The usual suspects are so keen to have a pop at the current management team - not experienced enough is the cry. I have a message for you, why don't think about it properly and consider who it is in fact that is the inexperienced party... I was going to save this until the end of the season (whatever happens) but some posters need their necks winding in a bit and their eyes opened. Just a reminder, WE DIDN'T LOSE TODAY - granted, we could really have done with 3 points but 1 is better than none The current management team has to deal with what has been allowed to accumulate over the last 4 seasons, i.e. too many hard working but ultimately, unskilled footballers. Gary took us to a certain level but failed to build on it by buying better quality players for a long time and when he finally did, it was his undoing because they soon became distainful of his simple ethic of "work hard boys" with very little else to back it up and he got found out (and they left)... We will never know if there was a disagreement with Steve Coppell over this and the squad he inherited. Whether he said they are not good enough and was told otherwise or whether his heart wasn't in it. I suspect a bit of both.. Then the bigger mistake, instead of installing a quality manager to build on the foundations laid by Gary, we appointed his deputy and allowed him to mostly carry on piling more lack of quality on top of what we already had. The bottom line here is that you don't need to spend millions but what you DO need to buy is players who have a hunger, a desire to battle, to succeed with a mix of footballing ability and an ability to be able to play in and understand formations. What we have now is a squad who have grown accustomed to NPC football to the extent that any desire has been replaced by an air of complacency, they just can't get themselves up for it - we know that they CAN do it ala Southampton but, NOT ON A CONSISTANT BASIS which what you need. We also don't have many players with either the brains, ability and desire to attack either the ball or, the box. SO, the manager has to play the best he has and hope that with a sprinkling of decent loanees, we can do enough to escape, whether it is good enough remains to be seen but whatever happens, I expect that next year, we will have an entirely different breed of player here in the mode of the manager from his playing days. 6 games left starting next week - everyone who went to Nottingham back in old League One (wine bar wreckers need not apply) should renew their acquaintence - **** the TV, we need 4,500 up there to get right behind the lads and drive them on to victory See you there...
THIS IS AN ENTIRELY REASONABLE BIT OF HINDSIGHT...... At the time there were dissenters, I was not one of them, he had his moments for which we should be grateful but he did FAIL to follow through. It is easy to say had we still had him and he hadnt failed and we were in the top 16 a new manager next season would have been a must. Hower ever a dozen games in we got Derek...hey ho a little burst like all teams seem to get when struggling and we put points between us and them below....since then it has been dire...players in players out injuries etc etc we are going through the worst period of results for 3 years. IMO I do not believe Derek has what it has got, but have always been a fair person and believe for better or for worse we should stick with him till November 2012 and make a judgement then, that is more games to start the season than I was prepared to give KM... In a previous comment, WEEKS AGO I said Florest would BE WELL GONE, ok they are slipping slowly away but alas making space. The team we would Battle with would be Millwall, However Coventry where I was today when I first heard City losing Coventry winning was a real bummer, they have a new lease of life . the battle royal will be just 4 teams and its no good saying " we just got to keep on winning" WE NEED OTHER TEAMS TO FAIL
Prem,you are absolutely correct,we didn't lose today but 'You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear' and that is what Delboys inheritence from Millen left him with and now we ' Reap the wind ' for Lansdown making Millen the cheapest,most inexperienced,catostrophic failure and fool our club has suffered from in a generation. I am one that hopes Delboy doesn't do one and he and Doc stays with us.
I blame the board and a load of disgruntled fans whom we have. Those fans who wanted GJ out for what ever reason. Those fans who ran out of patience with what we had at the time, not allowing GJ to build to what we had previous. Yes, he made mistakes and may have fallen out with the odd player, but I felt he tried too hard to give in to the fans. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for entertaining football and at times GJ didn't always provide that, the odd 1-0 win and there were occasions when the football needed to be a lot better. But I believe we just needed a bit of time in the championship with GJ to have sorted it out and become established. I remember, when a few were moaning the season when GJ departed, on the old 606, I remember I said be careful what you wish for. The biggest disapointment for me is the board and I have to include SL in that. It seems, the toy he took on and loved, has in fact become the novalty that has worked it's way, to the back of the wardrobe. IMO, getting rid of GJ was a big mistake. Although with the thought of Coppell coming in, it looked as if we were looking to progress. But then it all went down hill, appointing Millen was a big mistake and taking on Del, who had no experience at this level, with the current position we were at the time was also a big mistake. If we go down, the board and SL should take full responsibility for our downfall...What SL will want to do with his toy will be interesting to see.
Sorry he has had every opportunity to take us up the table,he has been given every assistance in the lone market,and purchase market. Apart from the initial start. What has improved -one answer nothing. Don't keep blaming the past,he has had every chance to do the business,unfortunately it is not working out for him.
Millen was a cheap replacement no different to when the board appointed Tinnion after Wilson contract was not renewed. I also think that one of the reason the board went with DM was he has a rep as an up and coming manager but I also think that compared to other managers like Dave Jones who was talked about I would bet DM wanted less money to manage the club. Unfortunately the club is ran by a businessman who has made a success in his company but when it has come to football I dont think he has always done whats best for the club. The stadium issue has become a farce and the club is losing a lot of money each season the longer it has gone on. I just cant believe there was no plan B by having either a back up location or looking at rebuilding ashton gate but when the owner owns the land he wants to build on then there was only going to be one location. This is the main problem in football across the country that there are too many rich men who have no clue how to run football clubs doing what they think is best and over the years richer men who know even less have come in and we are now in a situation that a lot of clubs, like Portsmouth, are going out of business. Today was just another poor show of football that is just the face of a poor run club. We hear a lot of how well our youth teams are and how they are one of the best in the country yet when other clubs are bringing players through we are more willing to pay over the odds for players past their best than invest in local raised players who care whether the club are still in the league next season. Fans said in January that they wouldnt sell Albert for less than £10m. I think with his current form we would be lucky to get £10 for him. Question is why under DM compared to Millen has he changed so much as a player, is it the player of the manager?
I reckon its the confidence Andy. The confidence he lost when he didn't get picked for the African Nations, the confidence he lost as the whole team continued to slide. Also he has been our best player for nearly 2 seasons, but now its catching up with him. Just a little further to go Albert. Dont give up now or you may be playing Div 1 football next season. I completely agree with the sentiments of Onefor, except in his criticism for McDel. The sooner we stop assassinating our managers and get behind them, the sooner we can turn a corner with this club. DEL MCINNES"S RED AND WHITE ARMY !
The past is still lingering and haunts us to this day, the mindset is of players who weren't that great to start with having forgotten how to win coupled with lack of ability being frightened to make a mistake - this is the accumlation of MILLEN'S efforts. Today, there were 2 McInnes purchases (Foster and Pearson) and 2 loanees in the side - NOT ENOUGH, the bulk of the side is still the one that has been losing regularly for 2 seasons so you are so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG... Only when there has been a clean sweep will we progress again. As for DM having lost the dressing room, do me a favour... Any disagreements on the pitch are most likely caused by those who are fighting for their NPC status, having a pop at those who know they are out and aren't pulling their weight and I for one don't blame them at all. Albert, don't even get me started - for all his exciting dribbling ability, there is very little end product at the moment. As someone pointed out on another thread, he stops and waits for the ball to be passed to him most times and rarely makes a run to give someone the option to put it in front of him to run on to. Granted the ball isn't often delivered but it would still be nice to have that option. Then when he does get the ball, he becomes the new Clive Whitehead wanting to beat 500 men and then, go back and beat them all again. Albert, if you are reading this, I plead with you - LOOK UP AND GET THE BALL IN THE BOX QUICKER FOR ****S SAKE....! You could be a real top quality player if you took the time to pick out team mates but its all too wild and undisciplined. Even the ball that Brettt scored from was behind him. AS FOR NOW, IT'S TIME TO STOP THE FINGER POINTING AND BLAME GAME - JUST GET BEHIND THE TEAM UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON
Prem I'm glad I'm not alone in my thinking of Albert when I say about Albert just standing around, I saw a pass today that was sublime from Stead that if any forward thinking winger was on the pitch would of been onto it like a flash. But as I said to mates today I don't think he has a football brain, great at running past players but his positioning is awfull plus he never anticipate a player's pass. It looked like Stead mistimed a pass because he never saw it coming! Yes I wasn't happy with Del's tactics today playing 1 upfront but I still believe he has had his hands tied. SL and the board never helped him in the January sales, and I heard today that he wanted these loanees months ago but was told that we can't afford them, only for injuries and bans to change the boards minds. Don't know the truth just what I heard. I still back him to turn things around for us next season!
John - The whole world could see that Millen was a bad appointment and most of us said it at the time. Johnson had reached the end of the road and also had to go. Steve Lansdown may have more money than the rest of us can ever comprehend, but he lacks common sense, and criminally he has failed to learn any previous lessons, and it's as his door I lay all of the blame for where we are now. nuff said
The key in this statement ...What has improved -one answer nothing. if anything it has gone down,and I cant believe the sweeping the statements "he is doing the best with with what he inherited"...SOME OF THEM DEFY LOGICAL thinking! 22 Gerken 06 Carey 26 Foster 33 Amougou 08 Kilkenny 10 Ephraim 14 Skuse 21 Cisse 27 Adomah 37 Pearson 09 Stead 01 James 03 McAllister 17 Bolasie 34 Pitman 39 Wood Green is remnants of GJ Orange is Dereks purple is betweenies so are we saying these 5 or 6 in purple are c*** along with the greens? we then have a team of 5! so need to get 6 more urgently stamped DMI.............
So much truth in every post. We have become a laughing stock and really do deserve to get relegated. This season reminds me so much of several previous relegation years with players who had been at the club too long playing without heart or passion and some kind of ability to open up opposing defences at Ashton Gate. I am a Derek McInnes fan 100% but it is significant that we scored within minutes of going 4-4-2 with two recognised strikers! What would have happened if we'd gone all out for the win right from the start? But who am I to criticise him; I can't even predict a complete weekends Championship results on the BBC predictor. This weekend the only result I got right was City's draw. Every other game finished with a different 1, 2 or X. I only hope my pessimism about our fate is turned on it's head but I fear not. Oh and is there any City fan still dreaming of a win at Forest? I doubt there is anyone alive who can remember our last league win there in 1921!
Simple proof...Results and points.. ..........Millen.........Games Played..10...Points Earned.06...Points Average..0.6 .. ..........Del............Games Played..30...Points Earned.31...Points Average..1.03.. Mcinnes performance is far better than Millens..
Wiz,both are not good enough,both are poor. As people are saying the buck stop at the top-the new board have messed up big time and must take the blame.
John it does make me wonder what some of our fans our watching,that was as clueless a formation yesterday for a game we needed to win. Only when we went 2 up top did we look like scoring. His big problem was JS and Ephram were playing so so deep,we had no outlet up top because they were picking the ball up so deep. One word CLUELESS
perhaps a formtaion like this for forest ------Gerken Skuse Kienan Bikey Foster Adomah Cisse Pearson ------Ephriam --Stead----Pitman thoughts??
For what it's worth I thought getting rid of GJ was a huge mistake. We never really gave the bloke a chance to put things right that season because we weren't in any real threat of relegation like we are now. Some of you are not going to like this but GJ's mistake was the signing of Paul Hartley. The bloke brought nothing but trouble to this club and fractured the dressing room. Yes some of you will say 'it was down to nepotism' and you would probably be right but that didn't give Hartley the right to split the dressing room. As good a player as he was (by far the best central midfielder in recent years) I wish he had stayed in Scotland and never bothered to be honest. His antics behind the scenes far outweigh his abilities on the pitch. I can't but help think that the day we signed him our decline started. GJ should have stuck to his principles of buying average players on paper and making them play well above their level. Our first season in the Championship was a fluke but for some it increased expectations well beyond our level. Our level is/should be mid-table in this league and slowly building. Kind of like what Swansea and Stoke did but no we have crap senior management and an even crapper section of fans who think we probably should be competing in the Champions League by now. I have accepted we are going to be relegated and I'm prepared to stick by Del and Doc, however, if we are not competing in the top 6 of League One next season by Xmas I can't see how we can justify him staying on.
Spot on Ashton, although I fear with what we have at the club, we will struggle in League 1.......It's all gone backwards since GJ left. I think we all got too big for our boots in our first two seasons in the championship, many fans really thought we were much bigger and better than we really were. I believe the abuse directed at LJ, the abuse directed at GJ for playing LJ was the grounds for GJ purchasing Hartley. I know Redprint wll slate me for this, but I believe it did cause friction in the dressing room and was the downfall, of the best manager we've had since Alan Dicks. I think our situation is a complete mess and I don't see, that if we go down, DM will be the manager to bring us back up. The board have a lot to answer for and I have to say, I'm fairly cheesed off as we have not had SL explaining, what he thinks has gone wrong........ Question is, does he care anymore???
