How the 'Mood music' has changed.Following the departure of Mr Hodgson the narrative was about a reset and re-build, moving away from the negative football with players in the twilight of their careers and moving to the next level under a high-profile manager in Vieira with a style of football much easier on the eye.

Now the narrative is about "Survival" following no victory in 2023, only 1 win in 12 PL games and a team that barely creates a chance.
Negativity amongst supporters prevails with the manager facing shot and shell and speculation as to his position.

I will hold my hand up and say that I still want that. I also still want Vieira to succeed.

I just never expected us to be so physically lacking. I naively assumed we'd keep the fighting spirit, whilst adding in a little more nuance to our play.

The lack of running is inexcusable.

I'm also concerned whether there's anyone amongst the backroom staff who will stand up to him and highlight flaws.

We're not due a points deduction are we? Who's been down the bookies?

There seemed two choices the board could have made. Either admit there is little money available every year (although how after 10 years of Premier League income and tv payments there is so little to show for it is another question). Anyway, accept they are operating on a shoestring compared to most other clubs in the division and be pragmatic, continuing with a Hodgson-like manager who guarantees survival each year even if the style of play leaves something to be desired.

Alternatively say we want a complete re-set to stylish, possession football with a manager suited to that, but accept that there were few players at the club who would be comfortable with and could cope with that type of football, so massive investment was needed to bring in virtually a whole team of skilful, ball-playing footballers. Assuming each player would be very expensive then there would be no point in attempting this route without adequate very large funds being made available. Now, arguably some of the owners could easily have afforded such largesse, but clearly decided against it. So instead, some money was spent and a few players brought in, but not enough for a full squad, to adequately replace last year’s loanee or to properly cover all the positions.

Now it is arguable whether PV was the right manager for the job, but effectively he was handed a squad of Ford Focus level and then expected to compete in a Formula One Grand Prix race with it. It’s hardly surprising the end result has been disappointing! Given the level of investment that was made available then PV was clearly the wrong type of manager and whether you like his style or not, somebody like Sean Dyche would have been a much better appointment. I seem to remember after FDB that Parish admitted the club needed to return to a more basic level of play and so brought in Hodgson. It seems likely this is where it’s all heading again if the drop is to be avoided not just this season, but next one as well

I suspect that the vast majority of supporters have written off the next 3 games as certain defeats although for some inexplicable reason I just have a 'Feeling in my water' that we will not remain on the same points total at the completion of these encounters !

In the event that we lose all 3 games, what will be even more alarming is if the scorelines are very damaging to us and the performances have been abject.
Should Vieira still be in situ for the Arsenal game and the chances of relegation have been greatly increased following yet another defeat I suspect there will be a crescendo of noise from our support base boiling steaming and raging demanding that he be shown the door.

The question to be posed is : Which suitable manager would wish to take up the cudgel with 10 games remaining to try and keep the club in the PL ?