You can talk about expected league positions but for me it's the performances.

It's one thing losing because the other team was just better, but too often now we're losing because we're falling way short of what we're capable of.

That is a coaching issue and, agreed there's no benefit of getting rid now, but end of the season we should consider our options.

What really gets my goat is after yesterday's sh@t show the coach coming out and laying the blame solely at the players feet, covering his own hide not a great way to get the lads on your side and also making himself cheap.

If the squad is good enough for top 4, why are you happy with what we are producing and why is that not down to the coach.
I’m sure yesterday was better on the radio but it was utterly abysmal live

When and where did he say that? If anything he seems very loyal and protective of the players. To a fault, I would say. Compare that with Watson at Huddersfield, who thinks nothing of hanging players out to dry in front of the media. Whatever you think of Smith he has resisted the temptation to single out individuals. He must have been sorely tempted yesterday.

I agree. but then a lot of the blame lay with him too

Absolutely. The buck stops with the coach. If the club gives him more time (I think they will) he's got to use this low point as a springboard for change. If he can't do that then he will be a goner.

GH needs to bite the bullet and go the extra jockstrap. We need Kear and we need him badly.

Does anyone on here really know the ins and outs of what's gone on contract wise with the current players? I certainly don't, but the body language and general can't be bothered attitude from many seems to suggest a number have been told they're out at the end of the season or their contracts, whenever they are up, won't be renewed and that they can look for another club. If that's the case, and given that the club can't just cancel contracts, isn't that what most on here have been clamouring for? Underperformers with the wrong attitude being shown the door, and that attitude being confirmed game by game? Professional sport is a complex business with many moving parts. Very rarely, if ever, is a problem solved in the long term by one action. On the flip side, a knee jerk reaction that doesn't address the actual issues can set a club back years.

I’ll be biting jockstraps if we bring in Kear

It's tempting to think that (and I have) but the senior players most on here expect to depart - Fusitua, Sezer and Tetavano - are all out injured. Maybe Austin is on the outs, but if he is he certainly hasn't stopped trying. If anything he's trying too hard. Bentley maybe a lose cannon, but I've not seen him lack effort.

Agree largely with this. Personally I'd retain Austin. If he is guilty of anything, it's trying to do it all himself. Perhaps in his mind he feels that no one else is stepping up. On the wider point of contracts not being renewed, perhaps the list contains more than the usual suspects? Over a longer time horizon that a year, granted, but with the push that they find other clubs sooner rather than later.

And maybe that is the case. My worry is that whilst other clubs seem to be aggressively getting their business done we are biding our time. I guess none of this would we really worry me if we were winning 2 out of every 3 games, but we aren't - so I look for positive news elsewhere.

I don't disagree. I'm just trying to look for reasons why we may be where we are. As I've said in other posts, shades of Wire last season. Perhaps the reasons are similar. Perhaps they aren't.

How do your know where biding our time? You’ve got no idea what’s going on behind the scenes

His post match interview and I quote " I said to the blokes in there do you want to fight or "Tap Out" what kind of protection is that to a fault? At least Powell took some bullets last year,not your Mr Wonderful Smith who needs to take a look in the mirror. I've seen some crap performances but that was straight awful.