The ONLY change...

[Northern]

It's the same players week in week out, but we can't change that, we simply don't have the players. We have no competition for places so that's less motivation for the players to play well. Our financial status means that we cant get anymore players in, we had to get rid of Rogers just to give Ricketts and JJ extentions ffs, so we're stuck will what we've got really.

Look at our squad....
Donovan Ricketts (G)
Richard Edghill (D)
Ben Parker (D)
Nathan Doyle (DM)
David Wetherall (D)
Mark Bower (D)
Steven Schumacher (M)
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (M)
Eddie Johnson (F)
Dean Windass (F)
Lee Holmes (M)
Jermaine Johnson (M)
Russell Howarth (G)
Ben Muirhead (M)
David Graham (F)
Tom Penford (M)
Matthew Clarke (D)
Craig Bentham (M)
John Swift (D)
Joe Brown (F)
Joe Colbeck (M)
Nick Smith (F)
Ben Saynor (G)
Patrick McGuire (M)
Simon Ainge (D)

The one's in bold are who I believe are of League One ability, so that 15 players (four of which are on loan).

So what are our other options?

A change of tactics maybe?
It's been tried and has failed before, we've tried playing with wing backs, tried JJ upfront for his pace, we've tried playing with more of a holding midfielder and nothing has worked. Todd has simply no other idea's, when things don't go our way we end up hoofing the ball up front which is pointless. At VP we never look like we're the home side, we're always too negative and create nothing at all. The players are now too used to the 4-4-2 style and Todd's tactics but we need to change because it's not working.

What we need...
We need a spark, something to lift our spirits and get us playing football again. In my opinion ONLY ONE THING can do this and that is A CHANGE IN MANAGER. A change in manager will bring in fresh idea's, get us playing differently, lift the fans, the players will want to impress the new gaffer and hopefully we'll start winning again.

I've got to a point now where I frankly couldn't give a shite who comes in, I just want Todd out because I'm sick of watching the same crap over and over again. At least a new man in charge will see abit of variety, something different and will actually lift our spirits and get us hoping again.

I'm not talking about the playoffs, I'm not talking about relegation, I just want to go and watch city and actually enjoy it, I want to come home with a smile on my face instead of feeling like crap like I do right now.

TODD OUT!!!!

[jimmy]

It took you long enough to see and feel how the rest of us have felt for 2 years or more.

[Edwin Fitzgerald]

You forgot to put matt clarke in bold.

[Northern]

You forgot to put matt clarke in bold.

I haven't seen anything to justify it yet! Maybe he'll prove me wrong but from what I've seen he's poor. I'd have Parker anyday over Clarke.

[tony d]

I haven't seen anything to justify it yet! Maybe he'll prove me wrong but from what I've seen he's poor. I'd have Parker anyday over Clarke.

Clarks a centre half first and foremost and from what i have seen him at both Centre half and Left back i would say he is more than capable of doing a job now and in the future for City..

I also think Ben Muirhead is at his level in this League...

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

Coca Cola League 2 grounds review is worth a read - Be Prepared :-)

[briggus]

A change of tactics maybe?
It's been tried and has failed before, we've tried playing with wing backs, tried JJ upfront for his pace, we've tried playing with more of a holding midfielder and nothing has worked. Todd has simply no other idea's, when things don't go our way we end up hoofing the ball up front which is pointless. At VP we never look like we're the home side, we're always too negative and create nothing at all. The players are now too used to the 4-4-2 style and Todd's tactics but we need to change because it's not working.

Thing is Northern Todd does not let a new formation bed in - he plays it for 2/3 games and then abandons it before the palyers become more used to it!

[Loyalish2]

A bit harsh on Clarke methinks. Fullback or not he always makes himself available and for a numpty centre half he looks composed and comfortable on the ball.

The trouble with City at the moment is our front six. Even JJ as skillful as he is rarely delivers an end product. Did you notice Donnys talented JJ lookalikee wide man that kept getting the better of Doyle? He saw far, far less of the ball than JJ yet he seemed to put the ball into our box with alarming regularity. Then again he had someone to aim at. Our two defence minded midfielders never get ahead of our front two, and when you consider our front two today were Graham, who looks slower than Claridge, and Deano, who needs two days notice to make a run into the box, it beggars belief.

Three goals in nine games, one goal in our last four games at VP, and the way things are going I can't see anything changing. Especially when we have a manager who's not prepared to take a risk to win games. 1-0 down at home against Donny, and apart from bringing on Jobo for Graham he changes nothing. Our midfield had created jack all afternoon, so why on earth didn't he give Penford a run out? Was Muirhead or Colbeck on the bench? If so why not throw a genuine wide man on and put Bridge-Wilk in the middle? Why didn't we go three at the back and stick Wethers upfront? And with the game in it's death throes why wasn't the Don allowed forward to make a nuisance of himself at corners???

No goals, little or no creativity in and around the box, Doyle out for six weeks, loanees going back, small squad, no money to spend, teams below us picking up points. I tell thee, if you're not worried about relegation, you bleedin' well should be!!! :(

[Wicker Man]

I also think Ben Muirhead is at his level in this League...


I dont, imo our worst player by a long way, absolute cack....he aint even THAT fast ffs, common misconception that he is

[briggus]

I dont, imo our worst player by a long way, absolute cack....he aint even THAT fast ffs, common misconception that he is

Lets put this way then he was the only one to get in the box when JJ broke free - while the rest of the squad were puffing away by about 15 yards. His finishing is very poor though!

[king billy]

http://www.cojeco.cz/attach/photos/3b4a3998875c8.jpg