Norwich City v Man City (away) Saturday 31st October.

[Canaryboy]

We need serious investment in defence, its an area which has been neglected for far too long. 

Ron Vlaar on a free would be a good start, buying Daniel Ayala back for about 20 times more than we sold him for may be a decent second step now that he has morphed into probably Middlesbrough's best player, and finally ending this stupid debate about which of our clearly Championship standard right backs is slightly less rubbish than the rest would make my year. We haven't had a Premier League quality right back since Kyle Naughton.

Other than the defence which needs serious investment I think we're good enough for this league.

 

[Dubai Mark]

Interesting comments,  but when looking at the season so far,  isnt it more the case that our Manager has also made a couple of critical mistakes, just like his team has. Both are still a work in progress at this level, and that is taking nothing away from either.

 

[eatonparkboy]

We need serious investment in defence, its an area which has been neglected for far too long. 

Ron Vlaar on a free would be a good start, buying Daniel Ayala back for about 20 times more than we sold him for may be a decent second step now that he has morphed into probably Middlesbrough's best player, and finally ending this stupid debate about which of our clearly Championship standard right backs is slightly less rubbish than the rest would make my year. We haven't had a Premier League quality right back since Kyle Naughton.

Other than the defence which needs serious investment I think we're good enough for this league.

Vlaar isn't the worst shout but unfortunately he has had knee surgery, again, which not only rules him out until the new year but puts his overall fitness and ability to play regularly into question.

 

[Canaryboy]

Vlaar isn't the worst shout but unfortunately he has had knee surgery, again, which not only rules him out until the new year but puts his overall fitness and ability to play regularly into question.

Vlaar had surgery in July and is currently training (as in actually kicking a ball) with AZ Alkmaar, this is from about 12 days ago...

https://twitter.com/AZAlkmaar/status/656411446843211776

So he can't be too far off.

 

[GJP]

It is clear to me that Neil is a simply better than his squad;   his tactical set up is usually well researched its just let down by having players who cant deliver the plan for a full match.

Expensive additions needed - as its clear over the last three seasons that the squad cant deliver whats needed

I agree that we need to buy quality,

But I'm not sure AN is better than the squad. Early days for that. What if AN wasn't overly pushing the board to spend money because he was happy enough with his squad? 

 

[Wiz]

Well of course you do, you've done your usual circus act and come to the decision that AN has to go already.

Lets get this sorted hogesar, AN's been stonkinly brilliant for us, BUT............professional football is a brutal world imo, and if City are going to stay up its my belief that we need a Premier savvy manager to achieve this.

Brendan Rodgers maybe?

Am I being too harsh?...most certainly. ...but the financial well being of our club must always come first... imo.

 

[Dubai Mark]

I don't think its just Wiz who thinks this, I don't,  but it is a valid view when looking at the bigger picture. 

 

[morty]

But the view is based on only looking at the part of the picture you want to look at.

Firstly, Brendan Rogers, just no. And he wouldn't come here anyway.

So which is it, you are concerned for the financial well being or you want a "better" manager, that will cost us more money, and give absolutely no assurance of success?

And who says we aren't staying up?

The real issue here is that Alex Neil is good enough, but its starting to look like our squad isn't.

 

[Canaryboy]

I'm happy with Alex Neil and think he'll keep us up, as long as the board back him in the market in January, which they should considering we know we've sold BJ for £6m and had probably £8m to drop on Dwight Gayle, plus the ability to sell two or even three strikers in January.

The board must back Alex Neil in the market in January, if that do that then I'm confident we'll stay up. He's done well in the market, Mulumbu, Mbokani and Brady all look like good additions to the squad. Dorrans has his uses. Now we just need to let him perform the required surgery on the defense, if he can fix that then we have a Premier League squad. 

A striker incoming to replace two or three outgoing would be a bonus, but defence is the priority. 

 

[Canaryboy]

The real issue here is that Alex Neil is good enough, but its starting to look like our squad isn't.

I honestly believe that its only our defence which isn't good enough, the rest of the squad is fine.

 

[morty]

I honestly believe that its only our defence which isn't good enough, the rest of the squad is fine.

Yeah, agree with that. Whether or not you would consider any of our strikers is genuinely Premiership quality is a whole other debate.....

 

[ZLF]

I honestly believe that its only our defence which isn't good enough, the rest of the squad is fine.

That is probably fair;  we are having to move (our strong in quality selection of) midfielders around, and play more defensive midfielders, to accommodate the defensive deficiencies.    This has a knock on effect to our creativity and opportunities for strikers.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I agree too. Like many others I thought that we were a cb away from having a very good side.

If we were to stay up this time around then I'm sure we'll be going into next season with a much stronger squad.

 

[Canaryboy]

I agree too. Like many others I thought that we were a cb away from having a very good side.

If we were to stay up this time around then I'm sure we'll be going into next season with a much stronger squad.

I know that some people rate Whittaker, but I really think we need a quality right back too. 

I'd be delighted if we could drop £5m each on two quality defenders in this coming window. Yes we could do with a striker, but I think we'd find enough goals in our team this season if only we could concede fewer. 

 

[Dubai Mark]

I guess its no coincidence that the area of the field where we have very little cover/ strength in depth is where we have the problems.   This fact in itself will have an impact on the players performance knowing that they are just about guaranteed a place regardless of how they play. That said,  it is also not a coincidence that our poorer performances have come when the team in its entirety just hasn't defended as a unit well enough. 

 

[hogesar]

Lets get this sorted hogesar, AN's been stonkinly brilliant for us, BUT............professional football is a brutal world imo, and if City are going to stay up its my belief that we need a Premier savvy manager to achieve this.

Brendan Rodgers maybe?

Am I being too harsh?...most certainly. ...but the financial well being of our club must always come first... imo.

Thing is, what do you think Brendan Rodgers and insert-random-other-failed-manager-here will bring to the table that Alex Neil doesn't? Other than costing us approximately 5x more than AN, plus on top of that their more than likely desire for their own coaching team, on top of that the costs for paying off the contracts of AN and his staff. Yet the financial well being must come first? AN has shown to any kind of football literate person that he's inexperienced but generally speaking setting the team up correctly and certainly has the players motivated to play for him.

That's about the best we can hope for from any manager, see no point in changing.

 

[Wiz]

Thing is, what do you think Brendan Rodgers and insert-random-other-failed-manager-here will bring to the table that Alex Neil doesn't? Other than costing us approximately 5x more than AN, plus on top of that their more than likely desire for their own coaching team, on top of that the costs for paying off the contracts of AN and his staff. Yet the financial well being must come first? AN has shown to any kind of football literate person that he's inexperienced but generally speaking setting the team up correctly and certainly has the players motivated to play for him.

That's about the best we can hope for from any manager, see no point in changing.

Staying up THIS season could be worth up to £100 million for City, this is why Leicester upgraded on their manager I believe.

Getting relegated would be a financial disaster for us, and its my opinion that a more experienced manager would give us a better chance of survival.

But I will agree that the Board MUST release serious cash for quality defenders in the next window.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Thing is, what do you think Brendan Rodgers and insert-random-other-failed-manager-here will bring to the table that Alex Neil doesn't? Other than costing us approximately 5x more than AN, plus on top of that their more than likely desire for their own coaching team, on top of that the costs for paying off the contracts of AN and his staff. Yet the financial well being must come first? AN has shown to any kind of football literate person that he's inexperienced but generally speaking setting the team up correctly and certainly has the players motivated to play for him.

That's about the best we can hope for from any manager, see no point in changing.

Which still brings us back every time, to money. Many of our posts have been considered and researched, and are all valid in their worth about improving the squad and back room staff.

But the prevailing attitude has always been, from the board anyhow, that very little risk will be taken when it comes to replacing or adding to the staff. Despite the brilliant job AN has done, we all know one of the main reasons he is here is because he and his staff were cheaper and it didn't cost anything to keep Adams in a job.

 

[morty]

Staying up THIS season would be worth £100 million to City, this is why Leicester upgraded on their manager.

Getting relegated would be a financial disaster for us, and its my opinion that a more experienced manager would give us a better chance of survival.

But I will agree that the Board MUST release serious cash for quality defenders in the next window.

Like Big fat Sam, or perhaps Steve Maclaren?

Leicester upgraded their manager because they can afford to.

 

[Canaryboy]

Staying up THIS season could be worth up to £100 million for City, this is why Leicester upgraded on their manager I believe.

Pretty sure they got rid of Nigel Pearson because he couldn't accept the boards decision to sack his son for participating in that orgy in Thailand.