Dullmoan Tone

Probably should have stayed at QPR, interestingly his win % with them was only around 40 odd % they just had a lucky streak and he followed the money. Had very little integrity with them saying he would stay, then jumping ship - a strange appointment from Sunderland, perhaps, desperate to quickly replace Mowbray - he was not helped losing good players (like Prichard) in January though!

One thing that BT said (and repeated) that hasn't been discussed much, is he recognises the need for a mobile, strong and ideally experienced number 9 and yet we purchased Cornick who has neither of these attributes. HC still has a relatively long contract and while I expect not a very high earner, is nonetheless on the wage bill for a considerable period with little prospect of starting / contributing or fitting the profile. Where is the responsibility for this seemingly desparate purchase and how can we trust the current team not to make the same mistake again when they fail to find this fantasy number 9 on a lower championship budget? Surely we are best to loan from above like the Tammy deal - it won't be long term, but it could bring quality and a better chance of success in a key position?

The ref!

I’m not sure many teams have got out of the Championship playing 5 at the back - obviously Wolves did, but they had an embarrassment of quality at the time.

Try looking up David Clarkson, then Lois Diony, then Ryan Kent (for City) and come back to us...

At the risk of dragging this out (despite agreeing with most of what you say) - I don't think he is anywhere near 1 in 2 (even with pens - which probably shouldn't count as a comparison with strikers who don't take them, or clubs that rarely get them!!). Bristol Live quoted the 7 in 20 yesterday (probably not the most reliable source though) So 5 in 20 exc pens as we have probably had our share for this calendar year. Or 1 in 4, so 12 a league season. Surely we need better, I hope you are right that he can improve, but the strikers that go for the sort of sums being touted on otib tend to be hitting the net more regularly? For example Maynard was 1 in 2 before us, Tammy hit that sort of ratio with us etc

Sorry for the delay. He has 7 in 20. 2 are pens and while I accept they need scoring, they flatter his form which is perhaps 12 from open play a season currently. If we are serious about promotion we need someone much more prolific, rather than giving him more minutes (if he is not signing an extension)until we sell for a slightly higher profit to offset the losses already made. We must change our mindset - I want him to succeed but at home he hasn’t been able to lead the line and far too often is moved off the ball by bigger and more experienced defenders. I just wish we could not yo yo on players based on their last game. Hence the facepalm!

I’ve got news for you - he’s not even in the bottom 3 full backs at City. Some of us have lived through Rickie Foster and Nicky Hunt and Ryan McGiven and that’s just the past 15 years!

I can only comment on the home games under LM but against Boro 4 on target and we conceded 2 and against Norwich 3 on target and we concede 2. These are not great stats and (again based on home form) he was supposedly brought in because he was better (than DB) with his feet to start an attack and yet he seems to punt the ball out of play now more than ever - all the people sat around me notice this and groan?

Knight (I think) had a header well saved in the first half. Sykes also held the ball too long when played through in first half (coming in from right).

I think we should be worried about what a change on tactics is doing to some of the players. Max’s distribution is worse than ever (is he feeling the pressure) and he makes few saves. Likewise Cam Pring (until the last 10 today) seems much less effective. Andi’s dip is probably nothing to do with a new Manager but it certainly hasn’t helped him. Conway also is either struggling to lead the line alone or struggling to make an impact in this system. This is why I’m worried!

I’ve always been fascinated by this stat - if you look at the pass count in this thread - it shows 1005 passes in total and 664 to City ie 66%. I’ve been told most sites use this method as it’s much easier to generate! Perhaps Wyscout does it differently/ more accurately but the method above seems to be v popular and I think why BBC no longer add pass counts to their match stats?

Did you realise that possession stats are just a way of converting the number of passes into a percentage, so if you have more passes you always have the (%) same amount more possession.

Turn the auto update off - leave your wallet. Then open wallet and turn auto update on and today’s match updates

Love your responses, knowledge and passion but this is harsh. Our 1.2 (1.3 rounded) is this year ie year 3 of the “project”. And it does justify consideration. Haven’t checked but suspect home points per game this season is worse than the average - no club progresses without a home baseline. Of course there were injuries/ no replacements etc but you are dismissing the fundamental issue - we simply weren’t getting the results our investment warrants. Fwiw I didn’t want him sacked, but aside from a few games, we have been poor this season (more often than not) mostly in whole halves - see our stats about the number of times we score in both relative to others.

I’m surprised there isn’t a bigger thread about Nige leaving

Yes because our record at keeping players fit has been a phenomenon!!

Well this is nonsense - the reason we are in a financial black hole is we massively overpaid on transfers and salaries ie Kalas, Palmer, HNM, Wells etc. The only reason we can’t reinvest now is to avoid a points deduction for doing exactly this!

At the risk of starting a late pile on - I'm not sure why everyone is so positive. I understand the challenges of reducing wages and forced selling but we are not alone here. For me I want to be entertained at home - I'm sober enough to realise that even if we flirt with play offs, we would probably never be capable of sustaining a push. So what do we get at home? Only once this season (home and away) have we scored in both halves - equal worst in the division. There are still many boring halves. 2 clean sheets at home is OK 1.14 points per game at home isn't! We've only won twice at home! We still have terrible halves of dull football with little innovation where it feels that we can't change tactics. I still can't easily forget all the last minute goals conceded last season - I realise that this is largely resolved, but did NP coach us out of this, or buy it with Dickie & Knight? Does he really know his best team yet - let's not forget Nahki was sidelined for ages and yet most would now admit his pressing and support play is integral to our success. Was this coaching or simply NP running out of alternatives? How are some players unable to impact a game consistently - HNM, AW, SB, GW etc I appreciate NP's so much better that what we have had recently, but also that is a low benchmark. Can we do better with a young innovate manager (who doesn't spout LJ bollocks) - someone like Ipswich found? I think NP needs to prove he can sustain a top half challenge - there is little risk he will be poached right now - make him earn it. And if he can do this while playing entertaining football I'll be joining the rest of you asking for an extension - but not yet!

This is not true - he played 29 times in the Championship for WW - admittedly in a poor side but he has demonstrated he’s much more than a league 2 (or 1) show pony!

Missed this, Worzels, Massive Attack or something more modern?

Newsflash (you might want to sit down for this) it’s not just against Leeds!

I thought he could have done much better in the build up to 2 of the goals! Also why is he so afraid of shooting a brilliant run seemed to take him to shooting distance only to sweep it right and slow the move - I have been a big fan but at his age he needs better decision making!

I think most would have started Conway - who was very disappointing when he finally arrived. Thought he was caught flat footed and moved too easily off the ball. I’m also far from convinced even a fit Weimann can play the Scott role. Only Nige seems determined to get his most experienced players on the pitch which is playing Andi out of position. I’m also convinced most would have made changes much earlier, it was obvious they were much the better team in the final third of the match.

I not at all convinced that a loan back is viable - any club who has purchased AS for big money will not see him developing as fast in the same team and environment. They are more than likely to want to see how he adapts in a new team and environment - because this is what they ultimately want him to do for them. Loan backs to the selling club are sentimental but so rare for this very reason - can't remember the manager who made this point a few years ago.