S-Clarke

I think Falque was recruited when we were trying to get rid of Puncheon, now that entire situation has changed I don't see any place for him now. His debut was hard because the team shape was so crap against Leicester, so that didn't do him any favours and he did look like a little boy lost out there. I must say, Adkins loans have been a bit iffy! Bignall, N'Guesson, Falque etc...! (although chappers worked out ok)

This. Reeves looks like a revelation to be honest, and has totally surprised me as I always thought he was a left back - but the coaching team obviously saw more in him than that. Looks a real gem of a player.

TBH people predicted a thrashing at Birmingham, yet I felt we controlled that game pretty well. Ok, the conditions were utter **** and unplayable at times, but we didn't look brittle and we stood up to anything they put at us. We'll get some surprisingly pleasing results away from home, I'm sure of it. (in terms of points returns, our away form is much better than our home form at the mo too - seems to have swung around!)

I think Morgan deserves to keep his place after Saturday tbh, and Hammond didn't seem to do anything to stamp himself in that midfield last night (according to reports). I do like Hammond, but Morgan was majestic on Saturday in tricky conditions.

The top teams have the better squads, that's what I was trying to get at. So the players they can call upon are proven performers, whereas the guys we call upon are decent to average championship players and that's where we've been found out slightly. The positive has to be that our better players are coming back and I hope that we can see some of that swagger again. We just need a couple of wins, just a bit of confidence...

doh.

Swing that round the other way and look at it as a bonus we play those sides - we're the team ahead, so getting the results against them (or stopping them getting maximum points) is in our hands. It's all in our hands really, so let's see how we do. We always seem to raise our game against the better teams, never really too nervous. I'm more nervous about going to places like Doncaster where we 'Should' win. That's been our undoing this year, we've preformed pretty top notch against the sides around us.

I'm really impressed with Burnley as a side, they use the ball so well and get wide - but they've got a focal point up top who is none other than mr rodriquez who is an absolute class act. We missed out there. I'm confident as we have some of our players back though, we're getting that team back which served us so well. Relying on our squad players hasn't helped us at all in the last 6 weeks as I don't think they're good enough for where we're aspiring to be. I'd play.. Davis Richardson - Fonte - Jos (got a hunch he's fit) - Fox Puncheon - Cork - Morgan - Lallana Lambert - Sharp IMO we're getting to a stage again where the team is pretty much picking it's self, let's hope the 2 up top hit it off because they could be potent.

This is where English fans mentality is wrong. After any slump, it needs to be all change. Whether that's all new players, all new coaches, a new manager. Sod giving them time to turn around, we need change and we need it now. ....and when the new guys don't work, go around in that circle again. You'd have thought of all fans we'd be the ones that crave the stability of a stable team and coaching setup. They've all done enough over the last 2 years to earn trust and respect from everyone and if I trust anyone to get us out of this slump then it's these guys.

I think the better teams are now coming to the fore and are showing us up a little in terms of squad depth. (we've got a big squad, yep, but our reserve players aren't really good enough as we've found when they've been called into action) We did well at the start of the season to capitilise on teams slow starts etc. which was aided by a full fit and confidence flowing team - but now the better teams have got to grips with this league and we're starting to see that. The managers now have obviously studied us massively over the last few months and it seems to me, in many ways, we've been sussed out. Teams now have successful game plans which stop us and we're seeing more and more sides implementing those, and the worrying thing for me is that they're also attacking our weaknesses much more than they did at the first half of the season. I think we've got a good squad, no doubts about that, but on paper I don't believe it's one of the top 2 or 3 sides. We've not got the premiership experience alot of teams have and that's whats coming to the fore at the moment. We're still amazingly hanging onto the top 2 by our finger tips though, not sure how we've managed it - so for me that boosts my confidence slightly, but then if our form continues as it has been for the last 6 weeks then it has to be said we'll be doing very well to even finish inside the top 6. I hope we don't miss this great opportunity and I'm sure the players and management realise that, but maybe we're just lacking a little in certain areas? Just my opinion.

3 good players, but as you said too similar. 3 very safe midfielders I'd say.

That's exactly right IMO. At the start of the season we had a real momentum from the season before, and that allowed us to take advantage of the newley relegated teams as they were still on a slump, with their new managers still trying to find their way etc. Now the ''better'' teams at this level seem to have found their way, and in away I think we've lost alot of our zip because teams are coming up with really successful game plans against us every week. It's usually as simple as get close to us,c lose us down quickly. If you do that we loose alot of our penetration.

Depends if Jos is fit....prob 50/50

Reading the comments from others it's seems that his movement was top notch, it's just that our players werent' finding him or giving him the right sort of ball - so maybe that didn't make him stand out. From the little glimpse I saw of him against Cardiff he looks like the sort of forward who plays on the shoulder and spins away in behind and down the channels, excellent movement - but if the balls aren't good enough then he will look pretty ineffective.

I think both could do a job if I'm honest. I'm sure you wouldn't have expected Mark Tinerney and Russell Martin to be performing at Full back for Norwich this season, they were L1 right backs 18 months ago. We've scored about 7 or 8 goals from a result of Richardsons crossing, his crosses to the back post for Lambert to steam in were a trademark of our first half of the season. It didnt wlays lead to a goal....but we won penalties from it, a Lambo knock down was put in by someone else etc - so I'd say Richardson has put in a fair few match winning deliveries this year, which is why it's frustrating to see the standard drop now - as we all know what he's capable of. But then I guess you look at it from the opposition side, and what would you say? ''Richardson has a great delivery, alot of their goals have come from that flank. I want you to get tight to him, don't give him the yard to cross and make sure you block that cross as your life depends on it'' - I think that's what we're seeing more and more, teams are coming up with successful game plans to nulify our strengths. It's now up to us to add a bit of variety to our game.

Still way too early to be coming to that conclusion, IMO. (either way too) I'm sitting in the middle ground with him, I think he's got the ability but isn't a world beater as yet - and nor do I think he's useless. I'm prepared to give him a few months before making any rash judgements though.

Agreed, I don't think we're playing badly as a team - but individually we've got a few iffy performers at the moment who are letting the side down. We're much better than we were a few weeks back, when our performances were labored and lacklustre - but we now have a zip and a bit of dynamic play about us, so I don't think it's too long before the results come. If we were playing awful and not creating chances then I'd be worried for the long term.

Injured as far as I know, has been carrying a frustrating niggle since Christmas. He may have got over that by now, really not sure - but I know Adkins has said he was injured not so long ago.

But surely the last thing you do when you have a slump is change everything, or even contemplate changing everything? Everyone has to pull together because that's how we got where we are, some people will say it's a cliche but I think it makes such a difference if all areas of the club are pulling the same way. The moment divides start is the moment we are in trouble. As I said, I think he's done enough for us to earn a little bit of slack IMO. We'll come good and we'll look back on this thread in April and laugh at it, the same way we all had a good laugh at the ''playoffs it is'' thread from last year - after we lost to wallsall.

Was nice to see Theo > Chamberlain - GOAL! over the weekend. Made in Southampton etc. We're probably the first club at this end of the country that parents look to for bringing through their kid. Our reputation is huge and our turnout of players is so impressive, we're having such an impact on English football as we're producing future premier league stars.

I agree re: fox too. He's not a bad player, but he just seems to have less effect on a game as the weeks go by. The crossing from both sides has dipped and I hope they're working on that in training!

I read that from his comments too, definitely not happy with a few experienced players. Guly didn't do himself any favours as he's struggling to get back in the team now IMO.

There's a chance Jos could be back for this according to NA - that would be a huge boost.

Nice to hear the views from someone from the match - glad to hear Lee looked decent, as I always think you need to read more into a player rather than his missed chances (which people on here seem to be doing). I generally am starting to think Harding isn't quite good enough at the top end of this league, decent player, but is getting shown up quite a bit by decent players at this level. He's had quite a few shockers recently.

We signed Sharp, one of the top strikers at this level, not sure what else you were expecting there? Not sure why we need a new RB either, seeing as Richardson has been my unsung hero this year. (Although he possibly doesn't have that competition behind him) Puncheon coming back into the fold is like a new winger signing too, so I'd say we addressed all the positions apart from additional CB cover. That's where we look a bit stretched IMO. I think we lack another left footed centre back, as Martin has always looked awkward on the right side to me. From what I was told we were still aiming to get Collins tied up in the loan window, so we'll see.