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I agree. We all said at the start of the season we'd settle for mid-table mediocrity, but now that it's here we're not quite sure how to feel about it!

It is quiet, Carpie. Probably, like me, nobody has got a lot to say but we're still logging on to see if anyone else has!
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You summed me up perfectly 'Tees' bud!
I've been bored s-itless with our performances lately tbh.
The fact that we've no 'stress' atm is fantastic but equally i'm worried about next season. If Clyne/Zaha/others? leave, and we don't have such a good start, then we may be in trouble this time next year.
I'm not a natural pessimist but our performances (points) recently has been dire. I posted a couple of months ago that our last third of the season would be dire if things had carried on the way they were going (points per game). It's proven true unfortunately.
Like i say, losing some of our better players and finishing the season the way we are doesn't really fill me with confidence for next season.
Hopefully i'll get my words rammed straaaaaaaight back down my throat!!!

Hello all!

I've actually been on holiday so we can talk about that?

I was at the Southampton game and it's encouraging to see our younger players get a run out. They gave the leagues top team a bit of a go in the first half but seemed to tire at the end. So although the result wasn't too pleasing the performance was hopefully a sign of progressing.

From the replay it was a good Ipswich goal and we seemed to defend well. I think it showed that we can get by without Clyne or Zaha but what would we do without Speroni?

So to finish in the words of CPFC2010. Last season was about survival, this season was about consolidation, next season is about going up (or at least giving it a go!)

There have been a number of really positive points this season and not just the league cup or midtable mediocrity. Watching De Silva Saturday tells me we have another off the "production line" along with Joniesta and O'Keefe though not one of ours looks better and better as does Zahar (may be going). The big negatives have been Doogs still not having a settled style or team or strike force. Another positive has been the rise (currently curtailed) of Jedi. Apart from Zahar none of the mentioned was thought of as a potential regular at the start of the season but all with another year older will add very much to the team next season (albeit if Zahar goes in £££s rather than goals).
I am genuinely looking forward to next season and can honestly see a tilt at promotion. Having said thatwe have been dire andvery wooden lately.

There are a few too many people settling for mid-table mediocrity. That would be fine if that was actually the case.
We will finish a fair bit below mid-table and to suggest we are mediocre is an exagerration.We are well off of that too.
I wouldn't be surprised if Millwall finish above us at this rate.
How people can take comfort from taking four points out of six against each of our rivals puzzles me. We were pants against both of them at home and they were poor themselves at the time. They have shown spirit, fight and improvement and we have regressed.
I have my nose rubbed in it down here by three weed fans who are quite happy that we won and drew with them as they flirt with a play-off push.
Let's be serious, we would trade that wouldn't we?
Also, don't be fobbed off with a cup semi final run. We had a good run of home games and when we played the bigger boys, they had weakened teams.
Beating a Man U reserve side up there was the highlight but I remember going to Anfield one night and we beat a first string Liverpool 2-0, so that's been done before too.
By and large, finishing the season a couple of places higher up than last season is a very poor return in my book. Dougie is a lovely bloke, was a legend on the pitch and bleeds red and blue. Time to be honest with ourselves on this though-he is out of his depth.

Oh and no, I can't be arsenaled to go to Reading to see a drubbing.

I would of accepted mid-table at the start of the season and yes we will be below that but i personally feel Dougie should be given next season to see if he can push the club towards the play-offs, if not then yes he should go.
In regards to our position i think it wasn't helped by the cup run as we were chopping and changing the team to suit the cup rather than the league and possibly missed out on picking up more points.
As for the poor end of season, maybe the problem was that we were safe and the players have accepted that as being okay. A lot of teams who have nothing to play for generally go off the boil, no excuse i know.

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Some fair points but ultimately it's a results business and 2/21 doesn't lie.
How long is fair for next season? If we start as we have finished this one, maybe even ten games would be too many?
I want him to make a success of it as much as anyone but not all of our favourite players go on to be good managers and that is what will be needed to get out of this division. I don't think it is even everyone's wish to get out of it this season necessary but let's see some sensible tactics and selections, even the odd bit of guille and passion please.
Progression and regression seems to be in the eye of the beholder.

I think that the Doog has performed wonders on a tight budget in his first full season. We are a work in progress- while our defence is not water-tight, it is a great deal less leaky than last season.

We need obviously to start scoring more goals, but I think that it is far too early to start talking about changing the manager. He deserves our support, and will have learned a great deal himsel this season.

I think the parallels with Steve Coppell are apt- hopefulling we can make the play-offs, if not next season then the season after.