Confidence in sport is massive. We deserved to at least draw, arguably beat United at home. Battered them second half. The effect a result like that would have had would have been huge for players, manager and fans.
I don't believe the answer is getting rid of the manager yet. Maybe putting feelers out, but he's respected around the club and deserves 5-6 more games. Back to back wins (with decent performances) still changes the whole picture at the moment.
The problem we now have is that you can count the players in our squad who are happy and playing decently on probably 2 fingers. The others are either:
a) unhappy because not getting as much game time as they'd like - WH, MY, JWP, SB, CA,
b) horribly out of form - FF, SL, DT, NR, MG
c) have their eyes elsewhere - VVD, RB
The VVD situation has definitely backfired. Admire the club for making a stand in the summer, but it's cutting off your nose to spite your face as we were left with a very influential presence in the dressing room who has basically been sulking for 6 months and phoning in his performances (on a dodgy line).
Add 2 other big characters with negative vibes - Berty (one more big move?) and Charlie (not getting picked) into that picture and you start to have 3 potential leaders all not really give a toss.
A further factor at the weekend was undoubtedly the national disappointments faced by 3 regulars in Davo, Gabby and Shane and you start to build a picture of negativity around the squad when you add in the others who are not getting a run in the side and seeing the ones who are underperforming.
Answers? VVD has to go in January. (we have Maya who is now a solid Prem CB, Wes and Stephens) I would offload Berty as well if we get a good offer (Play McQueen (more dynamic) with Targett as a solid back-up) and probably offload Charlie somewhere as well.
How bad is McCarthy not to get a chance in goal? I don't know the answer but it's time we got a chance to see.
Positives: Lemina looks a proper player, the players with national hangovers will shake those off and go again, we have a good base of reliable performers in Oriol, Maya, Cedric, Davo. Boufal has to be given a run but instead of Tadic, therfore giving him more freedom. Get Pwosey in for a run instead of Tadic - if this isn't Prowsey's breakthrough season to being an established Prem player when will it ever be?
So, my team would look like:
AM, CS, MY, WH, SMc, OR, ML, SD, JWP, SB, MG
And there's no doubt we need to add another striking option in January.
I reserve the right to throw all my toys out of the pram and join Project Meltdown if we lose to Everton at home.
