Corky

EFL making us play again is outrageous. Cvnts.

Aiyawatt has nothing to show off now. No glamour Premier League games with Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal. No promotion so no parade with influencers. No play-offs so no trip to Wembley. Oxford and Charlton, good clubs that they are, aren't worth the effort. Leicester v Coventry is big for the fans but doesn't resonate in the homeland. 14th in the second division is best avoided.

In footballing terms, no. However, I felt before that a managerial change or a few good signings could improve things. Now, mediocrity is ingrained in the club. The whole place is miserable, the quality of football is dire.

It is an afternoon out. Results don't matter to them.

The amount of fouls we give away and the sluggishness of our play are telling.

It was. The wild approach in terms of signings, transfer fees and managerial appointments put us in difficulty before Pearson returned and settled everything down. His work allowed us to have continuity behind the scenes and gradually improve the quality of the squad to have enough good players to sustain us at the top level. That has drifted away for a while and Vardy leaving left us with nobody from his era. We are now in the bottom half of the Championship again and regressing.

Without Nigel Pearson, his set up or his lasting influence, they have been mid table second division owners.

So much of this game is about reputation. Maresca's side got into the opposition's heads that we were too good for them, that they had to sit back and stop us rather than take us on. It changed later in the season but fortunately we had enough character with Vardy and Dewsbury-Hall to get us over the line. Nobody fears this team. Nobody respects it. Managers will come out and talk us up whilst knowing it would have to be a seriously bad performance for us to dominate them. We aren't capable. Watford scored and had no concerns. No drama, just play your way and we'll be fine. The stats don't lie, we look exactly what we are. A boring, eminently beatable team who offer no excitement and little threat.

Why would the players do any more? Does their overall boss question them? They get applauded off and excused. Why bother exhausting yourself when there is no expectation?

Spectacular week. Paying staff later than advertised, thumped last week, failed to adequately remember the passing of a great coach and now this. Couldn't be prouder.

An absolute zombie team. Just existing on a pitch.

No energy or urgency. Still Ayew remains on.

Another needless foul given away.

I thought we were seeing signs of progress a couple of weeks ago. Not any more.

That has been coming from Stolarczyk. Too often he has been left wanting from crosses.

Dear. ****ing. Me.

The thing about Ayew is his ability to see the game around him.

Another mug nearly produced there!

Some neat football but we hardly ever get into the box with pace or purpose. The equaliser summed us up defensively: panic and no organisation.

It really is striking (no pun intended) just how drab our options are in that department. Should have gone to try and get an exciting League One/ Two striker with a youngster working up rather than these bland choices.

I can, just about, get that John Robertson was not the figurehead at the time so his role wasn't fully obvious but still, anyone who knows about football knows how important a great coach or assistant can be. We had it with Shakey more recently and previously with Robbo. It is why you need people from all eras to be connected to the club in some way. Not company lifers but people who can educate and provide context. A fan, a former player etc. There should be enough around.

@Super_horns Aren't you in decent form since Gracia returned? Has the look of a 1-2 defeat.

It isn't as though there is nobody (players, staff) around from that era, too. You could even let the fans tell you how much he meant, reading this and other forums.

Nothing about the sad passing of a legendary player and hugely influential coach. Someone revered by the players and part of an iconic era. Disgraceful.

The bow!ers get plenty of criticism but they have a done a reasonable job and it should be noted how little rest they get. The batting on this tour, by and large, has been horrendous. 2013/14 was bad but this feels worse.