Sad state of affairs

On several occasions over the last 3 years I have irrationally exclaimed to those around me, "THAT'S IT, WE'RE GOING DOWN!". Most notable in recent memory include:
QPR (a)
Luton (a) x 2
Ipswich (a)
Forest (h)
Add yesterday to that list. Except something is very different on this occasion. This is the first time I have thought it, said it, driven home, slept on it, woken up, then said it again. And really believe it will happen. Sad times indeed.

Unfortunately every way you look at it, it appears it will be our turn this time. We may have lost the poisonous presence on our club that was Glenn Roeder and regained that wonderful affection with the new management team, but their cause is truly a forlorn one. We simply do not have the players to keep us up, we are a weak team, and we are where we deserve to be. The catalogue of managerial errors since relegation in 2005 are well documented, but it has left us with a team that has chronic flaws.
- A total lack of pace in all key areas through the spine
- No discernable leaders
- Virtually no assets with genuine transfer value
- No real experience
- An over reliance on inexperienced loans
All this adds up to a team that was always going to struggle, duly has, and will now most likely be relegated.

Leadership
It is probably too late for there to be any benefit of replacing Fotheringham as captain. But how on earth can this man be our captain? It truly defies belief and shows how far we have fallen, that such a depressingly mediocre player can be considered our leader. Where was he in the second half yesterday, driving the team forwards and galvanising tiring legs? Non existent.

Loans
Again depressing. Our latest "crop" of Carney, Killen, Leijer, Gow. No impact. But of course, these are players who are nowhere near their respective first teams. They have not played for months, even years in the case of Killen and Leijer. What a hopeless position that we can rely on any of these to keep us up. Shackell is mediocre but a slight improvement on Grounds, who is out of his depth. It is easy to criticise the loans, and with plenty of justification. But they are only here because our squad has been completely gutted three times in two years. We simply don't have a big enough squad.

Gunn
Must remain in charge even in League 1 next season, unless the wheels completely fall off and we totally go to pieces. Having assembled this management team, we must give them the chance next year. In the event of relegation, the pressure will be intense on a new appointment to deliver immediately, we don't need another poisonous battle with a new manager, in League 1 that could tear our club apart.

One can only imagine relegation means we lose, Clingan, Croft, Hoolahan, and possibly Marshall. Precious little remains, it truly is a chastening thought.

We will back them to the end, and maybe just maybe we will pull it off. But I just can't see where 6 wins is going to come from now, our defence simply will not allow us to keep clean sheets.

On the ball city

Posted By: canary_don on February 22nd 2009 at 15:25:49

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