Dean Coneys boots 1,382 Posted June 10, 2016 Bowkett and McNally walk out. Balls and Delia''s nephew walk in. It doesn''t seem a stretch to suggest we lost business and football sense in favour of sentiment and nepotism. Now we read in the Times that we have not replaced the CEO but asked an agency to sell our players and sort transfers. O''Neill jumped asap. Possibly...Anyway - is it too much to suggest that the club is in crisis. That a power struggle came in the board between a tired old guard of Delia and chums versus the ambitions of Bowkett and McNally. The old guard dug in- the forward looking left frustrated and we are back to the days of Doomy esque calamity. I am worried. Things dont feel good at all. Do others agree? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DDD In The Fine City 1 Posted June 10, 2016 Nope go and change your bedsheets you dirty boy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,455 Posted June 10, 2016 No. Get the CEO situation sorted, get a few decent signings in and don''t sell anyone on the cheap and we''re fine.I''ll be concerned if we start seeing people like Redmond and Brady leave for small fees, we don''t sign anyone and we let the CEO situation drag out. But right now we''re fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The ghost of Michael Theoklitos 0 Posted June 10, 2016 I think it''s funny that many on here were indicating that a bit of a squad clear-out was needed - an opinion I agreed with. Now it is happening, and people are wondering if there is a ''crisis''.I admit that the CEO position needs to be filled, but as far as the squad goes, I think what is happening is what needs to happen.I''ll reserve judgement until the end of the transfer window to see where we end up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AJ 1,218 Posted June 10, 2016 A lot of this pant wetting over the past day or so stems solely from the fact an ageing O''Neil left us purely because we wouldn''t offer him more than a year whilst Bristol offered him two. I can''t blame him for leaving us, but it also makes no sense to keep him on board when ideally we need to rebuild our squad and therefore replace him with younger blood. If we''re in this position with a couple of days of the transfer window left, then yes, proceed to question if the club is on the verge of breakdown, but when the window hasn''t even opened yet we''ve not really had a chance to bring in new players, have we? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy 3,232 Posted June 10, 2016 There''s no doubt and will agree it''s not the situation we''ve ever been in going into a new season, we do lack some areas at board level, we have big questions at management level and we have a lot of older players coming to the last year of contract. Not the greatest tune for our club.But we do have some of the best youngsters with high potential, something we''ve lacked recently.It looks like the club is going through transition and come August we will have a better idea weather the concerned were right to be or the usual brigade that always stick up for the board were right!It''s going to be an interesting time for the club. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy 3,232 Posted June 10, 2016 Flipping auto correct, yep a few mistakes in my post before the grammar police pull me up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TCCANARY 263 Posted June 10, 2016 Dear Worried of Tunbridge Wells,Ed & Tom have business experience, what is ''football sense''?Your third sentence should read "Now we read in the Times that as have not replaced the CEO we asked an agency to sell the players who want to leave and sort their transfers which is good business practise.O''Neill was out of contract and was able to negotiate a signing on fee at Bristol.Yours,Dear Deirdre. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
curious yellow 184 Posted June 10, 2016 Crazy to let McNally go, even worse to let him go without any idea on a replacement. Now we will struggle during a limited time that we can make transfers.But still posters are calling for a clear out and for players to be "shown the door"Most championship clubs would love to buy our players, even some premiership teams. Are we that confident that these players would not come back to hurt us and that we can find better players?Be careful what you wish for. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norfolkngood 1,070 Posted June 10, 2016 Crisis no but not to much confidence board level no CEO so no real leader or person guiding / planning for future season who is telling the managers what is needed and targets for next year or future interim will keep us ticking over but Stone is not Mcnally management / coaches i have my doubts when AN arrived / half of season ( champs ) he could do no wrong looked like he could motivate organise had tactics really looked like a bright spark maybe lambert mark IIlast season he looked lost when another young manager ( howie ) stuck to their beliefs and got success ,our manager started to clutch at straws changing team /players players looked off pace unfit in game management let us down when we were in front in games and ended up losing etc coaching of fat frankie and gary holt didnt seem to improve anyone or inspire so maybe not a crisis but the way the club is set up its nice comfortable friendly we need winners / direction / passion Mcnally had that maybe to much sometimes ! But he was a big big leader of the club AN ( who i dont rate ) has a massive season in front of him will he buy right ?will he build a team not players in slots ?we he find a system to play ?will his coaches improve the youngsters ?these are the things i worry about most Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iwans Big Toe 309 Posted June 10, 2016 Well, despite what the delude Pink''unMafia would have you believe, the club certainly isn''t going in theright direction. All of the noises coming out of the club seem toindicate that things are far from rosy in the garden. Bowkettquitting a week after re-election at the AGM, the will he won''t hedebacle that was McNally''s departure, O''Neill jumping ship to BristolCity; a team that struggled for much of last season, the talk thatBrady, Redmond, Tettey, Klose, Bennett and others could follow himout of the club, murmurs in the national press that the club is notas financially sound as we have been led to believe, reports thatthere is nobody at the club that is capable of arranging transfers sothis role has been outsourced to a couple of private firms that Idoubt will put the club''s best interest ahead of their profit. Theseare not the stories that you hear from a club on the up. Itall screams that there is most definitely trouble brewing. We seem tolack strong leadership and it appears that those who are in positionsof leadership at the club don''t really have a plan as to whatdirection the club should take to move forwards.My biggest concern is that last season,from beginning to end, had a similar feel to it as the 2004 -05season and so far this year is shaping up to have a similar feel tothe 05-06 season where we wasted our best opportunity to getpromoted, started a steady decline which ended with Glen Roeder beingappointed as our “saviour” and a trip to the lower reaches of theFootball League pyramid, which was swiftly followed by the club''smost embarrassing performance ever against Colchester. Make nomistake about it this season, with Villa, Newcastle, Derby andWednesday, to name but a few, all in the division it will be muchtrickier to get promoted than it was two seasons ago, and we did ourbest to bodge that up.But I am sure that this will bedismissed as “pant wetting” by those with their heads buried inthe sand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,455 Posted June 10, 2016 I don''t agree with everything you say IBT but some of that is spot on.This last season did feel like 04/05 with us leaving our investment too late and I''m hearing the same quotes from fans this season about how this squad is easily good enough to bounce back without many additions.There has been a steady drip feed of bad press recently that it is difficult to judge the truth of but the more you hear the more it begins to concern me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,156 Posted June 10, 2016 Well, I''ll leave it to the delude Pink''un Mafia to try to type a response with their heads buried in the sand. But can I point out it''s "good business practice"... Practise = perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to acquire, improve or maintain proficiency in it. Practice = the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hogesar 9,503 Posted June 10, 2016 I really don''t understand, unless you have a vendetta against the club, how you could use the Gary O''Neil situation as something to attack the club with. It''s fairly clear - Bristol City offered him 2 years. I''d be very surprised if we offered more than one. I''m sure if we''d offered 2 we''d have got him. But then fans would equally have complained that we offered a 2 year contract to a 33 year old. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 10, 2016 The unease felt by some fans is understandable. Relegation and the departure of the club''s CEO leads to uncertainty both on and off the pitch.But I don''t see a crisis right now. I see a club in transition. If, come the end of August, we don''t have a new CEO, have lost our better players and have failed to bring in suitable replacements, then I''ll reconsider. But right now things are simply changing. Patience is required. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,156 Posted June 10, 2016 [quote user="Pyro Pete"]The unease felt by some fans is understandable. Relegation and the departure of the club''s CEO leads to uncertainty both on and off the pitch. But I don''t see a crisis right now. I see a club in transition. If, come the end of August, we don''t have a new CEO, have lost our better players and have failed to bring in suitable replacements, then I''ll reconsider. But right now things are simply changing. Patience is required.[/quote] Oh dear. Maybe time to give the Pink''un a break then.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Essjayess 307 Posted June 10, 2016 Depends what is classed as a crisis. Financially, no, we are stable and nowhere near the situation we were in at the start of the L1 campaign. But things are changing more quickly these days, with only 2 seasons of parachute payments now. The big question is, will our squad be good enough to have a shot at promotion this year, because if it is not, then next years close season will be hugely more critical than this close season, as the amount of City players out of contract will be mind numbing.None of us know what our squad could look like come early August, but the reports that agencies have been given the command to get the highest possible fees for Redders, Brady and Jerome is a bit worrying. Redders we expect to leave, Brady maybe, but disapointing, but Jerome?...with Loza now leaving, that leaves us with just Lafferty and Ricky VW. For those who thought it improbable these two would ever be in a City starting line up again...well..makes u think.If Klose goes, and Benno is sold, leaves us with Martin, Bassong and Turner in the CB department. Lot of "ifs" there, but if things worked that way, we are looking at mid table finish, huge issues player wise next close season and Delia and Co. coing to reality that we will be a Wolves, Leeds and yes...Ip..., type of club.To me that is looking at a negative but quite possible scenario, our club back as it was in the 2000s, not crisis as the L1 season, but a very average ordinary Champs club. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Haggerdoo 6 Posted June 10, 2016 [quote user="Essjayess"]Depends what is classed as a crisis. Financially, no, we are stable and nowhere near the situation we were in at the start of the L1 campaign. But things are changing more quickly these days, with only 2 seasons of parachute payments now. The big question is, will our squad be good enough to have a shot at promotion this year, because if it is not, then next years close season will be hugely more critical than this close season, as the amount of City players out of contract will be mind numbing.None of us know what our squad could look like come early August, but the reports that agencies have been given the command to get the highest possible fees for Redders, Brady and Jerome is a bit worrying. Redders we expect to leave, Brady maybe, but disapointing, but Jerome?...with Loza now leaving, that leaves us with just Lafferty and Ricky VW. For those who thought it improbable these two would ever be in a City starting line up again...well..makes u think.If Klose goes, and Benno is sold, leaves us with Martin, Bassong and Turner in the CB department. Lot of "ifs" there, but if things worked that way, we are looking at mid table finish, huge issues player wise next close season and Delia and Co. coing to reality that we will be a Wolves, Leeds and yes...Ip..., type of club.To me that is looking at a negative but quite possible scenario, our club back as it was in the 2000s, not crisis as the L1 season, but a very average ordinary Champs club.[/quote]So you''re assuming that we''re not going to sign anyone then?? - surely the money from sale of Redmond and Brady will finance new players Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonyc 5,447 Posted June 10, 2016 A measured good post Essjayess. There is much uncertainty at the moment with the indications that better players are likely to leave, the hiatus caused by the Euros and lack of leadership ( seemingly). I have less confidence than for a long time. But, I think July is critical. We need next years'' team more or less in place by late July at the latest. It all feels to me like Adams'' end of season drift 2 seasins ago but that following season turned out ok. Patience is required and we are in a holding period at the moment. Other similarly positioned clubs are recruiting but not at any high end. Perhaps we will be ambitious. So far it''s Whittaker signed on.I have a strong sense (intuition) that it''s going to be an underwhelming season ahead, rarely in trouble and not threatening the top places. Yet all will unfold won''t it. And after 10 games and we are sat in 14th place you can just imagine this forum. Maybe the one great positive is a time to really see if Toffolo, the Murphy twins, Maddison and perhaps Morris can start to create / influence a new younger player team, headed by the likes of Howson as captain? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king canary 7,455 Posted June 10, 2016 I agree with Pyro Pete. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Donkey dangler 0 Posted June 10, 2016 Lets be havin'' you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,156 Posted June 10, 2016 Loza has been released so clearly AN doesn''t think he''ll make the grade. Selling Redders is predictable and necessary given he won''t sign a new contract. If we can sell Brady, frankly he''s looked poor for the last half of the season.The only thing of concern mentioned by the Times story is that Jerome might be on the market too. Well, it could be rubbish. Or given the report he was offered a new deal a few days before, you could put 2+2 together and conclude he''s refused that new deal. Which would be a real pity because he''s a top class championship striker and we could really do with him. But at the moment it''s all speculation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Diane 498 Posted June 10, 2016 Haven''t posted for a while and now can''t log in but it''s me lolSome people really do need to get a grip and stop believing everything they read in newspapers and the rubbish some of the people who profess to be ''''in the know'''' tell you on here.I''m confident our club is in safe hands, there wont be a mass exodus and that Alex will get it right this season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mello Yello 2,265 Posted June 10, 2016 I think the NCFC board is actually going ''full circle'' and to me not dissimilar to the board collective of 8 seasons ago......And personally, I don''t really think it''s for the better......The current board set-up doesn''t instil me with confidence for the future. Not a ''crisis'' at the moment but, certainly ''confusion''...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanaryOne 0 Posted June 10, 2016 Nothing wrong with selling Jerome he''s utter s--t and the sooner hes gone the better , then get rid of Martin and the signings can begin . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickdundee 0 Posted June 10, 2016 Not sure it''s crisis yet, but I certainly don''t think things are great And I certainly don''t think Alex Neil should still be in charge but we''ll have to see how things go Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lake district canary 4,520 Posted June 10, 2016 [quote user="sonyc"]I have a strong sense (intuition) that it''s going to be an underwhelming season ahead, rarely in trouble and not threatening the top places. Yet all will unfold won''t it. And after 10 games and we are sat in 14th place you can just imagine this forum. Maybe the one great positive is a time to really see if Toffolo, the Murphy twins, Maddison and perhaps Morris can start to create / influence a new younger player team, headed by the likes of Howson as captain?[/quote]Kind of echoes what I have been thinking. Such a difficult season last year, with plenty of good performances but without results and with certain players leaving, it does seem like we are in transition - again. I really hope we get our younger players bedded in with Vadis and Howson as the midfield powerhouse. If the enthusiasm of youth and the experience of those two can be harnessed, we could still do well and build momentum to another promotion run towards the end of the season. One thing that AN was known for at Hamilton was his ability to blood young players and get them playing - he hasn''t had the luxury of being able to do that in the season and a half he has been here so far - now could be the time to do it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bradwell canary 109 Posted June 11, 2016 In the clubs management, or lack of it, the answer must be yes.In the playing side, when we extend the contracts of Turner and Whitts, two who never played, the answer has also got to be yes.Probably all doubts will be erased if they offer the same to Bassong and MartinWe are setting the bar very low, and when the sale of some of the better players is announced will will end up a mid table club, probably for many years. It''s clear that Brady will jump ship, as he did at Hull, and we all know Nathan will. Can''t say I blame them with all the uncertainty within in club.I fear that our future transfer may come from north of the border, and look how that''s worked so far!We will need a DMC and PL , and frankly that happens once in a lifetime. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hairy Canary 628 Posted June 11, 2016 I''m also very concerned that we are heading for a period of transition and who knows how long that may last. Some of the decisions since the end of last season have been underwhelming to say the least (so far anyway).My greatest concern is AN who I just don''t think is up to the vey considerable task of chopping out the deadwood and rebuilding a new team.I have felt since Christmas that he is the wrong man, although I accept I was very much in the minority. We could do with two or three pieces of exciting news to boost spirits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites