I can't blame Ralph for the inability of our striker to fail regularly to live up to his label. I am surprised that he hasn't tried other options such as Dominic Ballard or Edozie alongside Adams. We seem to start on the back foot, hoping not to concede. Against Newcastle we could get thrashed so, at least try an offensive line-up and go down fighting.

Nick, if the owners and board don’t sack Ralph, the only way that we will go after the World Cup break, is into the Championship.

Seventeen points from the last Twenty Five games including Sixteen straight defeats is relegation form.He’s sucking the life blood out of the club and it’s supporters. When you get fans who have purchased season tickets but can’t be bothered to attend then it’s simply game over.

While I agree that you can’t blame the manager for a striker missing chances, we lost this game primarily because of the limp performance in the first half. That must be down to the way the manager sets the team up. Palace could have easily been 3 up at half time and even if Adams had scored his two good opportunities it wouldn’t have been enough. The team proved they have the ability to dominate i the second half so why wasn’t that the approach from the first whistle? There seems to be a sense of trepidation at the start of matches and only when we get to half time do the manager and players decide how they want to approach the game. It’s so passive and most teams in the PL don’t need a second invitation to take the initiative.

Only one positive from the game for me. AMN showing that he is a class above our squad now he is up to speed. If Lavia is fit for Newcastle I would like to see the two of them play instead of Diallo and JWP. It won’t happen though (in JWPs case).

If the doughnut had started with Maitland Niles instead of Direallo we would have won the game.I thought Stuart Armstrong looked back to his best.

Ironically if we had kept Ings, or signed a half decent replacement, we would easily be mid table. This despite the poor formations and tactics, we create chances most games but don't take them! I think Diallo needs to go out on loan, preferably to a championship team, if possible as he desperately needs games at a decent level and maybe he might come good. He was off the pace again Saturday but we can't allow either him or Mara the game time to get up t speed as we are struggling for points. I still think mainly down to not splashing the £25 million we supposedly had available for a striker?
Maybe play Ballard from the start against Sheffield Wednesday and see how he goes?

Three decent results but unconvincing performances and we then follow on with this.
Yes there is some potential with a few of our younger players but overall we look a pretty poor side.
Gone are the days of the high press and some great attacking performances.
We look more solid defensively but timid going forward with no real purpose.
Sorry.. But Adam Armstrong is a championship forward, he's not at the required level and he's had plenty of game time in the central attacking role and all he does is shoot into the centre backs.
Fingers crossed we can improve with Lavia coming back, otherwise we'll be in the bottom three by the world Cup break and the panic button will need to be pressed.

There is an unfortunate pattern which has become the norm under Ralph and that is the lack of energy and intensity in our game from the moment that the first whistle is blown.

We only seem to play for 45 minutes. When have we last performed well as a whole for a game? In the past it was the first half and then we would concede and lose in the 2nd half. This season it has reversed - have a poor first half, concede, hope you stay in touch and hope to retrieve it - which usually we don't because our so called strikers seem completely inept in front of goal (Che Adams works hard but he is paid to score and he is consistently failing to deliver in that dept which is costing us valuable points. Jack Stephens used to get harangued for costing us points but when it is at the other end it just seems to be "oh well, at least they are trying" - yes, very trying!). The fact that we got something against Arsenal was largely down to the fact that they did not see us off in the first half and they seemed to tire. Yes, we had a good second half but that was that.

When we went 1-0 down against Palace, I knew we would not win it. We may have got one goal back but get two.......very unlikely.

Our midfield is very poor at the moment. Lack of movement or forward play. We have to hope that Lavia is back soon to improve it, but Newcastle and even an out of form Liverpool away are not great prospects for collecting any points - though we have generally performed better against the so called "bigger" teams (not sure what that says - do we have players being selective as to when they will show up?).

For me Diallo does not get picked any more unless we have an injury crisis and he is the last resort.

I am now feeling a sense of resignation with the fans. Past being angry or annoyed but almost phlegmatic and indifferent. I am not sure we even turn up out of hope any more. I still go but I am resigned to the probable outcome even before I get inside the ground.

Alot is being made of getting that striker in January - unless we find that inexpensive gem somewhere who may be willing to accept relegation as a distinct possibility then I cannot see us signing anyone of note.

We do have some good players and some good prospects but at the moment it is not happening and I am not sure I can see it happening soon enough or long enough to make a difference.

Some very good points made here so far. For me, I think that RH did make a mistake in the line up and thought that the week before was good enough. AMN should have started at RB and the could have shifted if needed. Diallo was horrible and rightfully subbed. I think that Edozie needs a run of games and sit Aribo, who has not provided much at all. Enough of that game as we all know the problem is we dont have a proven goal scorer. I like Che, but he is not proven. he holds the ball well and hustles, but he should have buried those two golden chances PERIOD. So, I have been a RH supporter, but I think his time is up. We were chasing this game and why he waited so long to bring on the subs shows me that he has not mastered the subtle tactics needed for this league. If there are no more injuries and all things considered, if RH picks Diallo and Aribo, then I will jump on the "RH Out" bandwagon. I think we will have a new manager within 3 weeks time, so think of the 1st week of the WC break and he will be fired and someone else will be brought in. When it comes to our club, I hope for the best and expect the worse, that way I dont have too many ups/downs. COYR

Problem is JWP pure & simple. Everything has to go through him, he's too slow, never plays a forward or attacking pass. Corners come to nothing, no goals scored. Can't play him hoping for a free kick just outside the box .
Trouble is in Ralph's eyes he's undroppable, doesn't even get subbed. Everybody can see it bar Ralph - so so frustrating.

If we can change it at half time and play so much better in the second half, why can't we do that earlier in the first half when we're being overrun?

Boring , predictable,mistaken ridden crap.
Think that sums it up....
Don't need loads of paragraphs!

Yeah that’s right blame Prowsey who’s probably forfeted a far better career too stay with us , he’s playing the role he’s told too !! & I’m sure he ain’t too happy but he never hides never complain s

The inconsistency shown by Saints under Ralph is so hard to explain. The euphoria and relief of posters on this thread after the last three games tried to signal the end of this inconsistency and the beginning of better times. But as I suggested before this game, one goal would win the match and like the games with Villa, Wolves and Everton we lost to a team we have to beat if we are to have a chance of staying up.
Now it seems the self same posters are seing the return of Lavia as the latest Saviour ready to turn our fortunes around. Without a doubt there will be an improvement but who's to say that within a few weeks he will not be sidelined again and we will be back to the Palace squad?
The optimistic supporters were also singing the praises of Lyanco after the Arsenal match. Palace gave him a nightmare match and exposed all his frailties for all to see. Mind you the poor guy seems to be given a different role by Ralph every game so perhaps we should have some sympathy with him. Diallo, not for the first time was asked to play a role that he is not comfortable with and he was left exposed and embarrassed until given the instant relief of an early bath. And finally you have to come to another apparent hero in recent games in Che Adams. If you every needed conclusive evidence that the guy is never going to be a goalscorer at this level then this was it. The one position we all called for strengthening in the transfer window was ignored and now we are left to rue the consequences. Danny Ings would have done a great job this seasonin but I suspect he had enough of Ralph anyway!
Ralph was clearly both disappointed and angry at our first half performance. And as one poster has already said, gone for ever are the days of the high press and exciting attacking football. We are left with boring boring first halves while we try and keep the score at 0-0, and then hope to jump into life and grab a winner in the second! I agree that we have been greatly handicapped by the loss of several key players - however there is no guarantee that this will not continue to be the case throughout the season - and I most certainly agree that the failure to replace Ings was the biggest error of all. Even allowing for these disappointments there is no excuse for the inconsistent performances we are being served up. One match the players are full of enthusiasm and energy; the next it seems as though they couldn't care less. I'm sorry but the buck for that problem has to rest with the management and the remains of a seemingly ineffective coaching team. Players appear, disappear and then reappear in different positions and given different roles. We look unprepared to take on the weaker sides who grow in confidence throughout the game because we make them look and feel good! I am sure Ralph is a nice guy and there is no way that he is the only one to blame for our ineffectiveess and generosity to opposition teams. But he has had time enough to get things right and he has clearly failed. If the new owners have a strong and exciting new talent in mind for restoring the pride in Saints FC and the football we play, then PLEASE PLEASE act now.

Here's a tip for you Ralph. Football matches last 90 minutes. There are two halves. Go for a win from the first whistle of each half. Might not work but at least you aren't left wondering why you only bothered for 50% of games.

Probably the best player available started on the bench, why? Do we want to sign AMN permanently or just turn him into another who can't wait to get away? Edozie... Should have played at Villa from the start on Ashley Young and probably would have retained his place. Why did we buy him to give him bits n pieces yet loan out Tella? No idea why Edozie's obvious ability to hurt the oppo hasn't been used more except to say we have an oddball for a manager, it's the only way I can describe him.. When we bought Mara, I remember Ralph's words.. Honestly it's rare to get an opportunity like this with a player like this.. So why the hell does Ralph mock him with 87th minute introductions..? Total idiot.. Perraud has been magnificent so how do you shoehorn in Larios. Another with clear abilities but won't play regularly at the moment.. Ralph has finally decided where to play Aribo... allegedly... Surely we must have known the position for him before we bought him..? Or am I just a dreamer..?
Where's the high press for our young hungry energetic team? Where's the passing between the lines into pockets of space? Instead the turgid, predictable pass it back to Prowse as this is the only tactic coached, like an unbreakable rule. What's with playing Che up front on his own? He needs help, obvious.. More pressure on chances in front of goal when you're 1 down and rarely score 2..
Lunacy all round.. I just don't get it.. The one thing we needed was a striker, half of our new signings are constantly shackled, talents withheld and we desperately needed a goalscorer. None of it matters because the negativity, fear and tactics the players are sent out with would ruin any team. Can you imagine us taking on Liverpool at Anfield like Brighton and Leeds have?
Owners and management just don't have the expertise or character unfortunately and we are suffering as a result.

Colburn, absolutely brilliant post which sums up the current situation at St Mary’s to a tee.

I posted months ago that if Ralph was to inherit the entire current Manchester City squad, within a week he would have played half of them out of position with the other half totally confused as to his tactics. Given half a season he would have turned the best team in the Premiership into a mid table outfit at best and relegation candidates at worst. He really is that bad a manager.

What puzzles me is that the club’s owners appear oblivious to the fact that his continued presence is slowly killing the relationship it has with it’s supporters. A relationship much like virginity, once it’s gone you can’t get it back.

When your opposition plays a high pressing game, you have to have a way to deal with it. Goodness knows how we only conceded a single goal against Palace especially in H1, rather like Arsenal last week; the fact was simply that their forwards ran us ragged. They pressed us, we didn’t know how to respond, and worse we didn’t or couldn’t press ourselves.
But increasingly this season is panning out in a very unusual way, where Man City aside, any team can beat any other given good luck and determination; most of us felt we should have been more convincing against Palace but the result is more or less typical of 90% of the rest of the league.
How on earth can Brighton wallop Chelsea? Or Leeds and Forest topple Liverpool?
I would suggest two reasons: the top players are playing at 90% or less so as not to get injured ahead of the WC; and the more lowly teams know this, so no longer sit back and try to defend doggedly but give it a go. Which is what we should have done from the off and not only in H2.
But…
The fact remains that over the last few seasons, the youngest teams are increasingly not performing as well as the older teams. The average position of the youngest seven teams - ie the youngest one third - has gone from between tenth and eleventh in 2019/20 to between 13th and 14th this season. And if you exclude Arsenal (the youngest team) as the exception, it’s even worse.
And as trend is likely to continue, I’m afraid that with the second youngest squad in the PL we are going to continue to struggle - it took Arsenal three years to get to where they are now, and if they are the template we’ve got many more frustrating times ahead…

Yes colburn you’ve Nailed it
Brilliant Post

Che is quite simply not a main goal scorer. Beside an Ings like figure his 8 or so goals a season is useful - and he does contribute a lot in other ways but it is not enough if he is the main man.

We looked alright in the second half but the failure to sign someone who can more often than not take one of those equalising chances is killing us. Palace, Wolves, Villa, Everton, Bournemouth and Leeds - all sides we should be aspiring to come above = 4 points and in those away games just 1 goal. We can squabble all we want about who is to blame but this looks like a side who could well be relegated, anyone saying otherwise is in denial. I don't know whether replacing Ralph will help but it is the usual option in these situations and could it really make things any worse??

A relationship much like virginity, once it’s gone you can’t get it back??? What are you on about?

David, thanks for reminding all of us about the age of our squad. This season is all about survival. Personally, I’m looking at the season as a fight to stay in the Prem backing a manager I respect. And I look forward to that battle. I enjoy a fight as much as I do pretty football. And the team are still with our manager. So, as long as the team are together, I’m going to keep supporting my team, manager, staff and club right up to the last game of the season.

we will have 1 major problem against Newcastle !, they have several players who know were the back of the net is ?, not like Saints who occasionally find it or rarely find it !, Also I feel JWP has lost his way ?, we need a captain to inspire the team ?, Newcastle 4-0 ?

The frustration expressed makes sense. However, we have radically changed our team - recruited/invested in a very large number of players - including some young, high quality talented - yet inexperienced players from clubs who did not out them into PL games. The PL is toughest and most unforgiving league in the world with no easy games- any shift down in performance immediately gets punished.

Good News at last - Saints owners are now investing - in ways that mean all these new players will get the chance to play - and to learn. The owners plan is to increase the value of those players for ultimate resale at massive increase in value ( Saints historic strategy) - because - at Saints - they were given the chance to gradually become proven PL players.

However, that comes with a big risk - because learning players may not be as consistent as someone like Romeu - for example - ultimately became. That is what we are now seeing and experiencing.

Having scanned through the various comments (above), I find it hard to add anything new.
Just one goal would have given us the point we surely deserved, or even a second (!) to give us all three points. Regularly conceding the odd goal is no condemnation of the new look defence, but we must start scoring goals up front ....and PDQ.

lansdownsaint, please share with us, which big club has come for JWP?? Allsaint 54 in an earlier comment is 100% correct. JWP must be the easiest CM player to play against -always a yard off the pace from actually making a tackle, far too slow and negative in distribution. He has been a weak link for some time, but his lack of pace at this level means he can't play wide but has no physical presence to be a CM player, either deep, in the middle or forward. No one can excuse the high % of back passes he makes which contradicts playing teams on the break.
I always wanted JWP to do well, he's Saints through and through. He has a great engine and can run for 90 mins, and, normally, he has a great dead ball kick in him, though not lately. But all of that is not enough these days to be a Prem player. Poch and RK hardly ever started him....they weren't wrong...