So what do people think now?

[James1979]

Just got to hotel after game and trying to think of positives. I'm normally quite optimistic but not now. For me, effort is not the issue. All the players do put a shift in. The problem is that they still look like strangers and we have done for a while. It's not warnock or hughes fault. Individually we're good. Look at diakite, he's class. The problem a team like sunderland play like a team. I wouldn't let cisse play again. Go with adel in free role.....what option do we have? Swp is so lacking confidence its ridiculous. Give barton back the armband and put hill in at centre back. That's all I can suggest. Anyone still holding out any hope?

[march56]

no hope at all james we are f ucked!

[stainrod10]

No mate. Just hoping that I'll enjoy another promotion race next season and look forward to games again. WBA, WHU and Newcastle have all bounced back over the years and relegation hasn't been the complete disaster everyone makes it out to be for them.

[Bigdave]

I agree with most of what you say James. I would play 4-4-1-1 now with Adel in his role he played last season.

Not so sure about Barton though, id rather Buzacky

[Minty]

The tone of the season was set when we had to play catch-up in the summer transfer window.

We were already one month into the season, and brought in five (?) players on the final day of the window.

They never had time to gel, then four and a half months later we get a bus-load more new players in and a new manager as well.

We have been playing catch-up all season, and it feels like we have struggled to get a foot hold on the campaign. It makes me think of a cartoon character on a puddle of grease, with legs all over the place. That's how I see us this season.

I had hope, but with Cisse now missing four games I am getting worried. In regard to Hughes, he is not a patch on Warnock in terms of being able to pump up the players for the fight. Big mistake cutting Warnock loose, and we really could have done with 'promotion-specialist' Warnock if we do go down.

To make matters worse, the other teams around us that have lots of premier league, and in particular 'relegation-survival' experience (Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn), are now beginning to step up and show their experience for the fight.

I posted a very positive thread a week ago. Things have now developed, and I am less confident. Hughes needs to earn his money now and get the players fired up.




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[James1979]

We are ****ed but I at least want to be entertained. We can't defend even when we're set up to do so. We should have been battered on wednesday. Let's at least try to play some football.

[lymehoop]

No mate. Just hoping that I'll enjoy another promotion race next season and look forward to games again. WBA, WHU and Newcastle have all bounced back over the years and relegation hasn't been the complete disaster everyone makes it out to be for them.

we would virtually need to start from scratch and that includes a new manager

[Naarven Mankey]

Im always the most optimistic of people when it comes to Rangers and i always believe we will achieve things out of our reach but against Bolton i felt the pen-ultimate nail go in. Against Liverpool we forced that nail back out again but today in my heart and this kills me to say it but i think Sunderland hammered the final 2 nails into our coffin. I can't see anyway back from this.

My heart tells me that we will pick up 9 points against Swansea, Stoke and West Brom and maybe just the odd point against either Arsenal or Spurs giving us maybe 35 points but my head says be realistic. We arent playing like a team at all and i don't think ive felt this low in a long time. As much as i hate to say it i think it's all over. Having said that i will never stop believing, nor will i boo the team at anytime and they will get my utmost support until the bitter end. This is a sad day.

[Sideshowrob]

No, resigned myself a few weeks ago to relegation. Typical QPR to get my hopes up again on WEdnesday onto come crashing back down to earth today with another souless display.

[Shania]

The tone of the season was set when we had to play catch-up in the summer transfer window.

We were already one month into the season, and brought in five (?) players on the final day of the window.

They never had time to gel, then four and a half months later we get a bus-load more new players in and a new manager as well.

We have been playing catch-up all season.

I had hope, but with Cisse now missing four games I am getting worried. In regard to Hughes, he is not a patch on Warnock in terms of being able to pump up the players for the fight. Big mistake cutting Warnock loose, and we really could have done with 'promotion-specialist' Warnock if we do go down.

To make matters worse, the other teams around us that have lots of premier league, and in particular 'relegation-survival' experience (Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn), are now beginning to step up and show their experience for the fight.

I posted a very positive thread a week ago. Things have now developed, and I am less confident. Hughes needs to earn his money now and get the players fired up.




.

The truth!!

[Shania]

What I find a bit hard to believe is why do the they still play as if they were strangers??

But they obviously do.

I have a feeling that there must be too many fractions within the group. No togetherness off or on the field during games. I do also think they are training far too little or at least spending far too little time together.
Just a thought.

[swanleyhoop]

I felt, and still do, that losing at home to Wolves was the key moment -- because I think it killed off what little confidence we had.
I couldn't believe what I was watching today for the 2nd and 3rd Sunderland goals -- Young, Ferdinand and Onuaha panicking about giving the ball a hefty whack to get it out of the danger area, passing the ball straight back to oppo players...their confidence is rock bottom, despite Wednesday.

[Naarven Mankey]

I felt, and still do, that losing at home to Wolves was the key moment -- because I think it killed off what little confidence we had.
I couldn't believe what I was watching today for the 2nd and 3rd Sunderland goals -- Young, Ferdinand and Onuaha panicking about giving the ball a hefty whack to get it out of the danger area, passing the ball straight back to oppo players...their confidence is rock bottom, despite Wednesday.

You maybe right Swanners but for me they key was losing Ali Faurlin. Since then weve lost every midfield battle because we dont have anyone who can get his foot on the ball and spray passes around. In midfield we can't tackle without fouling and we cant pass so every game we get over run in midfield.

[vblockranger]

You maybe right Swanners but for me they key was losing Ali Faurlin. Since then weve lost every midfield battle because we dont have anyone who can get his foot on the ball and spray passes around. In midfield we can't tackle without fouling and we cant pass so every game we get over run in midfield.

reckon Ali has been a massive miss for us...our midfirld had been non existant since he has gone.

[Sideshowrob]

You maybe right Swanners but for me they key was losing Ali Faurlin. Since then weve lost every midfield battle because we dont have anyone who can get his foot on the ball and spray passes around. In midfield we can't tackle without fouling and we cant pass so every game we get over run in midfield.

I do remember people sayin that Faurlin wasn't as good as he had been made out to be. The fact we will be relegated because he is not playing should stop those questioning his ability.

Still my player of the year even if he hasn't played for half the season.