Comfort Blankets of possession, fixtures and other teams games

[Barry Sanchez]

Lets just have an honest debate of why we are in this situation on this thread, why are we in this relegation scrap when other newly promoted teams have not been in the past?

 

My reasons are

 

1) Poor purchases.

2) Squad from previous seasons not strong enough for the EPL.

3) Team selections and tactics been woefully amatuerish from both managers at times and it begs the question of possible outside influence.

[pingwing]

1) Wrong. Majority of our purchases have been very good, couple of debatable one yes but we have added real quality to the side.

2) Wrong. A squad that challenged for the champ title the entire season last year can't suddenly be not good enough for the prem. This is real life not football manager, get a grip.

3) At least debatable, neither have been "woefully amateurish" both have been naive at times but both have set the team up to play properly and try to win games which is much more than the majority of teams in the bottom half of the premier league.

 

The reality of the situation is most teams who get promoted are instantly in the relegation scrap, no team goes from champ to top 8 in a season and the way the prem is set up if you are out side of the top 8 you are in the relegation scrap till the last 5 games.

 

Realistically we are only in the relegation scrap through a) a lack of composure to see out a few 1-0's and 2-1's b) a naivety about how to beat a 10 man behind the ball hoof and c) some pretty terrible refereeing over the course of the season.

[Barry Sanchez]

1) Wrong. Majority of our purchases have been very good, couple of debatable one yes but we have added real quality to the side.

2) Wrong. A squad that challenged for the champ title the entire season last year can't suddenly be not good enough for the prem. This is real life not football manager, get a grip.

3) At least debatable, neither have been "woefully amateurish" both have been naive at times but both have set the team up to play properly and try to win games which is much more than the majority of teams in the bottom half of the premier league.

 

The reality of the situation is most teams who get promoted are instantly in the relegation scrap, no team goes from champ to top 8 in a season and the way the prem is set up if you are out side of the top 8 you are in the relegation scrap till the last 5 games.

 

Realistically we are only in the relegation scrap through a) a lack of composure to see out a few 1-0's and 2-1's b) a naivety about how to beat a 10 man behind the ball hoof and c) some pretty terrible refereeing over the course of the season.

 

A terrible refereeing decision gave us a victory at Villa, I didnt see people moaning then such is the bias of fans, honest debate.

[SnailOB]

The timing of the managerial change.

 

Adkins (like his players) had to adapt to the premier league. He wasn't helped by the ridiculous situation of not having a replacement for Fox (Shaw was not ready or tested) or proper GK cover. Loads of speculation over who is responsible for transfers, bottom line, don't think they were good enough (Ramirez too inconsistent, Mayuka offered nothing, Gazza not ready). If Puncheon hadn't stepped up (which i dont think many expected him to do) then things could have been a lot worse.

 

Also had a nightmare start. Then - just as players and manager start finding their feet in prem - NC changes manager.

 

Now MP finds himself in same position as NA was at start of season, not knowing his best team - already tinkering with players. Don't believe our results under MP have been any better then they would have been under NA. What makes it worse for MP is that the players should have already settled into pace of prem which was not a situation NA had at the beginning of the season.

[wild-saint]

Lets just have an honest debate of why in our first season back in the prem with a squad largely put together in league 1 that -

1)We are 4 point s clear of the relagation zone

2) We have a superior goal difference over our direct competition

3) we have 9 games left with 5 off them at home

4) The teams below us are in that postion after 29 games for a reason and to suggest that they are likely to put a run that is at least 5 points (1 win & 2 draws) better than ours with only 9 games left is unlikely.

5) Whilst we have issues with our team we areplaying pretty well considering we are in relegation fight.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

On point 3), I would be more inclined to agree if we were being dominated week-in week-out and on the receiving end of constant thrashings.

 

However, this really hasn't been the case very often. That's not to say it has not happened at all, an obvious example is Arsenal away.

 

A lot of goals conceded, or dropped points have come as a result of lapses in concentration, or individual errors.

 

This is not to do with tactics, or the manager. If the team creates a lot of chances, but fails to score them, that is the fault of the players not the manager (e.g. it's hard to blame Pochettino for Lallana's miss on Saturday, though I'm sure it will not be too hard for you to find some nonsense excuse for you to blame 'Tino, Reed, Cortese, and probably Fox & Guly).

[Bearsy]

yo barry are you not enjoying this season or something? do you not find it v.exciting?

 

[Wes Tender]

Barry, you cover the same points in another perfectly adequate thread covering all this; the one on who will be candidates for relegation.

 

So why exactly do you feel the need to start yet another thread repeating the same old arguments? Is it attention seeking; a desire to be noticed?

[Whitey Grandad]

Referees have nothing to do with it. It's due to poor finishing and poor substitutions.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Barry, you cover the same points in another perfectly adequate thread covering all this; the one on who will be candidates for relegation.

 

So why exactly do you feel the need to start yet another thread repeating the same old arguments? Is it attention seeking; a desire to be noticed?

 

One trick pony, same points on every single thread.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

yo barry are you not enjoying this season or something? do you not find it v.exciting?

 

 

He hates the Premier League, but will b!tch and moan for eternity about it if we go down.

 

But at least he is one of the most consistent posters on here. FACT.

[pingwing]

A terrible refereeing decision gave us a victory at Villa, I didnt see people moaning then such is the bias of fans, honest debate.

 

Cost us much more against Newcastle away as their 2nd was a foul on Clyne (regardless of the offside), cost us at home to Newcastle for the 3rd goal (just on goal difference terms), cost us against Arsenal at home for all 3 points when their CB fell backwards to disallow Gaston's 2nd goal... It's cost us in the mad number of times players like Lambert have been fouled in the box and the ref has given it against us...

[Olallana]

Lets just have an honest debate of why in our first season back in the prem with a squad largely put together in league 1 that -

1)We are 4 point s clear of the relagation zone

2) We have a superior goal difference over our direct competition

3) we have 9 games left with 5 off them at home

4) The teams below us are in that postion after 29 games for a reason and to suggest that they are likely to put a run that is at least 5 points (1 win & 2 draws) better than ours with only 9 games left is unlikely.

5) Whilst we have issues with our team we areplaying pretty well considering we are in relegation fight.

 

Agree on this one + goalkeeping errors hasn´t helped us.

[Barry Sanchez]

Barry, you cover the same points in another perfectly adequate thread covering all this; the one on who will be candidates for relegation.

 

So why exactly do you feel the need to start yet another thread repeating the same old arguments? Is it attention seeking; a desire to be noticed?

 

No Wes valid points, are you going to rip up your season ticket if we go down tee hee hee......................

[Mowgli]

Given that most fans were happy to settle for 17th, It's difficult to understand the whining that is going on with us currently in 16th place.

[Greenridge]

No Wes valid points, are you going to rip up your season ticket if we go down tee hee hee......................

 

I do recall The Kraken stating he would not be attending any more games at SMS this season as a way of personal protest agains the sacking of Adkins. I don't think he was one of the posters who had a go at the Corrie lookalike though.

[Barry Sanchez]

Cost us much more against Newcastle away as their 2nd was a foul on Clyne (regardless of the offside), cost us at home to Newcastle for the 3rd goal (just on goal difference terms), cost us against Arsenal at home for all 3 points when their CB fell backwards to disallow Gaston's 2nd goal... It's cost us in the mad number of times players like Lambert have been fouled in the box and the ref has given it against us...

 

What about the foul Shaw did on Holt in the first half that was a penalty? We can all point to the injustice against us thats easy, what about the ones for us?

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Lets just have an honest debate of why in our first season back in the prem with a squad largely put together in league 1 that -

1)We are 4 point s clear of the relagation zone

2) We have a superior goal difference over our direct competition

3) we have 9 games left with 5 off them at home

4) The teams below us are in that postion after 29 games for a reason and to suggest that they are likely to put a run that is at least 5 points (1 win & 2 draws) better than ours with only 9 games left is unlikely.

5) Whilst we have issues with our team we areplaying pretty well considering we are in relegation fight.

 

This is the point I keep putting to Bazza, 110%, Turks, Glasgow et. al.

 

It's funny how quiet they suddenly go when you ask them how come these teams that are so brilliant, and so much better than us have spent the majority of the season in the bottom 3, whilst we haven't, and they can't catch us up, despite our awful form.

Edited 11 March, 2013 by KelvinsRightGlove
silly typo, these bug me.

[Barry Sanchez]

This is the point I keep putting the Bazza, 110%, Turks, Glasgow et. al.

 

It's funny how quiet they suddenly go when you ask them how come these teams that are so brilliant, and so much better than us have spent the majority of the season in the bottom 3, whilst we haven't, and they can't catch us up, despite our awful form.

 

The thing is I would agree but they are improving bar Reading and we are regressing.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

The thing is I would agree but they are improving bar Reading and we are regressing.

 

Many would call this form, which as we all know, is temporary.

 

2 wins (QPR) or 2 losses (us) is not really enough to say either way how the trajectory of a season is going.

 

I try to take a more wider view of things. However, it's clear you have something of a penchant for reacting to every small facet of a season as the be all and end all, your prerogative, which I am inclined to disagree with.

[Olallana]

I know I will be accused of cherrypicking now, but actually we have never under this season been further away than 4 points from 18th spot, and that is where we are now.

And add to that a much better GD that´s almost another point in hand.

[Tamesaint]

Isn't it threads like this that are killing this forum ?? A few manic depressive bed wetters seem to be intent on creating thread after thread belittling our achievements and convincing everybody that we are doomed.

 

Why don't they all just shut up, go to their local bookies, put loads of money on Saints being relegated (I gather the odds are around 3/1) make even more money when we go down and then b u g g e r off to the tropical paradise of their choice and leave the rest of us to enjoy our football without them.

 

Oh and by the way ... lets hope that the tropical paradise of their chioice has no internet connectivity.

[Turkish]

This is the point I keep putting to Bazza, 110%, Turks, Glasgow et. al.

 

It's funny how quiet they suddenly go when you ask them how come these teams that are so brilliant, and so much better than us have spent the majority of the season in the bottom 3, whilst we haven't, and they can't catch us up, despite our awful form.

 

When have i gone quiet? If we lose on saturday which is highly possible we could well be 17th, just one point above the drop zone. It doesn't need brilliant form from the bottom 4 for this to happen, just for us to lose to a team in 6th who are in great form and for Villa to win at home against the second bottom side and Wigan to win at home against Newcastle. Would hardly be as astonishingly impossible series of results for that scenario to take place.

[Tamesaint]

When have i gone quiet? If we lose on saturday which is highly possible we could well be 17th, just one point above the drop zone. It doesn't need brilliant form from the bottom 4 for this to happen, just for us to lose to a team in 6th who are in great form and for Villa to win at home against the second bottom side and Wigan to win at home against Newcastle. Would hardly be as astonishingly impossible series of results for that scenario to take place.

 

Oi. Stop it. Anyone would think that you are trying to take the place of your old mucker Lawro !! :-)

[alpine_saint]

Lets just have an honest debate of why we are in this situation on this thread, why are we in this relegation scrap when other newly promoted teams have not been in the past?

 

My reasons are

 

1) Poor purchases.

2) Squad from previous seasons not strong enough for the EPL.

3) Team selections and tactics been woefully amatuerish from both managers at times and it begs the question of possible outside influence.

 

Why do you bother ?

 

IMO you are spot on, but nobody here wants to hear it now because you are just being a troll or a miserable c*nt, and nobody will want to hear your shouts of frustration about seeing it coming over the summer because then you are just being an attention-seeking told-you-so.

 

I've largely given up entering heavy debates on here, because it always goes in the same abusive direction.

[Barry Sanchez]

Isn't it threads like this that are killing this forum ?? A few manic depressive bed wetters seem to be intent on creating thread after thread belittling our achievements and convincing everybody that we are doomed.

 

Why don't they all just shut up, go to their local bookies, put loads of money on Saints being relegated (I gather the odds are around 3/1) make even more money when we go down and then b u g g e r off to the tropical paradise of their choice and leave the rest of us to enjoy our football without them.

 

Oh and by the way ... lets hope that the tropical paradise of their chioice has no internet connectivity.

 

Another person who wishes the World follows the ways of North Korea.....................

[Saint86]

1) Wrong. Majority of our purchases have been very good, couple of debatable one yes but we have added real quality to the side.

2) Wrong. A squad that challenged for the champ title the entire season last year can't suddenly be not good enough for the prem. This is real life not football manager, get a grip.

3) At least debatable, neither have been "woefully amateurish" both have been naive at times but both have set the team up to play properly and try to win games which is much more than the majority of teams in the bottom half of the premier league.

 

The reality of the situation is most teams who get promoted are instantly in the relegation scrap, no team goes from champ to top 8 in a season and the way the prem is set up if you are out side of the top 8 you are in the relegation scrap till the last 5 games.

 

Realistically we are only in the relegation scrap through a) a lack of composure to see out a few 1-0's and 2-1's b) a naivety about how to beat a 10 man behind the ball hoof and c) some pretty terrible refereeing over the course of the season.

 

Why are you arguing with Turkish? Surley you should just have all his many guises on ignore by now?

[alpine_saint]

Isn't it threads like this that are killing this forum ?? A few manic depressive bed wetters seem to be intent on creating thread after thread belittling our achievements and convincing everybody that we are doomed.

 

Why don't they all just shut up, go to their local bookies, put loads of money on Saints being relegated (I gather the odds are around 3/1) make even more money when we go down and then b u g g e r off to the tropical paradise of their choice and leave the rest of us to enjoy our football without them.

 

Oh and by the way ... lets hope that the tropical paradise of their chioice has no internet connectivity.

 

Why dont you give it a rest with your incessant foul whining ?

[Saint86]

Why are you arguing with Turkish? Surley you should just have all his many guises on ignore by now?

 

It could also be Alpine, need to correlate against past posts on other threads... he is definitiley one of the usual trolls on here though.

[alpine_saint]

It could also be Alpine, need to correlate against past posts on other threads... he is definitiley one of the usual trolls on here though.

 

B*ll*cks. I have no alter egos whatsoever.

[Turkish]

B*ll*cks. I have no alter egos whatsoever.

 

It's pathetic mate. If anyone disagrees with the clappers or dares to suggest we are in real danger its because they are all the same person using multiple logins or attention seeking trolls.

[pingwing]

What about the foul Shaw did on Holt in the first half that was a penalty? We can all point to the injustice against us thats easy, what about the ones for us?

 

Match thread I called it as a penalty clear as day, then they were given a stupid non free kick just afterwards.

 

There's just an eternally bad list of decisions in the league "which should balance out" but for us they haven't quite so far.

 

Why are you arguing with Turkish? Surley you should just have all his many guises on ignore by now?

 

Occasionally it is fun to challenge the slightly odd world he lives in, especially in a doom and gloom we are going to be relegated week (though that really should have been last week)

[alpine_saint]

It's pathetic mate. If anyone disagrees with the clappers or dares to suggest we are in real danger its because they are all the same person using multiple logins or attention seeking trolls.

 

Apart from the fact that my IP address is so different from those of you in the UK.

[Turkish]

Match thread I called it as a penalty clear as day, then they were given a stupid non free kick just afterwards.

 

There's just an eternally bad list of decisions in the league "which should balance out" but for us they haven't quite so far.

 

 

 

Occasionally it is fun to challenge the slightly odd world he lives in, especially in a doom and gloom we are going to be relegated week (though that really should have been last week)

 

Please explain.

[Wes Tender]

No Wes valid points, are you going to rip up your season ticket if we go down tee hee hee......................

 

Exactly the same points that you consider to be valid on the other thread. Do you just cut and paste your comments onto several threads, hoping vainly that if you repeat them often enough people will notice you? Well, they certainly do and think that you're a boring tw*t as a result. How's your little "winky" by the way?

 

Regarding the ST protest, quoting it just reiterates what most suspect of you, that even if something goes into one of your ears, it quickly makes its way out through the other one having jumbled itself up on the way through.

 

I'll explain again for your benefit and hope that the facts penetrate your cranium at last. When Lowe came back into control of the club allied to Wilde, I did not renew my season ticket for the following season. I didn't tear it up mid-season. In the event, I still attended all matches that following season bar about 4 of them, paradoxically ones that we actually won under Wotte. Got it?

 

And why would I not renew my ST if we went down? I had it each year that we were in the lower divisions after Lowe had gone, even in the third division. That hardly makes me a fair weather fan, does it?

[Baldbarbarian]

Given that most fans were happy to settle for 17th, It's difficult to understand the whining that is going on with us currently in 16th place.

 

Agree with this. I said at the start of the season I would settle for 17th & still would.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Why do you bother ?

 

IMO you are spot on, but nobody here wants to hear it now because you are just being a troll or a miserable c*nt, and nobody will want to hear your shouts of frustration about seeing it coming over the summer because then you are just being an attention-seeking told-you-so.

 

I've largely given up entering heavy debates on here, because it always goes in the same abusive direction.

 

I've actually missed you of late.

 

Compared to the new breed of bedwetters, you are actually able to have a debate, as opposed to just circular discussions of the same points, riddled with inconsistency.

 

EDIT:

It should also be said, that some (not all) of the people who claim to be bastions of truth, on a noble crusade against the evil Cult leader Cortese and his brainwashed minions are just as abusive the other way. For, balance sake.

Edited 11 March, 2013 by KelvinsRightGlove

[Turkish]

Exactly the same points that you consider to be valid on the other thread. Do you just cut and paste your comments onto several threads, hoping vainly that if you repeat them often enough people will notice you? Well, they certainly do and think that you're a boring tw*t as a result. How's your little "winky" by the way?

 

Regarding the ST protest, quoting it just reiterates what most suspect of you, that even if something goes into one of your ears, it quickly makes its way out through the other one having jumbled itself up on the way through.

 

I'll explain again for your benefit and hope that the facts penetrate your cranium at last. When Lowe came back into control of the club allied to Wilde, I did not renew my season ticket for the following season. I didn't tear it up mid-season. In the event, I still attended all matches that following season bar about 4 of them, paradoxically ones that we actually won under Wotte. Got it?

 

And why would I not renew my ST if we went down? I had it each year that we were in the lower divisions after Lowe had gone, even in the third division. That hardly makes me a fair weather fan, does it?

 

Are you sure Les? Only some people say you ripped up your season ticket in disgust at our relegation last time.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

When have i gone quiet? If we lose on saturday which is highly possible we could well be 17th, just one point above the drop zone. It doesn't need brilliant form from the bottom 4 for this to happen, just for us to lose to a team in 6th who are in great form and for Villa to win at home against the second bottom side and Wigan to win at home against Newcastle. Would hardly be as astonishingly impossible series of results for that scenario to take place.

 

Genuine question, when was the last team all the teams in the bottom 4 won?

 

Is there not a reason they are down the bottom end of the table? I just don't get how all these teams are below us, with less points, worse goal difference, and yet are nailed on to keep winning.

[Barry Sanchez]

Are you sure Les? Only some people say you ripped up your season ticket in disgust at our relegation last time.

 

Ha ha, its a classic that, I can imagine his mother coming into his room telling him to calm down its only a game and Wes ripping up his season ticket and smashing his x box around like that fat kid, can someone link that as I cant as at work, thats Wes ha ha!

[Tamesaint]

Why dont you give it a rest with your incessant foul whining ?

 

lol!!

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Why dont you give it a rest with your incessant foul whining ?

 

Coming from the guy sticking up for Barry, who accuses everyone a hypocrite (I suspect he struggles with what this word means), and a with quite the reputation for whining quite a lot.

 

Pot, kettle, black, does kinda come to mind.

[alpine_saint]

Coming from the guy sticking up for Barry, who accuses everyone a hypocrite (I suspect he struggles with what this word means), and a with quite the reputation for whining quite a lot.

 

Pot, kettle, black, does kinda come to mind.

 

I never whine about how some posters should be banned. Unlike some of you, I am able to integrate the idea that not everyone agrees with me.

 

Tamesaint is ALWAYS whining that so-and-so should be banned.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

I never whine about how some posters should be banned. Unlike some of you, I am able to integrate the idea that not everyone agrees with me.

 

Tamesaint is ALWAYS whining that so-and-so should be banned.

 

Fair enough, for the sake of clarity, can we have an official list of acceptable and non-acceptable topics for whining?

[shirleysfc]

It's pathetic mate. If anyone disagrees with the clappers or dares to suggest we are in real danger its because they are all the same person using multiple logins or attention seeking trolls.

 

The problem is anyone who tries to be positive about staying up gets labeled 'Cult of Cortese' or a 'Clapper'.

 

Personally I think we'll stay up (just) simply because the other teams will run out of time. I think the timing of Adkins sacking was very bad. I also think we've played some decent stuff (at times) under MP. For me our biggest problem is we aren't taking our chances like we were earlier in the season, that isn't MP's fault tho.

Edited 11 March, 2013 by shirleysfc

[Alanh]

Lets just have an honest debate of why we are in this situation on this thread, why are we in this relegation scrap when other newly promoted teams have not been in the past?

 

My reasons are

 

1) Poor purchases.

2) Squad from previous seasons not strong enough for the EPL.

3) Team selections and tactics been woefully amatuerish from both managers at times and it begs the question of possible outside influence.

 

Nothing wrong with discussing this, however I don't think that people are holding onto possession stats and analysing other teams fixtures as a comfort blanket, or that they are doing it any more this season than the last two, when our need to win games was equally important but for other reasons.

 

As for your reasons:

 

1. Poor purchases. Disagree with this as a blanket statement. Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, J-Rod & Davis have been decent purchases, certainly on par with the best made by the other newly promoted clubs. Ramirez has improved our side but I think that all of our fans have an inflated expectation of him given his price tag and his protracted transfer. Gazzanigga, Mayuka and Forren haven't succeeded yet, but Gazzanigga is the only one of those really given a chance so far and could be said to have failed.

2. Squad not strong enough for Prem. Hardly a surprise given the speed of our rise from L1 and a reason why we purchased 9 players over the season.

3. Amateurish mangerial decisions. To an extent, but I'd say that having two mangers who do not have experience in the Prem meant that they both needed to find a way to instill belief in their players and chose to do so by implementing a system that they believed would work and convincing the players to trust the system. On occasion the players haven't been up for it (Sunderland, West Brom, West Ham) and on occasion a better team has nullified those managerial decisions (Man City away, Liverpool, Arsenal away, Everton away).

 

For me the reasons we are in 16th place at the moment are:

 

1. The prem has been a steep learning curve for everyone at the club

2. Retaining Gazza in goal for more than his first match and not getting Boruc in goal sooner

3. The injuries that kepk Cork and Shaw out of the first 10 games of the season

4. For a newly promoted club to not be in a relegation scrap after 29 games is the exception, not the norm.

[Dig Dig]

Nothing wrong with discussing this, however I don't think that people are holding onto possession stats and analysing other teams fixtures as a comfort blanket, or that they are doing it any more this season than the last two, when our need to win games was equally important but for other reasons.

 

As for your reasons:

 

1. Poor purchases. Disagree with this as a blanket statement. Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, J-Rod & Davis have been decent purchases, certainly on par with the best made by the other newly promoted clubs. Ramirez has improved our side but I think that all of our fans have an inflated expectation of him given his price tag and his protracted transfer. Gazzanigga, Mayuka and Forren haven't succeeded yet, but Gazzanigga is the only one of those really given a chance so far and could be said to have failed.

2. Squad not strong enough for Prem. Hardly a surprise given the speed of our rise from L1 and a reason why we purchased 9 players over the season.

3. Amateurish mangerial decisions. To an extent, but I'd say that having two mangers who do not have experience in the Prem meant that they both needed to find a way to instill belief in their players and chose to do so by implementing a system that they believed would work and convincing the players to trust the system. On occasion the players haven't been up for it (Sunderland, West Brom, West Ham) and on occasion a better team has nullified those managerial decisions (Man City away, Liverpool, Arsenal away, Everton away).

 

For me the reasons we are in 16th place at the moment are:

 

1. The prem has been a steep learning curve for everyone at the club

2. Retaining Gazza in goal for more than his first match and not getting Boruc in goal sooner

3. The injuries that kepk Cork and Shaw out of the first 10 games of the season

4. For a newly promoted club to not be in a relegation scrap after 29 games is the exception, not the norm.

 

Agree with a lot of that, top post.

 

Barry was kicked off not606 because he was negative last season when we were winning. Unsurprised by his stance this season therefore.

[Tokyo-Saint]

Come on Baz, you started off ok on the muppet show but now you seem to be after alp's job on the mainly bored. What's going on?

[Barry Sanchez]

Nothing wrong with discussing this, however I don't think that people are holding onto possession stats and analysing other teams fixtures as a comfort blanket, or that they are doing it any more this season than the last two, when our need to win games was equally important but for other reasons.

 

As for your reasons:

 

1. Poor purchases. Disagree with this as a blanket statement. Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, J-Rod & Davis have been decent purchases, certainly on par with the best made by the other newly promoted clubs. Ramirez has improved our side but I think that all of our fans have an inflated expectation of him given his price tag and his protracted transfer. Gazzanigga, Mayuka and Forren haven't succeeded yet, but Gazzanigga is the only one of those really given a chance so far and could be said to have failed.

2. Squad not strong enough for Prem. Hardly a surprise given the speed of our rise from L1 and a reason why we purchased 9 players over the season.

3. Amateurish mangerial decisions. To an extent, but I'd say that having two mangers who do not have experience in the Prem meant that they both needed to find a way to instill belief in their players and chose to do so by implementing a system that they believed would work and convincing the players to trust the system. On occasion the players haven't been up for it (Sunderland, West Brom, West Ham) and on occasion a better team has nullified those managerial decisions (Man City away, Liverpool, Arsenal away, Everton away).

 

For me the reasons we are in 16th place at the moment are:

 

1. The prem has been a steep learning curve for everyone at the club

2. Retaining Gazza in goal for more than his first match and not getting Boruc in goal sooner

3. The injuries that kepk Cork and Shaw out of the first 10 games of the season

4. For a newly promoted club to not be in a relegation scrap after 29 games is the exception, not the norm.

 

If we did not spend such money on speculation buys then I could understand, you can come up within a few seasons and stay up, Norwich did and how much have they changed their squad?

Swansea did not spend huge amounts and won silverware as well, it can be done.

[Barry Sanchez]

Agree with a lot of that, top post.

 

Barry was kicked off not606 because he was negative last season when we were winning. Unsurprised by his stance this season therefore.

 

I was kicked off for being correct about the way the team was going, I dont think I have been proved wrong about Cortese and the signings do you?