We need to address the mental weakness in this team. Every time we've had the chance to put ourselves in the automatic places, they've blown it. Could be coincidence, but I don't think it is. Compare Watford. At the risk of annoying Canary Dave, I think this is a relic from the Hughton days and how he sucked every bit of self-belief out of them that Lambert had put there. I think AN can put the self-belief back. I hope it's in time for the play offs.
You don't annoy me Singapore, you are entitled to your opinion! I don't agree, let me ask you this, if our recent failures were caused by Chris Hughton, was he also the cause of our recent record winning run, or does he only carry the blame when we lose?
12 months, 2 managers, 10 new players, 50 matches later... and Hughton is still to blame when things go wrong? It's quite irrational.
I hardly think you can blame Hughton for us not waking up until ´Boro had scored last week or for Grabban idiotically getting himself sent off yesterday, two results which have effectively destroyed any auto chances we might have had. If you ask me, we´re beginning to look tired and our form is becoming more suspect with each game recently, and the fact that Grabban will be unavailable for the next three games, may well be critical, as we´re then down to just two experienced strikers, one of whom has stopped scoring. Whoever we happen to draw in the play-offs, and I think we can reckon with that now, will provide two very tough games, just to get to the final, let alone winning that as well.
I think I see where your coming from - as others have pointed out, we can hardly blame Hughton for team mentality, but it has undoubtedly been an unresolved problem since his time at the helm
7o% posession, unlucky own goal, then poor missed header and the resolute defence- played their fecking hearts out yesterday as far as I was concerned watching it- have no idea what the post is about-?self belief is there in abundance- psychology of sportsmen doesnt work like was suggested or is indeed evident in the pkayers
Hi bors, blame . . . blaming anyone is not going to change our situation, we still have the opportunity to play next season in the PL if only via the playoffs . . . that will depend on our players and I am confident they are up to the job. Haven't seen the Grabban incident but seems out of character to me. Attitude of our club to the sending off will decide if he is to be "rested" for the remainder of the season. If the club thinks he is guilty as charged he will be missed.
We were shown by Middlesborough how to close out a 1-0 but we were naive tactically yesterday ,especially with 10 men for most of the match . We choked against Rotherham in a huge game and I don't think we have the steel to come through the play offs as winners .
Did we **** choke - they were a team playing for their lives- and there was a dreadful ref- haven't heard such a level of abuse from both sets of fans- we were in control till sending off
Not beating Middlesborough and especially lowly Rotherham in a battle to win the league is considered choking. Yesterday was a "must win" we did the hard part but couldn't hold out after 85 mins being a goal up.
. I guess I see choking as putting in a chaste compromised under confident performance- that didn't really happen.
Whatever happens we need to keep quiet get behind the lads and judge AN this time next year (we blew this year under NA )whether it's his performance in the PL or CCC is to be seen
I'm obviously not saying that Hughton is personally responsible for Saturday's result. But I am arguing that he was responsible for losing the winning mentality that Lambert instilled in the club, and that it's taking us a long time to get it back, and that there's still a mental fragility about this side at times. I agree with RBF, though, that we look tired. Catching up seems to have cost us a lot of energy.
The simple fact is, Rotherham outplayed us for a lot of the second half. They were much more up for it than we were at the end. We could, and probably should, have lost that match. Our record against the lower teams does not make for pleasant reading, or even Reading.
"Whether we go up or not..." I read the title of this thread a different way - perhaps similar to a "reasons to be cheerful" type thread about whether we go up or not, rather than a tired jab at Hughton causing us to drop points in the last 2 games following our unbelievable form run. Norwich haven't choked. We've climbed our way back into contention from a situation just 3 months ago where we were looking lost. Right now we've got... one of the most exciting new managers in the league, a talented, competitive squad, a guaranteed playoff finish, the potential even for a Norwich Ipswich Wembley date, a full stadium and a very good chance of playing PL footy next season. Hell even if we don't go up, I've loved the Championship this season. It's been exciting and so nice to be gunning for the top rather than hanging in there by our finger nails as it will likely be in the PL. I'm quite looking forward to the excitement over the next couple of weeks. Even if my stomach ulcer isn't.
The play offs will be exciting only if we do well. Do badly and they will become a massive torment. But I am positive, so I believe, given the players at our disposal, we will prevail.
