Get Neilson out the 1st team!

[The Doctor]

James Chambers

this being the same chambers who wasn't good enough to oust stearman in our relegation season?

[DJ Barry Hammond]

[Rant]

Some fans are never happy are they - up in the upper echolons of the league, hard to beat, generally defensively sound (that has come under threat recently, but I wonder if conditions and condition of players have played a part) and with a manager to be proud of, we still want to slate some of the less stylish of our team.

Yes, ok Neilsen may not be the most exciting of players, he's from North of the border so should be crap going by previous players that we have signed from jolly ole Scotland and he has long hair, so true that is enough amo to throw at the lad, but really.

Have you not thought that Neilsen has been a reason why our defence has been so solid? Surely Hobbs, Brown, Weale & Co could not have bailed him out on every occasion?

And some of you are turning on our man Richie, proberly down to the fact that you're not liking our three midfielders, one plays wide policy, therefore see the need to drop one of them to fit in the ever missed Gradel (until he returns that is).

Then of course there is the very popular Steve bashing, as he is a big lump that doesn't score much - similar to how Matty Fryatt was until he slimmed and started scoring goals.

Can we not just re-joyce at our new found decentness while its here, as true crapness will return with plenty of valid things to complain about in the not too distant future?

One last point - McGivern truely is crap, and as he's not one of ours for keeps and has stupid hair I would permitt slight joshing of his ability.

[/Rant end]

[Guest Mee-9]

[Rant]

Some fans are never happy are they - up in the upper echolons of the league, hard to beat, generally defensively sound (that has come under threat recently, but I wonder if conditions and condition of players have played a part) and with a manager to be proud of, we still want to slate some of the less stylish of our team.

Yes, ok Neilsen may not be the most exciting of players, he's from North of the border so should be crap going by previous players that we have signed from jolly ole Scotland and he has long hair, so true that is enough amo to throw at the lad, but really.

Have you not thought that Neilsen has been a reason why our defence has been so solid? Surely Hobbs, Brown, Weale & Co could not have bailed him out on every occasion?

And some of you are turning on our man Richie, proberly down to the fact that you're not liking our three midfielders, one plays wide policy, therefore see the need to drop one of them to fit in the ever missed Gradel (until he returns that is).

Then of course there is the very popular Steve bashing, as he is a big lump that doesn't score much - similar to how Matty Fryatt was until he slimmed and started scoring goals.

Can we not just re-joyce at our new found decentness while its here, as true crapness will return with plenty of valid things to complain about in the not too distant future?

One last point - McGivern truely is crap, and as he's not one of ours for keeps and has stupid hair I would permitt slight joshing of his ability.

[/Rant end]

I'm a fan of : Steve Howard, Wellens and the rest of our team. We haven't missed Gradel so sell him?

McGivern is adapting into a better player. I'd sign him. Neilsons a typical scottish league footballer. How many other scottish players have came to the Premier or Championship and not performed.

Neilson is a dodgy fullback. And to call my statement tosh, and then go on to say "McGivern truely is crap" is the biggest contradiction i've heard on this forum for a long while. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I was just stating mine.

EDIT: Yes brown has been playing worryingly. But as i'm sure many foxestalkers will agree. Morrison has proved himself, doesn't get you worried when he charges forward, and is alot stronger than Neilson at Right back. Hobbs has been superb most of the season, really am a fan of him. And Weale has got to be one of the best keepers we've had since Tim Flowers.

[marbelladave]

Will a limited player help you gain promotion?

If he plays within those limits then maybe.

With a proper covering right sided player in front of him he will not be so exposed!

It's a team game, it's not all down to one player.

[Tony Pine]

it shouldn't be neilson going out the team

it should be oakley and brown

[boo]

[Rant]

Some fans are never happy are they - up in the upper echolons of the league, hard to beat, generally defensively sound (that has come under threat recently, but I wonder if conditions and condition of players have played a part) and with a manager to be proud of, we still want to slate some of the less stylish of our team.

Yes, ok Neilsen may not be the most exciting of players, he's from North of the border so should be crap going by previous players that we have signed from jolly ole Scotland and he has long hair, so true that is enough amo to throw at the lad, but really.

Have you not thought that Neilsen has been a reason why our defence has been so solid? Surely Hobbs, Brown, Weale & Co could not have bailed him out on every occasion?

And some of you are turning on our man Richie, proberly down to the fact that you're not liking our three midfielders, one plays wide policy, therefore see the need to drop one of them to fit in the ever missed Gradel (until he returns that is).

Then of course there is the very popular Steve bashing, as he is a big lump that doesn't score much - similar to how Matty Fryatt was until he slimmed and started scoring goals.

Can we not just re-joyce at our new found decentness while its here, as true crapness will return with plenty of valid things to complain about in the not too distant future?

One last point - McGivern truely is crap, and as he's not one of ours for keeps and has stupid hair I would permitt slight joshing of his ability.

[/Rant end]

No co's crap is crap and Neilsen IS...Well crap...

So is McGivern BTW.

[spirefox]

Like most people,I have been very disappointed with Neilson.However,over my 44 years of watching the City there have been a succession of crowd whipping boys like he is becoming.

Two absolute certainties Ive learned in that time :-1. His performances will get worse due to the crowd hostility and undermine the team's performance. and 2.The Manager will not drop or sub him in response to the "lynch mob's" demands.

The one thing the crowd should do is the one thing they won't,be patient,supportive and encouraging.

[Vlad The Impaler]

I Like Neilson.

[Thracian]

Hearts fans told us before he arrived that Neilson would split the fans 50-50 on whether he was any good and that's the picture I'm getting.

Trouble is you've still got to replace him and I just don't see anyone at the club capable of doing that. Neilson always gives his all and never hides which is to his credit. But his control and passing ability are suspect and he just seems to lack the speed of mind and body needed to lift himself above the ordinary.

Morrison and Hobbs aren't swift or mobile enough for the job and who does that leave given that few seem to fancy my idea of trying Oakley there - Oakley being reasonably mobile anyway and a player who spends much of his working match days closing people down?

O'Neill doesn't seem to be ready 'though he should perhaps have been given more preparatory involvement given our lack of options.

I just find it hard to believe that a club of City's size and status would have any problem finding a good right wing-back or training one up themselves. It's a long time now since Stearman left and we should be well aware how vital it is to have fast, aware and incisive full-backs with plenty of energy and manoeuverability.

[leftsideoverhere]

That George Taft in the academy seems to have the best long throws in the club from what I've seen.

It probably helps that he steps about a yard onto the pitch to throw them, though.

[lou]

It probably helps that he steps about a yard onto the pitch to throw them, though.

So does Neilson!

[leftsideoverhere]

is he the one who lost the ball near the side of the pitch before they got it in the box? The one who was way nearer to the ball than the ipswich player who got it off him?

if so I most defenitly agree with you as he also always takes too long to cross the ball as well. The problem I think tho is pearson hasnt got the cash to get a better replacement, what reason are we not using the same right back as last season?

I can't help feeling that if you don't know the answers to those questions you probably shouldn't be offering your opinions on the players. I find it helps to know who is who, and which players actually belong to the club and which are here on loan, before carping at their lack of ability.

[Tony Pine]

It probably helps that he steps about a yard onto the pitch to throw them, though.

and he's got all that weight behind it generating power

[lou]

[leftsideoverhere]

During the game on Sunday, I was furious with Neilson, he seemed to be at fault for so many things but I've calmed down a lot since then, and reading some of the comments in this thread has been helpful - the people singling Neilson out for criticism have persuaded me... I was wrong to blame him. Someone made a comment about the problem for him being the lack of forward options on the right because of Oakley's habit of drifting inside, and that got me thinking. I watched chunks of the Ipswich game again, and then went back and watched what most of us probably agree was our best performance of the season to date: QPR away. In that game Neilson didn't look like a clueless **** but more like an integral part of a pretty effective football machine. He defended well, kept the ball most of the time, and used it pretty reliably to give possession to the player in front of him. In that game our midfield played much more spread out when we had the ball, Neilson and the other defenders had options when they needed to move the ball forward, and we didn't crowd ourselves and make it easy for the opposition to cover the easy passes.

So I'm now pretty much persuaded that while Neilson won't ever be the Championship player of the season, and he may never be the fans' favourite at the Walkers either, it isn't the case that all of our right-side problems are caused by him being slow or ineffective. At least as much of the blame must go to our midfield being unwilling (not unable, they did it at QPR, in the first half at Watford, and in short bursts in a number of other games) to create space for the defenders to pass into. Maybe they can't be arsed because they expect to see the ball hoofed over their heads from Weale to Howard, but they should be professional enough to make the effort even if they think they are effectively a decoy.

But we're fifth, as a team, and Neilson is a part of that achievement, just as the midfield players are too. So for all that I'd love to see our players stroke the ball around the pitch with all the grace of a flight of swans, and Milan reaching into his pocket to sign the kind of players Roberto Mancini might have on his wish-list, I'm going to be satisfied with the fact that the current crop of blueshirts have done something the last few seasons' worth were not able to do - make a fist of things in a decent championship campaign. It's not like the sides around us in the playoffs are shit, you know. We're in decent company. And there on merit.

[skinnydipper]

During the game on Sunday, I was furious with Neilson, he seemed to be at fault for so many things but I've calmed down a lot since then, and reading some of the comments in this thread has been helpful - the people singling Neilson out for criticism have persuaded me... I was wrong to blame him. Someone made a comment about the problem for him being the lack of forward options on the right because of Oakley's habit of drifting inside, and that got me thinking. I watched chunks of the Ipswich game again, and then went back and watched what most of us probably agree was our best performance of the season to date: QPR away. In that game Neilson didn't look like a clueless **** but more like an integral part of a pretty effective football machine. He defended well, kept the ball most of the time, and used it pretty reliably to give possession to the player in front of him. In that game our midfield played much more spread out when we had the ball, Neilson and the other defenders had options when they needed to move the ball forward, and we didn't crowd ourselves and make it easy for the opposition to cover the easy passes.

So I'm now pretty much persuaded that while Neilson won't ever be the Championship player of the season, and he may never be the fans' favourite at the Walkers either, it isn't the case that all of our right-side problems are caused by him being slow or ineffective. At least as much of the blame must go to our midfield being unwilling (not unable, they did it at QPR, in the first half at Watford, and in short bursts in a number of other games) to create space for the defenders to pass into. Maybe they can't be arsed because they expect to see the ball hoofed over their heads from Weale to Howard, but they should be professional enough to make the effort even if they think they are effectively a decoy.

But we're fifth, as a team, and Neilson is a part of that achievement, just as the midfield players are too. So for all that I'd love to see our players stroke the ball around the pitch with all the grace of a flight of swans, and Milan reaching into his pocket to sign the kind of players Roberto Mancini might have on his wish-list, I'm going to be satisfied with the fact that the current crop of blueshirts have done something the last few seasons' worth were not able to do - make a fist of things in a decent championship campaign. It's not like the sides around us in the playoffs are shit, you know. We're in decent company. And there on merit.

Good post (the thinking mans version of "This")

[Lillehamring]

Good post (the thinking mans version of "This")

[Alexikokopops]

I wish we had 8 right backs again

[iancognito]

Trouble is you've still got to replace him and I just don't see anyone at the club capable of doing that. Neilson always gives his all and never hides which is to his credit. But his control and passing ability are suspect and he just seems to lack the speed of mind and body needed to lift himself above the ordinary.

Name me any team whose right back will be one of their star players. It's rare for a FB in any team to be world class or at least outstanding. I seem to remember Simon Grayson getting dogs abuse from the happy clappers in the Carling Stand and then people noticed he was actually giving his all, he put in a few steady shows and ended up being player of the season. No-one would say he was as talented as Izzet, as tough as Lennon or as popular as Claridge but he was solid in the position and an integral part of the team over several great years in the 90s.

The only player I can think who could do a better job there right now (who is available) is Gilbert but Neilson hasn't given us such a severe problem there that he needs replacing IMO. If someone could tell him to stop pretending he's Rory Delap with the ball in his hands though, it'd be a help.

[Guest]

I wish we had 8 right backs again

them were the days

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

Talking of fullbacks...

[Tony Pine]

[Fox92]

For fooks sake!! If all this negative nonsense is being spouted now, with the side in a play-off position, what would it be like if the team were under=performing? And if anyone thinks this team is under-performing then they don't deserve to be taken seriously. Only my opinion though!!!

Agreed.

[OLD norfox]

I want the team to do well, 5th is great 2nd is wonderful but surely wanting to finish 1st is even better? My attitude at the start of the season was let's compete and not go down, now expectations have been risen because of the great effort & work at improving the team. It is for all to see where we are. I am a greedy supporter, I want us to win the league, I want us to be as successful as we can through merit. If I see a weakness, I will call it. I have watched football long enough to know who is & who is not a good player.

I hope every fan wants the team to do well , but I realise that my team isn't the best in the world !!! But I try to support and stay positive to everyone that try his best for the club ! This hate against Robbie isn't gone to improve his performance. NP has trusted him his all season and he is the best we have as RB. He is part of a sucsesfull

team and we should support both Robbie and the team!!

[stivesfox]

Fantastic he is dropped today, hoping Michael Morrison puts in a good performance and makes that right back position his own. Leave Neilson to rot on the bench whilst we either find a new right back or someone good can come through the youth ranks. And Chris Powell is back on the bench!!!