Well that's 3 down and 43 to go - 3 points from a possible 9. Two points a game is the usual target for promotion whereas just the one per game will send you down. We're bound to pick up a win sometime but I fear they will be few and far between. This time last season under "schoolboy" Ole we had 7 from 9 having beaten Huddersfield and Wigan after the opening draw at Blackburn. Looks like "schoolmaster" Slade needs to up his own game if history isn't going to repeat itself. A very unlucky defeat at Wolves with a Hudson own goal at the death was followed by a point taken at Fulham. Then after two disastrous games at home against Norwich and Boro, Ole was gone. Incidentally, the first 30 minutes of that Norwich game when we went 2-0 up was the best football I've seen City play for years. These first 5 August fixtures this season always looked tough on paper, but in reality there should have been 6 points already in the bin before last night - Fulham were poor and QPR bloody hopeless. Much as been made of the fact that we'd passed the ball a lot better that last year and that's a start, but those two sides were there for the taking. Haven't seen any of the game last night so can't comment, but from the press stuff, we were hardly worth the point. The fact there were 5 draws out of the 7 games last night maybe a temporary reprieve regarding our early table position, but with more Championship games tonight, we could be heading the wrong way in it. Bottom half is not good enough with this squad, and if we don't get results against Wolves and Forest it could even be bottom 6. If justice has anything to do with it, what will happen to Slade then?
Agree with you OS. Except I don't agree the squad is that good. It has no attacking midfielder, it has no decent number 9 and some of the players are average (Peltier, Morrison, Gunnarrsson, Mason etc). Having a decent number 9 and cutting out a schoolboy goalkeeping error would have seen us with 3 out of in first game; having a decent number 9 and cutting out a schoolboy defending error would have seen us have 6 out of 6, and an attacking rather than 10 men behind the ball game plan for 2nd half last night would have seen us have 9 out of 9. That though would have been camouflaging the obvious problems. These have been exhausted on this mb. Slade has to get the best formation, tactics and personnel for each game right. If he cannot then someone must be brought in who can. It would help of course for the man to be given money to spend but what would he do with it? He bought Doyle and Revell so what confidence would we have in purchasing better players?
Didn't say the squad was that good Nin, just that it's better than the results we've managed. Even Slade should be more than able to push for a top 6 slot with what he's got. The lack of a cutting edge up front is fundamental and without that commodity available we'll struggle to kill other teams off, but we should be able to control a game and see off the mediocre teams with the right team and tactics. For all his plausibility in front of the press cameras, I don't believe (and haven't for some time) that Slade will take us anywhere, with survival rather than promotion being the more likely target come next April/May.
I only listened to the Radio Wales coverage last night so my opinion is based on their ****e commentary alone. First half we were in total control, moved the ball well and took our chance. We had promising moments that should probably have been turned into better chances. 2nd half we were pushed back and very lucky to escape with a point. Credit does go to a vastly improved pressing game from Blackburn, they played high up the pitch and used long throws and set pieces to build pressure. We are missing a dominant CB. Hopefully Manga will be back soon to fix that. I mentioned before the game I worried Revell and Mason don't have enough goals in them. The problem is KWJ is a massive gamble either starting or off the bench. On the occasions he can ****ed he's a weapon, on nights like last night he was like having Revell sent off. He's a lazy ****er and we can not depend on him. The side probably needed freshening up a little last night, they've put a shift in for the first 2 games and I think it really caught up 2nd half. I agree we need some creativity and for all his promise Pilks has produced a grand total of **** all return in 3 starts and should be dropped for Noone. We all declared our opening fixtures very tough. We're undefeated including 2 away's. We have conceded a couple of awful goals in the first 2 games which could have easily turned those into wins. Malone looks quality and Ralls has stepped up. That's my half full. Half empty, we're seriously short on creativity, and definitely do not have a 20 goal a season man in the side. I think we'll have to play either Revell or Mason as 2 hard working goal shy strikers is not promotion material. You all know my solution to that one though. From a management POV last night knowing Blackburn's set piece and throw in threat we should have had another CB on the bench (the young one from Arsenal?). We could have brought him on instead of Noone and had a slightly better chance of battening down the hatches. Wolves are a good side, Saturday will be a very interesting benchmark rather than the relatively unknown quality of our first 3 opponents.
Not many of them in the Championship imo. Anyone trying to pick a few 'safe' homes for an acca is normally best off skipping the division. As the number of early season draws across the division shows there's a gnats cock between most of the sides. A decision, mistake, wonder goal is very often all that settles most games and I don't see that changing. Very few sides in this division win easily on a regular basis. It's about cutting out the soft goals and making chances count. It's what MM did, we hardly ever won by more than a single goal margin and won the division. I will add I agree our game management was awful 2nd half last night.
Not sure of the width of a gnat's cock Stevo, but if that is the case, all the more reason to get someone in to manage the side who can make the difference. Gnat's cocks apart, the cream will rise to the top and separate from the semi skimmed also rans before long. As you say the difference between many of the teams is minimal and that is just the reason why the squad we've got could be good enough to challenge for honours given the right direction.
Not the start we wanted but one many expected - could have been worse but for 2 very good goals. There is clearly a level of mediocrity within the squad and this has to be addressed very quickly. I am not unhappy with the defence with Manga coming back to challenge soon - although he is capable of dropping the odd glooper too. While Morrison lost Hill for QPR's first overall he has a good attitude. He is a good defender at Championship level. WoL made a good point about Peltier in that he always seems to play within himself and adds very little going forward. Okay if Malone is given licence to play with freedom in the right circumstances then perhaps Peltier has to play a more withdrawn role but it is not what we are used to at right back with McNuggs and KTC showing a sense of adventure while still being good defenders. However, as highlighted regularly our biggest failings are in central midfield and up front. Dikgakoi looks a shoe in and should get fitter with more game time however Whitts? Does he have something on all our managers as none seem capable of dropping him until they have no option? I still think he is our best player at retaining the ball but his creativity is now non-existent. Ralls must be given a chance in central midfield. The only problem then would be for someone else to be covering for Malone when he goes on his expeditions forward - not the quickest at getting back. If we go 4 - 5 - 1 then that could be resolved but that leaves us with only 1 up front and no obvious candidates to successfully fill this role which will include a need for energy and mobility - that's KWJ out then. Revell has these qualities but lacks the skill and footballing ability that is needed. Mason is not a no. 9. Doyle has an eye for goal but his feet aren't quick enough to match his eye at this level and Macheda? Over to you Steveo. We obviously have budget limitations or we would have got one or two players in - which would hopefully add what is missing to the squad. So how does Slade get over this? KWJ is probably on £25/30k per week so he can go if there are any takers. Israel being a possible route out if yesterday's WoL can be believed. Even with no fee that would at least free up cash for a loanee - and I still think we are after Rantie from Bournemouth if they get either Murray or Defoe. The other option is Marshie for a fee and wages saving. That would release cash for us to buy someone. But as Nin said, Slade's track record of signings is not good so what encouragement is there for us if he is given freedom with the money.
The three draws could easily have been three losses. Two late goals for us and we could have conceded a late one yesterday as well. Is that really good enough? Not in my book. Persisting with Revell and Peltier is a selection mistake by the manager as is excluding Noone at a time when he seems to have been recovering his form. As for new recruits, I'm not holding my breath especially as the sale of Marshall seems to have fallen through.
Listened to most of the game on BBC Wales, there were points where it sounded like we were absolutely going to get another goal and times where our backs were firmly to the wall (proven by the Blackburn goal on the 88th minute). I can't see anything past another mid-table finish again this season. We definitely don't have a good enough squad imo. Revell not good enough, neither is KWJ! Positives from the game, nice to see Mason off the mark. I hope he gets what he deserves from this season. At least we didnt lose .
I dont believe for 1 minute the target is promotion. Its to run the club so there are no more losses and to reduce the debt. Unless we have a manager who can pull a masterstroke our best hope is to stay where we are until Tan goes. Ive no problem with that as long as we play some decent passing football and not have to watch last seasons dire football. Id rather a better manager but if Slade has us mid table after 10 games then hes doing ok. Cant judge where we are after the next 2. If we are bottom 6 then sack him as relegation will be a disaster. But I dont think Slade will take us down. I would have sacked him in the summer. But he wasnt so he deserves a bit of time. If he keeps picking Revell he will be asking for the sack.
Whilst I do not disagree with you at all Hilts, it is surely more commercially prudent [if the intent is to make the club a sellable asset - which appears to be Tan's intent] to invest in the asset, and turn what is a solid mid table team into a team that could challenge for promotion to the riches of the Premier League. One decent striker, one decent attacking central midfielder and an experienced or promising young manager could turn this team into a decent shout at the play off's. As an aside, the fans deserve more and should e told by the club of its intention this season.
I think the intention is to add players they just have a budget that involves shifting Guerra, KWJ and possibly was working on the sale of Marshall. If one or both of the strikers are moved on then I fully expect that Bournemouth loan guy to come in.
The problem remains that the club is blessed with a plethora of average players managed by an average (at best) manager. There are no stand out individuals who can exert an overall influence over the course of a game nor a match winner who can win it with a piece of pure skill. You can't ignore the budget restraints placed upon him, but Slade's imports to date particularly the likes of Revell, Doyle and O'Keefe have been underwhelming to say the least. Kennedy has yet to prove himself, and the two full backs Peltier and Malone both border on the distinctly average category for this division. Nin's valid points about a decent player up front and a forward thinking midfield dynamo being required seem obvious to anyone who has watched the side since Slade came on board, but I have serious doubts over his ability to select and integrate such players into his dated playing system. I believe what he already has at his disposal could have done better these first three games than 3 points out of 9.
Very harsh on Malone's start to the season. He's been creative, pretty solid defensively (no obvious mistakes in my memory) and scored an absolute wonder goal. Him and Ralls look like they could be a real strength for us this season. I agree Peltier is average but as a replacement for the pretty average Brayford I still think he makes sense. Doyle has a lot to prove, Revell is super limited and O keef seems a total and absolute waste of a transfer/wages. What is most bizarre is O keef seems a real step backwards from Adeyami who he's replaced!
You can't hang your hat on Malone's wonder strike - another time it would have gone over the bar. Afraid I don't rate him as highly as some. He's enthusaistic and shows some passion, but you could say the same about Fabio. Personally, I would have perservered with him. He was labelled a disaster waiting to happen and it did on times, but with the same support from Ralls that Malone is getting right now we could be singing a different song about him. If you remember this time last season, Brayford was getting some rave reviews and MOM ratings, but he was soon found to be wanting. Peltier is better than him but I fear he's very limited at this level and nowhere near good enough at the top end of the division. The others I mentioned are serious blots on Slade's ability to "pick a player" - he hasn't got a scooby doo about the level and type of player needed at the club.
Funny about different opinions. I think Brayford is miles better than Peltier. Fabio should be right back in my opinion.
Doing as expected really for a mid table team. win some draw some and lose some in a consistency that will see you comfortably without any problems....Slade has improved as a championship manager and deserves credit for that but is he good enough for promotion.....I dont think so but never say never. i like the guy...
