Hippobee
Member
Serious question this. Have we really been worked out (which about 90% of the match threads since Barnsley have said is the case). Or is there another reason we've looked cack for most of the past 3 matches?
I ask, because we were all saying we'd been worked out at the end of last season when Stoke and Swansea stopped us playing. And it was also repeated at the start of this season. But strangely, no mention of it in our 21 game unbeaten run. And I'm pretty sure some sides will have tried to employ it, particularly as we went behind in a few of those. If they did, then it didn't work.
In my opinion, I don't think it's the press, although clearly, our players have to work harder to get around it, rather than just 'let us play.' I think the last week is probably a combination of:
a) Fatigue (yes - I know it's the same for everyone, but many of our 'key' players haven't been rotated).
b) Lack of experience. The two players most capable of driving others on (Pontus & Christian) are out injured.
c) (linked to b) Players (and coaches?) perhaps believing the hype once we were at the top of the table?
People point to other teams having poor runs which is true. However, I do remember Leeds having a mini poor run last season, but they still looked good. The Barnsley and Coventry performances are two of the worst I have seen for a long time. That's of far more concern to me than the actual results. A real lack of mental toughness there and lack of resilience when put under a bit of pressure.
I ask, because we were all saying we'd been worked out at the end of last season when Stoke and Swansea stopped us playing. And it was also repeated at the start of this season. But strangely, no mention of it in our 21 game unbeaten run. And I'm pretty sure some sides will have tried to employ it, particularly as we went behind in a few of those. If they did, then it didn't work.
In my opinion, I don't think it's the press, although clearly, our players have to work harder to get around it, rather than just 'let us play.' I think the last week is probably a combination of:
a) Fatigue (yes - I know it's the same for everyone, but many of our 'key' players haven't been rotated).
b) Lack of experience. The two players most capable of driving others on (Pontus & Christian) are out injured.
c) (linked to b) Players (and coaches?) perhaps believing the hype once we were at the top of the table?
People point to other teams having poor runs which is true. However, I do remember Leeds having a mini poor run last season, but they still looked good. The Barnsley and Coventry performances are two of the worst I have seen for a long time. That's of far more concern to me than the actual results. A real lack of mental toughness there and lack of resilience when put under a bit of pressure.