marcofisher

After the appointment of Holden, I know we would bring in an even worse appointment. So it’s a keep for me.

Just now, Dolman_Stand said:

Not many of them left

Nope, that’s the reality of where we are as a club.

2 minutes ago, mozo said:

Like Stoke?

Yeah, exactly like Stoke, which we should have won. And Rotherham, which we did.

West Brom have far too much quality on the pitch to be where they are. Expect them to make playoffs with this new manager. 
 

Real acid test will be beating those teams around and below us really.

We could really do with Weimann down the middle

Why couldn’t we start like this.

Midfield is anonymous 

22 hours ago, pillred said:

The law of averages is just that, I once span number 32 4 times in a row when I worked in a casino it cost them thousands, the odds on it happening are nearly two million to one but just occasionally these anomaly's happen, live long enough and we might even be awarded a penalty in 4 successive games, IT will happen one day.

We’re Bristol City; the sun will implode wiping out civilisation as we know it first.

2 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

1.  Trying to improve squad in January but need to create funds somehow

2.  Players offered new deals all offered less wage than currently on.  No brainer to sign wells. Goal scorer and helps the youngsters 

3.  Told 3 players they won’t be getting new deals so that they know where they are.  Clearly wants them to leave in jan if possible to create those funds

4.  Big fan of Tinnion being technical director and heavily involved in recruitment

5.  Atkinson played well in the under 21s and is in contention for Boxing Day.  Laid back character but they’ve spoke and sounds like he’s going to quickly be given another chance. Pearson said we need our best players on the pitch ideally

6. HNM still a vital member of the squad.  His choice to run down contract.  No bids 

7.  Trying to create something that’s more successful and driven. We’ve had to many comfortable players in a comfort zone.  
 

8.  Is bothered that some fans seem concerned about him being in charge and is aware. Takes full responsibility for performances.  He appreciates fan support and important they stay behind the team. He always puts team first.  FFP situation is not of his making. Could have improved quicker without that.

Hard to disagree with any of that really.

34 minutes ago, DaveF said:

Hes played almost 150 matches for us and has been one of our best players throughout his time here, certainly not that bad an investment!

Yes and we paid £8.5 million and many more millions on wages and are set to receive no return on that investment. 
 

I did not say he was a bad player, he is one of the best in the squad when fit. Same as Massengo.

For all those saying Pearson froze him out. Didn’t he have a lot of issues? I remember one match he had apparently gone to NP and said he is not in the right mindset to play, and then at the start of this season he was really struggling for fitness?

I could see Wells staying on reduced terms like Andi did a few years ago. 
 

As for Kalas, another monumentally bad investment, just like Massengo, when we look at how it will eventually result for us. Both talented players, but not worth what we have invested in them and what we have got/will get in return over their time here.

Most important now is just getting them off the books, regardless of fee, and freeing up a lot of wage budget for next year.

What I will say, is that I think he is far better at 8 than number 10. He is more of an exceptional all round midfielder to me, and I sometimes think with Williams and James he is expected to be the one dropping into the number 10 position, and it doesn’t suit his game as much.

Post match reaction aside. If we were to finish in 18th regularly playing academy players such as Vyner, O’Leary, Conway, Pring and Scott, with some of them written off by City supporters in the past, as well as slashing the wage bill significantly and then giving us the chance to offload the last batch of big wage players in the summer (Kalas, JD, Massengo), then I would consider that about where we. Not an exceptional season but one that we can springboard off. I imagine NP and SL probably see it that way too. This season was always going to be about cost cutting, giving academy players a chance, and hopefully freeing up some wiggle room to bring players in next season. 
 

I think there are teams below us who will struggle a lot more than us in the second half of the season. Maybe I am being optimistic, but I don’t see us being dragged into a serious relegation scrap.

He seemed to pick and choose which fouls to give. Bizarre.

29 minutes ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

I'm not convinced we'll get any hard bids but it's time to move him on. I don't know whether he's believed all the hype that surrounded him or not but his performances have lacked composure and been far short of the standards required. I'd be bringing Sam Bell on. He may not have the power of Semenyo but he's as quick and looks much more a natural goalscorer. 

I wouldn’t sell him on the cheap just because he is out of form. He is an international now so will want to regain that form. Certain we should wait until the summer to move him, and see if he can regain some form before the end of the season, as I don’t see any large bids coming in for him in Jan.

If Atkinson is not fit for WBA, I would like to see Tanner at RCB and Zak in the middle.

Looked ridiculously lucky from them, appeared to roll off the attackers back straight to the goalscorer’s feet. 
 

We were by far the better team and they were very fortunate to get that chance as had done nothing else. Seem some on here have missed having something to moan at for the last month. 

Pring is unbelievably slippery and direct.  Such an upgrade to Dasilva in a system that plays with wing backs.

15 minutes ago, frenchred said:

That's Ben White of Arsenal? Who has played every game he's played this season at right back! 

Yep, but a centre back by trade.

2 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I accept what you say, but at any rate it won't be long now before we see whether the policy of picking players who did it in the past will be better than a policy of picking players who might do it in the present. 

I agree with you entirely that Phillips was bizarre. I could just understand the Maguire one more as he may only be considered a squad player anyway. I would like to see White as one of the centre halves.

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

And I would suggest Maguire's form, which is so bad he's only started three games of league football this season, is the principal reason why he shouldn't be picking up a place in the squad. He's also very likely carrying the effects of a recent hamstring injury. And don't get me started on Kalvin Phillips.

What they've done in the past, when they were younger, under different circumstances, and with different choices available to the manager, is not as relevant as what they are doing now. 

The saving grace for Maguire is that he has been exceptional in England tournament football where a completely style is played.

For United he is expected to play a high line with little protection in front of him, which exposes his weaknesses. For England he plays deeper so doesn’t get caught behind and has Rice sitting in front of him. 
 

Plus he has done a lot more on an international stage than Abraham where there was nothing between him, Wilson and Toney really.

5 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

 

His last success was in 2014 He has failed in every job since (according to his employers) resulting in his sacking.

He has indeed got immense experience but for 8 years he has achieved nothing. His time at BCFC has been mixed in that I believe he has done some good off the field but little on it. Only SL can decide whether now is time to call it a day with a new appointment but the timing of making such a move does seem right.

He hasn’t really had an extended stay at an English club since then however. Derby he didn’t agree with Mel Morris and Watford he was doing well and had them on track to avoid relegation before telling the board some home truths.

I think generally offloading big earners is just as important than making a big sale. Kalas, Massengo are two not playing and commanding a lot more than some of the current regular starters.

Literally none of them. Look at what happened with Wilder at Boro, complaining constantly about funds and signings, and it’s clear to see that he would be an awful fit here in the situation we are in! 
 

Scott Parker even more so, one of the most overrated managers around!