Pt.3 Solutions not Problems

Anyway….solutions not problems. How are we going to get out of this rut? We cannot simply rely on returning players and no more injuries. We have two weeks before our next 5 games: Birmingham (H), Blackburn (A), Cardiff (H), Reading (A) and QPR (H).

Without a loan window we have to rely on what we have. Unless of course Barton’s contract gets terminated and Hoillet wants to play football rather than play at being a footballer.

We all know that our defence needs work and hopefully the return of players and the associated stability, might see us mop up the defensive errors which have plagued our own season.

We no longer have enough goals in the team if Britt, Burke and Lam remain sidelined (still waiting for us to re-sign Burke). As such, the natural solution is 4-4-2. More strikers equals more goals? It does when your remaining midfield has chipped in with just 3 goals.

Whilst our new attacking force of either Bendtner or Vellios has looked good, then I think it can certainly look better, if played together. The defences in this league aren’t generally much better than ours. Having to worry about two giants would relieve some of the pressure of our defence. Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham could have all returned more points if we had pressed their defence more. PM needs to play to his existing strengths, not strengths of old:

Stojkovic,
Pereira Perquis Lam Lichaj
Carayol Cohen Lansbury Osborn
Vellios Bendtner

Subs: Smith, Mancienne, Traore, Vaughan, Kasami, Lica, Youth Player - Gomis or Brereton maybe.

Turning to: (once players return from the next international break after this one)

Stojkovic
Lichaj Perquis Lam Pinillos
Pereira Vaughan Lansbury Osborn
Assombalonga Vellios

Subs: Smith, Mancienne, Traore, Kasami, Cohen, Carayol, Bendtner

So, things are pretty black at the minute. It’s all black, black, black. Black.

Sooner or later, if the points stay the same then the reasons for getting rid of PM will stack up. The number of people asking for his head will increase and another manager will be left trying to sort out someone else’s mess whilst having the same remit, in getting us promoted.

The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

What is the root cause of this insanity? Fawaz.

What feeds the insanity? The fans.

Are we in danger of doing exactly what we did last year? Yes, because expectations are being measured against results. Reality vs. Results has a completely different feel to it. More relaxed, calmer, every breath doesn’t feel like a giant fry-up straight to the arteries.

If we’re in the same position in five games time then maybe PM is clueless? Surely another manager would have got more points if he’d been given the chance. Pearson perhaps? Di Matteo? Strip those teams of a budget and slash their squad through injuries and sales and where would they be right now? Probably closer to rock bottom than where we are.

My Mum (RIP) used to say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well, let’s see how strong we are when we start to play the lesser teams, with a deeper, integrated, plus hopefully injury free squad. Because the reality that PM doesn’t get to see NYE in Nottingham would see that 13m disappear as fast as Fawaz’s promises. The signings so far have been good considering the budget and without losing Burke, it would have been our must successful transfer business in years.

All it needs is a bit of patience.