BCFC Rich

Was talking to a friend back in the UK, a fellow City fan. He suggested that he think HNM may have a contract extension agreed in principle, but it would rely on freeing up higher wages first. (He did use to have a direct connection to the club, but doesn't anymore - so this is not an ITK comment, but he does have some understaning of how the club works=. Is that plausible? I think we could do with the money, but also would mind him developing futhrrt here.

I think it's more that he could to be less precise with his finishing - to explain: I think he tries for the perfect finish most of the time. He has definitely improved, but he is always looking for the precise - right in the corner, right by the post finish. Last season when there were some doubts about him as a championship level forward it was because of lack of goals, but if you look at the games he played he was often missing by inches or hitting the woodwork. Even against Derby he had a chance where it was pulled back to him and he goes for the top corner with power. Sometimes he is in a good enough position where he just needs to strike the ball well and roughly to one side of the keeper and he'll score, those (for want of a better word) 'messier' finishes would actually benefit his game at times (IMO).

You amy end be right, and that might be what Scott does. I'm really just giving my own opinion. I think he is mostly likely to get game time here, where he quality is already well know, he is already a part of the first team - even if NP goes we don't have the finances for the next manager to sign a replacement. If he gets a Prem move now, it will likely be as much for his potential as his current ability. What I was trying to say was - IMO he is equally backing himself by staying. Knowing that a season the same or better than this one and the same clubs will still be interested, and likely some even better ones. He will be more established, likely to command a better wage etc. and will have been playing regularly in a place he is settled and happy.

Thank you! I am going to take this to mean me and @DaveInSA have incredible football insight, and intelligence that is not warped by the mere 16 of most recent seasons.

It's funny I had a similar perception, I think it's shaped from the early days of the Prem when they were often in that position. @BS4 on Tour... If I'm wrong about that too, please don't shatter my illusions that I know a little about football!

There is merit in that and it may even be what happens. But I think you want as close to guaranteed minutes as possible and thats realistically here. A loan to a different club doesn't give that. Lets say Everton go down and Scott get the prem move and is loaned to them - on paper thats fantastic and he's and a big club. But a slow start to the season and Lampard could be gone, then it's anyones guess. Here he is an established first team player a change of manager would be unlikely to change that, and when you are young (IMO) minutes are the most important thing for development. 30+ games in a relegation fight is better than 10 for a play off team (in terms of development).

IMO this is spot on. I think if you are Scotts age in particular developing here probably is better, unlikely to be first choice in the prem. People will say a player should always back their ability, but I would argue that (if you are a young player) staying is backing your ability - you are backing the fact that clubs will still be interested, And if you build on the season before - more clubs will be interested. Going at the first opportunity for prem football and a better wage is actually in some ways acknowledging you may not get another chance. That's understandable later in your career, but as a young player there is something g to be said for developing in familiar surroundings, where you know you will get game time.

In there matchday thread they do actually say this: "Perhaps related to or been reading their Mr P" Although to be fair it's obviously a bit tongue in check - still funny.

I like Pring (hence the profile picture). It would a good interview question to ask NP if someone is brave enough :laugh:! but at this point in th season we don't know what is going on, he may have and injury that needs dealing with, may have been told we want to look at other players in the run in - to prepare for next season. We really have no idea so no need to make a assumptions - especially given Benorous is LWB by the looks of it, clearly experimenting today.

Because every other time I've ever stuck my neck out with a mid game prediction I've had to quote myself at the end to show how wrong I was I'm just going to leave this here.

I think this is always the case with 2 Cm's covering everything attacking through the middle offering and option out wide, defending the middle and backing up the wb's. One mistake and they are past them and at the defense.

IMO you are mixing entertainment and performance - defense have done fine against a decent Sheffield Utd side.

Well pretty dull if you are City fan - however despite the jokes I do think we have looked pretty well drilled at the back, other the Bents going a bit crazy. Oddly enough their best real chance he saved really well, the rest have been half chances and long shots. they are a good side with good build up play we could probably do with an extra man in midfield. Funnily enough as long as we don't concede in the first 5 mins or so after HT - I think we'll get a 1-0 or 1-1, just feels like one of those games, where we'll get a decent chance and tuck it away and they'll keep huffing and puffing.

I think we're trying him at RB so Scott can push up more.

@Colombo Robin Just one more thing....I think I heard somewhere they are brothers.

We have nothing to play for either. And I would point out that Peterborough very much do.

To be fair @bcfcredandwhite has clarified his stance and apologised for getting some of the detail wrong further up this page.

We lack depth and balance - we literally have no RB (Tanner coming back soon hopefully) and NP typically plays four at the back. We have good players but are unable to rest and or rotate. There is very little pressure on current first team players - partly because of league position (lack of relegation threat or promotion hope) but also there isn't really many options beyond them, no other players putting pressure on their place.

Yes and that is definitely disappointing - especially given how well the fans responded when we were losing/drawing but doing this earlier in the season. I think some of that is due to the fact we don't really have anything to play for in terms of promotion/relegation - I suspect if we were in a fight we would see more fight. However, I agree with you it's not a good excuse and we should expect better.

Adding to my post above, I think it's possible to say the former Leicester players haven't set the world a light. I think you are right there recruitment was about personality and players who know how he works. However I think it will have been driven in no small part by the fact we basically had no scouting or recruitment staff here, so the free transfers of players you know actually makes a lot of sense - especially when money is tight and you don't have anyone to check out the players you think have talent to see how much they would cost and/or if they have the right personality.

Apologies I misread your wine quote - I read it as 'water into wine' and thought you were saying we needed a different miracle to just staying up. I guess your point was actually we actually have a decent squad and NP is making them worse? Am I reading that correctly? If so here is the squad (taken from OFS) - Bentley - been as good as ever since coming back. O'Leary - his best ever season for us. Dasilva - probably his best season overall and noticeable improvement as it progressed. Atkinson - Best ever season for us. Matty james - Best ever season for us. Williams - Best ever season for us. Martin - Best ever season for us. King - Best ever season for us. COD - Arguably there is still a better player in there, but stil Best ever season for us. Weimann - Best ever season for us. Pring - Best ever season for us. Baker - not best ever season for us as has missed most but was great when playing early on. Semenyo - Best ever season for us. Tanner - Best ever season for us. Wells - We could have got more out of him, suffered from the form of WSM and not getting game time. Kalas - Not been terrible, but I would definitely say he could have been better. Cundy - Best ever season for us. Klose - Best ever season for us. Vyner - not great and probably can do better than he has, I think most poeple would except he is not currently Champ standard. Bell - Best ever season for us. Towler - Best ever season for us. Scott - Best ever season for us. Conway - Best ever season for us. Benarous - Best ever season for us. HNM - Best ever season for us. Palmer - not his best for sure, I think this is mostly attitude. I know lots of people will look at that and say well it's there first season or first full season, or the first time they've even played (in the case of these youngsters) - And that's part of the point. We have a squad that are mostly inexperienced at this level or inexperienced altogether. There are players that you could argue could be better - Kalas probably the best case, not been terrible, but there is a better player there. maybe COD, Vyner, and Palmer but I think most people agree about their respective abilities and/or attitudes. I think the actual issue is the the entertainment value of the football and it ignores or financial position, current squad quality and lack of depth. We could definitely have played more entertaining football, but it would have been risky and we cannot afford to be relegated - for many reasons not least our actual finances. When the attack started to come together earlier in the season we were actually playing some good stuff and there was a fair amount of praise - whilst accepting that defensively we were not good enough + conceding to many late goals, and had an inability to defend in the box and from set pieces. We are starting to see the signs of an improved defense (still a long way to go) and that has been in part from the 2 midfielders playing there part in defense that all makes the football less expansive and entertaining, but it's necessary to make those improvements.

The question isn't really about who do you want/who do you think is should come in, the question is being asked to say - what makes you think things will be better? - The point is, you are looking for a miracle appointment (your word)- someone who isn't wanted by anyone better than us, who will have next to no resources (less than NP after pay off), who may well have a smaller squad, who may not be able to sign anyone at all, and who will be appointed by SL - who does not have the best record! - and even if you could appoint any manager in the world on no wage at all -the job is incredibly tough right now, we are in a shit position. What do you think this change is going to realistically, or even magically achieve? What is the expectation you have for next season? Mid-table? - We are 12 points off mid-table now, 4 wins. Do you feel it's impossible the NP would get four more wins next season? Do you feel that there haven't been 4 games we were unlucky not to win this season? Top half? - I'd say we are moving further into miracle territory and we would at least need a bigger squad so we could rotate a bit, without loosing too many key players and that looks very unlikely. Play-off or higher? I'd say if this is your expectation you have an answer as to why you're actually so frustrated this season, we are no where near that level and do not have the resources to bring that kind of quality in. In terms of what NP has done - as @Fordy62 points out. Achieved most peoples expectations at the start of the season - and met the criteria of blooding youngsters. - Taken a forward line that was so maleigned it had threads dedicated to each member of it saying how they were not good enough, and turned it into a potent force. - Taken Weimann, who 'just runs around a lot', who was available for free to other clubs, resigned him on less wages and got him to 4th top soccer in the league (despite league position and lack on penalties). - Got AS, 'who will never be a striker', who 'can't score' in to a goalscoring threat and assist maker, who is being talked about as a £5-20m player. - With basically the same squad as the end of last season generated millions in player value (something we desperately need) - Scott, AS, HNM, Pring etc. - He has had to cope for most of the season without a right back (and we know he probably actually wants to play 4 at the back). I would also say defensively we are showing signs of improvement especially defending in the box and from set pieces (where we look better at both ends of the pitch. The Posh goal was the only time in last couple of games - bournemouth fans were even saying how they could get a sniff from any of their many corners. Todays result was frustrating and we should/could have done better. But apart from the goal all their chances were long shots and despite league position they have scored 9 goals in their last 6 games - all against teams higher placed than us and including games against teams in 2nd and 5th place.

This sums things up to me. On one hand a realisation how dire the situation is, and at the same time expecting exciting football that has us in a better league position. you have to connect the two. We are comfortably up with massive improvements upfront, loads of youth player getting game time, signs of defensive improvements recently (particularly from set pieces). Expectations have to be aligned with reality.

Acting as though NP has done nothing or that there are no signs of improvement is just not true. Everyone complaining about where goals were going to come form at the start of the season. Even a fair way into the season there were whole threads about how Weimann just runs around and AS will never be a striker/goalscorer - even now people complain about how Martin does nothing. Despite that our attack is now very potent and I would pretty much always back us to score. We have been really weak defensively particularly from crosses and set plays and last two games show a massive improvement on both. The goal today is scrappy, but they have had no other chance of note other than shots form outside the box - when they hit the post Williams should have closed down better, but apart from that most of the on target shots where speculative efforts. From set plays we are defending has been so much better. I would also had that our set plays (corners in particular) look much better and there are positive signs there too. I think people ignore/miss these things particularly after games like today where entertainment value was low. Low entertainment doesn't necessarily mean things are not moving forward. We had plenty of chances late on and at least two clear cut chances in the game that should have been goals. It was not a pretty game, but not the **** show that people are and will paint it as. If you honestly are saying NP has improved nothing you are just not looking. (posted in another thread too - thought that would be the one where the people wanting management change would be posting)