Are we that bad

Although our home form is so frustrating are we really as bad as some make out.Prior to the Huddersfield awful performance we had just beat Bristol Rovers and drew with Stockport who were flying at the time.In the past few weeks we've won 3 drawn 2 lost one and also progressed to the FA Cup second round.
Is the home form distracting our minds when in reality we're moving forward steadily and well in the hunt for the top spots in the League.

 

We played well enough last night I thought, just one of them games. Haven't we drawn about 6 in a row against Reading at home now? (All 1-1 as well until last night!)

 

We need to be more clinical in front of goal. I would be more worried if we weren't creating and making chances.
It could be worse, we could be Manchester City

 

No we’re not bad but by the same token we aren’t moving forward either. I feel as though we have just been treading water since the defeat at Wembley. It’s why I asked on the last FAB thread whether our owners are actively trying to bring in new investment in at board room level. Ie investment that I feel we need to get us moving forward and in the right direction

 

No. We are only where we are because we've played some of the easier teams in the league and other clubs have game in hand. By the time all clubs have played the same amount of games and we've got our very tough run out of the way between now and January 1st, we can find ourselves dropping down the table.

 

Apart from the result, it was a good watch. We were lively throughout, dominated good patches of the game; had a game plan, which included the high press against the Reading system of playing out from the back (so someone had scouted that); good, rapid passing movements with generally good decision making (the odd blip when a player could have made a better pass). Entertaining game. I think that the issue lies in the final third of the pitch. In truth, we had the chances to have won last night. Typical as to how the games goes that we miss a good chance to go 2-1 up at the one end and they go down and make it 2-1 to them at the other. I thought we were better at crossing the ball in from wide positions, but this still needed more consistency from Gent and O'Keeffe, both of whom are key to our attacking system. The big minus for me was set pieces. When you think how many corners and free kicks near goal we had, along with Roberts' long throws and nothing came from any of them. That was our biggest failure for me, as they must practice these all week on the training pitch and it all seems to come to nothing on match day. They must persevere with this, because it will be a good source of goals if we can improve it, say, fifty per cent. I would expect us to get into the playoffs on the evidence of recent games. Automatic is not impossible, but we would need to brush up, especially on set pieces and quality of crosses into the box. Onwards and upwards COYR

 

I suppose you could keep your fingers crossed.

 

We drew & played off the park the team in 7th. It's not like we got a draw against bottom - Clarke was right to keep the same team, they put a performance in, they should've won but didn't. Humphreys scores that one on one we win 4-1 IMHO - they went straight up the other end and scored from that corner.

 

As one who travels away. We seem to be a lot more controlled. I find the home games not so much as desperately poor but soul destroying results wise. (I dont linger on those results and quickly forgotten) Which for those who only do home games must be even harder to stomach.

 

Don't think we are - created enough chances to win a dozen games in the last two home games. Thought we knocked the ball around well last night - same old problems not taking chances and gifting goals

 

We'll never be moving forward while our home form is as bad as it's been since February. Two league wins in all that time must be as bad a run as we've ever had at third tier level. Destined for a mid table to low top half finish currently I'd say. Big improvements needed at both ends of the field.

 

Our home form was shocking last season but we got in the playoffs,it can be done again.Sort the home form out and the top 2 isn't beyond us.

 

I don’t think we are bad, no.

We’ve won 7, drawn 6 and lost 4 games. Scored 27, conceded 26. I think we are doing alright. I actually think we’re doing a little better than I expected. I didn’t see us doing so well away from home again. So we’re probably a handful of points and a few places higher than I’d predicted at this stage.

I did think we’d grow as the season progresses and probably end up in a fight for a playoff place at the business end of the campaign. So it’s difficult to complain about where we are right now.

However, I can’t be happy with recent results. To get two points from Cambridge, Wigan and Reading is disappointing, particularly this pair of home games. We looked the better side in both but there’s a lack of ruthlessness in what we do. Their second goal immediately following Humphrys’ miss last night being an example of that.

We’ve what looks like a tough run (on paper) coming up. We’ll know more following that. Then the window opens up and Clarke has another opportunity to shape the squad for the rest of the season.

 

My frustration ...
Someone posted yesterday about "Trying the same thing and expecting different results".
In the Wigan game, DC made wholesale changes in the 2nd half and the performance improved. He also alluded to that in is pre-match talk.
Then for the Reading game, none of the players who made an impact in the Wigan game were included in the starting line-up, and two of those, KN and FJ, didn't even get off the bench.
Two things ...
I don't believe DC is getting the best out of the squad at his disposal and sticks with his "favorites" too often.
We can't keep creating 20+ chances per game and only scoring one or two goals.

 

I have some sympathy with this view but everyone on the bench/outside the squad is pretty much dogwank or just simply not ready yet other than Nwakali.

You sit at matches thinking 'in the name of God change it' and then Jalo, Lofthouse and Cosgrove trot out of the dugout and you think 'you know what, don't bother'.

 

Most of our support are probably in the home games only category as we rarely take as many fans away as we have season ticket holders. For the sake of the Club's finances our home form needs to improve.

 

I think we are perfectly average L1 side with a couple of players above that level that should allow us to compete for the top 10. we have an average L1 manager and by and large an average L1 squad

We are incredibly inconsistent. Clarke needs to improve on his game management and substitutions which often make us worse not better. We need to improve in both boxes.

January will be key as to whether we can challenge for top 6 or not.

We need to address some obvious weaknesses . Goalkeeper and centre forward are key weakness
and maybe a better option at RWB as O’Keefe is consistently inconsistent.

 

Our home form was ok up to February and we were in with a shout for the top two. We eventually only limped into the playoffs after our home form collapsed. Not a chance of top 6 without improving it let alone top 2.

 

A bit harsh on Kilip I think hes there on merit now,hes been solid enough since getting the shirt.

 

Agreed. If my maths are right Killip has only conceded 4 goals in the 5 games since he was brought in. I wouldn’t say he was at fault for any one of them either.

In fact he was unlucky for their 2nd last night, pulled off a great reaction stop only for it to bounce off the crossbar and land at the feet of their striker.