A Lack Of Winners..

[Hilts]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

We definitely need some leaders and physical presence.

It's difficult to say where we will finish as we've no manager coaching set up and we haven't started rebuilding.

I wouldn't back this group of players in a fight.

Anyone who wants a move get rid asap

Though I think some may find there is no interest. If we can get certain players out on frees then great.

[The Prophet of Doom]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

So, let's get this right?

This bunch of players achieved relegation in last place, produced some of the worst football seen in years, got hammered by seven goals in a match and are still being praised (by some) as a talented group who will do well with a Bryan Robson pulling on the captain's armband and leading from midfield?

When the chips were down the players (not the fans, not the backroom staff) failed to deliver.

[The Prophet of Doom]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

Do you reckon Rambo, Rubes, Turno & Fishy can shine a bit more this season?

What are we calling the rest of the squad? :facepalm: O'Dowdie, NGeerer?

Made me smile! Happy Friday.. !!

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

This bunch of players achieved relegation in last place, produced some of the worst football seen in years, got hammered by seven goals in a match and are still being praised (by some) as a talented group who will do well with a Bryan Robson pulling on the captain's armband and leading from midfield?

Has anyone suggested it will be as simple as that?

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

imho a battler in the middle of the park and the rest will follow, dare I say someone like James McClean

McClean's a winger...

[The Prophet of Doom]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

Has anyone suggested it will be as simple as that?

Yes!! the original poster opened with - "I believe that we have enough quality within this group of players to compete next season, and to be around the play off positions, maybe even surprise some of us and challenge the for a top two place..."

From my seat I think we are a million miles from that - and you can give players cuddly nicknames too, it doesn't make them better players.

Lack of fight, lack of determination and no real desire was what I saw last season.

[The Prophet of Doom]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

McClean's a winger...

Pearl's a singer :thumbup:

[blue matt]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

Whether you mean Robinson or Robertson (I assume it’s the former), I’d say their attitude could be questioned at times. As for Ralls, even if he is given a new contract, how many games is he going to play - last season’s evidence suggests no more than half of them.

There’s one or two we could argue about, but, as you admit, we don’t have many of them. Most teams we”ll play in any division will, surely, not have more than half of their team with a dodgy attitude - we did in 24/25 and we’ll struggle next season if that situation doesn’t change.

yea, its the former, in Robbo's case, imho he comes across as a confidence player, when its going right, he is a 100% player, when its wrong, his head drops a little, I guess thats the difference between a Championship player and one from the prem league
As for rallsy, Ive said on here in the past, I hope he gets another contract, but yea, he won't be playing every game, but the games he can, we know what we will get

[blue matt]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

McClean's a winger...

yea, thats why I said " someone like ", you know, the same dogged / nasty attitude

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

Yes!! the original poster opened with - "I believe that we have enough quality within this group of players to compete next season, and to be around the play off positions, maybe even surprise some of us and challenge the for a top two place..."

From my seat I think we are a million miles from that - and you can give players cuddly nicknames too, it doesn't make them better players.

Lack of fight, lack of determination and no real desire was what I saw last season.

My belief is that the following players would be welcomed with open arms by pretty much any other League One club:

Ashford, Bagan, Davies, Fish, Ng, O'Dowda, Rinomhota, Robertson, Robinson, Salech and Tanner.

Others who would undoubtedly be useful at this level if they can get their acts together (and in one case stay fit):

Chambers, Ralls, Turnbull and Willock.

Youngsters who are apparently promising:

Colwill (J), Kpakio, Lawlor.

Unknowns who could possibly perform in League One:

Simic, Tsunoda.

A player on the books who could improve in League One:

Daland.

I believe both of our keepers are ropey and should be replaced. I think we desperately need a decent manager, a sensible coaching set-up and some on-field leaders both in defence and midfield. But I firmly believe we have the basis of a squad that could do well at League One level if it is managed properly and reinforced appropriately.

To me, the notion that the entire squad is useless or all the players are bottlers, etc, is just silly. The fact is that we're going into League One and League One is not very good. The situation behind the scenes at the club will need to improve significantly, but that's by no means out of the question and I just don't share the negativity some have for next season.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

My belief is that the following players would be welcomed with open arms by pretty much any other League One club:

Ashford, Bagan, Davies, Fish, Ng, O'Dowda, Rinomhota, Robertson, Robinson, Salech and Tanner.

Others who would undoubtedly be useful at this level if they can get their acts together (and in one case stay fit):

Chambers, Ralls, Turnbull and Willock.

Youngsters who are apparently promising:

Colwill (J), Kpakio, Lawlor.

Unknowns who could possibly perform in League One:

Simic, Tsunoda.

A player on the books who could improve in League One:

Daland.

I believe both of our keepers are ropey and should be replaced. I think we desperately need a decent manager, a sensible coaching set-up and some on-field leaders both in defence and midfield. But I firmly believe we have the basis of a squad that could do well at League One level if it is managed properly and reinforced appropriately.

To me, the notion that the entire squad is useless or all the players are bottlers, etc, is just silly. The fact is that we're going into League One and League One is not very good. The situation behind the scenes at the club will need to improve significantly, but that's by no means out of the question and I just don't share the negativity some have for next season.

I agree with all of that, Conte looked good in the few games i've seen but seems to have gone backwards, maybe a decent Manager can get him playing in L1.

Riza was clueless, a half decent Manager will get a lot from this sqaud with a few ins and outs.

[The Prophet of Doom]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

I did not say that the players were useless David, what I said was I saw a group who consistently under performed, played dreadful football and finished bottom of the table. All FACTS.

In all walks of life and in most jobs people can improve - but there needs to be a significant change in application and attitude if that is to be achieved. I still maintain that certain players are living on past reputations and others may well not fulfil their potential or reach levels some supporters think they are capable of.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

To me, the notion that the entire squad is useless or all the players are bottlers, etc, is just silly. The fact is that we're going into League One and League One is not very good. The situation behind the scenes at the club will need to improve significantly, but that's by no means out of the question and I just don't share the negativity some have for next season.

There's no big boys left in League One. If we could pick a time to get relegated, this is it.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

I did not say that the players were useless David, what I said was I saw a group who consistently under performed, played dreadful football and finished bottom of the table. All FACTS.

In all walks of life and in most jobs people can improve - but there needs to be a significant change in application and attitude if that is to be achieved. I still maintain that certain players are living on past reputations and others may well not fulfil their potential or reach levels some supporter think they are capable of.

All of that is true, but I firmly believe that the off-field shambles last season (and in recent seasons in general) in terms of management, coaching and recruitment was a huge contributor to our relegation. Things genuinely became farcical and that won't have helped any of our players to produce their best form.

In 2022/23, Mark Harris scored 3 goals for City in the Championship. In 2023/24, he scored 15 goals for Oxford in League One.

When Josh Murphy left City he was regarded as a bottler, etc. He got his confidence back in League One with Oxford and was outstanding for Portsmouth last season in the Championship.

After a rough spell at City, Ebou Adams found his form at Derby in League One and has been one of their best players since.

Ciaron Brown looked pretty poor when he left City, but established himself at Oxford in League One and was their player of the year last season in the Championship.

Those are examples of players who didn't perform here in the Championship but improved significantly when dropped a level to League One. There's no reason why that can't happen with a fair percentage of the current squad.

[The Prophet of Doom]

Re: A Lack Of Winners..

There's no big boys left in League One. If we could pick a time to get relegated, this is it.

Just to say that Bolton, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Bradford City, Reading, Wigan and Luton have all played in the Premier League. We are not competing with TNS and Cardiff Met!!