Took a couple of days to process my thoughts before posting as wanted to try to be as balanced as possible.
The current run of form has gone from a bit of a blip to highly concerning. It's not just the lack of wins, but we have started to look like the team many predicted we would be. Having looked like we deserved to be here at the start of the season, we now look very much like a League One team that just doesn't have the class to compete at this level.
I don't think it can be overstated how much we miss Brannagan. We are losing the midfield battle week in, week out at the moment and I don't think that would be the case were he available. Add to that list of injured wingers and it's not really a surprise we are struggling.
That said, Des has been disappointingly rigid at times. He's shown loyalty to the players that got us to this level, which is commendable, but if they're not performing they shouldn't be starting every match. Ruben Rodrigues just looks completely off the pace at the moment, and Harris is going through one of his 'couldn't hit a barn door' spells - his misses are costing us points. That both started on Saturday is difficult to fathom.
I know many have been calling for a change in formation, but in Des' defence I can understand why he has been reluctant to do so. At the start of the season it was obvious how well each player knew their role in the 433 system and how well coached it was, so to change the system would've been a big adjustment. It's not as straightforward as just telling players where they're playing and sending them out there to work it out for themselves, particularly at this level where the opposition is always so well coached. That said, once the injuries to the wingers really started to mount up the argument that the players we had available were better suited to a 352 system has become much stronger, particularly as Goodrham is wasted out wide and neither Dale nor Ebiowei are performing to the required standard. It will be interesting to see what he does against Hull.
All that said, I think it's important we remain positive and behind the team. No matter which way you look at it, this season was always going to be tough. We started the season with an us against the world mentality on and off the pitch, but the feelgood factor from promotion has been lost somewhat. The atmosphere in the stands on Saturday was really, really bad, and I don't think it has helped performances on the pitch. The loudest the home end got on Saturday was when people were booing the opposition goalkeeper.
I think now is the time to get back behind the team and collectively do everything we can to help them grind out some points before the international break, when hopefully some of our key players start to return and we see an upturn in form again.
