Nathan Ralph and his last two-and-a-bit seasons

[Chris Powell's mate]

I feel for our left-back.
Relegated with Woking in 2018, when it looked as if they might save themselves at the very last.
And relegated again last season, but this time all the more emphatically with Dundee.
He's got used to struggling - and that ain't good.
I wonder if his mindset is one of the reasons we've yet to see the best of him?

 

[davewebbsbrain]

I feel for our left-back.
Relegated with Woking in 2018, when it looked as if they might save themselves at the very last.
And relegated again last season, but this time all the more emphatically with Dundee.
He's got used to struggling - and that ain't good.
I wonder if his mindset is one of the reasons we've yet to see the best of him?

Thought he was good yesterday, at least attacking wise

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Thought he was good yesterday, at least attacking wise

Yeah, agreed, and his principal job is...?

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Yeah, agreed, and his principal job is...?

And that's why I said at least attacking wise

 

[rigsby]

Involved in some of our best football yesterday. His crossing was better than Elvis or McL. The nice move that ended with him firing across the 6yd box should have been finished by Goodship......Shame he didn't fancy it.

 

[mfurok]

Yeah, agreed, and his principal job is...?

Exactly.

Good going forward but hopeless defensively.

 

[RHB]

Exactly.

Good going forward but hopeless defensively.

A quick glace at a common definition of hopeless shows 'very bad or incompetent'. I had a pretty reasonable view of him in the first half and he got in some pretty useful defensive tackles, jockeyed players to the byeline and also did well in the air considering his height. As I recall Sam Hart received some constructive criticism of a similar vein when he first joined us but ended up as a competent defender by the end of the season in my view. I know we are in dire straights at the moment but maybe we need to cut folk like Rolph a little slack.

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

I think he looks like he'd be a decent wing back, as would Elvis.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

A quick glace at a common definition of hopeless shows 'very bad or incompetent'. I had a pretty reasonable view of him in the first half and he got in some pretty useful defensive tackles, jockeyed players to the byeline and also did well in the air considering his height. As I recall Sam Hart received some constructive criticism of a similar vein when he first joined us but ended up as a competent defender by the end of the season in my view. I know we are in dire straights at the moment but maybe we need to cut folk like Rolph a little slack.

Indeed, I have.
As said: 'I feel for him'. I wondered whether the slings and arrows of two years losing almost non-stop has made him less than he obviously is?
I think he has the making of a fine player.

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

people overlook how important confidence is to players. our clearly lack any, it's hardly surprising given our record in 2019

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Would do well as a wing back in a 3 5 2 but that would mean having 3 decent centre backs when we can't even muster one!

 

[superblue24]

Thought he was good yesterday, at least attacking wise

Wow, really?

 

[blues exile]

Absolute pinpoint cross for Dieng's goal, which makes it all the more frustrating that he is so poor defensively.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Wow, really?

How did I know you'd select my post to have a pop at?

Attacked really well, first time cross for Diengs goal and a great cross that Goodship couldn't quite reach. I'd say his attacking play yesterday was very good

 

[LBBlue]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1093219517243801602

Has anyone seen him do any of that this season?

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1093219517243801602

Has anyone seen him do any of that this season?

Is that his agent?
If so, they should learn to spell left 'backs' for a start.
I saw him at Woking and he was pretty good. But Dundee?
They won five out of 38 league games last season, and finished with a -47 goal difference.
I'm not saying that was entirely down to him, but it must have taken its toll.

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

I feel for our left-back.
Relegated with Woking in 2018, when it looked as if they might save themselves at the very last.
And relegated again last season, but this time all the more emphatically with Dundee.
He's got used to struggling - and that ain't good.
I wonder if his mindset is one of the reasons we've yet to see the best of him?

It could just be because he’s **** and out of his depth like all of bonds signings

 

[matt bacon]

I feel for our left-back.
Relegated with Woking in 2018, when it looked as if they might save themselves at the very last.
And relegated again last season, but this time all the more emphatically with Dundee.
He's got used to struggling - and that ain't good.
I wonder if his mindset is one of the reasons we've yet to see the best of him?

For me far from the worst player in the side, decent on the ball but lacks discipline at times and a bit rash with his tackling but one of the few I'd be looking to keep.
The fact he's had 2 relegations in 2 years though would have put me off signing him though and maybe highlights the lack of due diligence on potential signings.
The team is mentally weak anyway and we should be identifying players that have promotions on CVs with a winning mentality.

 

[rlb999]

Ralph is high on energy and effort which endears him to fans. Defensively he's not that solid, and his positioning isn't great though. If we're trying to tighten up at the back, it wouldn't surprise me to see Kyprianou get game time soon.

 

[Jim Levenstein]

Ralph is high on energy and effort which endears him to fans. Defensively he's not that solid, and his positioning isn't great though. If we're trying to tighten up at the back, it wouldn't surprise me to see Kyprianou get game time soon.

At Centre half hopefully!