I really think we are a long way away from a team that can challenge for the Premier League again. However I also don't feel like this is really the fault of Nigel Pearson so much. All good teams that go on a promotion push. Look at our team for today 01 Basso 02 Rosenior 05 Chester 06 Hobbs 19 Dudgeon yellow card 04 McKenna (Mclean 57) 08 C Evans 10 Koren 14 Cairney (Adebola 75) 12 Fryatt 17 Brady (Barmby 64) With the exception of Barmby none of these lads have been here 5 minutes. How can we expect them to be playing for the shirt? I bet most of them are looking at this as a stopgap. I feel we are a club in transition, unfortunately I think a lot of the players we have won't be here that long either. You wonder why the home form is so crap it's hardly a home game for most of these lads is it? We have lost a wave of players over the last few years and have failed to have another wave come through in this time. Ashbee, Windass, Barmby, Dawson, Myhill, Garcia, France, Ricketts, Marney, ***an, Bryan Hughes. Forget what they all did on the pitch, off the pitch they formed the identity of the team, they lived in the local area, they provided experience and formed the very core of what the team was. What the did off the pitch was far more important than their individual abilities. So what are we now left with? a group of 20 kids who have no idea where they are and who anyone is. If we think we can expect this to form into a promotion challenging side in one pre-season we need a reality check really. Can't blame Pearson for that. It's going to be a few years yet before we get back to any sort of challenge for the title so lets sit back and be patient and see who is here in 2 seasons time. There is no point what so ever in slagging off the manager.
I think because we were pushing for the top six last season and playing quite well (after a really bad start) we were expected our form to continue into this season. However losing out on targets like Danns and Ayala (two players we really needed to push on) has really set us back. Only spending £1.6m so far this season is showing I'm afraid.
I keep hearing people say where is the passion... It's been dribbling out the club player by player for about 4 years now and we aren't left with much.
