[drewks]

Just found out I can only make comments with lap-top after trying for weeks to make comments using my kindle fire.  So my comment on the Swansea game is that a few years ago a home game against them would have been an almost certain win and we have to get ourselves back into that same mentality.  OK Swansea have had a few years good output but compared to The Albion they really should be seen as very beatable with us at home.  Our aspirations should be competing with the likes of Everton and Newcastle Utd for top ten positions and seeing home wins against Swansea and Aston Villa as more or less routine.  If we continue to self-denigrate ourselves and whinge about our own players shortcomings then we deserve to rattle around in the relegation dog fight area of the league.  The difference between a team winning and getting better and a team sliding is CONFIDENCE.  I hope Pulis does instil this but it's really down to Lescott and Fletcher to pick the kids up and get them going.  We are a gnat's hair away from being a more positive, aggressive and durable team.  And......we must get our striped shirt back ASAP!

Do you know, meanbren.....I AGREE with you!!
Self belief/confidence is SO important in any sport, and IMO we are, as a club, going through a bit of a crisis in this department because of the last few years. Enter Mr Pulis. I know, meanbren, that you have a pretty low opinion of the value of the input of HC/Managers, but the mindset that they can - or cannot - instill into the players is, IMO one of the biggest factors that they can influence.
It was mentioned on the match thread how, on Sunday, Fletcher went round to several players after the equaliser and had a word or 2; this is the type of leadership we need on the pitch from the elders, and it needs to be the same type of stuff that is coming from Mr Pulis too.
We really need to toughen up and play with more conviction, belief, and passion; PROACTIVE rather than reactive, and impose ourselves on the opposition much, much more