Raggy Soma says he will remain patient in his quest for first team
football.
He made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the defeat at Middlesbrough, replacing Nigel Winterburn after Tomas Repka had been sent off.
"I have to work hard in training and the reserves and hopefully I will get a place in the starting line up," he says phlegmatically.
"I was just happy to have my first action of the campaign.
"I was trying to do my job; I was quite pleased with the 10 minutes but it was difficult to do much in that time."
He is more concerned, indeed, with the overall situation and says of the loss:
"It was very disappointing; we gave away two goals but worse than that we played c**p really.
"It got a little bit better in the second half but we couldn't put away any of the half chances we had.
"We have got ourselves to blame for that as we started so sloppy, though we did well to fight back a bit in the second half.
"If we had been a bit lucky the game might have turned out differently: if we had scored in the second half it could have given us a chance.
"They had the time to do what they wanted with the ball and it was hard to get back after giving them the goals - it was that that destroyed us.
"Middlesbrough weren't that good; we played badly and they needed our mistakes to score their goals.
"If we could take those away we might have got a draw.
"Everyone was upset about the performance, and none of us can be pleased with that.
"Now we have to grab ourselves by the neck and work hard up to Sunday, and hope for a win.
"The Worthington Cup against Reading was not good either, but I'm not sure what is wrong."
He doesn't know, either, why the goals aren't going in, even in the absence of Fredi Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio.
"We are struggling to score," he says, "but both Jermain and Toddy know where the goal is; if we get one hopefully more will come."
Despite being a centre half, Raggy is delighted by the signing of another one - Tomas Repka.
"We need a strong squad so it is great to have him here," says Raggy, "and I am looking forward to seeing more of him; he was unlucky to be sent off.
"I couldn't see the situation as I was warming up, but if you kick the ball away everyone knows it is a yellow.
"But if you just tap it, it is not necessary from the ref.
"He could have done without that red as well - he didn't look too happy afterwards, but that is the way it is in football.
"He is professional enough to put it behind him and work in training.
"I guess he will learn quite quickly, and it is great to have another excellent player at the club."
Now, says Raggy, it is the time to stand up and be counted, and he says:
"It is going to be quite a battle against Newcastle, who beat Manchester United.
"We just have to stand up for ourselves, and put away some of the chances we get - because we will get at least two or three in a game, so we must be more effective.
"When we start doing that we are defensively strong enough to keep it tight at the back."
He made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the defeat at Middlesbrough, replacing Nigel Winterburn after Tomas Repka had been sent off.
"I have to work hard in training and the reserves and hopefully I will get a place in the starting line up," he says phlegmatically.
"I was just happy to have my first action of the campaign.
"I was trying to do my job; I was quite pleased with the 10 minutes but it was difficult to do much in that time."
He is more concerned, indeed, with the overall situation and says of the loss:
"It was very disappointing; we gave away two goals but worse than that we played c**p really.
"It got a little bit better in the second half but we couldn't put away any of the half chances we had.
"We have got ourselves to blame for that as we started so sloppy, though we did well to fight back a bit in the second half.
"If we had been a bit lucky the game might have turned out differently: if we had scored in the second half it could have given us a chance.
"They had the time to do what they wanted with the ball and it was hard to get back after giving them the goals - it was that that destroyed us.
"Middlesbrough weren't that good; we played badly and they needed our mistakes to score their goals.
"If we could take those away we might have got a draw.
"Everyone was upset about the performance, and none of us can be pleased with that.
"Now we have to grab ourselves by the neck and work hard up to Sunday, and hope for a win.
"The Worthington Cup against Reading was not good either, but I'm not sure what is wrong."
He doesn't know, either, why the goals aren't going in, even in the absence of Fredi Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio.
"We are struggling to score," he says, "but both Jermain and Toddy know where the goal is; if we get one hopefully more will come."
Despite being a centre half, Raggy is delighted by the signing of another one - Tomas Repka.
"We need a strong squad so it is great to have him here," says Raggy, "and I am looking forward to seeing more of him; he was unlucky to be sent off.
"I couldn't see the situation as I was warming up, but if you kick the ball away everyone knows it is a yellow.
"But if you just tap it, it is not necessary from the ref.
"He could have done without that red as well - he didn't look too happy afterwards, but that is the way it is in football.
"He is professional enough to put it behind him and work in training.
"I guess he will learn quite quickly, and it is great to have another excellent player at the club."
Now, says Raggy, it is the time to stand up and be counted, and he says:
"It is going to be quite a battle against Newcastle, who beat Manchester United.
"We just have to stand up for ourselves, and put away some of the chances we get - because we will get at least two or three in a game, so we must be more effective.
"When we start doing that we are defensively strong enough to keep it tight at the back."