Season Over?

[Soar Fox]

WE CAN STILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS KEEP THE FAITH!

Got some easier teams at home such as Coventry , Forest , Doncaster , Burnley

Then we have away Millwall , Derby , Bristol City , Ipswich , Watford

All of them games we can easily take 3 points of them.

Then we have the harder teams all at home Cardiff , West Ham , Birmingham , Hull ect

There's no such thing as a "easy game" Millwall, Ipswich, Bristol City, Barnsley, Peterborough, Portsmouth all teams that we would have been expected to beat.

[Guest Col city fan]

Of course the season is not over but we have to recognise why we dropped so far off the pace. Yes, we can still improve our team but it's not the lack of players which is holding us back but the playing philosophy.

Look at the Middlesbrough game. We scored early on and then had to watch Middlesbrough given free reign to attack for the next 20 minutes. Why? Why didn't we pressure them with even more conviction and attack the game with vigour.

Yes, Beckford kept giving us the odd moment of optimism but essentially we played contained football and only really gave it everything in the last 10 minutes when we were chasing an equaliser.

If we're going to win things we have to make opponents fear us. We have to threaten several goals a game. But when it comes to league game we just don't have that attitude. We never want to rip people apart.

At Brighton we even left one of the most devastating wingers on the bench. Why?

For what earthly reason, with so many points to recover, would we theoretically leave it until the second half to have all guns blazing?

No manager knows what will happen in a game in terms of bookings, sendings-off or injuries. So why not start as strong as we can and press the game?

Yes the referee's been a factor but debate on that score is clouding the reality that we're just not making our own luck. We're just like Sunderland before MON took over. Every week Steve Bruce would cite this and that as reasons for not winning yet all those reasons seemed to disappear once MON took over.

It's not just luck it's attitude - and I've said before we just have no philosophy.

Think about our team over the last few seasons. It is so rare that we've really tried to attack a league game for 90 minutes. Hope springs eternal but fans are mostly disappointed and that's reflected in the frustration and lack of atmosphere from the crowd, particularly at home games.

We need to change that. We need to get our fans going and show an attitude towards winning week in and week out. Never mind the opposition. Our aim should be to score goals. We lost today, not because of the referee but because we didn't score at a time when we simply have to win games. We've failed to score or managed just the one goal far too often this season.

And that's what has to change to keep our season alive. We need to score and keep scoring. Even if we have to play three at the back to do it.

You can focus on attitude all you like Thrac..and, of course, its a major contributory factor. I said pre-match today that Brighton are nothing special, and we should go for them...adopt an attacking formation and impose OUR game onto them.

However, I think the problem is much more than this. I think our lack of success is more down to a lack of quality...pure and simple.

I believe we actually have a squad of pretty average players.... if you combine some of Pearson's 'old guard' (Wellens, Gally, Dyer) with some of Sven's signings (Mills, Danns, even Pelts) we have a squad of players who are decent Championship players, but no more than that I'm afraid.

Though I hate to say it, having seen them most of this season thats what I believe. I simply think they have not been 'good enough' to warrant a position any higher than we are. 13th in the table is and has been, indicative of the squad of players we have.

[Happy Fox]

The problem is they have pumped close to £20 million pounds into the club over 2011, and what have we to show for it? A sacked England manager and a mid table position. You don't invest the amount of money they have into a football club to be a steady 13th. And when the losses are announced I think one or two Thai obscenities may fly around the office.

If the owners want a quick fix then get Warnock in, if not keep NP and build a team may take more than one season probably at least two seasons then automatic promotion. Its over to you Thais what do you want?

[ealingfox]

yep season over for me, feel very depressed this evening.

[Thracian]

You can focus on attitude all you like Thrac..and, of course, its a major contributory factor. I said pre-match today that Brighton are nothing special, and we should go for them...adopt an attacking formation and impose OUR game onto them.

However, I think the problem is much more than this. I think our lack of success is more down to a lack of quality...pure and simple.

I believe we actually have a squad of pretty average players.... if you combine some of Pearson's 'old guard' (Wellens, Gally, Dyer) with some of Sven's signings (Mills, Danns, even Pelts) we have a squad of players who are decent Championship players, but no more than that I'm afraid.

Though I hate to say it, having seen them most of this season thats what I believe. I simply think they have not been 'good enough' to warrant a position any higher than we are. 13th in the table is and has been, indicative of the squad of players we have.

I wouldn't argue with that although really good managers weld relatively ordinary players into a team that performs effectively together, despite individual limitations. They always set out to impose their game on the opposition.

Stoke are a good example. Pulis has worked sporting miracles there by making the best of what he has. MON seems to be doing just the same at Sunderland. And even when he was here, his style was not especially pretty most of the time but it was effective and everyone seemed comfrotable in the role that was allocated of them.

We just seem like a collection of random players who don't have a recognisable style as a team. Some weeks they press, some weeks they sit back. Sometimes we hoof the ball, sometimes we try to get it down and pass. The full-backs might get forward or they might not. We never have a method that we impose on people.

Good teams do. The Leeds team of Revie passed the ball. Not once in a while but all the time. The Spurs team of Nicholson were all about passing and moving. Stoke's success has been built on physical intimidation (and I don't mean that to be an insult). They give the opposition no time or space and scrap for everything. Then they get the ball to their big men in the box. Shankly's team challenged fiercely for everything then destoyed opponents with their pace and penetration down the flanks.

We don't seem to do anything consistently. We know from day one that we have to score at a certain rate yet year after year we fail to find a method of doing that. Makes no sense to me.

[Jace]

Not gaining promotion doesn’t really faze me that much, what does bother me is the owners. If we don't go up it will be seen as a failure. I have a horrible feeling they will jump ship.

When you say jump ship how do you mean? Do you mean they will sell the Club because I doubt even if they did want to there is an investor out there who would be willing to buy the Club for £40 million and take on the current wage bill in a mid Championship table position

[Bryn]

I just think it takes several years to build a side worthy of going up, and none of our administrations have ever left the manager alone long enough to do that.

I personally don't see the Premier League as the be all and end all, you can only take things one thing at a time whether you like it or not, it doesn't matter what you spend. You look at what you've got and attempt to improve, slowly but surely.

I'd like to see Pearson left to do his job for a few years, remove this ridiculous anchor around the neck that says we must go up or bust. Bring a few of the kids through, get rid of the lads who aren't good enough or don't care.

[Kitchandro]

Next season will be ours, we're building ourselves well for next year under NP

We said that last season, minus the NP part. I can't look forward to next season with massive optimism having had the experience of this one.The squad still needs a lot of work.

[NiftyFox]

Its never over until the end, every club has their winning run and ours will come soon. 51 points to play for, I still believe.

[ibbosuk]

We have been saying for most of this season, that all we need is to string a few consecutive wins together. But we haven't even manage back to back league wins (ALL SEASON) FFS , that's appalling, we just don't deserve to be top 6.

Face it this season WE ARE JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

[Jace]

I don't even think it will be next season we are way off I would expect an improvement next year possibly play offs and then potentially top 2 season after. Just hope we keep Kasper after the end of season that is my only real concern right now

[Trav Le Bleu]

I think the lowest points total for a playoff place is 70, but usually is around 74-75. We would need to win 10 games out of 17 and draw at least one of the other 7 (or 9 wins and 4 draws out of a remaining eight... 8 wins makes it having to be then 7 draws out of the remaining 9.)

And we've only won 10 games all season. Playoffs are very, very remote looking at the moment.

[acooling08]

If we don't beat Cardiff next week and go on a run of 2 or 3 wins then I think it's over.

[Captain...]

3 things

1. For the owners I think it was clear from our transfer activity that we were building for next season rather than all out promotion this season

2. Compared to last season and the kamikaze loan activity we are in a better position now to build for next season

3. We don't need to get promotion but we need to improve and start playing better, if we finish 13th or below then NP will have to justify his role as manager, if we can make a push get some momentum and win a few games finish 6-9 then we will have shown an improvement and carry some momentum forwards, we will also know more about where we need to strengthen.

At the moment it is so hard to know where we are going wrong because it seems like every week there is a different reason for failure, we need to do the basics and build from the back again. Keeper sorted, back four questionable Peltier seems to be getting worse Mills and SSL still not convincing, where will Bamba and Morgan fit into it, once the back four is sorted we then need to get the midfield working. Danns/Wellens/Drinkwater who in the middle, which flank is Marshall going to play on? Are Dyer or Gallagher good enough? Does Kennedy have a future with us? Then Captain, should Mills be captain?

The front line picks itself, but the rest there are still question marks all over the team and that is worrying, but we have time to sort that out and start next season with these questions answered.

[Trav Le Bleu]

3 things

1. For the owners I think it was clear from our transfer activity that we were building for next season rather than all out promotion this season

2. Compared to last season and the kamikaze loan activity we are in a better position now to build for next season

3. We don't need to get promotion but we need to improve and start playing better, if we finish 13th or below then NP will have to justify his role as manager, if we can make a push get some momentum and win a few games finish 6-9 then we will have shown an improvement and carry some momentum forwards, we will also know more about where we need to strengthen.

At the moment it is so hard to know where we are going wrong because it seems like every week there is a different reason for failure, we need to do the basics and build from the back again. Keeper sorted, back four questionable Peltier seems to be getting worse Mills and SSL still not convincing, where will Bamba and Morgan fit into it, once the back four is sorted we then need to get the midfield working. Danns/Wellens/Drinkwater who in the middle, which flank is Marshall going to play on? Are Dyer or Gallagher good enough? Does Kennedy have a future with us? Then Captain, should Mills be captain?

The front line picks itself, but the rest there are still question marks all over the team and that is worrying, but we have time to sort that out and start next season with these questions answered.

Absolutely spot on. I think a "settled" team, which surely we should have in a few games time, might sort it - but too late.

[Happy Fox]

We should of had a settled team at the start of the season but it was quite clear even then that their was an imbalance in the squad,plus the lingering deadwood.

[psychonaut]

I think the lowest points total for a playoff place is 70, but usually is around 74-75. We would need to win 10 games out of 17 and draw at least one of the other 7 (or 9 wins and 4 draws out of a remaining eight... 8 wins makes it having to be then 7 draws out of the remaining 9.)

And we've only won 10 games all season. Playoffs are very, very remote looking at the moment.

Well put it this way.... IF we ever had a chance of getting promoted from the word go then our form would have to be something like 9 wins out of 17 anyway!

[Guest Col city fan]

3 things

1. For the owners I think it was clear from our transfer activity that we were building for next season rather than all out promotion this season

2. Compared to last season and the kamikaze loan activity we are in a better position now to build for next season

3. We don't need to get promotion but we need to improve and start playing better, if we finish 13th or below then NP will have to justify his role as manager, if we can make a push get some momentum and win a few games finish 6-9 then we will have shown an improvement and carry some momentum forwards, we will also know more about where we need to strengthen.

At the moment it is so hard to know where we are going wrong because it seems like every week there is a different reason for failure, we need to do the basics and build from the back again. Keeper sorted, back four questionable Peltier seems to be getting worse Mills and SSL still not convincing, where will Bamba and Morgan fit into it, once the back four is sorted we then need to get the midfield working. Danns/Wellens/Drinkwater who in the middle, which flank is Marshall going to play on? Are Dyer or Gallagher good enough? Does Kennedy have a future with us? Then Captain, should Mills be captain?

The front line picks itself, but the rest there are still question marks all over the team and that is worrying, but we have time to sort that out and start next season with these questions answered.

I tried to tell you where we are going wrong but as usual you want to over analyse.

We aren't good enough...

Without some better players in this squad I think we are going nowhere.

For the money spent this season has been a shambles.. And still people pine for Sven...?

Still, you'll be happy no doubt because our failure so far has at least given the 'smaller teams' a chance...

[oxford blue]

Very little chance of anything this season. With Beckford out for 2 league games (+1 cup) -just as he was looking good - , Schulpp, Waghorn injured - it's stating the obvious, we're likely to be struggling for goals.

But with the way NP is rebuilding the team, it's looking promising for automatic promotion next season. (But I think we'll need to keep Schmeicel!)

[Jimmy]

Absolutely spot on. I think a "settled" team, which surely we should have in a few games time, might sort it - but too late.

you mean like the 1 today with all of 1 change made to it, which had been the same XI for the previous 3 games?

[FoxTrott]

Every game as they come. Enough of this whole season bollocks. We'll see what happens innit, que sera sera and all that balls.

[Captain...]

I tried to tell you where we are going wrong but as usual you want to over analyse.

We aren't good enough...

Without some better players in this squad I think we are going nowhere.

For the money spent this season has been a shambles.. And still people pine for Sven...?

Still, you'll be happy no doubt because our failure so far has at least given the 'smaller teams' a chance...

When did you try and tell me?

You have posted your opinion and I mine, they are not that dissimilar.

You say we don't have the quality to go up, I agree, my problem is we still don't seem to know enough about the squad to know where to stregthen effectively.

Buying 10 new players in the Summer will put us back to square one, what I am saying is we need to use the rest of the season to actually find out what our best team is, get them playing as well as possible and then look at where we need strengthening in the Summer.

I agree this season has been a shambles and I certainly don't pine for Sven, he is largely to blame for us still not knowing what our best team is. The problem at the moment is that we are so inconsistant all over the park we can't truly judge anyone. We still haven't lined up in a true 442 with 2 true wide players so it is impossible to know whether the players can play that way, injuries shocking refs and suspensions are not going to help that, Danns' suspension will at least give Drinkwater a chance to start in his natural position alongside Wellens.

I will ignore your last remark

[SpionKop SK1]

3 things 1. For the owners I think it was clear from our transfer activity that we were building for next season rather than all out promotion this season 2. Compared to last season and the kamikaze loan activity we are in a better position now to build for next season 3. We don't need to get promotion but we need to improve and start playing better, if we finish 13th or below then NP will have to justify his role as manager, if we can make a push get some momentum and win a few games finish 6-9 then we will have shown an improvement and carry some momentum forwards, we will also know more about where we need to strengthen. At the moment it is so hard to know where we are going wrong because it seems like every week there is a different reason for failure, we need to do the basics and build from the back again. Keeper sorted, back four questionable Peltier seems to be getting worse Mills and SSL still not convincing, where will Bamba and Morgan fit into it, once the back four is sorted we then need to get the midfield working. Danns/Wellens/Drinkwater who in the middle, which flank is Marshall going to play on? Are Dyer or Gallagher good enough? Does Kennedy have a future with us? Then Captain, should Mills be captain? The front line picks itself, but the rest there are still question marks all over the team and that is worrying, but we have time to sort that out and start next season with these questions answered.

I agree with this. I think Pearson now needs to pick his 11 for next season and let them gell between now and the end of the season. Peltier and SSL are the weak links in my opinion. We've let a lot of goals in from runs down the left wing (Pelts fault), watch the Barnsley highlights! Lets put either Morgan and Mills or Bamba in for the rest of the season and let them form a partnership. In Midfield - lets make our mind up and stick with a solid 4. You never know in this league, we may sneak 6th spot if we make a good start against Cardiff on Sat...

[Fox96]

Peltier and SSL are the weak links in my opinion.

I can see why you say Peltier because the number of goals coming from our right but SSL? He's our strongest centre half.

[RyRyFox]

Reading did it last season from our position, Keep optimistic.