I think you have to be really careful with how much you read into the games for the rest of the season tbh... I think it was clear that the confidence was shot even before kick-off... I also think that's one of the reasons why they responded so well to the goal that was allowed... Would've been really interesting to see how we'd have gone if we hadn't gotten shafted on that first goal I think.
But at the core, I think morale is such that the only thing to clear it is an off-season, a bit of a cool-down and relax, then some pre-season training and a bit of stability in the squad.
I've said it before but I feel like there actually has been quite a bit of improvement over the season - if I try to look past the obvious lack of confidence.
For starters, I thought Posco was a prospect at the start of the season, where I see him as a starter now.
Neill was really struggling in defence at the beginning of the season, he's starting to look a lot more stable there.
Ascroft again, had some promise - I think he's looked much-improved as a MF since the City home game.
Rose-the-younger has gained a lot in confidence... There's still quite a bit of work to be done there but, I remember watching one of the early games this season - and even commenting on here - feeling that he looked well nervous... Tended to hoof the ball away as soon as it got to him, to avoid getting manhandled... The manhandling clearly still annoys him, but he doesn't look as scared.
Actually - now that I'm thinking of it, Bingham falls in my much-improved category too... I know he came highly rated, but I didn't see much of anything in him until he started getting more time this season (obviously
).
I think there's more but I actually only meant for it to be a short list of examples - it just developed into a longer list as I started thinking about it
Suffice to say that, obviously, I think there's been quite a bit more improvement than we realise... It's just gotten bogged down between confidence issues, age, rumoured disciplin issues (Bosnar, Reddy, Caceres, Fitzy, Sim etc. etc.), inexperience etc.
But it's really the confidence thing that has me looking towards another season with a bit of hope... I'm on the "give-'im-till-Chrissy" bandwagon at this point.