What has caused this bad run of results.......

[Wycombe Royal]

Tell you what Wycombe - lets argue about the merits of particular players and formations. Let's hope the players are reading that this one is not good enough - this formation doesn't work etc.

Bad run of results - When did that start Wycombe? We were not too clever at the start of the season and there isn't the time to deal with the question of whether to base our approach on Kitson or on Marek (Which to me is a bit too radical right now).

I am of the opinion that what seperates the weak from the strong in football is largely based on confidence (True greats are rarer then the media selling to us would really suggest).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is discussion forum, we the negatives and positives can be discussed. I have not slagged of any player I so I really don't see what you are getting at. Before this run started we were 12th. Now after 7 straight defeats we are 17th - that is a worse run than we have had at any stage this season.

So basically, accroding to you, we can't argue (I prefer discuss) about the merits of players or formations, just in case they are reading it and suffer a mental breakdown.

[West Stand Man]

Bad run of results - When did that start Wycombe? We were not too clever at the start of the season and there isn't the time to deal with the question of whether to base our approach on Kitson or on Marek (Which to me is a bit too radical right now).

.

I suspect that a run of 6 defeats counts as a specifically bad run of results?

[Huntley & Palmer]

For me, it's the organisation at the back. We look completely at sea in defence and lose far too many players through poor marking, add in the sloppy clearances and passing and it all adds up to our current scenario. We have lost a lot of bite in midfield and the abillity to tackle higher up the pitch, with or without Gunnar.

The difference is that your post is opinion and the original one sticks to fact. While the poor run and G's absence may or may not be related - it is an interesting and noteworthy fact. Is there any other common factor? I can't think of one.

Well it's not all down to Gunnar not being in the team is it. We were having these problems when Gunnar was fit, it's just that we were scoring at the other end as well. Now we can't even do that

[Blue Blooded]

Bad run of results - When did that start Wycombe? We were not too clever at the start of the season and there isn't the time to deal with the question of whether to base our approach on Kitson or on Marek (Which to me is a bit too radical right now).

.

I suspect that a run of 6 defeats counts as a specifically bad run of results?

Yes but our problems started long ago - please forgive me for not talking about this specific set of results.

[andrew1957]

Putting the last 6 games into perspective the one uniting factor is a loss of confidence.

1/ We played well against Spurs going forwards. Sonko was almost single handedly the reason we got nothing with some awful defending.
2/ We then played Pompey and Sonko got sent off after 2 minutes - we had no chance after that.
3/ We played Villa away - a hard task at any time and little chance of a positive result.
4/ We played well against Man U but got nothing.
5/ Chelsea away is as hard as it gets - we were poor first half but played very well second half.
6/ Bolton - everything would have been ok if we won this as expected. We would be 4 points above relegation and with easier matches to come BUT the team played terribly - confidence was lacking.

Matches that would have looked winnable now look difficult and the longer we go without a win the harder it will get - the real worry to me is that the next three games are all losable unless the team shows some spirit.

If I were SC I would be concentrating on getting 11 men behind the ball against Everton, Villa and Boro and going for a clean sheet. Three 0-0 draws would give us a platform for survivable and start to regain some confidence. If we go on conceding goals all the teams we play will think of us as a soft touch and this makes the job even harder. It may not be pretty but all out defence is the only answer in the short term if we are to survive.

[Alan Partridge]

An interestng theory but I feel it's merely coincidence. Gunnarsson played in the horror shows v West Ham, Bolton and Fulham away along with Pompey so I don't think him missing is the reason we are 17th. Matejovsky was far more agressive and capable at tackling and closing down than I had imagined. He has to be a permenent fixture in this team from now until Derby if we are to have any chance.

Harper had a mare, his worst game for donkeys years. Actually he was pretty bad in one home game when he got subbed this season, the game escapes me.

The problem is the defense, along with a misfiring Harper. If Harps and Matejovsky play well they should be ok, there could be a case to playing both of them + Gunnarsson, with Bryn specifically as the defensive midfielder.

Our back 4 Murty - Cisse - Ivar - Shorey. The first thing that strikes me is pace or lack of it. Only Cisse is a capable runner and in this league that's not enough. Also it's not a very big back four in terms of height and presence. Cisse isn't that great in the air for someone his size, and Ivar was 2nd best all day to Kevin Davies on Saturday. I think Rosenior should come in for Murty, he's more mobile and would give us a more of a threat down the right. Shorey is basically in the team for his crossing and set pieces, whcih ironically were dire saturday. I thought defensively he was much better but over the course of this season, he has been well down on last season. Defensively at times he has been really shocking.

Of course if we had a fit and on form Sonko or Duberry or Bikey tbf then I'd include them. We miss that presence, that size at the back but at the minute Sonko is a liability, Doobs in injured and a bit hit and miss and Bikey is away. So it's difficult.

I prefer Cisse at CB but he's not the finished article and at times you can tell he looks a bit awkward and as if he doesn't really want to be playing there. Ideally for me I'd have

Rosenior - Duberry/Bikey/ Sonko - Cisse - Shorey

Would give us a bit more mobility, a strong proper centre half alongside Cisse and then Shorey picks himself still pretty much.

[West Stand Man]

[quote="Huntley & PalmerWell it's not all down to Gunnar not being in the team is it. We were having these problems when Gunnar was fit, it's just that we were scoring at the other end as well. Now we can't even do that[/quote]

Ok, let's assume you are right and it isn't all down to G's absence. Why is the run perfectly coincedent with his absence then? Facts is facts, and unless you can find a different common factor then there are grounds to investigate this.

[Platypuss]

6/ Bolton - everything would have been ok if we won this as expected.

I think that speaks volumes.

[cmonurz]

I think this run has ‘been coming’ – not necessarily something that we have done differently over the last couple of months, just repetition of mistakes and low morale that has seen us reach this point. Coppell has shown too much loyalty to particular players, and we could ask whether those that do eventually come in to replace them can be expected to just step up straight away.

Rosenior, for example. Having be signed from Fulham in an effective swap for Seol (how stupid does that look now?!), Rosenior has been as good as ignored as far as Premier League football goes. Quite incredible that in a season where we have had no right-winger, and a struggling right-back, Rosenior has made only 7 league appearances. Coppell simply has to give our reserve players more chances – Rosenior played pretty much every league game for Fulham last year.

Gunnarsson too – can we really expect Fae to come in and be the new Roy Keane, when Coppell has made his feelings about one of our most expensive signings quite clear?

And the treatment of Lita too. I know Lita isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but in 20-odd league games, Doyle still hasn’t kicked the ball into the net. We have three good strikers – let’s use them all.

Finally, will next seaosn be the season we finally follow the lead of other clubs, and entrust our league points on the odd youth player?

[BR2]

I predict that, for the first time, this Saturday will see Coppell make dramatic changes to the team, formation, way we play, etc.

I think there'll be two or three surprises in team selection and a less entertaining style of play (not that our style of play V Bolton was entertaining).

I don't know who'll be dropped but I think it could be someone like Murty, Doyle, Harper, USA. I may well be wrong (and I'm not necessarily advocating changes) but I think Steve is starting to act very un-Coppell like and anything's now possible.

There could well be changes but surely not Marcus who recently has looked back to his best and saved 2 penalties.
I do think that Doyle and Marcus are in Coppell's eyes the two undroppables mainly because the other options in Lita and Frederici are so far behind in ability-I suppose Hunt is now in that category as well by virtue of there being nobody to challenge him but the schoolboy footballer Bobby.
The more you look at it all the more you realise that we have so few genuine alternatives.

[cmonurz]

Not to go back over the transfers debate again, but what do you think Coppell sees when he looks at his squad? Surely he can’t think ‘ooh, I have so many options, Shane Long, what a superstar’. If we had some genuine, experienced talent in the squad, I could understand (a little more) the club resting on its laurels.

[CMRoyal]

Harper had a mare, his worst game for donkeys years. Actually he was pretty bad in one home game when he got subbed this season, the game escapes me.

Arsenal, I think. Fae came on for him.

Harps was so bad on Saturday, I assumed he'd either got injured (Bolton's donkey no.9 - yes, yes, I know he scored but he's still a donkey - trod on Harps' foot early on) or caught the 'flu off Kits.

[Platypuss]

Harper had a mare, his worst game for donkeys years. Actually he was pretty bad in one home game when he got subbed this season, the game escapes me.

Arsenal, I think. Fae came on for him.

Harps was so bad on Saturday, I assumed he'd either got injured (Bolton's donkey no.9 - yes, yes, I know he scored but he's still a donkey - trod on Harps' foot early on) or caught the 'flu off Kits.

I suggest that a large part of it is that he hasn't adjusted (yet?) to a different role. Prior to Marek joining he was the one who liked to take the ball off the back 4 and distribute it. With Marek in the squad and doing the playmaking the rest of his game has come into sHarper focus. He has to shape up fast - if we want to stay up we don't have the time to carry passengers who are not contributing.

[Blue Blooded]

Tell you what Wycombe - lets argue about the merits of particular players and formations. Let's hope the players are reading that this one is not good enough - this formation doesn't work etc.

Bad run of results - When did that start Wycombe? We were not too clever at the start of the season and there isn't the time to deal with the question of whether to base our approach on Kitson or on Marek (Which to me is a bit too radical right now).

I am of the opinion that what seperates the weak from the strong in football is largely based on confidence (True greats are rarer then the media selling to us would really suggest).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is discussion forum, we the negatives and positives can be discussed. I have not slagged of any player I so I really don't see what you are getting at. Before this run started we were 12th. Now after 7 straight defeats we are 17th - that is a worse run than we have had at any stage this season.

So basically, accroding to you, we can't argue (I prefer discuss) about the merits of players or formations, just in case they are reading it and suffer a mental breakdown.

Yes you are right - this is a discussion board. Which is why I thought you were being somewhat pedantic in your earlier protest. You asked what caused this bad run of results and I gave an opinion.

[bcubed]

That's very harsh on Harper
This is surely just the problem of trying to knit together a new set of players, even if it's only one (Marek) it won't happen over night. Harps is not suddenly a bad player

[Tredder]

Every team can read your style of play now and you have no plan B.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Our midfield is utterly spineless and has been since Sidwell left.

Yet despite that we've not signed a single player with the skills Sidwell had. Marek looks a fine player, but he's not a Sidwell replacement.

Harper jogging two yards behind Nolan summed up what this club is missing.

All our defensive problems stem from this.

[bcubed]

Every time he's played in the centre of the defence he's looked pretty handy.

However he made little challenge when Davies headed the ball on for Nolan to score. I doubt Sonko or even Ingimarsson would have lost out so easily.

It wasn't so much that the initial header was lost - that can happen at the best of times. It was more the fact that
three Reading players were together in that part of the goal area leaving Nolan unmarked. Murty for one, was drawn in there (as he often is) and was nowhere near where I would expect to see a right back

[bcubed]

Every team can read your style of play now and you have no plan B.

That might well be true, but I am not sure that we have a Plan A either!

[The Surgeon of Crowthorne]

Harper has been one of our more consistent players - but he did have a shocker on Saturday. I'm not convinced about Marek's tackling abilities - gave away the pen & a couple of other free kicks too. So, I'm not sure that a Harper - Marek centre mid is going to work, given that Harps is no tackler either. Maybe combining Boris with Marek is worth a try