We really are in a murky hole just now. One that is f**king hard to climb out as we have issues which are in a par with turning round an oil tanker in a bath tub in terms of difficulty to resolve.

1. We have owners for who the club is an occasional thought. We mean very little to them.

2. We have a manager who is best placed coaching the Jamaican bobsleigh team's charity football match.

3. Then we have a squad packed with inadequate players. f**k me, its humiliating how much sh*te we put out week in week out. Sanchez, Jorgensen, Chalobah, Fofana, Tosin,Badiashille, Mudryk, Gusto, Enzo, Delap, Guiu, Neto, Garnacho, Gittens... Not one of them is a player any club in the top ten would have an interest in buying. No doubt i have missed some who should be added to this list.

Those not listed above are players who i think would be worth sticking with or haven't had a proper chance yet.

Competitively this season is over bar the FA Cup. Mathematically a top four finish isn't but thinking we have any chance of that is on a par with Ian Dowie thinking he might pull Olivia Rodrigo.

So what do we do for the rest of the season? We are stuck with our owners and Rosenior so little point debating that.

However the selections are up for grabs.

For me this is now an opportunity, fitness allowing, to play likes of Sarr, Acheampong, Lavia and Santos regularly to see how they perform with regular starts. Ditch the likes of Fofana, Chalobah, Badiashille, Tosin and Enzo. They have had sufficient opportunity and proven they aren't good enough.

Unfortunately we can't do the same with the likes of Neto, Garnacho, Gittens and Delap as we don't have credible alternatives.

When fit Estevao must be first choice though. Ridiculous not to fully blood him week in week out now.

Seasons done. Some fickle fans will think beating Port Vale will turn a corner but we’re getting knocked out the FA Cup against the first good opposition.

I stand by what I said in that I’m completely indifferent in qualifying for the Champions League. We will still target the same players with or without it. You can’t convince me we couldn’t have gotten Gittens, Hato, Garnacho and Delap without Champions League football.

I need their wallets hurt and reputation among shareholders tarnished. Thats the only way we’ll see change at this rate.

It's strange because I'll still look forward to the games and expect us to win, but I also don't like most of our squad. They just seem so inept up top and, to be honest, without bo**ocks. They're happy to get the handbags out every so often but when it's time to show real bottle on the pitch most of them cower away from it and it's sickening. A bunch of absolute pussys.

Looking at our remaining fixtures we might make it to about 60 points but even that is not certain. Perhaps we manage 6th and a possible Europa spot but Champs League looks highly unlikely. Even though we are in FA QF the team currently doesn't look capable of beating any of the bigger teams left in the tournament without some significant uptick in form. Hope I am wrong though.

I would like to see more chances for Sarr, Hato, Acheampong, Derry, and Essugo in remaining league games, but I suspect the team selections will still be determined by SD's to ensure certain players are in the shop window. Hopefully Estevao will be back soon to at least give us the occasional bit of magic to enjoy.

At this point it has been such a forgettable season that I think many of us will be happy when it is over.

5 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Seasons done. Some fickle fans will think beating Port Vale will turn a corner but we’re getting knocked out the FA Cup against the first good opposition.

I stand by what I said in that I’m completely indifferent in qualifying for the Champions League. We will still target the same players with or without it. You can’t convince me we couldn’t have gotten Gittens, Hato, Garnacho and Delap without Champions League football.

I need their wallets hurt and reputation among shareholders tarnished. Thats the only way we’ll see change at this rate.

This is my thinking and has been for a while. We need some steps backwards before we can move forwards. Miss CL. Enter a competition we might compete in to win. Miss the money . Sack the SD’s and their puppet

Champions league has gone

We won’t win the fa cup

Might as well write the season off now

The great thing about FA cup is it’s anyone’s game. Club form doesn’t count in knockout games, we have as much chance of winning it as anyone else.

Apart from the FA cup, I agree the season is pretty much over. I don’t see us knocking out PSG with a three goal deficit.

Honestly I don’t mind whatever happens this season, winning the FA cup would be fantastic. Don’t really care about finishing top 4, at least if we fail to qualify for European football, it’ll force the owners hand and actually do something about it.

Surely they can see that their model isn’t really working. We need experienced players.

26 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

The great thing about FA cup is it’s anyone’s game. Club form doesn’t count in knockout games, we have as much chance of winning it as anyone else.

Apart from the FA cup, I agree the season is pretty much over. I don’t see us knocking out PSG with a three goal deficit.

Honestly I don’t mind whatever happens this season, winning the FA cup would be fantastic. Don’t really care about finishing top 4, at least if we fail to qualify for European football, it’ll force the owners hand and actually do something about it.

Surely they can see that their model isn’t really working. We need experienced players.

Your optimism about our chances in the FA Cup is encouraging and a straw I'm eager to grasp 🫡

It’s the hope that kills you. FA Cup would be nice, but would be just paper over the cracks.

Season is far from gone imo. Still have hope of stringing together 5-6 wins which would probably secure champions league especially if we beat Liverpool and Man United.

Easiest draw imaginable in the cup and we may get lucky in the semi and then it’s only one game.

17 minutes ago, Dubair said:

Season is far from gone imo. Still have hope of stringing together 5-6 wins which would probably secure champions league especially if we beat Liverpool and Man United.

Easiest draw imaginable in the cup and we may get lucky in the semi and then it’s only one game.

I DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR SMOKING IF YOU THINK WE CAN WIN 6 GAMES FROM OUR LAST 8

43% WIN RATE SO FAR this season overall

40% win rate at home (City, Utd Forest and Tottenham to play)

Everton, Brighton, Liverpool and Sunderland (away)

75% win rate needed if we can win 6 games out of 8

cant see how you think we can get 6 wins from those games, we aint beating City, Utd, Everton or Liverpool

The worst part is you can't even tell yourself next season will be better with a few good signings because you know that's not happening.

1 hour ago, dansubrosa said:

The great thing about FA cup is it’s anyone’s game. Club form doesn’t count in knockout games, we have as much chance of winning it as anyone else.

Apart from the FA cup, I agree the season is pretty much over. I don’t see us knocking out PSG with a three goal deficit.

Honestly I don’t mind whatever happens this season, winning the FA cup would be fantastic. Don’t really care about finishing top 4, at least if we fail to qualify for European football, it’ll force the owners hand and actually do something about it.

Surely they can see that their model isn’t really working. We need experienced players.

best thing that could happen is don't win the FA CUP (we wont unless Arsenal draw City/Liverpool (and they wont))

we have a total collapse and finIsh outside ALL European places

THE OWNERS WILL HAVE TO

1. HAVE A RETHINK BECAUSE WE COULDNT GET A FRONT OF SHIRT SPONSOR FOR THE LAST TWO SEASONS, SO NO WAY WILL WE GET A DECENT ONE NEXT SEASON, PLUS SEASON TICKET PRICES WILL GO THROUGH THE ROOF

2. WILL HAVE TO SELL AT LEAST ONE OF ENZO, PALMER OR CAICEDO, PLUS A FEW OTHER BIG NAMES

3. SELL UP

I HOPE ITS OPTION 3

6 minutes ago, Scott said:

The worst part is you can't even tell yourself next season will be better with a few good signings because you know that's not happening.

Emegha, Barco, Quenda, Ramon, Penders.

Manager - Gary O’Neil.

No point even watching next season.

46 minutes ago, RMH said:

It’s the hope that kills you. FA Cup would be nice, but would be just paper over the cracks.

It won't though. It will give us fans something to cheer but the loss of Champions league income will still hit the owners where it hurts. Whether it or not that leads them to question their strategy remains to be seen.

Every team could benefit from a few new signings, but we should or the coach should be able to get more out of the current squad. Even with the injuries, the youth and the underperformers a decent coach should achieve more. The additions next season should act like a bonus spurring us on to greater heights.

We should even exceed expectations on the odd occasion both this season and next. And an extended contract should follow.

Edited March 15Mar 15 by OTL

9 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Emegha, Barco, Quenda, Ramon, Penders.

Manager - Gary O’Neil.

No point even watching next season.

1 or 2 players that may fulfill potential in a few years but I don't see any on that list that would be expected to do much more that make the bench next season.

2 minutes ago, OTL said:

Every team could benefit from a few new signings, but we should or the coach should be able to get more out of the current squad. Even with the injuries, the youth and the underperformers a decent coach should achieve more.

I agree, we haven’t got a top team, that’s clear, but with a better, more experienced coach, we would have come back from PSG with a draw or losing by one, and would have won against Leeds and Burnley.

2 minutes ago, RMH said:

I agree, we haven’t got a top team, that’s clear, but with a better, more experienced coach, we would have come back from PSG with a draw or losing by one, and would have won against Leeds and Burnley.

Totally agree. If we are going to persist with the strategy of a young squad we need an experienced manager to lead and nurture the talent.

1 hour ago, RMH said:

It’s the hope that kills you. FA Cup would be nice, but would be just paper over the cracks.

At least it would be shiny paper, the nice stuff like we had in pre-school.

1 hour ago, Dubair said:

Season is far from gone imo. Still have hope of stringing together 5-6 wins which would probably secure champions league especially if we beat Liverpool and Man United.

Easiest draw imaginable in the cup and we may get lucky in the semi and then it’s only one game.

19 minutes ago, OTL said:

Every team could benefit from a few new signings, but we should or the coach should be able to get more out of the current squad. Even with the injuries, the youth and the underperformers a decent coach should achieve more. The additions next season should act like a bonus spurring us on to greater heights.

We should even exceed expectations on the odd occasion both this season and next. And an extended contract should follow.

OK, I buy into @dansubrosa 's careful optimism, but not into delusional optimism. Kudos, though, for trying!

1 minute ago, Valerie said:

OK, I buy into @dansubrosa 's careful optimism, but not into delusional optimism. Kudos, though, for trying!

I'm not deluded I'm writing this from my waterside apartment in Narnia.

The season definitely isn't gone, but only due to the teams around us being as inconsistent as we are

Tip for our manager: Practice shooting in training. First time shots. Volleys even. No first touch and more touches and searching for the placement of the ball . . .just hit the bloody thing towards the goal. The goal is that thing that the new sweeper stands in front of. . .just hit the ball in that direction and make sure there are some poachers around to get the rebounds. You get 'points' for scoring goals. Volleys are particularly good fun - they seem absent from the modern game - and yet they are inspirational and exciting for the fans.

3 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

The great thing about FA cup is it’s anyone’s game. Club form doesn’t count in knockout games, we have as much chance of winning it as anyone else.

Apart from the FA cup, I agree the season is pretty much over. I don’t see us knocking out PSG with a three goal deficit.

Honestly I don’t mind whatever happens this season, winning the FA cup would be fantastic. Don’t really care about finishing top 4, at least if we fail to qualify for European football, it’ll force the owners hand and actually do something about it.

Surely they can see that their model isn’t really working. We need experienced players.

I think the reality is that failing to achieve Champions League football will actually force the owners hand to sell the few assets that we have. Santos, Palmer and cheaper pure profit players will probably be the only players that these fantastic businessmen are able to move on.

Edited March 15Mar 15 by WhiteWall