On my way home

[topperharley]

I don't see what another manager achieves. Clearly Huddersfield turns into a big big game but we are relegation favourites along with Rotherham so it's hardly like the manager is underachieving. We just haven't given him any funds so the problem is much deeper than just the manager

It is and while I agree in theory I do think the biggest issue here is that GA is trying to get a team that is not fit, strong or stacked with leaders or experience, to play like a team that has all of those attributes. Our best player is Field, he, Dykes and maybe Dunne can play this way, followed closely by Fox, Colback and Cook, Begovic too i guess. Problem is this sounds like a spine of a team but whats hanging off it is so far removed from the grit that his style of play demands, and most of them only have afew games under their belt this season, and bugger all together as a unit.

Add Willock and Chair playing well, the exberance of Sinclair and we've got an ok, all be it thin first 11 on paper.

We need him to adjust to the players he has, or find someone who can.

[Harrow QPR]

Two years ago 5 or 6 of yesterdays team weren't even at the club so not a fair comparison.

Arguably we have some better players now in some positions so therefore should be doing better .
Cook better than Dickie , Field better than Ball , Begovic better than Lumley / Dieng , Paal better than Manning/ Bidwell . We've still got Chair , Willock , Dunne and Dykes .
The whole point is , it's not just the results under Ainsworth , it is the style of play , creating no chances and not scoring goals , i can accept losing with playing well but bar probably one game this season we have looked crap and at the end of last season we were crap bar a couple of lucky wins.

[ginogino]

Arguably we have some better players now in some positions so therefore should be doing better .
Cook better than Dickie , Field better than Ball , Begovic better than Lumley / Dieng , Paal better than Manning/ Bidwell . We've still got Chair , Willock , Dunne and Dykes .
The whole point is , it's not just the results under Ainsworth , it is the style of play , creating no chances and not scoring goals , i can accept losing with playing well but bar probably one game this season we have looked crap and at the end of last season we were crap bar a couple of lucky wins.

Great post and 100% agree. Even with a load of other factors and excuses we shouldn't be worse. And at the moment we are utterly, completely, comprehensively dire! It's worse than embarrassing. I think if we continue this way we will also ruin any good players we have left and damage any possible talent remaining. Plus a half empty ground and limited renewals next season. Let's be honest, when the weather turns, who would fork out good money to see that shambles.

[SoCal]

Our first choice XI (well mine) in a 5 3 2

Begovic,

Paal, Cook, Fox, Dunne, (+1 Not Kak maybe the new lad)

Chair Field D0zy (Willock)

Armstrong Dykes

Is mid table the problem is as soon as 2 or 3 not available (which is what is happening) we have zero backup, its so close in this division that its the lack of depth that is likely to sink us, with any manager, any style ………… who is t blame ?I dont care we cant change anything til Jan then due to FFP probably not even then.

So no choice but to hope …………. (Which as you know is not a strategy), keep the faith and probably have a promotion chasing season next year

Either way I’m here for life, they make or break much of the weekend, there’s nothing I can do about it I wish I Could but that’s football, especially if your a SUPERHOOP !!

[72bus]

Why is our fitness so bad , was watching the arsenal press yesterday , ok we will never have there skill but why not there fitness.

[Isleworth116]

Why is our fitness so bad , was watching the arsenal press yesterday , ok we will never have there skill but why not there fitness.

Fitness is probably ok, we don't press as team. Several times Saturday, Dykes, Armstrong and Chair pressed Blackburn around penalty area. Blackburn midfielder came back, received easy pass. Our midfielders stood watching, holding position.

Blackburn, when pressing, pushed players forward from midfield.

Movement off ball our biggest problem, we're too static without ball, holding position rather than moving relative to other players.

[topperharley]

Fitness is probably ok, we don't press as team. Several times Saturday, Dykes, Armstrong and Chair pressed Blackburn around penalty area. Blackburn midfielder came back, received easy pass. Our midfielders stood watching, holding position.

Blackburn, when pressing, pushed players forward from midfield.

Movement off ball our biggest problem, we're too static without ball, holding position rather than moving relative to other players.

Our movement off the ball is terrible. There are moments watching us that I wonder what they've been told to do, it doesn't make sense. There is no hope of moving the ball forward, there are so few passing options available other tha sideways, back or hoof.

This, and our dead ball play are right up there in the reasons we are where we are.

[Undecided]

Movement off ball our biggest problem, we're too static without ball, holding position rather than moving relative to other players.

Agreed, but its been that way for a number of seasons, not just since GA has come along.

No movement off the ball = no opportunities created.

[72bus]

A serious lack of pass and move , players passing the ball and standing still .
Need players that want the ball and will drive forward not all this sideways and back passing .

[FurtiveFox]

We seem to have gone from a team that had loads of possession but did nothing with it to a team with far less possession and who still do nothing with it. The doing nothing with it seems to be the common theme!