JOE RALLS

Just wanted to know everyone's thoughts on Joe Ralls?
I've never rated him and watching him yesterday confirmed to me that we need another central midfielder quickly.
Damour impressed me when he came on but I do think we need three top championship cms.
Tomlin didn't really do much but I'm not worried as I think he'll still score 10+ goals.

Just wanted to know everyone's thoughts on Joe Ralls?
I've never rated him and watching him yesterday confirmed to me that we need another central midfielder quickly.
Damour impressed me when he came on but I do think we need three top championship cms.
Tomlin didn't really do much but I'm not worried as I think he'll still score 10+ goals.

Lacks pace, a run of the mill midfielder. Does give 100%

As I've said in another post, I feel he works hard and does disrupt things. But he has very limited technical ability in regards to his passing and vision. Seems to give the ball away an awful lot. Our midfield was poor yesterday against a poor team, which backs up your comment regarding our midfield. In attack and defence we look solid. But my biggest concern is midfield and certainly needs some reinforcements. Although I don't think it would be good for our business model, a midfield of Gunnars and Ledley holding and Tomlin in a 10 role would be a good set up.

Just wanted to know everyone's thoughts on Joe Ralls?
I've never rated him and watching him yesterday confirmed to me that we need another central midfielder quickly.
Damour impressed me when he came on but I do think we need three top championship cms.
Tomlin didn't really do much but I'm not worried as I think he'll still score 10+ goals.

Lacks pace, a run of the mill midfielder. Does give 100%

Agree. He does try but it's not always enough especially if we want to go anywhere.
Someone like cattermole would walk all over him.

Who's available !?
Does Warnock think the same ?

I like him and think he can still step it up another few levels as well. Needs to start getting more goals which I think he is capable of.

Warnock seems to rate him which is what matters most at the moment.

I can't really make my mind up on him. Seems to have a few good games and then a few games where he's anonymous, and yesterday he did give the ball away a lot.

However, he is a trier and never tries to hide or avoid the ball. He really worries me when he receives the ball under pressure.

I think he's a decent enough midfielder but I'm not sure that he's good enough for a promotion chasing team.

Good player, keeps us ticking over and works hard.
Wins a lot of headers in the middle and covers as much ground as anyone.
Unseen work that he does would be (and is) missed if/when he doesn't play.
Gives the side balance

I agree, thought he was very average yesterday. Can you imagine what Kav would be like for us out there, he would dominate most midfields in the Championship! I would even say that Steve McPhail was a vast improvement on what we have at the moment in the middle.

Decent on his day but I don't think he's ever guna push his game to the next level. I don't think he's creative enough or able to influence a game that much but gives 100% and is a team player.

We need a leader in midfield and Ralls isn t ....too many times you see sideways balls from him he has not got the pace.. neither has gunnarsson but at least he has more tenacity... i don t feel you can play both together against good sides they will over run us..i would like to see a leader in there with pace..Ralls is ok as a squad player.

If we don't get a leader in there to replace Ralls we are going to struggle, his biggest weakness he doesn't win enough balls, tackling and in the air very poor.

It's been blatantly obvious for the last two/three seasons midfield is where our problems lie and I sure Warnock must have something up His sleeve before the window shuts.

If we don't get a leader in there to replace Ralls we are going to struggle, his biggest weakness he doesn't win enough balls, tackling and in the air very poor.

It's been blatantly obvious for the last two/three seasons midfield is where our problems lie and I sure Warnock must have something up His sleeve before the window shuts.

I agree with your first sentence.
The Whitts haters said the same about him but he had more skill in his little toe than Ralls has and could change and win a game in an instant.
If we are going to push for promotion (which I'm not sure we will) we need better than Ralls in the starting 11.
He would make a decent squad/back up player imo.

I tend to agree that Ralls just isn't going to be good enough if we want to challenge. Ralls isn't a kid anymore and any potential should have been realised by now.

People have been negative about Ledley but he's twice the player Ralls will ever be and would have been the missing part of the jigsaw. That's not going to happen but, by all accounts, Damour has looked quite impressive so maybe we have the answer staring us in the face, fingers crossed.

If we don't get a leader in there to replace Ralls we are going to struggle, his biggest weakness he doesn't win enough balls, tackling and in the air very poor.

It's been blatantly obvious for the last two/three seasons midfield is where our problems lie and I sure Warnock must have something up His sleeve before the window shuts.

I agree with your first sentence.
The Whitts haters said the same about him but he had more skill in his little toe than Ralls has and could change and win a game in an instant.
If we are going to push for promotion (which I'm not sure we will) we need better than Ralls in the starting 11.
He would make a decent squad/back up player imo.

agree with most thats been said.
and on the Whitts note i fully understand NWs vision not being dependant on a play maker and being more direct, but if we are going to play that way we need a bit/lot more quality off set pieces.there was none there Saturday. ive read many times that ANYONE can take a corner and thats exactly what i watched ,aimless dead balls that hit areas but picked out no one.

If we don't get a leader in there to replace Ralls we are going to struggle, his biggest weakness he doesn't win enough balls, tackling and in the air very poor.

It's been blatantly obvious for the last two/three seasons midfield is where our problems lie and I sure Warnock must have something up His sleeve before the window shuts.

I agree with your first sentence.
The Whitts haters said the same about him but he had more skill in his little toe than Ralls has and could change and win a game in an instant.
If we are going to push for promotion (which I'm not sure we will) we need better than Ralls in the starting 11.
He would make a decent squad/back up player imo.

agree with most thats been said.
and on the Whitts note i fully understand NWs vision not being dependant on a play maker and being more direct, but if we are going to play that way we need a bit/lot more quality off set pieces.there was none there Saturday. ive read many times that ANYONE can take a corner and thats exactly what i watched ,aimless dead balls that hit areas but picked out no one.

Very true. We haven't got a really decent dead ball taker which is a shame as we rely a lot on free kicks and corners.

If we don't get a leader in there to replace Ralls we are going to struggle, his biggest weakness he doesn't win enough balls, tackling and in the air very poor.

It's been blatantly obvious for the last two/three seasons midfield is where our problems lie and I sure Warnock must have something up His sleeve before the window shuts.

I agree with your first sentence.
The Whitts haters said the same about him but he had more skill in his little toe than Ralls has and could change and win a game in an instant.
If we are going to push for promotion (which I'm not sure we will) we need better than Ralls in the starting 11.
He would make a decent squad/back up player imo.

Interestingly Warnock has made it known how keen he is to put "more goals" into the squad through his new signing, etc. However, one area where we have clearly lost goals, at the moment, is from set piece delivery. We relied heavily on Whitts delivery on free kicks and, even more importantly, corners and I just can't see anyone stepping up to the mark yet.

agree with most thats been said.
and on the Whitts note i fully understand NWs vision not being dependant on a play maker and being more direct, but if we are going to play that way we need a bit/lot more quality off set pieces.there was none there Saturday. ive read many times that ANYONE can take a corner and thats exactly what i watched ,aimless dead balls that hit areas but picked out no one.

Very true. We haven't got a really decent dead ball taker which is a shame as we rely a lot on free kicks and corners.

Don't rate Ralls at all, want to cause he seems a lovely kid but just doesn't do enough for me, runs a bit but seems like a rabbit in the headlights, doesn't get stuck in enough, loses possession and his passing has been poor for sometime.

Would he get in a top 6 squad, no chance.

Gets to the loose ball far quicker than Gunnarson, better passer and covers more ground as well.

The club spent far too long trying to turn him into Whitts natural replacement but he isn't a specialised technical player. He is a good all round Championship CM. The only thing he appears to have inherited from Whitts is this seasons scapegoat by the look of it.

With Tomlin and Gunnarson we need legs in the middle of the park, both are slow bordering on snail paced for professional footballers.

We have had midfield balance issues for seasons now and the longest serving player has left and we still have issues (I know it is only one game in). IMO nowadays Gunnars best position is DM as a stopper not a passer or controller of the pace. But, what happens if Damour is a natural DM and is better ?

I think Warnock likes him because of his flexibility and adaptability. I am not quite sure what our fans want from him. Warnock is not about a guy sitting in front of the back 4 and controlling play, he is about getting the ball forward quickly and getting bodies up front quickly. He does this.

I said last season that I believed Whitts and Gunnar needed to go as they are both so inflexible in their play. Perhaps its Gunnar that doesn't fit the model not Ralls.

The only thing he appears to have inherited from Whitts is this seasons scapegoat by the look of it.

Spot on.

Its funny when Whitts was playing a lot of people moaned that Ralls was better and younger etc and we performed better when Ralls played. Ralls finally got in the team and everyone was moaning that he isn't as good as Whitts etc

Good player, keeps us ticking over and works hard.
Wins a lot of headers in the middle and covers as much ground as anyone.
Unseen work that he does would be (and is) missed if/when he doesn't play.
Gives the side balance

I'm with you on this one. Does the hard graft in the middle which let's the others get on with things. He's now developed into a good solid Championship midfielder. He chips in with the odd goal too. It's sometimes difficult to see what exactly he does, but in my mind the team plays better when he is in the team.

Ralls has developed into a terrific Championship midfielder. Comparisons to Whittingham are incorrect, he reminds me more of Stephen McPhail with his tidy, unfussy passing and general hard work in the middle of the field.

Ralls is a water carrier midfielder, he wins the ball and moves it on unfussily to the main attacking players.

Loic Damour may well be in the same vein as a player, and his ability may turn out to surpass Joe's, but it doesn't take away from the fact that Ralls is a very good player at this level and if we were to sell I am sure we would attract a lot of offers and a few million quid.

He's a squad player starting out problem is we haven't signed anyone to play in his position ahead of him, I feel Damour is like for like with Gunnar but who do you start ahead of Ralls?

Good player, keeps us ticking over and works hard.
Wins a lot of headers in the middle and covers as much ground as anyone.
Unseen work that he does would be (and is) missed if/when he doesn't play.
Gives the side balance

I'm with you on this one. Does the hard graft in the middle which let's the others get on with things. He's now developed into a good solid Championship midfielder. He chips in with the odd goal too. It's sometimes difficult to see what exactly he does, but in my mind the team plays better when he is in the team.

I'm not massively critical of Ralls performances I just think we need better if we are to progress. 12 goals in 6 years as a midfielder is not a big contribution. I think I also saw a stat last season where he had the least assists of any of our midfield players although I stand to be corrected on that one.

I think my biggest concern is his lack of ball retention. If he is there as a "continuity" type midfielder then that part of his game has to be spot on and last season it wasn't. 2015/16 I really though he'd progressed but last season I thought he fell away and he needs a really good start to keep his position with the extra competition he now has.

Gets to the loose ball far quicker than Gunnarson, better passer and covers more ground as well.

The club spent far too long trying to turn him into Whitts natural replacement but he isn't a specialised technical player. He is a good all round Championship CM. The only thing he appears to have inherited from Whitts is this seasons scapegoat by the look of it.

With Tomlin and Gunnarson we need legs in the middle of the park, both are slow bordering on snail paced for professional footballers.

We have had midfield balance issues for seasons now and the longest serving player has left and we still have issues (I know it is only one game in). IMO nowadays Gunnars best position is DM as a stopper not a passer or controller of the pace. But, what happens if Damour is a natural DM and is better ?

I think Warnock likes him because of his flexibility and adaptability. I am not quite sure what our fans want from him. Warnock is not about a guy sitting in front of the back 4 and controlling play, he is about getting the ball forward quickly and getting bodies up front quickly. He does this.

I said last season that I believed Whitts and Gunnar needed to go as they are both so inflexible in their play. Perhaps its Gunnar that doesn't fit the model not Ralls.

the club tried to turn him into Whitts ?...no...maybe one or two on here said it...but i doubt anyone with the smallest bit of football knowledge believes you can coach vision and that level of accuracy, players either have it or dont.
Ralls is a different player and actually has played the majority of his games with Whitts.

Gets to the loose ball far quicker than Gunnarson, better passer and covers more ground as well.

The club spent far too long trying to turn him into Whitts natural replacement but he isn't a specialised technical player. He is a good all round Championship CM. The only thing he appears to have inherited from Whitts is this seasons scapegoat by the look of it.

With Tomlin and Gunnarson we need legs in the middle of the park, both are slow bordering on snail paced for professional footballers.

We have had midfield balance issues for seasons now and the longest serving player has left and we still have issues (I know it is only one game in). IMO nowadays Gunnars best position is DM as a stopper not a passer or controller of the pace. But, what happens if Damour is a natural DM and is better ?

I think Warnock likes him because of his flexibility and adaptability. I am not quite sure what our fans want from him. Warnock is not about a guy sitting in front of the back 4 and controlling play, he is about getting the ball forward quickly and getting bodies up front quickly. He does this.

I said last season that I believed Whitts and Gunnar needed to go as they are both so inflexible in their play. Perhaps its Gunnar that doesn't fit the model not Ralls.

the club tried to turn him into Whitts ?...no...maybe one or two on here said it...but i doubt anyone with the smallest bit of football knowledge believes you can coach vision and that level of accuracy, players either have it or dont.
Ralls is a different player and actually has played the majority of his games with Whitts.

I will rephrase it.
With Whitts as the controller of the pace since Malkys first season and happy with 2m ~ 10m lateral passes we needed players around him with the same skill set of happy to receive the ball with opposition players around them and capable of passing the ball without giving it away. Ralls is better than Gunnar at this, but that slower pace took away his athleticism so it appeared (to me and many) that we were prepping him to become his replacement.
Warnock doesn't do this, thus why Whitts was surplus to requirements and Gunnars physical and mental strength shone through last season.
I wouldn't be surprised if we end up away with Gunnar as the sitter with Damour and Ralls as the pressers. We get the ball forward quickly and need athletes to be around Kenny when we do.

Home could be interesting as we need Tomlin on the pitch and it may not be Joe who is sacrificed, especially if Damour looks a better athlete than Gunnar

Gets to the loose ball far quicker than Gunnarson, better passer and covers more ground as well.

The club spent far too long trying to turn him into Whitts natural replacement but he isn't a specialised technical player. He is a good all round Championship CM. The only thing he appears to have inherited from Whitts is this seasons scapegoat by the look of it.

With Tomlin and Gunnarson we need legs in the middle of the park, both are slow bordering on snail paced for professional footballers.

We have had midfield balance issues for seasons now and the longest serving player has left and we still have issues (I know it is only one game in). IMO nowadays Gunnars best position is DM as a stopper not a passer or controller of the pace. But, what happens if Damour is a natural DM and is better ?

I think Warnock likes him because of his flexibility and adaptability. I am not quite sure what our fans want from him. Warnock is not about a guy sitting in front of the back 4 and controlling play, he is about getting the ball forward quickly and getting bodies up front quickly. He does this.

I said last season that I believed Whitts and Gunnar needed to go as they are both so inflexible in their play. Perhaps its Gunnar that doesn't fit the model not Ralls.

the club tried to turn him into Whitts ?...no...maybe one or two on here said it...but i doubt anyone with the smallest bit of football knowledge believes you can coach vision and that level of accuracy, players either have it or dont.
Ralls is a different player and actually has played the majority of his games with Whitts.

I will rephrase it.
With Whitts as the controller of the pace since Malkys first season and happy with 2m ~ 10m lateral passes we needed players around him with the same skill set of happy to receive the ball with opposition players around them and capable of passing the ball without giving it away. Ralls is better than Gunnar at this, but that slower pace took away his athleticism so it appeared (to me and many) that we were prepping him to become his replacement.
Warnock doesn't do this, thus why Whitts was surplus to requirements and Gunnars physical and mental strength shone through last season.
I wouldn't be surprised if we end up away with Gunnar as the sitter with Damour and Ralls as the pressers. We get the ball forward quickly and need athletes to be around Kenny when we do.

Home could be interesting as we need Tomlin on the pitch and it may not be Joe who is sacrificed, especially if Damour looks a better athlete than Gunnar

tbh i dont see Joes passing any better than Gunners, there was a time his pass accuracy figures were high but i think that was because Slade had been under pressure over how little possesion we had in games which resulted in us suddenly finding ourselves watching periods of meaningless nothing passes .last Saturday his 1st 3 passes found touch, the third was shocking..
over he was adequate against Burton but personally id like us to have a player in there with a stand out strength whether it be passing..tenacity. .vision ..drive...