Hi thanks for leaving me some more questions. Hopefully you’ll find my answers interesting. I’m not arrogant enough to think you’re all desperate to ask me a question you understand, but I just thought this might be an interesting way to generate some debate about the things you guys are thinking about, as well as giving me a chance to preview the Wigan game this weekend. Here goes . . . .

Garreth asked:
How many more games should Brown get to prove himself after failing to win Wolves or BC who are meant to be part of our mini league?
TC: A writer for the local newspaper this week claimed that Brown should remain manager of City even if we go down, which I thought was interesting. I think by the end of November we’ll have a good idea whether Brown can take this team on into the New Year with a reasonable chance of staying up. That would give him six matches to show an improvement in performances and results, against teams we can expect to be picking up points from. I thought the draw against Wolves was a good result in fairness, but the shocking performance against Birmingham really grew opposition to Brown’s tenure as manager. If the performances show an improvement, I think Brown will keep his job, as the Chairman seems to be very much behind Brownie.

Do you think a change in management will bring fresh life into the club and will help us to move up not down?
TC: It’s very difficult to say. There have been lots of examples of a change working both ways. I would guess that a change would improve confidence and perhaps boost the player a little, but this would probably be only a short-term measure and would in no way guarantee survival. Any new manager would still have the problem of a relatively weak squad, which whatever you think of Brown’s tactics, PR and man management skills, is the main reason for our predicament.

Dave asked:
Thought Cooper distributed the ball well. He appeared to be better in this respect at least on this occasion than some of Michael Turners displays. Your thoughts?
TC: Cooper shows promise, and dealt well with a baptism of fire at Anfield. It’s almost impossible that he’ll out perform Turner, at least this season. Turner had several years in the lower leagues, which Cooper really needs before he should be starting games in the Premier League. Losing MT was a massive blow and a huge mistake by the management, one that could well relegate us.

Also I think we should pair Ghilas up with Altidore, your thoughts on that Tom?
TC: Ghlias has been excellent for City, and should have started against Birmingham. I would guess that injuries permitting, he will start every game from now until the end of the season. Altidore has had a strange start to his City career. He came on, jetlagged, against Bolton, and made an immediate impact. City fans thought he’d be the messiah, but since the Bolton game he’s not really looked the part. He was shocking against Birmingham, and hasn’t impressed from the bench in other games. I still think he’s got talent and will do well for City, but can’t see him starting many games at the moment. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink seems to be favoured at the moment, and I can’t see Brownie changing his mind on that for at least a few games.

Brad asked:
What exactly was the back story to Turner going to Sunderland? (He hasn't looked all that sharp for his new club, by the way.) Doesn't seem really like a step up for him, and HC losing him at this time is devastating.
TC: It’s very complicated, but at the moment it appears City needed to sell him to pay off part of a loan. The club are being very secretive about their finances at the moment, so it’s difficult for us to understand the full circumstances being his departure. From a purely football point of view, it was a terrible decision, robbing the side of a leader and a huge part of the spine of the team. The defence has looked poor since his departure, and the fans have been demoralized by the loss of the man they voted player of the season two years running. Part of the frustration is that he’s made a bit of a sideward move in most fans’ eyes, and it also emerged that Turner himself wasn’t desperate to move either. It’s a very unsatisfactory situation, and one we’ll hopefully find out about more in due course.

It takes a while to get to know one's teammates well. How long will it take this group to gel, or will Phil be gone before it happens?
TC: Quite possibly. Brown said recently that good players don’t need time to learn how to play together, which I think is rubbish. The defence in particular has been very shoddy in recent games, but should improve with more game time. I think Brown will get time to re-mould a side that has been significantly changed, and beyond his control. Making Nick Barmby captain is an interesting decision; maybe he can bring the players together more and help Brown get his message across.

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We will see on Saturday if the leadership changes can make any difference, in a game against Wigan where City just have to play well. In the corresponding fixture last season, the Tigers were tonked five nil by the latics, who curiously only had four shots on target during the game. It showed what can happen if City take their foot off the gas in this division, and was a reminder that our players have to be at full tilt for 90 minutes to be competitive at this level. We need to see that on Saturday after a dismal showing in the last home game against Birmingham. Hopefully, Phil Brown will keep faith with a 4-4-2 formation, and play Kamel Ghilas up front, where his pace can cause problems. I’m backing the speedy Algerian to produce a big performance, and help city grind out the victory. Come on you Hull!

ps. any comments/view are much appreciated!

TC