Monday morning and yet again Blues everywhere cast worried eyes towards Eastlands. Still no resolution or direction to our club’s future. Could this be the week that finally sees the club appoint a new manager so that the rebuilding of one of the weakest, most inexperienced squads in the Premiership can begin?
Above all else, the squad will need reassurance and confidence as their morale cannot be very high after that draining last season. Whoever that manager will be is beyond me. The speculation from sports hacks desperate to identify the new gaffer is relentless.
As for who could be our Chairman come August, our latest site poll revealed that 53% of visiting Blues would like to see the calming influence of David Bernstein return to the top table. Interestingly, Frank Shinawatra came in second with 17% leaving Frank Gallagher out of Shameless third on 12%. A damning result for Wardle and Mackintosh who managed 7% between them.
The facts remain. While other clubs wait and watch to see if more of our players will be made available there are now 15 days until the squad re-assemble for pre-season training with no programme of friendlies announced. Other than City, only Villa, Derby and Fulham have yet to recruit new players but by all accounts their plans are well under way. It could be that the damage to the early stages of next season have already been done. We could be playing catch up for some time as a potentially new squad and manager strive to gel as a unit. In many respects, this week has to be the last chance saloon for turning the seemingly rudderless ship around.
Right now, I identify areas of further concern. Desperate as I realise the board are to bring in new investment, I am stunned that Frank Shinawatra remains in negotiations despite recent developments. Nevermind what is happening in Thailand, the fact that the Premier League have threatened to investigate him if he becomes Manchester City’s owner is depressing enough. You could take issue over the backgrounds of other billionaires, but we can ill afford more demoralising bad publicity.
Next up, what exactly is Alistair Mackintosh’s football background? I understand he is the man charged with appointing the new manager and is reported to have already interviewed candidates for the post. I think we should be told.
Finally, much as it is almost pointless identifying transfer targets until the Eastlands fog clears, PSG’s Colombian central defender Mario Yepes is being touted as a replacement for the er, Champions League bound Sylvain Distin. The 31 year old is the best paid player in Ligue 1 and could certainly bolster our defence but I personally still see Bayern’s Daniel Van Buyten as the man to do that job….
….money from somewhere permitting of course….
Keep the faith, Blues.
Share this article
