Arsenal 3-0 Saints - Match Thread

[manji]

8 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

We'll be fine anyway, we're not going down. I imagine we'll draw at Palace and we'll beat Brentford (who aren't that great)

Brentford were rubbish last night.

[Chez]

Willy reminded me of the 1990 world cup version of Shilton.

 

[Miltonaggro]

With Ramsdale, shows you what a really good intelligent keeper can do! Neimi gave us that type of dynamism. Young side with some promising footballers but Saints look out of ideas whenever the tide turns. Think we will stay up if we avoid further Brighton style implosions, but by the skin of our teeth. 

[OttawaSaint]

I just don't care anymore if Ralph stays or goes. We just can't seem to get from under the back cloud that's been over the club since Koeman left. 

Edited 11 December, 2021 by OttawaSaint

[Ekelund]

3 minutes ago, Badger said:

That's because its longer and stiffer ....

Admittedly I’m pissed off at the moment but anyone else bored with these hilarious one liners? Prob just me. 
 

Ralph out, for the first time for me.

[hackedoff]

Whatever,past caring.

[IronCitySaint]

We are by far the easiest team to beat in the league at the moment. Something needs to change quickly but I just can't see anything changing with this management team and this group of players. There is only one way this season is heading.

[JRM]

15 away defeats this calendar year still with time to add another at West Ham, think they said our worst for 17 years. 

[Baird of the land]

I thought today was a day where we needed to show some flexibility/pragmatism.

Instead we lined up in our usual 4-2-2-2 and made it easy for an Arsenal team that would have been under pressure after a string of tight losses(3 in last 4)

[LuckyNumber7]

Well that was bloody depressing. Regardless whether you blame Ralph, the players or the ownership, we are just not good enough and struggling to compete with most of the league. Can't remember the last time supporting Saints actually felt fun.

I almost find myself thinking relegation might do us a favour in the long run as right now it feels like death by 1000 cuts.

[DT]

What will it take for Ralph to get the push?  He must have incriminating photos on so many people. 

[manji]

I would be considered a Ralph loyalist ( admittedly without any logic) the faith really hit me with the Norwich result. Nothing I have seen since has resurrected my faith. I also think the fiasco after the Brighton game was shocking

[Chez]

Just now, LuckyNumber7 said:

 

I almost find myself thinking relegation might do us a favour in the long run as right now it feels like death by 1000 cuts.

go down and its a financial meltdown. £100+ wage bill will kill us. As was the case last time, relegation is just the start of the 1000 cuts.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, DT said:

What will it take for Ralph to get the push?  He must have incriminating photos on so many people. 

2.5 years left on his £xm contract. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

6 minutes ago, IronCitySaint said:

We are by far the easiest team to beat in the league at the moment. 

At the moment? 

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, JRM said:

15 away defeats this calendar year still with time to add another at West Ham, think they said our worst for 17 years. 

we are like the shit Saints saints of the nineties that scraped survival. Everything is retro these days.

[Saint Matty 76]

5 minutes ago, DT said:

What will it take for Ralph to get the push?  He must have incriminating photos on so many people. 

Who do you want?

What do you expect?

You lot deserve another anti-football manager to take us down, honestly.

[Scully]

It's hard to believe in a team that regularly loses 9-0

[Vancouver Saint]

1 hour ago, Mr X said:

This is why it was important  to take 3 points from the Norwich & Brighton games 

This. Now we are really in trouble. Called the 0-3 loss today...very predictable. Lack of effort second half a really poor sign. High energy press first half formula is now transparent to all...we concede more on the counter than we score and have no stamina to compete in second halves of games. Now we have no strikers and no goalkeepers. WC clearly not an upgrade.

Bright side? We need a new goalkeeper and now probably a new striker in the January window. Will we get them...don't make me laugh. 

Am a Ralph supporter and think 'careful what you wish for' to those who call for his head. But I confess it is no fun to watch games you know we have no chance to compete in and/or will predictably throw away. 

[Teddeer]

30 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

Bad performance. Players gave up. Need investment so we can sack most of them off. Keep Ralph, he isn't the problem.

Well if Ralph isn't the problem you're asking the wrong question.

[Convict Colony]

our goalkeeping options 

[Saint Matty 76]

2 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

This. Now we are really in trouble. Called the 0-3 loss today...very predictable. Lack of effort second half a really poor sign. High energy press first half formula is now transparent to all...we concede more on the counter than we score and have no stamina to compete in second halves of games. Now we have no strikers and no goalkeepers. WC clearly not an upgrade.

Bright side? We need a new goalkeeper and now probably a new striker in the January window. Will we get them...don't make me laugh. 

Am a Ralph supporter and think 'careful what you wish for' to those who call for his head. But I confess it is no fun to watch games you know we have no chance to compete in and/or will predictably throw away. 

I just don't know where this comes from? 😆

We drew against City, United and West Ham whilst being the better side. Are we really expecting this squad to go through a season without losing to a couple of the teams with centre backs worth our starting 11?

Ralph will go into a job better than us when he leaves, and I think that's an indication of where the problem lies. 

[beatlesaint]

10 minutes ago, DT said:

What will it take for Ralph to get the push?  He must have incriminating photos on so many people. 

If you want to know why Ralph is still there just ask yourself “who are they going to get to replace him?”

 

I don’t think they’d have a bloody clue so they don’t even address the issue and stand by the waistcoated one.

[Sarnia Cherie]

6 minutes ago, Scully said:

It's hard to believe in a team that regularly loses 9-0

Maybe time for you to transfer your belief to another club then.

[Badger]

38 minutes ago, gammon cheeks said:

Lose to Brentford next week and Raplh will have to go!

We've got the Palace defeat to look forward to first though.

36 minutes ago, Sunglasses Ron said:

This is the thing though, we’ll probably beat them 1-0 and limp on in similar mediocre fashion.

I'd be happy with a couple of limping to 1-0 wins, it's the meek surrendering for a draw and defeats that depress me.

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

If you want to know why Ralph is still there just ask yourself “who are they going to get to replace him?”

 

I don’t think they’d have a bloody clue so they don’t even address the issue and stand by the waistcoated one.

the exact same was said when Hughes was being questioned.  No one (absolutely no one) would have suggested Hassenhutl at the time

Edited 11 December, 2021 by AlexLaw76

[stknowle]

3 minutes ago, Chez said:

we are like the shit Saints saints of the nineties that scraped survival. Everything is retro these days.

We used to scrape 9 or 10 wins plus the same amount of drawers and JUST survive. I can't see us getting that many this season. We might JUST survive though.

[Teddeer]

28 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

We've not been competitive since we sacked Puel, and the only spell we have looked relatively decent is under Ralph. I'd rather trust Ralph than some of the names being bandied about...

 

Lampard, come on, he can't coach a defence. There's a reason Norwich turned him down...

Ralph's big problem is that he chose to write a play book, a sort of bible for the way our teams are run at every level. Now that's ok if it's a good play book and one that works. Unfortunately for us, the one Ralph wrote is a complete work of fiction and that is where it would be catalogued if it was in a library. So once his play book is not fit for purpose he is stuffed and this is what we are seeing. The same pattern week in week out and the odd win against a poor or severely weakened team. He is the victim of his own useless play book and has nowhere left to go.

[Teddeer]

31 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

We'll be fine anyway, we're not going down. I imagine we'll draw at Palace and we'll beat Brentford (who aren't that great)

Put a few quid on that double then if you have  money to throw down the drain. More likely to be two defeats with games following the same old pattern that we are all so tired of now.

[TWar]

Salisu is our only good CB, without him we are dreadful at the back.

Willy was awful, inspired 0 confidence and had no control over his box. I'd say a good keeper claims the second and third.

Diallo was very poor. I rate him but he had a massive off game.

Armstrong going off hurt us as he was our main source of pressing, they had a much easier time playing it out after.

Broja was completely anonymous, doesn't work hard enough off the ball, and cocked up a throughball to Armstrong in the first half when through on goal and generally gave it away a lot.

Redmond and Tella were OK, Ely was less effective.

Upside, Salisu and Romeu will be back soon to vastly improve our defence and midfield. Downside three injured strikers (both Arma and Broja looked hurt coming off) could be very rough to an already goal shy team.

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

25 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Think we’re going down if Ralph stays and probably if he doesn’t, but on the balance of results he doesn’t deserve to stay.  We look as bad as the side that were relegated last time around.
 

I don’t find myself thinking anymore, yep we’ve got a chance of winning this. On the contrary, every game we go into I’m thinking we’ve lost already. Would not be surprised to know the players feel the same way. We’re in a bad way.

Ralph has lost 9-0 twice....that is when he should have gone.

 

26 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Think we’re going down if Ralph stays and probably if he doesn’t, but on the balance of results he doesn’t deserve to stay.  We look as bad as the side that were relegated last time around.
 

I don’t find myself thinking anymore, yep we’ve got a chance of winning this. On the contrary, every game we go into I’m thinking we’ve lost already. Would not be surprised to know the players feel the same way. We’re in a bad way.

 

[Convict Colony]

where is stuart armstongs calf he is the messiah

[Turkish]

Tactically Ralph got it spot on today, a master class if anything. A high press with a high line to pin arsenal in, it was just unfortunate that Arsenal took a few of their chances and we didn’t. I wouldn’t expect most of you understand but the statistical analysis of XG and turnovers from short balls between  the six yard box and 35 yards from goal will prove how much more I know than you lot 

[StrangelyBrown]

I'm not sure why Ralph is being singled out? We were always going to lose against Arsenal away with the number of players who were unavailable and with a strike force who struggle to find the net.

I'm sure we'll stay up but not by much and that's probably all we can hope for. It's not as if we're much of an attractive proposition for an investor and nothing will change without serious investment.

[TWar]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

A high press with a high line to pin arsenal in, it was just unfortunate that Arsenal took a few of their chances and we didn’t.

A pretty good breakdown of the first half, weirdly enough, it's funny that the closest I've ever seen you to accurate analysis is when you are doing it ironically.

[danjosaint]

33 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

 

 

Lampard, come on, he can't coach a defence. 

🤣 maybe not but have you looked at the facts for Ralph, how about the 1st one, since Ralph appointed we've let in the most goals in the premier league, fact.

4222 doesn't work unless you have very athletic creative midfielders and athletic powerful cdms, we have neither, He's to stubborn to admit his playbook is fucking bollocks just like Les Reed and our black box, he will not change and probably doesn't know how to change,  People saying he is not the problem are fucking deluded, a stubborn, ego driven prick whose about as clueless as they come a 1 trick pony, id even take Alladyce for remainder of season  (that's all) while we hopefully trust Crocker and Semmens to come up with something 

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Arsenal are a side that can blow hot and cold in the blink of an eye. Just a shame we pointed out where the hot settings were and helped them switch them on. I didn't expect us to win but I hoped we'd set up and play in a way which made us hard to beat given the players we had missing. 

[stevy777_x]

37 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Think we’re going down if Ralph stays and probably if he doesn’t, but on the balance of results he doesn’t deserve to stay.  We look as bad as the side that were relegated last time around.
 

I don’t find myself thinking anymore, yep we’ve got a chance of winning this. On the contrary, every game we go into I’m thinking we’ve lost already. Would not be surprised to know the players feel the same way. We’re in a bad way.

We don t look as bad as when we were last relegated.

we have dominated and played teams off the park. Just need better finishing but that s what all you nupties thought you were getting with Adam Armstrong.

 

[Teddeer]

22 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

This. Now we are really in trouble. Called the 0-3 loss today...very predictable. Lack of effort second half a really poor sign. High energy press first half formula is now transparent to all...we concede more on the counter than we score and have no stamina to compete in second halves of games. Now we have no strikers and no goalkeepers. WC clearly not an upgrade.

Bright side? We need a new goalkeeper and now probably a new striker in the January window. Will we get them...don't make me laugh. 

Am a Ralph supporter and think 'careful what you wish for' to those who call for his head. But I confess it is no fun to watch games you know we have no chance to compete in and/or will predictably throw away. 

You make a great explanation of what is wrong with Ralph's play book strategy ie the press is transparent, not sustainable and we concede more goals from it than we score and then go on to make a case for keeping Ralph. Strange.

[Badger]

11 minutes ago, TWar said:

 

Diallo was very poor. I rate him but he had a massive off game.

 

This seems a recurring theme, he plays well in a few cameo appearances off the bench but when given a start  isn't up to it.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Ivan Katalinic's 'tache said:

Arsenal are a side that can blow hot and cold in the blink of an eye. Just a shame we pointed out where the hot settings were and helped them switch them on. I didn't expect us to win but I hoped we'd set up and play in a way which made us hard to beat given the players we had missing. 

out of interest, what would that set up look like?

[Baird of the land]

4 minutes ago, Ivan Katalinic's 'tache said:

Arsenal are a side that can blow hot and cold in the blink of an eye. Just a shame we pointed out where the hot settings were and helped them switch them on. I didn't expect us to win but I hoped we'd set up and play in a way which made us hard to beat given the players we had missing. 

Yeah to me we just played into their hands.

[TWar]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

This seems a recurring theme, he plays well in a few cameo appearances off the bench but when given a start  isn't up to it.

He is certainly hit and miss, I think there's potential but he is a way off the finished article. Still young though. 

[Teddeer]

22 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

I just don't know where this comes from? 😆

We drew against City, United and West Ham whilst being the better side. Are we really expecting this squad to go through a season without losing to a couple of the teams with centre backs worth our starting 11?

Ralph will go into a job better than us when he leaves, and I think that's an indication of where the problem lies. 

He won't go into a better job if potential employers take a good look at a CV with two 9-0 defeats and a collection of other negative records plus a play book that isn't worth the paper it's written on.

[badgerx16]

16 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I'm not sure why Ralph is being singled out?

Where have you been for the last 12 months ?

[Baird of the land]

4 minutes ago, Badger said:

This seems a recurring theme, he plays well in a few cameo appearances off the bench but when given a start  isn't up to it.

He played well when starting with Romeu.

Clearly we need to hope for no more suspensions or injuries for him as we haven't been able to afford to bring in cover.

[egg]

That was dire. 

We're fucked. 

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

out of interest, what would that set up look like?

It's Ralph's job to figure that out but it's not 4-2-2-2 where we're so open and get picked off time after time. 

However, if pushed, I'd have done a Brighton and gone 5 at the back, 3 in central midfield and a floating forward to support the front man. Try and be solid, restrict their ability to play freely near our box and look to break quickly with the full backs supporting the front men. 

[OttawaSaint]

22 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

where is stuart armstongs calf he is the messiah

Scotland don't play again until March so he's got plenty of time.

Edited 11 December, 2021 by OttawaSaint

[Nemi]

15 hours ago, Teddeer said:

Ralph's big problem is that he chose to write a play book, a sort of bible for the way our teams are run at every level. Now that's ok if it's a good play book and one that works. Unfortunately for us, the one Ralph wrote is a complete work of fiction and that is where it would be catalogued if it was in a library. So once his play book is not fit for purpose he is stuffed and this is what we are seeing. The same pattern week in week out and the odd win against a poor or severely weakened team. He is the victim of his own useless play book and has nowhere left to go.

It’s gets clearer and clearer every week that Ralph isn’t capable for this job, but man I do find it crazy how opinions like this think his biggest flaw is stubbornness or having just one tactic. 
 

The problem is is that the line-up changes constantly, he has no-idea what his strongest team is, shifts people into weird positions, and overall we look nothing like that high-energy, high-press team like we were at the start of his tenure.

Edited 12 December, 2021 by Nemi