I’m sure I am in the minority

[St Eve]

But I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know

[Hugh Janus]

I think this is about our level. A few upgrades needed - Muniz etc.

I fancy up to get something at Arsenal. They are doing their annual implosion.

Finishing 9th I reckon.

[SuffolkWhite]

Considering we are in the mix for Europe it feels strange that the players look fatigued or are packing for holiday.

I don't think we have been that convincing this season and we looked better last season,but we do have this falling off the pace in the final games every season which is just weird.

[Asotosyios]

I would put myself on the optimist category, but agree with Suffolk White that something is missing this year.

Sometimes we look short of ideas or lacking the fluidity of different seasons. I don't think it's necessarily an end of season thing, as we have been like that for several games since the start of the season.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

I think if we fix the Danny Murphy and Moussa Dembele roles over the summer we'll find ourselves well into the European slots. The talent is there.

[KJS]

The biggest issue at this time is Marco's silence about his contract which is clearly having a derogatory effect on the team and our performance

[H4usuallysitting]

I'm happy with the way everything is going...the club appear to have direction... player's & managers come & go, but we look like a sensible stable club

[john dempsey]

Spurs not won in 15 games,
Liam Delap not scored in 20 games for chelsea.
so are we that bad, or are fans expectations
just unrealistic. Although a little
bit of entertainment would be nice.

[Southcoastffc]

But I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know

I agree with this but I am getting a bit fed up with the predictable, sometimes very boring,  slow pace of our play.  And if we do manage a European competition unless we bring in at least a couple of inventive sparky players I can't imagine much joy on that front, other than having an excuse to travel.

[Thailand Mick]

It's really frustrating that our performances are so poor but the results are not that bad. On March 23rd I post my Premier league prediction table with us finishing 7th on 56 points and all bar one result (West ham) of ours have been correct. I had a win and two draws from our last 3 home games so if we can do better that that and win at wolves we won't be far off. Feel Marco needs to try something different like playing 442.

[C Block]

But I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know

3pts behind 6th place and 6points off Leeds who are in a relegation battle,
As Mr Parker might say "it's all about fine margins " ,
Whether we want to push on for Europe next season or move away from the relegation battle we've got a very busy summer ahead and lots of gaps to be plugged.
If Silva does go the next manager has got plenty to do

[Ludlow Richard]

If there is something missing in our performances this season, I would describe the "missing piece" as "direct pace". Direct pace was shown in abundance by Southampton. No poncing around by passing the ball across the field in front of the defenders, patiently probing for an opening. What Southampton showed was running straight at a defence, with other runners joining in, unsettles teams. You often hear commentators say that defenders don't like to have to deal with pacy attackers.

Essentially we are a cautious team and I think we have grown more cautious over the past couple of seasons.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

Although a little
bit of entertainment would be nice.

I highly recommend White Lotus.

[demeant0r]

If there is something missing in our performances this season, I would describe the "missing piece" as "direct pace". Direct pace was shown in abundance by Southampton. No poncing around by passing the ball across the field in front of the defenders, patiently probing for an opening. What Southampton showed was running straight at a defence, with other runners joining in, unsettles teams. You often hear commentators say that defenders don't like to have to deal with pacy attackers.

Essentially we are a cautious team and I think we have grown more cautious over the past couple of seasons.

Well we sold the only player with actual pace, Adama.

[WindyCity]

Considering we are in the mix for Europe it feels strange that the players look fatigued or are packing for holiday.  I don't think we have been that convincing this season and we looked better last season,but we do have this falling off the pace in the final games every season which is just weird.

This is something I just don't understand, and tbh, I find hard to believe.  How can FFC be fatigued and falling off at seasons' end?  Just doesn't compute.  FFC plays far fewer games during the course of the season than many of the other teams in this league. 

[HobGoblin]

If there is something missing in our performances this season, I would describe the "missing piece" as "direct pace". Direct pace was shown in abundance by Southampton. No poncing around by passing the ball across the field in front of the defenders, patiently probing for an opening. What Southampton showed was running straight at a defence, with other runners joining in, unsettles teams. You often hear commentators say that defenders don't like to have to deal with pacy attackers.

Essentially we are a cautious team and I think we have grown more cautious over the past couple of seasons.

This, 100% this, we are so slow, like a slough team.

Pace is what is feared most, far to much sideways backwards bollox under Silva, the football is bloody boring.

A change in manager is needed, watch Bournemouth,  they get on the front foot ASAP when they have the ball. Watch us, 20 passes around at the back, giving ball away at end of it. Poor

[WindyCity]

I do admire the OP's optimism, and yes, FFC still has a chance for Euro play, but, this team needs to get its' head straightened.  The team has not played well over the past month and a half or so.  Would be nice to see this team play at a level they did over the Christmas period.

[St Eve]

Well Everton and Sunderland lost as hoped. Our position is a little better than yesterday.
A win can change everything. Lose to Villa and we need an entire new team and manager. Win and we are unbeatable and have the best manager in the country.
It's going to be an interesting last 5 games.

[bill taylors apprentice]

But I am an optimist. We are going through a bit of a rough patch, but we are only 3 points behind 6th place Chelsea who are in free fall. I'm not sure if 8,9 or 10 teams get into Europe but we are certainly in the mix. 3 games at home and on our day all winnable. Away to the bottom club and Arsenal. The other 6 clubs have similar run ins, some playing each other, Bees and Boscombe playing City. There will be many twists and turns, but we shouldn't write it off. Let's hope Everton lose to Liverpool and Sunderland lose to Villa tomorrow. Both extremely possible. Then onto the next weekend and you never know

This is all very reasonable and we could click and pick up several wins.

But I've been supporting our team for around 65 years and realistically I can't see it happening, maybe that makes me a pessimist!

[Woolly Mammoth]

Considering we are in the mix for Europe it feels strange that the players look fatigued or are packing for holiday.  I don't think we have been that convincing this season and we looked better last season,but we do have this falling off the pace in the final games every season which is just weird.

This is something I just don't understand, and tbh, I find hard to believe.  How can FFC be fatigued and falling off at seasons' end?  Just doesn't compute.  FFC plays far fewer games during the course of the season than many of the other teams in this league. 

Precisely