HOME TO CHELSEA.....

Any chance of a win??

I have a funny feeling that we can Mike. Or at least a point.

Like you Pete think we might get something from this one. Just depend on who is fir but needs to stick to players natural positions. So no Danso at RB if Cedric isn’t fit should be Valerey. Personally I wouldn’t start Boufal , Redmond and Ings up front with Armstrong in midfield with JWP, Romeau and Hoj.

Really disappointing result and performance. The worst I have seen them play under RH, and think his worst performance. Stood on his own most of the time, whoever the new assistant is clearly either not appreciated by RH or frightened to speak up. You do wonder what was the reason behind Rohl leaving. Lacked passion and while the players underperformed he could have changed it but amazingly waited until the 70th minute before making a sub. then didn't change the formation to try something different. This doesn't look good as looks like the lack of investment is getting to him as he realises the squad at his disposal is poor. Lacking a quality CH, a quality DM and a quality CF. That said you should do be able to do something with the players he has and to many were poor. Ward Prowse was again poor, at fault for the first goal needlessly giving the ball away in midfield. Hojberg has been average at best all season and why still captain, never looks like scoring which the MF players have to do to take some pressure of the front. Bedanek may still have some potential but needs to play alongside a commanding CH, that we don't have. Was at fault for the second goal caught dithering around just outside the box, first job as a defender clear the lines, if he does that they don't score, Redmond was anonymous, where is the Redmond from last year? One shot in the first minute which dipped just over and that was it. Long at least puts himself about and wins free kicks but he was playing as a striker and didn't have a shot at goal.

Playing 433 at home to a top 6 side is something we cannot do at the moment as our defence and midfield are to weak. He has to go 532 or 442. Two up front should be Ings and one other out of Redmond/Adams/Boufal/Long for me in that order. Armstrong isn't great but deserves a chance as he cant be worse than Ward Prowse at the moment and has a score threat. McCarthy should be recalled. Gunn should have done better with the first goal and his save to shots ratio is pretty poor. McCarthy has played in both cup games and looked solid so should start.

A couple of positives. Ings scored again and looks likely so at least his value is not dropping! Valerey came in and did okay, made the first goal with a great run into their box and did the same a few other times. Defensively Cedric is stronger but at least concerns that something was up with Valerey seem to be misplaced. Romeau again won plenty of tackle but playing in a midfield of 3 doesn't work, he needs to be sitting in front of the back 4 and providing a link between defence and midfield.

Maybe it is pointless blaming the players, most are not very good and would struggle to start at most PL teams. Any manager needs to be a miracle worker with these players and the real fault lies in the owners. KL for starting the slide leaving the useless Reed in charge for so long and now Gao who doesn't want to spend money. Its not like we didn't know we were in desperate need of a quality CH, look at Cahill! We have been for over a year and the only signing has been a 20 year old with little experience. Personally I am hoping Wilson goes to Rangers as think he is out of his depth, doesn't know the oversea market and been party to most of our disastrous signings. That said we will struggle to recruit as whoever comes in knows will be no money.

Gunn 5 time to be rested
Bertrand 5 didn't do much going forward but William played well
Yoshida 5 never fault his effort but just lacks the physicality needed
Bedanek 5 fault for second goal, some weak clearances but did win a few aerial challenges
Valeray 6 decent performance caught out defensively a couple of times but some good runs going forward.
Romeau 7 got stuck in but fighting a losing battle
Hojberg 5, if only he was half as good as he thinks he is, been poor for several months now, think he is eyeing his next club but could be in for a shock
Ward Prowse 4 really poor, lost the ball, cannot tackle, set pieces were poor.
Long 5 did win some free kicks and won a few high balls but never going to score and that is his job
Ings 7 got his goal and looked only player likely to score for us
Redmond 5 back to his old bad self, wrong decisions again, great chance at 1-2 to lay the ball back to Ings but shoots from angle where never going to score.

Subs
Obafemi, Boufal, Adams all 5 none made any impression.

Ralph picked the team and tactics, was a disaster and didnt change a thing. Really annoyed the fans. At 3 - 1 down anything would have been forgiven, change to 442, give Danso some game time in the middle. It was free roll of the dice really as couldn't be any worse yet he did nothing until 70 mins, then did like for like, what was the point??

Best we can hope for is scramble a few dodgy wins until January and sign a couple of players then but we all know that is highly unlikely.

Thanks Matty. Yep, a poor result,

Thanks Matty. Keep the faith guys, things will change soon........ maybe.