When you get home from a game like that it's sometimes difficult to put into words and express exactly how you feel. Apart from the overriding emotion that is...I need beer, lots of beer
A few games ago we were 3-0 up against Cardiff and about to go 11 points clear of 3rd. Last season we had a 12 point swing between us and the dog botherers. Please forgive my nervousness.
I wish it was but its the same every bloody year, regardless of players, managers, owners etc. I honestly think we're just jinxed.
Certainly unlucky. I've seen a lot in my 48 yrs supporting this great, but frustrating club.(I appreciate that there are 606ers who have been here a lot longer) But we are still 2nd with a 6 pt cushion from 3rd. It's still in our own hands...
Time for some perspective and a little analysis for those that are willing to listen... Football is all about the result and so today was a failure in that respect. However the performance was not as bad as maybe some are judging it. First half we dominated and from memory there was only one break away from Wednesday that could have resulted in something, unfortunately again it was the collective finishing that let us down. Second half though, apart from one very decent chance right at the start (Bamford) we ran out of creativity and ideas, you could see and sense that the players seemed to have lost believe that they could score. I remember thinking, should we risk the point and go all out for the win and decided we should. The problem was though we didn't really do that, instead we faded, lost patience and became disjointed...throw in some poor decision making and we were ripe for the classic smash and grab. Wednesday duly obliged and it all seemed inevitable given the way we'd toiled throughout the 2nd half. Kiko shouldn't have been beaten at his near post, he misread the shot expecting it to go across him. With very little to do all game that's when we needed our keeper to step up, keep the ball out at all costs...not an absolute howler in my opinion but nevertheless entirely within the expected save territory. After that we were gone, no way back and in some respects that was as disapointing as the result. There was still time to save a point but everything we're about as a team went immediately out the window, poor shape, poor passing and total panic desperation football. Much to think about and the question is; Can we regain our poise and composure or will the panic of last seasons run-in return with a vengeance and destroy us mentally ?
Kiko has to save that, from that angle... the guy only shot because there was no alternative. but the concern is whether the negative vibes take root. It’s easy to say learn from last year... sports psychologists get people to draw from the pain to ensure it doesn’t happen again... but sometimes that just turns up the pressure and pressure can be your enemy... fear of mistakes, that sinking deja vu feeling. team psychology is a hard to fathom beast... sides go on good runs and bad runs for no apparent reason. We could score with our first chance at qpr and cruise to victory, let’s hope so.
