[Salopbaggie]

The problem in a nutshell: our squad seems divided into players who want to play for us but don't have the quality to deliver at this level (McClean, Robson-Kanu, arguably Nyom, maybe even Hegazi), and players who have the quality but for whatever reason are shirking their responsibilities (Chadli, Evans, Rondon, Phillips).  The workhorses have become cart-horses, and the drivers of the team have turned into passengers.

The problem for Pardew here is going to be 90% man-management.  Barring some wholesale changes of personnel in the January window, this is what he's got to work with from now till May, and they need an almighty rocket up the arse.

Not pressing the panic button yet, but time is not on our side.

I do agree with your summation in parts Ska'd, other parts I feel are a little harsh. Hegazi, I think does have the ability to play at a decent level and never shirks from getting his head in there, maybe his decision making can be a little suspect occasionally, but on the whole a snip at his asking price. Rondon is another I think, whom I think it is a little unfair to criticise. I don't think anyone would doubt his work rate and we do have to remember, he is a striker and not a midfielder or a defender. I am sure if you were to ask Evans to play as a centre forward, we would be saying he is not good enough, so why do we criticise Rondon when most of the game he is either in the box defending or having to stay just short of the halfway line waiting for the hoof. He certainly does not get the service to do his job as a striker, when 90% of the time he only sees the ball if he either goes and gets it himself or has to deal with a 60 yard lump up field with just him and 3 or 4 defenders. Phillips, I think does earn his wage as well, "when he is fit". I am surprised to see you think Evans is shirking, personally I think he shines through as a touch of class. I still think the biggest loss to the team is Brunt, look back at the results, not only from this year but in the past, think of the way we plummeted down the table when he suffered the injury which kept him out the Euro's. Chadli I do wonder about, full of promise when he arrived, then just injury after injury, strange though they only reoccur when it is time to play for us and not when he has to play for his national side. Spurs fans did warn us to be fair.

I totally agree the whole team needs the rocket up the proverbial though, in all honesty though, I really do think it is a confidence issue, I know that makes little sense to us mere mortals who look at their talent and think why do they not have any confidence, but it happens. I don't think it matters what your job is, if you have a bad run you question your own abilities and it does not matter what anyone else says, you have to believe it yourself.