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

[The Quiet Man]

Strap your the stats man. How about this - 25 league games so far and we have used 6 different combinations of centre back. Our best run of form in Nov/Dec coincided with Ingi/Sonko partnership which was consecutive for 9 games and there were two further partnerships of 3 consecutive games for Sonko/Dubes and Ingi/Dubes which leaves a hell of a lot of chopping and changing at the heart of the defence - 3 clean sheets says it all really.

Secondly the importance of the first goal - in the games where RFC have scored first (both at home we haven't scored first away from home indeed only at Spurs away have we ever been in the lead) we have lost once (Chelsea) and drawn once (Boro) and in games where the opposition have scored first we have only managed to force two draws (Brum & Hammers both away). Given we have lost 15 games to date it would suggest that we have very rarely been on the front foot against opponents and by now the players know if we concede the first goal we are f*cked (the two come from behind draws bizarrely saw Gunnarsson leave the field early in the game - tactical hint for SC?).

My explanation for the bad run of results lies in the above in so as far as our defence has rarely performed well but has hardly been stable and our midfield particularly away form home has been lightweight. Part of this problem lies with Gunnarsson who is a good squad player but is not a first team regular and it goes back to the failure to replace the ginger one. SC is also reluctant to use him as a squad player and get 30-40 good minutes out of him off the bench or start the first half and then sub him (this was pretty much the role he had for RFC previously and allowed him to play 100% over a short period of time or for a few games knowing that he would then be rested up). If you play with two wide men on the touchline as SC likes to do your midfield two have to get through a shedload of support running and get the foot every so often something none of the replacements have been up to especially away from home. The team know that they are on the back foot and are nervous about conceding knowing that if they do they are unlikely to get back in the game and a vicious circle of non performance results in Bolton at home - after all we have only won by two goals once (Liverpool) and have had five very nervy one goal wins against opposition around us and a draw with Boro having been in front.

The worrying thing is that the current team just do not look likely to scrap out 1-0 wins - we concede soft goals on a regular basis this year and our midfield just cannot provide defensive cover or attacking support in the way it did in previous seasons. However if the league stopped today we would still be a premier league side therefore it is still in our hands given we have Fulham and Brum at home to try and get the required results - I'm just not sure we have the players or that SC will be bold enough to change things early if they are not working (i.e. Bolton why keep an unfit ineffective Kitson and Doyle on the right wing when it is clearly not working).

[Cpl Jones Dont panic]

I recall reading that Siddy commited the most fouls in the premiership last season. This slowed the play down and allowed us to pack in front of the ball. This season the opposing midfield just waltz straight through the middle, leaving the defence at odds and sods on deciding to either pick up the runner or stay with the forward.

MAREK Looks a real find but he needs the Parky type player to win the ball and pass onto the playmaker. Harps just wants to run an run.

When we read that the players take collective blame, did any one notice the look of disgust from Kits and Lita when the Bolton 1st went in.

Convey needs a book on how to tackle, pushed over by SWP at Chelsea is unforgivable.

How we need a Barry Fry moment , 3 subs at half time , that tells the players taken of in no uncertain terms.

[prankemperor]

For me it is Marcus' collection and coming out to the crosses which is deficient but still I love him. Apart from that the constant changing back four has resulted in no stable partnership. In the midfield it is the lack of quality service to the strikers. Convey is not the player he was before. And the right side is non-existent. I would really like to see Fae given a chance. One bad performance does not make or break a player. He needed time to settle which he should be by now. Give him a chance. We were missing an engine in the midfield but I believe Matey would be the creative force as he gets more familiar. As for the striker's well except for Kitson who has been fantastic this season. Doyle has been unlucky he has been moved right wing and up front which probably has affected his rhythm. Lita runs around a lot but it feels like a headless chicken.

But despite all this we have got goals in our team it is the clean-sheets we are lacking.

[RG30]

Whilst thinking about key moments that could make or break our season, it sadly reminded me of Shane Long's pathetic attempt at a shot in injury time to Birmingham away, when he had time and space yet wanted to bicycle kick it in.

[cmonurz]

2 goals this season. Super-sub he isn't.

[rotherwick_royal]

We've not played consistently well since the middle of last season. We only won 3 out of the last 11 Premier League games last year and that poor form has continued this year.

I'd say that the position we ended up in the league last year was largely down to the momentum of the fantastic promotion year. Since then belief has dwindled away and we are left with the players we always had, who on the whole are struggling to cut it in the Premier League. All of which makes it even harder to understand why we wasted 2 opportunities to considerably strengthen the side.

[Fezza]

We've not played consistently well since the middle of last season. We only won 3 out of the last 11 Premier League games last year and that poor form has continued this year.

I'd say that the position we ended up in the league last year was largely down to the momentum of the fantastic promotion year. Since then belief has dwindled away and we are left with the players we always had, who on the whole are struggling to cut it in the Premier League. All of which makes it even harder to understand why we wasted 2 opportunities to considerably strengthen the side.

Four opportunities...

However I blame the French... hi Spacey.... League and the seeming inability of our big signing "Fae" to cut it at Prem level.

Our lack of a decent defensive midfielder is killing us.

Also the wingers really aren't all that. Hunt = lots of effort, but not much final ball. Convey = to lightweight/slow/poor final ball - not Prem quality at all. Oster = a laughable waste of money on his contract/Injured.

[Cpl Jones Dont panic]

Time to get physical [ nice thoughts of OLivia Newton Jones]

Middle to have Bikey and Marek, at least we will stop the free flowing attacks. But this tactic can only work if we can actually defend dead balls, which is a key problem for us.

Maybe actually be the last premiership to score within the 1st 15mins may help the cause.

Sonko to be the first player to get the ball out of the stadium [ MartIN Hicks would have done it by now].

No way do I want us to be relegated by pretty football, lets show them we are not southern softies and make teams earn any win against us, not present the 3 points on a royal plate.

[Leamington Royal]

Marcus - still does not command his area at crosses/ corners. has also been the chief culprit in bad/ long ball distribution

Full backs - Murty just getting slower. Shorey his inflated self-worth has led to countless poor marking leading to soft goals.

Centre backs - too much change (partly forced by injury). Arguably our best combination will be tried for the first time this weekend (Cisse/ Sonko)

Centre mid - didn't sign a decent ball winning water carrier type player - biggest signing failure. Our style of play has also largely by-passed these buys.

Wings - Can't fault Hunt really, but our lack of strength in depth exposed. Personally I think SC should have persisted with Fae on the right instead of diverting Doyle from our attack.

Up front - Hit by second season syndrome - I think Lita (and to a lesser extent Doyle) have been worked out by the other teams. Both very predictable and I feel Doyle has also lost a yard of pace. Kitson has been the sliver lining because he didn't play much last season and is quite frankly great.

Other factors - big improvement in some of the teams Everton, Villa, Man City, Spurs.

Complacency - until this weekend, I think our boys have been taking it for granted that points would come against their peers. It's no coincidence that they are far more motivated when playing the likes of Liverpool, Man U, and even Everton.

I could go on....