My thanks to our very own East Stand for this, which does more than touch a nerve.
I hope the “Wembley has nothing to do with it” people might really begin to have hard think.
‘Played 11, won two, drawn one and lost eight’ – Lets just throw that in there shall we? Good, have you read that? Great.
Now for another observation; This current team for all their fantastic play, energy and youth, finishing 3rd & 2nd they have been ‘Spursy’, it has not been eradicated.
Despite Poch and his staff’s best efforts there is still that lack of killer instinct when it matters most and crucially against teams with a blend of quality AND experience AND leadership. It’s been gotten rid of most of the time but the residue of the disease still needs to be hosed out and it’s quite simple why it lingers.
We lack leaders, Hugo is experienced and he’s the skipper but there are no deputies on the outfield (that’s ignoring the fact a skipper/keeper is a bit left-field as it is) and it hurts us time and time again.
We have great foot soldiers, players that will run through walls for their beloved Poch but this Poch ‘supreme mentor’ thing is to an extent preventing the team growing some of their own balls. Yes the younger ones need all that stuff and the older ones need good man management and coaching too but when I look at this team they all look scared to say boo to a goose, let alone b*llock, motivate, drive and inspire each other.
I get the team ethic, we are a very, very good team but Poch needs to start thinking about an individual or two that might bring some Graham Roberts or Roy Keane style seriousness to proceedings because as it stands we lack it so badly it hurts.
I’m not interested in “Dier will make a great skipper” when? In 5 years time at Manchester United? We need an experienced winner and mouthpiece in the number right now. Perhaps as a rotation option, someone to throw in for the big games for example.
Wembley IS a problem because it seems to affect us more than any other team that plays there and the reason is that our lack of resilience and leadership is being exposed by the environment and the fact the opposition see it as semi neutral ground. From a footballing perspective it is a terrible handicap but it could be dealt with far better with experienced winners and big game players in the team when it matters.
Welcome to the ‘future’, look at the average age of our side compared to Chavs etc, that’s what they keep banging on about. Who gives a fuck? Sanchez, Foyth 21 and 19 years old. It’s great to have young talent but as far as winning the title or dealing with Wembley effectively it just isn’t working and it needs a serious tweak.
Until that happens my interest in this season will be seriously diminished, fix the problem and stop making more excuses…
