Anyone on here still confident of challenging top 2

Hull and Peterborough had 2 streaks last season. It's about making sure we win the games when we're NOT in a streak/slump

 

Yeah, I definitely think that teams have identified where our weaknesses lie. It seems quite obvious what they are so, hopefully, they can be rectified quickly.

 

i mentioned after or during our pre-season games we had a habit of letting crosses, whether in the air or on the ground, just roll through our box...this did not change and we really are struggling with balls into the box, if i could see it LJ must have noticed but worse is that other managers seem to have clicked as well.

i also noted that teams were not playing us off the park, more like we gift them goals and being honest they don't look as if they are trying too hard to score, i have always been a supporter of build the team from defence forward and right now we need to stop the rot even if it means a couple of boring no score draws then aim to get back to the early season style.

 

Makes you wonder why its still happening. I suppose every team has its weaknesses but ours is worrying. What do you think the answer to that problem is? Is it as simple as changing the players in the back four?

 

Not confident as such, but doable. ITHICS

 

No

 

Yes

 

i honestly think doyle is a damn good player but feel he needs a break, he appears like he is lacking some former energy or something, need to protect the lad as well as encouraging him, up till now cirkin has been growing into the style but this 'blip' might knock his confidence as well, winchester is (imo) being targetted now as he gets forward a lot, i have noticed lots of space for the opposition at times on the right side of our area and flanno has not suddenly become a bad player again...arby has had a few runs out but is he quite ready, wright is solid if unspectacular but then you also have to take on board we basically had three DM's out, onien ventured forward but is hardly a box to box man and still looks off his best.

we did not have any real 'push' through the middle with even stewart dropping deeper to get the ball so not just the back four i'm afraid, that team and variants of it have proved how well they can play so it looks like something simple has gone amiss, hopefully LJ can see/has seen it and is working on it or the crowd will soon turn...i am still confident of a good season though.

 

It's not new signings we need.....get a proper defensive coach, get everyone fit and we will be ok. Aside,I really hope the terms of our loan agreement for Doyle don't say we have to play him if he's fit.....the lad is too delicate for this league.

 

Still angry over the defeats but having thought about it (a lot and have calmed down) although we let in 4 at Portsmouth it was extraordinary conditions that we all thought lead up to that defeat, at Rotherham we shot ourselves in the foot with the mcgeady sending off and we can see with last nights Blackburn result when you go down to ten men a good team can take real advantage. (Rotherham are a good team and will probably be champions) Sheffield wed, charlton and burton were unacceptable and if we are to get promoted then these are the teams that should not be taking any points off us. Don’t get me wrong as I’ve said I’m still pissed off with all the defeats but circumstances in the other two caused the high scoring. It’s always said that things even themselves out so let’s hope we can come through this and batter some teams when the next circumstance arrives.

 

I said on another thread that I thought he'd go for that midfield against Wednesday after the Rotherham mauling. Its basically the same three that kept us tight against QPR. Possibly not the right selection for this game though. All of Wednesday's goals originated from the right in one form or another, as you say, so maybe its time to try someone else at right back. Its concerning though if the centre backs can't deal with crosses.

 

Play-offs at best.

 

A bit premature mate,I think. I hope we are quick learners and sort the defensive problems. I still say,top 2 at best,play-offs at least.

 

Maybe this break is at the right time.

Certainly Johnson has a really streaky record, and so could go on another run.

Young players have dips in form. That is almost guaranteed, and we have quite a few younguns playing together at times and they might be dipping together. They should learn from this so hopefully they learn quickly enough.

Rotherham were always the team to beat IMO, they seem to have been going up and down from League One now for ages. They know what they are doing .

I wouldn't say we were worse, generally , than the rest. Experience might count in other teams favour, but hopefully we'll get going again and strengthen a bit in Jan.

Top two certainly possible, but that's as far as I'd take it.

 

Zero trust in Johnson to sort us out at the back.

 

I don't recall much about this aspect of his time at Bristol City but did he have a lot of young players in his side there? Could that be contributory factor in his streakiness?

 

As I've said elsewhere....we need a defensive coach,and to rest Doyle. Much more important than signing additional players in January,which we don't really need.

 

Really?! We’re desperate for a central midfielder and another centre forward option.

 

Promotion - about 85% sure (even before our last 5 games, I still have this same feeling now)

....we were always going to have a rough spell, and ours is now.

We'll be fine !

 

We've enough in our midfield and upfront.
Our current problems aren't in our attacking intent....they're rooted in our defensive frailties.