Davefevs

Excellent post to follow @1960maaanOP. Interesting use of Swansea (Cooper to Martin). Easier to transition a PL squad to a Championship one with PPs (yes I know they’ve run out now). Martin has come into a club who finished 4th last season, yep, they’ve lost some stars, but they have been sensible financially and can tweak the squad a bit. The fundamentals were there. Forest (Hughton to Cooper) not so easy to correlate. He’s done a good job in a short space, but let’s see if it continues. They passed it better than us but I wasn’t massively impressed by them. I think Massengo and Williams in our midfield with James and it’s a very different game.

There are definitely “some” here because they are under contract and it makes little sense to pay them off. Nobody else wants them. Nagy went for free, thank god we at least saved paying his wages. In the current climate who’s gonna sign Kasey Palmer (as an example) on £25k p.w and pick up all his wages, let alone pay a fee too. Got to hope Nige can either get a tune out of them or we have to wait for them to go OOC. In the meantime they will fill the squad until we can transition new signings or youngsters in. I heard last night that Ayman Benarous was part of the “squad” last night in recognition of his performance the previous day. He didn’t make the 18, but good experience nonetheless. I think we have improved, but don’t forget we don’t have the players we had….we shipped lots out in the summer. We are starting from a slightly worse position than last season in reality with no money to play with. We couldn’t trade Diedhiou for example, we didn’t have that luxury. I tend to agree. If you asked me to say which players in our u23s will be bonafide 1st teamers in 2 seasons time (23/24 season - that’s giving them time to develop this season and next) I’d probably say: - Scott (obviously) - Massengo (I’ve included him just because of his age) - Ayman Benarous (he’s starting to play a man’s game rather than a kids dribbling game) - Tommy Conway If you exclude Massengo a hit rate of 3 is still pretty good from Academy. Towler possibly, want to see what he’s like when he comes back from Grimsby. Its a tough level to attain. I think many will have careers at pro-level, but I don’t think they’ll cut it at this level. The kids were played, because Nige got so fed up with some of the senior pros. Once in the top 8, twice in the middle 8, 3 times in the bottom 8. We are an established Champ club, but we aren’t a playoff chasing club really. We’ve had good runs, but had bad runs too.

Scott was knackered and on a yellow card, and I got the impression the ref had his card marked, especially when not giving the penalty. Think he had to come off.

I saw a great tweet today. Emma Radacanu hitting some balls in practice….and people telling her her techniques it bit out. Jeez she’s the US Open champion. I know a forum is to express our opinion, but I wonder how many could have a genuine discussion with Nige about last night and not feel a bit lacking!

Have you seen the interview where Nige discusses Louis? He basically says he’s not fit enough. Not fit enough to train with the first team, as it’s too intensive for him. Therefore, he hasn’t thrown him on the scrap-heap, but stated that he’d put him on an individual plan and challenged Louis to attain the levels required. Some of that fitness work will mean he doesn’t always play for the u23s too. Nige admits he can have a short burst impact, but what if he needed to come on after 10 minutes….he just couldn’t last. Those are from Nige’s mouth. Who’s fault is it? Looks like you’ve decided it’s Nige’s fault. He’s dangled the carrot. Why don’t you wait and see. Re PL strikers on loan. I’m sure there were plenty he could’ve signed, but are they better than Martin, Weimann, Wells, Semenyo, I.e. are they gonna take their minutes. Let’s spend £10k p.w. and loan fee on a PL starlet who doesn’t play? Keinan Davis’s name is often banded about….weve no idea whether we tried or not…but he’s not played through injury this season. Who else has taken PL strikers on loan in the Champ this season?

But by the same token we’ve been a bit unlucky in home games. Depends on how you want to position your narrative doesn’t it? ??

Both Gould and Pearson have come out recently and said there is not likely to be much activity in January….unless we sell. I’d say we might get another “one for the future” like Tanner type signing, but not expecting much more, maybe a loan? Not having a go at you, just adding my thoughts. I don’t think as a Championship club you sign a 21 year old from Lg2 for £300k on a 3yr contract (plus 1 year option) and slap a whopping release fee in the contract. What benefit does it really serve at this point for either player or club? It might be a consideration the next time his contract is discussed, but likely to be on player’s agenda not ours, i.e. he might think he’s gonna outgrow us and doesn’t want us restricting him if a better club comes in. With Josh Brownhill, the release fee was for his benefit not City’s at the time Burnley came knocking. City having to sell when they didn’t want to, in the market of the time, he’d outgrown his release fee in reality….and we had to twist rather than stick. Think it’s less common at our level, very useful for PL players fearing being kept at a relegated club. All a bit Football Manager to me. Correct, pretty much fee agreed, then payment terms discussed. If you wanna make staged payments, the total paid will be more (generally). Staged payments make no difference to FFP, the fee is fee pretty much.

Mike. Great post. ?????? food for thought?

Fantastic finger tip save

Because they keep the ball abd make us run around more. That’s a very simplistic answer to the problem….it’s more complicated than that. He was just holding shape….you can’t go charging into a press on your own.

Potential diamond. Made a great start to his career here. He will probably go through a bit of lull at some point, but looks a very quick learner.

Yep, not his fault tonight at all. Wells knackered. Someone on another post said Bakinson should’ve been brought on to see out the game….jeez. Its always easy to blame the subs when points are dropped. With the options available: Massengo on for a tired Martin made sense, swapping Weimann to play upfront. Scott, tiring, on a yellow (desperate not to trip their player bursting beyond him) needed taking off. Bakinson or Palmer? Palmer for me, he tackles, doesn’t stroll around. Wells tired, put in a great shift tonight, who else? O’Dowda for his legs…had logic. The problem with tonight was more the shape in reaction to Forest’s changes than the personnel per se.

Kid, I think his role will change in time here, more onto a General Manager / DoF type (ignore the name of the role for now), with a younger manager beneath him, taking more match responsibility.. Its who Lee Johnson needed, someone to tell him to cut the crap, etc. I don’t know the timeframe, but the “plan” is more than a manager’s responsibility and I see Nige having a side remit at the mo’. That remit will narrow in time. I think it will suit his work / life balance which is important to him, especially after illness. I think we have to accept this team isn’t his….and I feel the project doesn’t end with Nige as first team manager, but that’s not saying the club doesn’t succeed in his time here….it’s just gonna be with different responsibilities. Tonight is gutting. Weathered a 10-12 minutes spell first half by Forest to take the lead. They came out flying, we weathered it again. Scott gets brought down (imho) for a penalty, Samba makes a brilliant finger tip save from Wells (tipped it onto the post, ref gives goal kick. They start to go long. There switch with Mighten coming on gave them fresh impetus. Rush of blood from Baker who was brilliant tonight, Bentley palms a ball out onto Taylor’s arm. Its a bit unlucky isn’t it?

I echo what the vast majority above posted. My City MOTM tonight. Early days, but he does well one-on-one….he ain’t gonna stop every single one though.

Can you give reasons why?

Shaded the opening 25, their chances from sloppy passing. Was the shot that hit the post a save or a deflection off defender? Then they had a right old spell for 10-12 minutes that we ended by scoring. Every ball, bounce, etc seems to fall to them. 1-0 I’ll take it. Not vintage. But some good signs. Wells off the shoulder means we keep their CBS honest.

Filling up a bit

A night for Han NOAH. ARK at ee

Yep. Williams not as bad as feared either, “a couple of weeks” Yep. Think Baker will play the central CB allowing Atkinson to link with Dasilva. But agree on front 5. Will flatten to a 3 without the ball most likely.

Maybe more #holdenball 5122…a 6 and two 8s. Could be 541. Brave!!!!

Oughtibridge

It’s a sign I tell thee!!! ???

Can someone go around and nick the towels, that’ll stop the long-throws.

Forest aren’t great aerially, Samba is a flapper. We shouldn’t over-use it for sure.

Big question - does he do it from the Technical area or upstairs. No need to switch the sprinklers on tonight then.