Honest question!

[Doc Lynam]

What's gone wrong since the beginning of the season?
From storming the league at the start, to now struggling to get a shot on target.
I dont get to see many games but seen a few online. How can we go from having crucial players in the league below only hear that they are the weak links this time around. And how come Southampton who were runners up to us have stormed the championship with largely the same squad.
Is it tactics?
A lack of confidence from the players?
Or is just the players aren' t up to the standard required to play Gus's style?

 

[Goring Gull]

The Amex? Could this be to blame as we are no longer a minnow?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

We're a mid-table team. We played a lot of lesser teams early in the season and beat them. And when we started to play the teams I expect to finish in the top half we did not do very well.

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

We're a mid-table team. We played a lot of lesser teams early in the season and beat them. And when we started to play the teams I expect to finish in the top half we did not do very well.

Last 10/15 games would say we are bellow mid table.

 

[Doc Lynam]

We're a mid-table team. We played a lot of lesser teams early in the season and beat them. And when we started to play the teams I expect to finish in the top half we did not do very well.

So what about Cardiff?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

So what about Cardiff?

That game was an exception, we played very well that night. We are capable of beating top placed teams as well as losing to those at the bottom, as are any team. But, in general I think we will fair well against those below us and loose to those above us because we're a mid-table outfit.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Last 10/15 games would say we are bellow mid table.

Fair comment, but I don't think we're too far below and certainly not relegation material.

 

[portlock seagull]

Suspensions and injuries are continually disrupting our first 11 too. Maybe the transfer of Murray and Bennett have made a bigger impact than we'll admit.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

'All we are saying,is give us a goal!!' One goal in 4 matches is just not good.

 

[pasty]

My only concern is we are a little too predictable. As highlighted on the other thread, we're too easily sussed out and closed down, and it appears thus far that we don't have an (effective) alternative game plan.

And before anyone jumps on my back, this is not a moan, just an observation and an honest answer to the question.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Suspensions and injuries are continually disrupting our first 11 too. Maybe the transfer of Murray and Bennett have made a bigger impact than we'll admit.

Agree, but we should be able to attract better prospects.

 

[Doc Lynam]

My only concern is we are a little too predictable. As highlighted on the other thread, we're too easily sussed out and closed down, and it appears thus far that we don't have an (effective) alternative game plan.

Predictable in what way? Read that Bridcutt has been targeted as our lynch pin!

 

[bhawoddy]

Fair comment, but I don't think we're too far below and certainly not relegation material.

Id disagree with that. I think we could be relegation candidates if we dont recognise the need to strengthen. We must get rid of deadwood players who would be good in league 1 and buy in january. We have shown in the last few months that with the current crop we will be in the bottom third. just look at the stats table - it doesnt lie. we were bottom of it for around 6 weeks.

 

[DumLum]

We're a mid-table team. We played a lot of lesser teams early in the season and beat them. And when we started to play the teams I expect to finish in the top half we did not do very well.

What about the way we ran Liverpool ragged in the second half? Are they a lesser team?

We also had Leeds beat from 2-0 down. Are they a lesser team?

For me our performances took a major downturn as soon as Palace equalized. Why?

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

What about the way we ran Liverpool ragged in the second half? Are they a lesser team?

We also had Leeds beat from 2-0 down. Are they a lesser team?

For me our performances took a major downturn as soon as Palace equalized. Why?

If I remember correctly, we were poor against Palace way before they equalised.

 

[SeagullSongs]

If I remember correctly, we were poor against Palace way before they equalised.

We were poor against Palace after 6 minutes and 37 seconds.

 

[DumLum]

If I remember correctly, we were poor against Palace way before they equalised.

We were poor against Palace after 6 minutes and 37 seconds.

Yes, actually you are both correct.

I recall my brother starting to pull his hair out after about 20 minutes come to think of it. I was just sitting in the WSU with a big smile on my face after downing a pint of Harveys, we were beating Palace in our new stadium and Gus Poyet was our manager and he couldn't do anything wrong.

 

[portlock seagull]

'All we are saying,is give us a goal!!' One goal in 4 matches is just not good.

This. But amazed it's taken so long for so many to realise how woeful our number of chances let alone goals has been for SEVERAL months now. Did a thread on this several games ago now. The number of games then where we'd not had a single shot on target was becoming a joke. Now it is A joke. We have no cutting edge going forward. No dead ball specialist either.

I now go to games with a bingo like tick list:
1. Hope we finish with 11 players
2. Hope for a shot
3. Hope for a shot on goal
4. See a goal!
5. Hope for a draw
6. Hope for a win

Trouble is we rarely get 1 of the above. The only thing that were consistent at doing is picking up bookings, making us by far the dirtiest team in the league and that's nothing to be proud about.

Troubling times. Not saying sack the manager is the solution. Just we've shown far less patience with previous ones down the years so Gus needs a good jan window or who knows - the unthinkable may just happen?

 

[brightn'ove]

the fact we have so many players out/on the brink of being suspended cannot help... it cant be good for the confidence of the teams to constantly be getting stupid yellows (and reds!!) and being the (not my opinion) 'Dirtiest' team in the league.

Shake our discipline problem, shake our injury problem, gain confidence and we are an above mid table team, with the possibility for a playoff push.

 

[mune ni kamome]

One problem is when we recieve the ball in a tight spot we are not comfortable with it and tend to panic. This is a lack of technique English players tend to have due to not learning these skills early in life. The continentals seem much more adept with their first touch and at shielding the ball with small body movements etc to give themselves time to think.