Last 10 mins

Morning All,

After the disappointment of yesterday a few quick observations and a question for those of you who are tactical geniuses.

Several possible causes for our late collapses:

1. We can't keep possession. Yes we can pass it across the back four but as soon as the oppos start pressing we lose our cool. We don't seem able to play keep ball through the team and into midfield. Cannot understand why. Not saying we want to play like Swansea or Liverpool, but it would be nice to be able to do it when necessary. Why can't we?

2. Wrong mindset. Players and Manager (and fans) get the jitters. This will be hard to shift as teams know that they can come at us in the last 10 and we will most likely panic. Contributory factor, the substitutions, which can send out this message.

3. Fitness. Are the players fit enough? Is playing the first team (pretty well) in all competitions burning them out?

4. Coupled with (3), do we chase and close down quick enough? I know when I play that everything is much harder when the opposition are onto you straight away when you have the ball. You often end up passing backwards until the least creative players are stuck with responsibility to do something with the ball. Do we do it enough?

5. Communications. FFS, when the keeper shouts, you get out of the way. Surely the easiest one to fix.

A question to the tactical wizards. As someone who has played the game but never claimed to be great tactician, I found myself wondering what the benefits of the High Line are? Time and time again it seems balls get pinged over the top down the channels or out to the wing and suddenly we are chasing back and under pressure. Is the idea to stifle the opposition, and if so, is it worth the risk that you get exposed in defence repeatedly?

Really finally, I guess most of us would have taken that points return from the last 4 games - I know I would, so not all doom and gloom.

COYS