Very disappointed today with the result especially for the fans. Before the game today I thought we had something to play for but it seemed to me that most of the players appeared to be just playing out the rest of the season. I don't like to single out players for criticism but today I thought Dawson was terrible. His delivery from corners and set pieces today was abysmal. I genuinely think that we cannot consider ourselves as playoff contenders after this performance against a very mediocre Millwall team. I think Pearson has put together a very decent squad which hopefully will push on for a top four finish next season. Maybe today was just another bad day at the office and I hope Pearson made certain individuals aware that the fans expect and deserve better.
For the last 3/4 seasons Dawson has been poor .We had no better replacement and with a good game or two each season excuses have been made for him and he has maintained his position.Then he gets the armband and regardless of the fact he is not a leader on the field he again hangs on to his position .This is one of perhaps two failings that Pearson has failed to address but which I personally think needs sorting out as a priority for the next season .This year with the team and start we had, promotion was never a reality and indeed staying in this league perhaps a blessing in disguise.
We are still 'work in progress' 5/6 players who are contracted to other clubs, lack of depth=lack of competition, still players in the back room to move on, a legacy of debt-Oli, Bullard & McShane. Yes we've come on leaps and bounds but don't kid yourself NP has a massive amount of work to do over the summer to make us competitive. I have seen 5/6 sides this season who are better than us, both in player quality, attitude, desire. Only three admittedly will go up but the three coming down will come down in better shape than us. A top ten finish next season will be good, possibly outside chance of pushing for a playoff place.
Agree with Jobboshinpad, our squad has no depth, we have a good starting 11 but when you need players to come on from the bench to change the game, we have very few. Yesterday showed we are still a couple of players short of a team capable of maintaining a promotion challenge and capable of taking chances when they present themselves. Have faith in AP, NP, Shakespeare and Walsh to get the players we need in the summer and look forward to next season.
With 15 goals from 20 games does anyone seriously think that we are ready for another assault on the EPL? We are facing the 'same-old-same-old' problem we had last time - we are too weak up front. There is no Fraizer Campbell in this side and players of his quality pick up their bags and run like hell when they see a Hull City representative coming towards them. Mr Allam has stated that he does not have the money to support the sort of wage bill needed to secure quality players. We will have to get lucky and 'discover' a striker (or two) who can hit the back of the net regularly or bring in loan-players from the EPL. Either way we could expect to finish in the top half this season and be within striking distance of the play-offs next season but the Premier League is a dream as there are better teams than us in this division now and the three coming down appear to be financially secure enough to be promotion prospects next season. A couple more seasons here at least for me but if someone comes in for Cullen, Simpson and/or McLean we should accept imo. Garcia appears to be person non-gratis and will be let go imo as will McShane. I believe that this Management will want some 'bickies in the bank' before they push upwards.
