To be fair General, whilst I agree with you that last season has no bearing on this season, the manager and some players alike have been talking about last winter, the trip out to Spain last season and having the belief that history repeats itself so easily every season, when the reality is that it doesn't. Gabby talking of a barren patch last season and how he scored again, MON talking of how well the Spain trip did the team last season, when it seems that since the Dubai trip alot of players look even more tired than before they went!?!
There's no doubt the manager did work hard in the winter window, but seeing the results of his hard work, ie just Emile Heskey who, it seems, has so disrupted the rhythm of the team it begs the question of what he brings to the team/club (and no slant on the lad but the manager must've had an idea of how to play him!?), and alot of people are scratching their heads as to the tactical nuance of the manager at key moments. I mean, going all out attack away to a team who have put 4 past 2 of the best teams in the world is just suicide tactics, and in alot of games recently it has seemed that the manager hasn't a clue how to change a game to our advantage. I am not making fan excuses, but you can understand the frustration of hearing the same things said yet seeing no repsonses to situations on the pitch.
And I think the thing that has frustrated alot of supporters,and also angered some, is that what made us the team we are under MON, a team that opposition teams know will be competitive, has been lacking for a good few games now. And that is worrying. Far more worrying than any other aspect. Sure there will be times where the team doesn't play well, but all we ask is for them to compete. To hunt in packs, to defend from the front, to attack from the back, to take responsibility, be willing to have a shot at goal, to make it hard for the opposition and to show a passion for the shirt. Sadly, that seems to have been lacking lately. Tiredness or not, you fight til that whistle goes at full time.