23 Apr 2021 10:51:04
It feels like I make one of these posts every four months talking about the need for a rebuild. I don't think being top in October was a false dawn, I think the club suddenly gained confidence and played as they know they can. Since then, through loss of form, injuries or mentality, we haven't fully been on it.

Looking to the end of this season, Fulham are 9 points behind us. They go to Chelsea and Man U, and play Burnley at home, Newcastle at home, and Saints away. There's nine points to get there. Palace at home is the only game I see us possibly not losing. Suddenly the Fulham game becomes massive in a few weeks if things don't go our way.

However I do think we will just about stay up. Let's not forget we were in the top 5 form table for 2020, and since being top we have won four league games - 2 being Sheffield United. We won't be staying up next year at this rate, Norwich and Watford would definitely have us.

To the playing side. Ralph needs a tactical number two who can affect the game during the 90 minutes and not just coach tactics into the side with no plan B. If not, he must go. He has actively lost us the Spurs game and doesn't positively affect the game with his substitutions. We play 4-2-2-2 against everyone even though we have 3 good centre backs and could change it up.

Howe, Lampard, hell even Jose are probably decent options for us not that we could afford him.

Now onto the team. We haven't had a good goalie since Kelvin started going grey. Vestergaard we could probably get good money for and he only turns up half the time. Bertrand seems disinterested. Ings' head is gone. Walcott and Redmond aren't good enough for us.

Ings I reckon we could get £40m for even though we are terrible barterers in the transfer market. Jannik maybe £25m. Bertrand £5m, Redmond someone would pay £10m for in January out of desperation.

As a side I've always liked a back 3 for us. We don't have enough solidity in a back 2. Let's just get back to buying young gems from Europe or the lower leagues for £6-10m. Salisu and Diallo have enormous potential and will soon be worth double or even triple the money we paid for them.

Either entrust Ralph with what HE wants, or accept that he can't take us any further and get a young English manager in. We need a keeper, full back, centre back, attacker and striker. Don't we always. But in Che, Armstrong, JWP (when he decides to look up the pitch), Diallo, Bednarek, Salisu, KWP and Romeu, we have a good core of experience and decent enough standards to be in the top 10.

I fear what state we will be in in a year's time. We could be playing league matches at Fratton Park in the not too distant future.

1.) 24 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 22:54:04
I was buying into your views until you mentioned Diallo having enormous potential. really?
You are spot on regarding the GK position - FF and JM good shot stoppers but useless at distribution and all the other aspects - especially decision making (has either of them ever saved a penalty - just saying hash tag) .
As for your list of players who could contribute - I’m sorry, but they are all championship quality - no better.
Ings and KWP are our only two players (and possibly Bednarek) who would get a regular game in any of the top half of the table teams.
So disappointed with JWP - there was a time when I thought he could become a legend - how wrong was I.
Eddie Howe would be my pick.

2.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 09:58:13
Diallo is young. He has had a few superb games and gone off the boil recently. I wouldn’t give up on him so quickly. I remember thinking Mane was quite hot and cold and look at him now.

The main problem is we seem to be the most incredibly fragile and fickle side in the world. Going a goal down early is basically game over. Burnley’s attack man for man is nowhere near ours, yet they come back in games far more often than we do.

3.) 28 Apr 2021
28 Apr 2021 01:32:07
I agree with SaintGGsywith regards Diallo who at 22 years is one for the future. He is able to distribute the ball quickly due to reasonable pace quick thinking and ball dribbling ability but very often has to mop up behind JWP mistimed tackles and loose ball control. Should he be partnered by a more aggressive forceful Mid I’m sure his potential class would become evident.

4.) 28 Apr 2021
28 Apr 2021 19:40:47
Dialling was the best player in the pitch against Liverpool to write him off is ludicrous.