I have been thinking over the weekend, my mind is indeed boggled

This team is very low on confidence at the moment. This was also an issue in the first half of last season. I think the difference here is that Manning was not equipped to develop that confidence and so the spirit of the team was lifted by the arrival of a new manager. This helped Clement to build something positive. To draw a line under what had happened previously.

This time around, I think the lack of confidence has come from a poor start following a lack of pre-season opportunities for some and the World Cup for others. I don’t think we really had the chance to pick up where we left off and we’ve started the season as a group of players rather than a team. I think it’s harder for Clement to turn that lack of confidence around when it’s dipped under his watch - not that it’s his fault, necessarily.

What we do need is a win, that’s obvious. Every game we lose is just going to feed into this defeatist mentality but I think there’s a real possibility of going on a good run once we do get a couple of wins in a row. I don’t think this team is incapable of that, we’re just playing with a negative attitude at the moment that gets progressively worse after each bad result. Obviously, Clement needs to solve this issue, fast. I don’t think it’s entirely his responsibility to solve though and the players need to pull their socks up and play with some belief again.

Aside from that, I don’t know. I’m in a weird situation where I know we’re not doing well but I don’t think there’s anyone particularly to blame this time. Usually, I can point to the manager, or Knapper, or the players as the reason for our struggles but I just think there’s a sickness at the club that everyone just needs to get over.

ps. F*ck of back to administration, you Farage-accommodating, Sheeran-loving blue scummer. (Only joking, I come in peace too and yours was a good post. I’d also like to see Premier League derbies again).

Posted By: tim berry, Oct 19, 13:20:22