Alessandro

Spot on - surprised how many think it’s a bad decision. Absolutely clear there, his left arm is up and out as he’s flung and twisted his body at the cross = making his body unnaturally bigger = penalty.

If that’s the case it’s vitally important our recruitment is top notch for the next few years. If they’re serious about the top 6 we can’t have repeats of last January’s window, for example, IMO. Fascinated to see if the wallet opens or not and by how much, in the summer.

I was very surprised yesterday with the lack of academy player minutes. Manning’s seeming reluctance to use them is not going to endear him to his bosses IMO. Again, as with the discussions of ‘footballing style’ - you feel something will need to give here too…

I’ve agreed that under Manning we’ve been in a patch of what could be called ‘relegation form’ not so long ago - so only fair to acknowledge we’ve been in a patch of what could be called ‘promotion form’ recently. Feels the sample of ‘poor’ was longer than ‘good’ - but perhaps we’ve turned a corner….Yesterday will likely fall into either category depending on our next few results though.

Think this angle is pretty key. IMO that lunge there, with the extension of his left arm, has made his body unnaturally bigger. That is the handball law - so in my view that’s a penalty.

What did it hit then?

And a rightful penalty not awarded giving Huddersfield 3 points they shouldn’t have would have kept Birmingham in the relegation zone, wrongly. Would Birmingham fans accept that as common sense?

I think what your referring to in this case is his right arm which protects his fall? The ball hits his left, which was flailing has he did a bit of a clumsy twist of the body to protect himself from the ball. (He dived with his left instead or right foot which turned his body) IMO - by the modern, current handball rules - it’s a penalty. Is it a ‘harsh’ pen, probably yes by old standards, but that’s the rules these days. Hence why in those positions players often choose not to dive in and instead try and block whilst holding arms behind backs.

He will get that now - you can argue if he’s earned it or not - but it’s the only logical move for the club. I suspect he won’t have that many games though, from the fans especially, to show he can have us up there (top 10) competing before he’s under massive pressure again though!

Perhaps a few of these things but for me, simplistically, I feel what’s changed is the message, not the delivery of the message.

Ha mate - well if you haven’t, then you seem to have got yourself in a right old lather with multiple posters for no reason!

So you agree then, at some points during this season, we have been in the form that would, some seasons in the championship, be relegation form?

@transfer reader - so if @Silvio Dante had said - during some seasons over the last 10 years, that period of PPG extrapolated over a season would be ‘relegation form’ - would that be acceptable?

Well I’m sure they’ll all be glad now he’s gone, giving us nothing but mediocrity! Can’t wait for all the exceptional progress and football we have to look forward to now Pearson won’t be holding us back!!

Yep - a couple of seasons of mediocrity saving our club from points deductions, potential relegation and fines because of the mismanagement of the owners that you so unconditionally support…. Oh and developing on the pitch the best young player we’ve ever had, the money from which your also don’t dare criticise Liam Manning will be benefiting from….

R.E Style and Principles etc - clearly something was going to give, wasn’t it? The style Manning seemed to be pursuing, for whatever reason, was not bringing results. Simply put, the manager and squad/club model were not aligned IMO. If the club are recruiting to a model, and have been for some time, either: A) BCFC change that model for the each manager. or B) The manager has to adapt to our model. (Or get sacked - or be so good they prove their model is better) Since the international break, (again) for whatever reason, Liam has fallen back into a style closer to our ‘model’ and one that was bringing more results. Whether he came to that realisation himself or has been given an ultimatum by the club, I don’t really mind - it’s working for now - but as you say, time will tell if the style changes again.

Hi Mrs Manning - Liam will be home for tea in a minute!

I bow to your superior tactical knowledge! I was referring more to the tactic of running the channels and looking to capitalise from that, which worked for the first two goals at least. EDIT - given we’re discussing “how good city were” vs “how bad Blackburn were” - in terms of the 5-0 win - what’s your opinion?

Thank you, good post - this is the reality - not some sensitive nonsense about people apparently saying, which I haven’t seen, that we were lucky, just because we’re discussing us capitalising on school boy defending.

out of likes today It was clearly a tactic last night and it was executed excellently - regardless of their mistakes.

I kind of know what you’re saying but for me a high press, say from a goal kick being played out from back, which results in a turnover from a good press is different to a ball into the channel IMO which isn’t a press. The intensity and intent however is the same granted, willingness to run those channels and force mistakes with your pace and positioning yes, but that’s not a press. A straight out foot race between defender and attacker is not the same as the modern press. Regardless of if the attackers intent can force a mistake, like a poor touch or back pass.

As I said on another thread, you lose 5 nil if you collapse or meet a far superior team. Blackburn have the 2nd worse defence in the league and we’ve got the 8th worst goals scored in the league, so, it clicked for us last night, but they were awful. For our level of football those are gift wrapped chances. Credit for our running and energy in the channels, but the first two goals didn’t come from a press but from balls over the top. From a defensive perspective, they both should have been cleared easily. First goal, awful first touch actually (it was a mis control, not back pass IMO) to let Tommy in. Second, mis-kick then reckless diving challenge when the angle was tight for Sykes anyway. Third was good pressing, but Mehmeti isn’t outmuscling Hyam, he’s misjudged it and played for a foul and gone down like a child. Very poor. Then his team mates seem to wait for the whistle and just watch - lovely skill and finish from Anis to capitalise though. 4th - I mean, come on. 5th - lovely goal, but they'd collapsed.

#allthefeels

There’s a few on here using that win last night as justification to say they’re vindicated for their strong support of Manning - and sticking the knife those who’ve, rightly ImO, been critical of an otherwise underwhelming, and at times little streaky, reign under Manning so far. As I said in another thread, the last 4 ‘results’ have been very good - but in those 4 games we’ve been the beneficiary of some poor finishing (Vardy) and top keeping from Max (v Sunderland in an otherwise pretty poor showing) and we were literally gift wrapped 4 goals last night. So all I’m saying is, within that nice run, it’s not all been perfect sailing - we’ve ridden our luck at times and despite the clean sheets we’ve continued to give away big chances, statistically that will catch us up. That’s not taking away however from a big improvement from Manning, playing a footballing style that is better suited to the squad finally and more akin to what was suggested the club wanted when they appointed him. Hopefully that means he has adapted (voluntarily or otherwise) which would be very good news. Big improvement but as I say, I’m not celebrating anything yet….long way to go. EDIT - I dare say the results uptick have also been helped in part by the return of a player we don’t have next season too…

Yes it’s nice win but you’re absolutely right. I don’t think you can understate how poor Blackburn were tonight. If a team wins 5-0 either you’re meeting a hugely talented attacking team or the losing team have capitulated. Given the fact we’ve only won a game by more than 2 goals 3 times all season and only 8 teams in the league have scored less goals than us… Add in Blackburn’s current bottom 6 form and the fact they have the 2nd leakiest defence in the league. Suggests more of the latter. A nice win yes, credit for that - but IMo people probably shouldn’t get too carried away though on the back of tonight…