Poor Again !!

Our under 18’s might have a chance on Tuesday!

So if you don't win all 3?

I fear too.

The main problem seems to be upfront unsurprisingly. Some of it may be down to service but not convinced it is.

How we are not in the bottom three already is baffling

Agree next three are vital but not at all confident.

Bet of the week must be to lose to the scousers third X1.

Still that may be a blessing.

UTV

Last two games we haven't been great. However, to put it in perspective, I think before this run of four games it was odds on we'd get nothing and be in the relegation zone.

As it was, we earned a well-deserved point against MU and weren't far from a point against Chelsea. And we're still out of the relegation zone. It's no accident that our last two weak performances were against two established squads with well-honed skills, who deserve to be where they are in the table. Just hope it hasn't hit our squad confidence too hard.

Of the 3 games coming up, we need 5 points to finish on 20 points, out of 20 games, which is on course for survival. Very doable; I think we can do better.

I've stayed optimistic this season so far, primarily because we bought 12/13 players in the summer and it was always going to take time, but my confidence is draining now for several reasons:

1) We've gone backwards in recent weeks and are regressing

2) Dean Smith doesn't seem to have a clue how to react to situations and doesn't seem cut out for this level thus far - same formation, same tactics, odd decisions, no passion or work ethic instilled in players. I don't know what he says at HT but it never works seeing as we concede 80% of our goals in the 2nd half.

3) John Terry as assistant manager doesn't seem to be working - we've conceded 30 goals in 17 games, our defending is atrocious

4) Key players are not performing/suffering/injured - McGinn needs revitalising, Grealish should not be out wide, Wesley needs taking out the firing line, Mings injured

My main concern is Smith's inability to change. He plays 4-3-3 every game, no matter who the opposition is. He plays open, attacking football no matter who the opposition is which leaves us exposed when we lose the ball. He refuses to take certain players out of the firing line (e.g. Wesley), but then makes random selections like playing Elmo against Leicester and Lansbury against Sheff Utd when better players were on the bench.

Yes 5 points from the next 3 is the minimum we need, but that is still close for comfort - we need to be aiming for 7-9 points to drag ourselves away. We were odds on to not get much from the last 4 games but odds mean nothing - Sheff Utd have proved the odds wrong in pretty much every game this season, Leicester when they won the league and this season. Most people wrote off Man U against Spurs and City after they drew with us - they won both games! It's up to your manager to get the tactics right and he keeps failing. He will have no excuses for the next 3 because all those teams are below us and we will be expected to win at least 2 of them - the crowd will back him and the team like they have all season so he has to return that faith or people will turn.

I sincerely hope DS can turn it around, I really do, but he has to get some new ideas and fast.

Even poorer

Not sure where we go from here.

Not a complete disaster yet but rapidly getting there.

And a potential points deduction still circling.

Happy Xmas