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No need. Most of us could get through a Pearson presser without falling asleep.

It wasn't just the process of removing Pearson Phants. It was the whole communication from the club where they clearly lied to us. There is a lot of unrest within the fanbase about how the club is run and a few decent results on the pitch doesn't mean the club is now well run. They promised us communication would improve and I'd say by large it hasnt. We are still getting lied to by the club every now and then and I think even if results are good, it's still important to highlight these issues. Otherwise it would be fickle of me to only highlight these issues when we're doing badly. One min the club were saying we had the ability to get top 6/challange and now they're saying "we're about where we expected to be" I can't remember who once said this, maybe Ashton, maybe Jon but they said "when results on the pitch are good we get less complaints about issues" and I kinda get that people will complain more if they are pissed off. But the attitude at the club seems to be "if we can get results on the pitch then everything else will be ok" and im not sure that's the correct way to run a football club.

Don't agree at all, imo Seagull's a good poster who goes out of his way to explain his views and responds patiently to others who are aggressive towards him just because they don't agree with his posts.

You said you were in the Lansdown? People behind you a bit annoying, knew very little about football and chatted shit constantly? Wasn’t these guys was it?

Nope, he's a good poster imo and that you, or others, don't agree with his posts is beside the point. You are notable for the number of posts you make super, but also the brevity of the vast majority of those posts, more often than not confined to 1 line. When challenged WSM goes out of his way to explain his views in some depth, to me that's a good poster whether you agree with him or not.

I certainly appreciate them, don't always have time to sit and watch the videos so reading a summary is very useful.

Nope. Can’t recall the first one of Liams I did but as @1960maaan said, it seems to be appreciated so I’ll keep doing them if I have time. Its been interesting both because you can see that a change in demeanour leads to better answers (I don’t think there was a Pearson change in demeanour against results that was as clear) and because Piercys bit is always good value (I tend to want the RB bit to be done so I can get to him). Title of thread is pretty clear so if it’s not something people are interested in they can always skip past

No matter any single persons opinion on the NP sacking and irrespective of whether we improve going forward and the decision being right or wrong - you cannot defend the manner in which he was sacked and the boards actions in the summer window (timing of the Scott sale, lack of reasonable replacement, etc) and later (lack thereof) communication with him. There was no common sense or courtesy in the clubs actions at the time, nor was it a footballing decision - we've only just got back to one position off where we were when he was sacked. Just like your chip-on-shoulder comment in the context of common sense, the club deserve said criticism - I'd be surprised if NP airs it however. Has more class than JL or BT. You seem to think we're being vindictive - there's a difference between the former and valid genuine criticism(s).

This for me is what I'm really annoyed about. Forget about Liam and Nige for a second. We have the likes of Tony Wilkins and his followers saying how fantastic it is that we've done as well as last season and could maybe slightly improve upon that (ignoring the fact the gap to the play offs is wider) Absolutely none of us expected us to do the same as last season. Each and every one of us expected progression. We all felt that the ship had been stabled and that we would push on this season. We have not pushed on. I'd argue we've slightly regressed. So why do we have an element of our fan base celebrating matching last season? This season we have under achieved with what we had available. We have under achieved in a number of games this season without a doubt.

No shock one bit, we all knew it. There’s not an ounce of class, real experience or professionalism between any of them, let’s be real.

I think the forum would be better if people like you accepted that it is a forum and by its very nature it will have different opinions. I don't agree with your posts, you don't see me telling you this forum would be better off without you. I just scroll past your posts. You should try it.

Bloody got season tickets for me and grandsons in the end. My tablet could not get into the site, just was stuck in the queue. So threw some clothes on and legged it, a steady quick shuffle these days, and got on my library computer. Logged straight on site. But did not seem to be offering me membership discount prices. But in the end it let me get them in family block. Quite exited not had a season ticket for few years now I guess so never be cured of this football affair COYR

My next door neighbour also had a small part in Lassie, it goes to court next Month.

Just to prove it doesn’t only happen when things are bad. I’ll take a wild guess as to which bullet will get the most attention…! - Vyner has a chance but very unlikely to be fit - Doesn’t see it as a specific test of playing a lower team, more about how we play - Unsure what expectations were post break. Definitely feels there is progress, more resilience and fight - really enjoyed a lot of us with the ball against Norwich and started post second half well, playing with purpose - Noted matched points from last season so want to beat that with two to go. Referenced he thinks we’ve been good defensively consistently, pointing to QPR, Cardiff, Ipswich - Looking forward to time on grass in pre season, heavy schedule post Christmas. Happy with where group are at and now about fine tuning - Conversations with OOC players haven’t happened as yet (I’d say that’s a lie…!) - Thinks Joe Williams has done well recently but been helped by those around him, credit to the staff and coaches as that’s what they do in improving players and most have - Haydon Roberts not seen as backup. Had to be patient but has done well. Didn’t answer question as to what he’s seen as (fullback or centre half) - Medube - looked decent in training and might get an opportunity (I think that’s the second lie) - Thinks Norwich goal offside, Cornick onside - Watched 21s yesterday - were some decent bits, attitude good, Brian’s done a great job, behaviours were right. Didn’t name a specific player. Watching 18s later - Knight-Lebel comment - taken off after 60 minutes as back injury as opposed to plans for first team - Need more goals from across the team - “People misread what I say and don’t listen properly at times. I want players to be emotional but recognise you need to be in control and not make rash actions” In training gave bad decisions in game to work on reactions (I do that with 12 year olds so wholeheartedly back it!) - Psychology plays a big part in recruitment- need to understand the whole package, sometimes don’t understand that until they’re in the door. Look at recovery, positioning as these tend to be focus and desire behaviours - the team are very good at that - Knights current position; has done a great job there, the group understand how to play positions now. Asked if it was a long term plan or had developed - said it wasn’t a plan long term and LM is adaptable and likes to tweak things. Knight is now running less/smarter. - Conway - no update. Want to keep him, he has an offer. Loves working with him. Thinks Conway has improved this season and should score 15+ a season, Twine helps that. - Body alignment coach visiting the club. Wasn’t Liams decision. End of season need each department needs to review how they work. - Every day of pre season is planned already in terms of session, running distance etc. Again, pretty relaxed (as expected). The comment of people not listening was a bit barbed - but it’s also no coincidence he’s got better at communicating as he’s got more relaxed and it was a large part of he wasn’t articulating as well. (And tbf I had noted I think he said emotion when he meant focus and he’s using it in a different context here). That whole section was pretty interesting and is worth a listen.

Most “bosses” would support their “staff” through illness, wouldn’t they?

Yes an agenda for the club to be the best it possibly can. Sorry for wanting that. I don't think Manning is the right fit for this club, I may be proved wrong, I may be proved right. Who knows. The day I stop caring about what is best for this club is the day I die. I'm sorry that you can't seem to grasp that very simple concept.

Kids grow up so fast these days....

Got a 2 month old who has been bawling their eyes out for the last couple of hours. Decided to put this on, turned the volume up and hey presto - asleep in less than a minute.

Amazing that Pearson wasn’t told that he was sacked for results and he wasnt told about the fear the players were being de-conditioned. Shows what slime balls we have running this club

It's arrived Only just started listening, but one thing that made me laugh. When asked "are confidentiality clauses forever " Nine replies "ask me in 12 months time"

This stood out to me. We all know what was said by them all so no need to go over it again. But to hear them pretty much admit they lied is hilarious.

Yet still not above where we were when he (himself, or those he put in place) were sacked or left just as we were coming out the other end of an injury crisis. At least keep things in context or at least how about addressing that point? For this season, Manning has only just effectively recovered from his own hapless management (props for finally adjusting his 'process' eventually to be more direct and quicker) from being way too strict in adhering to his own philosphies with no flexibility. Perhaps understandable in view of his own inexperience as a manager with this being effectively, what, his third season as a manager with regards to number of games managed? You cheapen what already nonexistent foundation for your argument when you merely belittle others when your apparent counter argument is to simply blame the forum at large as some sort of insult. Ultimately, the jury will be out until next season and seeing how the squad shapes up over the window - we're under no pressure at the moment, momentum now means naught unless its carried through the summer. We still have to navigate what will be nothing fixtures against Stoke and Rotherham - I'd like to see one or two academy players be given an opportunity to start. My one major concern so far under Manning is the sheer lack of academy throughput, which understandable early in his reign is now gone due to the same lack of pressure mentioned - i.e. was surprised to see Tanner at CB instead of Knight-Lebel for instance. The integration (and man-management) of academy players was one of the areas Nige undoubtedly got correct, would be a shame if thats pushed to the wayside the same way it was under LJ.

At the point that Scott had been sold, and it became clear that we weren't going to splurge any of the profits, I'm pretty sure that the consensus was that we'd be upper mid table, but not on a charge for the playoffs. I do agree when Nige says Liam inherited a good situation, in that we have a young squad, full of potential, all with a great attitude, very hardworking and obedient. Manning doesn't have to cull or overhaul. That's a good footing. But it doesn't therefore mean that the expectation should be playoffs. I don't believe Nige would have got us in the playoffs, but you and I may differ on that? I think this confirms that Nige was sacked for the reasons that we all thought: relationship with owner and NP's health. He rightly appears pissed off about it.

The line on the deconditioning piece that “The chairman should have talked to the technical director” was very revealing. Basically it sounds from that like Tinnion knew the training plan and raised no objections. So, he’s either a snake and said something to Jon he didn’t say to Nige, or had no idea Jon was going to come out with that bullshit. Either way….

Firstly, agree with your earlier post, as I said not black and white, more a generic thought process on ins and outs. If Tommy goes, and we bring in Dean, then that also gives scope to improve elsewhere, so not necessarily just one out / one in. There’s too many moving parts really to be categoric. Re @ExiledAjax, we can’t afford for our no9 or no10 to fail. They are the key signings. If we get them wrong, then I think opportunity to kick on becomes so much harder. Back to you Silv. I’m just gonna ignore Mebude’s loan, opportunistic and poorly sold. So we signed 4: - Bird - Stokes - Murphy - Twine plus TGH made perm. 4 out of those 5 were on the radar before LM signed. So I think we have to wait to see who the no9 is before deciding whether the profiling has changed under LM or not. I also think that Stokes and Murphy have more of BT’s influence than LM’s due to their age. So we are really left with Bird, TGH and Twine as players to go through what I’d call the “first team recruitment process”. Add to that the number 9, and any others we sign as others depart. LM does make a strong play about physicality, runners, etc, so interested to see who comes in. Good to hear Knight describe Bird yesterday too.

Silv - I think the 9 and 10 come in regardless of whether Tommy leaves. If Tommy leaves we may bring in another forward, but might be one more for the future (see my Max Dean thread). So Twine goes back - we are one down. The new no10 (might be Twine) comes in, numbers back up. New no9 - an extra squad member I think King goes - one down, but replaced by Bird, numbers back up And I think we keep one of James or Williams, so one down, but with Knight moving deeper that accommodates the duo of Stokes and Murphy as squad options. Of course if both go, then I think we will add a player, but I think that will take budget from elsewhere if it requires a fee, hence why I think we will try to retain one, likely Williams. So, in LM’s eyes: - the 9 improves us - the 10 improves us (Twine or whoever) - Bird improves us Everything else is a reaction to who leaves if anyone. I know it’s not as black and white as I paint it, but if those 3 players improve this squad / 2 players if you count Twine as already here, then I do think that can be enough of a difference-maker. The margins ARE fine. I don’t think LM thinks he’s getting 5-6 players on top of the scenario I set out above, nor is he getting oodles spent, but he he does exoect his squad for next season to have 2 to 3 (see above) players that improve the base he has now. Hope that makes sense. Where this changes is with the possibility that certain players leave, e.g. Conway, Naismith, Pring, etc, who might all have suitors for different reasons.

I think two properly ambitious and quality signings would be enough. But, I don't think this is the summer to sign "ones for the future" (especially given we already have Stokes, Murphy, and Bird). If there ever was a time to go a little harder and spend two lots of £3m and £15k a week on some absolute class, it's now.

Bless you Super. I suggest that maybe you get out in the real world. Learn some different cultures etc and gain an understanding that its OK for people to have differing opinions and no need to be writing things like "nonsense"

IMHO, he is lying in the interview. The season expectation was to be challenging top 6. They were not lying when they claimed that Pearson was failing to meet that aim. They are lying now because they expected Manning to easily improve on Pearson. That is not to criticise Manning, he was never equipped to perform such an improvement. Their expectation from the squad and a coach struggling to find his feet was unrealistic. Manning failed to meet their target. The expectation for the next season with the benefit hindsight is the more interesting question to ask. What target have they given Manning for next season? It was top 6 when he was hired, is it still top 6, or is it now mid table? Some clarity about how much money is needed to be generated from player sales in the next 12 months would also be welcome. Has the budget now changed? Is there still a need to create a significant transfer income to offset losses? If not , why not, what has changed Has Sl decided to start backing the club again? Or do we still need £10M plus net transfer income? Marshall is another cog in the incompetent and amateur set up at BCFC.

The decent thing would still be to explain the reasons on sacking. Or alternatively keep them private entirely. Not telling the manager and then revealing it in public is outright poor behaviour. And suggesting the manager caused it on purpose is frankly odd without evidence.

To his credit, I felt he seemed quite magnanimous. He was really positive about the club, the fans and a lot of the staff and I felt his view of his sacking came across a basically "it happens, it's shit but why rake up all the mud?". Like you, I don't honestly think Nigel would have got us that much higher in the table. I could argue we could have been 8th or 9th maybe but I honestly think 8 of the 11 teams above us have better squads than us and would always have been favourites to finish above us. There's plenty I'd criticise Tinnion for but I find it entirely plausible he was as surprised as everyone else by JL's deconditioning comment and then had to manage the fallout.

On the bit about us: - Learnt afterwards that it was about results - Heard in an “interview” afterwards that players were in danger of being deconditioned and the chairman should have talked to the technical director - Didn’t know City would make “reasons” public - Allardyce opined that City may have broken confidentiality clause and Nige could just respond and reply - Nige “Yeah but you don’t need to do that” - Nige said he was concentrating on his health at present mentioning back and neurological problems but he was getting better. Said he was a football manager not a coach - but he could coach - and he’s not a head coach - “The fad appears to be at the moment get a young coach. Is football suffering with ageism” - Doesn’t sound as if he’s retiring “Sure they’ll be another opportunity and when it comes I want to enjoy the challenge” - “Success can be relative. It can be avoiding relegation and cutting a wage bill” - Keeps an eye out on us. Enjoys living down here, beautiful area, bought some woodland. Thinks he had a good connection with a lot of the people. Some really good people here, keeps in touch with people at training ground - Fanbase here are patient and knowledgeable - results weren’t always great but they could see past that. Complex job in reshaping the squad. It’s a good club in the sense of academy catchment area, academy tries to develop players. Circumstances in where had to reduce wage bill means fortunate that academy was producing - - Although didn’t end amicably the staff worked the best they could. Thinks Liam inherited “a very decent situation, let’s put it like that”

I still think removing the free shirt unless you are in the Family Area would have been a good option.

Literally spat my tea out.

I think this & a few other pointed comments have all been quite clearly aimed at ‘the board’ - along with the “not going to change things overnight” “the squad is weaker than last year (paraphrased)” “difficult to change anything mid season” as a bit of ‘it’s not me guv, it’s them’ from Liam & Hoggy, and that the squad isn’t as good as was shouted from the rooftops about back in the autumn. I still standby the fact I’d be amazed if the squad is 2 players bigger in August than it currently is, and that there won’t be much movement in/out. They’re not stupid, and know the pressure that’s been put of them by the comments in October & November, but the recent run of results has probably given them a bit of license that currently, in their mind, they’ve bailed JL/Tinns/GM out a bit of what was an extremely toxic situation.

Hope he keeps doing it. Only one team in Bristol anyway.

Brrrrrrriiiissstol, was the chant in the past . Why are people so tetchy ? I remind you ‘OTIB ‘ .

I do like the thought of the 15 second down idea though. If you’re down that long feigning it, you are effectively gonna have to have 2 mins off the pitch.

Called us Bristol .... he's dead to me

Nice interview as he leaves The Shots.

My take on Nige is that although he had an idea he was walking into a shitshow, he didn’t quite understand how bad it was. When he got here and found that out there was a degree of “WTF have I gotten into?”. I agree he then broadly relaxed into it and I think that was because he saw the trajectory was improving and he was happier with what he had. In short it was someone who enjoyed the job more the greater chance he had to shape it. Thats always been the contrast with Liam - again, done to death but he didn’t walk into a shitshow playing squad wise and he probably put himself under a bit of unnecessary pressure due to the reasons you outline. Hopefully he’s over that now.

Incredibly underrated city. Everybody just thinks of it as the entry point to such wonderful places as Torremolinos, but it's a great city with wonderful restaurants and nightlife. Without fail, every time I tell somebody that I'm going to Málaga, they seem to assume that I'm heading to some Benidorm style resort.

Bloody hell if that's right ... That's about a Red every 4 games and an average of around 5 yellows a game , what's he been Reffing, the WWF ??

You lost me, you been banging on for ages about you did now buy a season ticket for a project change, numerous times about how bad the football is, aboout Manningball and will NOT be renewing, even earlier in this thread that Swansea finished it for you. Now you would have renewed if you could buy one in the SS, thought you had one in the South Stand, so all the other posts were like most of the things you post complete nonsense.

It’s been done to death but the main problem was in how the deal was presented. Tinnion was very bullish over him, and DM was given the whole big signing video. It was positioned as one for the first team that we’d been scouting for a while and a bit of a coup. Had it been positioned as coming over (effectively) for a trial then it’d have been viewed a lot differently. The club then made things a lot worse by bullshitting over his work permit situation in Belgium - both Liam and Brian very guilty of that. The bottom line is we’re not signing him (or we certainly shouldn’t) and the way the deal was presented through to how he’s been plonked on the bench with no chance of getting on (assumedly due to a “matchday clause” in the deal) has been bizarre from start to finish. If anything, it’s a lesson to the club in communication. As for recruitment I broadly agree if we’re going back to start of season. However, and having liked the Jan window to start with, the three signings who arrived here then can’t be classed as anything but poor on aggregate (Bird and Stokes I maintain good business to get done early but clearly can’t comment on their ability) Medube - A load of bullshit about work permits, an abysmal 30 minutes, no sign of touching the pitch Murphy - Seems to have a chronic injury, probably pointing to why we passed in the summer Twine - Largely indifferent With the benefit of hindsight it looks pretty poor. The get out here is that we can send two of them back and one is likely to have not been expensive and we can claim on insurance if he’s totally unable to play (hopefully!)

And tbh that kind of worries me. I’ve not seen enough in Twine over his games to date that he’s a worthwhile signing. I don’t concur that he’s “unlocked” Knight - his movement isn’t great, he’s not drifting into spaces, he’s just “there” - no more than any other AM (or even AM) would be. A presser like today was Liam giving “come here” vibes to Twine and Burnley will have picked up on that and negotiate accordingly - and I’m not sure Scott is worth what they will want. And again, in terms of results, correlation doesn’t equal causation. Scott has shown a real lack of desire at times and has also tended to be - in short - a bit of a whiner. He gets fouls but it’s not a “Scott” in drawing fouls - it’s going to ground easy, getting some, and not getting others and being affronted by it. I said when we signed Twine that the best case may have been an underwhelming loan spell which kept the price down. We’ve got that. But we’ve also got a head coach making “**** me” eyes at him which pushes the price back up. Worst of all worlds.

I think we are all mostly unsure about him but after watching full presser and fresh from watching game at Norwich I have to say to me he comes across as someone who is a bit obsessed with the science of football and computer stats football but has a strategy and a focus on a team identity that we probably haven't ever had, I think we have definitely seen some impressive performances on occasions also some tactics that clearly didn't work so for now I am feeling more positive in giving him a breather and seeing what pre season shows us , coyr.

I’d hazard a guess it’s how it’s cached. Take the sentence “I didn’t explain myself probably as well as I could, I want players to be emotional” and contrast it with what was said of “People don’t listen properly” The fact is that he did say what @Superjacksays he did in the manner he did. The way he’s cached it - when he could have made the point so much better - is a bit “I was always right and you were wrong”. I thought it was a decent presser overall, and again, I’ve made the point before when he said emotion that he didn’t really mean that and had explained himself poorly. But a flag that remains is “are we changing to save his job and he’ll revert to type”. Comments of this nature add, understandably, to that concern.

Good to see that he’s learning from OTIB.

Why do you bother! I'm sure Cotswoldred2 is a nice chap however the obsession with attacking Pearson, brushing over the reality of what happened and posting arguments on here is weird.