for years we were desperate that at the end of every transfer window our star players would remain. Earnie, Ramsey, Chopra, Kav, ............. an extensive list and nervous times. But now............. ...............its more about hoping certain players won't be with us at the end of the window. Which of the current crop would we be desperate not to lose? A sign of the times?????
City could build a half decent team around: Marshall, Connelly, Fabio, Whitingham, Ralls, Pilkington & Noone.
Not jumping to his defense here or anything, but he hasnt done a bad job so far. Give him a goal scorer and I think we should be there or there abouts.. We just need someone who can bang them in. Thing is, Mason is a decent enough striker, but he's not the 20+ we need. Plus he's caught offside more than Earnie.. Difference is, Earnie had pace!
You are right Jay, Russell has done a decent job when you consider the circumstances and has brought stability after the Mackay and Ole disaster. However, the football is as dire as it has been and it was obvious in the summer that we were lacking a 20 plus goal striker and Russell has to take the blame for that
Might take the blame but did he have the money? 20+ strikers in the Championship come at a price - £2/3m minimum and then no guarantee of success. With the exception of KWJ (accepting all his well known faults) none of the signings in the last 2 years have had much of a relationship with the back of the net. It may be argued that they had good reps before coming or returning to us but: - Had Le Fondre passed his sell by date? Has Macheda ever been fit since coming to us (good strike rate in a struggling Birmingham team)? Is Doyle no better than a Div. 1 player? Revell is a Div. 1 player. Berget was just crap. Joe Mason, much as we like him, isn't quick or strong enough and doesn't have a good first touch and gets nose bleed in one on one's with the keeper. If we add Ameobi to the mix (albeit not a front line striker), then the back of the net generally feels safe when he is around. Is it any wonder our scoring record is so poor? In fact, looking at the above it is glaringly bloody obvious that if Russ has any money to spend in January then a striker with confidence and ability, not just good at penalties (Doyle ) must be a priority. As well as a dynamic, box to box, ball carrying midfielder, I hear you say.
no doubt we have some decent players and slade has steadied the ship, but most of the players are good pros and not players a top / middle premier league team would be courting. Where is the special youngster coming through or fast developing player that will kick on. It all seems a bit average. Which player stirs the emotions of the fans or wants us issuing a 'hands off' warning. For a number of seasons it was Whitts. Even when talk of Marshall moving to Everton there wasn't unanimous outcry for his staying.
Irony is a funny thing. During the Jones reign, (no money as such) when on song up front we were fantastic, Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra, and Bellers when he was about. Whitts was banging them in as he has a free role, something he hasnt had since that period of time. However the Jones defence was the reason we didnt walk the league. Now to present day it is the exact opposite, we look a hard team to beat and have one of the skiniest defences in the league at present, Our midfield and distribution to the strikers we have is poor. We need to bombard the box, aka Jones tactics, the chances will fall and we will get the penalties. At the moment we seem incapable of doing this, the excitement has long left the stadium, which reflects on the attendances, i rarely miss a match or fail to listen to our away matches on the wireless, however i didnt even realise we were playing Leeds (who until tuesday havent beaten us since the old king died). We look like a luck lustre outfit who are devoid of ideas but thrive on backs to the wall defending. I hope Mr Slade takes something onboard and he must realise the current entertainment on offer is not good, under mackay it wasnt much better but we were winning matches.
