MTTs: Bubbled over and over and over

[ka24_det]

I ALWAYS seem to make it past 70% of the field, if not more. But this is where the fun ends, Im constantly getting bubbled or making it ITM and just winning my buyin back. I just cant seem to get over that hump.

There are two ways that MTT's go for me. The first is that I do really good early on, often leading into the second hour I am top 15. My problem is, I cant seem to fend off the small stacks, should I practically sit out, and just wait for AA KK QQ JJ AK, and limp with other PP hoping for trips or over pairs to the board? When Im in this situation I normally fair better, and make it into decent money. But still I feel that in thsi position I should be able to make a final table, something Ive never done in a MTT.

The other way that things go, is that I play decent enough to enter make the first break with average stack, however from this point on I just hover at average, I cant seem to make the break through, and eventually I get put at a tough table where I cant seem to steal, or I catch a bad beat and just cant bounce back.

I just am going nuts when Im pushing past so much of the field and investing so much time over and over, just to get my buyin back, or to be bubbled. Any advice is much appreciated.

[DavSimon]

I will be able to give you some advice tomorrow when I have a little more time....for now can you answer a few questions for me?

1. Exactly how many times has this bubbling out happened to you since Jan 1st 2005 (last 6 weeks)?
2. How many tournies in the last 6 weeks overall have you played?
3. How long have you been playing online poker?
4. How long have you been playing MTTs
5. What buyin and format are these tournies (R&A,Freeze)?