The end is nigh.

[boboonthecorner]

A 7 page thread of gloom after a pre-season freindly defeat? In sharp contrast after the Feyenoord game.

I don't think there is anybody stupid enough to base their criticisms of MON on a friendly defeat to Benfica. I base mine on the fact that I don't enjoy watching the style of football and I have decided the best way I can do that is not to attend matches. If I enjoyed the games I wouldn't hesitate spending my hard earned cash......

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In fact, I would swap 6th for 8th right now if I thought we could play a bit of football next season.

Mentalist.

Winning fewer games is not fun.

[Concrete John]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

I think the plan is to get rid of players that we don't use or need and replace them with players we do. I think it's really that simple.

Damn straight. No elaborate conspiracies, no power struggle, no financial crisis. Just the normal business of running a football club.

True, but I think there are players who will leave that Martin would be happy enough to keep around as cover (Young, Davies, NRC), but he has a remit to make room on the wagebill for his new signings.  That's my reading of it anyway!

[Monty]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

I think the plan is to get rid of players that we don't use or need and replace them with players we do. I think it's really that simple.

Damn straight. No elaborate conspiracies, no power struggle, no financial crisis. Just the normal business of running a football club.

True, but I think there are players who will leave that Martin would be happy enough to keep around as cover (Young, Davies, NRC), but he has a remit to make room on the wagebill for his new signings.  That's my reading of it anyway!

To be honest if he's happy to keep Young, Davies and NRC as anything other than doorstops then something's wrong. All three are technically incompetent and positionally brainless.

[Mazrim]

Harsh. I think all three are useful players.

[boboonthecorner]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

I think the plan is to get rid of players that we don't use or need and replace them with players we do. I think it's really that simple.

Damn straight. No elaborate conspiracies, no power struggle, no financial crisis. Just the normal business of running a football club.

True, but I think there are players who will leave that Martin would be happy enough to keep around as cover (Young, Davies, NRC), but he has a remit to make room on the wagebill for his new signings.  That's my reading of it anyway!

To be honest if he's happy to keep Young, Davies and NRC as anything other than doorstops then something's wrong. All three are technically incompetent and positionally brainless.

He paid over £20m for those three why wouldn't he play them?

[Monty]

Useful to the sort of position we were in when MON signed them, but Luke has dipped badly, Davies has had injuries and failed to reach his potential, and as for NRC - there's no point in winning the ball if all you do is give it straight back again.

[ozzjim]

NRC is no worse a player than Palacios at Spurs if detailed to play as a combative midfield player and thus is bloody useful to have in the side, even in a 4-4-2 next to Petrov. Creative, no, but might not be wide open.

Davies has been very unlucky since his shoulder went, and though Collins did well, I still think Davies long term is a better bet.

Luke Young should be playing right back if he is fully fit and right in the head.

[el león Benidorm]

Just a quickpoint - Who would replace MON that is available.

Could all the doomsayers on here cope with another 're-forming' stage.

Sorry but unless someone comes in with more money than sense then unfortunately we have reached our pinnacle or there about.

Citeh are a really unfashionable club but hey money talks.

I don't like some of the decisions MON makes, however until there is someone better in the market place I am happy to keep going where we are.

If it aint broke (and let face it its not) don't fix it.

[Monty]

I don't think NRC is anywhere near as good as Palacios. For a start, he doesn't have the positional awareness, he gets sucked to the ball too much. Secondly, if he could pass the ball competently at all he'd be useful, but he really can't, or sometimes even won't - head down, run forwards, lose the ball seems to be his style.

Players who break up play are useful, but NRC is nowhere near the likes of Makelele, De Jong or even Palacios - he just give the ball away too much.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Good point.  If wages were to stay at their present level over the next 12-months, then we'd experience an improvement in the ratio as turnover increases by at least the new sponsorship deal.

Maybe that's the plan - not let the wages increase any higher than they are now?

I think the plan is to get rid of players that we don't use or need and replace them with players we do. I think it's really that simple.

Damn straight. No elaborate conspiracies, no power struggle, no financial crisis. Just the normal business of running a football club.

True, but I think there are players who will leave that Martin would be happy enough to keep around as cover (Young, Davies, NRC), but he has a remit to make room on the wagebill for his new signings.  That's my reading of it anyway!

If he has no intention of playing them, it's not such a bad idea to get them off the wage bill. Or maybe Martin wants his cake and eat it too? I've no idea but I can't see the problem with getting rid of players we don't use, pay high wages to and replacing them with players that we will.

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I personally don't think Young is up to it. That's not based on the Chelsea game, but something I've thought for a long time now and before the hubaloo kicked up last term.

I think NRC can offer something, but I don’t think he should be anything more than a squad player.

Curtis needs to play with a solid centre half next to him if he’s going to deliver. Couple this with his poor injury record at the Albion and here leads me to see him as unreliable.

[Mac]

I'm another who thinks O'Neill won't last the season, however calling for him to go on August 2nd is just nuts. It smacks of a knee-jerk reaction to be honest.

A bit late to respond, but it's not Knee-jerk and it's not too early.

It's like Wigan last year, the booing wasn't about the previous 45 mins.  it was that 45 mins following loads of similar 45 mins and nothing looked like changing.

[Concrete John]

If he has no intention of playing them, it's not such a bad idea to get them off the wage bill. Or maybe Martin wants his cake and eat it too? I've no idea but I can't see the problem with getting rid of players we don't use, pay high wages to and replacing them with players that we will.

I don't see a problem with it either, just that I think it might be a case of NEEDING to get rid of them to get the players he will play more often.

[VillaAlways]

I'm another who thinks O'Neill won't last the season, however calling for him to go on August 2nd is just nuts. It smacks of a knee-jerk reaction to be honest.

A bit late to respond, but it's not Knee-jerk and it's not too early.

It's like Wigan last year, the booing wasn't about the previous 45 mins.  it was that 45 mins following loads of similar 45 mins and nothing looked like changing.

Didn't we stuff Liverpool 3-1 following the Wigan game ??