Are we that bad

Agree with this. Its the overall quality in the depth of the squad which is not quite good enough and to an extent the quality of the manager as well. There is potential there but there are clear weaknesses. The weaknesses need addressing in January whether we go up, get in play offs or not. Over time the whole kit and caboodle needs more depth of quality and players who are clearly effective need retaining if at all possible.

 

I don't think we are a million miles off but equally we're not certainties for the top 6 without more signings.
Secretly although they'd never publicly say it and said the opposite, I think the board didn't expect too much this season in what's a competitive league without spending decent money or moving away from their philosophy.

All of that said 2/3 astute signings in January could push us on.
I think it's taken this long for DC to get what he expects across and find a system and his best 11, mistakes have been made tactically but nobody is perfect.
I haven't seen anyone in the division that's terrified me, which is frustrating with the idividual errors and poor goals we've shipped.

C+ work to do but not a disaster as made out by some.

 

I thought the same before kick off, but to be fair the same team put in a hugely contrasting performance.

The players I'd have been most tempted to drop after Saturday were Russell and Earl, yet those two were integral to setting the tempo first half yesterday, constantly pinching in front.

In other words, I know nothing, and trying the same thing produced a very different result

 

I thought Russell was largely a passenger again and what he did do was pretty babber.

 

I think Clarke is just starting to show what he's made of. That first half performance was class. We battered them.

 

We played well enough and created enough chances to win last night, so in that sense Clarke’s team selection is justified.

People criticise Clarke for making subs, which I think is a wild take. The squad standard outside of the first 11 is not his fault, and over the course of a long season, especially this time of year, it’s completely reasonable to make subs and expect them to impact the game positively.

I don’t know why we stick with the same system at home. We can’t keep a clean sheet, I’d really like to see him adopt a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, because clearly the current one doesn’t work. I’d also drop MDG for Pines, this defence has had enough games together to show it’s not capable of defending for 90 minutes.

Were moving the ball better, and dare a say it more entertaining, but you know when we score the first goal, that we will need a second before the inevitable equaliser comes.

 

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The love in for Solina early doors was beyond belief and he got found out. My only fear. It was injury that got him sidelined. The defence must be overjoyed they've got someone behind em who they can rely on more.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ and thrice ^^^^^^^^^^

 

That goes without saying tbf. Pay on day will flit in and out in some cases. The interference of sky on fixtures. International breaks and poor results. Will affect season ticket sales if no improvement. Imho.
I've never fallen for the doom and gloom of other posters in years gone by. Re season ticket sales. But the combination of the above if they continue will take it's toll.

 

I thought we played well last night, very similar to the performances against Northampton & Charlton (and with the same result). Ah, well.

 

He is nowhere near the standard required for a play off contender. A long long way off.

As Clarke said last night in the last 2 games the opposition have had 4 shots on target and scored 3 times.

the level you are looking at for a top 6 team is Roberts last season before Christmas.

 

I don’t think we’re bad but I do think we’re decidedly average and I’m struggling to see where the improvement is going to come from.
We have a team with decent experience managed by a Head Coach who is also experienced and I can’t see any cohesion or consistency that you would expect from that experience. I’m yet to be convinced that the Head Coach has the required skillset to motivate and manage this level of player or improve them and I have no confidence in our Sporting Director to identify and recruit the required players to improve this team. I really do hope I’m wrong.