Relegation poll

[WestYorksRoyal]

In the relegation zone after 12 games; is anyone worried yet?

I'll be honest. I'm not. Whether it's Hunt in, Hunt Out or shake it all about, there is simply too much quality in our squad and I think we'll ultimately pull clear well in advance of the run in.

[Clyde1998]

No - I still think we'll end up mid-table, as I thought we would do at the start of the season. Perhaps it will be closer to lower mid-table, than upper, but I can't see us being drawn into a relegation battle at this stage.

I think we're starting to see the benefits of the players playing together more and will only continue to improve with cohesion as the season goes on.

[West F]

It is a genuine risk for everyone. The question is whether or not it is likely. Ask me in March.

[windermereROYAL]

Oh dear.

[tidus_mi2]

I do worry that we could almost sleepwalk into relegation, pretty sure 99% of people associated with this club think we're too good to be relegated to League Two.

[Snowflake Royal]

Injuries are the main concern. Particularly Williams and Pereira right now.

Results will pick up, sooner or later, one way or another.

Williams seriously improves the back line. Burns just isn’t at his level.

We largely dominated a very strong Cardiff side and created more than enough to win.

We can help best by backing the team and staying positive, rather than reinforcing the struggle with negativity. We don’t want to put a bigger monkey on the team's back than they need.

[Orion1871]

In the relegation zone after 12 games; is anyone worried yet?

I'll be honest. I'm not. Whether it's Hunt in, Hunt Out or shake it all about, there is simply too much quality in our squad and I think we'll ultimately pull clear well in advance of the run in.

I see you say this so many times and yet they aren't showing anything on the pitch to back it up.

[Snowflake Royal]

In the relegation zone after 12 games; is anyone worried yet?

I'll be honest. I'm not. Whether it's Hunt in, Hunt Out or shake it all about, there is simply too much quality in our squad and I think we'll ultimately pull clear well in advance of the run in.

I see you say this so many times and yet they aren't showing anything on the pitch to back it up.

Pereira, Wing, Savage, Yiadom, Abrefa, Dorsett, Ehibhatiomhan have proved it here already.

O'Connor, Lane, Marriott, Ritchie have proved it elsewhere.

Open your eyes to more than just the current run of results.

[Sutekh]

There is serious risk if Reading continue like this. Cardiff weren’t exactly brilliant and were there for the taking & while Reading had 25+ shots they couldn’t finish anything to take the points. The club needs someone up front that can consistently cause threat and form a lethal partnership with Marriott. Failing that the club needs a system and formation that does work consistently and gets more out of those currently underachieving.

[Hound]

I don’t think we will but cant rule it out.

We did play pretty well last game but its one game (which we lost anyway) and performances this year have been bottom 4 level

Cardiff may have just had a really bad day, who knows. But we should have the experience and ability to pull away into lower mid table

I do worry about scoring goals still - not sure anyone other than Wing consistently scores from long range and very reliant on Marriott (who has never scored more than 10 in a season from what I can make out). The others need to step up

[windermereROYAL]

2 clean sheets (1 against MK kids) in 18 games in all comps tells us where the real problem is, if we need 2 goals to win every game it`s going to be difficult to pull clear isn`t it, having said that I`m confident we`ll be lower midtable by 5pm next Saturday.
If not Noel could be in trouble.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

In the last 3 seasons, 3 of the 4 teams in the bottom 4 after 12 games have been relegated. You'll get the odd team that puts a long winning run (or losing) together, but generally the table doesn't tend to change that much from now in terms of sides fighting at the top & bottom.

So its a worry.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I do worry that we could almost sleepwalk into relegation, pretty sure 99% of people associated with this club think we're too good to be relegated to League Two.

You do see "too good to go down" teams fail to wake up sometimes. Leicester in the PL a few years ago were quite complacent, as they had a squad that shouldn't have even been close. The fact Savage said play-offs was the target just last week suggests nobody at the club is thinking about it (didn't Couhig say something quite recently too?).

We were good yesterday, but over the 12 games I think our league position reflects how we've played.

I do think we'll be fine, but I also think people at the club need to recognise where we are and prioritise safety. To reach the play offs now requires 1.9 ppg to reach 75 - it's not going to happen. Focus on pulling into mid table and then see what happens. Drop the play off chat.

[Orion1871]

In the relegation zone after 12 games; is anyone worried yet?

I'll be honest. I'm not. Whether it's Hunt in, Hunt Out or shake it all about, there is simply too much quality in our squad and I think we'll ultimately pull clear well in advance of the run in.

I see you say this so many times and yet they aren't showing anything on the pitch to back it up.

Pereira, Wing, Savage, Yiadom, Abrefa, Dorsett, Ehibhatiomhan have proved it here already.

O'Connor, Lane, Marriott, Ritchie have proved it elsewhere.

Open your eyes to more than just the current run of results.

So you're saying that it's a coaching and managerial problem? Yet you're against a change in that department and have admonished clubs who have made managerial changes this season.

I actually agree with WYR about the squad, I was just playing devils advocate and saying there is not much evidence so far this season.

Although there are some issues with the players you mentioned given Yiadom, Abrefa, and Dorsett are injury prone. Ehibhatiomhan hasn't proven anything consistently in this division, as evidenced by his recent goal output.

Lane wants to hurry up and start showing it because he is currently putting the job of his manager in danger. Marriott has had a very good start, but he hasn't reached double figures since his big scoring season for Peterborough in 2017-18.

[leon]

The arrogance on here is surprising as it is misplaced.

Of course there is a danger. We’ve played poorly all season and when we play well yesterday we still lost.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Yes it’s a genuine risk

[Snowflake Royal]

I see you say this so many times and yet they aren't showing anything on the pitch to back it up.

Pereira, Wing, Savage, Yiadom, Abrefa, Dorsett, Ehibhatiomhan have proved it here already.

O'Connor, Lane, Marriott, Ritchie have proved it elsewhere.

Open your eyes to more than just the current run of results.

So you're saying that it's a coaching and managerial problem? Yet you're against a change in that department and have admonished clubs who have made managerial changes this season.

I actually agree with WYR about the squad, I was just playing devils advocate and saying there is not much evidence so far this season.

Although there are some issues with the players you mentioned given Yiadom, Abrefa, and Dorsett are injury prone. Ehibhatiomhan hasn't proven anything consistently in this division, as evidenced by his recent goal output.

Lane wants to hurry up and start showing it because he is currently putting the job of his manager in danger. Marriott has had a very good start, but he hasn't reached double figures since his big scoring season for Peterborough in 2017-18.

Don't put words in my mouth thanks.

I'm saying it's a temporary form issue, largely caused by some key injuries (O'Connor & Williams in particular), lots of change taking time to gel, some bad luck and a soupcon of toxic fan response)

[leon]

Pereira, Wing, Savage, Yiadom, Abrefa, Dorsett, Ehibhatiomhan have proved it here already.

O'Connor, Lane, Marriott, Ritchie have proved it elsewhere.

Open your eyes to more than just the current run of results.

So you're saying that it's a coaching and managerial problem? Yet you're against a change in that department and have admonished clubs who have made managerial changes this season.

I actually agree with WYR about the squad, I was just playing devils advocate and saying there is not much evidence so far this season.

Although there are some issues with the players you mentioned given Yiadom, Abrefa, and Dorsett are injury prone. Ehibhatiomhan hasn't proven anything consistently in this division, as evidenced by his recent goal output.

Lane wants to hurry up and start showing it because he is currently putting the job of his manager in danger. Marriott has had a very good start, but he hasn't reached double figures since his big scoring season for Peterborough in 2017-18.

Don't put words in my mouth thanks.

I'm saying it's a temporary form issue, largely caused by some key injuries (O'Connor & Williams in particular), lots of change taking time to gel, some bad luck and a soupcon of toxic fan response)

So putting aside the point that the fans are to blame for the teams poor performances when would we start to consider that it’s not just a temporary bad patch bearing in mind we are now 25% through the season?

(I’m struggling to see past the next 2 games but I might revisit that if we play better consistently)

[Snowflake Royal]

So you're saying that it's a coaching and managerial problem? Yet you're against a change in that department and have admonished clubs who have made managerial changes this season.

I actually agree with WYR about the squad, I was just playing devils advocate and saying there is not much evidence so far this season.

Although there are some issues with the players you mentioned given Yiadom, Abrefa, and Dorsett are injury prone. Ehibhatiomhan hasn't proven anything consistently in this division, as evidenced by his recent goal output.

Lane wants to hurry up and start showing it because he is currently putting the job of his manager in danger. Marriott has had a very good start, but he hasn't reached double figures since his big scoring season for Peterborough in 2017-18.

Don't put words in my mouth thanks.

I'm saying it's a temporary form issue, largely caused by some key injuries (O'Connor & Williams in particular), lots of change taking time to gel, some bad luck and a soupcon of toxic fan response)

So putting aside the point that the fans are to blame for the teams poor performances when would we start to consider that it’s not just a temporary bad patch bearing in mind we are now 25% through the season?

(I’m struggling to see past the next 2 games but I might revisit that if we play better consistently)

The same as always. About 20 games, give or take a few. Leaving more than 50% of the season to still move upa couple of places if the worst comes to worst, which is excessive amounts of time for the job.

It's not like we're being completely out olayed regularly, or losing game after game after game. It's narrow margins and plenty of draws.

[Hound]

20 league games I assume as we’re near that in all comps

I’m guessing we’ve not had many more injuries than most teams - I think Williams is always a candidate for an injury after not having regular English seasons in recent years. Now JP is out, next week it might be someone else

The season has gone to be honest, bar maybe a relegation dogfight. Mid table best we can hope for and that has been down to some poor management above all else imo. Seen enough to make a judgement on where the problems lie