Our run in

Can't argue with too much of that Hastings. If anything I think you were a little too kind. Jon Williams, as always, ran his heart out and caused Barnsley some problems. Murray didn't have one of his better days but then, he wasn't getting the service. I thought Wilf had a pretty dire game. He kept running into brick walls and didn't know when to get rid. I totally agree that Murray should have stayed on with Phillips and we might have got something at the end. Wilbrahim is no substitute for Murray and doesn't justify Holloway's praise. Like you, I'm seriously doubting whether Holloway is up to this.

This team has proved they can play a bit and yet the same team has now gone to pieces. That has to be down to the Manager not being able to motivate them.

If they would spend less time playing head tennis and keep the ball on the deck, they can string a few good passes together. Unfortunately, too often the strategy seems to be to hoof it up to Wilf and hope he can put in a cross. The oppositions are onto this by now and it's not working. Our best hope is to hang on to a play-off place (which, lets face it, would have been our wildest dream 7 months ago). We're only still where we are because the teams around us have been dropping points, so maybe Lady Luck has a part to play!

I agree with you both. Barnsley wasn't a bad performance but wasn't good.

To be fair to Wilbraham, yes we would have expected Murray to score the chances he missed however based on the previous 80 minutes would Murray had been in those positions to score? I don't like Wilbraham but who else is there? Maybe move Zaha in the middle as a striker and put someone on the wing?

I want to like Dobbie because he seems to give a lot of effort when the game goes flat but has Bolasie been teaching him how to shoot?!

I think we will stumble in to the play-offs along with everyone else and then anything can happen. I would prefer Hull to win the league rather than Cardiff and imagine those 2 will take the top places. Udinese B team and ourselves should have done enough to stay in the play-offs. The other 2 places could go to anyone.

I think Holloway is the right man but time will tell. I know it's a minority but I don't understand why some fans want him out or even boo the team after a 0-0. We're quick to complain about Blackburn, Chelsea, etc. short term managers and Jordan's Alan Sugar fire tactics. It took nearly 2 years to transform DF team with a bit of time I'm sure Olly can do the same. If we had dropped out the play-offs or facing relegation then that's different

At the moment as regards IH, I don't think he is the right man to take us forward. He hasn't taken us forward since he came, so what do you think will change? He has been very disappointing for me to be truthful.
I was pleased to get him on board at the time and was also pleased to see the back of DF, thinking it was a fantasic trade off.
I assumed by taking over a team in great form and flying high that all he had to do was press on and strengthen with some of the Zaha money. Instead he has made a good team an average one.
I have given up listening to his nonsense as well now as he is no longer amusing me. He ought to be talking about why we are crepe and what he is going to do about it instead of how wet his coat got etc.
I have not paid any heed to him since the game against the weed. He lost my respect then.

I think that Holloway is being judged based on the expectations that DF set at the start of the season. Therefore I think he should be given a full season to show what he can do. If we don't get promoted this season then I imagine most fans would expect us to at least make the play-offs next season?

Mon
I think IH is being judged on the fact that he has won only something like 10 in 27. These are the facts. Surely if he had the right thing about him these figures would make better reading?
If we stay in the playoff positions and make a good fist of it, even if we don't go up, I will say that's fair enough, well done etc. That wouldn't be too terrible taking it all round.
Although I would think that a decent manager would have had us firmly in a top two spot after taking over what he did.
Anyway, if we do drop out of the playoffs, you say he should be given another year. Yes I am sure he will have that but more because of not wanting to pay his contract up rather than any confidence in his ability.
Can he better what he had going for us this season then? Without Wilf and possibly 2/3/4 of our top players that might not be here next season? I doubt it. His signings(Phillips aside) haven't been any more than average.
I read on Saturday an interview with De Canio regarding the impending derby match on Sunday. He was on fire with passion about the upcoming game. It was impossible to not have felt the importance and significance of that match to his players and fans. The man's desire was incredible. What happened? Sunderland won 3-0.
Now please compare that with the gutless talk and display from IH and the team following our derby match which we happened to lose by the same margin.
That is the difference in management sometimes, motivation. IH would rather talk about analogies to chickens than deliver a rip-roaring battle charge.
Let's hope he doesn't fowl up on Tuesday.....

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"Hopefully the players won't crack under the pressure"......

Eggsactly

I expect a win.

No poultry excuses if we chicken out of this one

I'm starting to agree with you Hastings!

Until now I've never considered us dropping out of the play-offs. If we do (and we agree that IH will stay because he's probably too expensive to get rid of) then we have to get into the play-offs the following season. Like I said we were top of the league and somehow imploded!

Over the summer CPFC2010 should explain what happened with DF