Sometimes I wonder...

[Goddard]

I suppose Paul it's how high you set your bar.

That's the key to all this.

That bar was raised by a slightly freaky start (by any teams standards), and it's led to a bit of a worry for some that we're now on some kind of downward spiral... when we are not.

Expectations are sky high, but the team are just doing very, very well.
The support in the ground suffered becuase of that, especially at the Norwich game, when a lot of fans seemed to just sit back and wait for the slaughter of a very decent side, who were playing well.
And the reaction to an away point at a club who are fighting for their lives was similar.

I remember how we played last season at home to WBA, and the season before at home to Wolves and Birmingham... we fought for our lives and won all three games, but they all still went up automatically. And are still in the Prem.
Every game is hard, especially away. (Posh away last season anyone?)


We shouldn't let the first 7 games become a problem, just because we haven't matched that amazing start... and I think a section of fans are letting that happen.

[paulmason]

We shouldn't let the first 7 games become a problem, just because we haven't matched that amazing start

The players who were so good in the first 5-7 games (Hogan, HH and Taarabt) and were the reason why we had such a good start to the season, are not currently performing to the standards THEY SET, so some people think it would be a good idea for them to be rested and some people think it would be silly to do that, as they will come good sooner or later.

All this last year and the year before comparisons as well as expectation nonsense is diverting (on purpose I think) away from the simple fact the the front four are not as effective as they were and we have only scored 3 goals in the last 5 games.

[Ric-Roc]

How many more games should we have to see players playing below average whilst our rivals keep picking up points?

[paulmason]

How many more games should we have to see players playing below average whilst our rivals keep picking up points?

As long as it takes for them to find their form by all accounts, which is a tad worrying.

[Ric-Roc]

As long as it takes for them to find their form by all accounts, which is a tad worrying.

Very worrying. As someone previously mentioned 'prevention is better than cure'

I honestly feel if we'd have lost a game the team would of been changed.

Delighted we are top, unbeated blah blah but as the old saying goes 'your only as good as your last game' in our case the last 3 games.

[Goddard]

The players who were so good in the first 5-7 games (Hogan, HH and Taarabt) and were the reason why we had such a good start to the season, are not currently performing to the standards THEY SET, so some people think it would ne a good idea for them to be rested and some people think it would be silly to do that, as they will come good sooner or later.

All this last year and the year before comparison is nonsense and diverting away from the fact the the front four are not as effective as they were and we have only scored 3 goals in the last 5 games.

5 games.

You're right, we've not had a good 5 game spell for scoring goals.

Can't argue with that fact.
I have some facts too, there's one or two in particular I could roll out... but I wont bother.
I'm not after trying to change peoples minds, that's pointless, and to be honest - I don't care.

Maybe this lowering of expectations is a good thing? it's probably just what is needed, judging by the ****-poor atmosphere at the Naarge game.

"We're on a downward spiral, and the chequebook must be opened to stop this slide". That seems a fair summing up of the growing opinion?

Not one I share, because I honsestly think we've done ok in the last 5 games, and the season is a long haul.
I see no team in the chasing pack that concern me, even now.

Oh, and I think a certain Rob Hulse will help, A LOT.
As he gets fitter and fitter.

[paulmason]

"We're on a downward spiral, and the chequebook must be opened to stop this slide". That seems a fair summing up of the growing opinion.

I dont think we need the cheque book out at all, it was said on Friday how strong our bench was but as things are not firing on all cylinders, instead of a front 4 of

Mackie - Taarabt - Hogan
--------- HH --------------

we could have

Smith - Buzz if he is fit / Taarabt - Mackie
------- Hulse ---------

[EYR]

Just freshen up the front 4,get Hulsey and Smith in.

[Goddard]

I dont think we need the cheque book out at all, it was said on Friday how strong our bench was but as things are not firing on all cylinders, instead of a front 4 of

Mackie - Taarabt - Hogan
--------- HH --------------

we could have

Smith - Buzz if he is fit / Taarabt - Mackie
------- Hulse ---------

That comment wasn't aimed at you in particular, even though it was in reply to your post.

Yeah, I make you right that we might need to shuffle things up front... but Hulse only made his debut 20 mins from the end of the very last game, and I'd be very surprised if Smith isn't given a starting berth soon.

I suppose my main point is that a lot of people seem to be over-reacting to a shortage of goals in the last 3(!) games... but that stems from the freaky start we made, and the comparison to that.
Gets us back to that phrase "Raised expectations".

To have Hulse, Smith and Buzsaky all coming into the side shortly doesn't fill me with worry, and I'm so proud of what this team have been doing so far this season, that I suppose I feel the need to jump to their defence on messageboards like this, when I see them being critisized for a minor dip in form.
We're top and unbeaten, and yet I see people being almost mocked for constantly repeating that line.
Well I think it's worth repeating, because it's a fantastic achievement... and it's a stone cold fact.

But I've made my points on this, and I'll dip out now.... because I don't want to become part of any Hippy-Happy-Clappy-Brigade, or a boring, repetative c***.






(Again...just because that was in reply to your post, doesn't mean it was aimed at you, ok?)

[Spencer]

The players who were so good in the first 5-7 games (Hogan, HH and Taarabt) and were the reason why we had such a good start to the season, are not currently performing to the standards THEY SET, so some people think it would be a good idea for them to be rested and some people think it would be silly to do that, as they will come good sooner or later.

All this last year and the year before comparisons as well as expectation nonsense is diverting (on purpose I think) away from the simple fact the the front four are not as effective as they were and we have only scored 3 goals in the last 5 games.

Nonsense to you maybe,diverting.....no.
I still feel in a way we are paying for our past season expenditures..IE Vine Agyemang,Borrowdale etc.Even the signing of Leon Clarke.Blimey, im thought HHeidar was a Watford player before begining of season and yet he is now our main striker.Our squad is stronger, but not as strong a I would like it to be.

Look, i don't know the answers all I know is that we are top of the league with a team that at last looks like a team.We have a manager that we all appear to have trust in and players that are arriving, do look to be better than what we have.

Will I be dissapointed if we don't beat Burnley?? Sure I will, but being dissapointed that we may lose top spot rather than sink into the lower half of the league(like we have done over past seasons) shows you how far we have come in 13 games.

I apologise if that appears to be nonsense.

[Ric-Roc]

Just freshen up the front 4,get Hulsey and Smith in.

Nail on head.

[QPR1976]

Lets be honest, at the start of the season everyone would have taken being top with more than a quarter of the season gone.
But with the undefeated start, and a 6 points lead over 2nd place just 3 games ago, expectation has naturally increased significantly amongst most of us.

Now we have the record, perhaps it's become a weight around our neck. Maybe we've been happy to avoid defeat rather than focusing on winning.
Would a defeat be better in the long term ? Possibly. If either penalty v Norwich or Swansea he been scored, resulting in a defeat, but we'd have won at Bristol would we feel happier ? We'd have notched up another point !

I hate Cardiff, but realistically, with their front line and attacking options, I'd settle to be hanging on to their shirt tales for now. Whilst those in the play off positions keep dropping points (and they are, Watford, Burnley last week), if we can keep pace with the Taffs at least until January, we'll have a decent lead over the pack AND the financial backing to enhance the squad.

The squad, is much better than recent years. It breeds competition for places. Whether it's due to rewarding those for being undefeated or down to injuries, in general, the starting line up has remained pretty consistant. Rightly or wrongly.
I too hope NW, tweeks an unbeaten side v Burnley. Not wholesale, but Smith for Hogan. Possibly Hulse for Heidar, dependant on the fitness of both.
Taarabt, I'd start, especially at Home with hopefully, most of the ground cheering him on.

But if NW resists change, we'll still have a better bench and more hope and options to force a positive result. With another home game next.

Yep, I'm very happy with where we are now, lets just try to put that undefeated thing behind us now, let's focus on keeping up with the Jonses.

[Goddard]

Just freshen up the front 4,get Hulsey and Smith in.

Agree. I would.

But I think everyone can understand Warnocks point about not dropping anyone from an unbeaten team. All about team morale, spirit etc..
Even if they wouldn't do the same thing themselves.

The injury to HH has come at a "good" time for us, just as Rob Hulse is available.
That's lucky for us, but not HH.

Same as Buzsaky getting crocked... just as Faurlin returned.


Fitz Hall??? That's another matter, probably.

[G.T.P]

i dont think we need to buy yet, seriously dont. love this side at the moment.
i just think its time for hulse and smith to do the job they were brought here for. get them out there and change things up a little bit in the opposition penalty area is all thats needed imho.

[Dazzer1977]

I love this new upbeat Jeffro!

If you tell him that to his face he'll let you c*m on his t*ts