Down to 6th

[Danny_Blade]

First season back in the Championship and we were always going to have a blip weren't we - whether competing at the top end (which we are), middle of the table or in and around the relegation zone. We're currently going through one now and we may even have another blip or two later on in the season, its disappointing but that's football.

 

[Guesty]

Slump in form and teams have caught us. It makes it very tough to get back into that top two. 11 points between us and Wolves now which is frustrating

Need to kick on again and soon otherwise all that good work earlier in the season will go to waste

Serious question Swiss. You posted recently (at least I think it was you, apologies if not) that if we didn't end up pissing the league, something has gone seriously awry.

Fast forward five games or so and automatic looks miles off. Do you think something has gone seriously awry (and our best player breaking his leg would might certainly qualify), or were you and a few people getting carried away?

For what it's worth, I think the Coutts injury and the subsequent hit to our football has merely exposed a problem that was already there. When we are on song, no-one can live with us, but we've had what you might call a soft belly all season. Now we're leaking faster than a Brexit negotiation meeting and we're no longer scoring enough goals to keep us afloat. We have one of the most in form players in the country up top and we're still got garnering any points as of late. This may have been a factor in our lack of draws earlier in the season - when we played well, we won, but couldn't grind out draws in the harder games.

I've seen a lot of talk of us playing well and losing (last night, Vs Norwich), but how many times have we played badly and won this year? Not near so many as last season, not that we played badly too many times last year of course.

 

[LJBlade]

Same here. Luck really is deserting us right now. Injuries, suspensions, breaks not going our way, every long shot from opponents seemingly laser guided. Even other results, again and again.

According to the stats though, Millwall have had 4 shots on target compared to Villa's 0. Maybe they'll pull one out of the bag.

Fuck luck. What is deserting us is the iniability to convert possession into chances and chances into goals. We’ve had injuries like every team, if we aren’t good enough to deal with that then say so, don’t make an excuse.

 

[SalopianBlade]

Just took a look at thread titles over at owlstalk - certainly puts things in perspective.

 

[super_pig]

To think we were top a few weeks ago. Now worried about staying in the play offs.

could be back top in the same time.. this league is all over the place

 

[SwissBlade]

Serious question Swiss. You posted recently (at least I think it was you, apologies if not) that if we didn't end up pissing the league, something has gone seriously awry.

I didn’t say that.

I said that given the position we’ve been in (in early December), settling for a playoff position in would be disappointing.

To answer your question. No things haven’t gone seriously awry, were on a poor run compared to the standard we’ve set ourselves (nobody has demanded such high positions, but the the team and it’s performances have set those standards).

Where do we go from here? Upwards again, I believe we have the quality in the squad, we need to adjust a few things, but can’t see too much wrong with the side

Midfield needs strengthening but I think we have issues at wingbacks as well and at the back

It would be nice to do what we did last season again, become hard to beat

 

[Guesty]

I didn’t say that.

I said that given the position we’ve been in (in early December), settling for a playoff position in would be disappointing.

To answer your question. No things haven’t gone seriously awry, were on a poor run compared to the standard we’ve set ourselves (nobody has demanded such high positions, but the the team and it’s performances have set those standards).

Where do we go from here? Upwards again, I believe we have the quality in the squad, we need to adjust a few things, but can’t see too much wrong with the side

Midfield needs strengthening but I think we have issues at wingbacks as well and at the back

It would be nice to do what we did last season again, become hard to beat

Apologies, I'm sure someone said that!

That said, I'm of the opinion that Play-offs would be great from here, as I think hanging on will be a struggle.

 

[SwissBlade]

Apologies, I'm sure someone said that!

That said, I'm of the opinion that Play-offs would be great from here, as I think hanging on will be a struggle.

Depends how you read what i said. Some took it completely out of context. Not sure who they were, but I did clarify my point several times.

Play offs from this position? I see no reason why we shouldn’t be pushing for top 2

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Fuck luck. What is deserting us is the iniability to convert possession into chances and chances into goals. We’ve had injuries like every team, if we aren’t good enough to deal with that then say so, don’t make an excuse.

Nah, mate. We're plenty good enough. But at this level, where even relatively shitty sides like Brum have real quality, the margins are much finer.

Not just attacking players with the quality of finishing of a Boga or a Paterson or a Grosicki. But the level of defending too. Where the likes of Bury or Shrewsbury or Oldham would ultimately crumble under relentless pressure, we're now up against defenders like Dean, Morrison & Roberts with well-drilled defensive midfielders in front of them (& that in a relegation-haunted side).

Lee Johnson's as good as said that, if Fleck hadn't have got sent off, we'd have gone on & won comfortably. Against the side deservedly 3rd in the league.

Remember when Wolves went down to 10 men against a top side (us)? - they just retreated into their shells, allowed us the ball & capitulated. Thankfully, we've got a manager who'll take adversity on the chin & confront it. Without having £15m players.

We're doing great, despite the lack of recent points.

 

[Guesty]

Depends how you read what i said. Some took it completely out of context. Not sure who they were, but I did clarify my point several times.

Play offs from this position? I see no reason why we shouldn’t be pushing for top 2

I can - we're manifestly struggling without Coutts and he won't be back.

Maybe we can turn it around with the likes of Lundstram filling in, but as it stands we've lost nearly every game he's started. We'll improve on recent form, of course, but I doubt the upswing will be enough to see us challenge for promotion.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

We were never going to get automatic, play offs would be an incredible achievement.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

We have to simply keep playing our way, and believe it in. It creates a shed load of chances.

That, and reinforce in January. I'd make two moves: Whiteman back from loan, as back up. Spend a fee on Leonard.

UTB.

We create a shed load of chances but only take a few of them. That’s the issue at the moment but no need to panic. The lads are playing well and deserve better. It will come. Especially if we strengthen in Jan.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

We were never going to get automatic, play offs would be an incredible achievement.

Why not?

I still believe auto is possible based on everything I’ve seen.

Are Wolves a better side than us? We beat them comfortably.

 

[Guesty]

Why not?

I still believe auto is possible based on everything I’ve seen.

Are Wolves a better side than us? We beat them comfortably.

And Millwall turned us over. The league table is a better indicator than a single match and we have a lot of catching up to do.

 

[SwissBlade]

I can - we're manifestly struggling without Coutts and he won't be back.

Maybe we can turn it around with the likes of Lundstram filling in, but as it stands we've lost nearly every game he's started. We'll improve on recent form, of course, but I doubt the upswing will be enough to see us challenge for promotion.

I think our problems exist defensively, conceding too many sloppy goals. Midfield yesterday against 3rd in the league ( yet another top side that looked extremely average) we ran the midfield.

Defensively we are giving away soft goals. Up front were creating chances.

Coutts is a loss, a huge loss. Fleck also. However I think we can cope in the middle. We need the wingbacks to be on top of their game and/ or fit, which in recent weeks they haven’t been. And it’s crucial we stop conceding so many sloppy goals

 

[SwissBlade]

Why not?

I still believe auto is possible based on everything I’ve seen.

Are Wolves a better side than us? We beat them comfortably.

Agreed. It’s december.

 

[1888to1889]

Derby coasting to victory at shitty Barnsley.

Villa drawing with gritty Millwall.

Ah well. Still a fair old gap separating us from 7th.

Please keep the faith

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

This is what bad luck, key injuries and poor defending does to you. But, the luck will turn and some players will be returning from injury before long.

 

[blade too long]

never write us off , a 4 game run was how we started last season and that didnt end too badly
there will be an end to this hiatus

we just need one of our 35 yarders to fly in or get a deflection when it hits the woodwork and goes in ,we shall be there or thereabouts
we are too good not to be

 

[blade67]

This is what bad luck, key injuries and poor defending does to you. But, the luck will turn and some players will be returning from injury before long.

thought Baldock gave us better balance yesterday.

next three will be a big test with 2 first choice midfielders out but I agree that we've not been lucky. I reckon we are 4 or 5 points down on par given how we have played.