Bedred31

Brilliant memories. And it’s easy for me to be nostalgic. But, to be honest, it’s pretty good today as well. That Portsmouth game was probably the clubs biggest game in 60+ years, but the attendance was about the same (just a bit more) as the the recent Leicester game. During our 4 year stay in the old Div 1 - and I attended virtually every home game- we sometimes got 30+ k attendances - and once 38k- but the crowd was often 16-17 k. To be honest, pretty much everything about City is better today, although I’d love another shot at the top flight before I snuff it.

2 headers, 2 one- on - ones. Nice bloke- bought a house near us in Congresbury. Bumped into him at Euro 2004 and he claimed it was the happiest time of his career.

Fantastic- and credit to Manning’s substitutions in both games.

He set us up well and we played with spirit and intensity. And, crucially, he made good substitutions at the right time. And according to Sky we had more shots in the first half than in any other match this season. So, credit to Manning.

Pring outstanding so far - so he’ll be off to Bournemouth in the summer.

Defo pen- as the Sky pundit says ‘why would Tommy Conway go down there?’

You mean it’s “Leicester legend” Matty James 100th game for us today. James, ironically, played 101 times for Leicester.

Going to stick with Sky because I want to watch the match ( I’m away for Easter), but it’s going to be an ordeal. It’s Leicester and some other side - Ipswich has had more mentions so far than us. After all ‘it’s crunch time at lunchtime for Leicester City’.

And I’ve never really understood how buying a 40% share = investment. Presumably the purchase money goes primarily to whoever previously owned the 40%. Instead, the idea seems to be that if someone gives you £100m, then ‘you’ automatically become £100m more valuable, whereupon 40% more shares are magically created to represent this increase in value and given to the outfit who gifted the £100m. Which looks suspiciously like a fairly basic form of financial support. This is not an anti- Ipswich rant, as many clubs seem to do it, not least our own SL. If there’s one lesson from this, it’s that money always follows success, and that if SL really wants to realise his investment and get his money out, then starving the squad and driving down towards League 1 may not be the best commercial strategy.

Tinnion’s outstanding at the academy. Like any employee who does a job very well, he invariably gets considered for other, higher roles. But he’s been very bad at the two he’s had over the years. I’m sure that there’s a management consultancy book out there called something like ‘Horses for Courses’ and SL really needs to read it.

I get that this doesn’t fit the current snowball narrative. And I’m on the record for stating my view that Manning has to go, irrespective of result today and ultimate league position this year. He’s simply the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time. Otherwise, it’s facts. We’re not losing and may still win. Anyone who comes out with ‘the worst performance I’ve ever seen’ simply hasn’t been paying attention for the last 40 years.

To be fair, it’s 0-0. We’re not losing and in the game. A horribly poor game, certainly, but I think we’re more likely to get the 3 points than Swansea.

I’ve crossed the line re Manning- he’s got to go- but that shouldn’t hide the bigger issue, which is investment in the squad. If spending £1-3m per season on players is the model we’re now chained to, then relegation is pretty much certain, and probably sooner rather than later.

Looked for Swiss Tony running around the pitch and punching the air at the end, but couldn’t see him. Which is a small plus, I suppose.

You can be a family club and still have a rocking atmosphere. Exhibit 1 - Selhurst Park. I’ve been going to the Gate since 1972 and it’s always been sedate. Bristolians are pretty calm on the whole, which is rather a good thing generally. But atmosphere is a decision rather than a mood and we do need to decide to pull our fingers out.