TIME TO CALM DOWN AFTER WIGAN AWAY

Reading social media, you would think that we had started as badly as when Magath was in charge. Ironically, I am writing this on social media. Social media gives us all a chance to vent our opinions, and in any way we want. "Oh, the beauty of the anonymity (and safety) of sitting at home behind a computer screen". Too often we rush in without thinking, angry and disappointed at the failure of our beloved Whites to register another win. We were flying before the international break and people spoke of promotion, or a play off spot. Two poor home results and we were off to Wigan. Surely we could beat them, a team with 5 straight league defeats.

The game itself was a non-event, bereft of goal mouth action and very few chances. Kebano went close and Martin probably should have hit the target on at least two occasions. Wigan weren't much better, although MOM Gomez and Grigg caused a few problems. Maybe, it was a case of Wigan wanting to end their dismal run, and FFC being a little more cautious. Whatever the reasons for neither side being able to find a breakthrough, these coming weeks sees the games coming fast and furious and there will be topsy-turvy results all over the place. 
It is clear from the words of Slavisa, and the view from the stands, that we aren't creating enough in the final third. That is a problem that needs to be addressed. Tom Cairney is on a bad run of form, and with his quality it cannot go on forever. It doesn't help that he is not naturally disposed to covering for an attacking full back like Odoi. Cairney is much more effective in the centre, but he is also not a "false 9". Last season we played two up front, which often left us light in midfield. It is clear that Slavisa likes a 5 in midfield, which will leave Smith/Martin or Woodrow alone up front. As an "armchair coach", I could suggest that we need to play a "false 9" (Aluko when fit), which would mean effectively playing 4-4-1-1 when in possession. But, whatever our problems in the creative department, we should have faith that Slavisa is already working on it. 
What we have to do, as faithful fans, is to understand that we are still a new team, a team that will take time to gel, and that means not being disappointed when we only draw 0-0 at Wigan. There is nothing wrong in being disappointed, but we are not helping the team by going all Frazer-like and ranting "We're doomed" after any set back. Last season, we would have bit anybody's hand off if they had offered us P8W3D4L1, so where's the panic? If we are all honest, none of us would have expected the play offs at the start of the season. We are a team still being built and a long journey does not come without a few trips along the way. Our form is not good at the moment, but we have still only lost once. Last week QPR lost 0-6 to the Geordies, and yesterday the Geordies were hot favourites to beat Wolves, yet they lost 0-2. We have a great defence in Kalas, Madl and Sigurdsson, and the goals will come. We need to be patient and get behind the boys, instead of stamping our little feet on social media, just because we didn't get the result we expected.

IN SLAVISA WE TRUST
COYWs

© Nic Smith

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