[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

As we head into 2015, here are the uncomfortable statistics from the last two years which need to be pinned to a wall in Jeremy's office, under a big painted sign which says "NEVER AGAIN":


Number of wins = 15 from 75 matches; a 20% ratio.

Number of wins by more than a one-goal margin = 5 (I appreciate that all wins count, but the fact is, there have been very few times in the last two years you could legitimately say we've outclassed an opposing team rather than riding our luck).

Number of times we've come from a losing position at half-time to win a match = 1

Number of times we've failed to win after leading by two goals or more = 6


These facts reflect so badly on everyone at this club, from top to bottom. If we were some financially-knackered sinking ship like Portsmouth or Bolton then I'd actually applaud the staff and players for keeping us in the division in the face of adversity, but for a supposedly stable and established side, this is desperately poor. I know we're always fighting an uphill battle against clubs with more financial muscle who've nicked our modus operandi (i.e. Southampton, West Ham), but we can and should be doing better than this.

It's time to stop clinging to what worked briefly in 2012 and start innovating again, behind the scenes AND out on the pitch. I really want stability for the club - I really don't want us to be sacking gaffers every six months, or every time we hit a sticky patch - but true stability will never come with this constant cycle of mediocrity.