The problem is simple... Confidence

[Reinelt12]

The players do not believe currently (due to chronic lack of confidence) that Gus's passing game will work...

That is it in a nutshell, Gus KNOWS it will work, the players don't believe in it because they are shot of confidence... however when they were believing in it down at Cardiff we ripped them apart.

If they don't believe in it, the passes won't be as accurate and everything breaks down. This team CAN play that way and win matches, they just need to believe in the way Gus wants them to play and believe in themselves.

Gus wasn't flouncing at all when he said about "going home" - listen back to some of his earlier interviews, he talks about his players believing in the way of playing all the time, being brave (i.e. trying those passes, and when they don't come off, trying them again and again). He is effectively saying that if they don't do what he is asking, and what they train to do week in week out, then whats the point in him turning up and training them every day.

He will turn this around, and the players will turn this around once the confidence comes back (which it surely will) - until then, it will be a rollercoaster

 

[Napper]

Draw 0 - 0 with Hull with Passing
Played well v West Ham with passing
Great draw at B'ham with passing

Confidence shouldnt be at all time low after those 3 , particularly the last 2

 

[crodonilson]

It is a lack of confidence, but not a lack of belief in the way we play.

 

[jackcgull]

watford was a freak game - usual midfield all absent, the addition of paynter up front and (another) new back four. All will be good once the core ball players are back

 

[Reinelt12]

Draw 0 - 0 with Hull with Passing
Played well v West Ham with passing
Great draw at B'ham with passing

Confidence shouldnt be at all time low after those 3 , particularly the last 2

And Poyet was happy with those performances, even saying that we "were back", however the players still realise that its 9 without a win and are doubting themselves and the passing game.

 

[Commander]

Draw 0 - 0 with Hull with Passing
Played well v West Ham with passing
Great draw at B'ham with passing

Confidence shouldnt be at all time low after those 3 , particularly the last 2

Confidence in playing well, possibly not, but confidence in winning games? Yes.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Even when we didn't lack confidence we were woefully short of a joined-up game plan anywhere beyond the halfway line. Got away with it for a while, but now starting to be ground down by the law of averages. Don't think I've seen a single team going forward with less purpose than us all season. Donny looked sharper.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

a couple of goals will change it all not just the players but the fans too. If we win 2-1 against Barnsley i think we might go on a run and i think the players will relax a bit which in turn will help

 

[Gritt23]

Draw 0 - 0 with Hull with Passing
Played well v West Ham with passing
Great draw at B'ham with passing

Confidence shouldnt be at all time low after those 3 , particularly the last 2

The indecision seems to kick in when we get around the box. There are a few more mistakes with the passing out from the back, but I think that is mainly down to teams closing us down faster and deeper into our own half. I think there is a lack of confidence, but only really with the decisiveness to make that killer pass or to try a shot.

 

[00snook]

a couple of goals will change it all not just the players but the fans too. If we win 2-1 against Barnsley i think we might go on a run and i think the players will relax a bit which in turn will help

Absolutely THIS

 

[TottonSFC]

Gus doesn't strike me as a manager who will inject needed confidence though, he's far too critical in public

 

[blockhseagull]

Think we have to remember this isn't a team that is used to losing games.

Had a tremendous season last year and started well this season, we seemed to struggle to turn in around after Leicester and and now the games without a win tally has increased we look less and less confident.

I'm pretty sure a win would change things dramatically, think we also need to make a statement on Sunday that we can attack and be dangerous which the players look unsure about. Poyet himself has to be brave and injuries permitting put out a side on Sunday that can attack. We need two wide players and we need to get at a side. Poyet himself wanted a big wide pitch and right now we aren't using it with one winger and a strange combination of 3 central midfielder that seem to make us lopsided.

Let's attack on Sunday and maybe, just maybe we might see some players smiling and look excited they are playing football because at the moment they look scared