Edgy Red

I agree with this... i'll admit that i've still got question marks regarding Zak, but i thought him and Cam did well last night (against a very poor side). I said on another thread recently that for all his improvement this season, it is still an area that i think we need to bring in someone better if we want to push for the play offs next season.

That was an awful game but as the away team with a host of players missing, we have to be pleased with the commitment and a point. Huddersfield were absolutely terrible and if Warnock keeps them up he's a magician. We maintained possession reasonably well but couldn't make the most of the few openings we had. Lets take the point and never talk about the game again.

Centre back is our biggest issue in the summer. Zak has improved this season but i still think we need better if we want to be serious play off challengers next season (i appreciate others may disagree). With Big Rob out for a while and Kalas out of contract, i think we need 2 physically dominant centre backs.

I'll be honest and admit that the penalty on Sykes would have been soft (Roy Keane summed it up perfectly) but Dias clatters straight through Bell just outside the area in the 2nd half and Marriner gave nothing!

Totally agree. I think he is likely to get other offers, but hopefully he feels settled in Bristol and we could offer a new 2 year deal with a 3rd year if he plays a certain number of games.

Its VERY early days for Cornick so i will reserve judgement, however the early glimpses don't fill me with much enthusiasm. He certainly doesn't look like a central striker and needs time in his comfortable position in the wide area of a front 3. Weimann struggles when he's got time to think about what he's going to do. He's more of an instinctive player rather than an intelligent user of the ball. I think a front 3 of Sykes, Wells and Mehmeti is our best option at present

It was a poor game and it didn't suit the way we want to play. We're not great in posession of the ball and always look better when counter attacking and winning the ball back high in midfield. Credit to Nige for improving results over the past 6 weeks but we're not a convincing side yet.

Guy Havord is commentating on the Luton vs Cardiff game on the red button and just said that Cornick is in Bristol completing a move to us. I think its a done deal... just about timing now

Perfect summary (unfortunately)

He's very good and certainly one of the best i've seen in my 40 years of following City. In terms of a fee, we have to remember that he's playing Champ football and The Prem is a different beast all together. I would say 20mill with a number of performance related/sell ons is about right. If he goes on to become a full England international (and it is an if) then as long as we benefit from it, thats all we can ask.

I think he's at his best when he's got a bit of freedom in midfield and having Naismith and James behind him gives him that. Its hard to believe that he's only 19 and we need to enjoy him over the next few months because he's unlikely to be with us next season. Its disappointing when we lose players to The Prem but we should be very proud when they've come through our academy.

Really disappointed to see him leave but it makes complete sense. A decent fee which releases FFP pressure and allows us to bring 1 or 2 fresh faces in. We are going to miss his power and direct running, as we don't have anyone else who offers that. I hope he does well for Bournemouth and helps to keep them in The Prem

Confidence is massive in football and his recent performances really appear to have helped. I think he believes in himself more now, and that has improved the way he plays. If we're honest, we've been a pretty poor team for the past few seasons and have conceded alot of goals, which can be difficult to deal with if you're not strong minded. Massive credit to him for his improved performances and consistancy.

I thought Zac had a good game and he has improved massively this season. I still worry about him slightly in physical one on ones, but his overall game is getting better and he's at an age where he can hopefully continue to improve further.

I thought we were more than worthy of a draw so credit to the boys. For me, that was the best starting 11 we can field. There is an argument for Wells instead of Semenyo and Kalas instead of Vyner, but he picked the best side available and with a bit of luck we could have won it. A completely different type of game against Cov coming up but hopefully we can produce another solid performance

I'm very much 50/50. I appreciate the situation he inherited, but i have been disappointed with the lack of any progress on the pitch over the past 2 years. A new manager (whoever that may be) would bring new ideas and that could improve things, if even in the short term. I think the squad does have ability but the confidence seems to be drained. I don't think his stubborness helps him and defeats at Millwall and Cov will be difficult to ignore.

Absolutely spot on... A managers job is to work with the players at his disposal (a large number of which are his own signings). The FFP card has been used as a shield to protect him from day one and while i understand that finances are incredibly tight, that is the same for many clubs in the football league. He has to be judged on the product on the pitch and sadly, we are a weak disorganised team that lacks physicality. He has had 2 years to put his stamp on things, but if anything, we look worse than when he joined. His recent interviews and team selections indicate that his time may be coming to an end. I just hope that a new manager can instill some confidence and organisation to the group (quickly).

I agree he wasn't very good but once again the opposition were in a position to waste time and run down the clock due to our poor game management and decision making. Sadly, I think our problems lie far deeper than the poor refs in the EFL.

Semenyo isn't great technically and his football intelligence needs work, but these are things that he can work and improve on. What he does have is pace and power and they are things that can't be taught. I really do think there is a good player in there and i would like to see him develop further with us, but he could be one we trade if the offer is right

I think this is one of my biggest concerns with Nige. When finances are so tight, the recruitment has to be spot on, and to date, Nige has a pretty poor record. Klose has fallen out of favour Atkinson appears to have fallen out of favour, Tanner is still raw, Sykes has been 50/50, Kane Wilson couldn't get a look in when he was fit and Andy King (sadly) is way past his best. For what its worth, i think Atkinson is a decent centre back and is certainly the most physically dominant option we currently have available. If Nige is saying that he doesn't trust him, i find that very worrying

Spot on.... Elon Musk could buy the club tomorrow and we still couldn't spend any major money on new players, unless the FFP experts can advise otherwise? We are in a serious relegation battle and if Nige is still in charge in 6 weeks time then i really hope we have been creative in the transfer market and have managed to bring a few new faces in, or Accrington away is a distinct possibility next season

That says more about us than them. Rotherham are a bottom 6 team and you know exactly what i meant.

I agree with this Graham... Klose was one of Nige's signings and yet now doesn't even make the squad. He took a risk with the back 3 today and we got the win, but i wouldn't be confident with the team selected today against the majority of sides in the division. I find it strange that Atkinson was on the bench too. He is our most physically dominant defender who Nige paid alot of money for. We got the 3 points today which was much needed, but against better opposition, i fear it could have been a diiferent outcome

Thats an excellent summary and sums up pretty much where i'm at too. We appear to have a very split fan base (which reflects life in general), with half wanting him out and half being more understanding given the issues at the club. I do feel that he's now approaching his "tipping point", as after nearly 2 years in charge and numerous signings of his own, we appear to be regressing again. I still don't really see a style of play (brief moments aside) and defensively we are weak, infact our team as a whole, is physically weak. NP is a bullish and abrasive manager with strong views and i think this can cloud peoples judgement. Ultimately, football is a results business and we are in serious relegation trouble. This is clearly now his team and he is responsible for the players that go out on the pitch. I am still (just about) in the stick with him 50%, but as i said, his tipping point is getting closer if things don't improve.

I'm seriously not fishing here but what are the deep issues? I appreciate that we aren't in a great place financially, but the same can be said for more than 80% of clubs in the football league. Fortunately we have a chairman that has built an incredible infrastructure and continues to bail us out every season. Mark Ashton has left and we appointed Pearson nearly 2 years ago and yet we have seen zero improvement. Defensively we are embarrassing and apart from a few promising performances early on this season, we have generally been very poor. I'm honestly not sure what the answer is, but Nige has to shoulder most of the blame and even his most ardent followers must see that?