Bristol City fan's view with Matthew Withers
BRISTOL City owner Steve Lansdown, his chairman and board of directors have a real decision to make. Do they keep faith with a man whose side has failed to keep a clean sheet in 27 games, sit second bottom of the Championship and have been knocked out in the third round of the FA Cup yet again?
Or do they look to replace him and hope that a new man can come in, make the necessary signings in the January transfer window to get the club out of the trouble it's in?
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I would say that at the moment it seems to me that the general feeling amongst fans is that Derek McInnes is not the man for the job and that a new manager is needed urgently. I have been fully behind McInnes, but his continually tinkering with the side, changes to formations and baffling team selection makes me think that he is out of his depth at this level, at this time.
I really want him to succeed, but his decisions of late just do not make sense. I do not understand how McInnes can drop Sam Baldock to the bench against Millwall on New Year's Day after Baldock had scored two and could have scored five against Peterborough the game before. The side's top-scorer Steven Davies always looks a threat when on the field and yet is continually left on the bench.
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McInnes insists on changing his side and formation to combat the threat of the opposition. This seems to be the modern way. What has happened to putting your best side out, in their best formation and letting the opposition worry about you?
Joe Edwards has been in superb form for Yeovil Town, whom I appreciate play at a level below, but our manager would rather play an unfit Mark Wilson or tactically poor Richard Foster in front of the youngster. If I was Edwards I would be looking to further my career elsewhere because if he cannot get in a side which has failed to keep a clean sheet in months and in front of the aforementioned two he clearly does not figure in the managers plans.
With Neil Danns having returned to Leicester the manager decides to recall Stephen Pearson. Why not give Bobby Reid a go? Pearson has been poor this season, as has Neil Kilkenny when he has played and yet both seem to get a start rather than Reid.
At the back, Louis Carey is still our best centre-half, as I said last week Matthew Bates and Stephen McManus are not good enough to keep us in this league. James Wilson gets drafted in for a game or two, but then finds himself out of the side and so cannot get any kind of consistency to his game.
I'm sure that McInnes and his staff are all trying their best, but it's clear that it's not working. The game against Blackburn Rovers was yet another huge disappointment.
Comments
by rocketbob
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 7:38PM
“the time has come to ask why the players are underperforming.
Skuse assures us the players are trying.
The reasons must therefore be down to management and tactics.
just look at the goals given away from crosses and free kicks.”
by marmeliser
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 10:32AM
“@ piledriver
i think the 'skills' everyone is looking for her in a (new) manager are
1. the ability to spot talent - currently at the club, and also to bring in. on the latter that means the ability to wheel and deal well in the transfer market, as well as having good contacts in england and elsewhere
2. the ability to utilise best the players currently on the books in the right formation etc
3. the ability to 'motivate' players, and that includes NOT dropping a guy after he's played a 'blinder'
4. the ability not to be prejudiced in any way towards any of his players, and to pick on MERIT not to 'save face'. this applies to players in terms of form and in any other regard
5. the ability to bring young players through the 'system' who go on to have a good career with the club, and maybe generate significant transferf fees if they're sold
6. the ability not to talk waffle when a microphone is put in front of them
7. decent vision so when they watch the same game that we were at they can give a sensible assessment when things go wrong
how's that for starters?”
by DaveinSA
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 10:30AM
“Pep Guardiola is now available...big steve put your money where your mouth is...”
by CityMan
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 9:27AM
“I've been wanting McInnes to do well for a while as he did so well with St Johnstone taking them to 3rd and got within a shout of challenging Rangers and Celtic but it's looking very questionable, why not play Edwards at RB? Heard he was on fire for Yeovil for one.
I think it may well be time we got gave McInnes the chop but then this would mean no transfer budget for a new manager. Regarding the new manager personally I'd like to see Sean O'Driscoll or possibly even Paul Hartley although perhaps the latter is not suited for us currently, maybe worth a punt in the Summer if we go down.”
by AlanFM
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 5:20AM
“The perfect manager is one who builds for the future of the club and not looking for "his" results. Betting on young players who can only get better is the right way for now and more importantly tomorrow. English Grit + The Spanish Way make best as Spain has shown with all but one goal in the EuroCup being scored by Spanish players who play or have played in England. It´s time England did the same and Bristol City can start.”
by Jancey07
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 3:13AM
“No tactical consistency a different formation every week! He changes his team every week no players know if they are playing or not that cannot be good for morale! he is making half design players look bad! there is a few players which are terrible and i personally hope they are gone in this transfer window. He is a shocking manager! The best manager we had over the last decade was Gary Johnson but he has had no competition my only choice if he was willing to join as manager and his back room staff would be Sean O'Driscoll the only manager who I don't see the reasoning of sacking him. Why is baldock and Davis being dropped when they start to play well. Jody Morris really!?! maybe ten years ago. The best player he has brought in at centre back is that bates but I bet he will be let go . I bet baldock and Davis have got release deals if city get relegated for less than they were brought in for. They need a creative midfield cm and a play breaking cm one more cb a no nonsense and a rb. Now I heard Barnsley midfield Jacob mellis is had a argument with the chairman or manager and he is off somewhere he would a great cm for us. That Paul Anderson looks good for 5 games he has play for us I would like too see more him on the pitch! Mcinnes need too be sacked and Sean O'Driscoll brought inn. For the city of bristol we need a team in the premiership if rovers or city we need them in there. But it looks like we are going to league 1 and rovers to non league which will make me sleep easy at night because there will be a two league gap still”
by topekared
Monday, January 07 2013, 10:58PM
“Piledriver
You cannot keep someone who cannot do the job.”
by CiderheadNott
Monday, January 07 2013, 10:22PM
“If one of Steve Lansdown's employees in his successful business ventures had performed so far below par and expectations I am sure he would have got rid - tout suite!
So why does he dilly dally with the affairs at Bristol City Football Club.
Come on Lansdown - get a grip.
Bring some hope, belief and exciting play back to Ashton Gate.
Act now.
Back the manager with decent money or sack him!”
by johnbristol3
Monday, January 07 2013, 9:42PM
“Just been checking out the Photos on here by Joe Meredith , take alook at picture two ,what i would give to be a mind reader, Mrs Lansdown dont look to happy.
I recon he has just mentioned he wants to spend some more money.”
by piledriver
Monday, January 07 2013, 9:03PM
“@topekared:
OK-We sack McInnes and his entourage tomorrow and, for the record, I'm not saying we should or we shouldn't.
Who comes in and why?
For example, what skills do they have that will turn our season around and suddenly rid us of underperforming players?”