by Zip »
21 Mar 2018 17:47
LWJ Those of you who think the negativity was solely on Twitter or this spackerboard are living in cuckoo land. There has been very little support for the club, especially at home, when the going got tough. I attended my first (and probably last) Star AGM in September where we had the pleasure of Jaap Stam being the guest speaker and taking questions from the crowd. The amount of negativity towards him and the team following the success the previous season was astonishing.
In reality we had a number of close games early on which we should have converted (Bristol and Fulham spring to mind) silly mistakes cost us 3 points across those two games, and poor finishing could have given us the maximum from them. Those two results so early on in the season could have changed our season. Or even looking later on in the season; Wolves at home. The only reason we didn't walk away with at least a point is because Ruddy showed us why he was an England goalkeeper during his career. His pointblank save was incredible. Cardiff at home, yeah we choked a two goal lead. We then hit the post with the last kick of the game. 2 inches to the left and we're suddenly top half and on a good bit of form going into the Christmas period. Incidentally we didn't win again until Burton away....... Don't even get me started on the amount of injuries as well. We've probably had the biggest injury list in the Championship throughout the year. People moaned about Stam's team choices we had to make 2 changes every game due to injuries at the beginning of the year!
There have been games where we have been poor and deserved to lose, but there's been a lot of games where we haven't but have lost. Every small decision has gone against us this year, and it's not been helped by the negative oxf*rd calling for #StamOut in September.
Fair point about calling for Stam out in September. That was unjustified. However as a fanbase we have been supportive. Just look at the recent games v Derby and Leeds. However too often this season we have sat in silence as the team have shown minimal attacking intent. It’s very difficult supporting a team when they don’t even register a single shot at goal as in the first half v Millwall.
Our net transfer spend was the third highest in the division in 2017. Yes we have had a lot of injuries but if you take a look at the messageboards for other Championship clubs you start to appreciate it’s the nature of this League. It’s a slog. It’s physical. It’s competitive. All teams have had injury crises. It’s not just us. Besides with the money spent don’t you think Stam has badly failed?
I also dont think decisions have gone against us. Just look at Fulham when their player was very harshly sent off in the first minute. Yet we still threw it away with a dreadful Van Den Berg pass. We have lost most games because we have defended so poorly and had few striking options. It was unforgivable to start the new season with just one fit striker. We all knew it was a big problem once Kermorgant was injured in the summer yet it wasn’t addressed.
It was also unacceptable the players were not match ready for the opening game of the season. They should have been. Ever since I have questioned our players fitness because we have conceded so many late goals which is never a good sign.
I hoped Stam would turn it around but the same mistakes have been made game after game. I wish him well but the time had long since passed for change. I just hope it’s not too late.