Ralph Hasenhuttl

[nta786]

My opinion is this- Ralph in for a little while yet. However the clock is ticking we are over the last 20 games the worst team in the PL we cannot hide from that. 

However, I think he needs some help and he can definitely do better. Look at his assistants- with all due respect that is not a PL worthy staff list. He has no one to bounce any ideas off and Kelvin/Dave are more GK coaches than someone who will offer meaningful analysis.

The defence the last few weeks is in disarray- looks all over the place and there have been too many mistakes. A specialised defensive coach I reckon would do wonders on that front. 

Position	Name
First Team Manager	Ralph Hasenhüttl
First Team Assistant Coach	Richard Kitzbichler
First Team Assistant Coach	Kelvin Davis
First Team Assistant Coach	Craig Fleming
First Team Assistant Coach	Dave Watson
First Team Goalkeeping Coach	Andrew Sparkes

 

 

Edited 14 March, 2021 by nta786

[CB Fry]

3 minutes ago, nta786 said:

My opinion is this- Ralph in for a little while yet. However the clock is ticking we are over the last 20 games the worst team in the PL we cannot hide from that. 

However, I think he needs some help and he can definitely do better. Look at his assistants- with all due respect that is not a PL worthy staff list. He has no one to bounce any ideas off and Kelvin/Dave are more GK coaches than someone who will offer meaningful analysis.

The defence the last few weeks is in disarray- looks all over the place and there have been too many mistakes. A specialised defensive coach I reckon would do wonders on that front. 

Position	Name
First Team Manager	Ralph Hasenhüttl
First Team Assistant Coach	Richard Kitzbichler
First Team Assistant Coach	Kelvin Davis
First Team Assistant Coach	Craig Fleming
First Team Assistant Coach	Dave Watson
First Team Goalkeeping Coach	Andrew Sparkes

 

 

If only we had the same management team that took us to top of the league last November and that great run in 2020.

What happened to those guys?

[geoffnut]

He has to go now.

[nta786]

2 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

If only we had the same management team that took us to top of the league last November and that great run in 2020.

What happened to those guys?

I agree, and if I knew the answer to that then we probably wouldn't be in the rut we are.

As I said, I am still Ralph in and yes that owes to the great 2020 he gave us either side of the seasons which for sure has bought him time  with board, players and fans (well some fans) alike.

However, there will come a point where all that work he did in 2020 will be negated by this terrible run we are on now and by which point Ralph will be one of the many factors to be held accountable.

[SKD]

5 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

If only we had the same management team that took us to top of the league last November and that great run in 2020.

What happened to those guys?

Got found out when trying the same thing week in week out. Similar to those guys at Sheffield United who just got the sack. 

[Saint86]

First and foremost. The performance today vs Brighton was appalling. We were far too soft, gave them easy goals, and lacked any real threat going forward. It was also very concerning just how tired we looked.

But, a point of reflection perhaps:

I think the reality is that the overall squad is probably relegation scrap level and the system WAS working to produce results above the standard of the "whole". We've had a terrible run of poor results, bad decisions, injuries etc. and all of that has clearly knocked the players' form and confidence. As others have said, we are no long making the runs or the passes that we were making at the start of the year, the players aren't fluid because of the unsettled team and lack of confidence, and we are still missing Ings and Romeu - How many have looked at Newcastle and thought that ASM and Wilson are going to be big misses for them? - because I would say Romeu and Ings are far worse, and that is excluding all the other players we've missed. All in all, things are very much spiralling in an alarmingly negative direction.

Ultimately, none of the above can excuse the meek performance today - which will have an even worse knock on our confidence as well. And if anyone is thinking that Burnley, Palace, and West Brom are a chance to get points - all i can say is that they will play exactly the same way Brighton played today. Sit deep, don't give us anything, and take chances when we over commit (i.e. inevitably gift them).

You can't explain away the current form. We are a team in trouble. But you also can't ignore the frankly superb year Hassenhuttle has had either. The guy has taken the squad he inherited from Puel/Pellegrino/Hughes, and ultimately had it lose players and be weakened. Even this year all we've really done is like for like replacements for PEH and Cedric, signed a squad rotation/prospect CB, and picked up two loans (one of which is injured and being covered for by the other).

To those that think Ralph should be doing better with this team. I would query what that is based upon? Is it based on the performances of his predecessors who all had better squads but left us in relegation fights? Doubtful. Is it instead based upon our form since project restart and prior to this winter? More likely.

I personally think Ralph is a good manager who has overachieved with us, and that he isn't an idiot. He must realise we're in trouble, and frankly he's saved us from certain relegation twice now imo. All we can realistically do is hope he can turn this around and get us out of danger - and then hope that something significantly changes at the club over the summer. Another summer like last year (this time losing ings, bertrand, vestergar(?), Theo and Minamino) will leave us with a squad i would expect to come mid table in the championship!!

The international break cannot come soon enough. I see no reason to expect a win in the league until after the leicester and liverpool games on current form. But i still wouldn't call for his head yet. I'd say I am concerned, but i am interested to see how he addresses things as players start to come back and get fitness. Only having Che and N'lundulu (or, wait for it.... Redmond filling in) as fit forwards is dire for any team imo.

Edit for an additional musing - I wish we had Gabbi still 😕

Edited 14 March, 2021 by Saint86

[Suhari]

Hard for Ralph while we have a clown owner.

 

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

53 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

The key difference you continue to ignore is for over a year Saints were superb under Hasenhuttl. At no point under Puel, Pellegrino or Hughes did they have Saints playing that well for a sustained period of time.

For a bloke who deals in facts, you over look the obvious. I couldn’t give a shiny shite whether we won the “superb for x amount of months” trophy. Final league position and games won are all that matters. At this moment in time, that period looks like a blip, because we were fucking woeful before it, and fucking woeful since. 

Edited 14 March, 2021 by Lord Duckhunter

[S-Clarke]

42 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I know where you are coming from but the most influential man at the club (football wise) is the manager. Responsible for player recruitment (he has a veto); tactics, player selection and motivation. With success comes praise which he got in bucket loads earlier in the season but this recent run with 4 points out of 36 tells its own tale and as you know time is one commodity few flailing PL managers get. 

He's responsible for player recruitment within a very, very limited scope. He's hardly had any scope to mould his side here, so I don't think that can be labelled at him. Player selection is pretty much what he can put out on a pitch any given Saturday, there's nothing beyond the 11.

But he's not perfect. He's too slow to react to opposition changes and he is a bit to fixated on the way we play, however that alone isn't the reason we are struggling as bad as we are. It's a perfect storm of injures, no squad, shit mix up of players who dump and run when the going gets tough, no investment and congested fixtures. It's all coincided to create the worst second half of the season I can ever remember us having. Ralph made a very interesting point after the last 9-0 defeat, he was questioned what our response will be to that.  ''We were a shit team back then, a shit team. We're much better now'. I think he himself has also been a bit blindsided by some of these players, we are still a shit team and he's been polishing a turd. Maybe he's giving them as much faith as we have been.

History tell us that the manager will often take the hit for these sort of runs, but I truly believe there is much more at play than just the manager in my opinion. I'll stand by my view and I appreciate other's don't feel the same. I just wish some fans would take a pause for a second and look at the bigger picture rather than attributing our poor form just to the managers 'tactics'.

Edited 14 March, 2021 by S-Clarke

[SKD]

8 minutes ago, Suhari said:

Hard for Ralph while we have a clown owner.

 

 

It’s not hard for him to try and mix it up though, is it. 
 

Yes our squad is thin, yes we’ve had injuries (I suspect that was due to the managers style, to be honest), yes it’s been a lot of games and bad luck. 
 

regardless of the owner (who Ralph signed up to work with by the way), the manager hasn’t helped him self. Too slow to react, too reluctant to change. 
 

12 games without a win is pathetic. Why weren’t there posts of ‘it’s hard for Ralph when we have a clown owner’ when we were top... it’s the same owner. 

Edited 14 March, 2021 by SKD

[CB Fry]

12 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He's responsible for player recruitment within a very, very limited scope. He's hardly had any scope to mould his side here, so I don't think that can be labelled at him. Player selection is pretty much what he can put out on a pitch any given Saturday, there's nothing beyond the 11.

But he's not perfect. He's too slow to react to opposition changes and he is a bit to fixated on the way we play, however that alone isn't the reason we are struggling as bad as we are. It's a perfect storm of injures, no squad, shit mix up of players who dump and run when the going gets tough, no investment and congested fixtures. It's all coincided to create the worst second half of the season I can ever remember us having. Ralph made a very interesting point after the last 9-0 defeat, he was questioned what our response will be to that.  ''We were a shit team back then, a shit team. We're much better now'. I think he himself has also been a bit blindsided by some of these players, we are still a shit team and he's been polishing a turd. Maybe he's giving them as much faith as we have been.

History tell us that the manager will often take the hit for these sort of runs, but I truly believe there is much more at play than just the manager in my opinion. I'll stand by my view and I appreciate other's don't feel the same. I just wish some fans would take a pause for a second and look at the bigger picture rather than attributing our poor form just to the managers 'tactics'.

Yet after a dreadful performance with a squad and team very much chosen, coached and developed by the manager it's interesting how some just want to immediately start bleating about the owner and "bigger problems at the club" and all this other stuff grandly described as "the big picture". To me  it's a fucking cop-out and a knee-jerk reaction to get the manager off the hook.

When we were top of the league no one said how great the club was, or how good the owners hands-off approach was. The only "picture" big or small was how brilliant Ralph was.

Maybe the big picture now is this manager is running out of ideas and is losing control of this team and how to win matches? Maybe that's the big picture? 

 

Edited 14 March, 2021 by CB Fry

[Red]

12 minutes ago, geoffnut said:

He has to go now.

Agree with this. I have been a great (loyal?) supporter of Ralph but I think it's time for a change. He has been given long enough and it's just not getting any better, and yes might be unlucky etc. but several good managers (IMHO) have not cut it for whatever reason - Poch at Spurs, both Nigel's here, Rodgers at Bin dippers, Wilder at SU etc. etc.

He is bereft of new ideas and failing to inspire the team. Honestly how can you say you are happy with being stuffed 5-2 by City??? Ok, I get it you don't dish the players in public, but a response along the lines of "I though we were great for the first 15 minutes where we took the game to City, and it was a great display of what our team can produce at our best. Unfortunately our lack of concentration and individual errors failed to capitalise on that great start and we have to work to improve that" would be better and not damming any individual player but saying the team display was not good enough!

Rested players for this game to no benefit, and two goals from a team that cannot score for toffee is just simply poor tactics. Even if we survive this season, without drastic change we are going down next. season - we will not have the same start and opposition will be better prepared.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Whatever constraints that are on the manager, or however bad owners are, the manager is responsible for the culture around the first team and the motivation of it. The culture is fucking soft arsed from top to bottom and the players appear to lack desire. That’s 100% the managers fault. When he fucking  goes down and blubs when we unexpectedly win, when he’s happy to lose by 5 provided Pep throws him a bone. Does anyone wonder why we’re a bunch of fucking  fairies 

Edited 14 March, 2021 by Lord Duckhunter

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Resting half the team at Man City so that they were available for this 6 pointer worked out well, didn't it? 😕
I'll say what I said when I saw the team he put out at Man City. A manager should always play the best team that's available to him. Having your 'best players' (take that with a pinch of salt) sat on the bench is bizarre. You can't go around trying to protect your best players from possible injury. They might get injured. On the other hand, they might not. In the event that you do lose a player to injury then deal with it, if it happens. Benching players so that they don't get injured is unbelievably negative. These are professional athletes. They should be able to play 2 games a week. Other clubs seem to manage it without all the chopping and changing.

Ralph obviously thought today's game was the more winnable of the two fixtures and look at the performance they put in and how it ended. All he's done is chop and change things. He looks like a man who will try anything in the hope of something working out.

I can't help but feel that he's just to nice. He needs to be firing a rocket up some of that lot.

 

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

If we go down, Ralph won't stay. I say we may as well make a move for Eddie Howe. Bring him in now and he might be able to keep us up. If he doesn't, we've got a decent Championship manager. 

[Red]

4 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Yet after a dreadful performance with a squad and team very much chosen, coached and developed by the manager it's interesting how some just want to immediately start bleating about the owner and "bigger problems at the club" and all this other stuff grandly described as "the big picture". To me  it's a fucking cop-out and a knee-jerk reaction to get the manager off the hook.

Maybe the big picture is this manager is running out of ideas and is losing control of this team and how to win matches? Maybe that's the big picture? 

 

Agreed. Ings apart (who frankly has been well below average lately), this is the strongest team we could have fielded and we were rubbish - have no issue with giving it everything and losing but can you honestly say we did today? Surely Ralph has at least some culpability for that? Ralph is not the messiah and sometimes you just need to move on for both parties - is there a reason why he has ever stayed for a long period at any of his pervious clubs?  

[Suhari]

Ralph clearly has him limitations, however I think the limitations of investment, squad options and coaching team are the bigger factor.

Though yes: I wish he'd stop the fanny about recycling all the time.

If we replaced him now, I doubt we would really see a difference. Fresh owner and squad overhaul is needed first.

[Convict Colony]

37 minutes ago, Suhari said:

Hard for Ralph while we have a clown owner.

 

 

Decent porn collection behind him

[Teddeer]

It's hard to mount a defence for Ralph after the form this year culminating in today's shit show. I've tried to stay with him but any coach at this level who can stand and watch us failing entirely for 90 minutes to attempt to play between the opposition lines is clearly lacking. This is basics and it worries me that Ralph did nothing to address the problem.

[Morse]

1 hour ago, CB Fry said:

If only we had the same management team that took us to top of the league last November and that great run in 2020.

What happened to those guys?

Good question, what did happen to those guys?

[The Curse of St Mary's]

He says we were to slow and lacking urgency. We have to assume he was instructing team to show more urgency therefore the players are defying his orders. However the lack of players in the box and not pushing vestergaard up for last 5 mins tells me Ralph didn't really have any answers. The pedestrian sideways crap was embarrassing and truly pathetic no matter who at fault 

[gordonToo]

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.

[S-Clarke]

38 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Yet after a dreadful performance with a squad and team very much chosen, coached and developed by the manager it's interesting how some just want to immediately start bleating about the owner and "bigger problems at the club" and all this other stuff grandly described as "the big picture". To me  it's a fucking cop-out and a knee-jerk reaction to get the manager off the hook.

When we were top of the league no one said how great the club was, or how good the owners hands-off approach was. The only "picture" big or small was how brilliant Ralph was.

Maybe the big picture now is this manager is running out of ideas and is losing control of this team and how to win matches? Maybe that's the big picture? 

 

People were proclaiming Gao was a good owner back in November, his hands off approach is why we are now successful. He was pivotal in bringing Ralph etc. He's not as bad as is made out, we would be worse off with x or y etc. There were some posts about it but I can't be arsed to find them.

But he's a shit owner, the worst in our history and he's destroying us. Absolutely invisible, a non-entity. Worthless. Whilst he is around, and taking the proud name of Southampton through his stink, then we are always going to be close to entering oblivion. We cannot continue to operate this self defeating sell-before-you-can-do-anything approach, that will only end one way and he can kiss goodbye to his fucking money then.

I haven't absolved the manager of blame, I haven't said he's perfect. I'm just saying there is more to our form than just the manager. He got us over achieving massively and that's why I think it's unfair that he's automatically 'shown the door' when the going gets tough and the true form of some of these 'players' comes to the fore. The bigger picture is that this group of players is absolutely fucking terrible, he hasn't had the scope to add to the squad and improve the depth, thus the owner is killing us. Ralph did wonders to make us as competitive as he did during 2020, the form horse with this lot is losing and relegation battles.

Edited 14 March, 2021 by S-Clarke

[Red]

50 minutes ago, Suhari said:

Hard for Ralph while we have a clown owner.

 

 

Really - you want to blame the owner after the great display today by our strongest team (apart from Ings who has hardly been a superstar)?

[Billy the Kidd]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

The key difference you continue to ignore is for over a year Saints were superb under Hasenhuttl. At no point under Puel, Pellegrino or Hughes did they have Saints playing that well for a sustained period of time.

I do agree, but sometimes things need changing as shit doesn't work out.

I would keep Ralph based on I still think he can be great for us but needs backing this summer and if it isn't working by Nov, he may go.

If they dont back him  what's the point of keeping him, as the players he has dont fit the system he wants to play, and it's clear he isn't changing system.

This is a massive summer, but my view we need to change:

Goalkeeper

Bertrand plus back up

Vesty

JWP 

Redmond 

Djeneppo 

Ings

Plus filling the squad holes.

I reckon we could get £70-80m for that lot.

 

[Chapel End]

12 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

People were proclaiming Gao was a good owner back in November, his hands off approach is why we are now successful. He was pivotal in bringing Ralph etc. He's not as bad as is made out, we would be worse off with x or y etc. There were some posts about it but I can't be arsed to find them.

But he's a shit owner, the worst in our history and he's destroying us. Absolutely invisible, a non-entity. Worthless. Whilst he is around, and taking the proud name of Southampton through his stink, then we are always going to be close to entering oblivion. We cannot continue to operate this self defeating sell-before-you-can-do-anything approach, that will only end one way and he can kiss goodbye to his fucking money then.

I haven't absolved the manager of blame, I haven't said he's perfect. I'm just saying there is more to our form than just the manager. He got us over achieving massively and that's why I think it's unfair that he's automatically 'shown the door' when the going gets tough and the true form of some of these 'players' comes to the fore. The bigger picture is that this group of players is absolutely fucking terrible, he hasn't had the scope to add to the squad and improve the depth, thus the owner is killing us. Ralph did wonders to make us as competitive as he did during 2020, the form horse with this lot is losing and relegation battles.

Good post

[JustinSFC]

That was grim viewing today. 

It really was.

When the opposition manager makes a tactical change, the bloke has no idea what to do, let alone react. 

That lineup we put out today, should not be getting solidly beaten by that Brighton team.

If Ralph was sacked tomorrow I wouldn't be disappointed with any of Howe, Lampard or Jokanovic.

Ralph gave me something to get behind, but this is just beyond effing awful now.

 

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

If we want Howe, better get in quick before the blue few do.

[miserableoldgit]

I may be clutching at straws here, but does anyone think that Ralph has (unintentionally) dropped a few hints about possible changes at the club, during recent pressers? Some weeks ago he was talking about us having no money. Recently, however, he has been talking more openly about plans for next season and positions that he wants to fill. As I say, might be just me...

[Matthew Le God]

12 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

If we want Howe, better get in quick before the blue few do.

No chance Howe will be going to Portsmouth, he has a standing in the game a long way above teams struggling to get out of League One. His wages demands would far surpass Pompey's manager wage budget by some distance!

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

No chance Howe will be going to Portsmouth, he has a standing in the game a long way above teams struggling to get out of League One. His wages demands would far surpass Pompey's manager wage budget by some distance!

I'm sure the deluded few believe they deserve someone of his standing though! They'll wake up one day.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

No chance Howe will be going to Portsmouth, he has a standing in the game a long way above teams struggling to get out of League One. His wages demands would far surpass Pompey's manager wage budget by some distance!

But is it really that much of a stretch though? Ex player, needs to re-build his reputation after a bit of a sticky patch? Even on a short term deal until the end of the season, performance based contract with caveats that he gets them promoted. Stranger things have happened.

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

But is it really that much of a stretch though? Ex player, needs to re-build his reputation after a bit of a sticky patch? Even on a short term deal until the end of the season, performance based contract with caveats that he gets them promoted. Stranger things have happened.

Yes, it is a huge stretch! Howe was on a £3m per year contract at Bournemouth. His stock is still relatively high, he is not going to join a team with a wage budget of £2.5m for their entire playing staff!

[Fitzhugh Fella]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

People were proclaiming Gao was a good owner back in November, his hands off approach is why we are now successful. He was pivotal in bringing Ralph etc. He's not as bad as is made out, we would be worse off with x or y etc. There were some posts about it but I can't be arsed to find them.

But he's a shit owner, the worst in our history and he's destroying us. Absolutely invisible, a non-entity. Worthless. Whilst he is around, and taking the proud name of Southampton through his stink, then we are always going to be close to entering oblivion. We cannot continue to operate this self defeating sell-before-you-can-do-anything approach, that will only end one way and he can kiss goodbye to his fucking money then.

I haven't absolved the manager of blame, I haven't said he's perfect. I'm just saying there is more to our form than just the manager. He got us over achieving massively and that's why I think it's unfair that he's automatically 'shown the door' when the going gets tough and the true form of some of these 'players' comes to the fore. The bigger picture is that this group of players is absolutely fucking terrible, he hasn't had the scope to add to the squad and improve the depth, thus the owner is killing us. Ralph did wonders to make us as competitive as he did during 2020, the form horse with this lot is losing and relegation battles.

We’ve only had two owners to be fair. I think fans don’t understand the concept of being owned by an individual. We can’t demand their removal like we used to with Lowe. He was accountable to the shareholders and the bank whereas Gao answers to no one in this country. And to add perspective there are a lot more dodgy owners out there who would do more harm than Gao by potentially asset stripping. I hate the fact we seem hamstrung financially and are having to compete against clubs with so much more financial clout but raging against Gao solves nothing.
 

The manner of our defeat today really is worrying. I was and probably still am in the keep Ralph camp but not by much. We are going to have to cope and deal with the fact there’s no magic money tree and we need a manager who can work on a shoestring and wheel and deal. Not convinced Ralph is that man I am afraid. A loss next weekend is unthinkable but have the players got what it takes? They are mentally fragile with little leadership on display. 
 

[Matthew Le God]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

People were proclaiming Gao was a good owner back in November, his hands off approach is why we are now successful. He was pivotal in bringing Ralph etc. He's not as bad as is made out, we would be worse off with x or y etc. There were some posts about it but I can't be arsed to find them.

But he's a shit owner, the worst in our history and he's destroying us. Absolutely invisible, a non-entity. Worthless. Whilst he is around, and taking the proud name of Southampton through his stink, then we are always going to be close to entering oblivion. We cannot continue to operate this self defeating sell-before-you-can-do-anything approach, that will only end one way and he can kiss goodbye to his fucking money then.

I haven't absolved the manager of blame, I haven't said he's perfect. I'm just saying there is more to our form than just the manager. He got us over achieving massively and that's why I think it's unfair that he's automatically 'shown the door' when the going gets tough and the true form of some of these 'players' comes to the fore. The bigger picture is that this group of players is absolutely fucking terrible, he hasn't had the scope to add to the squad and improve the depth, thus the owner is killing us. Ralph did wonders to make us as competitive as he did during 2020, the form horse with this lot is losing and relegation battles.

I don't think anyone did that. There is a difference between saying someone isn't a bad owner and someone is a good owner. They are not the same thing. Gao is a 'meh' owner due to the lack of investment, that doesn't mean he is a bad owner and he certainly is not a good owner.

[Chapel End]

32 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

If we want Howe, better get in quick before the blue few do.

No no no thanks 

[wadesmith]

I actually believe Ralph will waive the 5 million fee to get him out of his contract, and leave for the good of the club. He’s a lovely bloke..but not Premiership quality. Thanks for all you’ve done Ralph.

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 minute ago, wadesmith said:

I actually believe Ralph will waive the 5 million fee to get him out of his contract, and leave for the good of the club. 

And my cocks a carrot 

[wadesmith]

2 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

And my cocks a carrot 

Any chance of a nibble?

[Chapel End]

7 minutes ago, wadesmith said:

I actually believe Ralph will waive the 5 million fee to get him out of his contract, and leave for the good of the club. He’s a lovely bloke..but not Premiership quality. Thanks for all you’ve done Ralph.

🤣🤣

[LuckyNumber7]

I've always been fully behind Ralph but for the first time I'm starting to have serious doubts about whether he can turn things around. We look so devoid of confidence and any idea of how to create chances, not to mention how shambolic we are in defence. Worrying times.

I really like Ralph but it's getting harder to defend these type of performances. We cannot go on like this. Desperate for him to turn it around but if he were to go, Howe would be my choice also.

[Whitey Grandad]

24 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

And my cocks a carrot 

Do you attract any donkeys?

[JustinSFC]

Saints reporter Dan Sheldon laying into Ralph in the comments on The Athletic.

Adam Blackmore never really digs managers out but he did say on Twitter 10 defeats in the last 12 isn't good enough, that's probably one of the more direct comments I've seen from him.

Dave Merrington was laying into Ralph after Leeds away, haven't heard Daves comments after this game though, I know the blokes a Dinosaur but he says it like it is.

[Harry_SFC]

I'd hazard a guess that Ralph will be here as long as we don't go down. Probably due to finances as well as having the full backing of Martin Semmens. 

Personally I think he needs to be more flexible with his game plans. We're so predictable, especially when chasing a game - we just seem to run out of ideas and pass the ball around on the half way line. 

I'm still behind Ralph but that opinion might well be different depending on how/where we finish this season.

[Billy the Kidd]

3 hours ago, nta786 said:

I agree, and if I knew the answer to that then we probably wouldn't be in the rut we are.

As I said, I am still Ralph in and yes that owes to the great 2020 he gave us either side of the seasons which for sure has bought him time  with board, players and fans (well some fans) alike.

However, there will come a point where all that work he did in 2020 will be negated by this terrible run we are on now and by which point Ralph will be one of the many factors to be held accountable.

Is this great run we went on in 2020 the exception rather than the norm?  We’ve had enough games overall, and a win% of a very average 38% or thereabouts. 

Ive always been in Ralph’s camp, but its wearing thin, and fail to get 3 points from our next 2 league games I’m not sure I’d be so content keeping him.

[Greenridge]

Quickly running out of credit. 

[Whitey Grandad]

I’ve been very patient and philosophical up to now but I’ve reached the point where if he did leave I wouldn’t be too bothered.

[SKD]

20 minutes ago, Billy the Kidd said:

Is this great run we went on in 2020 the exception rather than the norm?  We’ve had enough games overall, and a win% of a very average 38% or thereabouts. 

Ive always been in Ralph’s camp, but its wearing thin, and fail to get 3 points from our next 2 league games I’m not sure I’d be so content keeping him.

Pretty much where I’m at, I think. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Lose next week and that’s me done with him. 

[aintforever]

I just think the crazy schedule and injuries has killed his high energy game and that’s all he knows. It’s a freak season so I would give him the benefit of doubt. As long as we can get a stronger squad in place we should do OK next year if we stay up.