Shuffle

Just travel back early on the Sunday & problem solved. Your old man’s changed as would never miss a game

Your dad sounds like an amazing man & sorry for your loss.

@DavefevsThey are all in the last year but the only difference surely is that HNMs offer has been made public.  Do you honestly believe that discussions offers haven’t been made to those we want to keep as I don’t. If for some bizarre reasons we haven’t made offers or in positive discussions why wouldn’t we look to get a return from a fee just like we are with HNM.  If we wait to Jan window then value of potential sale reduces.

Im just playing devils advocate as we have to try and get a fee now for HNM but the only difference is that his offer is public domain.  

A different dynamic to the HNM situation as that is public but I wonder how many of our squad will be involved who are in the last year of their contract & have rejected or will reject new terms?  It’s a big unknown but with so many OOC next summer NP could back himself into a corner with the statement they will be squad players. Bentley, Kalas, Dasilva, Wells, Vyner to my knowledge are OOC but if they reject will NP take same stance. 

What a character and a huge loss to the City family.  Thoughts with his family at this time. 

Why do people have to question whether he got a PT as it’s true. Reality was he failed the new bleep test when they all reported back due to reasons he said. He then put the work in and passed it some weeks later so was at required standard.   The lad scored a goal on his debut and surely that alone should have offered him a sniff after regaining fitness. 
 

His loans didn’t help him but he certainly scores goals but what level is yet to be determined. Good luck Louis and keep going. 

7 minutes ago, spudski said:

I think you've missed the point massively.

You can still be good at training and popular with the other players.

You get one in every workplace who can do the job and be popular with workmates.

However...it's the influence they have on other people that distracts them from doing their job well.

It only takes one person to be 'popular' for reasons that have nothing to do with football. Be it joker, talking about other interests, more interested in things away from football, that can have a really negative affect on a group of players. Distraction away from the job at hand.

Doesn't mean they aren't liked.

 

I agree with that but are you sure it wasn’t just a case of his personality being too laid back and that rubbed Pearson up the wrong way? I don’t know Tyreeg personally and he may have been disruptive but that’s not what I’m told. Anyway, he’s gone now but my point is that a lot  happens behind closed doors  that we will never know about but people are quick to condemn 

Never been a fan of his & sure he probably hasn’t helped himself whilst here. So many people have jumped on the bandwagon about his attitude and don’t want him around young players etc but in reality he was very popular with players and was a good trainer so I’m told.  Played 70 mins in the 10-0 win v Brum when he could refuse as knew he was going, so wasn’t too negative that day on young team mates. 
 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he’s gone as didn’t rate him but the pile on about his character has been harsh.  Sam Pearson getting the same treatment as banished to u23s and it happens in football and in life that sometimes you just don’t get along with someone.  
 

23 minutes ago, spudski said:

Imo...Bakinson could have all the talent in the world, but they'd still get rid of him.

The likes of Palmer and Taylor weren't in NPs long term plans, but as far as I know, they weren't banished to train with the youth.

Why keep a talented player away from the first team? 

I feel sorry for those who have to train with him and any players at other clubs who have to share time with him.

Attitude, interests, bad influence...of course some will disagree...but hey ho.

there’s two sides to every story !

2 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Or arguably this season’s Danny Simpson..

My log in won’t work so I can’t see the game but we do have Klose, Wilson, HNM, Wells, Conway, Bell & Towler on the pitch too so should be doing better than this.

And that was my worry about squad depth.  Idenhen was ill but didnt do anything right in the 20 minutes he played. We are so far off the pace & King struggling big time. Towler & Bell not ready and need loans.  Klose for me can only play central of the 3 as getting exposed. 
 

And what of Sam Pearson allocated a squad number but been training with u23s since return.  Another who clearly has no future here. 
 

I think that our strongest starting 11 that features Semenyo, Scott, Kalas  & a fit Williams is definitely capable of a top half finish.  My reservations about this season come from our strength in depth beyond the best 11. Currently, if Klose, Naismith or Atkinson get injured we have to go with Vyner, Towler or Idenhen with the latter 2 unproven and the first not good enough imo.  I think we lack a really energetic midfielder with pace as King, Williams and James are not dynamic enough to play together.  That leaves Scott & HNM who actually did very well when played together.  But again beyond that who is there? Owers, Kadji whilst having potential, they won’t play so need to go out on loan. 
 

Attack is another issue & who can play the Chris Martin role as let’s face it he’s not going to play 46 games or if he is then we are in trouble.  I rate Martin but he needs to have his workload reduced.  Also, in the absence of Semenyo we lose the fear factor of pace and whilst both Conway and Bell are going to be good players are they ready for the now?
 

Long winded way of saying we will be fine if injuries and suspensions are minimised but I do not believe we have the quality in sufficient numbers in our squad if we encounter problems. A CB, CM & CF coming in over the next few weeks would leave me feeling more confident.   To give context, we named a 31 man squad which includes 4 GKs, Benarous who is out until Xmas, Kadji, Owers, Pearson, Towler, Idenhen, Bell & Conway. I hope a couple of these could have a breakthrough season but to me we lack depth.  

39 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Surprised Josh Owers isn’t involved in the absence of James, Williams & Scott.

Wonder if we have a loan move lined up for him?

Injured I think but hopefully he’s going out somewhere to gain experience 

It’s clear that without Semenyo we are all too predictable in the final third and ponderous. Taking into account that it’s about fitness  more than the result it was a good workout but personally worried about where goals will come from without Antoine who is our ace in the pack. Some good performances and shout out to James Taylor who didn’t look out of place. When Kalas, Scott, Semenyo return we will be fine.  Still need a couple in as the depth behind the starting 11 becomes stretched imo. 

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

No, but I got a bus lane ticket coming down Wine Street / High Street over Bristol Bridge….oblivious to the road signs.  When did that change….it’s been ages since I’ve driven around there (obviously ).

Snap !

Conway I’d keep around and loan out Bell.  Conway has better technical ability to link play so shades it for me. Owers has impressed me the most whilst watching u23s as improved every game and is your 7 out of 10 performer.  Only question mark is pace but saying that he can’t be slower than James or King, so needs to gain those missing yards in his head to compensate.  Only way we will know if he’s good enough is keep him around but not sure NP will as only made Austria due to Kadji getting injured.

Idenhen over Towler for me, so another I would keep around.

I know it doesn’t suit the narrative of some of the previous posts but was told that Tyreeq is very popular with players and is a good trainer. He’s just very laid back which comes through in his performances.  Some times at work you can cross someone who you just don’t get on with due to a personality clash.

As @GrahamCwill confirm, I’m certainly not a fan but some of the shouts of attitude problems and a bad influence on those around him from what I’m told are wide of the mark.   Hopefully, Ipswich come back in for him.
 

Lightening quick which is always hard to defend against. If he has time then he is a poor finisher but if instinctive then can be good.  Good luck to him as that’s a great move to start your career again. 

3-5-2

Bentley, 

Kalas, Klose, Naismith

Wilson, Williams, Scott, Weimann, Dasilva

Martin Wells

Still think Kalas is our best defender so imo has to start.

10 hours ago, Norn Iron said:

No idea where that is! 

How did you get your Bilbao tickets?

Got them over there ….. we hired a car from Keynsham & went for 5 weeks in total. Madrid as I say was a nightmare so we got out and headed to Benidorm and got a coach back for the 2 games against Spain & Germany 

35 minutes ago, Norn Iron said:

Not on our campsite! I was the token City fan. There was even a diehard Yeovil fan there.

We were on a campsite in Algorta 

10 hours ago, Norn Iron said:

All the England Round 1 games were played at Athletico Bilbao's ground. I remember it as a newish stadium which would not be out of place today over here. 

They have moved to a new stadium now! Progress.

Watched all 3 games in Bilbao  and loads of City over there.  The Basque people were very welcoming and  there was no trouble at all despite press offering money to start trouble. The France game was hairy when riot police baton charged he England fans beyond the goal but Bilbao is a top place to visit.  Now Madrid  and trouble was a completely different story! Was a great experience & we never lost a game in 82.

When my dad passed away, I asked the club if his ashes could be scattered at the Gate but was told this wasn’t possible.  What was mentioned was a memorial garden or area when the sporting quarter gets built.  This was 18 months ago so hope this is still the plan.

9 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I thought Kadji was poor, coasted, doesn’t track men or check his shoulders.  Really disappointed by him.  I spent most of my time watching him and Zac Bell who impressed again.

First time I’ve seen Rose, did well.

Wood got exposed quite a few times, but less so when he swapped with Taylor, who gave the best performance I’ve seen from him.

Conway was excellent.

In fairness Kadji was a doubt before the game.  Every time I see Zac Bell I come away impressed and Rose is going to be very good.  Taylor was superb centrally so agree again.

Conway was superb as was The other Tommy when he came on. 

eas 

15 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

From memory he didn’t mention the u23s in that interview, he said he’d made his mind up, he wouldn’t be seeing them again after the Huddersfield game, etc.  However those involved in the 23s he might.  It does make sense to hold back until after this match though, although no OOC players will be involved.

That’s the part I don’t get in that the academy players have known for weeks if they are being retained & there isn’t one starter from last game v Sheff U who like you say isn’t under contract.  

Great episode and insight on the academy & well worth a listen