Sven

[accessory]

Our manager's record speaks for itself. But it's not cut too much ice so far in the Championship.

After last night's latest horror show, we languish in 16th place with awkward home fixtures against high-flyers Leeds and Swansea looming, together with further banana-skin trips to Millwall and Hull.

And with City's tally of 10 league defeats to date at its highest at this stage of the season since 1994-95 (a relegation season), any thoughts of a play-off challenge will surely be dispelled unless Eriksson can compile an unbeaten run over the holiday period.

Will he be able to do this? On the evidence of recent away matches, there must be severe doubts.

To field a defence compiled entirely of loan signings, as Eriksson did last night, is a guaranteed recipe for instability, whatever the weather conditions. Is it any wonder that we struggle so badly to keep clean sheets?

Some of those signings also deserve more scrutiny and call the manager's judgement into question. Chris Kirkland's injury record is well-known throughout the game. Why did Eriksson choose to overlook it? Meanwhile Curtis Davies, after an impressive start, has not looked the same player since his injury at Swansea. Viewers of his recent away displays can easily understand why Martin O'Neill and now Gerard Houllier are not convinced by him.

But problems are also evident in other areas of the side. The central midfield unit of Wellens, Abe and King is on its day among the best in the division (as Derby and Doncaster will confirm). Unfortunately, that day does not occur anywhere near often enough, especially in away games against more physically competitive opponents. We can rest assured that Hull and Millwall will eagerly seek to exploit this weakness still further.

In attack, the manager still has to make up his mind on his best strikeforce. Does he prefer power to mobility? The one-dimensional tactics of hoofing the ball to Steve Howard were found wanting under previous regimes, so why should they be retained now?

Finally, as Roy Keane has found, particularly in recent weeks, sometimes the presence of a high-profile figure in the visiting dugout can act as a motivation to the opposition, who raise their game in response. Eriksson doesn't yet seem to have devised an effective strategy to cope with this.

This post has raised serious questions. Here are some solutions that Eriksson may wish to think about:

1) Bringing Bruno Berner back into the squad, either in midfield or left-back.

2) Dropping Paul Gallagher who has been a constant liability in most of the away games he has played for us (under Pearson and Sousa too).

3) The team badly lacks leadership of the Walsh/Elliott/Lennon type. Neither Hobbs nor King have the maturity to fulfil the demands of captaincy on a week-to-week basis. Could it be time to restore Oakley to the side, at least until another experienced leader can be recruited?

The Championship presents challenges to managers which Eriksson, for all his past achievements, will not have previously faced.

How quickly he will be able to learn the lessons of recent defeats will determine the fate of our club.

[Kingylcfc]

i think we need a leader simple as... i agree neither king or hobbs have the experience to captain a side yet. we need an older player to be captain maybe not oakley but either wellens or howard. In my opinion richie wellens

[Petchy]

Quite simply getting p*ssed off with these topics now. Just let Sven do his thing.

[accessory]

Quite simply getting p*ssed off with these topics now. Just let Sven do his thing.

I'm getting p*ssed off by Sven leading us to defeats against sides we should be destroying...

[Trav Le Bleu]

He's neither. He's just a decent manager with the added bonus of some interesting contacts.

[Bryn]

I doubt Sven would actually disagree with much you've said. We do need a good run of form particularly away from home, we do lack a leader, we could use a more consistent midfield, having a defence of loanees is not ideal, add to that the lack of wingers, the lack of a prolific striker, the wane of some of our backup players leading to a lack of depth.

Problem is, how in fuck's name do you expect him to deal with that in about 12 weeks without access to a transfer window?

[Petchy]

Well then go and support a team that wins every weekend if that's all your interested in.

Fact is, it's going to take time - we're not this 'Manchester City of the Championship' everyone is making us out to be. We're still a mid-table club in the process of change. Away form isn't worrying me that much as if you've actually travelled to away game such as myself, you'd of saw that most of the performances have been good but luck simply hasn't been on our side. Bristol City is a prime example of this. We 'destroyed' them, as you say, yet still came out on the bad end of 2-0.

I just don't get how people can post topics like this after the past two away days have been in awful conditions, and haven't allowed Sven's style of play to even be implemented. Last night wasn't even a football match, it was a 'hoof it and hope'.

[BrummieFOX]

Before yesterday we were the form team in the Championship. God knows what people actually expect from us?!

Yes our away form needs sorting out and we aren't exactly solid at the back but they'll be addressed. Sick of all this moaning.

[Collymore]

Our manager's record speaks for itself. But it's not cut too much ice so far in the Championship.

After last night's latest horror show, we languish in 16th place with awkward home fixtures against high-flyers Leeds and Swansea looming, together with further banana-skin trips to Millwall and Hull.

And with City's tally of 10 league defeats to date at its highest at this stage of the season since 1994-95 (a relegation season), any thoughts of a play-off challenge will surely be dispelled unless Eriksson can compile an unbeaten run over the holiday period.

Will he be able to do this? On the evidence of recent away matches, there must be severe doubts.

To field a defence compiled entirely of loan signings, as Eriksson did last night, is a guaranteed recipe for instability, whatever the weather conditions. Is it any wonder that we struggle so badly to keep clean sheets?

Some of those signings also deserve more scrutiny and call the manager's judgement into question. Chris Kirkland's injury record is well-known throughout the game. Why did Eriksson choose to overlook it? Meanwhile Curtis Davies, after an impressive start, has not looked the same player since his injury at Swansea. Viewers of his recent away displays can easily understand why Martin O'Neill and now Gerard Houllier are not convinced by him.

But problems are also evident in other areas of the side. The central midfield unit of Wellens, Abe and King is on its day among the best in the division (as Derby and Doncaster will confirm). Unfortunately, that day does not occur anywhere near often enough, especially in away games against more physically competitive opponents. We can rest assured that Hull and Millwall will eagerly seek to exploit this weakness still further.

In attack, the manager still has to make up his mind on his best strikeforce. Does he prefer power to mobility? The one-dimensional tactics of hoofing the ball to Steve Howard were found wanting under previous regimes, so why should they be retained now?

Finally, as Roy Keane has found, particularly in recent weeks, sometimes the presence of a high-profile figure in the visiting dugout can act as a motivation to the opposition, who raise their game in response. Eriksson doesn't yet seem to have devised an effective strategy to cope with this.

This post has raised serious questions. Here are some solutions that Eriksson may wish to think about:

1) Bringing Bruno Berner back into the squad, either in midfield or left-back.

2) Dropping Paul Gallagher who has been a constant liability in most of the away games he has played for us (under Pearson and Sousa too).

3) The team badly lacks leadership of the Walsh/Elliott/Lennon type. Neither Hobbs nor King have the maturity to fulfil the demands of captaincy on a week-to-week basis. Could it be time to restore Oakley to the side, at least until another experienced leader can be recruited?

The Championship presents challenges to managers which Eriksson, for all his past achievements, will not have previously faced.

How quickly he will be able to learn the lessons of recent defeats will determine the fate of our club.

Have you seen the table that just covers when Sven as been in charge?

How anybody can question his footballing nouse is beyond me (although I would like to see Berner back in for Cunningham)

[zubi]

Considering the poor start was under Sousa, I think Sven has done a top job so far. The team was lacking in confidence and Sven has brought some energy into them... He needs to sort the away form out though. But that will come in time. As soon as it hits January im sure he'll bring in some good positive signings.

If we dont reach the play offs this year, I expect Sven to get us automatic promotion next year

Sven FTW

[Leicester Bean]

I don't understand why people are panicking! The league is so tight at the minute that anything could happen.. Yes, we're only 16th, but we're definitely progressing from a few months ago! As Sven has said, we'll see at the end of the season..

[Corky]

I don't understand why people are panicking! The league is so tight at the minute that anything could happen.. Yes, we're only 16th, but we're definitely progressing from a few months ago! As Sven has said, we'll see at the end of the season..

I agree, but people have seen Palace and Sunderland come from a struggling position and expect us to do the same. It doesn't work like that. We're six points from the top six, seven above the bottom three. I'd have taken that two months ago.

[cc_star]

Kirkland was dreadful last night, can't understand replacing Weale at all unless it's someone who's obviously better, he didn't boss the defence & was in a bad position for all 3 goals & was lucky on several other occasions.

I don't know why people are surprised by our league position, every time we win a thread appears at how many games we'll go unbeaten and I always say we're a mid-table club, we'll win one then we'll lose one, when we lose one people always question Sven

It's really feckin annoying.

to go up, we need a few better signings but no one is going to sign for us whilst we're in mid-table, if we were in the top 6 and certainly in the top 2 we'd have people like Robbie Keane coming, but no one and good, no one at all will sign for a club languishing in mid-table.

I don't get what our problem is away from home, but I think Sven's AWAY tactics are wrong - we need to start with 1 up front & a 5 man midfield for at least the first 45mins & maybe to 60-75mins, until this happens we will ship goals away from home

Please change it Sven, because if we can stop shipping away goals we look dangerous (apart from on Sat evening where we were shit)

[sdb]

cant we go a game without ridiculous overreactions?

[Guest Mee-9]

I'm getting p*ssed off by Sven leading us to defeats against sides we should be destroying...

I'm pissed off with people thinking their a better manager than Sven Goran Ericsson.

Chill out, have a beer.

[Guest NGoloMode]

Sven has done a great job.

[Leicester Bean]

Who would've thought that Sven-Goran Eriksson would be our manager? Who would've thought that we'd have players such as 'Vassell' and 'Davies'? Yes, we've got a poor away record of late, but I'm sure that it'll improve in time. No-one has any right at all to question Sven to be honest.

[Jackirius]

Bloody hell, we have improved beyond belief since Sousa has left and Sven taken over, we lost at a pitch covered in an inch of snow, you can't judge from that, we have been playing some good football recently, as sdb said can we not lose one game without having a ridiculous reaction.

[ithuriel]

Sven came in with us bottom and getting torn apart by teams, with out being able to buy anyone yet and loan signings he has pushed us up the table and played some exciting football on the way and yes, we are inconsistent but change will take time.

We also are not out of contention yet for the play offs, we just need to get to january and see what players we can afford and to get more consistency.

After so many years of watching city and having seen Brian Littles and O'niells promotion seasons i am not to bothered by our Ipswich snow bound defeat.

[Mack]

Sousa left us in a mess, now we are only a couple of wins off the play offs, Sven has done a superb job turning things around.

I'm guessing a lot of people are basing their opinions on last night's farce because they dont actually go to games.

Yesterday's game was a joke, should never have started and means nothing.

IF Sven stays and IF he is backed by the owners we are going to the premier league in my opinion.

[Haydos]

Our manager's record speaks for itself. But it's not cut too much ice so far in the Championship.

This must be starting to fvck EVERYONE off now? Fvck off and look at the thread that shows our record under him, granted before the debacle yesterday.

[Thor]

Sven may be a good manager with a good track record, at the top level at least, when he has lots of money at his disposal - but one thing he hasn't got right in my opinion is his handling of loanees. His policy seems to be to put loanees straight into the side and keep them there, no matter well or poorly they play, and how much or little commitment to the team they show. I always thought Nigel Pearson handled loanees really well. He never put them straight into the side. He let them get to know the other players first, integrate with the squad, and earn their place in the side - and they only stayed in the side if they performed. Sven's policy is hardly condusive to team spirit and good morale.

[Dr The Singh]

This must be starting to fvck EVERYONE off now? Fvck off and look at the thread that shows our record under him, granted before the debacle yesterday.

it's like having wank or sex and not being able to cum, fooking frustrating!!

this song sums up my opinion

[blueredswed]

I doubt Sven would actually disagree with much you've said. We do need a good run of form particularly away from home, we do lack a leader, we could use a more consistent midfield, having a defence of loanees is not ideal, add to that the lack of wingers, the lack of a prolific striker, the wane of some of our backup players leading to a lack of depth.

Problem is, how in fuck's name do you expect him to deal with that in about 12 weeks without access to a transfer window?

Very good written!

Just wait to february after transferwindows and see what palyers we got!

After that lets justice Sven and my garndson 3 years old say yesterday they are playing bandy because of the snow!

(Bandy is ishockey but with a small ball)

[Leicester_Loyal]

The OPs a willy puller, the OPs a willy puller (8)