:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/3909569/155455641.0.jpg)
You can find the ups & downs for the first six games here.
Last Six Results:
Liverpool (A) L 0-1, Fulham (H) D3-3, QPR (A) D 1-1, Norwich (H) D 0-0, Everton (H) W 2-1, Wigan (A) L 2-3
| PLAYER | TREND | NOTES |
| GOALKEEPERS | ||
| ADAM FEDERICI | UP | While Federici didn't exactly cover himself in glory against Wigan, he has had a much better last six than the first six which saw him dropped and injured. Feds kept our first clean sheet of the season against Norwich and put in a good shift against Everton. Sadly Wigan was a slight step backwards and Alex McCarthy should reclaim his place when he returns to fitness. |
| ALEX McCARTHY | LEVEL | This would unquestionably be an up arrow had it not been for an unfortunate shoulder injury picked up after an outstanding performance at QPR. McCarthy played brilliantly at Loftus Road to earn plenty of plaudits and as of right now he'll probably still be considered first choice after Federici's slightly dodgy display against Wigan. |
| STUART TAYLOR | DOWN | He's still on bench duty but McDermott's decision to recall Federici ahead of giving Taylor a chance shows that he's firmly third choice, and maybe fourth now that Andersen is back from loan. |
| DEFENDERS | ||
| CHRIS GUNTER | LEVEL | Was tempted to say a down for Gunter but the fact he's earned a recall means that it's still been a better last six than his first six. Still with a string of disappointing performances, Shaun Cummings will once again be fancying his chances of a return at Villa. |
| SHAUN CUMMINGS | DOWN | Cummings must wonder whether Brian has any faith in him what so ever after being dropped yet again. Brian has dropped the former Chelsea full-back for Griffin, Mullins and Gunter in the past 12 months or so and his form has hadly been terrible. |
| IAN HARTE | DOWN | Harte has reportedly turned down a loan move away from the club as he prefers to fight for his place at Reading. However with Shorey putting together a case for Player of the Season it's tough to see him winning back his place unless Shorey gets injured. |
| NICKY SHOREY | UP | Shorey has been one of few players to show genuine Premier League class week in week out this season and as mentioned above, he's putting together a decent case for player of the season. |
| ALEX PEARCE | DOWN | Pearce finds himself totally frozen out at the moment due to the fact he's not yet signing a new contract. While it's galling enough to miss out when others are in form, it must be extremley frustrating to be kept out by the woeful Kaspars Gorkss. |
| ADRIAN MARIAPPA | DOWN | Mariappa was forced out of the QPR game with an injury and has since been overlooked in favour of the impressive Morrison and for some reason, Gorkss. With Pearce's contract row showing no signs of ending, he's got to start at Villa on Tuesday night. |
| KASPARS GORKSS | DOWN | Gorkss has played in every game this season and we've conceded 33 goals in 15 games. Everyone else has been dropped except the Latvian and Brian McDermott will surely have to drop him after another dire display at Wigan. Sadly it's easier and easier to see why QPR sold him to us after their promotion. |
| SEAN MORRISION | UP | Alongside Shorey and Tabb, Morrison has been perhaps our best player in recent weeks. He's put in some fine defensive displays and even scored his first goal at Wigan this weekend. While there's still the odd mistake, you can forgive the youngster for them and he's got a bright, bright future. Oh and #cerealquest has made the national news... |
| MIDFIELDERS | ||
| JIMMY KEBE | DOWN | It's been a tough few games for Jimmy who found himself dropped then injured. Kebe hasn't really fired this season, bar perhaps the Newcastle game and sadly there's been no sign of the match winning performer we saw during Brian's early reign. |
| GARATH McCLEARY | LEVEL | As with the first six, McCleary continues to drift in and out of the side putting in the odd good and the odd indifferent performance. He'll be disappointed to have lost his place to Robson-Kanu but it's not been a terrible six for the former Forest man who scored his first Premier League goal against Fulham. |
| HAL ROBSON-KANU | UP | Robson-Kanu's had a fairly decent last six, with a second goal to his name in the Fulham game as well as earning starts against Everton and Wigan. In both matches he's played better than his captain Jobi McAnuff and he'll be disappointed if he's dropped ahead of the skipper. |
| JOBI McANUFF | LEVEL | Another very close one but Jobi has just about held his own over the last six. He's not been outstanding by any stretch and Everton was probably his worst game in a long while, but overall he's been just about OK without providing anything special. Does a job but could the position be being used better? |
| DANNY GUTHRIE | DOWN | A bust-up with McDermott and injury have kept Guthrie out since Liverpool but his stock has probably grown if only due to the woefull performances of Mikele Leigertwood. |
| JAY TABB | UP | Tabb has put in some great, gutsty hard working displays and technically he hasn't been bad either, leading the team is passing completion against Wigan. A contender for MOTM against QPR and Norwich, he's deserved his place in the side. |
| JEM KARACAN | DOWN | An ankle injury at Liverpool has wrecked Jem's season to date and he's still not likely to feature until the Arsenal game a few weeks from now. |
| MIKELE LEIGERTWOOD | DOWN | He's scored a couple of goals this year but generally Leigertwood has been shaky and uninspiring. He's giving the ball away far, far too often and like Gorkss, you can now see why perhaps QPR were happy to offload the former Palace midfielder. |
| BRYNJAR GUNNARSON | LEVEL | I'll repeat last month's comment: Can't imagine Bryn was expecting to be near the side this season and he duly hasn't been. |
| FORWARDS | ||
| ADAM LE FONDRE | UP | Two goals against Everton justified Brian's decision to start Alfie but he missed a couple of decent opportunities up at Wigan and didn't have too much of an impact in the previous four matches. |
| PAVEL POGREBNYAK | DOWN | Reportedly on the highest wage we've ever handed out, 'The Pog' can't even get a start now and looked ineffective and disinterested in his brief cameo at the DW Stadium. Has he got the stomach for a relegation battle in a team that plays direct football? I have my doubts. |
| NOEL HUNT | DOWN | Noel hasn't quite kicked on since his mini run of form over the first six and now once again finds himself a substitute. |
| SIMON CHURCH | UP | Church has the same number of goals from open play as our other four strikers combined in the last six games. Sadly that total is one and it came while on loan at Huddersfield. Still, good to see him playing games and on the score sheet. |
| JASON ROBERTS | LEVEL | He's playing every week and working hard, the only thing missing is a goal but sadly that's quite important if you're a striker, otherwise he'd be on an up arrow. |