Dubai Mark

Agree with Billabong on this one.........

The overwhelming reason was clearly this: "we lost BECAUSE of alex neils team selection and tactical choices" I am still in a state of shock over what I witnessed.... and yet we still nearly rescued a point.

The overwhelming reason was clearly this: "we lost BECAUSE of alex neils team selection and tactical choices" I am still in a state of shock over what I witnessed and yet we still nearly rescued a point.

Thanks as usual Ricardo and you sum up how I feel. Even taking in to account the injury situation that set up was wrong and I guess every City supporter yesterday could see that. Whilst the CB''s, Turner in particularly didnt have good games, its no wonder when they were exposed like that. I liked the look of Brentford, but we should have done better, much better. Feel a bit for Whittaker getting booed, he was stuck in a position way out of his comfort zone and amazing to read somewhere that he had played in a similar position for Rangers, clearly he had forgotten what to do. OMG I am getting very worried now........we just saw the ex coach of Man U walk out the door and then witnessed one of the strangest tactically set-up City teams for years, what a mess.

Wow somebody has a different opinion and gets jumped on a susual. I too agree mostly with MM on this one and just request that the squad all just get on with playing to their ability, give 100%, play for the shirt every week.... and then they will answer all the critics.....it really is as simple as that. I like Russell Martin, but he is playing victim just a tadge here imho.

Strong squad (crucial for this part of the season) and clever January business, together with the players being organised and giving a fk will bring us as a minimum a play-off... but should bring us an automatic.

Thanks as usual Ricardo, sounds like our new man has a steep learning curve, but cant complain when we have just won again.

I enjoyed that, thanks for again taking the time to write

I will be shocked if he doesnt still have it and notches regularly. Fit lad, 32 these days not a huge issue and he is a class act still I''m sure......great signing for Sunderland, wish we were in a position to sign him!

Bassong every time, but neither will play in the future for us.

If true, then I bet he wishes all decisions were so easy to make. Next one though could be tough, Russell Martin at Right Back or Centre Half?.........

If it was up to me to keep probably the best CB in this league, then it would be yes. However, I fear that, like Phelan and Holt he wont be at our club much longer.

Exactly.."a massive gamble" and one that surely everyone hopes will work out, but also have every right to be sceptical about as its such an extreme decision. Great OP

Sorry, but am also in the "I remain hopeful" camp, impossible for me right now to feel either negative or positive as its such a strange appointment.

What a great thread this is, its had me swinging between crazy appointment and inspired appointment several times. Regardless of who is appointed I will support them and only start to get critical when it is obvious they are messing up. With Neil Adams, from the start I didnt want him at the helm, even for those few games in the EPL, but I still did my best to support him or, not criticise him until I just couldnt hold it any longer. It''s different with the new Neil, in that I find it impossible to really judge what he has done to date as I havnt a clue about him or really the game in Scotland. That said, its such a curved ball appointment, that I am convinced some serious home work has been done and probably also some serious opinion taken before they approached him......this was not some quick decision.

Surely the target remains the same PROMOTION, just how it is achieved maybe different. Why would they change Manager with so much of the season left and a transfer window open if they simply wanted consolidation this season........it remains our best chance to go back up :-)

Aside of the fact that my prediction and certainty about Phelan has been blown out of the water.....This is a huge curved ball for probably 99% of us on this board. When I just read the headline, I had never heard of him, then read further and immediately thought...WTF......BUT, now I have read through this thread and taken in some of the comments from a few posters who''s opinions I usually like and respect, and added in the comments of the Hamilton fans, then I am already relatively positive over this. Seems to me that McNally and the Board have grown some big one''s and have agreed to go for an appointment they know will get a mixed reaction, is yet another risk, but one they believe in.....certainly interesting time ahead if this is confirmed.

Interesting observation this......."Phelan - (Barring a inspirational coach being brought in with him - He was their for the farce on Saturday and did not get of his seat once!)".................... sounds to me like he was watching Neil Adams hammer the last nails in to his coffin....knew he was beyond help so didnt give it!

Interesting observation this......."Phelan - (Barring a inspirational coach being brought in with him - He was their for the farce on Saturday and did not get of his seat once!)".................... sounds to me like he was watching Neil Adams hammer the last nails in to his coffin....new he was beyond help so didnt give it!

In the very unlikely event its not Phelan, then why not, he would certainly know how to handle our squad and is another very well connected experienced Manager who could handle the expectation.

Ricardo''s logic is reasonable and certainly I too see things in a similar way. I actually believe that the Board had a contingency this time should things not work our for NA, as they knew they were taking a gamble when they appointed him, but felt it was worth taking the risk. I would not be at all surprised if its the assistant to Phelan that they are now trying to finalise. Oh, and there have been many successes of assistants making execellent managers........and please just take time to compare the experience of Neil Adams to Michael Phelan.....he would be a huge step up, huge!

Unless I am reading the current situation wrong, surely Mike Phelan will be our next Manager. The time now is being taken to agree terms with his chosen number two, and then the announcement will be made. Why would they now lead to "scour Europe" when they have appointed a top coach with such great experience working at one of the biggest clubs in the world under the great SAF. His connections when compared to the other candidates will also be of a different level, plus he has had a few weeks now to understand exactly what is required and how to do it. As I mentioned elsewhere, I feel this is probably what the agenda was when he was first taken on.

Interesting view, not sure I agree with everything, although the comment regarding having searched Europe was close on pathetic and should never have been said. Other than that, then I dont feel the fans have been treated like idiots when compared to fans at some other clubs......we actually have owners who are life long supporters, which is rare these days, sure mistakes have been made but we are still in a great state as a club compared to almost going out of business just a few years back. As for Neil Adams "resignation", maybe he did really resign, and all credit "if" he did. However. my take on it, is that he "agreed to resign" and as a result was rewarded with the opportunity to come back to the club in a role more suited to his skill set and experience, and I have no issue with that at all, it secures his longer term future in a market where he is unlikely to pull a big job at another club. Mike Phelan, why not? Just because he was available before and apparently not considered is not much of a reason is it? For all we know, when Mike Phelan was appointed it was with, shall we say an "agenda" and we are now seeing it come to fruition. He is a top coach who has worked at one of the biggest clubs in the world under possibly the best club manager ever......pretty good credentials to have an opinion on how he has seen things since his time with us I''d say...and also to become our next Manager even.

Yes, and that''s possibly been the agenda all along, he has been taking a look and feeding back to McNally, not impossible to imagine. Phelan with a good right hand man to compliment him would be way better than what we have had, and he is certainly no cheap option. Other than that......Neil Warnock is available.......big bonus to get us up....might just work, he would certainly kick some butt, and I understand is friendly with our owners too.

If they want to spin it that he resigned, then that''s fine with me, he is a good club man and will be an asset doing what he does best...but NOT managing the first team. Now, this will be a very interesting appointment coming up...........and the expectation on him, whoever it will be, should be promotion through the play-off''s as a MINIMUM........... although I feel a few could disagree with that....