There is a lot of critism flying in the direction of the board for poor decisions and continuing to support the manager however the average supporter just lets loose without seeing the bigger picture so I thought a bit more analysis would be an idea:- DM players Heaton - contracted to 30th June 2013 (with further 1 year option) Foster - contracted to 30th June 2014 Wilson (M) - contracted to 30th June 2013 Wilson (D) - short term loan to 22nd January 2013 Cunningham - contracted to 30th June 2016 Bates - short term signing to 17th January 2013 McManus - short term loan to January Elokobi - loan signing to 27th Dec 2012 – out all season Pearson - contracted to 30th June 2014 Morris - contracted to 30th June 2013 Anderson - contracted to 30th June 2014 Danns - loan signing to January 2013 Baldock - contracted to 30th June 2015 Davies - contracted to 30th June 2015 The rest Gerken - contracted to 30th June 2013 Carey - contracted to 30th June 2013 Fontaine - contracted to 30th June 2014 Nyatanga - contracted to 30th June 2013 Carey - contracted to 30th June 2013 Wilson (J) - contracted to 30th June 2013 Bryan - contracted to 30th June 2015 Amadi-Holloway - contracted to 30th June 2013 Kilkenny - contracted to 30th June 2014 Woolford - contracted to 30th June 2014 Skuse - contracted to 30th June 2013 Reid - contracted to 30th June 2015 Elliott - contracted to 30th June 2013 Adomah - contracted to 30th June 2014 Stead - contracted to 30th June 2013 Taylor - contracted to 30th June 2014 By my reckoning, that 12, yes TWELVE players (not counting loanees) out of contract in the summer. Obviously the club are not going to make contract discussions public however as they have already stated that they are well on their way to meeting FFP rules, I suspect that a fair number will NOT be offered new deals (and know it) so there you have your probable cause for the current malaise on the pitch. There are those who say some are not playing for the manager, well if you knew you weren't getting a new contract, human nature kicks in.... This could potentially reduce the massive wage bill by 50% (or £6m) and give the manager scope to complete the rebuild of the side in the summer so this is why the board will be retaining the manager and in the meantime, all we have to do is stave off relegation by any means but mostly by using the likes of Bates and Wilson (M) on short term contracts to see us through. The board knows what it is doing and are looking 12-24 months ahead, time for some of our supporters to see the bigger picture too...
didnt Bobby Reid sign a new long term contract last month? but he might as well go if the manager doesnt give the youngsters a chance
Thanks Prem for this info. It is almost certain that players have come here for a lot less annual salary than some who left last summer. David James leaving would have accommodated four new signing for no more money. I remember that Pearson arrived on a short term contract until end of last season, and then, I believe, signed a one year contract so maybe he is out of contract by 30 June 2013. And that Mark Wilson only has a contract until this coming January?
Cider, I stand to be corrected of course however these are not my stats. Another way to look at it would be like this:- Cunningham - contracted to 30th June 2016 Baldock - contracted to 30th June 2015 Davies - contracted to 30th June 2015 Bryan - contracted to 30th June 2015 Reid - contracted to 30th June 2015 There's a very decent start....
As with all new signings by any manager, there will be those who for a multitude of reasons will not "fit" at their new club. While there must be reasons why Morris and Anderson were signed permanently and Danny Wilson on loan, given the nature of football dressing rooms, it is likely that we will never get to the bottom of this. Thus on the basis that Derek McInnes signings above plus Foster and Pearson from last season, have in the main been reasonably satisfactory. I am still firmly of the opinion that our troubles stem from the fact that there are still about seven or eight left over from previous managers and that this "deadwood" must be ditched soon otherwise we will never move forward. The "Deadwood"; Defenders who have no pace, allow forwards to walk past them without challenge and have little positional sense. Midfielders also without pace, unable to track opposition players into our box and as for creation going forward and goalscoring, this is non existent. And a striker who generally could not hit a barn door from six yards with a bag of rice. Whether we can save ourselves while we have this millstone around our neck is debateable.
Lots of information to digest there prem and I can see where you are going with it. Am I right in assuming that you believe the basis for a decent squad is currently in place and that most of the dross will be on their way without being offered new contracts? As you rightly say the wage bill must be cut and I fully understand why that has to be done because otherwise we will drown in a sea of red ink which is already up around our waist. However like most supporters on this site I am concerned about the right now, and due to the lack of public information coming out of Ashton Gate my concerns grow greater every day we continue in this seemingly endless fog. Too many words have been heard from the powers that be but we are still waiting for the action that everyone of the paying customers expects. I have been quick to lay the blame at certain people's feet only because I cannot see the required action being implemented and the specifics of what is needed has been bandied around this forum ad nauseum. Yes we have the right to voice our concerns on this site and will continue to use that right to make it semi-public. As far as I am concerned the upcoming transfer window is very close to the last chance saloon for me and probably a lot of others who are fed up with hearing the thoughts of the future without seeing action today. These veiled promises have been running the rounds of BS3 for far too long and laying blame at our current manager's feet is possibly out of line but you must realise that the punters live only for today and are very wary about promises for the future. Only when the vast majority of the paying supporters see the promises turn to promise on the field will we be able to move on with our heads held high and I for one will cheer as loudly as anyone when it comes. Over to you Bristol City Football Club to make me believe that the future is looking brighter.
interesting and informative post there Prem that does indeed give a bigger picture to look at.......I like it! Put your tin hat on though ready for the barrage about to be fired!
This is all very interesting Prem and fair shout in plucking out all this imfo. But the fact remains that if we go down, all that will be thrown up in the air, it's also NO valid reason why we are in the position we're in. I bet other clubs have stats that don't look much different, it's like injuries, it's not JUST BCFC that get them.
Well directed Prem,it just shows the building blocks are being put into place,5 years of decline takes time to correct and it's happening,as you put it,'the oil tanker takes a while to turn'.. Patience is a virtue but our boys have had a lot of crap and disappointments to put up with,so I can completely understand their recent reactions,indeed I have also said I'm waiting until January before I too hit any panic buttons. The usual emotions are being expressed but all that can be calmed with a couple of successes over the Christmas period,I'm living in hope and I still believe we have progressed since the Millen farce,it was him that set the scenario for our recent past failures and a lot of the current debt situation.
Absolutely spot on. Changing Manager yet again would be the biggest mistake the board (not known for their good judgement anyway!) could make. Let's see what January brings.
It would certainly explain why Marvin Elliot is wandering around the midfield like a playful kitten, never seen a pro footballer with such a couldn't give a **** attitude as him on Saturday! Trouble is, if Del keeps playing these players they will drag him down with them..
The trouble with Elliott is basically the only one at the club who fits that position fit at the moment. I still say that try Davies in that position he would do a good job. He don't shirk a challenge as we saw on Saturday and has a good pass on him unlike Elliott!! I can only describe Elliott at the moment as Bambie on ice, and it is the pantomime season!
'time for some of our supporters to see the bigger picture too...' And equally, for some supporters to smell the coffee.
Crazy idea that players are not interested because their contracts could be up either In January or June. If I was one of those players I would be playing out of my skin, for either a further extention or to promote myself to another club......sorry really clutching at straws with this......more excuses to back someone who is totally clueless of how to put a team together in this league... Bloody hell, if we have to wait 12 - 24 months with him in charge, we could be playing the gas soon... The big picture is RELEGATION WITH THIS MANAGER.
I actually agree with Onefor. These players, knowing they are out of contract at the end of the season, should be playing for their livelihoods. Did any of them read the article about free agents and how they are on the increase because clubs cannot afford wages and need to meet FFP Regs. More fool them if they want to piss away their careers by throwing a **** fit just because they will have to find pastures new in the summer. A lot of those out of contract will do well to pick up another club at this level and even get a contract with the more decent teams in League One. Time to suck it in and start playing, if not to save us from relegation but to save their careers. Either way I don't care as long as the end result is not relegation.
SHOUT A BIT LOUDER, IT WILL MAKE YOU EVEN MORE RIGHT...., I thought you were giving it a rest anyway. Some of us don't agree with you. If they ain't got it, no amount of motivation will bring it out. The best managers are ruthless anyway and I think that DM has given everyone MORE than enough opportunity to prove themselves and not enough have done it, it's too late now..