What Next?

On a separate note.

Obviously don’t know who’s coming in but peoples thoughts on Smallwood keeping the armband.

Can’t remember a less inspiring captain.
Just doesn’t seem to have the ability to lift those round him and occasionally seemed to sulk when it wasn’t going well.

Personally I’d go for Stubbs.

 

I'm reluctant to have a pop at a Captain as we just don't know what goes on behind the scenes. He might be amazing in the dressing room, great Monday to Friday. We just don't know.
We've just got to trust the Manager that he's the best person. If he's not MH will change it.

 

Elliot Anderson, who starred for Bristol Rovers in L2 last season, is well regarded at Newcastle and playing tonight.

I wouldn't rule out either player, but nor am I convinced that they are the answer when the going gets rough in L2

 

We are desperate for mobility around the centre circle. I said a midfield of Gilliead and Smallwood together wouldn't get you promoted and so it proved. I don't mind either of them playing individually with another midfield partner but then i wouldn't have a shred of disappointment if we didn't play either. Scott Banks is a player who flourish with better players around him.

 

A conundrum indeed.

 

Don’t you watch us. He has been a shocking captain for us.

If he is still captain next season then that’s not good.

He tried to be a manager on the pitch but not a leader of men.

Let’s see who we sign but I would be dropping him from being a caption-100% and if he starts more games than not we are in trouble. His legs have gone.

 

Sorry, missed this post earlier.

I always find this time of year exciting, all the comings and goings, players relocating, big signings, shit signings, all kinds of signings in between. Trying to predict what will work, what won't, who's improved the most, who has weakened themselves.

I never got why computer games start right before the season and include all the completed transfers: I'd much prefer if they'd started with a massive pool of free agents and see who can assemble the best squad.

So, errm, probably not for the reasons you were expecting, as yes I am concerned by what City do, but I'm also very interested in what everybody does.

For us, replacing Cook is the biggie - but I think there will be a few strikers looking at the fact our forward scored 30 goals. There will be centre forwards out there wanting that for themselves if we retain the current manager and tactics.

 

So what if he's amazing in dressing room

He's certainly not amazing on the pitch as either a player or captain

This is how low we've become looking for excuses for a player that came from a championship team and is on a lot of money to constantly pass the ball backwards.

 

I think Smallwood has been made a scapegoat by some. True he hasn’t been amazing but he has had a lot of good games as well as some poor ones. Played as a holding midfielder I think he is decent at this level

 

So when we signed smallwood you seriously thought he was signed as just a holding midfielder.

Seemed to end up in that role as he couldn't play anywhere else.

Anyone can do the role he's done as in get the ball and pass it backwards.

Also the less said about his set pieces the better.

 

Its a fair point. He has been a 6.5 performer this season. He is below the level we thought we were getting but he's been nowhere near as bad as a lot are making out.

 

I'd love to agree, Park, but Clayton has come in as a 34 year old with the knees of a 40 year old and been a better holding midfield player in my opinion.

I really want to say Smallwood wasn't disappointing, but he was.

His statistics as per the Sky graphics show him as the number 1 player for passes completed and a bunch of other statistics - great, if those passes were to attack-minded midfielders, but on balance they weren't (admittedly because they didn't exist).

Factor in that Clayton always got the deep-lying role ahead of Smallwood, and you could say the same for him - if only he had the chance to pass to a more attack-minded midfielder, but alas his options were either Smallwood or Gilliead.

Smallwood, whether the deepest lying midfielder, or the second deepest lying, just wasn't able to make our midfield a 'good' one - and he was ultimately second fiddle to Clayton in the second half of the season. Therefore, my question is: what does he really offer?

 

His passes completed stats are good but like you say, they weren't to attack minded midfielders because we didn't have any. Perhaps we will get to see what he really has to offer if we invest in some quality around him.

 

Fair enough. Over the summer, there's always a mental reset and sense of optimism. What I want to see, is what are we going to do differently. Because if Hughes stays and if he remains wedded to this playing style - and both are likely - then its essential that we sign more energetic and proactive midfielders and more mobile, dynamic and frankly talented forwards. Reduce the overall squad size by 3 or 4 and focus more on quality.

Now, if I force myself to be glass-half-full, there's an argument to say he tried to do at least some of that in January. Costello and Nevers are both pacy and direct forward players. They're just sh*t. Similarly, the logic of bringing in an attack minded left back was sound - but he was also sh*t. The strategy and execution of our transfer policy needs to be much, much better in the summer. Hughes and Gent need to up their game because they've fallen short this season. Hughes especially - outperformed and out thought by several less illustrious managers this season

 

Exactly my thoughts BB. Smallwood is no captain, doesn't seem to motivate the players and as I keep saying, when things go wrong he can be seen, hands on hips looking to the floor - unlike a certain Gary Jones and Stuart McCall.
Stubbs was the only player to have the balls to face the media after the match.
Again in the T&A he's speaking positively.

Why isn't the captain speaking???
Stubbs all day long for the captaincy.

 

Stubbs probably got caught for the interview because he was too slow to get away when the rest of the team made a run for it

 

Appears the only player speaking is Stubbs again today.

 

Could not agree more. I’m 65 and as mobile as the guy - I can pass back and across and make the odd tackle. I’m not getting City promoted and neither will Smallwood. Really really poor signing
QUOTE="Super bantams, post: 756428, member: 1079"]So when we signed smallwood you seriously thought he was signed as just a holding midfielder.

Seemed to end up in that role as he couldn't play anywhere else.

Anyone can do the role he's done as in get the ball and pass it backwards.

Also the less said about his set pieces the better.[/QUOTE]

 

Next for banks in Palace u21 cup final team tonight

 

Not a scapegoat at all. He left us from a Championship club and you expect a better performance.

Not once did I watch him and think he was a standout player. In fact we had to sign Clayton because he wasn’t a leader and also moved him out or position as a result.

He isn’t a scapegoat, he just wasn’t good. If you seriously think his legs haven’t gone and a really is the leader we require then I suggest you watch the season back again. Shite!