I can't see it happening to be honest.Many on here,myself included,have been eagerly waiting the news for a while that we have managed to bring in a recognised target man or a pacey winger on loan,to offer us alternatives in our attack formation. The reason I can't see this happening is down to Malky's selection methods.Malky has his favourites,this was evident last season at Watford where he stuck with a core of 12 players over 29 games,arguably this could of course have been due to financial restraints imposed upon him. This season a similar pattern is emerging as City rely essentially upon Marshall, McNaughton, Taylor, Turner, Hudson, Gerrard, Whittingham, Cowie, Kiss, Conway, Gunnarsson, Mason, Gestede and Miller who have all passed the 25 games mark.However we are led to believe there are no,such restraints being imposed upon Malky this season. In essence what is the point in a large or larger squad if there is no intention utilising them all?
I don't think there has been any pressure put on MM to get promotion this year. as a result, he's looking to buy players in it for the long haul and that will add to the squad in terms of game plan, application and attitude. That is evident in the signings of Kiss, Cowie, Conway, Gunner, Mason, etc. Similarly, the loan signings he's made, while limited in number, have bene for the same reasons as to what they'll bring to the squad but with a short term relationship. I've been desperate for us to sign a couple of wingers, but if the right person isn't available for the right price I'd rather not go down the route of signing 'fillers' like last season. Disappointed that a few more bodies didn't arrive, but respectful of the reasons. It does look as if there are some similarities between MM and DJ, specifically their stuburness and single mindedness, DJ regarding formation, MM regarding signings. Still hopeful of the playoffs, but would like to see another striker on loan and to see LL on the right wing.
Remote! If there hasn't been any pressure put on Malky to get promotion this season then I'm dissapointed.Any manager worth his salt at any club should be driven by success.To achieve that the Chairman should be making it perfectly clear what the goal is and the benefits to be gained.
If the money was available but not used, it would seem reasonable to ask why? We look tired, and I am sure we could have found some players who would at least match what we have. If we just go for players who will make this team better at this stage of the season, we will be looking for a long time. The type of players we need do not grow on trees. I still think MM is doing a great job...100%...but we are short of bodies.
Malky was brought in to move us forward, anything other than promotion or a higher points tally must be seen as failure to move us forward. Malky had a clean slate when he walked in as so many loan players went back to their parent clubs and other walked away, correct me if I am wrong but only Chops was sold and that was after DJ was sacked. Malky has brought in his own players and staff and the commitment shown by these players has been immense. The style of football played is easy on the eye. Personally I believe the board saw a chance to clear out the type of players they did not want at the club Bothroyd (greedy), Chops (too much baggage), Burke (didn't want to be at Cardiff), etc, etc... They have seen something in Malky they like and will back him but will not bring in players with the type of baggage that may disrupt the dressing room or the new attitude permeating the club. I welcome this and if we do fail this season we are on a better footing for next season as long as a big club do not come in for Malky...
Are we still short of bodies? We have hardly used plenty of the squad we have. If w could have loaned top class players then fair play, but that obviously wasn't going to happen. Only reason a player of Lawrence's quality is available is beccause Pompey are broke. I'd rather save the money than bring in average players to fill places, it can go into the budget for the summer. I don't think anyone would have told MM we didn't need to get promotion, just that as the entire playing staff needed rebuilding in about 6 weeks promotion wasn't expected this season. Not one pundit backed us to make top 6 before the season started, on paper we looked a side in transition that could as likely find itself bottom end of midtable as challenging. MM and the players should take huge credit for what's been achieved so far.
after the squad was left in such a mess after MM was appointed, i think they would have known it would be difficult to get promoted, however thats not to say that anyone would accept mid table. now we've been in the top 6 or top 4 for most of the season, i'd be disappointed to finish outside the play offs. as for loan and permanent signings in january, i was very surprised that we didnt get anyone. however january is a sellers market and there would be more value and choice in the summer, so at least we know that we have a decent amount of money in the summer to get the players in the positions that we all know we need. full marks to the club for swooping once it became clear lawrence was available. no messing around, and we've got a player with good ability, and who's been around the block and knows what it takes to get promoted. as for style of play, i'd say we mix it up, whitts and gunnarsson, as well as people like mcphail and lawrence, keep the ball well and work it wide and carve out chances, but at the same time, the likes of mcnaughton, turner and hudson do hoof it forwards too much for my liking, if gestede plays fair enough, but with only 1 up front its pointless..
As we've looked a bit tired our passing game has suffered. Earlier in the season we played football and retained the ball 110% better than last years side. We need to get back to that quick passing football, I think Rudy ruins our football as the temtation to smash hit and hope balls to him is too great. It's a safe option rather than playing out from the back. We haven't moved the ball as well lately but all our chances and best football has still been played when we move and pass the ball short. I can't help but feel the Don could really help get us moving in the middle of the pitch, I'd love to see him given some game time as an out and out central midfielder rather than a right mid who spends half his time central.
Fair points ITIWRAN. I suppose what I'm saying is MM was probably set goals, but possibly not tight enough to warrent settling for second best. He didn't need to take a risk on a player he wasn't sure about or to offer over the odds. He's playing a long game. For whatever reson, DJ put all his eggs in one basket and ended up with some average players. We've still got some average players now, but they have given far more than last year's did. We now have a model for players to fit in rather than a rag tag band. It's fallen away in the last couple of weeks and I'm convinced it's due to a mixture of fatigue and running out of form (not necessarily the same thing). We have needed ore bodies from the off. Good points made that we have some bodies that have been under utilised, but some of those are in positions that we have strength. All season we've been short a striker (Earnie isn't very tall is he) and a couple of wingers. I still hope for the playoffs, but if we are in this division next season, we'll be far better placed.
First off, the season saw us start with a new manager who had half a new team to bring in virtually before we kicked a ball. Back in August, no one in his right mind (except me who's got a bet riding on it ) should have expected that scenario to result in us walking out of the CCS on New Year's Day after beating Reading and sitting in 3rd place in the table, but that's exactly what happened. That was when the buttons should have been pressed by the board and Malky. If we'd been back mid -table or worse, the year could have been written off as a "building" season - that's fair enough, but we were in a prime position to go for autos. I'm not saying they didn't try, but we were assured at the begining of the season that if we were up there around Christmas time, the club would be pushed all out for promotion. From where a lot of us are sitting, that hasn't been the case. Forget blaming the Carling Cup run and Final - we are now in 8th spot because of a lack of action in the January window and since for whatever reason. Is it money? Is it policy? Or is it "stubborness" by Malky in his team selections?
The usual annual implosion cycle, its just that time of year girls! Anyway look at it this way, if you did come up to the big league, word on the street is you'd all have to hand over your passports!.................... Your dependable, I'll say that for you!.................... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Phil - we're discussing our football club mate. We don't want another decent thread descending into chaos. I've defended you in the past on here, but on this occasion, why don't you **** off?
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The club has been making all the right noises about going for promotion and supporting the manager with funds but to date not too much substance. Sound bytes or shrewd financials?
Thanks for your contributions Phill.All valid points and helpful in the debate.Nice to see you miss us so much.
