Alessandro

This video slightly makes a mockery of @spudski's argument that 9 times out 10 Weimann's first goal vs. Millwall is scored at Sunday league level.....

I can't disagree with this post and you watch more City football live than the average City fan, so of course your opinion is rightfully effected by what you see on the pitch. For me, i'm focussing less on that right now and more on the 'bigger' picture, the context, as I see it. (Rest of post isn't aimed at you specifically, more my thoughts) That is, long story short, we now know the 'heights' under LJ were unsustainable, we know the wage bill was probably pushed beyond our limits and we know the squad recruitment/management over the last 3-4 years wasn't good enough for the SL/LJ/MA strategy - the result simply has slowly left us weaker on the pitch and poorer off it. I believe we were seeing the reality of that under Holden, who had he stayed, may well have taken us down. So, for me, Pearson has come into a near relegation threatened club and steadied the ship, whilst working with a smaller budget than the previous 2 managers and still the core of their squad, their players. He's been afforded, what 5 signings(?), 2 of which you could argue were lower league one's for the future. So it's not 'his' team by any sense of the imagination. Another result of all this is he's had to blood more academy players than any manager we've had in our recent history and suffer the on-pitch consequences of that (see first half vs Millwall for first example to come to mind). All this combined means, frankly for me, how we get to safety, I don't mind, as long as we do. Pearson is doing that. He can only work with the tools he has and he was handed a pretty incomplete toolbox. Yes we can discuss how we're in this position again, but ultimately it's not Pearson's fault we're in a bit of a reset as a club - but the way in which he is approaching the difficult task deserves credit, and patience, IMO.

As soon as Towler was picked over him it was inevitable the eyebrows would be raised and the questions asked. It’s equally plausible there is a fitness/form issue (which could be covid related) with Atkinson rather than an anti-vaccination conspiracy. Sensible squad management and recurring injury prevention? - N.B: Personally, I feel like if NP is taking a hardline on anti-Vax, surely he’d freeze the said players out of the first team completely, keeping them out the dressing or squad? What’s the logical point in taking a stance against anti-vax and then having said player(s) in the dressing room and sat 1 yard from you on the bench?

I’ll say again what the majority were saying in the summer: “I’d be happy to stay up this year” I’ve said it over and over - it’s a massively transitional, re-building season. We wanted mid-table, we wanted signs of improvement, we wanted player development and we wanted less injuries = for me, we’re seeing all of these things. I do try and see other people’s view points, but I honestly find it hard to grasp those who want Pearson out given all the circumstances we’re in as a club. For me he’s done very little wrong since he’s come into this club. On and off the pitch.

Are you talking the first goal? Think you do him a bit of disservice - easy IMO to either a) slash at that and sky it or b) go for a loopy lob that gives the defence chance to get back and cover/clear (it was what, 20 yards plus out?). He was actually being closed down by 2 players, one of which would have blocked if he’d taken another touch. It was a good first touch and a slightly ‘sliced’ finish that put the right amount of spin and pace on it to lob the keeper but keep it under the cross bar. Good finish for me. Yes expected, but not totally routine IMO.

Well there we go. Backbone and commitment. A result to back up some of the improvements we’re all seeing and that will be a big confidence booster. Wasn’t always pretty but after the half time changes, that’s exactly what you want to see - a response from the bench and we had that today. HNM (and Martin) changing the game for us. Well done Weimann, gets more stick than I think he deserves, what a key player this season he’s been. Weimann will get the match ball, he is MOTM contender along with Pring and HNM second half for me.

Massengo and Martin on for Benarous and Towler

Some decent and too much bad, again. Different game to the QPR in that we’re having to work very hard to create chances, COD for example nowhere near the space to operate in and this is when he looks 1 dimensional as he can’t work his way into the game. Pring, good game so far. Thought we were pressing well, resulting in our goal (very well taken by Andi) but we went from looking in control to having our inexperience badly exposed: Unfortunately Benarous a liability today, losing possession too easily costing us momentum that helped Millwall get a foothold in the game. Towler I’m afraid, after a decent start has had an absolutely shocking 10 minutes. Lost his man for the first goal and then an absolute school boy challenge for the penalty. Dire. That’s putting it politely. Will he get hooked at halftime? Vyner seemingly bypassed at will on our right wing too often. Scott and James looking decent in possession. Semenyo buzzing around as ever and looks a thorn. Need more balls like Kalas’ into the channels for him and Weimann as we look like we can hurt them there. Will be tough to get back in it to it though as no doubt a well organised Millwall will make it very difficult. Wouldn’t be surprised to see HT changes.

Every game at the moment is fun trying to read Pearson's mind with these starting 11's! You can ask why a few aren't playing - could be illness, injury, transfer interest, disciplinary, form. Who knows. But it does seem clear with NP, if you train hard and well and earn it, any player, young or old or experienced or not, can and will be selected. I guess this is what they mean when they talk about Pearson and his 'culture' - maintain the standards, you play. Don't, you get dropped whoever you are. I like that a lot. COYR'S!!!!!

2 words for you = Shaun Goater! Joking aside, if Newcastle double or even triple his wages with a long deal, you’d risk a season in the champ for what is a potentially exciting project. You’ve always got to remember for the majority players you can’t always perfectly plan your career; injuries, loss of form etc, so that’s why most jump at the big moves when they come knocking because it might be the one chance you have for a really big pay day.

From the highlights you can see it's King who, after the penalty is given, clearly 'crosses the line' in his vocal protestations to the ref and gets a yellow. The way in which he walked straight off without turning back after the second yellow challenge too suggested IMO he knew exactly what was happening. Shame as it's petulant stuff from an old pro, just as he's returning too and just when the game was there to be won for us. Apology is however accepted - we're all human.

Going to take some time to digest that game. First thoughts, many positives and a game we didn't deserve to lose. On the wrong end of all the key refereeing decisions. Mindless from King which ultimately cost us a game we looked like winning. Shame

I didn't say it was news to them - but it might be news to others and it's January approaching soon - a strong test of our resolve with potential bids on certain players couldn't have been planned for 18 months ago....

Interesting Martin has been 'rested'. Concerning about Bents, but perhaps not surprising given the news with the accounts. Looks like he could be off as he is one of our best assets.

Well it's in clear numbers why City fans are so bitter about Ashton: These charts rocket the year after he joins us, 2016. Now to be fair, i'm not laying all the blame on Ashton (LJ and JL/SL hugely culpable) but....he was in charge of the budgets. He was in charge of the recruitment. He pushed us to the financial limit with no contingency plan. As i've said already, traded quality for quantity. (Why???!!!) Then he left us with a squad with probably our highest wage bill ever, over 100% of any commercial revenue he may have generated. And most frustratingly nothing to show from it with arguably our weakest, least valuable, least competitive squad footballing wise since we returned to the championship. (Only the academy giving real value player/transfer profit wise) Beware Ipswich, nothing against you, and I don't wish you any ill, but beware.

Agreed. That list shows several clubs that will be in very similar positions to us. Good sensible post Dave, but I wouldn't worry about the ban - you're fighting a losing battle there, understandably most of the Derby fans are so desperate for a crumb of comfort many can't look at other clubs objectively. To those of them trying to compare situations - the reality is the similarities end with = wages % vs turnover %. Well lads, welcome to the championship where over half the teams are at over 100% of turnover on wages. And the idea that we're in the shit if our owner pulls the plug. Well lads, welcome to the championship where 100% of the teams would be in the shit if the owner pulls the plug.

It's not just the huge list of poor MA signings that has frustratingly regressed us from a playing point of view - but worse: The list of mismanaged player contracts that cost us revenue and the poor, vastly over paid signings that are now hamstringing us financially too.

We're seeing the result in numbers of what we already knew - under MA and LJ the club sailed too close to wind, trading quality for quantity that simply bloated our wage bill to the limit of what we could afford. Covid pushed us over the limit. Even before covid we all sensed we'd have rein in the spending, Lansdown "went for it" financially with LJ didn't he - but the huge 40%+ revenue drop from the lockdowns have hit us hard. MA oversaw this, could see the storm clouds ahead, so his jumping ship makes all the more sense. Tough few seasons ahead to say the least and frankly more than ever I'm happy to have the experienced heads we have attempting to navigate us out these waters.

What will be interesting over the coming days is the fact that publicly - we've only heard from Red Bull about all this, as they were the only ones willing to talk to the press after. Mercedes were silent. We haven't heard from the other teams. They and their sponsors add up to a lot more than Red Bull and Honda. We were talking billions in sponsorship and many of those sponsors will be concerned, to put it politely. I suspect the FIA will today be under immense pressure from everyone except Red Bull/Honda about the absolute farce of yesterday. Money talks and integrity, at least on the face of it, is important too. We'll see, but big sponsors or manufacturers pulling out, which is possible, is not a good look for the F1 - so they're facing a political, financial and legal fight right now. Masi and the stewards may make choices on the day, but more powerful people call the shots behind the scenes so I don't think this is going away anytime soon.

Well I'd say that was a little harsh - think we competed well in the game for decent periods of both halves. I watched the highlights this morning and they seemed to miss a couple of good moments from us in the first half, notably Semenyo's 'not shooting' chance. Agree both teams lacked quality - but that was a hard fought draw away from home against a team unbeaten in 6 - including the energy and drive to keep pushing to the end and nick a late equaliser. I said it in the match day thread, if we had a bit more quality up top (i.e an inform finisher!) I feel like we'd have put 4 past Derby, won at Hull and we'd being looking up the table for once.

We deserved something from that game today and a draw is probably fair. Simple to say, but it’s simple to see - more quality needed at both ends of the pitch and we would have won that. Still going in the right direction and improving all the time for me - with that bit more quality I think this team could be half useful.

Well that half ebbed and flowed a lot, both teams having their good spells, Hull, the better of the two, took advantage of a flying start. Need to see the goal again, not sure if it was an excellent finish or if Bentley could have done better but it looked like he wasn’t expecting him to shoot. Despite some good build up play at times, James influential and back pulling the strings and Messango having a solid game too for me, City, again (recurring theme), guilty of being wasteful. Left wanting technically in good positions, COD, Semenyo, Weimann and Martin all should and could have done better when well placed. Been a decent half to watch, pretty open game lacking quality for both sides most of the time - hopefully the chances will keep coming and we’ll take one.

That 'churchman' - wow. Classic stuff. Ill informed and very sure of his own opinion, a dangerous combination.

I believe from an Ipswich buddy the message from Ashton was very clear that they don't 'need' to go up this season. You've got to question that now Cook has gone. Either way I suspect the owners have the cash for 2 seasons at league one, but any longer and surely FFP will come into play very quickly too. If they're anything but top 6 early next season, the unrest and pressure will increase and you can see things unraveling very quickly for them and by extension MA, who I also suspect won't have the same leeway there that he got here. Sounds already like his penchant for spending other people's money is getting him in trouble again.

Sensible Ipswich fans will know this season the club have stated it’s a re-building one. So why on earth sack your manager after a few months?! Mixed messages to say the least. Clearly after years of disappointment, looks like a quite few have forgotten this and are getting impatient. That’s what money does - a sniff of it and all perspective goes out the window, they just want success now. Interesting parallels with Ashton here already showing there…..