Is our start really that bad?

[@MacPhlea]

OK so we have lost 5 games out of 7 but is it really that bad?

We won our first game 3-0 after a stuttering start but then lost our next three with a win over brizzle in between and then lose to shrews and Southampton but let's analyse this carefully

We haven't lost by more than one goal in the league - if we were truly as shit as people on here were making out we would be getting thumped by at least three goals and scoring none.

We are finding our feet - this has been a major rebuilding exercise and was always going to be tough.

If last years team had been playing this years Southampton they would have been thumped by at least 4 or 5 goals and been out of breath after 20 minutes - ok we lost 3-1 but in the second half we matched them and again should have only lost by one goal or forced extra time.

PDC has upset players by being disciplined but at the start of the season every supporter was demanding this was what we needed - we need to accept that some players will fall by the wayside not criticise Di Canio for doing what we all wanted.

It's about time that certain fans stopped finding excuses for not supporting the club. Di Canio was not to blame for last nights debacle and, whilst it is easy to point the finger for our defeats, accept that the learning curve for a new manager is longer than 7 games and stop fucking whinging...

[Coca Fola]

Yes our start is really bad. We've lost our last 4 league games.

[@MacPhlea]

Yes our start is really bad. We've lost our last 4 league games.

And there in lies the problem...

[donkey]

OK so we have lost 5 games out of 7 but is it really that bad?

We won our first game 3-0 after a stuttering start but then lost our next three with a win over brizzle in between and then lose to shrews and Southampton but let's analyse this carefully

We haven't lost by more than one goal in the league - if we were truly as shit as people on here were making out we would be getting thumped by at least three goals and scoring none.

We are finding our feet - this has been a major rebuilding exercise and was always going to be tough.

If last years team had been playing this years Southampton they would have been thumped by at least 4 or 5 goals and been out of breath after 20 minutes - ok we lost 3-1 but in the second half we matched them and again should have only lost by one goal or forced extra time.

PDC has upset players by being disciplined but at the start of the season every supporter was demanding this was what we needed - we need to accept that some players will fall by the wayside not criticise Di Canio for doing what we all wanted.

It's about time that certain fans stopped finding excuses for not supporting the club. Di Canio was not to blame for last nights debacle and, whilst it is easy to point the finger for our defeats, accept that the learning curve for a new manager is longer than 6 games and stop fucking whinging...

We lost a lot of games last year by the odd goal.  This season already feels too much like last season.  

But in addition we have a fitness coach who's managed to wind a player up, a resulting public arguement and shoving match between said player and a manager.  A manager who signs strikers like they're going out of fashion and they can't score anyway, and even if one of them could he gets subbed at stupid times.

None of this bodes at all well.

[Coca Fola]

You also forget that we beat Southampton at home last year 1-0. And their team hasn't changed much since.

[Notts red]

Got to be honest was hoping for better things after our first day win, although we weren't three goals better than Crewe. Would be a bit more confident even if we doubled our points tally. Hopefully by Saturday afternoon we will all be a little bit less stressed and it will be our turning point. Here's hoping !

[Batch]

Yes its a bad start, but its a long long way from being unrecoverable! There have been periods in most of the games where we have looked good. If only we could get it together for 90. Question marks remain over our defending of set pieces and ability to score goals. But if we can settle we'll be fine.

PDC is worrying me. Alienating players. If it was just Clarke you could understand it and pin it on the player. His shabby treatment of Connell and Timlin suggests it wasn't a one off.

It is possible that this approach will separate the wheat from the chaff, we'll come out stronger and go on a storming run. Its equally possible Di Canio is nuts and the whole thing will go tits up by Christmas (or sooner at this rate!). Impossible to say, but its hard not to be concerned.

[reeves4england]

I'm with you @MacPhlea, sort of... Our start to the season has been poor, but at the same time I don't think it's as bad as people are making out at all. We got poor results at Cheltenham and Daggers, but they were close games and the side was far from settled. Oxford we put in the performance and if Devera had been awake that day we'd have got at least a point. We beat City, finally showing what we can do, and we've put in two good halves in the last two games.

We're not there yet, and I don't expect us to start tearing the division apart any time soon. But if we can get 4-6 points out of the games against Rotherham, Sarfend and Crawley it'll set us up nicely for what looks a run of much more winnable games thereafter.

[Dozno9]

We have to win on Saturday and again next week to release some of this pressure. Anything less than 4 points from the next 2 games and PDC/club will have to seriously look at his position.

[thedarkprince]

I think Di Canio's approach to fitness is spot on for this level, if he can settle on his best XI then we'll be fine but if he can't then we'll be in trouble as the constant tinkering clearly isn't working.

One of the reasons I think we did well in the PO season with Wilson was that you knew exactly who would be in the team when everyone was fit and available.  We need to get back to that but until we do we'll struggle.

[DMR]

Not even going to bother reading the posts, if anyone has responded anything other than 'yes' then they're an imbecile.

[chalkies_shorts]

Its been about as shit as we could have had nightmares about. Losing at home to the Scummers was a biggie. We need to get some degree of stability. At this moment its looking very unlikely. I hope it works out but its not looking great. A couple of wins, however, and it will be all smiles again.

[The Grim Reaper]

Its been about as shit as we could have had nightmares about. Losing at home to the Scummers was a biggie. We need to get some degree of stability. At this moment its looking very unlikely. I hope it works out but its not looking great. A couple of wins, however, and it will be all smiles again.

However, defeat at home against Rotherham would be 5th league defeat on trot. Beginning to think the gamble of appointing di Canio has not paid off and maybe we should have gone for the safe option instead. Lets hope we get them 3 points Saturday!

[DiV]

OK so we have lost 5 games out of 7 but is it really that bad?

Yes.

3 points from 15 is piss poor

...and a defeat at home to the fucking scum thrown in as well.

[Dozno9]

Connell tweeted this early this morning:

@AlConnell83: Early days at stfc,we've a very good squad,boys get on great,still very optimistic about the season! Please keep up your tremendous support

For someone who got subbed after 30 mins and witnessed fights between staff he seems quite jolly. Good on him, I like Connell.