Lanzo, despite all the willpower and logic I can muster for this, I just struggle to see it coming true.

It's not unusual for me to just assume all the bottom clubs will start playing like prime Barcelona and we will continue to pick up injuries and start with Will Hughes up front at some point, doing well to keep our losses limited to 2/3-0s, but I suspect I am not alone in this head space and anxiety.

I can't see things getting much better for us in all honesty, we are starting to look like the stable midtable team who just have that season where any momentum and all identity is lost, so a relegation to shake the club up looms on the horizon.

As Willo mentioned, I honestly didn't give such concerns a second thought when the season started. I'm questioning Roy's fight for it, which if absent I would not hold it against him at all, and our only partially sufficiently resourced squad is always a few injuries away from looking like a Championship team.

Again, I really didn't envisage feeling so grim. I thought it would be a highly unspectacular season where we'd be a million miles from any achievement of note but equally the bottom three. I have far, far less confidence in that now. I'm prone to worry however so my assessment of reality will always be tainted.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Steve Parish is not a fan of spending money in the January window unless absolutely necessary.

Even if the club were to enter the market, my confidence in them has been lowered after the summer window.

As to the relegation places, it's sad to be relying on a points deduction to take up one of the places. And I don't think we've heard the last of that. I think an appeal could well result in the deduction being reduced to 6 points.

And I can't envisage Roy retiring during the season. If we went on a Vieira type run and Parish feels he needs to take action then retiring from the game could be given as a reason for Roy's departure.Otherwise, no. I also don't see Parish handing Paddy the job if we are facing a genuine relegation battle.

Old, Ungifted and White

This echoes my mindset prior to the season and my optimism has evolved into genuine concern about our chances of survival.

Injuries to both Eze and Olise have been hugely significant and now Doucoure is out of action for months.
We still have issues in the right-back position, Ahamada has only been a bit-part player,Franca has been out injured and in any event is hugely inexperienced and featured mainly from the bench for Flamengo.Riedewald has hardly impressed and Holding has his limitations.
Hughes is one-paced.
Eduoard has his critics,Mateta does not give the impression that his skill set is adequate for the PL and Ayew whilst a 'Workhorse' is hardly a goalscorer.

Mr Hodgson has been criticised by some supporters but in final analysis can only work with the 'Tools' at his disposal.
We have some gifted players and our central defenders have received praise but once we are beset with injuries we do not have the players to step-up to the plate.

Edited by Willo (27 Nov 2023 9.41am)

NO NO NO! Why do we have this obsession with ex players becoming managers?

I am expecting us to sign a midfielder in the January window.
Kalvin Phillips on 'Loan' would be a useful acquisition as would Mohamed Elneny from Arsenal.

I am not advocating Paddy for manager, i just think it will happen

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn