I read alot about Liam Fontaine's performances this season - I've also heard lots of negative things being shouted from the crowd. Now I'm the first to agree that his performances have been below par this season. His confidence is shattered (not helped by our crowd getting on his back at the slightest mistake) I think the lad deserves a bit more support and respect - he has played over 200 time for our club. SoD talked this week about Fonts being played out of position as a right sided centre half - in other words more often than not he is using his weaker side. I thought he had a decent game against Leicester, but niticed as soon as one mistae happened the boo-boys were on his back. It's at times like this that a player needs us to help him - so lets do that - lets help one of our own!!!
Defending is a team game. Organisation when the ball is lost starts outside the back three. Midfield players constantly have failed to drop go narrow all season basically one or two abandon defending and did not compete. City have lacked an obvious defensive shape front to back all season. This was a big black mark v the previous manager. Disagree that fans have got at him, they got it easier than other clubs but Fontaine deserves a clean slate.
I hope he (Fontaine) starts to perform to a standard that will firstly help others in the team to do their jobs and secondly to help the club get out of the mess that we are in. But why are we in such a mess? Because some of the senior players have consistently performed like seven year olds and if they are now able to produce Championship standard match after match, then I do not have any confidence that they will not behave like that again if it suits them. My solution is the same whether we go down or stay up. Rebuild at end of this season without those who by their dismal performances have put us where we are. And before anyone tries to pin it all on McInnes, I've seen six relegations at City and apart from the drop into the Fourth Division in 1982, all the others are down to players not giving their best. Managers are important but it's the troops who win or lose football matches.
"Mom at Leeds according to the post" MOM against Leicester according to the post. Shows what they know!! .. he's either ****in awful or he has stabbed his manager in the back.. Time for change.
When will people wake up and smell the coffee! Fontaine is sh**e, if he can only play well when a 36 year old defender is alongside to kick his arse, what does that say about him! He was appointed club Captain and the last time I checked the definition of being a Captain is too lead, he is incapable of leading and inspiring himself let alone the rest of the team, at least at this level. I agree his confidence has gone and people are on his back, but that is only because his performances have been way to poor for way to long, and his attempts to clear the ball from danger at times are comical on a schoolboy level. I think he would be OK at League 1 level at best, just hope it is not with us!!
Some of Fontaine's performances and mistakes have cost us points this season. He has to go and I wouldn't be sorry to never see him in a City shirt again
Fontaine has made so many mistakes over the last few years at first everyone thought it was Boom Boom that was the weak link too slow to turn etc and whilst he did have his faults It seems as Fonts has played with more and more different partners at the back it was and is him that is the weakest link it was all so obvious last season when McGivern was playing he used to get caught out of position fairly often when Fonts was at LCB the opposition just ran straight through the defence from the right at least when tanglefoot played he was aware and covered when McG was caught up field out of position, now this is just elementary defending when I played football as a full back it was drilled into us to cover for our defensive partners when they pushed forward and you could be sure they would cover your backside if you pushed forward.
Originally Posted by Redprintt 'I'd bring in Fontaine to play left side' Rickster 'So would I if I got my brain replaced by a cauliflower' Have to admit Rickster it did make me laugh. Fontaine is now playing in his correct position according to SOD. SOD must suffer from the same Cauliflower 'condition'.
H If SoD thinks Fontaine is the answer to save the club money on buying another LCB, then yes his brain is a cauliflower.
Perhaps that may be one of the reasons why Nigel lost his job? I would not pay for Fontaine now with cash let alone Green Shield stamps.
Most informed opinion is that it was madness to sack Adkins As for Fonts - playing in the right position plus a bit of confidence will see him get back to his best
Completely agree with the OP. Looking at some of the replies, it seems that some people will stay on his back regardless. Let's not pretend he isnt getting abuse from the stands. Yes, his performances have been poor for most of this season... but a lot of our fans are making it nearly impossible for any player, who is short on confidence, to turn form around. The same fans that wouldnt have given GJ time to turn it around. The same fans that were singing DM's praises last year... only to have to knives out as soon as times became tough. There are even some fans who are calling for a change of ownership!!! We are in a mess. Nobody is claiming otherwise... but what is all the negativity and sniping at the players and eachother going to achieve? Even if we go down.. lets go down cheering and singing. CTID!! Regardless of which league we are in.
All valid sentiments Mikey and I for one wasn't one of the fans calling for Del's head. But we fought and won world wars to live in a modern democracy where one of the liberties we enjoy is freedom of speech. Therefore if I, or any other supporter calls for the head (or goolies!!) of players, manager, chairman or owner, because they are not achieving anything like they should be given the money that's involved, then they are perfectly entitled to do so as the people paying the money.
I have supported every manager we have had even KM because he was our manager, I have never slagged off one of our players during a match but after a match they are fair game when they have been either playing sh1Te or not trying. I'm sorry but Fontaine has not been worth his wages for more than a couple of games a season for years now and other people were always considered to be at fault I'm not saying he doesn't try because I don't know but what I observe he just does not have a brain that thinks fast enough when the team is playing well this isn't so obvious however when we are struggling defensively it stands out a mile now I don't know if S O'D can get into his head and make him think faster I have no idea for his sake I hope so.
"Spots" and "leopards" come to mind. A change of club is the best medicine for Fontaine who's defending has been very poor this season. And no I do not sit there screaming abuse at him on my visits back to Bristol, but as Angelic said above, we are entitled to our opinions and my opinion is based on what Ive seen live, on video highlights and radio commentary. If he suddenly becomes a good player, and any other for that matter, I believe it will show that some have not been pulling their weight for the club that is paying them a very good salary.
If anyone thinks that shouting abuse and calling a player names will improve his game then they are totally thick to the point that they should be put down like a dear old dog. I said this before in support of poor old Lee J when he was made the whipping boy for anything that went wrong at AG. No, he wasn't the best of players but hurling vile crap at him was never going to inspire him to improve. To be honest, I would rather concentrate on ripping the face of a cidered-up zombie who abused me rather than accept his critical account of my performance and helpful advice on how I could improve - like LEAVING AG for example. Most of us have played the game at some point and we all know when we are having a stinker - we don't need a beer bellied twat to tell us. It's in everyone's interest that Fonts improves; his and ours. I wish him well and I will applaud him if he plays well. If he doesn't then I won't applaud. Simples.
