Most liked posts in thread: Clayton Donaldson

Seems positive so far, cautiously optimistic so far, although this may be frowned upon by some!!

 

Wow. Maybe Spicer is coming afterall.

 

Agree virtually with all of this. But we need lots of cover so I'd say we need two left-sided midfielders, one if Robinson returns, two more forwards, some creativity in midfield and two more centrre backs. Then we're looking good. But, as ever, the proof will be in the pudding. How many times have we thought we've recruited well only to be disappointed? Nevertheless, I'm really looking forward to the new season and if we address the above areas I think we'll have a great season.

 

No surprise the defenders are unknowns, who knew Darby, Meredith, McHugh or McArdle?

But quality forwards are rarely miles below the radar. I'd expect our midfield signings to be moderately well know - like Zeli Ismail, perhaps!

But we will need a couple of cheaper options as front men too. Doyle abd Donaldson won't be on peanuts, so now it's down to Bowyer to get some inexpensive back up. No doubt the Usual Suspects will complain if they aren't established, but as always they can be taken with a pinch of salt.

 

Thorne got 20+ and he was cracking on a bit by then. Half of forward play at this level is causing and capitalising on mistakes... Donaldson and (if he stays) Doyle should have a field day against these defenders

 

But we wouldn’t have been able to sign him 5 years ago. I think we have to be realistic and remember the only reason we can sign a player like this is because he is in the twilight of his career

 

I don't get the excitement to be honest. He was only in the Championship last season because he was on low wages and Parky picked him up for nothing. He scored 2 goals last season and played quite a few games and only 11 in the two seasons before that. I hope it works out for him and the club but I cant see him getting the goals required and I cant see him being the partner some of you think he will be for Doyle.
The constant Peter Thorne comparison is awful too/.His last game for us was 9 years ago. City fans love living in the past.

 

I think the philosophy thing is correct, we need one, whatever it is. But I don't see any long term planning like that coming until we have a settled owner and CEO.

And for what it's worth I think Bowyer is getting it spot on in terms of the mix of experience and youth and signing some real leaders.

 

Although he was guilty of not having the first clue, Rahic actually had the chance to create something given that some fans were buying into his post-Archie Christie development idea.

The right way would have involved a lot of patience, signing far fewer young players initially, making sure he got only the right ones (granted he'd have probably signed Riley, for example, anyway), and not expecting them to impact the first team right away.

Slowly, slowly.

Instead, we had an influx of players, a massively bloated squad (without a legitimate reserve team or development side set up), and an overhaul of the first team that relied upon multiple-time relegatees and players who weren't adequately character-checked.

In the end, we had too many young players with no hope of making it to the required level being led by players with no hope of keeping us at the required level, whilst STILL relying extremely heavily on loan players, who were invariably our best players.

If the idea made any sense at all, the execution made none whatsoever.

Let's not do that again.

We have a manager who seems like a Parky-type, looking for players with the right attitude, or with the motivation to do better, or with the ability to improve on what we already had. Not all his signings will work out, but he's not the man to be leading some development agenda in my view. Save that for a few years when we're either top end League One or bottom end Championship.

 

Think you make a very fair point there about philosophy. Thought it was interesting that Woodgate said at his press conference that all his team's would play the same way, Academy, Reserves, First Team. This is exactly what England have said over the last few years and introduced The Future Game and The England DNA philosophy so it makes it easier for player's to progress. This is where management/head coach stability comes into it rather than chopping and changing every 5 minutes.

 

Replacing Stuart with Grayson made no sense from that point of view, neither did appointing Collins, nor did replacing HIM with Hopkin.

Rahic just flip-flopped from one style to another, underwrote every single transfer window by ensuring changes were made just slightly afterwards, and royally screwed us for a good 18 months solid.

 

- ‘point’?

 

The club are in a no win situation really, offer long contracts at first sign of talent and then it doesn’t turn out or offer one year and then they become good and leave at end of the year for little compo. Either way the fans complain

 

Love the interview in the T&A from Clayton this morning, so refreshing to read words away from the run of the mill comments from new players.

 

He seems articulate enough I hope he completes his coaching badges and gets a job somewhere.

 

100 gave his all. Guilty of some absolute howling misses. I think he’s been one of our most dependable players during this bad run. Good luck to him.

 

Needs to be on the end of it instead of crossing it m9

 

Clayton Donaldson???

 

Difference is one has loads to prove the other hasn’t and if it is the only way to get someone of his class and experience it would be worth it.

 

I'm not too fussed about his age, aslong as he's still capable, and if he's been playing Championship football* until now you'd like to think he could still do it in League Two.



* - that was with Parky though who'll sign any tall striker that gives him the time of day.