Yeah fair, but aside from the games where we were just utterly dominated tactically (Arse and Chelsea) we still had some decent 2nd half bursts. City and Villa we were the better team in the 2nd half for instance.In many ways, players downing tools when it's obvious a coaches ideas will harm the team is the best thing to do, not the worst.
I would disagree with some of your sentiment though. The first half Vs Newcastle was no worse than City, Spam, Villa (FAC), Arse, Chelsea. There was just nothing there at all. Players all looked vacant and disinterested.
They may not have actively have downed tools, but I strongly suspect that they were so de-motivated that subconsciously, they weren't trying.
We never really just rolled over and died in games, which is something I have seen under managers where it looked like the players had completely and utterly lost it and started conceding goals for fun (the Newcastle Stellini game for instance). And I think this is part of the reason he clung onto the job so long. We were awful but there weren't lots of 5-0 shelackings. The losses were usually marginal.
I actually completely agree with you about the subconscious thing. I guess it just felt to me like they players didn't completely hate Frank or want to force him out with player power but the best they could ever muster was a good 20-30 minute spell cos he was so uninspiring and they didn't believe in his ideas.
