Musings of a fan (4 Viewers)

[Ricketts]

As a City season ticket holder of many decades I feel entitled to submit a few thoughts.

Under Mark Robins he turned our club around and instilled a real sense of belonging on hope. Going to the football was exciting and entertaining.

The last few months (including the end of Mark Robins time, maybe about when Denis Lawrence left) there has been something missing.

We don’t seem to know what we are doing, or trying to do. Over the past few seasons some of the football has been breathtaking, now it is mundane without any apparent plan.

We are in danger of wasting the opportunity that we were presented with special players, Haji Wright, Milan etc. Norman Bassette.

Bobby Thomas is doing OK and improving, but what about Binks and Kitching? I had high hopes for them.

Yesterday’s match v Baggies highlighted our goalkeeper issue. Palmer would do nicely.

At the beginning of the season I thought it was because we were missing Ben Sheaf, but sadly he hasn’t been as special as we hoped he would become. Tats as yet is not back to his old self after his horrific injury.

The beginning of the season we were trying new and inventive corner and set-piece routines. No longer.

We don’t seem not appear to be playing to the strengths of the players. Rudoni started well but somehow now isn’t. The same with Torp. Simms could be really good, but doesn’t appear to want to.

We are becoming an average championship team. Win one lose one for one. That’s four points every three games 62 points ish at the end of the season.

Destined like Preston, Middlesbrough, Bristol City etc.

I pay £750 for my season ticket and that is pretty much the same as my golf membership. Both give me the same amount of hope, despondency and despair.

 

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[Saddlebrains]

As a City season ticket holder of many decades I feel entitled to submit a few thoughts.

Under Mark Robins he turned our club around and instilled a real sense of belonging on hope. Going to the football was exciting and entertaining.

The last few months (including the end of Mark Robins time, maybe about when Denis Lawrence left) there has been something missing.

We don’t seem to know what we are doing, or trying to do. Over the past few seasons some of the football has been breathtaking, now it is mundane without any apparent plan.

We are in danger of wasting the opportunity that we were presented with special players, Haji Wright, Milan etc. Norman Bassette.

Bobby Thomas is doing OK and improving, but what about Binks and Kitching? I had high hopes for them.

Yesterday’s match v Baggies highlighted our goalkeeper issue. Palmer would do nicely.

At the beginning of the season I thought it was because we were missing Ben Sheaf, but sadly he hasn’t been as special as we hoped he would become. Tats as yet is not back to his old self after his horrific injury.

The beginning of the season we were trying new and inventive corner and set-piece routines. No longer.

We don’t seem not appear to be playing to the strengths of the players. Rudoni started well but somehow now isn’t. The same with Torp. Simms could be really good, but doesn’t appear to want to.

We are becoming an average championship team. Win one lose one for one. That’s four points every three games 62 points ish at the end of the season.

Destined like Preston, Middlesbrough, Bristol City etc.

I pay £750 for my season ticket and that is pretty much the same as my golf membership. Both give me the same amount of hope, despondency and despair.

Id snap your hand off to finish on 62 points this year tbf

 

[TewkesburySkyBlue]

I think we should sell Simms but we wont because we would lose big time and Doug wont like that.
It just hasn't really worked, reminds me of an expensive Tyler Walker.

 

[SBT]

Not sure why Bassette is in the “special player” category already

 

[Hutch11]

This whole league is a bit meh , apart from Leeds no one else we have played have been up to much really.
If our expensively assembled team improved just a little we'd up there with the rest of the bang average teams like the baggies, sheff utd etc etc
That's what's the most annoying thing for me

 

[Saddlebrains]

This whole league is a bit meh , apart from Leeds no one else we have played have been up to much really.
If our expensively assembled team improved just a little we'd up there with the rest of the bang average teams like the baggies, sheff utd etc etc
That's what's the most annoying thing for me

Sheff Utd Re far from bang average. Pissing the league if you remove their deduction

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

This whole league is a bit meh , apart from Leeds no one else we have played have been up to much really.
If our expensively assembled team improved just a little we'd up there with the rest of the bang average teams like the baggies, sheff utd etc etc
That's what's the most annoying thing for me

We've been out of the top flight for 20 odd years. Have only coke close to getting back there once and may take a long while now.

 

[Hutch11]

Sheff Utd Re far from bang average. Pissing the league if you remove their deduction

We're no great shakes but were the better team even before their guy got dismissed
They have class in Hamer and are efficient but no better than us when we are at our best

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

We're no great shakes but were the better team even before their guy got dismissed
They have class in Hamer and are efficient but no better than us when we are at our best

The thing is we were not at our very best often , and they are consistently picking up points when not always playing well.

 

[Hutch11]

The thing is we were not at our very best often , and they are consistently picking up points when not always playing well.

Don't dispute that but they're no better than us when we do play well
Only Leeds have looked a class apart, the rest are really average

 

[SkyblueBri]

At present we've gone from an exciting brand of football to boring, last night was painful to watch sideways backwards and slowly forwards. Frank has got a real job on his hands to change this.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Not sure why Bassette is in the “special player” category already

He has one goal, it’s ridiculous. He’s energetic and works hard and I appreciate that. However, he lacks the ruthlessness (and a right foot) to start this season imo. His movement in the box needs to be refined because he can be a bit naive.

Simms scored 19 goals in half a year, just give the bloke a run in the side and show a bit faith in him. Relying on Bassette is just not a good idea right now, we need goals.

 

[Major Tom]

I think we should sell Simms but we wont because we would lose big time and Doug wont like that.
It just hasn't really worked, reminds me of an expensive Tyler Walker.

interesting comparison and can see that in demeanour but Walker will never score 20 goals in a season.

 

[Offhegoes]

I think we should sell Simms but we wont because we would lose big time and Doug wont like that.
It just hasn't really worked, reminds me of an expensive Tyler Walker.

I've always liked Simms. Even when he wasn’t scoring early last season, you could see signs of a top player. Strong and pacey. Good finisher.

We said last season he needs a run of games. Simms is a player that needs to get into a rhythm to find his best form. He finally got that and scored plenty.

Robins did the same again this season, moving him in & out of the team. He scores at Watford but loses his place for the next game.

It needs to be Wright & Simms up front.

They terrorised Luton as a partnership, and both scored. Bassette & BTA as backups.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

interesting comparison and can see that in demeanour but Walker will never score 20 goals in a season.

Jokes on you Tommy, he already has (in league two)

 

[Major Tom]

Jokes on you Tommy, he already has (in league two)

League 2

 

[Macca1987]

I've always liked Simms. Even when he wasn’t scoring early last season, you could see signs of a top player. Strong and pacey. Good finisher.

We said last season he needs a run of games. Simms is a player that needs to get into a rhythm to find his best form. He finally got that and scored plenty.

Robins did the same again this season, moving him in & out of the team. He scores at Watford but loses his place for the next game.

It needs to be Wright & Haji up front.

They terrorised Luton as a partnership, and both scored. Bassette & BTA as backups.

Where will Simms fit in with those front two Tom

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

League 2

Just pulling your leg

 

[CovValleyBoy]

I think we should sell Simms but we wont because we would lose big time and Doug wont like that.
It just hasn't really worked, reminds me of an expensive Tyler Walker.

Naa. Tyler Walker was shocking. Simms has scored far more and shown he has much more to his game. However he is a puzzle. Don't forget he did at least contribute to the penalty awarded v Cardiff. He was on fire v Luton. Then stubbed his big toe or something and largely disappeared again. Like I say he is a puzzle of a player.

 

[Offhegoes]

Where will Simms fit in with those front two Tom

LOL editing

 

[gspotgaz]

I’ve seen enough of Simms now that he just isn’t good enough. His touch is appalling and he doesn’t look arsed at all majority of the time. We have signed some utter tripe for obscene money past 18 months

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I’ve seen enough of Simms now that he just isn’t good enough. His touch is appalling and he doesn’t look arsed at all majority of the time. We have signed some utter tripe for obscene money past 18 months

Scored 19 goals last season, what are you talking about?

He's a striker, give him chances, he scores and I don’t really care about the other bits.

 

[gspotgaz]

Scored 19 goals last season, what are you talking about?

He's a striker, give him chances, he scores and I don’t really care about the other bits.

Would you say he’s been a successful signing?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Would you say he’s been a successful signing?

Yeah, by what measure is 19 goals in a season a failure?

All due respect to Robins, he hasn’t done the play any favours by chopping and changing. We’ve got 3 strikers that are not firing because they’re not getting a good run in the side. Well, Bassette has had a decent run in the side and so far has one goal to show for it.

Wright had a 5 game goal drought before he went on his 3-4 game scoring run. Simms, BTA nor Bassette have really had a run like that.

 

[Ashdown]

Just maybe, what we are not getting that enthused about is not just the apparent demise of our performances but football as a whole.
Starting with stupid atmosphere killing early kick offs, atrocious refereeing, expensive ticket prices, ridiculous prices for F&B around the Arena, no physicality in the game now, constant cheating and play acting from players, time wasting and gamesmanship from all staff, tippy tappy football from the back.
Above everything it has to be good entertainment, some of the time it is but we haven’t really been up out of our seats many times since April in reality.
I imagine a lot of fans of other clubs feel its all a bit sterile at times

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

Just maybe, what we are not getting that enthused about is not just the apparent demise of our performances but football as a whole.
Starting with stupid atmosphere killing early kick offs, atrocious refereeing, expensive ticket prices, ridiculous prices for F&B around the Arena, no physicality in the game now, constant cheating and play acting from players, time wasting and gamesmanship from all staff, tippy tappy football from the back.
Above everything it has to be good entertainment, some of the time it is but we haven’t really been up out of our seats many times since April in reality.
I imagine a lot of fans of other clubs feel its all a bit sterile at times

The time wasting had reached ridiculous levels , players pretending they have a head injury , or cramp or the opposition keeper going down with some alleged injury in the 85 min. I do have sympathy for the refs they always seem to be open to scrutiny but the players or managers hardly. I found the Oxford game exciting but most of the rest especially Shef Wed made me think what am I doing here . Simms had been on for barely 30 secs and the guy behind me shouting behind me how useless Simms was .

 

[Hutch11]

They could stop all the time wasting when feigning injury very easily
If a player goes down and stays down longer than 5 seconds then automatically bring the trainers on
That way the player then has to leave the field for 30 seconds after treatment.
They'd soon stop it.
I like the idea being discussed of awarding a corner for keeper time wasting , they'd soon stop too.
Pretty simple measures to implement and I would hope , effective

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

The time wasting had reached ridiculous levels , players pretending they have a head injury , or cramp or the opposition keeper going down with some alleged injury in the 85 min. I do have sympathy for the refs they always seem to be open to scrutiny but the players or managers hardly. I found the Oxford game exciting but most of the rest especially Shef Wed made me think what am I doing here . Simms had been on for barely 30 secs and the guy behind me shouting behind me how useless Simms was .

Would it actually be that hard to do what they do in rugby and just carry on playing? That may go some way in quickening up the game and cutting out playacting.

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

The time wasting had reached ridiculous levels , players pretending they have a head injury , or cramp or the opposition keeper going down with some alleged injury in the 85 min. I do have sympathy for the refs they always seem to be open to scrutiny but the players or managers hardly. I found the Oxford game exciting but most of the rest especially Shef Wed made me think what am I doing here . Simms had been on for barely 30 secs and the guy behind me shouting behind me how useless Simms was .

I thought players of they are injured after treatment go off for 30 secs anyway. Keepers often receive a yellow for time wasting but very rarely 2 yellows.

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

Would it actually be that hard to do what they do in rugby and just carry on playing? That may go some way in quickening up the game and cutting out playacting.

Players and management always find some way around any new rules introduced . The no of players you see holding their head when they have clearly not been touched anywhere near their head go down is embarrassing. Arsenal and Newcastle always seem to be the biggest culprits.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Players and management always find some way around any new rules introduced . The no of players you see holding their head when they have clearly not been touched anywhere near their head go down is embarrassing. Arsenal and Newcastle always seem to be the biggest culprits.

I’d like to see the rules change to allow teams to play on and to stop the clock for head injuries. Do away with stoppage time and when the ball goes dead after 90m, the game ends.

 

[Blake]

I’d like to see the rules change to allow teams to play on and to stop the clock for head injuries. Do away with stoppage time and when the ball goes dead after 90m, the game ends.

I don't understand why there's not a scoreboard clock that stops at every stoppage, other than because it's not been done historical. That way everyone knows exactly how much time is left and there's no point in most of the time-wasting.

 

[SBT]

Games that stop when the clock reaches zero (NFL, basketball, rugby etc) often end in extremely anti-climactic fashion, because clock management becomes the most important part of the game. I much prefer the way football handles it.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

I don't understand why there's not a scoreboard clock that stops at every stoppage, other than because it's not been done historical. That way everyone knows exactly how much time is left and there's no point in most of the time-wasting.

Because it's the referee who decides how much extra time to be played, that's why he has a stopwatch on his wrist.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Games that stop when the clock reaches zero (NFL, basketball, rugby etc) often end in extremely anti-climactic fashion, because clock management becomes the most important part of the game. I much prefer the way football handles it.

Disagree on the NBA, every second count and even recently I went to a match where one team took the lead with 11 seconds on the clock and the other team won it with 6.6 seconds left.

I see your point of view, in the context of rugby and the NFL. The fundamental difference with rugby, NFL and football is that the clock is constantly in play. In the NFL, it’s a 60-minute match and there’s up to 40-seconds between each possession and in rugby the ball was in play for an average of 17m per 80m match by comparison.

I’d be open to reducing the times of matches if the clock was stopped each time the ball went dead. Time wasting ruins the match!