Nin - there's a wealth of talent at Everton, Newcastle and even QPR, but they are all struggling to put it together. Even Man U with all their resources looked very limited until they brought in Blind, Di Maria and Falcao. I realise we're nowhere near in the same league, but the principle is the same. As a club you need to recognise what you have to do to change things and that responsibility ultimately rests with the manager. The Prem clubs can do fck all about it now until January because they can't take in loan players, so the likes of Martinez, Pardew and Redknapp have to do what they can with what they've got, but as a Championship club, we don't have that restriction. Give Slade a chance to do it his way with his players - it won't cost much if anything at all if he can ship out some of the deadwood we seem to be carrying.
Yes they do: Marshall (definately), Back four: Fabio, Brayford, Magna, Connolly, Turner, Morrison (at this level, a big yes, a couple with PL potential) John, Cala (possibly) Midfield: Whitts (talent yes - does he use it enough, possibly not), Noone (yes when fit), Gunnar (solid championship player, so yes), Daelhi (again has the talent, not sure if this league suits him). Morrison (Pl player so deffo yes), Adeyemi (not sure, but should improve), Burgstalller (not sure), Dickochi (yes), Pilkington (yes), Ekirem (possibly not), Kim (yes, proven). Strikers: Kenwynne (yes), Maynard, La Fondre (yes, proven at this level), Macheda (should be yes, given his background, though not sure), Guerra (I think so, but needs a couple of games under his belt). Probably forgotten a couple??? So overall I agree with Ninian, they do have the talent - just they need to be molded into a functioning team unit. Important thing is to trim squad into a manageable number.
Saturday and next Tuesday should provide sufficient evidence of the progress made by Slade off the pitch with this squad. I expect the chosen players to come out of the blocks and realise they have to fight for their shirts BUT also that actually playing for the City means something to them and the fans.
I agree on many of those Whiffle but what we need and don't have enough of are all action, in your face midfielders who will give and take knocks and probably pick up a few cards along the way. We are too nice and do not have enough aggression. Look at us last season, bottom of the league but best overall record on yellows and reds. Much the same this season apart from Whitts who has 4 yellows for not making his fouls quickly enough. I believe that to get us up this division we need to be so much quicker in the middle of the park and press the opposition. We now have defenders with pace so can play a higher back line with a more mobile midfield pressing forward and harassing the opposition midfield and defence. Like Boro and Blackpool did to us. We simply don't have the players who can do that effectively. Hence, ship out 6 or more as we all seem to agree we have too many players and get in a couple to do the in their faces stuff. It will help if they can pass a bit as well.
On of the problems is I think the heart of this squad has gone......what I'd give for a Cowie, Conway, Mcnaughton, Hudson now. Hopefully Doickochai will supply a bit of 'bite' when he gets up to speed
So because of the good individual assessments of most players we have when you run through the list, and then presuming that collectively they should be more than good enough to win games, we're should limit Slade to what we've got? In other words, he shouldn't be allowed to bring in any players who he believes will conform to his ethos, and if he can't sort out a winning formula from this lot, then he can get on his bike?
Not necesserally.....the important word is 'collectively'.......the list is a list of individuals, almost all of which have proved themselves at this level or above......surely the main role of the manager is to get the most out of the players he has available....if Slade can't get this lot to gel as a team, then quite frankly, he shouldn't be at this club (so in your words Sparkey yes, he should get on his bike). Not saying he can't do it, and I sincerely hope he can. I wouldn't mind betting his remit from Tan was to get the best out of existing players, as opposed to building a new team. A bit of juggling & tinkering should suffice IMHO.
Whiffle, I don't think anyone has suggested building a new team. However, as with every previous manager in our recent history the players he has inherited are not his players. You are probably right regarding VT' instructions to get the best out of what he has but surely we all agree that OGS made some less than satisfactory acquisitions. Slade will want to move those on together with any not buying into his philosophy, thus giving him an opportunity to bring in his men and establish his stamp on the squad. I fully expect any incoming to be less than half in number of those leaving which would also involve economies in wages/bonuses etc.
Let's put it this way, if he can't do better than Ole with the players he has at his disposal (including those that Ole brought in himself), I agree, he's not the man for the job. However I disagree with your suggested remit from Tan. The only intention from Tan which is clearly demonstrated by his early sacking of Ole is to get this club back toward the top of the table this next two months and push on from there for promotion. "Getting the best out of the existing players" would be the bottom rung of Tan's expectations this season. He wouldn't care if Slade got rid of half of them and replaced them with others that would could do the job if it meant we achieved the ultimate goal. I think he'll sanction what Slade wants to do. I'd suggest that Tan's vocabulary doesn't include "well done for improving our performances" - he'd be more inclined to question our finishing position come May.
Sparkey....I'm not disagreeing, but surely if Slade does 'get the best out of existing players', then the talent available is good enough to get us there or thereabouts. I also did mention a need for 'juggling' & 'tinkering' ie getting a few out & a few in. Also if we get a 'director of football' in (which I think will happen), then Slade wouldn't even have final say on transfers. What's the odds on Tan being employed as director of football???....joking of course....but....
To be honest, it's probably more toward reality than a joke. From some of the stuff we've been fed recently like him instructing Young to play Cala against Bournemouth because there were going to be scouts there to watch him, I think he probably already is.
Can someone explain the virtue of this person? It is meaningless, a suit who intermeddles with the manager. It is not rocket science. A manager needs a no 2 with football league (both playing and coaching/managing/assisting) experience who can assist on football matters, training, fitness and as the game develops form the dugout etc. That was so evident from the reign of OGS. He had some bloke who had no experience and knowhow. I don't even know his name? Mackay had Kerslake who was a copybook no 2. What is galling and unforgiveable is that this time last year, City were comfortable in the PL with Mackay & Kerslake. I do not condone Mackay's texts but Tan with his decision to axe him and replace him with a complete novice has backfired big time. I cannot bear watching Hull in the PL who have got stronger and stronger due to having an experienced manager and back room staff, and acquiring a squad suited to the PL. City were streets ahead of them in the Championship yet City are now streets behind them. Same looks like happening with Leicester this time around. I still think City will get in the top 6 as I do really think Slade will kick @ss, and make players sweat blood for the shirt, and the fans but what a waste of 12 months.
Nin - the guy's name (Ole's No.2) was Mark Dempsey. It was the guy who said after we'd just lost 3-6 at home to Liverpool, "don't worry, there are still 6 games to go". Ole's first 5 appointments were, Mark Dempsey, Richard Hartis, Danny Keough, René Skovdahl & John Vik - not sure, but I think they've all gone along with his brother-in-law. Incidentally, it looks like Slade's preferred No 2, Kev Nugent won't be coming if Orient really want him to stay. http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/leytonorient/leytonorient/11536733._/ MUSTY - if he isn't mate, we're in deep s**t. Personally I think he'll change it around a lot, but whether enough to satisfy the owner and fans is another matter.
