Thoughts of the season so far?

[NickG]

It's not about being 9th, it's the 7 defeats that we've suffered in less than half a season

AP 1 DW 3 NA 3 (being reasonable about MK Dons there) It's a shambles.

 

NA points per game is still about automatic promotion level

[Legod Third Coming]

Quite right.

 

Whether you like Nigel Adkins or not, he needs to be given the opportunity at least to buy his own players, sell the ones he doesn't want, and get the side firing on all cylinders ready for the season run-in.

 

I cannot believe for one second that, come Feb 1st, we will not have done anything to strengthen the squad and get rid of players that don't fit in.

 

We need to do well over Christmas to help compensate for that steaming cack of a result at the weekend, and provided we do pick up a few wins, we will no doubt be in the promotion mix. This is all we really need to worry about right now - making sure we are in contention rather than being 20 points clear at the top of the league with a goal difference of +576.

 

This illustrates the challenge of changing manager.

I make no bones about my support for Pardew, but set that aside for a moment.

 

Who genuinely thought on May 1st this squad was not good enough to romp this league without a -10 deduction? Who was worried that we needed to change and allow a new manager to bring in his own players?

 

So why is it now a weak squad that needs to be rebuilt??

 

I tend to agree that managers should be allowed to build their own sides. But look at Ancelotti - ok they're wobbling a bit (but still near top of the league) and he didn't come in and have to sell Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Kalou, Essien etc in order to win the league did he? Adkins also inherited a top class side for this league... It should be performing better. We should be top of the league and dominating with our resources, really we should. (That's not arrogance, that's fact - even Citeh's money is starting to count, why isn't ours??)

[adrian lord]

Makes me laugh how these threads are always pulled back up after a defeat, but slide down the forum when we're winning.

 

Are you surprised? They seem to be pulled back up too often for my liking - too many defeats.

[hypochondriac]

Makes me laugh how these threads are always pulled back up after a defeat, but slide down the forum when we're winning.

 

Well obviously. Players, managers and those in charge can do pretty much what they want as long as we are winning.

[David Strover]

Honestly?

 

We're no where near the playing record I thought we'd have at this stage BUT perhaps my expectations were too high and like others if I reappraise the team and players we are not quite as good as we think we are.

 

We aren't as bad as the wrist slashers make out but it is a bit of a 'shock' to realise that well....we will do well to get promoted and after the first half of the season, unless we sign some amazing players that blend in and gel immediately, we will be playing in League One again next season.

 

As I've said before we'll just have to take stock, start again and wait for the 'good times' to start sometime soon....I'm not convinced they are just around the corner that's all.

 

The amazing thing is we have always seemed to be this club for decades. Flattering to deceive or just plan struggling with moments to remember scattered in amongst hard slog (for the fans). To be honest sometimes I wonder why I bother - then we beat Manchester United 6-3.....

Edited 14 December, 2010 by David Strover
I can't spell or typo check for I am an idiot...