Bump. Can we actually have some proper opinions now?
Thoughts on:
1) The falling crowds;
2) Our goalscoring issues;
3) Our chances of relegation (Watford, Donny, Peterborough, Barnsley and Coventry will make up the bottom six with ourselves IMO);
4) What can be done to address these problems (preferably something apart from "Shoot! Score! Win!" if possible)?
Crowds will drop if things continue as they are, money is tight for a lot of people and if there isn't anything on the pitch to justify people spending that money then the crowds will understandably drop. People want value for money as well as the result, and seen as we aren't getting both at present i can understand why people will lose interest in going to watch the Tigers. However, i hope this won't be the case and we'll have an upturn in fortunes.
As for goalscoring issues, 4-5-1 at home simply doesn't work. For all people knock him i think Mclean has looked pretty sharp these last couple of games and will be worth a start. He worked well with and got the best out of Fryatt last season so this could work at home. I'd still give Homer J a chance too, if he isn't going to play him then he may as well get rid of him and get another striker. He blows hot and cold but he was blowing more hot in the later part of last season so deserves a chance. We're sorted on the road, but this looks to be the solution on home soil.
If we continue as we are then yes we're relegation contenders. Large parts of the performance against Palace looked like a team that would struggle. However, been only August and in such an open league anything can happen (look at Leicester, Forest, Reading who haven't torn up any trees either). If we're in the same position at the end of November then yes we'd be in a relegation battle but 2 wins at the moment coud take us to higher mid table.
The problems can be addressed by sorting out our approach at home (mentioned in 2nd paragraph). I don't doubt we have the potential to do well, we just have to utilise it. We're crying out for some experience in the centre of defence (Kilgallon will do for me) and a leader in midfielder in the Ashbee mould. We need to reconsider the captaincy too, it's too much responsibility for someone of Hobbs' age to have when he himself is still learning. Again, this is where experience comes in. A long term keeper would also be a useful addition. I have the confidence that things will come good and that we'll get some experienced players in to complement the talents of the younger players. UTT