Essjayess

Absolute necessity to keep Naismith, ive never equated how good or bad a player should be compared to how much the club sign him for, or what his wage income is, be it 8 pence or 8 million pound, its how they perform on the pitch that matters only. We are beginning to see signs of a midfield / attack with Naismith, Pritchard, Maddison, Oliveira, Howson etc, that is a mouth watering prospect for next season. Also, for first time in a long while, i sense the importance of having Wes in the team is less needed. Have the much needed big clearout in defence, albeit  keeping Ivo and hopefully signing Dijks if possible,  retain the above guys and along with the upheaval in the staff, this season could well have proved to beeen a blessing in disguiseNaismith is essential, he brings so much more than we give credit for him in our team.

Yes we need a complete new defence, Pinto apart, but lets face it, realistically that could not and will not happen.Dijks will head back home, then theres Whittaker, Bassong, Martin, Turner, Bennett, arguably Klose to even...thats 7 defenders in all need replacing...just not going to happen. We dont even have the SD  in place yet, dont even have the  guy he will chose as Coach, the weeks will fly by, itll be hard enough to find 2 or 3 new defenders in the close season, never mind 7.Lets face it, as important as the coming close season will be, i envisage at least half of our current defence to still be here come the new season. And next season will firstly be a time to get us up to even mid table Champs form, talk of play offs is ridiculous.

Lakey ive admired your optimism thru the season, but the facts speak for themselves...after first 13 games of the season we had 27 points and were top...since that time we have been on relegation mode points wise...30 points from last 27 Champs games. That has been masked by the decent start City had, albeit against modest opposition. The utter, undeniable fact is, from the stats to the form on the park, we are playing as a bottom of Champs team, not even mid table, hence the job the new management staff will have is immense. Indeed, the first step will be to  make us good enough for the Championship next season, never mind having thoughts for the play offs.

Must admit, his catalog has never really touched me in a way others have done, but undeniably one of the great pioneers of the modern day music scene, and a big big influence on so many other acts of the last 50 to 60 years.One of the greats, RIP Chuck.

[quote user="Rogue Baboon"]Very fair point Nuff Said... Regarding timelines, it seems Derby have had no issue in moving quickly. Given the sudden and bizarre nature of Neil''s sacking, I thought a plan would have been in place and replacement lined up. Clearly that was not the case. It seems we have completely sacrificed this season (Balls said as much). How are we supposed to get up for Saturdays game, knowing that the club has effectively written off the rest of the season - that''s before you take into account we could close the gap to Wednesday again[/quote]Bizarre....RB, what has Derby''s situation to do with City''s?. Derby change managers often, and a manager is all theyre after seemingly. Balls and City have announced the plan for a restructuring, not just a new manager, also that they would get things right this time, i would be both amazed and a trifle worried if they completed all that in just a few short days.Of course they have virtually written the season off, that is mainly why Alex has gone. Like the majority of fans, they look at the table, look at the form of the past few months, not just weeks, know that its been relegation form,  not even even mid table form. Burton, Rotherham, Wigan, Bristol, Blackburn...played them all recently, not a single victory. Closing the gap on Wednesday?...right..i think closing the gap on Fulham ...and Preston, comes 1st.

As bristolcanary said, Kodi is a free , legal, media player system, easily available from a place like Google. Also the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the "end user" was not doing anything illegal by receiving and watching streamed sources, wether those sources themselves were legal or illegal. That is of course, on the proviso that the person  receiving the stream, does so as a private user, and without the intent of using said stream him or herself to stream to others, which is most certainly illegal.Seems companies like Sky now have more power to actually go after the source of illegal streams, although what constitutes illegality and how successful they will be in their endeavours is beyond my  knowledge  for sure.

Just 11 miserly points in the whole of the second half of last season. After a few wins early this campaign against low placed opposition, we now have 26 points from the last 23 Champs matches..all this is way more than a blip, its a long term slideSeems Delia has placed her faith in Alex to get the club a big overhaul this summer. From the transfer windows  since he has been here, just cannot see him capable of  overseeing a big clear out and getting the required replacements in. Add to that his very average to poor record of making the right sub changes, picking a strong first 11 and now seemingly, players who are just not inspired by his kind of  approach, its no wonder the fan base is concerned.We have been here before, and worse, just hope the worse does not come back also.

I think as fans, we can all have a general consensus as to whom we think should leave, but zero ideas who will replace those. Defence is the obvious one big area we all recognise that needs  sweeping changes, but as morty rightly said, the practicalities can, and likely will, mean we see a much smaller change than we imagine.Add to that so many unknown factors, will Alex be here as the guy to make these changes? If not, could a new guy make such radical and sweeping changes? Even if we had such a manager who could,  what of finances?..none of us know how big or small the transfer kitty will be. Where to look?...Alex has always had a policy of  checking the top two divisions or Europe for 1st team additions, only signing L1 and L2 guys as future prospects. If he is still here, will he still regard that as his policy? Depends if he and the club still view City as a Premier bound club, or face the reality that we are mid table Champs. Add to that the fact that those who leave are never 100% gauranteed just those out of contract. We simply have no idea as fans who may actually end up leaving. I would say at this point in time, the only two definites to leave are Turner and Lafferty. Highly likely Dijks will head  home to.It could be a summer of change and upheaval, but as much off the pitch as those on it.

27 points from first 13 games, 25 points from last 22 games. If our first 13 games had yielded the same level of points as our last 22 games, we would now be in the bottom 6 or 7 places. Never mind ay, now...wheres me pecker..

As to who...well, posters on forums will name many different guys, and other posters will will say no way jose...meaning, i doubt there is any one name that remotely get many thumbs up. Gunny said that many would be attracted to the job, of course its a decision for the club themselves. Personally, being honest, i have no clue whatsoever.What you say about some players with their minds already thinking about the exit door must have some merit, seeing how the season has panned out, and from what Cam was saying. To me, all the more reason to get a new guy in asap,  because it will only linger longer in the present set up, and even possibly spread.

Out.Morty, i agree with you about the seasons over part, but dont agree that bringing in a new manager now is plain daft. A new manager could have 8 to 10 games to watch the team, form his own  opinion on the ones to get rid. Another factor to consider, Dijks will head back to Ajax end season, Klose will likely not want another season here, Turner and Whittaker  are likely to go, thats 4 guys gone from defence, and STILL leaving Bassong, Martin and Bennett..from his transfer windows here with us, id say its highly unlikely Alex has the capability to find 4 replacements in defence, and thats not even mentioning midfield and up front.Also, Alexs policy is to raid the top two divisions or Europe for first team replacements, only raiding L1 and L2 for young guys, presumably ones "for the future". But situation has changed dramatically, money constraints and league position means we need a smaller, leaner, more hungry outfit, all the more real after we ''ve heard Cams words after the match. Above all, we need a manager with the capability of shifting many out, also bringing a fair few in, a thing Alex clearly cannot do.I agree with ricardo, City are set in this division for quite awhile, fans need to accept the reality, but more so, Delia needs to pull the plug on Alex, and bring in a guy who can do the above things, plus get the playing staff hungry again, playing as a team, and believing in themselves.

Alex Neil will be sacked, no doubting now, but dont think will be until end of season. Have a feeling Delia wont get rid until a new CEO is appointed, being without a CEO and a manager at same moment is frankly embarrasing. We have 50 points, safe from relegation, no chance of play offs, so to appoint a new manager now will not alter anything.Simple truth is, keeping the same core guys of Whittaker, Martin, Lafferty, Turner, Bassong...when its been crystal clear for 2 or 3 seasons they are not up to it..is why we are a very average Champs side. Get rid of them, Neil to, bring a manager in who firstly will sort out the defence.Rest of the season will be just going thru the motions, then in the summer weneed a huge clearout, and a realisation from fans that to become top 6 contenders is going to be a long business...many seasons, before we  are that strong.

Two draws with our neighbours, nothing sums up more where we are right now. Recent history we were dominant over them, but im not going to use the "history" route like they have done for so long. Truth is, right now, no side is dominant, City and Town are pretty equal on the pitch. We have succesfully and smoothly transformed our status as a yo yo club into a solid, unspectacular stable mid table Champs side, in other words, sunk to the level of our neighbours. Those who still disagree should wake up to the reality.Dijks will go back to Ajax  end of season im in no doubt, Alex will have a big job finding a new LB. Have a feeling he will sign Whitts for another season. Anyway, Alex will have to quickly learn that money for new guys will be at a premium, he will have to change his complete policy of searching the top 2 divisions and Europe, and ignoring L1 and L2, for that is where money will dictate our new players to come from.

westcoast, that is such a good post, and brings some much needed realistic thought into this thread.Neil out?...if now, and a new manager comes in, you really think he  could change the likes of Whittaker, Martin, Lafferty etc etc?..my point being, weve suffered an inherent weakness in defence for a few seasons now, not a manager on this planet can change that situation until summer at earliest. So,  new manager in the summer?...then what? exactly what are you expecting from a club like City?...promotion and then a long, lengthy spell in the Prem?...just is not going to happen, at best we continue a yo yo existence, no better than weve had these past seasons.Ever since Saunders took us to the top flight in the early 70s, apart from one magical spell in the 80s, which was a very different era to what we have nowadays, we have never established as a top flight club. Reality is of course, we are not alone. Take out the top 6 in the Prem, who else even in the Prem have a long established stay there?...Stoke i guess are making a good fist of it, but most the rest can hope for 2, 3, 4 seasons at best. And look at the Champs, filled with clubs like us, or ones with who for to long have yearned to be back there...Leeds, Forest, Derby...etc.AN for sure has had a rough 18 months, but i reckon Delia will stand by him if we finish anywhere in the top half,  i fully expect to see him here next season, unless he himself resigns. Look with interest at what the summer window brings to the club, aand pondering on westcoasts post, AN seems the most suitable guy  as manager now and near future.

[quote user="king canary"]@Nemzadze What on earth are you on about? He''s had five transfer windows and about £50m to make it his own team. This is an Alex Neil team.[/quote]Oh really?..Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Lafferty, Turner, Bennett,,,for many and varied reasons those are still here..I suggest its maybe a 60% ish AN team..this summers window, as ive been saying since at least January of 2016, will be pivotal, for good or bad.So, you say 50 million over 5 windows?..if that is so, that would equate to 10 mill per window, which, presuming you view us as a Prem club, or at least a Prem club for some of those windows, is absolute peanuts money.Moving on, i think Delia and the Board have a very difficult decision to make regarding ANs future at the club in the summer, do they stick with him, allowing him to continue reshaping the team? or sack him and get a new manager in? There has been many changes at the club, from CEOs to the coaching and recruiting staff, none of which in general have helped Alex one jot.AN has in many ways been a complete conundrum as a manager at this club, as has Citys  yo-yo form, also their yo-yo division hopping of the past few seasons. Only one constant for me...the weak defence. Where do we go from here?...who could possibly  know, we can but guess, mine is that we will be a Champs side for awhile to come.

Have to agree with Keith on this..."still on"?..it has not been all season. Just to many on these forums still  thinking the old guard can do it for us again, when it was obvious  from the past 2 or 3 seasons they are past their sell by date. In fact some have a touch of Ipswich about them these days, relying on past glorys  to convince themselves City are still good enough to head to the Prem, when its clear they are not a top 6 champs side, and not playing like one.The recent thread from Lakey was absurd in its optimism, it was and has never been on for us to catch, challenge, chase the top 2, maybe now others will start to admit top 6 is not on either.Im never far out in my predictions, last season said 33 points and relegation. This season at the start i said 8th to 12th, with around 65..maybe at a push 70 points. Thats where City are headed, as ive alluded many times, its this coming close season, with the ins and outs of players, that is the importance of the future, not the remaining fixtures this season. Of course as manager, Alex will keep battling away, thats his job, he has a pivotal few months when this season ends. A time for a charge next season, only with a telling amount of old faces gone and new faces in. Otherwise we for sure are headed for solid stability for some seasons in the same division....playing our neighbours regularly.

[quote user="lake district canary"][quote user="Hoola Han Solo"]I think we can all agree the playoffs are definitely achievable[/quote]Yes - but to do that we have to keep winning - and that is part of my point - keep winning.  And if we keep winning to the end of the season you never know, 90-93 points might well be enough for second. Just looked at Huddersfield''s next few fixtures - Man City, cup distractionhome to Reading - not easyaway to Barnsley - def not easyaway to Wolves - not easyhome to Newcastle - far from easy followed by two away matches6 league games that could get them only 9 out of 18 points. Puts them on around 70 pointsReading''s next six fixtures - away to Huddersfield - draw would be good for usaway to brighton - draw would be goodhome to wolves - should be 3 pointshome to Newcastle - 1 pointaway to preston - 1-3 pointsaway to sheff wed - 1 point, maybeSo maybe 10 points out of 18Puts them on around 70 points Leeds next six fixtures - away to ipswich home to sheff wedaway to Brumaway at Fulhamhome to qprhome to brightonMaybe 9 points out of 18 there, no more than 12 imo. Puts them on around 70 points tooShef Wed next six fixtures -away to foresthome to brentfordaway to leedshome to norwichhome to burtonaway to villa Maybe 12 points there too (big game against us obviously)Puts them on around 67/68 points. So - the concertina effect is easy to see. Four clubs all around the same amount of points - with eight games to go. As for Brighton''s next six fixtures - away at Barnsley - 1 pointhome to Reading - draw, hopefully.home to Newcastle - newcastle win? away at forest - draw?away at Rotherham - win? home to Derby - winSay 10 - 12 points.Puts them on 75/77 pointsNewcastle - the most interesting fixtures - home villahome bristolaway brightonaway huddersfieldaway readinghome fulhamThat set of fixtures could go either way, but if they have a bad run with the pressure of those difficult away games, they could drop back.Say they only got 9-10 points there, that would put them on 76/77 points.   Win our next six games - away to Burtonhome to Ipswichaway Shef Wedaway Bristol Cityhome Blackburn home Barnsley6 games that could - should - get us 15-16 out of 18, or even 18 out of 18.15 out of 18 puts us on 66 points. 18, obviously would put us on 69 points.With the gap closing as I predict - the concertina effect - with eight games to go, second club could be on 75-76 points. At that stage we could be as little as 6 or 7 points off second place. In that situation, week by week would be more and more interesting.  Any faltering by any club in those last eight games gives the advantage to the others.  With eight games left and if we win our matches, we could quite possibly be on the tails of second place by the last game or two of the season. Then it would be very interesting in the last two games.  90-93 points does it. [/quote]Well Lakey, looking at that little list, you have used  the maybe route for all 6 clubs above us to grab between 9 to 12 points in all their next 6 games , yet somehow City could and should get 15 to 18 points. But be honest, do you REALLY think that is going to happen?

The way the top 6 are grabbing points right now, it could well be  a season where 6th place needs a new high pointage amount,for the Champs, currently held by Ipswich a couple yrs back who had 78. This season may well need 80 points  just to get 6th place, so talk of City and a top two finish is mathematically possible but ludicrously improbable.

Again, way to much importance in this thread  concerning the play offs. To many thinking if City dont reach the play offs its a dreadful season, without thinking longer term or seeing the bigger picture. Ive never thought for a second since season start that we would be top six, always said to much old guard still at the club, look at tonight, Whitts, Lafferty, Martin..that, allayed with a big amount of injuries, and 4 games in 10 days, despite all that, 2 wins and 2 draws, far to much negativity.I for one am unconcerned if we dont make top 6, the more important thing is City are playing their all again, Alex is in tigerish mood and Carrow Road is rocking. For me, the important time coming up for our club is not the next 14 games, its the summer transfer window. More of the old guard need to be released then, Alex  will need to find 2 or 3 new guys in defence, maybe 1 or 2 in midfield, at least 1 new striker.This season is not make or break, next season will be far more important, what happens in the summer could shape City''s. and Alex''s. future for the next few years. But for sure, posts about Alex being rubbish, or that hes got to go are now an irrelevance. So, stop to think longer term, but same time, enjoy the fact that City are looking much better now, keep the Carra rocking and just enjoy the passion of being a Canary fan.

Before the Birmingham game id posted to get 75 points we  would need 10 wins 5 draws 4 losses from the last 19 games. Now its 7 wins 4 draws and 4 losses from 15 games, very doable for a team such as City, but the proviso is, a lot of very difficult matches ahead, starting on Tuesday. Other teams like Huddersfield, Leeds, Brighton etc, to face, tough indeed on paper, and, also on form, looking at Citys record against the high placed teams this season.My opinion all along is we would finish 8th to 12th, but this current mini upturn in form has certainly given us a chance for 6th place, obvious to say, but its down to the players, their momentum, and a fair share of luck not to suffer to many injuries to key players.Just think our defence will be found lacking to many times. Dont want to finish 7th to be honest, for obvious reasons.

I think the problem is...7th place. All season we have been playing as a 8th to 12th place side, suddenly we  just about nudge into 7th and to many get grandiose ideas about the top 6 again.Really cannot see how so many think we will achieve top 6, but that at least is not as far fetched as a few who think we are headed for L1. Really hope in the summer Alex can finally lose some more of the old guard and bring  in more  new faces. In my opinion, we are not top6, and certainly a way off top two, but even so, not a million miles away.Get a couple of signings at center defence, maybe 1 midfielder and another striker to back up Cam and Nelson and we  could have the makings of a team that will definitely challenge for top next season.

Agree with much that LDC and Engineer have posted. The point when Alex could, and maybe should, have gone was after we got relegated. But Alex clearly had a few tough days fighting his own feelings at that stage, but came out, stuck in there, had Delia''s backing,and now i sincere believe he should, and will, be here for quite some time. For me, him staying / going should have nothing to do now with where City finish up at end of this season.Yes, i to have questioned Alex''s tactical abilitys at times, in the Prem he was cruelly shown exposed at times for his inexperience, but the Prem takes no prisoners. He got us there in the first place, but also shown was the weakness the club had...to many of the old guard  still hanging around from previous managers. You know, the hardest part for a football manager, not always considered by most of us, is trying to build a good, solid team for the future, when the club itself yo yo''s  from division, season after season, with the finances at a club like ours  changing wildly with those divisional changes.Martin, Bassong, Whittaker, Lafferty, Turner, Bennett...and others..Alex is building his own team, but right now, its still only half done, this summer will be a time when theres big scope for changes, no matter what division we are in. On the whole, the guys Alex has brought in have been excellent, on that basis, he needs at least another season and a half to complete what would be HIS team. At that point, let us start to say more on this, but for now, Hes our manager, Delia backs him fully, so should we.

Money of course does matter Derby, our owners, compared to the majority of clubs in the two top tiers these days, have a modest amount, but the money that Delia has put into the club has more often been vital, combine that with her decision making, we have enjoyed many seasons in the top flight, which in turn, has given the club the Premier riches.Just simply take the last 20 years as a whole, the club has enjoyed many highs and lows, ups and downs, but i have enjoyed it immensely, and i would imagine  so has the majority of City fans, im thankful that Delia has been at the helm and wish her many more seasons in her role.You dont have to go far down the road, 40 miles or so, to see a rival, stuck in limbo year after year. They could argue they have solid steadiness, but my goodness, it  comes with a boredom factor off the scale.

Yes, before the Brum game id posted on 40 points if we could win 10 draw 5 and lose 4 of the last 19 games, we would finish on 75, enough in most seasons to get a 6th place spot. So now its win 8 draw 5 lose 4, surely a statistic that is not over burdensome for a club like ours.Much depends on the other clubs results to of course, Reading, Leeds and Huddersfield are all pretty consistent right now,it may be that this season could end up like Ipswich in 15, needing 78 points or thereabouts, all the more probable when you consider our rivals for 6th spot currently include the likes of Sheff. Wed  and Derby.Nevertheless, it does show that despite that really bad run recently, City are still more than capable of getting a top 6 place, even without needing a miraculous type run of results. As ever though, its all ifs and buts, but City are not a million miles away.

Vince, do you really, honestly think and believe that Delia, who bleeds yellow and green, and her hubby, along with  Alex Neil, are in the process of downsizing this club to L1 status, a place we have only been to for 1 season in the last six decades?..and if so, at least give us some plausible reasons why you think that. For a start, spending 7 million pounds on a winger on the last day of the window is part of this downsizing?