Red Exile

Big day out! 17th in the bottom division, tanked by Aldershot in the Cup - not had a lot to cheer this season.

Impressive finish.

No need to duck for cover. I was amongst his bigger critics as a manager but as a player I liked him, thought he helped our midfield keep ticking along. Was a great blow when he was injured. I was at all those run in matches, we blew it spectacularly...sadly.

...and herein lies the problem, surely? What is the Bristol City footballing 'philosophy'? Who explains it? Pearson to Manning is in every sense a handbrake turn mid-season. The reasons behind it were poorly communicated and still unclear beyond some 'falling out behind the scenes'. Regardless of results communication remains a major problem. 'Bristol City' has no visible or credible leaders. Much of the love for Pearson lay in his no nonsense 'Nige' persona and willingness to tell it as he saw it. He was experienced and confident. He stepped into that 'voice of the club' role with relish. Did it well. I was harsh in my assessment of Liam Manning last night. When it comes to explaining what is going on and maintaining morale in an already disgruntled fanbase he doesn't have the experience or personality to carry the responsibility he's being given. But it's not clear who else at the club does. Which is a major problem when things aren't going well.

I can't see what Manning is bringing. The players have raised their game in a handful of high profile matches. Which is understandable. Beyond these our record is beginning to look pitiful. The chap seems weak as water. Unless he's a completely different personality in the dressing room he's got zero presence, zero charisma. If his talents are subtle they are well disguised. What the club needed when NP left was experience of how to achieve what we're always told is our objective, play-offs and a promotion push. We lack that from top to bottom with the exception of NP's remaining hires. Instead we again we have a chap on work experience, failing. Let's not have this drag on for months.

Horrible echoes of the LJ years - poor in-game management, weak, losing mentality setting in. Never been there or done it manager learning on the job. Which was precisely what it appeared we had left behind us. Grim.

Blimey. I've barely had time to catch up with us scoring before we've conceded. You'd think there'd be something in the coaching manuals about paying particular attention after you've just scored? A tad pathetic tbh

Give it time!

And don’t we all enjoy it! It’s one of the highlights mate! Goodness know it makes no financial sense for me to have a ST but there’s something important about following a ritual I’ve followed on and off through thick and thin, with kids growing up and with people no longer with us. So I’ll probably be renewing.

Sadly back in LJ territory for me. Club I love and will continue to follow whenever I can but a thoroughly unconvincing manager who is just wasting our time. Let’s hope it’s not season after season. Manning another unproven hire who just doesn’t look up to it.

I’m in Paris. Pouring with rain here or I’d have given up long ago!

Well. This is becoming predictable. We seem to offer no threat. Busy bee energy but little else. Fold under pressure. Big step up needed. Surely Manning is under pressure if we don’t improve in the remainder of this match. We’re going nowhere.

Wow. Play superbly against Southampton and then utter dross in consecutive matches against the poorest sides in the division. I'm really sorry to say that in the last two matches we have been pitiful. For all the occasional flourishes Manning is dying a death in this job.

We are so poor! Shambles at times. Good grief.

Crikey - that was tough second half watch! Missed the first - when we must clearly have been far better. I guess you could say it was dogged defending. But hey - great result!

Been watching for 5 mins - stopping soon. We absolutely look awful! Must be my fault!

How many chances have we missed here?!

100% this! Hopes - a push at promotion to the top flight. Requires greater ambition and raised expectations at the very top. Jeez, if Hull (Hull!) can make a go of it every few years surely we can?! Expectations - competitive in the second tier, which is where we were when I was first aware of following a football club in the late 60s/early 70s.

Too true, I think we can all recall talk of Prem ambitions being 'the future' after our Play-Off run back in...when was it...2008? Well 16 years later and 'the future' still seems a long way off

I'm not overly negative. Been here too many times before. But before a 'give Liam time' bandwagon rolls any further let's not forget that that's what the LJ apologists said month after month, until the club finally showed him the door. Giving LJ time was never the answer - given time he couldn't hold down a job at Fleetwood. When Pearson was here - whatever you thought of him - he undeniably had experience of the level of football we aspire to play at, and of getting teams there. Liam Manning has a reputation as a good young coach and what else? A season at MK Dons where he was beaten to promotion by a team of cloggers managed by Gareth Ainsworth. If Manning can't demonstrate a bit more nous in the league than in the recent run of matches then I'd be asking questions at the end of this season, not waiting. That said, good luck to him and I hope he turns out to be a good 'un. Work to do though, for all that Leeds are a class above last night was pitiful.

This 100%! But to the OP - as someone not living in Bristol I can almost never get to evening matches - these days the trip includes the cost of an overnight. Beyond that over the years in most seasons I've rarely been able to get to anything like the majority of matches. I've always thought I was doing the club a favour by giving them money up front and paying more than if I was to POTD. It only seems a problem for matches that sell out. Can't see that happening regularly any time soon. The South Stand issue is another matter. I'd have thought it perfectly fair for the the club to restrict the sale of kids seats to the family section...but my kids are far too old for that to be an issue for me!

Outclassed. I'm by no means pessimistic about us putting together a side that might hold down a top half position, but tonight shows how far we are off really challenging at this level. I can't see how that will change if we sell every player we bring on who has the quality to get us there...and then fail to replace. One step forward two steps back. I don't have anything against Manning, needs time...anyone would. Daft time to make the change though. So mid-table it will be for the foreseeable future - with another promise of jam tomorrow. Pity.

The gulf in class is painful to see tbh. Almost as painful as listening to the Leeds love-in on Sky!

Maybe. But Steve's been in charge for 20 years or more, I find it difficult to believe he couldn't have appointed him - when he was, say, at Scunthorpe. Instead he backed a serial loser.

On the face of it a decent performance. Enjoyed what I saw of it. Two great finishes for our goals... ...but seriously, if you are Steve Lansdown you've got to be asking how Coventry - a financial and logistical basket case in very recent memory - look a more accomplished side than the one he's put together. Hey ho. 13th beckons again!