Alex Neil’s Norwich City team selection at QPR completely baffling

For the last few weeks I have had nothing to say. Nothing to say that hadn’t already been said, that is. I usually try to find positives even in the worst performances, but this season I am increasingly becoming Victor Meldrew.

I had hoped that the international break had given our players time to regroup and take a long hard look at what’s gone wrong in recent weeks. I had hoped that it would give Alex Neil time to work with the players that hadn’t gone out on international duty and come up with not just a Plan B when Plan A is so obviously not working, but a Plan C, D and E too.

But what we saw at QPR was the same old Norwich. A defence that struggle to do what they are paid to do at a reasonable quality, a team that looks disjointed, and too many players that really don’t seem to have their heart in it. Where is the passion? It can’t all be in the treatment room with Ivo Pinto.

I am still questioning the team choices for QPR. There were a few surprises - Hoolahan and Klose on the bench and Bassong starting. For me though, putting Cameron Jerome on the bench, one of the players who puts in 100pc effort week after week, was completely baffling.

It doesn’t help that key players like Pinto and Howson are on the injury list. It’s painfully obvious how much this duo is missed, and is it more than a coincidence that our downward slide has happened whilst these two have been absent?

Many are calling for Alex Neil to be sacked and more seem to be joining their ranks by the minute. I have so far resisted in calling for him to be replaced, but after Saturday’s result his time must be running very short. It hasn’t helped that Delia has recently given him her complete backing. This kind of statement from an owner or chairman has long-since been the kiss of death for many a manager over the years. So, if the Board are not willing to do anything, maybe Alex should fall on his sword for the sake of the club.

After a loss, I am normally in an ‘onwards and upwards’ type of mood, but knowing we have a trip to Derby next week, I just can’t muster much positivity. I am not quite in the “we’re doomed” camp quite yet, but we need to stop the rot very quickly.