What do you reckon ?

I think all of them are partially to blame but in my opinion the main reason is that we will finish exactly where we should based on the quality of the players we have. We're simply no better than mid table.

Hard to argue with that John. If we were Chelsea, spending tens of millions, and finished mid-table we'd have every reason to look for reasons.

Here's a thought for the day: season in, season out, half the clubs in every division finish below midway. They all have their reasons.
As for the other half, I bet you won't find many teams looking for reasons they didn't finish lower.

I personally think that we have under achieved a tad, mainly due to Wilsons poor team selections and tactics at times....

I agree that selections are partially to blame as are all the other things listed. My eyes were opened a bit the other week when for the first time I took a good look at what players were available and there weren't many options. I think Danny Wilson has been trying to find a formula in which the total is greater than the sum of its parts.

Why generally have we lost against the better teams and got reasonable results against the lesser ones?
Why do the players not perform magnificently every week?
Why do we concede so many goals?
Why do we fail to entertain each time we take to the pitch?

It's dead simple, we've got decent players but not exceptional ones. We're a mid table non-entity.

I expect a fairly major clear out in the summer.

I think that the poll's biased for the reasons Mr. I gives - there's no mention of the defence's underperformance or the team's inability to compete wholesale.

Whoever chose the death of Michael Maidens before any of the other four is wrong, I think. As tragic as it was, I don't think it affected many on the pitch (apart from Boland against Brighton, perhaps?)

I think whoever used (or even considered it as an option) as an option in the poll is insensitive to say the least I'm sure the players would be horrified at the use of that as an excuse.

I chose that simply because i thought you had to choose 3 (evidently you don't judging by the way the votes have gone), the other 2 were non-arguments (as is the Maidens one) but as I thought I had to choose one of them I picked that one.

Anyway, onto the original topic...

The reason for this season is lack of self belief, particularly in defence and in a lot of cases some baffling team choices/tactical decisions.

I can't agree that the players aren't good enough to do well, I think the squad we have is very strong. I think confidence, the lack of a decent 'keeper and the inclusion of poor players at the expense of our better players made a major impact. When you're winning the team picks itself and the football flows, when we're not playing well it's down to the manager to pick the best team and get the players performing to the best of their ability. Wilson has failed on that for one reason or another and needs to take a look in the mirror rather than playing the blame game with players.

I don't like to see people out of their jobs but I genuinely believe Wilson is out of his depth and will not be in charge next season.

totally agree on that point pj
as for mr i how many of the lesser teams have we done well against morcambe hereford millwall for instance
i would like to give wilson a formula

Hereford are a decent team and will go up this season, Morecambe was a travesty. The one thing I can't get my head round is why hardly anyone blames the people on the pitch for even a smidgen of responsibility.

Good point gremmlin league-2 opposition have given you the runaround

My point is that I'm not convinced that we have under achieved. I think we've ended up where we should have because we don't have enough quality in the team. Overhaul the defence completely and we've got a chance.

I know no more than you regarding his reasoning but I suspect he was trying to build a team that gelled, that doesn't always neccecitate playing playings in order of ability.

Here's an example: Newcastle were running away with the title a few years ago until Asprillia arrived, he was the most skillful player in the place but nobody, least of all his team mates, had any idea what he was going to do next. According to Steve Black he was the single reason that they blew the title that year.

My point is that you build a team that works. I refuse to accept the ridiculous notion that any manager would intentially try to put out a team that wasn't in his opinion the best option given availability and choice of formation.

On the face of it no. But neither you mor I know what was going on behind the scenes.

That is bullshit invented by the media. Thats bollox to say Newcastle lost the title because of Asprilla.

Nothing to do with the media, this was a comment direct to me by Steve Black. Blacky was an integral part of the management team at Newcastle at the time.

I see where you're coming from, but Yubep was right to include it because in certain sections of the media it's been drawn out and dusted down as an excuse sadly.