There's ten games of the season remaining. Town are one point off the play-off places and five off the top of the league. But we've only won one of our last five games, and something's not right. Time to ask some honest questions of this team, before it's too late.

[b]1. When is Mick McCarthy and Jay Tabb's wedding date?[/b]

I presume they are engaged, right? Because it's hard to think of an alternative explanation to why Tabb's started eight of our last ten games. Now don't get me wrong, I like Tabby and I think he'll make a fine husband. As a short-arse myself, I can respect his work ethic and the inordinate number of headers he always seems to win. But let's be clear. He's a squad player. We're in a race for promotion to the Premier League, and we need the best starting 11. Of our midfielders, only Cole Skuse has started more games for Town this season. Bishop, Bru, Hyam, Anderson, Ambrose. None are even close to matching Tabb's 25 starts. It just doesn't make sense, especially given our recent bad form and Tabb's less-than-stellar performances in those games. Sorry Jay.

[b]2. Is Tommy Smith's right foot made of plasticine?[/b]

I'm being mean now, I know. But this is an honest blog, and even Tommy must admit that his right foot ain't all that. His catalogue of mistakes, usually involving that delicate right foot of his, rivals Argos for thickness. I'm sure if Smith was playing in Berra's position, he'd be great. But he's not, because Berra is better. Now think back to that run of wins we had in September which first thrust us into the promotion places. Smith wasn't there. We conceded two goals in five games. At that time we weren't scoring many, so it was our defence that was key. Jonny Parr was brought in at right-back, Luke Chambers moved to Tommy's position, and, let's face it, our defence looked solid as a result. It no longer does.

[b]3. Would Luke Chambers rather be locked in a coffin of snakes than the opposition half?[/b]

The solution to question two is the same as that to question three. Chambo, bless him, is not good on the ball. He only really knows how to hoof it a long way. Which is not what one needs in a right-back. Defensively, he's solid, but against a player of pace, as full-backs often have to deal with, Chambers can be found wanting. Play him in the centre, where he belongs, and this problem is solved instantly.

[b]4. Is Freddie Sears allergic to 90 minutes?[/b]

This kid has been a revelation since he joined Town in January. At the time, I was thinking to myself that another striker was badly needed, even though Murphy and McGoldrick were still the division's top strike partnership. I thought back to the year 2000, when Marcus Stewart was purchased, even though Town were doing so well with David Johnson and James Scowcroft up front. Without Stewart, we wouldn't have been promoted that year, and right now it's scary to think of where Town might be without Freddie Sears. His impact has been almost as great as that of Stewart's, in my opinion. And this is without him hardly ever being given a full game by Mick. Of the ten games Sears has been involved in, only on one occasion was that the full 90 minutes. The match? Norwich, when he fluffed our best chance. Which sort of makes me wonder if the lad is simply allergic to it.

[b]5. Has Mick been hypnotised into playing 4-4-2?[/b]

Now I'm no tactical genius, but I was quite good at Championship Manager back in the day. I've got nothing against 4-4-2. It is what it is. I even used this formation quite effectively to get Bristol Rovers into the Champions League. But the secret to my success? I used pacey wingers who knew how to swing in a decent cross. Who has Mick played on Town's wings when using 4-4-2? Tabb. Anderson. Hunt. Parr. Even Bishop. Mick, please, use the formation which best suits your starting 11. Either play 4-3-3, or change your line-up.

[b]6. Where is Cameron Stewart?[/b]

Following on neatly from question five, I have to wonder what Cameron has done to not warrant a place even on Town's bench. He's not featured in the 18-man squad since the Reading game a month ago. And he's a WINGER. Now I don't really know how good this kid is, because he's only ever been given two sub appearances in the FA Cup. But the fact he was given the squad number seven suggests to me he was, at least in the summer, part of Mick's first-team plans. What went wrong? One can only imagine.

[b]7. What's happened to Town's team spirit?[/b]

I don't know if anyone else noticed this during the nightmare at Carrow Road, but Tyrone Mings and Tommy Smith almost had a bust-up at one point. They had to be kept apart by Berra as Norwich prepared for a free-kick during the last few minutes of the game. Why? Well Mings had just upended a Canary from behind and been booked, needlessly. It was a silly foul, borne out of petulance on Tyrone's part. Tommy was quite right to tell him off, assuming that's what happened. It was a small thing in the grand scheme of it all, but it just got me thinking, whether there is more of a tense atmosphere in the dressing room now than there was before Christmas. Players are getting angry with each other, visibly, on the pitch. That wasn't happening before, and it's concerning, because we need everyone on the same page for the final run-in.

[b]8. Will David McGoldrick, Darren Ambrose and Luke Hyam play any further part this season?[/b]

None of these three players has set the Championship alight this season, but I do think their collective absence since January has played a part in Town's loss of form. It was McGoldrick's injury at the same time last year that contributed to us missing out on the play-offs, and given how poor our midfield has been recently, who could argue that Ambrose wouldn't have made a difference and helped us gain an extra point here or there? Hyam's contribution to the team is underrated, and I'm sure Cole Skuse's legs could benefit from a rest every now and again. We don't really have an alternative for the anchor-midfield role. The sooner these three get fit again, the better.

[b]9. Does any Championship team want to get promoted this season?[/b]

Town's form has been terrible of late, but somehow we're only five points off the top. All the other teams around us are slipping up too. Norwich lost at home to Wigan after beating us. Derby are without a win in three, Middlesbrough have lost three of their last five. If only Town could turn their form around, we'd be right up there again. All of the top six remain within reach.

[b]10. Will Town get promoted?[/b]

This remains the best chance Town have had to win promotion in a decade. Mick hasn't become a bad manager overnight, he'll know what's needed. A run of wins, taking around 20 points from the 30 left up for grabs, could be enough to seal an automatic spot. Only 15 points would, most likely, be enough for the play-offs. Between now and the end of the season, the answers to the questions I've posed will determine our fate. But whatever happens, let's get behind the team, because the fans will make a difference too.

paulthebluealien added 13:54 - Mar 12 A cynical blog, but nonetheless I understand the point you are trying to make and whilst agreeing completely with our defensive situation I must question the endless criticism of Tabb. The guy is in the team for a reason - he does the dirty work, and like it or not he was probably our best player on Saturday against Brentford and has performed consistently if not magnificently. COYB.

2

JollyJourno added 14:02 - Mar 12 I am being cynical of course, I think every team needs a player like Tabb. Prepared to muck in and fight for the ball and scrap. But he shouldn't be a first-choice midfielder for a team fighting promotion, IMO. And he shouldn't be used as a winger in a 4-4-2, either. My criticism is with Mick on this one, not Jay. No one can fault the commitment he's shown, and he is certainly capable of putting a great performance in every now and then.

4

rickw added 15:08 - Mar 12 Tabb can do a good job for the team - if he has more technical creative players around him, and too often that hasn't been the case. And there's no point having someone running around to win the ball back, when there's nobody who can do anything with it when he does!! Good blog by the way - had me smiling most the way through it! :-)
1

itfc1981 added 15:37 - Mar 12 Great Blog - highlights all the "collective" twtd views well. I like the Champ manager analogy its quite apt. No one in their right mind would keep picking Chambers at RB. September was indeed the golden month for us. free of sprit, strong in defence. Now we play with fear and no creativity. Wish Mick could read it. I hope it happens but it is highly unlikely we will make the play-off's now, it seems Mick seems to have generally forgotten how good we were in 433 and even better 443 in September with Parr at back.

0

prebsa added 16:48 - Mar 12 Fantastic blog. Nothing out of place here at all!
1

paulthebluealien added 17:15 - Mar 12 The "collective" TWTD views? Really. I also love how I have a down arrow for speaking sense, makes me chuckle.
0

tractorgrl added 18:43 - Mar 12 You see, this is why i'm a tractorgirl because of tractorboys like this! This forum continually entertains, amazes and delights me with its diverse opinions all of which give food for thought. Every blog puts a different slant on our dearly wanted promotion. How can we achieve this, what is the best way to the promised land? We've all got valid theories, paths of least resistance! A great blog from another forward thinking tractorboy!

1

classof81 added 19:26 - Mar 12 Very good blog, well written, and I especially agree with the points on Chambers and Stewart!
2

Vizslaraner added 19:58 - Mar 12 Spot on, it's not that we dnt like tabb it's how mm utilises him. Let's get this right, I agree he played ok on Saturday but to say he was outstanding is daft. Firstly, keep him away from set pieces-he can't take them. Charlie takes a long corner Saturday and we score from a header after weeks of not dng so. Before XMAS we scored shed loads as Anderson was taking them. The other beef I had is if he had slid the ball in front of Sears on Saturday we he Wd have buried it. That may have been two extra points. Tabb is a true club man with a great work ethic and plays for the team, but for gods sake leave him to do what he is best at!

0

Vizslaraner added 19:59 - Mar 12 Meant chaplow
0

Surco72 added 22:00 - Mar 12 The problem is not Tabb alone it is a midfield of three average work hard midfielders with Ando and Skuse . Tabb's best games were when Skuse was absent . Team spirit has faltered since the lack of signings in January as a number of top players were told we would sign players to push for promotion and they would not be sold to the premiership , this did not happen in the summer or January . Players will also get annoyed with players constantly under performing , Smith should have been taken out of the side a long time ago . MM cost us a playoff place last year with negative let's not get beat tactics and selection rather than going for it and will do it again this year after being top half way through the season by not being so defensive ?

0

bigdave_blue added 08:21 - Mar 13 I'm hoping our current position is just strategy by MM, getting the players to relax a little. We are no longer one of the teams to beat to achieve automatic promotion and teams might not be as afraid or determined to beat us as they were earlier in the season. Now is the time to open the gates and release the lions, take everybody by surprise and leave the remaining ten teams scratching their heads after the 90 minutes not knowing what hit them!

2

tractorgrl added 13:11 - Mar 13 Would love that bigdave, unleash the beasts!
1

Garv added 18:05 - Mar 13 Tabb has really not been that bad recently, he was actually one of our best players in the games against Birmingham and Brentford in particular. He's a very easy target in my opinion. I'd probably agree that he has been lucky to make so many starts for a promotion chasing side though. And Mings often has arguments with his defensive colleagues, most notably Smith - they don't seem to get on at all.

1

dawoolah added 13:21 - Mar 17 Agree with most of your points Jolly especially regarding RB (Chambers/Parr) and the lack of opportunities given to Stewart. Most important quote - "whatever happens, let's get behind the team, because the fans will make a difference too. " We are still in this!
0

Blogs 298 bloggers