Yes, I agree it's not a death spiral, but I think you'd be better stating what you see as the positives from the last 7 matches, and how you think we will improve our underwhelming final 3rd performances, rather than just stating the bleeding obvious.

I think any Nyambe critics, like TM, have an agenda. They will tell us that Zeefiuk is better, or that JRC has more potential. It's not about the lad, or his peerless form, so it's not worth engaging.

This post is not relevant on this thread, on this evening. Most of us are discussing how we played tonight, how we've been playing since 2nd Jan, and how this impacts our chances of finishing in the top six. If you see any green shoots in front of our excellent defence, then share them (but please don't just say Dolan). I'm sure it isn't, but your post seems designed to provoke an emotional reaction.

Though this wasn't his worst game, by any means.

I genuinely can't see where the composure or creativity is going to come from. All we're left with is graft, and courage. Khadra and Dolan more or less never lift their head up. This must be the case in training, but it doesn't improve. When we get the ball in the final 3rd, I have little confidence that we'll create or score. Mowbray has just said he gets them too wound up for them to play calmly. That's exactly what it looks like. The only calm head is Buckley, but he can't score. Millwall is a must win, if we wanna finish in top six.

We didn't create enough. Keeper not tested. Two poor teams. But. All to play for.

This is an issue, but he's so vital to breaking up opposition possession...

Surprise, surprise, we need composure in the final third....

Khadra is a liability at th moment, despite his one bit of skill in their box....

I agree with that, but still would played either ahead of JRC, based on his last performance.

Really good point, although they've decided he's not quite at this level yet, despite his nutmegging capabilities....🙂

Wow. He is sooooo desperate to play JRC, so at least he'll be happy with that, whatever the result. I would put Giles or Pickering in, much much better players. TM obv missed JRC's last game. Such a shame, hard to be positive now, BUT I will be! We MUST keep the ball better than we have since Xmas. Big job, but doable.

Gally has won his place for the effort he showed against Forest. It's not effort that he needs, it's composure, but as always, we'll back him now he's in the line-up. Composure, composure, composure, and we'll win, or at least secure a winning point. We just need to prevent West Brom suffocating BBD, but that is also down to his less effective recent movement. We are sooo due a performance. Strong bench again. COYMB....

I get that, but I still think the Swansea chance was a half-chance, due to the speed and angle the ball came to him. The Forest chance was disappointing because he misses most of those one-on-one chances, and it would have meant we scored 1st, and scored whilst we were on top. Both vital. However, we have seen our total lack of creativity when he doesnt play, or plays in a deeper position. Until Dack is Back, Buckley is irreplaceable. I know this is controversial, but I said the same when Nyambe was out (and still do...). I really don't think Buckley's all round game has been as poor as many are saying, although he has dropped a level, along with all the midfield/forward players. Our other forwards MUST create and take more chances, and Buckley will support this. Rothwell has got to be forced to burst and roam forward more, we don't need him in front of the back 3. This will take some pressure off JB. Nervous now. COYB!

I really think Buckley will be unlucky to miss out. Khadra was no better against Forest, and neither was BBD. Buckley played his usual neat and tidy game, pressing and passing well. This is the 1st opportunity for us to play the full team from the winning run (with the obv exception of Ayala for Darra), although I presume Pickering will be on the Bench. We have been totally inept in the final 3rd since new year, but I think the boys that got us where we are deserve to play tonight, and against Millwall. If we still haven't turned the corner by then, it's anyone's guess... COYB!!!!!

Considered and realistic. We will hope TM has a road to Damascus moment, and starts to see what we see...

This is the only way to look at it, but v difficult at the mo, although thanks for making me smile and start to put the frustration into perspective.

Not sure it's that simple, we had 2 centre forwards on for the last 20 min, and still didn't trouble the keeper...

I agree with all of this, however whilst TM insists on destabilising our brilliant back 5, it doesn't matter who plays further forward. Usually I can see some hope from somewhere, but we are just sooooo ineffective in the final third, it's painful to watch, tho I suppose I could see the creative interplay between Dack, Rothwell and Buckley unlocking a few stubborn defences. In fact, yes, that is cause for cautious optimism, on a dark, disappointing night. Sleep now, tomorrow's another day....

Regardless of the reason, dropping Nyambe destabilised us before a ball was kicked. Please dont underestimate the impact of this. The team had to learn how to play with two new wing-backs. That was optimistic to say the least. Cooper smothered Giles and Brereton, and the rest couldn't score even if you placed the ball in the area and said 'go on, just beat the keeper'....oh.... We were trying too hard from the 1st whistle, Lenihan was on speed, and although it contributed to him making some committed, effective challenges and regularly winning/nicking the ball, I thought it was only going to end one way. He played like he was on 3 yellows, not nine. What the justification for the 2nd booking challenge was, I've no idea. No composure tonight, just muscle and endeavour. It was Sunday League decision making. Pitiful. Composure was again the issue, just like Saturday. As often as not, we fell over when running into the box, as it was just headless or head-down. I asked yesterday if anyone could point to one reason why tonight would be any better than the last 8 games. No one should be surprised that we hardly tested Samba, we just do not threaten in the final 3rd, despite our endeavour. I think the criticism of Buckley is OTT, he deserves his place. He won the ball numerous times, and played calm, creative passes, but I agree, he has to start slotting home one in 3 of these chances. If we had started with Nyambe, I think we would have had a chance, but this result has been coming for weeks and weeks. Destabilised, and defeated, whilst our manager continues his personal, internal feuds. The ref and other smokescreens must not cloud the facts about our recent barren run.

This is one reason why, in my opinion, we are heading south in the League. He finds a way to ensure we aren't at full strength. He is the only one who didn't see how we dipped when RN was out of the team. If it isn't this, he will tinker somewhere else. If Ryan's carrying a knock, he shouldn't be on the bench. I thought if we could return to our winning 11, we would be favourites to win. I think it's a lottery now. COYB!!!!

If Nyambe is fit, I f***ing despair......

Kaminski Leni VanHek Whartn Nyambe Giles Travis Rothwell Buckley Khadra Brereton If all fit, would anyone start a different line-up tonight? Cards on the table, I think we need to persevere with this line up for 2 more games, and have our increasingly (very) strong bench to supply reinforcements. TM will have some difficult decisions to make when Dack, Pickering et al are fit, but if we don't improve our overall form and fluency over the next 2 games, the changes may have to be made anyway, but that should only be swapping like for like, and freshening up the forward line. I really hope we've sold a few tickets for tonight, the team really deserves our full support, the atmosphere after the Boro game was electric and euphoric.

I assume JR & TM will learn from Saturday, and he will make more bursting runs into their box, and not worry about leaving a hole behind him, he has Trav and our 3 colossuses (colossi?) to cover him. What's been missing since December is our composure in the final 3rd. I can't see any light at the end of that tunnel unless, and until, Khadra and BBD rediscover their blistering form. For the last 2 seasons, BB has played in 'streaks', good and bad, and the evidence of the last month shows this may be continuing, albeit he had a half-season brilliant streak. Both players effectively stopped playing at half time in the Huddersfield game, and like it or not, it's up to TM to help them to regain their sparkling form. I'm usually buzzing and optimistic before a home game, especially this season, but I'm struggling to see how and why tomorrow will be any different than the last 7 or 8 games. I can see, however, a repeat of the Middlesbro game, which I'll gleefully take. I think TM will have to reign in his desperation to play Zeefuik if we're to get anything out of the game. It's that simple, to everyone except our Tone. I'm apprehensively looking forward to it. The team picks itself, injuries and tinkerman permitting. COYB.

My final word tonight is that our generally more ineffective form since 29 December, continues, and for me, we are in decline. I fully accept that this may change starting on Wednesday, but any betting person won't bet on it, and my optimism is waning. I'll be there though, and I'll back them to the hilt, in every remaining game. My thoughts and comments on our form since Xmas, however, are fact, and as Mowbray's decision to play Zeefiuk in Giles's position tonight shows, we can't rely on Tony to get it right more than 50% of the time. I don't believe we were unlucky tonight.