Because this is getting pretty miserable, isn’t it? Every game feels the same. We play reasonably well, but lack quality in big moments, and end up getting beaten. Time after time.
That’s why, very sadly, we’re going down. We’re not quite good enough. Simple as that. We’re not a million miles away, but we always come out on the wrong side of the crucial moments.
Look at Saturday. Nothing much between the teams, a few chances at both ends, and then Palace found a match-winning moment of Premier League quality. Just like they did at Portman Road. Just like so many other opponents have done.
Kieran McKenna and his players often talk about learning and getting better - but Terry argues they're getting worse as the season goes onKieran McKenna and his players often talk about learning and getting better - but Terry argues they're getting worse as the season goes on (Image: Ross Halls) The Town camp - Kieran McKenna and the players - always talk about learning, but the harsh facts tell a very different story. We’ve actually gone backwards.
You can pretty much divide the season into two. The first half of the campaign was full of hope and optimism, culminating in that fantastic home victory over Chelsea.
I remember thinking then that we really were going to be ok, that we would survive, and ram the gloom-laden words of the national pundits down their throats.
But, since that memorable game, it’s been downhill all the way. Our league record since should only be viewed after the watershed. Played nine, won none, drawn two, lost seven. Scored eight, conceded 25. Two points.
Yes, it’s been a horror show. Why have we got worse when in theory we should have been learning and improving?
Some of it is down to the extraordinarily long injury list. Last week, McKenna’s media conference could easily have been re-named as a medical conference.
Jens Cajuste has been superb - but, like most of the squad, he's had injury issuesJens Cajuste has been superb - but, like most of the squad, he's had injury issues (Image: Ross Halls) He was talking about the state of health of no fewer than ten injured players. Our squad can’t withstand that.
Why so many injuries? There’s a lot of chit-chat about training methods, but I believe the underlying reason is that our players are having to play to their very limits simply to compete in the Premier League in terms of sheer quality, and that puts them at greater risk of injury.
It has meant we’ve never found our best starting 11. We have so few nailed-on starters. Liam Delap, obviously, and now our new keeper, Alex Palmer. Dara O’Shea, probably. Jens Cajuste. After them, it’s a case of mix and match. Not good when you’re up against it anyway.
The other big factor, I’m convinced, is that our confidence has taken a right battering. The courage we showed earlier in the season has evaporated. Other than Delap, our attackers don’t attempt to beat their opponents. We don’t try the killer pass. It’s all a bit timid, and too passive. No-one wants to make a mistake. Sad to see.
We are past the point where we can hope for others to give us a helping hand. Wolves are disappearing over the horizon, with another vital point on Saturday night, even without panto villain Matheus Cunha. He could be banned for the rest of the season and it wouldn’t make any difference.
So we need to prepare for a return to the Championship. I’ve even seen suggestions that McKenna has been signing 'good Championship players' who will stay to lead our promotion campaign next season.
Keeper Alex Palmer looks a real findKeeper Alex Palmer looks a real find (Image: Ross Halls) While I can’t believe that’s been the case, it’s certainly true that our squad - even with two or three departures - would be pretty formidable in the Championship. It’s sad to be thinking like this, but we have to be realistic.
Ten games left this season. Can we go down fighting? Of course, McKenna and the players will do their utmost. Our fantastic supporters deserve nothing less.
Let’s finish on a positive. In Alex Palmer, we have found a really good keeper. And, by the looks of it, a really bubbly, positive and popular character who must be good news for the rest of the squad.
If only (I’ve seen that phrase a lot this season) we had signed Palmer in the summer, instead of the error-prone Muric. That could have been a game changer. So many if onlys. Too late now, though...