Peterborough United’s season is rapidly descending into crisis, and Robbie Savage’s insistence that his side could have won most of their recent matches is becoming increasingly difficult to take seriously.

Posh have failed to win any of their six matches since Savage opened his managerial reign with an impressive 3-1 victory at Leicester City. Saturday’s humiliating 5-0 FA Cup defeat at home to Reading was the latest embarrassment, following a 2-0 league defeat against Luton Town, elimination from the League Cup at Bradford City and a 4-1 thrashing at Huddersfield Town. Peterborough sit 22nd in League One, with just ten points from 13 matches, and the early optimism surrounding their new manager has evaporated remarkably quickly.

Savage arrived from Forest Green Rovers promising enthusiasm, ambition and an attacking approach, but the reality has been considerably less impressive. His side have conceded 16 goals across their last six fixtures, scoring just four, and the defensive problems that undermined the previous regime have shown little sign of improvement. One victory against Leicester, however impressive, cannot disguise a team that is becoming easier to beat.

In truth, he was an odd appointment from a club that has been built on a player trading model, generating their income for decent fees and relying on being solidly coached by experienced people.

Positive Words Are No Substitute For Results

There is something increasingly frustrating about Savage’s assessment of Peterborough’s performances. The manager continues to emphasise how close his team have been to winning matches, insisting that they could have taken maximum points from several recent fixtures. However, football matches are not decided by how competitive a manager believes his side were, and the evidence of recent weeks suggests Peterborough are considerably further from finding solutions than Savage appears willing to acknowledge.

There have been moments of encouragement, particularly in the draws against Burton Albion and Bromley, but even those results came against sides Peterborough should reasonably expect to compete with. Losing heavily to Huddersfield and Reading, while failing to score against Luton and Bradford, suggests problems that extend beyond unfortunate finishing or individual mistakes. This is a team struggling in both penalty areas, and that is usually a recipe for a relegation battle.

The Reading defeat was especially damaging because it exposed just how fragile Peterborough have become. Conceding five goals at home in an FA Cup tie is unacceptable for a club with ambitions of climbing League One, regardless of the quality of the opposition. Reading were able to exploit defensive weaknesses repeatedly, and Savage’s side offered little meaningful resistance once the match began slipping away.

It is becoming harder to identify what Peterborough are supposed to be under their new manager. Savage talks about effort, togetherness and belief, but those qualities should be basic expectations rather than the defining features of a tactical approach. His team needs greater organisation, defensive discipline and a recognisable plan for creating chances, none of which has been consistently evident.

Robbie Savage’s Media Commitments Are Becoming A Distraction

Questions surrounding Savage’s media commitments have inevitably intensified as results have deteriorated. The former Wales international has insisted that his broadcasting work does not interfere with his responsibilities at Peterborough, and there is no evidence that his media appearances have directly contributed to the club’s poor performances. Nevertheless, a manager who maintains such a prominent public profile must understand that his decisions away from the training ground will attract scrutiny when his team is struggling.

There is nothing inherently wrong with Savage continuing his media career, provided Peterborough are receiving his full professional commitment. However, the regular public explanations, motivational statements and reassurances about his love of football are starting to feel repetitive when there is so little improvement on the pitch. The more he talks about how much he cares, the greater the contrast with the performances his players are producing.

Savage also needs to be careful about how he discusses his squad. Publicly taking responsibility for defeats is commendable, but that message becomes less convincing when followed by criticism of individual mistakes or complaints about players failing to deliver. Peterborough’s footballers need clear instructions and confidence, rather than another reminder of how disappointing their performances have been.

Of course, Savage inherited a struggling squad from Luke Williams, and it would be unfair to suggest that every problem has developed during his brief tenure. Peterborough were already in the relegation places when he arrived, and a managerial change was never guaranteed to transform their fortunes immediately. However, the purpose of appointing a new manager is to improve results and performances, and neither has happened consistently enough.

The upcoming trip to Plymouth Argyle and home derby against Cambridge United will provide further opportunities to demonstrate progress, but they also underline the urgency of the situation. Peterborough cannot afford to approach another difficult sequence of fixtures simply hoping that positive performances will eventually become victories. They need points, and quickly.

Savage’s managerial reputation was built in non-league football, where his enthusiasm and approach delivered success with financially competitive teams. Macclesfield were financed beyond their level and while he took Forest Green into the National League play-offs, their budget suggested that was the right position. League One presents a different challenge, with stronger opponents, greater tactical demands and fewer opportunities to change a struggling squad outside the transfer windows. His ability to adapt to those circumstances is now being tested.

The concern is that Peterborough appear to be moving backwards rather than developing under their new manager. Defensive errors remain commonplace, confidence looks fragile and there is little indication that Savage has established the foundations required to reverse the decline.

There is still time for him to succeed, and dismissing a manager after little more than a month would represent another admission of failure from a club that has already changed direction this season. But patience cannot be an excuse for accepting performances that repeatedly fall below the required standard.

Peterborough United are spiralling towards a potentially disastrous season, and the responsibility for stopping that decline now rests with Savage. The interviews, reassurances and declarations of belief have been heard often enough. What Posh desperately need is a manager whose ideas are reflected in performances, and whose promises are finally supported by results.