The future is bright

The following is intended to take a realistic overview of our current situation. While like most people I was surprised when Peter Grant was installed as manager of our great club, I fully support his appointment.

His record to date overall on paper, makes satisfactory reading but performances generally need great improvement. Where is the regular commitment, passion and quality from the players? We can do without players comments in the press “We are up for the game; this one is for the manager.” Talk is cheap, consistent performances on match days are what really count.

Let's get it clear, Peter Grant is not a miracle worker, he is a well experienced coach who has moved into management and like many before him has already made mistakes and will make more before he achieves success as a manager which I am sure he will given the very positive and refreshing views he has expressed since his appointment.

He is not here just for the immediate future but for the medium term to build a promotion winning team.

If he manages to achieve promotion sooner rather than later well so much the good. In the meantime he needs three things from the City faithful:-

1 100 per cent support - which we always give new managers anyway.

2 Time to sort out under performing players and bring in new players.

3 Above all patience, this is the most important but possibly the most difficult because after the last couple of years City fans want success now, which is totally understandable.

Peter Grant has inherited a squad of players which badly needs new blood. Remember his predecessor axed at least seven players on takeover and I consider a similar number of players at present are just not good enough to wear the 'yellow and green' for a club with premier league ambitions!

It is unlikely that major changes will take place before the January transfer window in the meantime hopefully Peter Grant will be able to strengthen somewhat through loan singings. Let no one think that January will answer all our problems as I believe available funds to strengthen the squad will still be very limited in real terms. We badly need quality and as everyone knows quality is never cheap.

What we do not want are cut price journeymen who are a quick fix only, but as we have seen with other clubs there are bargains to be had out there in the market. This is where the real art of management and judgement comes into its own.

What is our chief scout doing? How many players have been signed following his recommendation over the last two years?

With new players coming in, mixed with the best of our present squad plus the introduction of some of our younger squad players, should give us a decent base to put on from in the New Year provided we can keep in touch with the top six between now and Christmas. The future is bright; the future is yellow and green. Keep the faith.