STUHILL

Combination of things, including a stubborn Enzo in managing in game tactics and (not!) making substitutions, as well as players lacking quality in the final third, and most worryingly, an increasing mentality to try hold onto leads in the 2nd half, as opposed to what we were doing earlier in the season and exhausting teams with our passing, and scoring many late goals in the 2nd half to finish off games with relative ease. I can see a fear creeping in of not wanting to lose and throw away our huge points lead in the table. Constantly hearing that we are walking this league and have a Premier League squad who shouldn't be here etc, on top of being relentlessly chased by teams below, can take its toll. That is why I think Top really needs to get us TWO quality signings in this window and we need to treat this period as a bit of a reset and a mentality switch so that we can get our swagger back and try to dominate and exhaust teams with our superior players and style. Everything at the moment feels a bit wishy washy and meh, and I can't help feel that is because Enzo seems a little too nice and OK with our poor performances, and that mentality has started creeping into the players. I'd like to see more aggression, some nastiness and real arrogance to dominate and humiliate teams. It won't always work, but I can't help think that tonight was a perfect opportunity to bully Ipswich, similar to what Leeds did to them, and we just didn't even try. We got our goal and just let them play their ways back into the game the moment the 2nd half kicked off. We must find some aggression, arrogance and swagger, if we are to maintain this gap to Southampton and Ipswich.

Just feels like we are losing momentum and our swagger a little bit. I think two decent signings would provide a much needed boost to our squad. Get this one done and then one more, another CM, with a real physical presence and decent in the air for defence and attack. We can't afford to not have cover for Ndidi.

Enzo is doing a fantastic job and the players talk glowingly about his methods, and what we have achieved so far should not be sniffed at. I'm happy he is our Manager, but… I have noticed that he seems a little bit too content with some of our losses and draws and I can’t help think there is a mentality growing in the squad that is lacking a ruthlessness. Listening to Justin today pre match, he was suggesting if we don’t get anything today then it won’t define our season. He’s correct of course, but I hear Enzo talking like this often too, and I think it encourages a ‘Just grateful to be in this position’ and ‘We’ll be OK’ attitude, worryingly similar to Bodger’s last year which also permeated throughout the squad and made us a bit of a soft touch. We are also missing a few nasty players in the squad, who will bully the opposition and our own players if needed! The quality of our squad alone should keep us in the top 2, but I’d like to see Enzo and the players start to sound more ruthless and aggressive in how we are going to achieve this promotion. Games like tonight are more about mentality than tactics or opposition. A couple of red flags are emerging in that regard and we need Enzo and the players to get on top of them before it becomes an even bigger issue. Still confident when we have Ndidi and Fatuwa back, on top of a new CM, we will get over the line, but we may make hard work of it unless we find that ruthless swagger needed.

Not a great sign for Chelsea recalling a player like Casadei. Mixed feelings on his early departure. He certainly was the weak link in a handful of games, but he was showing signs of making an impact for us. Unfortunately, despite his physical attributes, he always seemed a step or two slow, physically and mentally when reading the game. I do think we will miss his aerial ability, especially with Ndidi out. Overall, I didn't think he would be worth keeping after the end of his loan, but this is not great timing for us. Hopefully, we have one or two coming in.

Who's Dennis Praet?