Good news about Sargent and Byram, but who is responsible for the "lack of imagination in attack"? I had hoped that Smith and Shakespeare would make us more creative and inventive in attack, but they haven't. The style of play has remained the same but the opposition has moved up a step and now we have Sheffield United and Burnley away. Those both look like home wins to me.
It's not just errors and poor play. There is plenty of stupidity in this team. Earlier in the season Nunez took a pass in his own box like he was walking in the park and had the ball taken away and Bristol City scored. Won 3-2 Against Preston, Hanley didn't like what the defender was doing so he turned around shoved him while play was going on. A foul was called and McLean's goal waved off. We lose 3-2 O'Delle decides he should be the referee so he stands straight up with his hand high in the air to call an offsides (it wasn't) while Louza puts a shot between him and Gunn. We lose 2-1 Yesterday, Kenny smacks a defender in the face and gets red carded in the 66th minute. We lose 0-1 That two of our senior players, our leaders, were culprits in those instances is mind boggling.
Don’t forget plenty of Krul and McLean stray passes. And the goal where Aarons boots it at Omobamidele’s back and it deflects into the path of the opposition striker
It's impossible to recall all the incompetent plays. I was just getting at the decisions players have made that they should be fined for by the manager. That was real Keystone Cops stuff.
Are these moments caused by desperation? A kind of unfocused anger that has nowhere to go? I know this can sound like psychobabble, but there must be a reason why experienced players are suddenly losing their heads in this way. Even Pukki has become tetchy rather than his usual cool, focused self.
That's a good thought, Gozo. Desperation, frustration. Maybe anger at teammates because we give the ball back so easily. Don't we have a sports psychologist on staff?
Here we are, after the sort of bad run that all teams have, in the top 6 just 3 points off the top of the table and this thread gets brought back to life. I absolutely despair of some peoples expectations!!
Have you watched any games this season ? If I just glanced at the table without watching any of the games I would agree with you , but we have the most expensive squad in the league and playing like they have never met . Also just for the record I wouldn't sack him as we only just gave Farke a long contract that we had to pay off , hopefully he will improve or quit.
I have access to Sky so see any match that is on. Presumably you are a season ticket holder who does not think you are getting value for money. I do not think that in the matches I have seen they have played like they have never met nor do the stats indicate that to be the case nor does the fact that they are still only 3 points off the top after going through a bad patch. You imply that if Smith was not on a long contract you would want him sacked which I think is ludicrous when you look at the table. If you think that the style of play is more important than the league position - as some people do - then all you can do is give up your season ticket because I cannot see Smith going away anytime soon.
So no 1500 Saturday kick offs and you won't see what happens tomorrow either? I watch the games on hesgoal.com the only one in person was Wigan at home. Yeah the games you missed have not been great, thus far I have seen every minute of every game almost obsessively and I wish I hadn't. Believe me if Smith doesn't drastically improve the style of play his position will be untenable.
Thanks to PSG watching a stream over here is asking for trouble. Do I believe you or the league table? Time will tell. All I do know is that Clubs do not usually sack Managers when the team is 3 points off the top of the table.
I have lived in France for the last 6 years and have never had any problems watching most games on hesgoal.com.
I'm not for sacking Smith, but what I do want to see is our team playing well enough to survive if promoted. I haven't seen that and don't want promotion if it just means another season of misery in the PL.
Maybe that's part of the problem, Rick. We have one eye on next season and that is having a negative effect on our attitudes to this one. IMO, we are possibly looking worse than we did last season - certainly no better - and we know if we go up in this condition we are in for another long, painful, embarrassing season. I know some people are saying we're better off staying down this season and preparing for next, but this looks so risky, especially after the recent financial statements from the club.
As you say Gozo, the board are mainly concerned with the financial position of the Club and a year in the EPL boosts the coffers. Would they prefer another year in the EPL or a Championship side playing attractive football? You know the answer. To say we can demand both is for the birds. As long as Smith, or any Manager, leaves us with a chance of promotion he is safe. And the fans? Ask Stoke fans whether they were happier in the EPL under the awful style and systems of Pulis or the current mid-table Championship side trying to play attractive football. Rick and I will never agree on our chances of ever surviving in the EPL. As far as I am concerned you have to be in a big City to attract the investment, publicity, players and staff to survive and that gets more obvious with each season that passes. Just grab the money and hope for the best.
If Smith can win ugly all season and get us up that would be brilliant, it's more likely that he won't and the discontent at Carrow Road will get louder as we stink the place up with Smithball
We can agree on that point. Smith, or any other Manager, is only safe as long as there is a realistic chance of promotion. The fear in that situation is what we suffered in the 1960's when every season we were never going up or down and the entrance to the Managers office became a revolving door before the arrival of the great Ron Saunders.
