Yet again another example of the mismanagement of the last couple of seasons, we have/had six centre backs yet a very thin central midfield, and now seemingly, based on the fact that all three are rumoured to want to leave, absolutely no forwards.
The complete imbalance of our squad is probably one of the main reasons that we now find ourselves in the Championship, and after last seasons spend of £42M I think the big question should be why. The loss of stalwarts such as Rosie and Macca simply add more fuel to the fire for me. As much as I like Steve Bruce it appears that he hasn't really helped himself, or us, with many of his bizarre decisions.
Nice politics with a small p. Alex Bruce stays implying, if Rosie and Quinn had signed they'd have been ok as well. Offer Quinn a new deal so it means he is the one who refuses it if he does.
Paul McShane will always be a City legend. The way he finished the game against Manchester United shows the difference between him and Alex Bruce. Some team, and their supporters are going to be very lucky.
Erm, yes. Signing one centre back when you're already in the bottom 3 is hardly likely to save them. You talk as if they were well clear of the bottom 3 and then signed Maguire. It's not like Derby being top, signing Ince and then hardly winning another game.
The way he finished the game against Manchester United shows the difference between him and Alex Bruce.
He signed in February, he made 16 appearances, a third of a season. I would expect anyone playing 16 games or a third of a season to have a positive impact, particularly if they were, as you describe 'OUTSTANDING'. What does an 'OUTSTANDING' performance in defence get these days? A defeat? No, I don't talk as if they were well clear of the bottom three, you talk utter ****ing ****e. They signed him to improve their chances of staying up, which these outstanding performances you talk of must have helped them avoid relegation - oh wait.
No need to bother responding, don't make yourself look any dafter.
Remember McShane was happy to disrupt the squad and throw a tantrum when he didn't get his own way, which was around the time new contracts were getting handed out, its only been the last few months of the season that he sorted himself out and established himself in the team.
It's hard to judge these decisions in isolation, we'll have to wait and see what we have at the start of the season before we can judge properly.
I expect we'll sign another right back, that being the case, he better be brilliant or he's going too be in bother before he's even started.
Another concern, is that Brady, Elmo and Chester are likely to be the three most in demand of our players, possibly also Dawson, if we start losing these players, we might well regret not holding on to some of those we've released. Time will tell, as Tickles would say.
What are your thoughts on Junior being handed a two year deal whilst Paul McShane is sent packing?
The one positive thing to take from all of this is that we are obviously not planning on selling any of our current centre backs, although I'm sure if a ridiculous offer came in we'd have to let them go.
It does worry me where this thread is going. A great many people seem to be questioning why we've kept Alex and released McShane and at the first mistake - which will happen - I can see the crowd turning on a player who has had an excellent season just gone. It's ridiculous.
They've both been brilliant this season, lets not suddenly turn this into an anti Alex campaign.
Time will tell, as Tickles would say.
It looks like we're going for hoofball next seasonWhat was the difference?