In the first 19 League games of last season up to and including the very good win at home to Wolves we had 30 points and were in 8th position-this was on December 4th </p> The team against Wolves was </p> Muller Foster Souza Nyatanga Werling JC Ryce De Silva Howard Devaney Macken Ferenci</p> In the 33 League games since we have gained a paltry 28 points -this is nailed on relegation form </p> Nyatanga Werling and Ferenci have left and da Silva is injured (this only happened on 23rd February the game after the Liverpool match) -but there are more than adequate replacements-so what has happened to cause such a slump in form-If only we knew ? and please don't respond with prejudiced speculation </p><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="nonSubPlayersTable"><tbody><tr class="starter"><td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"></td><td style="width: 25%"></td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"> </td><td style="width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; width: 5%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; width: 5%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr class="starter"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; width: 5%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: left"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: center" colspan="3"> </td> </tr> <tr class="substitute"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="width: 5%"> </td><td style="width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr class="substitute"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 5%"> </td> <td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr class="substitute"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 5%"> </td> <td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 25%"> </td> </tr> <tr class="substitute"> <td style="text-align: right; vertical-align: middle; width: 70%"> </td> <td style="vertical-align: middle; width: 5%"> </td> <td style="text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 25%"> </td></tr></tbody></table> </p>
For a start we had a bit of pace at the back in Lewin and Werling. Also, we were more balanced with a left footed left back. Howard hadn't been pissed off by the club he's served well. We hadn't had Hassell in midfield for aeons too.
Foe me he's changed the way we play if you remember beginning of last season we played it on the floor, now we seem content on long ball upfield which just doesn't work in this league anymore
But the 'big hoof' up the field is the only 'pass' ........ .......... that Darren Moore has got in him, I haven't seen anybody as determined to kick the ball as high and as far as him since I was playing school football, so it's no wonder our so called 'tactics' have changed! I wonder if our highly qualified Manager or any of our coaches have thought to say to him .......... 'Hey big man, just knock it short and simple to somebody if you have time to do so, instead of trying to bring down the South Yorkshire Police helicopter everytime the ball lands at your feet'
From that Wolves game to last night We've lost a left back and not replaced him.</p> The central defensive partnership which was part of a back 4 unit has been weakened.</p> DeSilva - just hard lines - but there is no suitable replacement in the squad. What Albatross says about Colace and Leon is correct - Davey signs clones, not players that complement what we've got, speaking of which.....</p> The front 2 - Ferenczi wasn't the best by any stretch but as a pairing Macken and him worked well together, creating chances and bringing the midfield into the games.</p> Last nights team was weaker and one dimensional when compared to that team v Wolves. The manager's done that. He's built a new team/squad that doesn't give him options to try anything any different.</p> That's not the fans fault.</p>
The first 6 games has seen our defence slightly improved on the whole of last season with regard to goals conceded, but much improved against first 6 last season. Yet we have only scored half the amount we did in the first 6 games last season. Defence has been **** for years now and looks like it may be improving but is this at the expense of us as an attacking force. I think it is because we are creating so few chances.
The team that did so well played as a team, there was a bond between them. Last night showed just how far that bond has gone it look like the 11 players had never played together.