If we lose tonight it won't be the straw that breaks the back it will be overall progress and league position. The league position in my view is secondary you need to look at where we are heading. That depends on your viewpoint maybe one ot two signings and it will all gell in which case put your faith in Dalglish. Or you may believe its not working in which case we need a new manager and move on most of the signings from 2011. My current thoughts are Kenny to retire gracefully end of this season and a dignified and managed handover to a young up and coming manager.
I think most people are of that same opinion now too, Stanley. I had given him and some of his signings the benefit of the doubt but it's gotten to the stage where we look like we're going a bit backwards.
On reflection, the 3 defeats in a row were away to Man Ure, at home to an Arsenal team in great form (who we outplayed but couldn't find the finishes to put them to the sword - story of our season) and away to Sunderland, which is a bit of a bogey ground for us over the years. Taking that into account, it probably doesn't seem as bad - Spurs have also lost 3 on the bounce. Of course, the larger problem is the lack of points on the board in the previous games too.
I thought we were fantastic against Arsenal, and I think the defeat was a killer blow not only to the morale of the team, but it was a killer blow to our chances of 4th. Had we beaten Arsenal, we'd have been 4 points behind them with a game in hand. This was the biggest game of our season and we cruelly lost it. I'd largely attribute the disappointment and demoralisation of that towards the abysmal display away to Sunderland.
There will be no excuse for anything less than a fully-spirited performance tonight, though. It'll be interesting - and very telling - to see what Liverpool turn up tonight.
