5 hours ago
(This post was last modified: 5 hours ago by Slick_Footwork.)
I think our current predicament is down to a mixture of the squad lacking quality and incorrect selections, negative tactics and a lack of belief.
We should acknowledge that the owners have faced a tough challenge. They have been tasked with balancing the books and reducing the age of the squad simultaneously, it's not an easy task.
We've had to sell some of our best players, while plenty of other senior players have walked away for nothing. They have had to be replaced for a fraction of what has come in.
We've lost legs in midfield. We've lost numerous creative players. We've lost centre backs who can chip in with headed goals, a threat we no longer seem to have at the club.
With that in mind, maybe we should only expect mid table obscurity.
However, it does feel that we've done some decent wheeling and dealing in the transfer market and this current squad is worthy of a better position than we're in.
I've watched everyone in the Championship this year and IMO, it's the worst championship for years. It's full to the brim of mediocre teams. We have already played several teams in the top 6 - Stoke, Boro, Charlton and Preston - and I've not been impressed with any of them. Despite that, we've lost to 2 of them - games we should've at least drawn.
For me, we need a manager who is going to take the hand break off. Play positive football and try to win...
At the moment it feels that Mason goes into every away game looking for a draw and we're not good enough defensively to even get that. At home we're more positive, but we're lacking the creation to break teams down who sit in against us. We have seen that against Derby, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday. Yet, Mason continues to operate cautious tactics with 2 midfielders who never progress past the ball to provide forward passing options.
Given the fact it's Mason's first full-time managerial job, his appointment fell into the "punt" category. One that could go either way.
Despite that, as a young English coach, I think we all had high hopes about it. We thought he could bring some "youthful energy" to the squad. This coupled with an exciting Tottenham loanee or two. And exciting, attacking football.
Sadly, that hasn't been the case...
He didn't attract anyone from Spurs and his entire approach, body language and manner appear lacklustre and lethargic. When I saw his first interview, I thought "he's not the most exciting speaker"m but hoped it was just that he wasn't really a media guy. Unfortunately though, that seems to just be him.
I hope I'm wrong and he turns things around, but I predict Mason will soon be relieved of his duties when things fail to improve. Then we just have to cross everything and hope the next "punt" comes good.
We should acknowledge that the owners have faced a tough challenge. They have been tasked with balancing the books and reducing the age of the squad simultaneously, it's not an easy task.
We've had to sell some of our best players, while plenty of other senior players have walked away for nothing. They have had to be replaced for a fraction of what has come in.
We've lost legs in midfield. We've lost numerous creative players. We've lost centre backs who can chip in with headed goals, a threat we no longer seem to have at the club.
With that in mind, maybe we should only expect mid table obscurity.
However, it does feel that we've done some decent wheeling and dealing in the transfer market and this current squad is worthy of a better position than we're in.
I've watched everyone in the Championship this year and IMO, it's the worst championship for years. It's full to the brim of mediocre teams. We have already played several teams in the top 6 - Stoke, Boro, Charlton and Preston - and I've not been impressed with any of them. Despite that, we've lost to 2 of them - games we should've at least drawn.
For me, we need a manager who is going to take the hand break off. Play positive football and try to win...
At the moment it feels that Mason goes into every away game looking for a draw and we're not good enough defensively to even get that. At home we're more positive, but we're lacking the creation to break teams down who sit in against us. We have seen that against Derby, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday. Yet, Mason continues to operate cautious tactics with 2 midfielders who never progress past the ball to provide forward passing options.
Given the fact it's Mason's first full-time managerial job, his appointment fell into the "punt" category. One that could go either way.
Despite that, as a young English coach, I think we all had high hopes about it. We thought he could bring some "youthful energy" to the squad. This coupled with an exciting Tottenham loanee or two. And exciting, attacking football.
Sadly, that hasn't been the case...
He didn't attract anyone from Spurs and his entire approach, body language and manner appear lacklustre and lethargic. When I saw his first interview, I thought "he's not the most exciting speaker"m but hoped it was just that he wasn't really a media guy. Unfortunately though, that seems to just be him.
I hope I'm wrong and he turns things around, but I predict Mason will soon be relieved of his duties when things fail to improve. Then we just have to cross everything and hope the next "punt" comes good.