Fuber

4 hours ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Here we go again.

Who "people want"

We just don't get the choice on this. Is it a rhetorical  question when people ask this? Why is that when people question a Manager they are expected to state their replacement yet when they criticise a player they are not expected to name a suitable replacement from another club who is affordable available , better and would come here?

Please also remember that many on these particular pages don't actually go to games but formulate opinions based on 'watching' the radio or MDT. Even the TV is suspect for seeing the whole game as much movement is off screen and lost to the viewer.

The likelyhood of NP leaving is growing each game and whoever people would want to replace him is irrelevant because we don't make the decisions . We get what we're given because BCFC is an autocracy but we can decide whether we support any decision with hard cash because that's our freedom of choice.

 

I mean, you can either take it literally - or more perhaps how I mean it in that - do you trust the club to appoint anyone better out of those managers who are realistically available?

I genuinely think we're fudged either way.

11 hours ago, Citychuds said:

Holden would have got more out of this squad than Pearson. LJ would have got more out of this squad than Pearson. Cotterill would have got more out of this squad than Pearson. Maybe only a couple of positions but every position counts when we are the team that would be scrambling for points to stay up had Reading and Derby not had points deductions. 

LJ would have lost this squad by November.

Everything that's come out of former players has pointed at such. I.e. Fielding, Wilbs, among others.

Holden had gone on a run that barring a draw almost as bad as LJs worst run before he was sacked. People for the majority had huge sympathy for Holden.

People have short memories.

Our squad balance is completely ruined and still has not (and cannot) be addressed from LJ/MA due to FFP, and no recruitment setup when he arrived with MA basically having the door kiss him on his ass on his way out.

The most interesting apart of this summer for me will be the coaching staff. I reckon there will be a huge overhaul which is desperately needed.

Could someone have done better than NP with this squad of players - undoubtedly, he isn't the most tactically savvy of managers.

Would I trust anyone else to undertake the immense reform this club needs...? The cultural enormity of this job is gigantic.

Added to which if Nige leaves. Who would people want to replace him?

For me, the problem is at the top. All the money doesn't make a bit of difference if there's a lack of strategy (see Everton). Added to which, it's more than slightly ironic that in the last 15 years (mid GJ), the only good appointment was Keith Dawe's.

1 hour ago, Silvio Dante said:

It’s an unhappy truth for some that when COD moves on in the summer, he will have suitors at this level. Not too old, experienced at this level, full international and a degree of versatility on paper. I’m not suggesting in any way we should keep him, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him back at AG in opposing colours next season.

The sliding doors moment for me was Hull away a few years ago. Coming up to that game, he was in quality form and showing signs of kicking on to the next level. Picked up a bad injury and hasn’t ever got back to the same level. Without that, the conversation around COD would be markedly different.

Personally reckon in his decent wages not many CH clubs will be in for him.

Never getting the wage he's on now elsewhere.

Also think if Oxford get promoted he'd go back. Otherwise someone like Sheff Wed or Sunderland I could see coming in for him.

11 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

@Fuber

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/martin-extends-city-stay/

Eh. Can't say I agree with it, personally. I maintain we don't operate best with a target man and never really have. Our best football has come from pressing from the front, at least at this level - the only exception being Wilbs in League One.

9 hours ago, daored said:

I wanted Pearson and wanted him pre Johnson and again when Holden was appointed. The mess this club is in right now we need an experienced manager, I believe one of the reasons Pearson has stuck around is the promising younger players we currently have. 
The club is a mess and for that the blame has to go to the top, how do we not have a recruitment scout is amazing.
Is Pearson without blame? No he isn’t, we appear to lack organisation and our defending  at times is awful.

A number of these players in their comfort zone , good wages, good lifestyle and been here too long; O’Dowda, Palmer, Vyner , Moore and Bakinson (although on loan) all players who go back two managers to when they were signed.

We’re heading towards league one unfortunately, Pearson is part of the problem but the problem is much bigger than him. If he were to leave , who’d come in? We’ve got no money to entice and a squad low on quality

With regards to the part in bold - the fact that Simpson and Downing were sacked and replaced by just Fleming so far is a point for debate. Mountain, last we heard, was in charge of defence of set pieces - whether he stays end of season will be something of note. I'd also make the parallel, that without Baker, in spite of having some tall players and signed Klose, nobody in this squad fills me with any confidence in the air.

With regards to leadership, we have an inherent culture issue that appears to be apparent at all levels due to incompetent leadership.

Case in point, the differing views on previous management/structure/philosophy going forward with regards to how the club should be run between our chairman and manager in a recent presser.

I beleive the word I'm looking for are "completely abject and amateur from top down".

Fact of the matter is, the best period of consistent improvement came from Keith Dawe. Not SL, JL, or anyone appointed by the latter two (MA).

Speaks volumes IMO.

46 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

We have 2 defenders and coach and manager, 3 giants in a back 3 and we still can't defend a corner. Sorry but the least we have the right to expect is organisation at set pieces. Talking of set pieces, when was the last time we saw something that looked vaguely organised. Each week we see clear evidence of rehearsed moves from other teams but we just lump it in and hope for the best.

For me NP is just too arrogant.

How can you take on such a superior attitude when the press, when the team under your leadership for 18 months is failing on just about every front. Humble is clearly not a word he understands. Are the players from Barnsley better than ours. I think not. They are just more committed, better organised and playing for the manager.

He holds grudges for too long. Is it really better to change the whole team than play Vyner at fullback

Does Wells not at least deserve a game instead of Martin who at times can hardly raise a trot. I guess whilst we have Bentley in goal who refuses to play from the back we have to keep Martin in.

Should Palmer be given a chance to put himself in the window and increase his value.

He doesn't like loan players but week after week we face teams who make good use of the loan system

His tactics are out of history and too easy to predict. Teams see our weakness and adapt to maximise the affect.

The team seems utterly confused by his tactics and changes during the game.

He has failed to create a good team spirit because he always blames the players and never himself.

Have we really moved on since LJ? In recent times our performances seem very similar to me.

Do we really trust NP with the funds we may get from selling our crown jewels. Based on the Leicester trio I think not.

After this amount of time I think we should at least see a well organised team understanding how to set up and being behind the manager. Sorry but I am just not seeing this.

Worth pointing out re set pieces that my understanding is that this was (at least previously) under the direction of the goalkeeping coach, i.e. Pat Mountain to sort.

The part of the summer I'm most interested in is backroom changes that could be made. Much of the current staff were appointed on two year contracts and /or rolling terms.

Ultimately we need 5-6 players minimum in the summer.

Can see one of HNM, Semenyo, or Scott on their way out. Added to that I can't see Martin, O'Dowda among others getting new deals, and we have a small enough squad already.

Will be an interesting summer I reckon. Can see us trying to shift also the likes of Kalas and Wells (wages) for smaller fees than expected.

I reckon NP may try and completely clear the deck if possible, Bakinson was just the start.

10 hours ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

 

Absolutely no reason to ‘fix’ Pongo88’s post?! I thought he or she was spot on with their original ‘unfixed’ post - it’s actually quite annoying when people feel the need to ‘fix’ someone’s post by editing it ... 

I'll apologies unreservedly for any percieved slight. Short-sighted post from myself.

Was more that in our case it was our esteemed (former) all knowing head of football operations that was responsible for spending our chairman's money more than anybody.

Just now, pongo88 said:

All CEOs like to spend other peoples’ money

Fixed that for you.

2 minutes ago, Finley_Smith10 said:

Are players are such f**nies. Never known anything like it 

Injuries an Injury. The issue is once you have a shit medical team, the damage is likely already done - comes down to if they're recurring (Williams) or not (Jay, touch wood).

1 minute ago, Denbury Red said:

Williams must be the biggest waste of money ever. 
 

He just can’t stay fit!

Bear in mind he was fustrated with misidagnosis and treatment for the injury under Rolls.

Scary to think, but I have a feeling Rolls' medical team may have done him in and ended his career at this level.

11 hours ago, Edgy Red said:

We all make mistakes in business and football is no different. Nobody can deny that they have made errors in judgement and i'm sure Steve Lansdown would be the first to admit it but sometimes i think we have to be careful what we wish for

SL doesn't make mistakes. It's his club.

17 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

Pearson says you cannot give players desire. I’d argue you can, it’s called motivating players 

That, is an incredibly naive view.

22 minutes ago, bexhill reds said:

**** me that was at least 2 yards offside….I’d be spitting feathers if I was a Jack

I checked on the sky replay on rewind, he's level.

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Matty James hits really good areas from his corners but they are more loopy.  Scott delivers with pace.

James' more area-specific looping crosses from corners are great when you have a team with height.

In other words, everything we most definately do not have.

Hence when it worked with Leicester with i.e. Huth, et company.

4 hours ago, VT05763 said:

Yes, we have a top 10 squad for sure, injuries have been too regular (once again) and allowances have to be made for that.

Not been a disaster but we should be doing better with the resources available. Just my opinion.

Barring a small handful of players (two of which is consistently injured) who are champ standard much of this squad are young (and the inconsistencies relating to that) or unproven/not good enough for the Championship in so far.

In what universe is this squad top 10?!

If Mountain is still in charge of set piece defending, he needs sacking come end of season.

Wouldn't actually surprise me if they went Alex Neil.

1 hour ago, Dolman_Stand said:

In fairness to Ashton the likes of Massengo, Semenyo and Scott were brought in on his watch, not saying he was solely responsible for them but we do have a lot of saleable assets again now that we have a proper manager in place.

Completely agree with everything else you say though.

He was only involved with Massengo.

My understanding was that Scott and Semenyo were signed by the Academy/U23s? Think it may have been Probert?

40 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

But the result hinged on Cam's mistake.

Shouldnt have had to.

Just now, Super said:

Clearly not a pen!

Seen them given. I can't tell whether the defender has hit Semenyos foot onto the ball or not on the angles I've seen.

1 minute ago, The Original OTIB said:

We need a keeper.

We need a new defence before we need a keeper. We don't have one who can hold their ground and head a ball out from a set piece without Baker.

Just now, cidercity1987 said:

Two goals, boh times with two Luton players lining up absolutely unmarked 6 yards out 

This.

Just now, 054123 said:

Absolutely woeful keeping 

They literally had three all but unmarked from the set piece.

Not removing O'Leary from blame. However not guarenteed Bents does better with that shower in front of him.

Just now, chinapig said:

Fair comment. But we have 2 keepers who don't deal with crosses well and that costs us goals 

We have two keepers who dont deal with crosses, and an overall short defence who likewise general suck aerially- especially without Nathan Baker, aside from Kalas.