Ramsay the MLS Manager

[Prando]

I'm mindful of the injuries to key players, but the really big question for me and is why the players attitude and battling spirit changed so dramatically from the Derby game to one barely better than the abysmal performance put in against Norwich?

The Derby game was certainly scrappy and poor in terms of quality but they at least battled for every ball and for themselves and earnt applause and some respect back from the travelling fans so why didn't this attitude carry over into the Portsmouth game? I may have kind of understood heads dropping if we had started to play well then conceded another late goal but we never even showed any desire from the kick off! A hugely disjointed performance lacking in confidence and in a game where Ramsay has had a week with them to prepare. I know that the players themselves must take responsibility for any lack of desire or sloppy play but this change has surely got to be largely down to him?

In his interviews Ramsay readily acknowledges the mental fragility of the team in terms of lack of confidence and-as Prando says-he is articulate and is clearly aware of where things went wrong in the game and where we need to improve (hardly bloody rocket science!) but still insists on playing the wing back based formation that he prefers, regardless of how suited to it the players at his disposal are.

To be fair, even though it was a poor game, the way Ramsay set the team up against Derby worked and was more fluid than I had anticipated but I still believe that we have played better football under Mason using a formation more suited to the players we have. I'm not sure we have time to experiment with different tactics too much and not playing to our strengths and sticking with consistently under performing players seems madness.

I'm not saying that we should have stuck with Mason because, despite some decent performances (even against teams at the top of the league), I had no belief that he could turn us around in time. Ramsay is more articulate in front of the cameras and comes across as being firmer and more sure himself but the MLS is not the Championship and this rigidity in thinking (whether from him or Nestor) could cost us dear.

Still early days but we don't have the luxury of time and if things do not improve massively against Stoke then it's very tempting to agree with Bomber that if we could not have afforded a decent manager with proven Championship experience to replace Mason, we may have been better to stick with Mozza for the rest of the season. We might not have climbed back up the table much but he knows the players and we may have at least avoided relegation. Who knows, he may also have given the likes of Bostock and Whitwell some game time?

Exactly so Omeg buddy.
In my opinion, Ramsey has made it clear he will not change his formation and tactics. Any change therefore would involve his removal.
As mentioned earlier I cannot see this happening.
I wonder if, and when Patel will put pressure on Nestor. Patel is no fool and it will be interesting to see whether he is strong enough to address the Nestor appointment !

[baggieal]

I'm mindful of the injuries to key players, but the really big question for me and is why the players attitude and battling spirit changed so dramatically from the Derby game to one barely better than the abysmal performance put in against Norwich?

The Derby game was certainly scrappy and poor in terms of quality but they at least battled for every ball and for themselves and earnt applause and some respect back from the travelling fans so why didn't this attitude carry over into the Portsmouth game? I may have kind of understood heads dropping if we had started to play well then conceded another late goal but we never even showed any desire from the kick off! A hugely disjointed performance lacking in confidence and in a game where Ramsay has had a week with them to prepare. I know that the players themselves must take responsibility for any lack of desire or sloppy play but this change has surely got to be largely down to him?

In his interviews Ramsay readily acknowledges the mental fragility of the team in terms of lack of confidence and-as Prando says-he is articulate and is clearly aware of where things went wrong in the game and where we need to improve (hardly bloody rocket science!) but still insists on playing the wing back based formation that he prefers, regardless of how suited to it the players at his disposal are.

To be fair, even though it was a poor game, the way Ramsay set the team up against Derby worked and was more fluid than I had anticipated but I still believe that we have played better football under Mason using a formation more suited to the players we have. I'm not sure we have time to experiment with different tactics too much and not playing to our strengths and sticking with consistently under performing players seems madness.

I'm not saying that we should have stuck with Mason because, despite some decent performances (even against teams at the top of the league), I had no belief that he could turn us around in time. Ramsay is more articulate in front of the cameras and comes across as being firmer and more sure himself but the MLS is not the Championship and this rigidity in thinking (whether from him or Nestor) could cost us dear.

Still early days but we don't have the luxury of time and if things do not improve massively against Stoke then it's very tempting to agree with Bomber that if we could not have afforded a decent manager with proven Championship experience to replace Mason, we may have been better to stick with Mozza for the rest of the season. We might not have climbed back up the table much but he knows the players and we may have at least avoided relegation. Who knows, he may also have given the likes of Bostock and Whitwell some game time?

Exactly so Omeg buddy.
In my opinion, Ramsey has made it clear he will not change his formation and tactics. Any change therefore would involve his removal.
As mentioned earlier I cannot see this happening.
I wonder if, and when Patel will put pressure on Nestor. Patel is no fool and it will be interesting to see whether he is strong enough to address the Nestor appointment !

Lose to Stoke and the supporters will want Ramsay gone Prando. There?s a clip with supporters at the end of the Pompey match chanting - Eric Ramsey your football is ****!!

Can you blame them? They paid all that cash unlike you, me or others watching on the sofa!