10 Aug 2022 22:35:38
What are your guys thoughts on the fans forum, if you got the chance to listen in.

Ralph's argument about why he swapped formations has really had me scratching my head.

When a fan questioned why we've scrapped 4-2-2-2 to a 5 atb. Ralph's response was all about protecting the new players and not rush them into his advanced system. Which when I first heard the response, I agreed with the justification.

However, after reflection this makes no sense. Why would you completely change your philosophy because you've signed a couple of new youngsters? A system that he's supposedly spent his entire time writing a book about the tactics of which the club want to be their continuous identity. A system that you've worked on with the current team for 3+ years.

Surely it would be easier if we embedded the new players at a later date. Also, the fact that he would think the new players wouldn't be able to adapt to his system is worrying if their supposedly suppose to be the best youngsters in world football.

1.) 10 Aug 2022
10 Aug 2022 23:06:20
Tbh it is a stretch to say that he played 5-3-2 at the weekend anyway.

2.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 09:50:47
One of the disappointments, irrespective of formation is that we used to be highly effective without the ball. Players knew when to press and when not to, and there was a general understanding of each others’ roles.

Now we are easy to pick off with or without the ball and teams slice through our midfield as if it’s non existent.

Worse of all is when we try and play the ball out from the back…. 3 or 4 hesitant passes before we invariably lose the ball before we’ve got to the halfway line. Whilst I appreciate the way Man City and the likes master the art of building from the back, I think our boys need to know their limitations.

So my take is that I agree with you Saintjay - you don’t change a system to accommodate a couple of newbies (unless they’re world beaters) and Llamedossaint you’re spot on. There was no obvious formation or system - we just spent the afternoon chasing shadows.

3.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 09:53:23
I listened to it and there was some very vaild points rasied but I felt we didn't seem to get actual answers to the whole question being asked. One guy mentioned not having any players in the squad that are leaders or commanding types.

I have said for many years we need a midfielder that would shout at the rest of the team when needed, take the bull by the horns when, a commanding character like a Roy Keane for example. We seem to have a squad full of quite types and our scouting has been like that for years. We need some players that are not afraid to shout out at the rest of the team, especially when we have so many youngsters being intergrated into the side.

There wer at least 3 questions about playing players out of posistion that were not really answered by Ralph, the only one he answered was the one about Djnepo at left wing back because of injury he doesn't have many options. He could have still play KWP at left wing back. But what about all the other players? Valerie, Djnepo, Armstrong. no answers to those.

What really annoyed me though was when Martin Semmens suggested that the fans need to get behind the team more! and if we are not shouting for the team how can we expect the players to try hard.

Are you Joking mate! 1:) we have bloody amazing fans that shout for the team when we are getting dicked 0 - 9 at home! and 2:) those players are getting paid stupid ammounts of money that us as supporters could only dream of! Even if we are sat there in silence we expect the players to put everything into every game and respect the shirt they are wearing!

For me Semmens got that one totally wrong and he made himself look an idiot, there where a few rumblings in the crowd when he made that statement!

4.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 11:42:41
OMG - did Semmens really say that?

That is the biggest insult I’ve heard yet. How dare he say such a thing - outrageous. I’m sitting here livid.

Like most fans, I can accept that many of our players lack ability at PL level but to not put a shift in because the players don’t feel the fans are behind them is unforgivable. Anyone who doesn’t give 100% (and some) should be out the door - end of.

5.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 12:36:34
@Millertime Go on the Southampton channel on Youtube and listen to the fans forum, the comment from Semmens is right near the end

6.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 14:15:28
I agree 100% with you. You could tell by Ralph's reaction that he agreed with the fan who asked the question. You need leaders to help imbed the new young players in.

Again we've never really replaced Jose Fonte. He was a true leader, a very composed CB.

I think Semmens lost a lot of respect of the fans yesterday. That comment was a massive insult.

I don't go to matches because I don't live in the area. But when watching Southampton on TV, St Mary's always seems buzzing, constantly singing "oh when the saints" throughout the match. The away fans are always full of noise as well.

7.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 15:31:41
As I mentioned on another thread, playing more defensive players doesn’t necessarily equate to fewer goals conceded when we are conceding goals due to individual errors on a weekly basis. I don’t see us beating any team right now, we seem so easy to play against, and Ralph is too stubborn to change his mind now.

I expect we’ll be in the bottom three at the ‘winter break’ and he won’t be there post-World Cup.

8.) 11 Aug 2022
11 Aug 2022 19:48:26
SaintGGsy I personally think that he'll be gone before then