Relegation is imminent

[burnley007]

1st time I've even considered the option of us going down.
But that team has relegation written all over it.

Pisspoor

[Burnley1989]

I prefer the championship anyway
Our level was f we are honest

[ISpeds00]

Looking forward to it too -

[Wokingclaret]

Well, we don't look like taking it to the wire

[willsclarets]

I was hopeful till tonight. It's just abundantly clear we don't have the right experience, leadership or physicality on the pitch.

I'm sure these lads would be great in a 5 a side tournament, but compete in the premier league? Nah. Said over and over again, but our naivety in the summer was quite unbelievable.

[burnley007]

I've been insisting that we would stay up.

But the players don't look capable of winning games, they just don't have the mindset or physicality for the Premier League

[JimmyRobbo]

Probably will do.

Hard to see who would sign to fit our business model (age, ability and potential) over the January window. I thought we would struggle this year. It is nothing unexpected. People seem to think that we should be winning games that we just wouldn't have expected to win with an experienced team. We lack experience, leaders, a strong spine.

At least we will have people in place to come back up as long as people don't panic and push away the very people who will get us back up. Next time, we should be better equipped.


I just think people are too short sighted to see that is what we need to do, as frustrating as it currently feels.

[Wokingclaret]

Sorry JR but you lose your premier league status at your peril......

[Cooclaret]

If we have any ambition to stay up Kompany must go.

A small part of me is happy for Dyche.

[NewClaret]

I’d consigned self to it a while back to be honest

[DCWat]

We’ve absolutely no chance of staying up.

Too many simply not good enough for this level. We’ve even longer than last season to know which division we will be playing in, next season.

Let’s hope that the planning and recruitment is more effective this time.

[Nori1958]

If we have any ambition to stay up Kompany must go.

A small part of me is happy for Dyche.

Thanks for your support

[willsclarets]

Probably will do.

Hard to see who would sign to fit our business model (age, ability and potential) over the January window. I thought we would struggle this year. It is nothing unexpected. People seem to think that we should be winning games that we just wouldn't have expected to win with an experienced team. We lack experience, leaders, a strong spine.

At least we will have people in place to come back up as long as people don't panic and push away the very people who will get us back up. Next time, we should be better equipped.


I just think people are too short sighted to see that is what we need to do, as frustrating as it currently feels.

It is a balance. I understand the idea of having the model we have, but your model works a heck of a lot better if you win a few more games and allow a few players to shine. ATM we have a load of young wingers getting, relatively, a few games each. Your value can't appreciate greatly if you don't play enough and always lose. The blend of experience and physicality with youth/potential/ability is way, way off. You can see heads drop, discipline dip.

[ISpeds00]

id give the fringe players starting berths

get the likes of ekdal, redmond, benson, obafemi, muric - all in the side
see how hungry they are

i think redmond could be decent on a run of games

[MACCA]

1st time I've even considered the option of us going down.
But that team has relegation written all over it.

Pisspoor

Have you been asleep for the last 6 weeks?

We were gone a long time ago.

But I must say, I do prefer the championship.
I said In pre season it'll be my last season unless we go down, so at least I can look gorward to one more year watching live footy.

[Vegas Claret]

there's a reason Pep brought in the likes of Ake and Rodri at City after his first season - in the PL you need physicality in key positions and we just don't have it. Summer was a disaster for us but easily fixable in the future. We will rebuild and come back better of that I have no doubt at all.

[hoskinsgoalatswansea]

We’ve spent 100 million on what? I honestly think if we hadn’t spent a bean, then last season’s team untouched would’ve faired better than this lot.

[JimmyRobbo]

Sorry JR but you lose your premier league status at your peril......

Always a risk.

Looking at the clubs who will likely be there next year, I'd fancy our chances at a strong chance of returning.

[spt_claret]

If we have any ambition to stay up Kompany must go.

A small part of me is happy for Dyche.

Love Dyche, love what he did for us, wouldn't have sacked him if it had been me, not a single part of me is happy about that.
We just don't look like the side we were even last year, let alone the club of a few years ago.
It's easy to think we'll walk the Championship again next year because we have bounced straight back twice now. I hope we do but never take anything for granted in football. We took a lot for granted under the old regime, took a lot for granted this summer after last season. Complacency kills.

[Elizabeth]

Probably will do.

Hard to see who would sign to fit our business model (age, ability and potential) over the January window. I thought we would struggle this year. It is nothing unexpected. People seem to think that we should be winning games that we just wouldn't have expected to win with an experienced team. We lack experience, leaders, a strong spine.

At least we will have people in place to come back up as long as people don't panic and push away the very people who will get us back up. Next time, we should be better equipped.


I just think people are too short sighted to see that is what we need to do, as frustrating as it currently feels.

I think most people I know are sick to death hearing about business models

[JimmyRobbo]

It is a balance. I understand the idea of having the model we have, but your model works a heck of a lot better if you win a few more games and allow a few players to shine. ATM we have a load of young wingers getting, relatively, a few games each. Your value can't appreciate greatly if you don't play enough and always lose. The blend of experience and physicality with youth/potential/ability is way, way off. You can see heads drop, discipline dip.

I absolutely agree with everything you're saying. You don't know me, I am NOT a football purist. I maximised everything I had because of what you say we are lacking. We are desperate for leadership. We are desperate for some "Devil" in our game.

Winning is a habit. Barnes helped greatly with it, last season even though people were very harsh on here.

[Sproggy]

We’ve spent 100 million on what? I honestly think if we hadn’t spent a bean, then last season’s team untouched would’ve faired better than this lot.

Maybe it would but never an option with so many players on loan. We’ve bought players who aren’t ready for the Prem but who have potential.

I’m quite happy to let this play out for a couple of seasons. We could end up with a very good young team. It’s shite watching us lose this season but there’s an strategy which is a bit longer term than playing hoofball with Peter Crouch up front and hoping for 17th.

Absolutely no point getting on Kompany’s case, as disappointing as results are at the moment.

[fidelcastro]

1st time I've even considered the option of us going down.
But that team has relegation written all over it.

Pisspoor

Not sure where you've been all season if this is the first time you've considered it

[CoolClaret]

Down before a ball was kicked with our calamitous approach to the season.

[JimmyRobbo]

I think most people I know are sick to death hearing about business models

Are they the same people telling us how fantastic last season was and how amazing this season would be?

It is how growth and improvement occurs. This is like a "puppy-fat" stage. We need to encourage young potential and not destroy it with the desire for immediate gains.

[JR1882]

We’ve absolutely no chance of staying up.

Too many simply not good enough for this level. We’ve even longer than last season to know which division we will be playing in, next season.

Let’s hope that the planning and recruitment is more effective this time.

I mean we knew we were up from February last year and have made an enormous mess of it, so I doubt it.

[Wokingclaret]

Always a risk.

Looking at the clubs who will likely be there next year, I'd fancy our chances at a strong chance of returning.

Depends who stays and who goes and who the manager is

Lots of clubs in the Championship that thought they'd bounce back but didn't. We must of thought the same in 76 and look what happened.

[Wokingclaret]

Oh btw this is the worst performing Premier league squad we've had

[BurnleyFC]

This team will go down as one of the worst in Premier League history, unfortunately,

[CoolClaret]

Oh btw this is the worst performing Premier league squad we've had

I’d have Caldwell, Carlisle and Jensen over the back three we played today.

[Pearcey]

I can accept relegation but I just hope that Pace and the board know what they’re doing.

[dougcollins]

1st time I've even considered the option of us going down.
But that team has relegation written all over it.

Pisspoor

Not so imminent, you'll have to wait for the end of the season.

[Stayingup]

OK apart from the odd game it's men against boys as it was today. No great shakes Everton, but more physical, taller, experienced and well organized. We are patently not good enough to play the way the manager wants the team to play. I could go on but I'm rather depressed tonight. More so that any other time this season. A dire performance today.

[Pearcey]

Not so imminent, you'll have to wait for the end of the season.

Could easily be confirmed by March.

[MT03ALG]

1st time I've even considered the option of us going down.
But that team has relegation written all over it.

Pisspoor

Imminent = just about to happen. Might take longer than that !!

[Elizabeth]

Are they the same people telling us how fantastic last season was and how amazing this season would be?

It is how growth and improvement occurs. This is like a "puppy-fat" stage. We need to encourage young potential and not destroy it with the desire for immediate gains.

No, they are just down to earth people who want to see a team worthy of the PL. I don’t get your implication.
I’ll leave you to your puppy fat analogy because I think it’s
silly

[jedi_master]

The big difference tonight was so apparent even in the warm up. The height, strength and sheer ‘manliness’ of Everton and then looking at our children running around next to Sander Berge. If it wasn’t so sad to look at it might be laughable. What transpired was painfully obvious even before kick off. Sadly.

[RVclaret]

The big difference tonight was so apparent even in the warm up. The height, strength and sheer ‘manliness’ of Everton and then looking at our children running around next to Sander Berge. If it wasn’t so sad to look at it might be laughable. What transpired was painfully obvious even before kick off. Sadly.

so accurate. Onana would brush off most of our squad with his little finger.

[JimmyRobbo]

No, they are just down to earth people who want to see a team worthy of the PL. I don’t get your implication.
I’ll leave you to your puppy fat analogy because I think it’s
silly

Thank you.

Why is it silly?

[Nonayforever]

Relegation does look likely now. We are not learning or improving.

To me , the business model also looks flawed. I would have thought that having a team in the PL with a couple of young players displaying their talents, then selling them at the end of the season is a plan.
Having a team of pussies being relegated isn't a plan.

Who are we going to sell at a profit ?
Koleosho, yes.
I can see big losses on most.
I don't think there will be a desire from players such as Benson, Zaroury etc next season in the Championship.

[Elizabeth]

Thank you.

Why is it silly?

It’s silly because it only works if you can build with the first building blocks.
The whole lot of them are so lacking in PL potential it’s going to be a case of a full re construction.
Kompany will have to go for this

[spt_claret]

Maybe it would but never an option with so many players on loan. We’ve bought players who aren’t ready for the Prem but who have potential.

I’m quite happy to let this play out for a couple of seasons. We could end up with a very good young team. It’s shite watching us lose this season but there’s an strategy which is a bit longer term than playing hoofball with Peter Crouch up front and hoping for 17th.

Absolutely no point getting on Kompany’s case, as disappointing as results are at the moment.

Crouch was here for 4 months and that continued PL survival is the only reason ALK own a football club, and the only reason for the current state of the club infrastructure some of which like the Academy has gone backwards since Dyche departed.

Knock his final 18 months playstyle all you like but he built a massive long-term platform for the club, put stuff in place for his successors in a way almost no club manager does nowadays. Kompany has a long long way to go to lay down the same long-term legacy yet.

[JimmyRobbo]

It’s silly because it only works if you can build with the first building blocks.
The whole lot of them are so lacking in PL potential it’s going to be a case of a full re construction.
Kompany will have to go for this

Thank you. I get what you mean. You may well be right but I think there is a lot of potential there.

I don't think it will need a full reconstruction at all. I don't for one second think he had finished with his building in summer. I think he always knew we needed a more combative midfielder. He was chasing the lad from Arsenal all window. I assume he knew we needed more presence in defence, too. I don't think DOS was supposed to be a starter.

[Westleigh]

Do you think it was appropriate that we had a Father Christmas in goals at halftime gifting goals?

[CoolClaret]

Maybe it would but never an option with so many players on loan. We’ve bought players who aren’t ready for the Prem but who have potential.

I’m quite happy to let this play out for a couple of seasons. We could end up with a very good young team. It’s shite watching us lose this season but there’s an strategy which is a bit longer term than playing hoofball with Peter Crouch up front and hoping for 17th.

Absolutely no point getting on Kompany’s case, as disappointing as results are at the moment.

Imagine reducing 9.5 years of our previous manager to 4 months like that.

State of the art training ground, 7 years of top flight football. Not long term enough?

[Elizabeth]

Thank you. I get what you mean. You may well be right but I think there is a lot of potential there.

I don't think it will need a full reconstruction at all. I don't for one second think he had finished with his building in summer. I think he always knew we needed a more combative midfielder. He was chasing the lad from Arsenal all window. I assume he knew we needed more presence in defence, too. I don't think DOS was supposed to be a starter.

Obviously I’m emotional because I thought we would learn as the season went on and believed in the manager.
O’Shea like many are poor signings but . I don’t get it which is why I’m very critical of Kompany. The
good feeling from last season has gone forever and I blame him

[scouseclaret]

As they say, it’s the hope that kills you.

But as there’s no hope, I’m fairly relaxed about the situation.

[Hapag Lloyd]

Obviously I’m emotional because I thought we would learn as the season went on and believed in the manager.
O’Shea like many are poor signings but . I don’t get it which is why I’m very critical of Kompany. The
good feeling from last season has gone forever and I blame him

Who do you credit with the “good feeling from last season” ?

[Quicknick]

Quite probably. And even though the Championship is a much lower standard, it won't be easy to get back up.

[Elizabeth]

Who do you credit with the “good feeling from last season” ?

I never thought it would go so quickly . We have nothing to get excited and optimistic about in such a short space of time.
I just don’t get it because I can only believe Kompany had a plan.