AnglianRed

Well that does it...you've doomed us! 😆

He's willing to sacrifice...your dignity! 😁

So, 4-0 to the Boro? 😉

Honestly, at this point it just feels like pragmatism. Boro haven't done anything in the last 7 games to suggest they are capable of challenging for promotion, so expecting us to get anything against an in-form Ipswich (1 defeat in their last 6), I'd say is being very optimistic. The way we play simply isn't conducive to winning games anymore. Opponents know all they have to do is drop deep and pack the penalty area and we are no threat at all. Doesn't help that the players seem to have lost confidence in the system. Frequent slow, ponderous sideways passing, that is so easy to contain. Frustrating thing is we also do a lot of things that should work...but just execute them badly. All those nearly moments that might result in a goal if the pass / cross wasn't wayward, or if someone had made a run at the right time, passed to a team mate, or taken a shot themselves. Personally I think we'll do well to get a draw out of this, but obviously thats not enough now.

Ah, if only they could have got Peter Beardsley...no-one would have had a clue what he was talking about! 😁 On a serious note, would just like to echo DS's sentiments. Nice to see some of the less talked-about teams battling for success. 👍

Well, its a fair point. We don't have much in the way of quality outside the first team and as always seems to be the case, injuries affect us badly. Maybe that early 4-game losing streak was a foreshadowing of what was to come. But I still don't think that on its own it adequately explains our shocking play in front of goal and how we get caught more often by counter attacks than before. Not when Kim can name more-or-less full strength teams. Maybe I'm seeing things, but we don't seem to deal with pressure very well and lose possession more easily than we used to.

Yet he did so well to start with... Nobody was complaining when we were banging goals in for fun. I'm sticking to my theory that the players collectively *** the bed when they realised they were in strong position to get promoted (couldn't handle the pressure) and opponents figuring out how to nullify Hellball.

Wonder if Kevin Keegan has actually cheered up yet? 😆

You need to be more like Princess Elsa, or whatever her name is... I think I gave up on our promotion prospects a couple of games ago. We really needed to finish 2nd, because I never felt confident we could do anything in the play-offs.

I agree Hellberg should be re-thinking his tactics for the remainder of the season. But I think we need to accept the likelihood is he won't. It doesn't seem to matter how we line up...we still play the same patient, short-passing style. I fully expect it will be a case of rinse and repeat for the last 4 games. Quite honestly I don't think its our defence that has been the issue. In spite of our recent results, we still have one of the best defensive records in the league (joint 2nd for fewest goals conceded). Our biggest issue has been at the other end - attempting lots of shots from bad positions and wasting the few good chances we've created. Hull (6th) and Wrexham (7th) have scored more goals than us. Even Derby in 8th are only 1 behind us.

Agreed. Kim's first choice team hasn't been delivering the goods for a while now, so it couldn't hurt to give the squad players some game time. Frustrating thing is...he won't do it. He'll keep sending the same guys out until / unless they break down. 🙄

Did you bump into Nobby while you were there...and did you spot anything interesting in his notebook? 😁

As things stand right now, I can see Southampton (in excellent form) overtaking Boro and leaving us in 5th...meaning we would end up playing whoever finished 4th. Which would be either Saints or Millwall. Can't say I fancy Boro's chances either way - unless we miraculously manage to find some form over the last few games.

The other thing to consider is, how likely are we to get someone significantly better for the kind of money we will want to spend? #DontBinBrynn 😁 Also, while I have zero insider knowledge, I would think there are more pressing areas where we need to strengthen. Some defensive cover and better forwards for a start IMHO.

We have a FEW quality chances, (where you would expect us to score), but as I said, the majority are from tight angles, through crowds of players, deflect off other players or off target. The fact we are missing good chances as well is likely a confidence thing, due to our recent poor results. Although many do fall to midfielders and defenders, rather than our strikers, who are busy being playmakers. Worth noting Portsmouth's goal fell to an attacking midfielder. Segecic has 5 goals & 2 assists this season. Only McGree has a comparable record for us (1 more assist).