I ENJOYED that.

[andrew1957]

^ Andrew my post is primarily factually based. This is our worst start since 1931.
This is also our worst run at home in our entire history...and by miles.
As I said in that post we did play well but ultimately we lost again and hand on heart did you really think we would get back in the game after that?
I thought Rasiak was very slow both physically and mentally. Church worked hard but he is missing gilt edged chances and we don't have that luxury at the moment because we can't keep a clean sheet.
I was very positive last season perhaps too much so....I haven't felt the same way this season.
Another relegation would be disastrous. We are in danger of being cut off with two or three other clubs.
Its time for change.

Having reflected long and hard I honestly believe if Steve Coppell was here this season we would be in the same position. The problem is losing all our top players - not really the manager. BR has all but an impossible job and I just think we need to give him some time. I think we may well get relegated but are even more likely to be if we panic and bring in someone else - who will have the same players.

The fact that our start is one of the worst ever is irrelevant if it is not ultimately the manager's fault.

[Millsy]

^ Andrew my post is primarily factually based. This is our worst start since 1931.
This is also our worst run at home in our entire history...and by miles.
...
Its time for change.

By now I hope everyone knows I have my head firmly up Coppell's a*se.

But despite this even I have to be fair and point out - much a it pains me to admit it - that the worst home run STARTED UNDER COPPELL.

Rodgers did not manufacture it, he INHERITED it.

Even though I really wanted Curbs instead I am day by day feeling sorrier and sorrier for Brendan and really hoping he can turn this around.

BRENDAN RODGERS' BARMY ARMY!

[PEARCEY]

^ Andrew my post is primarily factually based. This is our worst start since 1931.
This is also our worst run at home in our entire history...and by miles.
...
Its time for change.

By now I hope everyone knows I have my hed firmly up Coppell's a*se.

But even I have to be fair and point out - much a it pains me to admit it - that the worst home run STARTED UNDER COPPELL.

Rodgers did not manufacture it, he INHERITED it.

Even though I really wanted Curbs instead I am day by day feeling sorrier and sorrier for Brendan and really hoping he can turn this around.

BRENDAN RODGERS' BARMY ARMY!

Agree with all your comments re Coppell.. Whilst I think Rodgers should go...I hope he can turn it around should he stay. The trouble is this team is so lacking in confidence if we go a goal down at home. Its been happening for so long now that they almost expect it to happen.

I've decided not to post on here in the aftermath of matches (unless we win) because its always the time when it hurts the most. It never feels quite so bad the next day.

[Millsy]

^ Andrew my post is primarily factually based. This is our worst start since 1931.
This is also our worst run at home in our entire history...and by miles.
...
Its time for change.

By now I hope everyone knows I have my hed firmly up Coppell's a*se.

But even I have to be fair and point out - much a it pains me to admit it - that the worst home run STARTED UNDER COPPELL.

Rodgers did not manufacture it, he INHERITED it.

Even though I really wanted Curbs instead I am day by day feeling sorrier and sorrier for Brendan and really hoping he can turn this around.

BRENDAN RODGERS' BARMY ARMY!

Agree with all your comments re Coppell.. Whilst I think Rodgers should go...I hope he can turn it around should he stay. The trouble is this team is so lacking in confidence if we go a goal down at home. Its been happening for so long now that they almost expect it to happen.

I've decided not to post on here in the aftermath of matches (unless we win) because its always the time when it hurts the most. It never feels quite so bad the next day.

I know how you feel mate.

[andrew1957]

^ Andrew my post is primarily factually based. This is our worst start since 1931.
This is also our worst run at home in our entire history...and by miles.
...
Its time for change.

By now I hope everyone knows I have my hed firmly up Coppell's a*se.

But even I have to be fair and point out - much a it pains me to admit it - that the worst home run STARTED UNDER COPPELL.

Rodgers did not manufacture it, he INHERITED it.

Even though I really wanted Curbs instead I am day by day feeling sorrier and sorrier for Brendan and really hoping he can turn this around.

BRENDAN RODGERS' BARMY ARMY!

Agree with all your comments re Coppell.. Whilst I think Rodgers should go...I hope he can turn it around should he stay. The trouble is this team is so lacking in confidence if we go a goal down at home. Its been happening for so long now that they almost expect it to happen.

I've decided not to post on here in the aftermath of matches (unless we win) because its always the time when it hurts the most. It never feels quite so bad the next day.

Yes cheer up Pearcey. I actually feel better tonight than for a long time. We have just played five of the top sides in the division in a row and we have lots of matches against bottom sides in the next 6 weeks so if we play that well consistently I really believe we will start to win. I don't mind losing so much providing the players give 100% and I really thought they did tonight. Even though we lost I have a feeling this will be the turning point.

[bmwfrenchie]

Harsh Pearcey - I always used to think you were one of the more balanced posters on here.

The problem is not wholly Rodgers fault. At the end of the day we missed out on Smith because Sir John would (or could not) afford to stump up the money out of his own pocket and who else were we going to get then but Rasiak. He is proven at this level and the alternative would have been an unproven lower league youngster.

BR is having to work within tight purse strings. From what I have seen of Smith at Pompey he would probably have made all the difference and it was not Rodgers fault that we did not get him. He made it clear time and again that Smith was his main target.

Now we have no choice but to persevere with the promising Church and Rasiak. Hunt is injured and for whatever reason Long is a shadow of the player he was during the second half of last season (and even then most on here thought he was useless).[/quote]


very good post there, i agree with that. nice to see some positivity instead of the usual rubbish on here

[Compo's Hat]

Excuses, excuses!

He had other players lined up if he didn't get his main targets and he should be bringing in players good enough for this level.

[glenroyal]

Right until conceding the inevitable goal, we kinda enjoyed that too. Only that inevitability undermined the actual enjoyment. The real plus was that we didn't actually crumble afer that.

Whatever the history of who shoulda, woulda, coulda done what sooner, the earlier analysis is right.

Stick with that team, except for (until we have, as soon as possible, please !!!) an effective striker or two - Rasiak being the first to be dropped.
But, if Clodagh changes the team again,without actually building on that first half, he really should go.

[Chaney]

I agree, he should be building a regular team based on the starting line up last night, to drop Matty and Siggy after that would be criminal.

[SWLR]

I enjoyed it too.

Some good displays - Church (did everything but score), Matj & Sig (first time I had seen him for 90 mins).
Bit concerned that the midfield four are a bit 'powder-puff' for up-coming away games.
On the downside... I stuggle with Howard, Pearce's confidence and concentration have suffered and while Tabb gives his all he is no right-back.

But to finish on a real positive - the whining, moaning, b*llocks-talking couple behind me were absent.

[Sun Tzu]

I Sig (first time I had seen him for 90 mins)..

Hate to shatter the illusion but he was subbed after 64 !

Was it McAnuff you were watching ?

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

While I enjoyed the 1st half you always knew what was coming.

Clearly so did the players. They looked like the didn't believe they could win the game. Totally devoid of confidence.

I just don't know what Rodgers can do. He picked a good team/formation, they just can't get the job done.

I'd feel better if you could see where it went wrong last night, if you could see what can be changed. There comes a point when Rodgers just can't do anymore.

The next two games will make or break him. International breaks are a very dangerous time.....

[Sun Tzu]

It was a total of about 3 feet that cost us !

Take that amount off 3 or 4 shots and we would have scored several goals.

It seemed that each time the strikers didn't quite hit their shots cleanly (a mark of a lack of confidence) and therefore the shots just drifted a and went wide.

They also didn;t get too much luck with deflections, twice good shots got faint deflections that took them away from the goal.

Fairly typical of much of the season. A lucky break last night was much needed. Luck is something you can;t coach unfortunately !

[brendywendy]

2nd half was still better than usual

kept possession well, and kept trying, heads didnt drop

it was improvement

ill take it

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

It was a total of about 3 feet that cost us !

Take that amount off 3 or 4 shots and we would have scored several goals.

It seemed that each time the strikers didn't quite hit their shots cleanly (a mark of a lack of confidence) and therefore the shots just drifted a and went wide.

They also didn;t get too much luck with deflections, twice good shots got faint deflections that took them away from the goal.

Fairly typical of much of the season. A lucky break last night was much needed. Luck is something you can;t coach unfortunately !

Not sure that's actually true though. Luck comes with confidence and belief in your preparation.

That's something we seem to be lacking. I thought Rodgers was spot on last night, didn't get the feeling the players believed that he or they were though.

He needs to keep this team, needs to let them grow and believe. Really hope he keeps the front 6 the same on Saturday. Needs to look at bringing in new faces, which is easier said than done...

[Chaney]

if (and its a big IF) we can start producing performances like that on a regular basis then I am convinced we are close to turning the corner, on another night we could have won 5-1 last night then the gloom and doom from the various threads would be replaced by joy and happiness.

[papereyes]

Not sure that's actually true though. Luck comes with confidence and belief in your preparation.

... and just preparation, fitness and conditioning.

Resorting to an appeal to 'bad luck' has got to be one of the last arguments in the locker.

[Tilehurst Mike]

I'd say it was shocking finishing that let us down.

No chance had with the goal. Only criticism you can make is having no one on the far post, but Tabb did have a player to mark so no blame for him. No chance for Fed and Sigs man had to get that exactly right to score.

Most improvement and best performance of the season I've seen. Keep the same 11 and Rodgers can carry on for another game. If he makes changes he should be sacked before the next game starts.

Ian. He should go now. He bought y Rasiak FFS. Long looks unfit. Church out of his depth. Hunt looks a shadow of the player he was. As Strap's stats reveal this is our worst start since 19 friggin 31. Yes we did play well in the first half but ulimately 10 points out of 42 is a disgrace.

Ah, but he is now playing exactly the right formation, with almost the right players and we were vastly improved from the last game. We had much the better of the game but couldn't stick the ball away.

All the neutrals and even the Leicester fan in the pub said we'd pretty much been robbed and just needed better finishing. They also said no need to fear relegation on that display.

So he plays the smallest player in the club, a left sided midfielder at right back to link up with a left sided winger. He sure has got the formation right or are we that desperate??
Rasiak, Howard and Cummings--woeful signings and Church out of his depth.

[brendywendy]

tabb was one of our best players,& he gives much needed defensive solidity and bite to the more 4-4-2 like set up

i thought that i heard rodgers blamed "a player whos been with him for a while" for not taking the post at the corner on BBCRB- bertrand/rasiak/macanuff?
or was that for giving away the corner in the first place, if it was that
then tabb had to go, as there was a player unmarked to deal with

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Pretty sure Tabb was playing right back when we signed him.