A voice of reason or am I on a different planet?

[Dazzer1977]

Their isn't many teams up and down the country who could cope with losing their top striker, their most creative midfielder and most solid defender all long term, in the space of a couple of weeks. Coupled with losing their second best central midfielder earlier in the season, whilst carrying two other crocked strikers.

No one likes losing, so I can appreciate they way we are ALL feeling, BUT we are still in the mix. It's no given that Burnley will get a result at Bolton tonight, so we could find ourselves in no worse position than we are now, with a game in hand. Regardless off this and any of their results, second place is still in our own hands. We are still joint second and still have the best defensive record in the division. Teams who go up aren't the teams who score the most, but the teams who concede the fewest are always in the mix. Yes I know we need to score more goals, but I'm sure they will come. You don't score 3 away at Ipswich who were bang in form when we played them and 3 at home to Burnley if you are a struggling side, I'm sorry I don't buy that. Sunday offers up another 3 points, the same as last night. There is still far too many games left yet before we should start ringing the alarm bells. The performances in most games haven't been that great, but sometimes you can play great and not get results. You have to remember we are pretty much everyone in the leagues cup final and biggest scalp. Teams will somehow find an extra 10% when they play us. We as fans need to unite, get behind the team on Sunday and do our bit as supporters. If we struggle in the first half and aren't up to much, don't turn on the players because the game result comes after 90 minutes (+/- a few extra), not 45.

5 defeats out of 29 all season doesn't say we are a poor or bad side. You don't panic in Feb unless you are in or around the bottom 6.

I await either the backlash or sensible debate.

[Shepherds Mush]

Good post. Let's see us bounce back on Sunday.

[brightonr]

Some good points Dazzer as usual. Game in hand and a point above the team in fourth. Five points clear of the team in fifth. All very positive.

But that doesn't make it alright for the manager to continue to be so inept and make the same mistakes over and over again. I read earlier that in four of his last 6 starts, O'Neil has been taken off at half time in three and in the 55th minute in another. Surely that tells it's own story. Particularly when it sits alongside the evidence that in more or less the same number of games, HR has made a double substitution at half time.

Personally, I never wanted HR, never rated him, think he is easily the most overrated manager in football, based upon not a lot of achievement during 30 years of management. I still want him to succeed and get us up, just like the rest of us do. But it's not looking good, is it?

And it's not in our hands yet, because unless we drastically improve our goal difference, we will still finish third if we fail to get as many points as Burnley.

[gator]

You're a Martian aren't you?

[Dazzer1977]

Some good points Dazzer as usual. Game in hand and a point above the team in fourth. Five points clear of the team in fifth. All very positive.

But that doesn't make it alright for the manager to continue to be so inept and make the same mistakes over and over again. I read earlier that in four of his last 6 starts, O'Neil has been taken off at half time in three and in the 55th minute in another. Surely that tells it's own story. Particularly when it sits alongside the evidence that in more or less the same number of games, HR has made a double substitution at half time.

Personally, I never wanted HR, never rated him, think he is easily the most overrated manager in football, based upon not a lot of achievement during 30 years of management. I still want him to succeed and get us up, just like the rest of us do. But it's not looking good, is it?

And it's not in our hands yet, because unless we drastically improve our goal difference, we will still finish third if we fail to get as many points as Burnley.

Some fair points fella about O'Neil, but I think the reason behind that last night was because Derby's midfield all bomb forward and Hoilett doesn't track back or offer us much defending.

Not sure if you realise but we have the 5th best goal difference in the league and the best defensive record. Also prior to the weekend we had the 3rd best goal difference too. Not nitpicking, just pointing it out.

[Bluehoop]

One thing you didn't mention Dazzer - and you did o course highlight our misfortune with injuries. But, surely at some point Burnley and Leicester are going to come a cropper with some injuries, even if only short term. How come we've got 4 long term injuries this season (exluding AJ and BZ) where as Burnley have a squad of about 17 pros and don't seem to have picked up any

[brightonr]

Some fair points fella about O'Neil, but I think the reason behind that last night was because Derby's midfield all bomb forward and Hoilett doesn't track back or offer us much defending.

Not sure if you realise but we have the 5th best goal difference in the league and the best defensive record. Also prior to the weekend we had the 3rd best goal difference too. Not nitpicking, just pointing it out.

I know it's not nit picking mate. Suppose you can't argue with the facts. Other than to say that we are pretty fortunate to have come up against some pretty awful attacks this season.

Unlike Lewis, I did draw the line at blaming Green for all this season's woes.

[12321]

Top post Dazzer, what we are not taking into consideration enough is the extraordinary run of form that Leicester are on which effectively reduces the number of automatic places available to just the one.
We are 11 points behind Leicester with 56 points; three years ago we also had 56 points after 29 games, but that was enough to lead the division then.

[californiahoop]

Their isn't many teams up and down the country who could cope with losing their top striker, their most creative midfielder and most solid defender all long term, in the space of a couple of weeks. Coupled with losing their second best central midfielder earlier in the season, whilst carrying two other crocked strikers.

No one likes losing, so I can appreciate they way we are ALL feeling, BUT we are still in the mix. It's no given that Burnley will get a result at Bolton tonight, so we could find ourselves in no worse position than we are now, with a game in hand. Regardless off this and any of their results, second place is still in our own hands. We are still joint second and still have the best defensive record in the division. Teams who go up aren't the teams who score the most, but the teams who concede the fewest are always in the mix. Yes I know we need to score more goals, but I'm sure they will come. You don't score 3 away at Ipswich who were bang in form when we played them and 3 at home to Burnley if you are a struggling side, I'm sorry I don't buy that. Sunday offers up another 3 points, the same as last night. There is still far too many games left yet before we should start ringing the alarm bells. The performances in most games haven't been that great, but sometimes you can play great and not get results. You have to remember we are pretty much everyone in the leagues cup final and biggest scalp. Teams will somehow find an extra 10% when they play us. We as fans need to unite, get behind the team on Sunday and do our bit as supporters. If we struggle in the first half and aren't up to much, don't turn on the players because the game result comes after 90 minutes (+/- a few extra), not 45.

5 defeats out of 29 all season doesn't say we are a poor or bad side. You don't panic in Feb unless you are in or around the bottom 6.

I await either the backlash or sensible debate.

All valid points, bottom line is, HR has failed with the quality of players he has had at his disposal in this league, he failed last year also, look at Gus and Pullis, took over teams with squads that are inferior to the squad we had last year. Bad selections and no pattern of play has been developed in OVER twelve months, he is just a collector of players, not a manager for the modern era!

I personally would SACK him NOW!!!! Bring a young manager like Laudrup in and build for the future, if we don't achieve promotion so be it, let's develop a style of play with a longterm vision, ENOUGH is ENOUGH!!!!!!!!

[MYU]

One thing you didn't mention Dazzer - and you did o course highlight our misfortune with injuries. But, surely at some point Burnley and Leicester are going to come a cropper with some injuries, even if only short term. How come we've got 4 long term injuries this season (exluding AJ and BZ) where as Burnley have a squad of about 17 pros and don't seem to have picked up any

I don't wish any players harm but it would be nice if other teams get injury's long term as well, why us?

[californiahoop]

I don't wish any players harm but it would be nice if other teams get injury's long term as well, why us?

Injuries are no excuse, he went into the season relying on BZ and AJ, come on, really, deserves a slapping! Then brings four, yes FOUR strikers in, after one got injured, dartboard and pot luck springs to mind!

[californiahoop]

I have really tried to stay silent but you go to Derby with NK and G O'N as your wide players, who the F... are Derby, just imagine what team he would put out at the Scum, OT, Anfield etc, dread to think.

[Rangersw12]

Their isn't many teams up and down the country who could cope with losing their top striker, their most creative midfielder and most solid defender all long term, in the space of a couple of weeks. Coupled with losing their second best central midfielder earlier in the season, whilst carrying two other crocked strikers.

No one likes losing, so I can appreciate they way we are ALL feeling, BUT we are still in the mix. It's no given that Burnley will get a result at Bolton tonight, so we could find ourselves in no worse position than we are now, with a game in hand. Regardless off this and any of their results, second place is still in our own hands. We are still joint second and still have the best defensive record in the division. Teams who go up aren't the teams who score the most, but the teams who concede the fewest are always in the mix. Yes I know we need to score more goals, but I'm sure they will come. You don't score 3 away at Ipswich who were bang in form when we played them and 3 at home to Burnley if you are a struggling side, I'm sorry I don't buy that. Sunday offers up another 3 points, the same as last night. There is still far too many games left yet before we should start ringing the alarm bells. The performances in most games haven't been that great, but sometimes you can play great and not get results. You have to remember we are pretty much everyone in the leagues cup final and biggest scalp. Teams will somehow find an extra 10% when they play us. We as fans need to unite, get behind the team on Sunday and do our bit as supporters. If we struggle in the first half and aren't up to much, don't turn on the players because the game result comes after 90 minutes (+/- a few extra), not 45.

5 defeats out of 29 all season doesn't say we are a poor or bad side. You don't panic in Feb unless you are in or around the bottom 6.

I await either the backlash or sensible debate.

Its not the defeat its the manner of the defeat, how many times has Redknapp sent out a poor team in the 1st half and then had to make subs at half time to rectify his original poor selection.

From the outset you could see we lacked pace and creativity last night and he keeps playing players out of position i.e O'Neil on the right when his best games have been in centre mid and Kranjcar on the left when he is ideal for the hole behind the front man.

our best formation with the squad he has assembled is IMO

4231

The 3 should be Holilett , Kranjcar and Traore with the 2 anyone of Barton, Carroll , Henry , O'Neil etc

The formation gives us width with some pace but has he signed a stupid amount of forwards he thinks he now has to play 4-4-2

As for the atmosphere people will get behind the team if we look interested and play attacking football no coincidence the best home atmosphere of the season has been Burnley when we played decent attacking football

[brightonr]

Injuries are no excuse, he went into the season relying on BZ and AJ, come on, really, deserves a slapping! Then brings four, yes FOUR strikers in, after one got injured, dartboard and pot luck springs to mind!

I have really tried to stay silent but you go to Derby with NK and G O'N as your wide players, who the F... are Derby, just imagine what team he would put out at the Scum, OT, Anfield etc, dread to think.

No need to stay silent mate.

It's precisely people like you who consistently refuse to harangue the manager, that leads many to believe he must be doing a decent job.

[Kit]

Very much with you Dazzer on this, football is an incredibly frustrating game and we all get frustrated when things don't go too well on the pitch. We gave away a silly goal which turned the tide Derby's way for the next 20 minutes but second half we completely dominated them and we all know had Phillips and Austin have been playing, we would have had another Blackpool or Ipswich result on our hands, i really have no doubt in that, we missed their pace and strength up front.
We have not had a settled side all season, except in defence and we have really missed Simpson too, just look at where the goals we have conceded have come from since his injury, Bolton(1) & Burnley (2), no coincidence and Derby attacked Hughes yesterday with pace, although Hughes was fairly solid.
I am pretty sure with Austin, Phillips and Simpson we would have gone up comfortably but it will now be a close run thing, just hope the luck turns a little in our favour because it has deserted us recently, whilst Burnley and particularly Leicester have had it in abundance, lets hope it equals itself out a little.