We will be all right

4 points from 4 league games, folks?

That's relegation form.

But this is an imaginary upturn in form, so let's stop worrying.

Yeah, nah.

 

I'm looking forward not backwards JB. We are playing much better than a month ago and will have more options as players come back which hopefully will release us from the necessity of bringing on a sub that reduces us to 10.

 

Macclesfield we lost on penalties and Wycombe was during the Collins era where we did look like relegation fodder. The difference between them games and now is night and day.
I agree about scoring, that's a worry but overall we are 100% better in just about all area's. I can't see us going down and I can't see us in a relegation battle.
But that's my glass half full view.

 

Agree Marshy. Wycombe was embarrassing. We made them look like Real Madrid as they ran straight through our midfield, something that a much superior Sunderland midfield weren't able to do. Our teams that played against Wycombe and Sunderland were poles apart. We do have to sort the goals situation though.

 

100% better of what prior domination? We were playing at such a low ebb in the first 6 or so games, that 100% may likely not be enough, moving forward.

In some of those early games we were as paraphrased by @Fordy117 , '' utter shite''.

 

It's up in the air whether we'll stay up or not and it's criminal that we have to think like this considering where we were 18 months ago, I do think we will stay up and think it'll be quite tense but then pull away with a better end to the season. People were saying Sunderland were crap yesterday, but they've been comfortable in most of their games and the fan who did a match report said we were one of their most difficult games. If we'd have played like that against Wycombe and Bristol Rovers I think we'd have won. The key will be to strengthen in January and hopefully the injured players coming back may help, although I can't see them improving the starting 11 much they'll at least strengthen the bench.

Am I confident of staying up, yes. Am I optimistic for the future, no, as we've regressed at an alarming rate over the last 18 months even though we've changed our squad. So what's left to change? The common denominators through this sorry mess.

 

100% in terms of direction, tactics, fitness, defensively we look like a better unit, players are looking more settled and have an idea of what they have to do rather than looking like lost sheep.
The early games were utter shite, under shite/no leadership or direction or tactics or fitness.

 

That is the worry I share

 

Fair reply. The next half dozen or so games need to see more purpose in terms of offensive play. The turnaround ( if it occurs) will take time.

 

How he’s injured

 

We are in trouble because the Collins appointment set us back. Many decent sides find themselves in trouble because poor decision at any point across the season have a lasting effect. Our current players need to prove they have what it takes to get us out of trouble otherwise we will be furiously doing deals in January which will lead to further issues. They aren't excuses, just simple issues that we may need to overcome to recover.

The crumb of comfort for me is that Hopkin is slowly embedding ideals that will get us somewhere towards safety. The team is visibly working harder for each other and the defence seems to be on the road to recovery without sacrificing much in attack (a la Grayson last season). Injuries are a real issue but again we can't expect too much from them too soon.

The current players need to dig in and accumulate as many results as they can, prove their worth and we can take stock in January on where to improve. A target man, b*stard of a forward would be top of the list at the moment.

 

We can talk about the goals and hold up play until we are blue on the face. Have we the personnel in the squad to address it? Probably not - so what is the club proposing to do to address it? Bring a non contract player in? They will not be match fit - that if there is a decent one available.
We can aim to keep as many clean sheets as possible get the odd goal / penalty to try and convert - but will that be enough?

 

The Collins appointment set us back a bit, true.

There are several other, more damaging issues at play though than Collins'six game tenure.

His sacking corrected only one mistake, which in the scheme of things, was relatively minor.

 

Did you watch Dr who I think you may have gone back in time. Wyke plays for Sunderland but keep it to yourself others might not know......

 

I guess I must be an optomist. I can see signs of improvement with let’s face it so many players missing l. I just can’t see us going down . I spoke with a couple of Sunderland fans on the way home and they were saying we were one of the toughest games they’ve had this season. It’s a shame hopkin wasn’t appointed at the start of the season as I don’t believe we would be playing catch up as much as we are now. If we’re still in bottom four at Christmas I’d begin to think we’re going to be in a relegation battle. Me dad on the other hand thinks we’re already relegated

 

A good way to judge how you feel about our season so far is
What were your expectations before the Shrewsbury match compared to where we are now
If like a few on here who were expecting the worst won't be surprised
If you were expecting a top 6 position you must be raging

 

Tend to agree with your Dad
Sunderland although miles better than us weren't overly great I think they will get a top6 spot
but may struggle for the autos

 

A bit of a rollercoaster. Before Shrewsbury I was expecting mid-table -- no worries about safety at least; having seen the Shrewsbury match I thought we were raw but promising, so figured mid-table at worst, possibly higher if promise turned into reality; soon afterwards, however, relegation certainties dominated my thinking, and continues to do so. Now, I'll consider 20th place a success. Given where we were not so long ago, that is a truly miserable stance to take.

RCB