What was the point in signing them? Ole eventually chose to broadly play players already at the club when he arrived for the second half of the season, with the exception of some sub cameos and a late flurry from Daehli. Why bring in three recruits untried at this level from vastly inferior national leagues as an answer to our problems in the Premier League? Did he get it totally wrong and underestimated the task, or maybe he overestimated his ability to do the job? Maybe it was a case of preparing for the Championship from the start, with just the glimmer of a chance that he could pull the rabbit out of the hat and keep us up. No doubt if he had, we'd be singing a different tune, but given what we've witnessed so far, his judgment must be in question right now. Taking that a bit further, will the Championship battle really suit him with his declared "attractive football" approach to winning games, and how much control will he actually have over player policy?
Nin - Perhaps the kindest thing you can say is that both he and Malky wasted money - Ole just wasted less.
I've been asked a number of times since we've been relegated by casual observers "how I see next season going?". Now the things I'm pretty sure of are; Tan will be here. We'll be playing in Red. The vast majority of this seasons squad will remain and Ole will be allowed to bring in a couple of reinforcements. What I really can't get my head around is what will happen on the pitch. If we keep Caulker with him and Cala I can see us dominating possession, playing from the back. Daehli and 1 goal 1 assist Noone will be better than most from an attacking point of view. I think Mutch will stay in the PL. KWJ will give us a target up front in those tough away games, Maynard, Mason, FC (if he stays) even KWJ can all score at Championship level. At times Ole's side has looked a decent attacking side but the flip side is at times it's looked heartless and gutless. Those 2 characteristics will see us 'fighting' to stay in the Championship if teams realise we are a soft touch. You have to have real steel in the 2nd tier, the refs give less free kicks and players like Daehli will get a kicking (I do believe he's good enough to cope). So in summary we might walk to the title or we might have a chance in 2015-16 to attempt to beat Wolves L1 points record............ The reality will almost certainly be somewhere in the middle, we have a lot of proven Championship performers I really hope Ole doesn't overlook that wealth of experience whilst attempting his revOLEution.... In answer to the main question in your OP. I rate Daehli highly, I think Eikrem and Berget deserve more time before any judgement is made. I certainly haven't seen enough of either to know what they'll offer longer term. We do have a tendency as fans to write players off very quickly.
Not writing anyone off at all Stevo - just questioning why they were bought at the time with a view to staying in the Premier League. We've heard the "one for the future" drum being banged too often this season - they were obviously not what we required at the time. If they come good in the Championship, so be it and we'll all be delighted. Must say that I agree about Daehli from what I've seen and I think we'll get plenty of penalties in the Championship if he plays that close control game in the box - the worry for me is I just hope he can keep both legs intact. Cala is the one I think who'll really come good in the Championship. I love his passion and commitment to the cause, and I doubt he'll be so exposed defensively against Championship sides.
Spark! If the Norwegians were brought in with a view to Championship football then we are in trouble. I think the level of fitness in our whole current squad has dipped dramatically since Ole's backroom staff have arrived. We know what a task they will encounter in the Championship with the intense physicality and pace of games. Add to that the additional games as well and we will be found wanting. The lad Daehli has got something about him but he's lightweight when it comes to that dividion. We need a Kevin Nolan type physical presence in midfield. He is the type of leader that is missing at the moment.
We need a Kevin Nolan type physical presence in midfield. He is the type of leader that is missing at the moment. Excellent point. We were a soft touch in the Prem. I have said before, why be top of the league for least yellows and reds and bottom for playing football? That is where I was disappointed with Medel.
Medel never played far enough forward to be compared with Nolan - different type of player but the conclusions about a "Nolan" type player are spot on.. Medel policed in front of the back 4 rarely coming out of his own half, whereas Nolan is strictly a midfield territory enforcer with one hell of a knack of getting on the end of West Ham moves and putting the ball in the net. A strong man in that role is definitely missing in the side. The best we can offer has been Gunnar and maybe Cowie - both not a shadow of Nolan. Our midfield is dominated by some skillful and enthusiastic players like Kim, Mutch, Whitts, and recently Daehli, but there's little physical presence in any of them - for all his skill, even a decent size bloke like Mutch can be like a big girl's blouse when putting himself in the thick of it. The type of players like Nolan, Parker, Jedinak or Adam are what you need in the side particularly at Championship level. I fear we're much too lightweight.
He is not going to stay - he's half a chance of getting into the WC squad. That is the reason he came to City, to try and get into the squad by playing football regularly. He will be in the PL next season NQAT. May even go to Swansea again As for Cala, I do not share your optimism. He is as bad a defender as I've seen in a City shirt, and that goes back to the early 70's. Judging by the quality of his goal v Soton, maybe he'd do better playing in midfield!
In answer to the original post If they were bought with a view to helping to keep us up then none. However Daelhi's value is probably now double the total we paid for all three - so from a business/investment point of view, well worth signing.
I'm not sure I agree with everyone's assessment of Daelhi for next season. Yes he has great skill, and ability to dribble and an eye for a pass but will he be effective in the rough house that is the Championship? He needs building up and to add some steel and strength as he may be knocked off the ball too easily by the hefty lumps that each championship squad will have. Just a thought. City IMO desperately will need a 20-25+ goal scorer. They haven't had one for several seasons now, and I would urge the board to spend big on Jordan Rhodes, Ross McCormack or Charlie Austin. Even Baldock of Bristol City. Noone can supply, Mason & Campbell can feed off Rhodes. I obviously want City to go straight back up but above all I want to see some entertaining football which we fans have been starved off since Jones left. Yes he had his faults, but he sure knew how to pick a team with attacking flair - McCormack, Bothroyd, Chopra, Burke eg.
I'm sure he'll have a relegation release clause, but it'll need to be met. We overpaid for him, so it's a long way off certain someone will pay what the club wants/release requires. He has a contract and a GF in Cardiff. Add to that he's probably as over rated as it gets and I think there's a decent chance we'll end up with him next season. If we can get our money back then I'll be happy to see him playing somewhere else next season and I couldn't give a toss if it is Swansea. Cala had a nightmare at Sunderland, him and Caulker were found wanting as a pair at times but like the 3 in the OP I'm not ready to write anyone off for not looking great in the clusterfuck end of season we've just had.
As for the Norwegian Trio, i think we will have to wait and see. Personally i think at least 2 of them will shine in the Championship. I just hope we keep Campbell as i think with good service from the likes of Noone and Whitts he will tear the Championship a new Brown Hole. The defence is what needs looking at and his first priority in the close season is to sort this out. Get rid of all the dross we have and start again. Hopefully Maynard and Mason will stay, as i reckon both are miles better than Bergret or whatever his name is.
I think our decision to buy three Norwegian players was down to OGS lack of knowledge of British players. Coupled with his lack of tactical knowledge that's why we are in our current mess. 2013/14 season was a complete shambles from the start and didn't improve as the season dragged on.
Release clauses are only worth relaxing by the club if the reduced ready cash is required, and it also releases some ongoing wage commitment to purchase a more suitable player for the task in hand. There's an argument often put forward that if someone doesn't want to stay, they should be let go, but I doubt that many players will then go out and deliberately play poorly for any club - it's not in their future interests. If a player really wants to stay with the club in the Championship and is happy with his contract terms enough to commit himself to another season, then fair enough - we'll have to wait and see which scenario rules, but I doubt both Caulker and Medel will fall into that category. As long as Ole is here, the Norwegians will stay, unless of course the alleged interest in Daehli from the likes of Mourinho doesn't translate into an offer that the club would be stupid not to take. Of the others brought in by Ole, Cala and Jones could prove worthwhile for a Championship season, but we need some grunt in midfield next season, and that I see as the key to getting straight back up. We have enough "skill" in the middle of the park for the Championship with Kim, Whitts, Daehli and Mutch (if he stays). As much as it pains me to say it after watching that lot this season, Ole needs to ge this head around grinding out results, and recruit the individuals capable of doing just that when needed.
I remember Newcastle when they got relegated, they stormed the Championship..Why..because if memory serves me rightly i dont think one of their players left. Hopefully we may see a little loyalty from our big name failures. We need speed around the midfield to scare the shyte out of Championship defences, and from what i have seen from the Championship this season there is certainly nothing to fear there at the moment.
I agree with Bob and Edo, all were bought with one eye on the championship. I think I mentioned it in a thread when they were brought in by Ole. I share the fear that we will have a very hard fight on our hands, I am not convinced we have enough right at the moment with the players we have. It will be of great interest to see the outs and ins during the summer.
