The players must be pretty p****ed off with the tactics now and clearly aren't enjoying their football. The defence isn't playing well, but at least 2 of the goals came from PVA - when we have eze playing wide left and 2 centre forwards, we need a left back to defend, not play higher up the pitch than eze. Wr have 2 defensive midfielders who get overrun every game. We have 2 centre forwards who although are c**p get no service at all. When you're not enjoying your football and are frustrated by tactics and team mates, it's difficult to play well.

The difference this season compared to previous ones is that when we've lost we've generally deserved it, when we've drawn we've often been somewhat lucky, and when we've won it's also often felt somewhat fortuitous.

We got off to a good start against Saints and Man Utd, but that was clearly down to us having a proper preseason and those two teams not having decided to prepare properly.

When I think across the season it really seems amazing that we have 29 points. By contrast Brighton have been unlucky not to have more points and were it not for an impotent frontline earlier in the season would likely already be above us. They have shown you can transition from an ultra defensive team (like under Hughton) to a more attractive style without breaking the bank and it's galling that it is our biggest rivals that are the ones achieving that.

With regard to Copper I was reading comments from Swansea fans who say he is tactically clueless and doesn't use his subs. If true that sounds very concerning if the club really are interested in him.

I agree. However it all depends how long Wilf is out for. If no return is imminent the stats dictate we will not achieve any more points until he does. He’a not the only one but during his tenure with us it’s starkly evident he has not been able to find a solution to Wilf not playing. We barely score without him let alone accumulate any points .

Edited by MonsterMunch (14 Feb 2021 11.48am)

Just my opinion, but I don't think that will happen.

I see us gaining enough points to stay up with Roy still in charge, and then no new contract offered after that.

I would throw the 0-0 with Arsenal into the hat. It was the one game where the opposition were at full strength, there were no red cards, no dubious VAR decisions and we actually looked the more likely to win. Coincidentally, it was also one of Tomkins's rare appearances. One of the strangest things of the season though is probably that we played just about our best attacking football in the first half of the 0-7 defeat to Liverpool!