Fuber

Apologies, my view was in the context of the last few games as well as today. I was more referencing that I believe some on this board massively overestimate how good a few of our players are. Quoting your post in particular was likely just short sighted of me while I unknowingly went on a tangent.

Think it's this that needs addressing. Why only so long? The mess he inherited will stay that way until he has room to maneuver and resolve - it's as simple as that. Fact if the matter is that, until someone/players are sold - we won't see any such movement, aside from end of season windows when some wages will be freed up. Hence why no offensive player was signed in the summer. We still have the likes of Moore, O'Dowda, Palmer, DaSilva, on very good contracts. Not forgetting Kalas and Bentley. We needed, from last season's squad, to cut wages by at least 40%. That hasn't happened yet as far as I can tally, I make it a third. Until two or three of the aforementioned are sold, we're stuck, unless we risk FFP punishment - which could be done, but Gould and SL will likely play it by the book.

Disagree with this. If I'm being honest. Kalas, for me, while he can be a good defender does not communicate enough - period. Especially with more inexperience players either side of him in Atkinson and Tanner. Jay and Kasey have provided a return nowhere near the £6m we forked out for the pair. Bents has wonder saves and howlers in equal measure. Theres a reason Brentford upgraded to Raya. Arguably his distribution has been woeful lately. For me he needs dropping - but then he's also captain. Martin and Weimann simply aren't good enough physically in the former's case and technically in the latters. I could go on. I realise there is a degree of, if they could do all of X y and Z they'd be PL, true, it'd be good if they could prove to just be solid at this level. Which none of proven whatsoever, there been zero consistency. Of this squad, the only ones I'd look at keeping are O'Leary (Never had a string of games since Villa), Atkinson, Pring, James (who I think must need a rest), Tanner, Massengo, and Scott. While as squad options I'd keep the academy prospects such as Semenyo, Vyner, Towler, Bell, Conway, Janneh, and Benarous. With a couple to be loaned out as need for gametime. Purely on a cost basis. Everybody else could be binned, sold, or released, and I don't think I'd bat an eyelid. O'Dowda, Bakinson, Palmer, King, Simpson, DaSilva, Weimann, Wells, Weimann, Martin, Moore, etc etc. Wouldn't care, if anything I'd be glad if the wages saved. If we could get money from any of Kalas and Bents, Id snap their hand off. Think we may see some really cutthroat transfers over the next 18 months. I've said it before, but for me, we - along with Millwall and Hull, must have one of the most technically inferior squads at this level.

To be fair, two of these recent games (writing this one off as a loss) are against teams who profit from an utterly broken financial aid system. Until that Cancer is removed from the league, we struggle and paper and in the literal sense to compete. Same for us, Preston, Millwall, etc. Ta least half of this league have had the equivalent of £60m+ for free in the past 11 years. I don't think belief is the problem, the issue is that for all the effort we can try and leave on the pitch, we're a small squad with zero technical ability with some wasters still on the books.

Anyone wanting him gone with no one to replace him, with this squad, is a bigger one.

No manager is the solution to this show. Ashton's management with regards to player recruitment and managerial appointments, in combination with a nationwide pandemic, has left us up shit creek without a paddle.

What it comes down to.

Because he's also a club ambassador. Most likely.

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/micky-bell-joins-city-full-time/ TICKETS MICKY BELL JOINS CITY FULL TIME FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22ND 2021 Micky Bell has joined City full time as a Professional Development Phase coach. The appointment of Bell, who has been working part time with the Robins’ Under-18s and Under-16s, will further strengthen the Academy’s coaching structure. Bell made 330 appearances for City between 1997 and 2005 as arguably one of the club’s finest left-backs. And with managerial stints at Clevedon Town and Weston-super-Mare under his belt, he brings local knowledge and valuable experience to the role. Bristol City Academy Director Brian Tinnion, whose partnership with Bell on the pitch was legendary, said: “Bringing Micky in full-time to work across the age groups is a huge boost to the Academy set-up and the club as a whole. He is very highly regarded and well known and will really help the development of our young players.”

Transition continues.

Depends. Managers inherit players who aren't playing for the manager, may not be good enough, or it may be the previous manager was playing incorrect tactics. Not many if them inherit such a mess of a playing squad as we have, with no previous style of play, destroyed morale, a contractual epidemic, bloated wage budget, with way to address it, etc.

My understanding is that said release clauses tend to be up front. Which is less useful from an FFP standpoint. I.e. Webster was £19m rising to £24m with clauses, said £19m was split in three equal installments. Similar with Kelly. Whereas if we wanted money up front we likely would have got less.

Therein lies the issue. This squad sucks at actually playing football. It's kind of important at this level. Theres a reason we try and play on the counter.

That doesn't make sense. Release clauses are dodgy unless your aim is to keep a player and you set it to a hugely unrealistic level. Let's say hypothetically we out on a release clause of say £8m. All that does is mean if he's worth £10m (assuming that could happen) we'd be losing profit. With respect Sturny, I'm glad you aren't in charge of contract clauses. ? Trust the Club. Selling players is one area where I'd argue we've conducted good business the past 5 years.

Issue is the mess has put this at risk. This squad is not mid-table with regards to quality.

We have good potential players in defence and midfield, such as the above. However for each prospect playing well, the more experienced squad members are letting them down.

Is it? The players have no technical ability. That comes with development coaching as youngsters. We've panicked on the ball for three years under three managers. The only constant in that is the squad. Not much you can do to improve the link up play of 30 year olds who simply don't have the composure to play possession football.

Forest have players with actual technical ability. As for the comparison with Hughton, sometimes it can be right manager right club and vice versa. We, on the other hand, are left with tryers with no technical ability. Of whom we barely have a hope of shifting. Can thank MA for that.

Not sure I agree with that. With the players we had available, at that stage of the game, I would have made the same subs - was not his fault and is not his fault that the squad he inherited simply is not good anough for this level imo. Individuals just all over the place not pulling weight, i.e. Martin, Weimann (1st half), DaSilva.

Forest have a much better squad then us imo. We wish we had the likes of Mighten, Lolley, Etc. You know. Actual players with technical ability. That can take on a man.

1. Watford shouldn't have even sacked him in the first place - worked really well that. 2. I never judge an English manager on an overseas record, sometime it's a case of right man right clubs (Us, GJ; Moyes, West Ham, etc.). 3. Mel Morris. We are ****** with regards to playing staff, but we at least aren't in Europe ergo abroad, and we have stable ownership and facilities. If we give him actual time, something he clearly didn't get at Derby or Watford, only then can I judge him. Ergo this season is a consolidation, next season I'll expect more progression. COYR.

Key factor is that Pearson's infrastructure and micro delegation and appointments at Leicester remain the backbone of that club. If he can do the same here and lay the ground work, thats enough imo. Derby he had a bust with dear old Mel Morris.

Arguably true. However, Pearson's style needs at least people who can play wide, at least if we're referring to his standard 4-3-3/4-2-3-1. Speaking from a technical standpoint. O'Dowda, Weimann, Wells, Semenyo - none of them are arguably good enough for this level. Harsh on Andi, but I'm speak from a purely technical standpoint. Pring - Deputised well, but not his main position and needed a rest. I don't see a reason to point the finger at NP, because I don't see any manager doing any better. We simply have no technically gifted players, others are simply not mobile, fit enough, or suit the playstyle to play a press as of yet (Palmer, Bakinson, in particular). We have no room to maneuver in the market, however four of our best performing players have made marked improvements compared to the previous regime (season) or been given deserved game time, i.e. Scott, Pring, Tanner, and Massengo. All under Pearson, all 23 or younger and previously not involved (DH). That aside the issue is that the majority of the full time 'experienced' players are either past it, albeit more possibly not suiting the style (Martin) or not good enough technically to allow us to play a particular brand of football - it's as simple as that. Be it Wells, Martin, Weimann, O'Dowda, Bakinson. Given the choice on performances this season I arguably given a choice would play none of the above. But here we are. Ergo the finger points at historical recruitment and wage spending, each of which were under, for the huge majority, the previous regime, this wouldn't have been much of a problem - if said impact wasn't also at the same time as a nationwide pandemic. Today case in point, Forest at least have players who technically excel at this level, for example, who would walk into our team if we compare ball skill vs work rate; Alex Mighten, Brennan Johnson, Scott McKenna, Joe Lolley, Lewis Grabban, among others. We have no balance in this regard. We're reliant, each game, on out working the opposition - the issue is this falls down when, such as today, you have a slight congestion in the schedule and no depth. Comparing Technical Ability, I argue we perhaps have the worst squad in this division, possibly only above the likes (defensively) of Hull and Peterborough. That's it. It's going to be a frustrating spell, but we're just along for the rise at this point.

Another kick in the teeth. Only difference being one team actually has wingers who take on a man. Otherwise two teams nailed on mid table or slightly lower, both in periods of transition. I'll still disagree on those who want Nige out - simply on the basis that as long as the away form holds up, and current league position the same, we are fine, if anything higher than I expected us to be. I just wonder whether the sheer damage of the LJ/MA/DH reigns is too much. Definitely a season of consolidation.

Bummer. ?