If we lose against Boro

we are in a relegation dog fight for the rest of the season.

Spoiler:

not unlike Leeds in that season...

plus all in white the same as Leeds. I can't sleep. This is not looking good

As I said elsewhere, you can see the confidence disappear the moment we concede a goal and they fully expect to concede more. Ramos has to get inside their heads and change that mindset very quickly or it's going to be a long, miserable season.

It's already a long miserable season. We're already in a relegation dog fight. Things are gonna get worse before they get better.

good time to bring in a non-English speaking manager that has to adapt to the Premiership. COYS!

I thought we played well in patches and I can see the green shots of recovery BUT it depends if Ramos can get the recovery underway quick enough. I thought the way we played yesterday was one of our better perfomrances. I thought the Hudd had flashes of brilliance and if he can be coached then we have another Gazza/Hodd on our hands. I thought Steed also had a good game. Lee was great also and slomst scored. It's our mentality that is the problem which is what Ramos needs to speak to our players about (via a translator of course)

Daniel wrote:

I thought we played well in patches and I can see the green shots of recovery BUT it depends if Ramos can get the recovery underway quick enough. I thought the way we played yesterday was one of our better perfomrances. I thought the Hudd had flashes of brilliance and if he can be coached then we have another Gazza/Hodd on our hands. I thought Steed also had a good game. Lee was great also and slomst scored. It's our mentality that is the problem which is what Ramos needs to speak to our players about (via a translator of course)

Huddlestone was woeful yesterday. His pass completion was laughable.

in your opinion

In my opinion too. I cannot see any green shoots of recovery. No matter how many chances or pretty patterns we create going forward, we are grotesque at the back. And it is the defense that will continue losing us games. Out alternatives for the next 8 weeks are: King (will play a dozen games all season if we're lucky); Mudslide Rocha (injured for another 6 weeks); The Inconsistent Gardner (enough said); Stalteri (probably worth another punt instead of Chimbo who can't defend and obviously gets in Lennon's way - talk about cramping his style!); Bale (please, please, please come back soon); BEA (who cares, he's average and won't make an ounce of difference to our defensive strength).

So no, we ain't getting any better. The only hope is that our strikers get the their scoring boots on - BIG TIME

I'm also worried about the defence as Chimbo (on the attack he's fine) and Daws really are having problems.

The biggest problem is all mental though. The team lack confidence and concentration, if they can get there heads sorted out (is Ramos a psychologist?) that'll go a long way...

Boys, if we BEAT Boro we'll be in mid-table and then the ONLY WAY IS UP!

Where is Hairy when you need a bit of optimism about the place?

Hudd - slow, lumbering and pretty useless. What do people see in him? Can't pass, can't shoot, can't tackle and certainly can't run.

The whole team looks shite and last night was woeful. No green shoots of optimism for me either. When Blackburn got their freekick in the 92nd minute I got up ready to leave. The outcome was never in doubt.

Oh and 16 million for Bent - if Comolli sanctioned that then he has to go.

Agreed. Whoever sanctioned 16m big ones on an England B international who's club just got relegated, has to go. No questions asked. But I guess we'll never find out who it was. No one will ever admit to it. Sheer lunacy.

Daniel wrote:

in your opinion

No. Fact (as you would say )

Its fact that he constantly squandered possession. It's my opinion that this plays a significant part in making a midfielder's performance woeful.

Though i do disagree with ezza and ozza on the lack of green shoots.

Berba and Keane looked good when they got the ball. Steed played ok, and Lennon started to show signs of a return to form and fitness in glimpses.

The back is a mess and it's a shame Rocha is out as he should be in the team ahead of Daws and Kaboul just for a bit of experience and no nonsense defending. Chimbonda played ok against Blackburn but overall has been poor this season, outshited only by Dawson, and Salty needs a recall. If we can get Ledders back in the next few weeks and then get in a solid experienced CB pro at Christmas, we may be ok.

All fit?

Cerny
Salty King Rocha Lee
Lennon Zokora Malbranque GTBTGB
Keane Berba

It wouldn't surprise me to see KPB get into the side esp considering it was Seville who were chasing his signature.

thfc1882 wrote:

1981, 1984, 1991, 1999 ... We were not doing well in the League in the years we won a cup (except 1982).

So this is the year for European glory.

Juande Ramos' Blue N White Army !!!

I'm liking the optimistim there, Hung. COManchester here we come!