What did you expect !

[RothleyFox]

Of course we were going to find it tough this year ,

 

After winning the championship last year , our squad was improved by the signing of  Ulloa and Cambiasso . A total spend of approx. £8 million. 

 

Every week we are playing teams with 6 , 7 or more internationals , we are being found out especially our defence !

 

We need to do whatever we can to stay in this league , with experience the team will get better and better , getting relegated should not be an option,

 

Something has to be done soon, what happened to the £200 million The Mercury said was available ?

 

Does anyone think that the reported interest in Defoe is the answer?

 

[dayday]

Of course we were going to find it tough this year ,

After winning the championship last year , our squad was improved by the signing of Ulloa and Cambiasso . A total spend of approx. £8 million.

Every week we are playing teams with 6 , 7 or more internationals , we are being found out especially our defence !

We need to do whatever we can to stay in this league , with experience the team will get better and better , getting relegated should not be an option,

Something has to be done soon, what happened to the £200 million The Mercury said was available ?

Does anyone think that the reported interest in Defoe is the answer?

The 200 million was taken out of context,as for the team,we have been exposed as not good enough,if we are serious about staying up we need 5 quality players in January,that's a Centre back,left back,midfielder,left winger and a striker.

As for improving the side,I don't think we have,Cambiasso will probably leave at the end of the season,Ulloa is not as good as we thought,and the rest of the signings have been anonymous.

So unless we make these signings we ain't going anywhere fast.

[jamesmilner]

I sure wasn't expecting rock bottom no wins in 10 with Man City coming to town this Saturday !!

[ithuriel]

The Leicester net, the gift that just keeps on giving.

Merry Xmas Man City :xmassmile:

[Crinklyfox]

I was expecting a tough time but a bit more organisation than we've shown against the weaker teams in the PL.  We've conceded too many soft goals.  I agree that we need to strengthen the squad but there should be more to come from the players we already have.

[Weller in Tights]

I was expecting a tough time but a bit more organisation than we've shown against the weaker teams in the PL. We've conceded too many soft goals. I agree that we need to strengthen the squad but there should be more to come from the players we already have.

I think this sums up my feelings well. I have always been realistic and while I hope for mid-table, realistically I would be very happy with 17th.

[Fox92]

It's not just about results, it's about the poor performances too. We've played poor at times and conceded very soft goals. We've had a tough run of ten without a win, but we haven't made it easier for ourselves losing to the likes of West Brom, Villa and Palace. These are the teams I expected us to compete against.

[5waller5]

I was expecting us to surprise a few teams with that crisp attacking football we played last season. To win some and to lose some thrillers....

Boring hoofball was the last thing I expected!!

[RowZ]

The Leicester net, the gift that just keeps on giving.

Merry Xmas Man City :xmassmile:

We'd probably be eligible for charity status if it wasn't for the sky money. Bet Kasper's back is aching with all that bending down.

[Steven]

For Pearson to be better prepared than he is. To be more focused on the task in hand and less focused on the players that got the Club to the PL. My sense is that as a Club we are significantly unprepared for life in the PL. :xmassad:  

[Mike Oxlong]

I didn't expect us to beat Man U 5-3 and then go into meltdown but it's not just about losing but about how you lose and although we haven't had a thumping (yet) I'm surprised at how far out of our depth we look.

[Fox Ulike]

For me, the frustrating thing is the extent to which our current predicament has been self-inflicted. I don't mind losing games and I don't even mind a relegation battle. We have got good players and a good manager.

 

But I think we have thrown the chance of points away due to our poor choice of team selection. The diamond was clearly the result of a panic-attack by Pearson, and we threw away the chance to get points from one of our must-win home fixtures, against WBA.

 

Secondly, playing two strikers and two wingers just woefully under-estimates the quality of opposition that we are facing. it's almost an insult to teams like Villa just thinking we are an irresistible attacking force and Villa and Liverpool will just be shaking in their boots at the thought of our wing-play and Jamie Vardy's pace.

 

Also, the extent to which we have played players out of position is another case of us shooting ourselves in the foot. Things like playing Matty James in an attacking role, Schlupp as a central-midfielder, asking Ulloa to drop deep, and Konchesky as a wing-back were all tactics that severely limit the effectiveness of those players, and has caused them to lose confidence.

 

I love Pearson, but he's had a mare.

 

He's a great manager and an inspiring leader. But he's stubborn, and he's not a master tactician. At some point, he needs to look at himself and acknowledge to himself the mistakes he's made,  and put them right. And he needs to do it soon.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

For me, the frustrating thing is the extent to which our current predicament has been self-inflicted. I don't mind losing games and I don't even mind a relegation battle. We have got good players and a good manager.

But I think we have thrown the chance of points away due to our poor choice of team selection. The diamond was clearly the result of a panic-attack by Pearson, and we threw away the chance to get points from one of our must-win home fixtures, against WBA.

Secondly, playing two strikers and two wingers just woefully under-estimates the quality of opposition that we are facing. it's almost an insult to teams like Villa just thinking we are an irresistible attacking force and Villa and Liverpool will just be shaking in their boots at the thought of our wing-play and Jamie Vardy's pace.

Also, the extent to which we have played players out of position is another case of us shooting ourselves in the foot. Things like playing Matty James in an attacking role, Schlupp as a central-midfielder, asking Ulloa to drop deep, and Konchesky as a wing-back were all tactics that severely limit the effectiveness of those players, and has caused them to lose confidence.

I love Pearson, but he's had a mare.

He's a great manager and an inspiring leader. But he's stubborn, and he's not a master tactician. At some point, he needs to look at himself and acknowledge to himself the mistakes he's made, and put them right. And he needs to do it soon.

Agreement here to most of that, but has James been played as an attacking midfielder? I've seen it as more him at times being prepared to have a run when there is space ahead of him, when the opportunities arise with or without the ball. I think Cambiasso and he have been employed fairly deep, but he has an the energy and wherewithal to try and make things happen because nobody else is doing it!

[NotTheMarketLeader]

Agreement here to most of that, but has James been played as an attacking midfielder? I've seen it as more him at times being prepared to have a run when there is space ahead of him, when the opportunities arise with or without the ball. I think Cambiasso and he have been employed fairly deep, but he has an the energy and wherewithal to try and make things happen because nobody else is doing it!

That aside I was expecting to be above Burnley and QPR, who we knocked into a cocked hat last season. I was expecting the owners / Pearson to have brought in players to strengthen up what would be our weaknesses when stepping up a division.

[Guest Col city fan]

I said I'd take it one game at a time..prudent to do so IMO.

But I expected what we've got..a relegation dogfight. After the level of signings we made over the summer, I'm surprised anyone expected anymore.

So many people were underestimating the Premiership.

[Donut]

For me, the frustrating thing is the extent to which our current predicament has been self-inflicted. I don't mind losing games and I don't even mind a relegation battle. We have got good players and a good manager.

 

But I think we have thrown the chance of points away due to our poor choice of team selection. The diamond was clearly the result of a panic-attack by Pearson, and we threw away the chance to get points from one of our must-win home fixtures, against WBA.

 

Secondly, playing two strikers and two wingers just woefully under-estimates the quality of opposition that we are facing. it's almost an insult to teams like Villa just thinking we are an irresistible attacking force and Villa and Liverpool will just be shaking in their boots at the thought of our wing-play and Jamie Vardy's pace.

 

Also, the extent to which we have played players out of position is another case of us shooting ourselves in the foot. Things like playing Matty James in an attacking role, Schlupp as a central-midfielder, asking Ulloa to drop deep, and Konchesky as a wing-back were all tactics that severely limit the effectiveness of those players, and has caused them to lose confidence.

 

I love Pearson, but he's had a mare.

 

He's a great manager and an inspiring leader. But he's stubborn, and he's not a master tactician. At some point, he needs to look at himself and acknowledge to himself the mistakes he's made,  and put them right. And he needs to do it soon.

 

Agreed for me. Tactical naivety of the highest order. Almost trying to appease fans with the 4-4-2 i feel.

[5waller5]

I said I'd take it one game at a time..prudent to do so IMO.

But I expected what we've got..a relegation dogfight. After the level of signings we made over the summer, I'm surprised anyone expected anymore.

So many people were underestimating the Premiership.

 

 

 

I did expect that you'd have been right all along whatever happened!!!

[Dan]

I expected to be above Burnley.

[Donut]

I expected to be above Burnley.

 

Think we all did mate, thats the tough thing to take.

 

The one thing Burnley have done though is developed a way of playing that is rugged, difficult to beat, organised, and everyone knows exactly what theyre doing. Add to that players like Ings who can nick you a goal at times, they pinch a few wins and keep themselves in touch.

 

You do have to give credit to Dyche. He knows exactly how to get the maximum out of what hes got.

[Guest Col city fan]

I did expect that you'd have been right all along whatever happened!!!

Not at all. I said this right from the summer.

[The Doctor]

For me, the frustrating thing is the extent to which our current predicament has been self-inflicted. I don't mind losing games and I don't even mind a relegation battle. We have got good players and a good manager.

 

But I think we have thrown the chance of points away due to our poor choice of team selection. The diamond was clearly the result of a panic-attack by Pearson, and we threw away the chance to get points from one of our must-win home fixtures, against WBA.

 

Secondly, playing two strikers and two wingers just woefully under-estimates the quality of opposition that we are facing. it's almost an insult to teams like Villa just thinking we are an irresistible attacking force and Villa and Liverpool will just be shaking in their boots at the thought of our wing-play and Jamie Vardy's pace.

 

Also, the extent to which we have played players out of position is another case of us shooting ourselves in the foot. Things like playing Matty James in an attacking role, Schlupp as a central-midfielder, asking Ulloa to drop deep, and Konchesky as a wing-back were all tactics that severely limit the effectiveness of those players, and has caused them to lose confidence.

 

I love Pearson, but he's had a mare.

 

He's a great manager and an inspiring leader. But he's stubborn, and he's not a master tactician. At some point, he needs to look at himself and acknowledge to himself the mistakes he's made,  and put them right. And he needs to do it soon.

 

How is he stubborn? He's pissed around with the formation throughout this 10 game run trying to find one that works. He's dropped and chopped and change every outfield position trying to find an improvement. If anything the complaint is too much tinkering, not too stubborn. He neutered our attacking threat showing respect the opposition against Burnley, against Newcastle, against Swansea, and we looked woeful. He shows this arrogance and insults the oppostion that you're moaning about, and we were a couple of silly defensive lapses and a bit of poor finishing away from coming out of that week with 9 points out of 9. We looked much improved but seriously lacking in confidence

[Buzzell]

It was always going to be a tough season this year for us. It's going to be a long, hard season. Hopefully we will find some sort of form before teams really starting pulling away from us.

[David Hankey]

Personally, I did not expect to see them in the position they are currently in. It's easy, with hindsight, to say what should or shouldn't have been done in the close season but after such a wonderful season I suppose NP thought his squad was capable with one or two additions. Sadly that has not proved to be the case as and it proves the big gulf between the two divisions.

[6ups 6downs 2 cups]

I thought we would be above QPR and Burnley and thought we would be better than at least one other team, that's all I wanted from this season...We may still get it, but at some point that gap is going to be a chasm if we don't get our arses in gear.I think Hull away is must win, assuming we pick up maybe a point from next 3 games. Still we could click, good time to play Man City I reckon, West Ham are due a slip up and Spurs have been generally crap so who knows.

[Bettsj2]

In defence of NP, I would imagine his plan was to start with a CB pair of Upson and Wes which would have been a more solid base than what we've been playing with.

The goals conceded at Palace, Newcastle and Swansea were through naivity and if Upson were in the back 4, may not have happened.