Time for change has come if we are to survive

By rbridge

I WOULD have loved to have played under a manager like Tony Mowbray.

I admire his attitude towards the game and playing proper football, and feeling that he has a duty to get players to play in the right way.

I remember playing for some managers and all they wanted to do was hoof it and I hated every minute of it.

I would never criticise Tony, he is a manager and is qualified and I am not, but as a former professional player for 17 years I feel that my experience matters and my opinion counts.

We lack competitiveness and I think teams are targeting us now.

Especially in the middle of midfield we lack bite, certainly from the games I have seen and the things I have been hearing.

When Hull play teams they have three holding midfielders and let Geovanni do whatever he pleases, and it has been working for them.

I think it is time for Tony to tweak things a little bit.

We have got nothing to lose – if we carry on playing the way we are, we will go down.

I would move Paul Robinson into midfield, even if it is just to unsettle teams a bit.

He is a tough player and is always willing to put his foot in, but playing where he is at full-back, the chances are few and far between.

Perhaps then play with three centre halves and have wing backs, so we can become really competitive in the centre of the park.

I remember as a player I would go to certain places and know it would be a good football match, like Crewe for example, you would look forward to playing them, and the same at Watford.

But then it would be the opposite at Oxford United, or at Stoke City's old ground, where it was always going to be a tough afternoon.

We need to play with a bit more edge.

The novelty of being a new team in the Premiership soon wears off.

Yes it is nice to see the likes of Deco, Lampard, Rooney and Ronaldo, but if your team keeps losing, the fans will grow increasingly frustrated – and pressure will be placed on the manager.

Tony is a good guy and has done great things for this football club, but I believe we need to get in a big, strong English centre half, and a striker who will get us 15 goals.

It may be early days and it could come good, but I do not think Bednar and Miller up front is working.

They do not seem to read each other's play, one will be holding the ball up on one side of the pitch while the other is out wide nowhere to be seen.

If I was Tony, and again I would never criticise him, I'd decide it was time to start playing football that will keep is in the Premier League. That is what it is all about.

And I would start by taking a gamble with Robinson for the Wigan game.