After starting the season off in reasonable form we have fallen off the perch somewhat in recent games and low level rumblings have been heard in and around BS3. Being a manager in these days of quick fire reactions from team owners cannot be an environment in which you rest on your laurels for any length of time. Our man Derek is in a better position than most when it comes to support from his bosses which will allow him the necessary time to make the changes that he thinks, and we the punters know, need to be made soon if we are to remain in a comfortable upper league situation for the remainder of this season. Just imagine that you are our beloved Derek and tell the world exactly what you would do to make our squad better prepared for the rest of a tough campaign. He strengthened the back line with Cunningham, and then his replacement Elokobi, only to be brought back to earth with the injury scenario which appears to be affecting our performances at the present. So, in your opinion, who does not pass the old grey whistle test and should be moved out on loan or transfer and what type of players need to be brought in to overcome our deficiencies? Based on our limited purse strings try to be realistic and at the same time be brutally honest about who needs to leave Ashton Gate. Don't give a second thought about their loyalty and length of service if their time has truly expired but just wish them our best wishes as they move on to pastures new. The opinions of many 606ers seems to be miles apart on certain players and unanimous on others who are felt to be past their expiry date in a Bristol City shirt. The season won't get any easier and unless we address some of the overdue issues regarding specific positions on the pitch it could get a lot harder to compete at an acceptable level. Over to you guys!
If it was me I would be looking at the youngsters from the prem, Wilson of Liverpool would be top of my list, followed by hall of Tottenham. If they fail then ask pulis about Upson. As for players moving on, I would let nyatanga move on in January, with the funds would look straight away for another defender on a permanent basis, would also strip fonts of the captaincy and hand it over to Heaton Wouldn't get rid of any other players as overall our squad is well balanced. Last but not least, I would get Heaton and adomah to sign new 3 year contracts (this also being in January) what ever they ask we should give them as without them in our squad today we would look so weak and lack any real class
I would presuade Elliott Ward to join from Norwich and McManus, on loan with a view to sign in January. Then try and get Grant McCann from Peterbourgh I know he's 32 but can play a bit still. And won't be too expensive. Would agree with Shiny on Tanglefoot. Carey would probably finish the end of the year so maybe look for a new defender to come in with potential. And send that Australian back home on the first flight.
if i was the manager? hold onto the job as long as I could and wait till my huge pay off, retire in cornwall and get a nice house.
My list to go; Gerken, Carey, Nyatanga, Kilkenny, Pitman, and Mark Wilson. Possibly Fontaine - in my mind I'm 70-30 in favour of letting him go. I’m also not convinced about Marvin Elliott but in his case I’m 30-70 about him leaving. As for youngsters in the squad; Let Lewis Carey have the number 2 keeper shirt, and Joe Edwards to be the deputy right back Put these two plus Bobbie Reid and Joe Bryan on the bench for every match so both get as much game time as possible. Newcomers; Not living in England now I’m a bit out of touch with up and coming younger centre backs in the lower leagues but there must be some real gems there. As I’ve nearly cleared out all our central defenders except James Wilson then we need two experienced “Stoppers” -McManus ? - and another younger one with promise to be brought through to form a pairing with JW in a year or so. Also a dominant creative midfielder in the John Quigley, Bobby Kellard, Gerry Gow mould to partner Cole Skuse. Who or where from, I haven’t a clue but I’m sure DMc and Doc know who would fit the bill at centre back and midfield. We must stop throwing goals away especially in latter stages of games as this is draining any new found confidence from players and supporters at an alarming rate.
Your last sentence has been the problem for too many years hasn't it cider? Like you I still think we have too many hangers on and the decks need to be cleared for a new era.
I was in 2 minds as well with Fontaine but I felt we need cover plus at the end of the day he can still do a job, just not at the moment. I also think Del is still trying to make good with what he has at the moment. Anderson I feel is bought for the future and don't know why he is not being used at the moment could be carrying a knock or just fallen out of favour. We will hold our position next year and could see players being sold in January to make way for new comers. We only released players this year not sold any. Players need to be in the window to sell. And there are as some say still some hanger on's. Morris possibly groomed for some sort of trainer as well possibly as I can't see what he bought him for and not play him. But also when winter kicks in we will see more injuries in positions that these could then be used. Next season we will see a full McInnes squad full of youngsters. Well I hope that this is the plan
Short-term - we need a centre-half but the quality may be reduced as we may not have alot of wages to play with (as paying Elokobi until end of December) Mid-term - agree about re-newing contracts for Heaton and Adomah (though not paying whatever they want) Mid to Longer term - I keep saying that Killkenny can't play in a 4 man midfield - need to get a creative midfield player who can
Cidered I completely agree with what you are saying as its what I have also been saying. There are too many players who are in the "boys club" who have been here now too long and is stopping us moving forward under our new manager. I would allow both Fonts and Elliott to leave (if we can) they are both getting on and cannot get through a season without a lengthy lay off, thats before even talking about what they have done recently on the pitch. I think James Wilson is the only senior centre defender at the club worth keeping and would like to have the manager build a new defence around him as he is a talented youngster but we will lose him if he isnt given a game. I dont understand why we still have kilkenny at the club as I dont even think he is one of our top 4 centre midfielders. I would like to see Reid given a chance in teh first team as even though he is the same height as Kilkenny and LJ before he is more like Paul scholes as he is a very good passer of the ball and can score goals as he has shown whilst playing in the reserves / u21 and if he can give half that at senior level we could be laughing. I guess Pitman is the surprise of still being here as with Sam and Davies joining you would have to question why he is happy to be 5th choice but then again he is alleged to be on £8k+ a week which might put clubs off. I also would let Stead go, he was a good player last season but with Sam, Davies and Taylor he may struggle to get first team games and with his high wage id rather see the 4th choice striker being younger and on less money a week. I said at the beginning of the season that the defence was the weak and even though we did well getting Greg in to not have a back up left back was silly as we went through this with Jamie when he was our sole left back back in previous seasons and got injured, guess some people never learn. I am not convinced by M.Wilson, not the quickest, gets caught out of position too often and when he gets the ball he just boots it 50 yards rather taking the ball forward. It has taken Foster a season to get used to the league so hopefully Wilson will in time but at the moment hes not for me.
Its nice the negativity has come back already!! We had bad luck with three injuries in the space of two matches and that has obviously affected the balance a little. Del's 100% safe. Everyone at the start of the season said they would be happy with mid table finish and thats looking likely. The problem is whenever we win two on the trot we suddenly expect to be up for promotion - and when we don't win for a couple of games we think disaster has struck. Get a grip people.
'If you were in charge what would you do now?' - Pretty much as McInnes. He's been desperately unlucky with injuries to all 3 Left backs. So he's had to 'make do and mend' with moving Foster and playing Mark Wilson. To be fair it's the same in midfield, if they were both fit Elliott and Skuse would be his first choice CM. Again he's had to 'make do and mend' playing the moaning Australian and tinkering with Woolford and Davies left side. Woolford and Kilkenny would never play if Skuse and Elliott could remain fit. I have a problem with Del not getting in a CH as yet but I'm sure the bloke's trying. If I have another gripe it was his tactics the other night against Millwall. He launched everything from Heaton for 90 minutes straight at a Mountain. I'd make sure both full backs made themselves 'available' for a throw from Heaton and one last comment, I wouldn't play Tangle and Fonts together at the back - ever.
No one is being negative?? The question was what would we do and we are just playing footballer manager. The only negative thing people have said is we need a CH which Del knows, and gripes against Kilkenny which if you went back to last season has not changed. But no one has criticised Del, most of us realise it's the injury curse that stopped us in our tracks so far
The only negatives are, stating the obvious. There has been an issue with injuries and there are some players that are not playing to the level we know they are capable of. Of this whole season the only thing I can falt the manager is playing 4-5-1 last game and still picking fonts who is out of form. DM has a plan which is not going to be achieved in a season, it will take time until he feels he has the players needed to do the job. Id love it if we can finish mid table but if it wasnt for simple mistakes we could be higher up the table. Losing to a better team is one thing but losing to carelessness is another thing
Priority and crucial two central defenders and we will be okay. That would be my no1 priority. Time to move on gerkin,fonts,nyatanga,kilkenny,pitman, Some I rate highly but the wages must be astronomical for this lot. Then replace with two quality central defenders. Job done.
Surely,these are all good ideas but we can't sell or buy anybody until January 1st 2013,so it's loanees in only...Del is hamstrung...
I do not see one negative post on this thread. We all have different ideas about how we would manage the club, hence the differing ideas about individual players. Yet it comes through loud and clear that there are probably 4 or 5 squad members whom the greater percentage of City fans believe are not up to the standard of Championship football. Yes all I want this season is really mid table obscurity and I am 100% sure we can achieve this so long as we plug the leaking defence. Some dream of finishing higher if we do so. What really concerns me is that if we don't stop the frailty at the back then confidence, being the fragile thing it is among footballers, will drain so quickly from the team that we'll quickly end up in a relegation battle. That is not negativity but absolute reality!
