Re-appraisal

[Thracian]

Coming up to Christmas it is probably worthwhile to consider where the repairs are most needed in City's team for the second half.

I cannot see any likely change in the goalkeeping department (despite Douglas always leaving you a little in doubt) because Henderson represents a decent alternative and the goals against column is not a problem.

Similarly the defence and defensive cover is excellent.

That leaves midfield, the flanks and the strikers and clearly there are serious problems.

Joey is something of a rock in defensive midfield (how he was missed second half against Southampton) but his passing is hardly inspiring. Hughes (now injured) has hardly ever been at his best this season, Tiatto looked dire in his short spell (the odd pass excepted) and Williams remains an enigma (talent without apparent application).

With little attacking link from our full-backs and poor passing and vision from midfield, the strikers have very little to work on apart from the traditional hoof (and there was plenty of that second half against the Saints).

But hoof has no purpose cos with have no aerial threat.

Smith and Hume are definitely our most creative players - being the only ones who find time on the ball, who can beat people, who can change the direction of play.

But that still leaves three vacancies in midfield and attack - two if you accept Joey as the rock (he's certainly best of the bunch).

That leaves the crying need for a striker to replace Hammond and a busy but creative midfielder or another quality winger cos I don't believe either Sylla or Hammill have what it takes. MDV is bound to figure but I have serious doubts for anything more than his short term future but he does carry a goal threat.

Douglas/Henderson (okay)

DEFENCE;

Stearman/Maybury (good), Gerrbrand, McCarthy (good with Nils/Dion as cover), Nils/Sheehan (potentially okay);

MIDFIELD:

Hughes (when fit okay), Joey (sound defence/ poor passing);

FORWARDS:

Smith (brilliant), Hume (busy/threatening), MDV (Sluggish and struggling for fitness), Hammill (not the answer).

Even with 4-2-4 which is the only system which seems to accomodate our best players in their best positions we need a striker and a winger (on the opposite side to Smith) who can do a job in tracking back plus an energetic creative midfielder (especially if Hughes is going to remain injured).

So two additions to the squad are a must and there would seem no real future (from what I've seen) for Tiatto, Williams (pity though), Hammond, Hammill, Wilcox or Sylla.

There won't be much rest for Levein by the looks of things.

[Babylon]

Come the new year hopefully we will have a new striker and (fingers crossed) Weslowski (sp) coming back to fitness, should give us some much needed better options.

[Thracian]

Come the new year hopefully we will have a new striker and (fingers crossed) Weslowski (sp) coming back to fitness, should give us some much needed better options.

I keep forgetting Weso. Perhaps not wanting to presume too much. But what a bonus HE would be. I still can't help thinking it's asking a lot for him to command a place so soon after a broken leg but I've never wanted to be proved more wrong.

[dodds]

What has happened to Momo? Started the season well but nowhere near that now.CL needs to help him capture that form.As for the striker position we urgently need someone new. And that attacking creative role in midfield, well Weso is only a week off fulltime training with the first team. I say he'd think that position's his, watching results of late. Plus I'd say he wants to show the fans what Balde caused them to miss out on so far. He, along with Ryan Smith will provide that class attacking structure we need and a link between defence and attack.

[Guest Gist]

Come the new year hopefully we will have a new striker and (fingers crossed) Weslowski (sp) coming back to fitness, should give us some much needed better options.

I think that should be enough depends if certain players dip in form though

[Gené and Tonic]

The two additions would have to be quality though, and not just back-up players, and it also depends whether we have the money. If only we hadn't have bought Hammond Levein moved far too soon for him without seeing him properly.

In Jan I'd go for Grant Holt as a striker and the only winger I've seen that looks proper quality in the lower leagues, Mitchell Cole, however, he is a left winger so he might not be the answer.

[Guest Gist]

If Tyson from Wycombe isnt already snapped up by then, then surley he would think about coming here

[Gené and Tonic]

I doubt we have 750k. But you never know.

[lush]

Joey is something of a rock in defensive midfield but his passing is hardly inspiring.

Can you with your semi-pro knowledge, explain to me how joey is a rock?

[Thracian]

Can you with your semi-pro knowledge, explain to me how joey is a rock?

a) Because he is disciplined. He patrols his area responsibly and breaks up numerous attacks without giving away endless free-kicks in dangerous situations.

b) He is reliable. Over the season, while rarely the star, he has had very few bad games and has contributed greatly through this to our record of less than a goal-a-game conceded (which is marginally better than I hoped for).

c) He tries to keep things simple and is therefore easy to play with. It is a crying shame he doesn't work (via target sheets or some such thing) to improve his ratio of accurate passes.

d) He doesn't seem injury prone therefore there is not the constant need to change the team in order to make up for his absence.

That, in this team, has made him what I have described as a rock. He might have jagged edges but we certainly missed him for all but the last 10 minutes during the second half against Southampton.

[lush]

a) Because he is disciplined. He patrols his area responsibly and breaks up numerous attacks without giving away endless free-kicks in dangerous situations.

b) He is reliable. Over the season, while rarely the star, he has had very few bad games and has contributed greatly through this to our record of less than a goal-a-game conceded (which is marginally better than I hoped for).

c) He tries to keep things simple and is therefore easy to play with. It is a crying shame he doesn't work (via target sheets or some such thing) to improve his ratio of accurate passes.

d) He doesn't seem injury prone therefore there is not the constant need to change the team in order to make up for his absence.

That, in this team, has made him what I have described as a rock. He might have jagged edges but we certainly missed him for all but the last 10 minutes during the second half against Southampton.

a, I wouldnt call him disciplined, he has no real leadership qualities. He does break up attacks, but he also puts us in danger. hes not too bad at tackling, but gives the ball away too easily, certainly not disciplined.

b, Hes as about reliable as bin laden piloting an aircraft near the white house. hes had far more bad games than good. He cant pass, and he puts us under needless pressure.

Whats his reliability in the footballing sense?

c, your right on that one, the opposition love playing with him

Sorry Thrach, but that wont wash with me. All you`ve done is give poor examples. Lennon was a rock, joey is sand

[Thracian]

a, I wouldnt call him disciplined, he has no real leadership qualities. He does break up attacks, but he also puts us in danger. hes not too bad at tackling, but gives the ball away too easily, certainly not disciplined.

b, Hes as about reliable as bin laden piloting an aircraft near the white house. hes had far more bad games than good. He cant pass, and he puts us under needless pressure.

Whats his reliability in the footballing sense?

c, your right on that one, the opposition love playing with him

Sorry Thrach, but that wont wash with me. All you`ve done is give poor examples. Lennon was a rock, joey is sand

Don't know what that makes the others cos they were lost without him.

[Ric Flair]

The two additions would have to be quality though, and not just back-up players, and it also depends whether we have the money. If only we hadn't have bought Hammond Levein moved far too soon for him without seeing him properly.

In Jan I'd go for Grant Holt as a striker and the only winger I've seen that looks proper quality in the lower leagues, Mitchell Cole, however, he is a left winger so he might not be the answer.

I accept your opinions that you don't think City are good enough but then your solutions to our problems is to sign two players who are plying their trade 2 divisions below us. Now I am not saying they couldn't make the step up but you only have to look at how Hume is having to adapt to see that it's a massive gamble and often a long term thing rather than instant success from players from lower divisions.

We need a new striker and a new central midfielder granted. Wesolowski will fill the central midfield berth and I think if we get a new striker we need a striker who has experience at this level and has scored goals at this level. They also need to have scored goals recently and not be lacking match practice, I do appreciate this might be tricky though. It would be good if they were young aswell, but that's not essential really as 90% of our squad is young.

[Gené and Tonic]

I'm going for realistic targets really, I don't think we can afford anyone who has the quality and experience to score goals in this level, but something may come up in January, you never know.

Also Mitchell Cole is with Southend

[BartonFox]

Give me Kisnorbo over Gudjonsson anyday of the week in the defensive midfielder role, he retains the ball far better than Joey.

[Head Honcho]

Give me Kisnorbo over Gudjonsson anyday of the week in the defensive midfielder role, he retains the ball far better than Joey.

You have got to be joking!

He's a Lightweight

[BartonFox]

Erm, no I am not joking.

But if all you have to say is "He's a lightweight", then I know enough not to continue this conversation.

[The People's Hero]

Both are average Championship players in my eyes.

The reasons are as follows:

Kisnorbo - just seems to be off the pace off the game and struggles to really get involved. Typical utility man. Can play almost anywhere - jack of all trades, master of none.

Joey - Has had a decent season so far but just isn't clever enough in possession.

We have lots of options in the middle of the park but I think we really do lack a hard tackling player with good distribution. At Leicester, since Neil lennon it has always been one or 'tother.

I'm rambling now so I'll stop.

[BartonFox]

Both are average Championship players in my eyes.

The reasons are as follows:

Kisnorbo - just seems to be off the pace off the game and struggles to really get involved. Typical utility man. Can play almost anywhere - jack of all trades, master of none.

Joey - Has had a decent season so far but just isn't clever enough in possession.

We have lots of options in the middle of the park but I think we really do lack a hard tackling player with good distribution. At Leicester, since Neil lennon it has always been one or 'tother.

I'm rambling now so I'll stop.

What is it with this misconception that a midfield ball winner needs to be a 'hard tackler'? All he has to do is disrupt the oppositions rythym and keep the ball with us, that is all Lennon ever did. He wasn't a Terry Hurlock who'd break your legs before going off with the ball.

No point having someone who can tackle in that role if he can't pass.

[The People's Hero]

Okay - you are of course right...

I didn't express myself correctly. What I mean is someone who will harry and tackle with a bit of conviction. Not just follow players and occasionally stick a foot out. Tiatto though, is too far the other way, he lacks discipline in his play.

The kind of player who you really don't realise how good they are until they're not there.

[Ric Flair]

I'm going for realistic targets really, I don't think we can afford anyone who has the quality and experience to score goals in this level, but something may come up in January, you never know.

Also Mitchell Cole is with Southend

My apologies, for some reason I thought you meant thast lad from Mansfield who's name isn't even Cole I think it's Coke!!!

[Manwell Pablo]

My apologies, for some reason I thought you meant thast lad from Mansfield who's name isn't even Cole I think it's Coke!!!

That would be correct Rick Giles Coke be his name.

I dont think we need any more players with silly names.

[Ric Flair]

That would be correct Rick Giles Coke be his name.

I dont think we need any more players with silly names.

I've heard he's quite talented.

[Manwell Pablo]

I've heard he's quite talented.

He's to good for them. Im not sure if we'd benefit from him though.

[Ric Flair]

He's to good for them. Im not sure if we'd benefit from him though.

Alex Baptiste is another quality player Mansfield have got. Plus the mighty Stephen Dawson.