" MUCH WORK TO BE DONE "

Today I was annoyed more than surprised that Malky named the same 11 again after such a poor performance against Hull, not surprised though as it has been stated by a few that it is harder to get out of Malky's team than to get in it. I know how much Kevin McNaughton is loved by the City faithful and as a defender I understand it because he certainly plays with his heart on his sleeve but as an attacking force he simply is not good enough, that was evident no more so today when he made a goal defying tackle in the second half when Patterson was in on goal but in the first half when he Kev ran back 20 yards tackled the winger and won the ball then started to maraud up the touchline and could not find a City shirt with a simple 10 yard pass, too many times this season that has happened his distribution has been awful, not good enough when we play the system that we do.

The lack of width was again missing from our play and the there was very little movement off the ball, when Whittingham or anyone else for that matter had the ball in possession the options were limited because there is no movement. The quality of the passing is simply not good enough, we are a championship side but the level of our passing is of a team who many leagues below us.

Malky has bemoaned the size of his squad and the need for more signings, well that raises two questions in itself. Firstly, when Malky says he has a small squad to work with, he is actually himself making it a much smaller pool of players as he keeps picking the majority of the same ones, Darcy Blake, Rob Earnshaw, Craig Conway, Anthony Gerrard, Dekel Keinan, Lee Naylor, Paul Quinn, Joe Ralls and Kadeem Harris are all players we can bring in to the team to freshen it up but Malky keeps running with the majority of the same players.

Secondly we all know that Earnie works better with a big man up top but we let Parkin go out on loan and don't bring anyone in instead of him, I would rather have kept Parkin than be a player light in the squad, especially when you got a striker like Earnie who really does need a target man to work off.

We made bids of several million in January but failed to bring in any notable signing, Malky must be the first manager we have had who has had over £5million to spend and not used it.

Reading brought in Jason Roberts in January, surely that is the kind of signing this team is crying out for?

Yes it is a rebuilding season, yes expectations have risen, yes I still believe we will finish around 10th but I will be disappointed if that is case come April 28th as we got ourselves in a position to have a real go at what has turned out to be a mediocre division this season and we have not taken the opportunity, that is frustrating especially when the manager himself says he made multi million pound bids in January.

This summer will be very important, we will get rid of at least 6 players or more and Malky will be able to bring in more of his own signings and then we may see a very different set of results at this stage of next season and Malky himself will have gathered more experience.

Today I was annoyed more than surprised that Malky named the same 11 again after such a poor performance against Hull, not surprised though as it has been stated by a few that it is harder to get out of Malky's team than to get in it. I know how much Kevin McNaughton is loved by the City faithful and as a defender I understand it because he certainly plays with his heart on his sleeve but as an attacking force he simply is not good enough, that was evident no more so today when he made a goal defying tackle in the second half when Patterson was in on goal but in the first half when he Kev ran back 20 yards tackled the winger and won the ball then started to maraud up the touchline and could not find a City shirt with a simple 10 yard pass, too many times this season that has happened his distribution has been awful, not good enough when we play the system that we do.

The lack of width was again missing from our play and the there was very little movement off the ball, when Whittingham or anyone else for that matter had the ball in possession the options were limited because there is no movement. The quality of the passing is simply not good enough, we are a championship side but the level of our passing is of a team who many leagues below us.

Malky has bemoaned the size of his squad and the need for more signings, well that raises two questions in itself. Firstly, when Malky says he has a small squad to work with he is actually himself making it a much smaller pool of players as he keeps picking the majority of the same ones, Darcy Blake, Rob Earnshaw, Craig Conway, Anthony Gerrard, Dekel Keinan, Lee Naylor, Paul Quinn, Joe Ralls and Kadeem Harris are all players we can bring in to the team to freshen it up but Malky keeps running with the majority of the same players.

Secondly we all know that Earnie works better with a big man up top but we let Parkin go out on loan and don't bring anyone in instead of him, I would rather have kept Parkin than be a player light in the squad, especially when you got a striker like Earnie who really does need a target man to work off.

We made bids of several million in January but failed to bring in any notable signing, Malky must be the first manager we have had who has had over £5million to spend and not used it.

Reading brought in Jason Roberts in January, surely that is the kind of signing this team is crying out for?

Yes it is a rebuilding season, yes expectations have risen, yes I still believe we will finish around 10th but I will be disappointed if that is case come April 28th as we got ourselves in a position to have a real go at what has turned out to be a mediocre division this season and we have not taken the opportunity, that is frustrating especially when the manager himself says he made multi million pound bids in January.

This summer will be very important, we will get rid of at least 6 players or more and Malky will be able to bring in more of his own signings and then we may see a very different set of results at this stage of next season and Malky himself will have gathered more experience.

Two questions (neither are a dig at anyone):

Is there any proof we had £5mil for Jan?

What was/is the Boards expectations for this season?

Carl I feel the summer is very important MM needs to bring in players as early as he can, then get them bedded in to his style of play.

Shifting our dead wood in the summer could be a problem, what if no one wants them, their still under contract, so we`ll be stuck with paying them.

Today I was annoyed more than surprised that Malky named the same 11 again after such a poor performance against Hull, not surprised though as it has been stated by a few that it is harder to get out of Malky's team than to get in it. I know how much Kevin McNaughton is loved by the City faithful and as a defender I understand it because he certainly plays with his heart on his sleeve but as an attacking force he simply is not good enough, that was evident no more so today when he made a goal defying tackle in the second half when Patterson was in on goal but in the first half when he Kev ran back 20 yards tackled the winger and won the ball then started to maraud up the touchline and could not find a City shirt with a simple 10 yard pass, too many times this season that has happened his distribution has been awful, not good enough when we play the system that we do.

The lack of width was again missing from our play and the there was very little movement off the ball, when Whittingham or anyone else for that matter had the ball in possession the options were limited because there is no movement. The quality of the passing is simply not good enough, we are a championship side but the level of our passing is of a team who many leagues below us.

Malky has bemoaned the size of his squad and the need for more signings, well that raises two questions in itself. Firstly, when Malky says he has a small squad to work with he is actually himself making it a much smaller pool of players as he keeps picking the majority of the same ones, Darcy Blake, Rob Earnshaw, Craig Conway, Anthony Gerrard, Dekel Keinan, Lee Naylor, Paul Quinn, Joe Ralls and Kadeem Harris are all players we can bring in to the team to freshen it up but Malky keeps running with the majority of the same players.

Secondly we all know that Earnie works better with a big man up top but we let Parkin go out on loan and don't bring anyone in instead of him, I would rather have kept Parkin than be a player light in the squad, especially when you got a striker like Earnie who really does need a target man to work off.

We made bids of several million in January but failed to bring in any notable signing, Malky must be the first manager we have had who has had over £5million to spend and not used it.

Reading brought in Jason Roberts in January, surely that is the kind of signing this team is crying out for?

Yes it is a rebuilding season, yes expectations have risen, yes I still believe we will finish around 10th but I will be disappointed if that is case come April 28th as we got ourselves in a position to have a real go at what has turned out to be a mediocre division this season and we have not taken the opportunity, that is frustrating especially when the manager himself says he made multi million pound bids in January.

This summer will be very important, we will get rid of at least 6 players or more and Malky will be able to bring in more of his own signings and then we may see a very different set of results at this stage of next season and Malky himself will have gathered more experience.

Two questions (neither are a dig at anyone):

Is there any proof we had £5mil for Jan?

What was/is the Boards expectations for this season?

Both questions can be answered with authority by myself Elliott,

Malky and Alan Whitely sat with the travel group in early February and Malky stated he had made those three bids.

And Alan Whitely in a meeting with Gwyn, Annis and myself said the board's ambition was the play-offs but felt the automatics were unlikely.

Carl I feel the summer is very important MM needs to bring in players as early as he can, then get them bedded in to his style of play.

As long as the bloody dossiers don't get in the way of signings then that will be ok.

Shifting our dead wood in the summer could be a problem, what if no one wants them, their still under contract, so we`ll be stuck with paying them.

Not all of them, quite a few players' contracts end this summer including Tom Heaton, who is apparently heading for Burnley.

Shifting our dead wood in the summer could be a problem, what if no one wants them, their still under contract, so we`ll be stuck with paying them.

Not all of them, quite a few players' contracts end this summer including Tom Heaton, who is apparently heading for Burnley.

Thank god for that, as i`d imagine he`d have to lighten the wage bill before bringing in new players, eh..

its starting to seem to me that he is showing to be more favorable to the scottish players... i.e. marshall, mcnaughton, cowie, miller etc...

Shifting our dead wood in the summer could be a problem, what if no one wants them, their still under contract, so we`ll be stuck with paying them.

Naylor
Quinn
Wildig
Heaton
Gerrard
All out of contract this summer. Parkin will probably go to Scunthorpe as he's scoring with them. Keinan will probably go out as well a he's a good defender. I'm sure a top league 1 team will be able to pay his wages. He'd be a top defender in that league

its starting to seem to me that he is showing to be more favorable to the scottish players... i.e. marshall, mcnaughton, cowie, miller etc...

As someone said to me earlier, Darcy Blake better go and find a Scottish Grandparent.

Shifting our dead wood in the summer could be a problem, what if no one wants them, their still under contract, so we`ll be stuck with paying them.

Naylor
Quinn
Wildig
Heaton
Gerrard
All out of contract this summer. Parkin will probably go to Scunthorpe as he's scoring with them. Keinan will probably go out as well a he's a good defender. I'm sure a top league 1 team will be able to pay his wages. He'd be a top defender in that league

Gerrard's contract is not up this summer, it is next year.

Carl I feel the summer is very important MM needs to bring in players as early as he can, then get them bedded in to his style of play.

As long as the bloody dossiers don't get in the way of signings then that will be ok.

Very true Carl

Today I was annoyed more than surprised that Malky named the same 11 again after such a poor performance against Hull, not surprised though as it has been stated by a few that it is harder to get out of Malky's team than to get in it. I know how much Kevin McNaughton is loved by the City faithful and as a defender I understand it because he certainly plays with his heart on his sleeve but as an attacking force he simply is not good enough, that was evident no more so today when he made a goal defying tackle in the second half when Patterson was in on goal but in the first half when he Kev ran back 20 yards tackled the winger and won the ball then started to maraud up the touchline and could not find a City shirt with a simple 10 yard pass, too many times this season that has happened his distribution has been awful, not good enough when we play the system that we do.

The lack of width was again missing from our play and the there was very little movement off the ball, when Whittingham or anyone else for that matter had the ball in possession the options were limited because there is no movement. The quality of the passing is simply not good enough, we are a championship side but the level of our passing is of a team who many leagues below us.

Malky has bemoaned the size of his squad and the need for more signings, well that raises two questions in itself. Firstly, when Malky says he has a small squad to work with he is actually himself making it a much smaller pool of players as he keeps picking the majority of the same ones, Darcy Blake, Rob Earnshaw, Craig Conway, Anthony Gerrard, Dekel Keinan, Lee Naylor, Paul Quinn, Joe Ralls and Kadeem Harris are all players we can bring in to the team to freshen it up but Malky keeps running with the majority of the same players.

Secondly we all know that Earnie works better with a big man up top but we let Parkin go out on loan and don't bring anyone in instead of him, I would rather have kept Parkin than be a player light in the squad, especially when you got a striker like Earnie who really does need a target man to work off.

We made bids of several million in January but failed to bring in any notable signing, Malky must be the first manager we have had who has had over £5million to spend and not used it.

Reading brought in Jason Roberts in January, surely that is the kind of signing this team is crying out for?

Yes it is a rebuilding season, yes expectations have risen, yes I still believe we will finish around 10th but I will be disappointed if that is case come April 28th as we got ourselves in a position to have a real go at what has turned out to be a mediocre division this season and we have not taken the opportunity, that is frustrating especially when the manager himself says he made multi million pound bids in January.

This summer will be very important, we will get rid of at least 6 players or more and Malky will be able to bring in more of his own signings and then we may see a very different set of results at this stage of next season and Malky himself will have gathered more experience.

Two questions (neither are a dig at anyone):

Is there any proof we had £5mil for Jan?

What was/is the Boards expectations for this season?

Both questions can be answered with authority by myself Elliott,

Malky and Alan Whitely sat with the travel group in early February and Malky stated he had made those three bids.

And Alan Whitely in a meeting with Gwyn, Annis and myself said the board's ambition was the play-offs but felt the automatics were unlikely.

Fair enough. It's a shame the three bids weren't successful, however, the play-offs are still a possibility.

You can have earnie, Parkin, miller or feckin drogba up front, but without wingers and movement they're all pointless!

We have become complacent, indecisive, less attacking and more static. I would have thought Conway & Lawrence would have run the wings from the off.

Not sure what's happened to us tbh.

But still - CITY TIL I DIE, and I'll be there v Cov! a game we need to win to keep our play off hopes alive?

You can have earnie, Parkin, miller or feckin drogba up front, but without wingers and movement they're all pointless!

We have become complacent, indecisive, less attacking and more static. I would have thought Conway & Lawrence would have run the wings from the off.

Not sure what's happened to us tbh.

But still - CITY TIL I DIE, and I'll be there v Cov! a game we need to win to keep our play off hopes alive?

Got to agree with that, Miller on his own up front is getting starved of decent service.

I love it when Kenny Miller picks up the ball on the wing when hes the one who should be in the box.

Also feel sorry for Taylor playing Left Back and Wing because no one will go on the wing. Every single midfielders is Central.

2 points -

ONE - have we tried Miller and Earnie together ?. Miller gets the ball on the dge of the box and is always looking for someone moving to pass to (it usually goes sideways)...could that person be Earnie buzzing around their last defender ?

TWO - if the end of contract players leave in the summer, I have a dreadful feeling they will be replaced by more wingless one paced work horses. I like the workehorses but not a whole squad of them.

Apart from Earnie's header in injusry time today, I don't think we created a chance to score ??...or did I nod off and miss something ?

Carl I feel the summer is very important MM needs to bring in players as early as he can, then get them bedded in to his style of play.

As long as the bloody dossiers don't get in the way of signings then that will be ok.

I must disagree with you here. Malky has a clear plan and the use of the dossiers is essential to this. (Read Moneyball - it will help you to understand what he is trying to do)

Carl I feel the summer is very important MM needs to bring in players as early as he can, then get them bedded in to his style of play.

As long as the bloody dossiers don't get in the way of signings then that will be ok.

I must disagree with you here. Malky has a clear plan and the use of the dossiers is essential to this. (Read Moneyball - it will help you to understand what he is trying to do)

If we want play offs we need instant solutions and results! If we aren't bothered about playoffs (which maybe the last 13 games suggest) then this may be relevant .....

I love it when Kenny Miller picks up the ball on the wing when hes the one who should be in the box.

Also feel sorry for Taylor playing Left Back and Wing because no one will go on the wing. Every single midfielders is Central.

Except Conway, Harris and Lawrence.
Malky always plays Lawrence in the centre, which is out of position for him.
Harris has only been in the squad once, and didnt play.
I dont even know why Conway hasnt been used from the start. He's fresh, he adds width, he can pass, he can cross. He sounds like the solution to our problems right now. Hopefully he gets a full 90 minutes on wednesday

there is too much of a scottish bias at ccs.

carl,i was talking today to my mate and said we are missing parkin,not to run around but a target man,we not going to score many the way we are going

Earnshaw needs a Gestede/Parkin with him up front.

People think Darcy Blake is the answer? Did no one watch the games when he had a run in the team earlier in the year? 9 out of 10 of his passes didn't go anywhere near another City player, he has less pace than McNaughton and is not as good defensively IMO.

there is too much of a scottish bias at ccs.

Nonsense

People think Darcy Blake is the answer? Did no one watch the games when he had a run in the team earlier in the year? 9 out of 10 of his passes didn't go anywhere near another City player, he has less pace than McNaughton and is not as good defensively IMO.

his last two appearances where he started he was man of the match... and lately kevs distribution is even worse as the ball ends up being a throw in for the opposition.

if kev hadnt had made that last ditch tackle yesterday , his match rating would not of been worthy of a 5!

People think Darcy Blake is the answer? Did no one watch the games when he had a run in the team earlier in the year? 9 out of 10 of his passes didn't go anywhere near another City player, he has less pace than McNaughton and is not as good defensively IMO.

his last two appearances where he started he was man of the match... and lately kevs distribution is even worse as the ball ends up being a throw in for the opposition.

if kev hadnt had made that last ditch tackle yesterday , his match rating would not of been worthy of a 5!

And if he hadn't have made that tackle yesterday, then we would probably have lost another home game. Such is the importance of his defensive presence. He is not there to attack, he is a full back at the end of the day. And our best one at that. No need for looking for players to blame, the team spirit just needs that little lift (which we'll hopefully get Wednesday) and the boys will be flying again.

It's obvious we need to play with width and i can't understand why we don't play Conway & Lawrence wide with Harris to come on if Lawrence is knackered because i don't think Lawrence is fully fit yet then central midfield we can play Whitts, Cowie and Gunnarson i believe those 3 are has good as anything in the Championship. Then it's either Miller or Mason up front offering movement.

We could also try 4 4 2 with Cowie & Gunnarson through the middle and play Whitts and Conway wide with Mason playing off Miller up front if we can get crosses into the box i am sure Miller will score because to be honest the service he is getting at the moment is shite

People think Darcy Blake is the answer? Did no one watch the games when he had a run in the team earlier in the year? 9 out of 10 of his passes didn't go anywhere near another City player, he has less pace than McNaughton and is not as good defensively IMO.

his last two appearances where he started he was man of the match... and lately kevs distribution is even worse as the ball ends up being a throw in for the opposition.

if kev hadnt had made that last ditch tackle yesterday , his match rating would not of been worthy of a 5!

And if he hadn't have made that tackle yesterday, then we would probably have lost another home game. Such is the importance of his defensive presence. He is not there to attack, he is a full back at the end of the day. And our best one at that. No need for looking for players to blame, the team spirit just needs that little lift (which we'll hopefully get Wednesday) and the boys will be flying again.

i agree that generally kev is brilliant at defence, however his two performances prior to yesterday were awful.

you are right though he is not a winger and malky asking him to get forward is costing him of his general solid performances..



its a shame we dont have matthews any more as he would have suited malkys style of play quite well..