need a starter from day 1, but sadly I think what you suggest is likley to happen. Young GK to play second fiddle to McCarthy.

We were at our best recruitment wise, when we were buying first choice players and improving the first XI with the current players moving to backups. The likes of Wanyama, Davis, Jrod, Clyne, Lovren, Osvaldo, Alderweireld, Mane, Tadic, VVD, KWP. We're at our worse recruitment wise, when we sign squad filler. 

It's about time we start buying players that are a step up from what we have. Whether we can afford them or not, is another issue, but I can't imagine we can't afford any players who are better than what we have. I can't imagine that those listed above were "cheap" at the time. 

Maybe other teams scouting has just improved a lot, and we're now not the first to find these kind of players.

[Totton Saint]

I have noticed that the maruading dribblers like tino and Liv have stopped doing that.  I does seem that  taking on their man is being coached out of them

[DT]

2 hours ago, The Cat said:

Why would you hope the Forster thing is true? There's a crap load of better keepers than him, many of which wouldn't cost much. He's literally so painfully average I don't understand what you are watching.

Only because he's less bad than McCarthy who we have mystifyingly given another contract to. Unless he dropped it.

[The Cat]

40 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

I have noticed that the maruading dribblers like tino and Liv have stopped doing that.  I does seem that  taking on their man is being coached out of them

That's the same player?

With him I think that's partly due to the opposition not letting it happen. They've seen his strength in that area against other teams and pit tactics in place to stop it.

[Give it to Ron]

46 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

I have noticed that the maruading dribblers like tino and Liv have stopped doing that.  I does seem that  taking on their man is being coached out of them

What is this coaching thing you speak of?

[MAY-Z]

1 hour ago, Totton Saint said:

I have noticed that the maruading dribblers like tino and Liv have stopped doing that.  I does seem that  taking on their man is being coached out of them

Just look at all the attackers

 

djenepo was really exciting when he arrived, now useless

walcott pretty decent when he arrived, now nothing

Adam Armstrong a couple of goals and a few assists early, now nothing

tella was showing promise, now hardly anything

ely looked good when getting back from Celtic, going backwards now

redmond gone from serviceable to nothing

broja looking 30m+ when he first got into the team, now looking a shadow

 

there has to be something about the coaching that is stifling all these attackers, even S Armstrong is well down on previous seasons

[DT]

4 minutes ago, MAY-Z said:

Just look at all the attackers

 

djenepo was really exciting when he arrived, now useless

walcott pretty decent when he arrived, now nothing

Adam Armstrong a couple of goals and a few assists early, now nothing

tella was showing promise, now hardly anything

ely looked good when getting back from Celtic, going backwards now

redmond gone from serviceable to nothing

broja looking 30m+ when he first got into the team, now looking a shadow

 

there has to be something about the coaching that is stifling all these attackers, even S Armstrong is well down on previous seasons

This is precisely it. Dave Watson, Kelvin Davis et al. Not good enough. Added to questionable selection and poor tactics from Ralph and you have where we are. Even Salisu looked outstanding when he first arrived, and now making errors. 

[Wurzel]

32 minutes ago, MAY-Z said:

Just look at all the attackers

 

djenepo was really exciting when he arrived, now useless

walcott pretty decent when he arrived, now nothing

Adam Armstrong a couple of goals and a few assists early, now nothing

tella was showing promise, now hardly anything

ely looked good when getting back from Celtic, going backwards now

redmond gone from serviceable to nothing

broja looking 30m+ when he first got into the team, now looking a shadow

 

there has to be something about the coaching that is stifling all these attackers, even S Armstrong is well down on previous seasons

You forgot Che Adams, his confidence seemed sky high after he'd played a few MotM games for Scotland, now he's in and out of the team and looking disillusioned when he does play.

[Maggie May]

Before the Villa collapse, we had lost the fewest amount of games outside the top 6 (or around that) and our goal difference was at the respectable end of negative.
 

Something must have sparked this capitulation - and it can’t just be poor coaching. It doesn’t add up. 

[DT]

9 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

Before the Villa collapse, we had lost the fewest amount of games outside the top 6 (or around that) and our goal difference was at the respectable end of negative.
 

Something must have sparked this capitulation - and it can’t just be poor coaching. It doesn’t add up. 

Ralph weirdly announcing he was off after next season?

[RobM]

16 minutes ago, DT said:

Ralph weirdly announcing he was off after next season?

I keep coming back to this. It must impact players motivation if they believe they're playing for somebody who might not be here in the near future? Why buy into a specific philosophy and bust a gut to prove yourself to somebody, if it may all change soon? You're relying entirely on the professionalism of players, and when we have such a young and inexperienced squad and a lack of leadership with our players, that's risky.

[sydenhamssocks]

1 hour ago, MAY-Z said:

Just look at all the attackers

 

djenepo was really exciting when he arrived, now useless

walcott pretty decent when he arrived, now nothing

Adam Armstrong a couple of goals and a few assists early, now nothing

tella was showing promise, now hardly anything

ely looked good when getting back from Celtic, going backwards now

redmond gone from serviceable to nothing

broja looking 30m+ when he first got into the team, now looking a shadow

 

there has to be something about the coaching that is stifling all these attackers, even S Armstrong is well down on previous seasons

Spot on 🎯

[nta786]

The solution - Ralph needs to play these 3 more  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10804801/Much-maligned-Fred-Harry-Maguire-actually-Man-Uniteds-good-luck-charms.html

[ErwinK1961]

8 hours ago, MAY-Z said:

Just look at all the attackers

 

djenepo was really exciting when he arrived, now useless

walcott pretty decent when he arrived, now nothing

Adam Armstrong a couple of goals and a few assists early, now nothing

tella was showing promise, now hardly anything

ely looked good when getting back from Celtic, going backwards now

redmond gone from serviceable to nothing

broja looking 30m+ when he first got into the team, now looking a shadow

 

there has to be something about the coaching that is stifling all these attackers, even S Armstrong is well down on previous seasons

Theres plenty of sticks to beat Ralph with, but think this is pretty harsh,

Djenepo - scored a couple of excellent goals early on, but other than that has generally offered zilch. Made of glass and spends most time injured. 

Walcott - was he ever decent? Think he got a free pass to start with due to the connection, but generally offered nothing. Spent loads of time injured.

Adam Armstrong - numbers looked good to start with, but he missed quite a few gilt edged chances. Broja came in, took his chance and Armstrong got sidelined. Has been harshly treated though and why Long has been picked ahead of him is baffling.

Tella - flashes of promise, would you not credit Ralph for bringing him into the squad? Wouldn’t say he was great then has become shit, he’s been pretty much the same level

Ely - was shite when he joined, bit of rehabilitation at Celtic, has come back and did ok. Would you not credit Ralph for his reintroduction into the squad? Id given up on him completely, so what he’s delivered this season has been a bonus for me (albeit still very average).

Redmond - had his best season under Ralph... He’s reverted back to the bang average player he has been though for most of his time here, probably because thats what he is… bang average. 

Broja - by all accounts he didn’t start initially as his application appeared to be questioned. Ralph gave him some words, he bucked his ideas up and was excellent for a few months. Appears his attitude has dwindled again and doesn’t look like he can be fcked for the last couple of months (not only one).

S Armstrong - best of a bad bunch, but I don’t think he’s as good as people make out. Another one with injury problems. 

Would a change of tactics or manager make these players any better? Possibly, but wouldn’t expect a significant difference. They’re all just bang average to poor footballers (possible exception for Broja), playing at a bang average to poor level. This is the reason most fans (and no doubt Ralph) want to see wholesale changes in the No 10 / Striker area 

Edited 11 May, 2022 by ErwinK1961

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 hours ago, Totton Saint said:

I have noticed that the maruading dribblers like tino and Liv have stopped doing that.  I does seem that  taking on their man is being coached out of them

They won’t be very happy with KWP, he’s obviously not listening to the coaching staff.

Anyway isn’t Tino & Liv the same person? Perhaps that’s what has caused his drop off in form, he’s trying to do the job of 2 players. 

[Turkish]

 

Own up, who's got one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Saint86]

4 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

We were at our best recruitment wise, when we were buying first choice players and improving the first XI with the current players moving to backups. The likes of Wanyama, Davis, Jrod, Clyne, Lovren, Osvaldo, Alderweireld, Mane, Tadic, VVD, KWP. We're at our worse recruitment wise, when we sign squad filler. 

It's about time we start buying players that are a step up from what we have. Whether we can afford them or not, is another issue, but I can't imagine we can't afford any players who are better than what we have. I can't imagine that those listed above were "cheap" at the time. 

Maybe other teams scouting has just improved a lot, and we're now not the first to find these kind of players.

Playing devil's advocate - we've always gone for players to improve the team, its not like we decided to just buy bench players. The ones you've listed above worked out. Carillo, Hoedt, Lemina, Boufal, Claise didn't. Unless we're going to collectively agree that £15-22m record level transfers were squad fillers? 🧐

Edited 11 May, 2022 by Saint86

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

3 hours ago, The Cat said:

That's the same player?

With him I think that's partly due to the opposition not letting it happen. They've seen his strength in that area against other teams and pit tactics in place to stop it.

That's a novel idea. You mean there are managers out there who adopt their tactics to the opposition?

[Christophenburg]

On 10/05/2022 at 13:13, jawillwill said:

This seems to be based on this tweet from what I can tell. And I doubt PL players from Southampton bother with cheap EasyJet flights from Luton Airport. Suggest its not a rumour worth getting your knickers in a twist over. 

 

 

Pic is doing the rounds on Twitter with Romeu and Lyanco, so they are both definitely in Ibiza at the moment 

[Dark Munster]

4 hours ago, Turkish said:

Own up, who's got one?

 

 

[The Cat]

5 hours ago, Turkish said:

 

Own up, who's got one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's hanging in the wardrobe with pride next to my Saints Go Wilde shirt.

[hackedoff]

5 hours ago, Turkish said:

 

Own up, who's got one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you tried washing it ?

The colours run faster than most of our team.

[The Kraken]

5 hours ago, Turkish said:

 

Own up, who's got one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me.

I alternate wearing it with my “Saints go Wilde” T-shirt.

[Saint86]

To surmise. We were safe after 33 games, despite having a very weak squad relative to the league and being tipped by most pundits for relegation... Queue our fans chanting for the manager's head 🤔

Edited 11 May, 2022 by Saint86

[Fitzhugh Fella]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

To surmise. We were safe after 33 games, despite having a very weak squad relative to the league and being tipped by most pundits for relegation... Queue our fans chanting for the managers head 🤔

So we had “a very weak squad” did we? 
Not according to Ralph who a few months ago expressed himself satisfied with it. 
And the fans haven’t been chanting for his head at all apart from the last 5 minutes at Brentford. They have been loyal and supportive all season but don’t let that fact get in the way of your narrative. Oh and hardly any pundit tipped us to go down by the way. 
And finally, I think you meant “summarise”not “surmise” and “cue” instead of “queue”but apart from all the above your post was spot on. I look forward to more brilliant analysis and comment in due course. 

[ErwinK1961]

14 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

So we had “a very weak squad” did we? 
Not according to Ralph who a few months ago expressed himself satisfied with it. 
And the fans haven’t been chanting for his head at all apart from the last 5 minutes at Brentford. They have been loyal and supportive all season but don’t let that fact get in the way of your narrative. Oh and hardly any pundit tipped us to go down by the way. 
And finally, I think you meant “summarise”not “surmise” and “cue” instead of “queue”but apart from all the above your post was spot on. I look forward to more brilliant analysis and comment in due course. 

Well he’s hardly going to turn around mid season and say “nah, this lot are absolute garbage” is he. 

And there were plenty of pundits / rags that had predicted us to go down. 

 

[macca155]

26 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

So we had “a very weak squad” did we? 
Not according to Ralph who a few months ago expressed himself satisfied with it. 
And the fans haven’t been chanting for his head at all apart from the last 5 minutes at Brentford. They have been loyal and supportive all season but don’t let that fact get in the way of your narrative. Oh and hardly any pundit tipped us to go down by the way. 
And finally, I think you meant “summarise”not “surmise” and “cue” instead of “queue”but apart from all the above your post was spot on. I look forward to more brilliant analysis and comment in due course. 

Truth is job has been done this year, pretty much guarantees Ralph keeps his job.

I can live with that (just about), but I expect to see some major changes to the coaching and playing staff. 

Otherwise we'll be in exactly the same position next year. Sooner than later our luck runs out.

[manji]

It really looks like Ralph is staying. He said in an interview after the last game we didn’t have the players to compete. He also said thing will change for the better next season. 
we won’t have to pay off Ralph, JWP staying, offload some players it’s obvious we have some targets,in place. I look foreword to the summer winder and next season.

[sydenhamssocks]

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. 👏🏼👏🏼

 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

6 hours ago, ErwinK1961 said:

Well he’s hardly going to turn around mid season and say “nah, this lot are absolute garbage” is he. 

And there were plenty of pundits / rags that had predicted us to go down. 

 

Because they weren’t garbage mid season, they actually looked half decent which begs the question how come they look so awful right now? Answer - they are being led by a tactically one dimensional manager who is out thought most weeks now he has been found out. You want more of the same next season then you continue to stick the telescope to your blind eye. 

[ErwinK1961]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Because they weren’t garbage mid season, they actually looked half decent which begs the question how come they look so awful right now? Answer - they are being led by a tactically one dimensional manager who is out thought most weeks now he has been found out. You want more of the same next season then you continue to stick the telescope to your blind eye. 

Never said I wanted him to stay. But if you think changing the manager is going to turn this lot into anything other than a bottom end premier league team, then maybe you should take back your telescope.

[Chez]

19 hours ago, RobM said:

I keep coming back to this. It must impact players motivation if they believe they're playing for somebody who might not be here in the near future? Why buy into a specific philosophy and bust a gut to prove yourself to somebody, if it may all change soon? You're relying entirely on the professionalism of players, and when we have such a young and inexperienced squad and a lack of leadership with our players, that's risky.

He announced that he "may" retire when his contract ends in 2.5 years time. Two and a half years is a long time in football. The contracts of the vast majority of the squad will have ended by then. 

[Miltonaggro]

18 hours ago, Turkish said:

 

Own up, who's got one?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve got the later version which says ‘Ralph is a hampton’

[The Left Back]

I have definitely been in the 'keep Ralph' camp pretty consistently.  I'm hoping we keep him for another season because he ticked the three boxes I would have set for him this year.  (1) survival (2) decent cup runs and (3) bloody the noses of some big boys. The 4th box I had was to play an attractive , progressive type of football, which we've done in spells but not enough for a big tick.

However, the tailspin at the end of this season has been very worrying.  I know we've had these long poor runs before under Ralph, but I understood them more.  This one seems unfathomable.  So if the club feels we need a fresh a approach I wouldn't be too unhappy, as long it's a well thought through appointment and not some knee-jerk reaction.

On the flip side, Watford have just appointed their 8th manager in four years.  And where has that got them?  So stability is an underrated virtue in my book.  Sure it can tip over into staleness, but I'm happier supporting us than I would be trying to survive the carnage that is Watford.  And to those of you think we should not compare ourselves to Watford I offer you Everton (9 managers in 5 years).  

[trousers]

20 minutes ago, The Left Back said:

I know we've had these long poor runs before under Ralph, but I understood them more.  This one seems unfathomable.

That's the 'in a nutshell' comment for me. I've always given Ralph the benefit of the doubt on previous poor runs because one could argue there were extenuating circumstances, but this current run is baffling. It has all the hallmarks of something not being right behind the scenes but unless we get to know what, if anything, is occuring being closed doors it's almost impossible to make a judgement on how well Ralph might do next season. So, from a logical perspective, there's a level of risk if we stick with him BUT also a level of risk if we opt for a new manager. How do we know which is the greater risk? Bottom line is that we don't...

Edited 12 May, 2022 by trousers

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

6 minutes ago, trousers said:

How do we know which is the greater risk? Bottom line is that we don't...

It's what's called life. There's a risk to everything. All you can do is weigh up pros. cons and adopt a probabilistic approach to things. eg how likely is it that we would have another long run of losses next season (likely if you look at Ralph's past track record), how likely is it that Ralph will make tactically poor decisions, play players out of position (likely) etc etc Then consider alternatives and see if the likelihood is they would do better. I'd quite like the Celtic manager if the board are reading this 🙂

 

[Greenridge]

2 hours ago, ErwinK1961 said:

Never said I wanted him to stay. But if you think changing the manager is going to turn this lot into anything other than a bottom end premier league team, then maybe you should take back your telescope.

I can't wait for our new manager. Challenging for the title and Champions League trips to the Bernabeu and the Nou Camp. What's not to like?

[Totton Saint]

23 hours ago, The Cat said:

That's the same player?

With him I think that's partly due to the opposition not letting it happen. They've seen his strength in that area against other teams and pit tactics in place to stop it.

Sorrry I meant KWP

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, The Left Back said:

I have definitely been in the 'keep Ralph' camp pretty consistently.  I'm hoping we keep him for another season because he ticked the three boxes I would have set for him this year.  (1) survival (2) decent cup runs and (3) bloody the noses of some big boys. The 4th box I had was to play an attractive , progressive type of football, which we've done in spells but not enough for a big tick.

However, the tailspin at the end of this season has been very worrying.  I know we've had these long poor runs before under Ralph, but I understood them more.  This one seems unfathomable. 

I'm sure the board are mindful of this particular run, but then i don't think its really that "unfathomable". We've got a small squad of first team level players. Some of them are on holiday, and a fair few of them know they are off in the summer. How many players can we accommodate taking their foot of the gas before it really shows in our form? And how many of Bednarek, Forster, Salisu, Redmond, djenpo, Walcott, Ely, and Broja do people think will actually be here in October?

Edited 12 May, 2022 by Saint86

[The Left Back]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

I'm sure the board are mindful of this particular run, but then i don't think its really that "unfathomable". We've got a small squad of first team level players. Some of them are on holiday, and a fair few of them know they are off in the summer. How many players can we accommodate taking their foot of the gas before it really shows in our form? And how many of Bednarek, Forster, Salisu, Redmond, djenpo, Walcott, Ely, and Broja do people think will actually be here in October?

I'd usually agree with this sentiment, so this is a bit weird, but I'll have a go at disagreeing.

2nd March this was the line up for West Ham in the cup

WILLY CABALLERO
YAN VALERY   
ROMAIN PERRAUD
JACK STEPHENS
KYLE WALKER-PETERS
WILLIAM SMALLBONE
MOUSSA DJENEPO
IBRAHIMA DIALLO
JAMES WARD-PROWSE
ADAM ARMSTRONG  
SHANE LONG

Arguably only 2-3 first team players.  So our squad is big enough.  

And some of them being on holiday is just not a reason

 

[Saint86]

51 minutes ago, The Left Back said:

I'd usually agree with this sentiment, so this is a bit weird, but I'll have a go at disagreeing.

2nd March this was the line up for West Ham in the cup

WILLY CABALLERO
YAN VALERY   
ROMAIN PERRAUD
JACK STEPHENS
KYLE WALKER-PETERS
WILLIAM SMALLBONE
MOUSSA DJENEPO
IBRAHIMA DIALLO
JAMES WARD-PROWSE
ADAM ARMSTRONG  
SHANE LONG

Arguably only 2-3 first team players.  So our squad is big enough.  

And some of them being on holiday is just not a reason

 

Haha okay! So the counter argument would be, where do you think that "1st team" eleven would finish over a 38 game season? I'd wager you'd get good odds on 19th or higher 😅

[Weston Super Saint]

10 hours ago, trousers said:

That's the 'in a nutshell' comment for me. I've always given Ralph the benefit of the doubt on previous poor runs because one could argue there were extenuating circumstances, but this current run is baffling. It has all the hallmarks of something not being right behind the scenes but unless we get to know what, if anything, is occuring being closed doors it's almost impossible to make a judgement on how well Ralph might do next season. So, from a logical perspective, there's a level of risk if we stick with him BUT also a level of risk if we opt for a new manager. How do we know which is the greater risk? Bottom line is that we don't...

Just when you thought you didn't need the Vardy's 😉

[captainchris]

On 11/05/2022 at 11:17, MAY-Z said:

Just look at all the attackers

 

djenepo was really exciting when he arrived, now useless

walcott pretty decent when he arrived, now nothing

Adam Armstrong a couple of goals and a few assists early, now nothing

tella was showing promise, now hardly anything

ely looked good when getting back from Celtic, going backwards now

redmond gone from serviceable to nothing

broja looking 30m+ when he first got into the team, now looking a shadow

 

there has to be something about the coaching that is stifling all these attackers, even S Armstrong is well down on previous seasons

At last someone else has noticed that Ralph does not improve players, indeed your list is accurate.

[Dman]

Where is Twar? Or is even his love for Ralph dwindling? 

[The Kraken]

26 minutes ago, Dman said:

Where is Twar? Or is even his love for Ralph dwindling? 

A quick check of his user name says he hasn’t logged in for around three weeks.

Jokes aside, I hope he’s alright 🤞
 

Edited 12 May, 2022 by The Kraken

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

A quick check of his user name says he hasn’t logged in for around three weeks.

Jokes aside, I hope he’s alright 🤞

Under that username….

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Under that username….

I have my suspicions, someone had been equally prolific recently, but with a modified persona