numbeast

Liam Manning lacks experience at this level, he does, however, have a wide range of coaching experience. When he was approached was he told just how to play, tactic, formation etc, by the club. And did he agree before seeing the squad we had, their strengths and weaknesses. How many experienced managers would come into a club and turn it on its head right from the start? Not many I’m sure. I’m also concerned as to whether he knows who he wants in the summer, that falls into our price range. If you cast your mind back to Cotts first summer window he traded his way to get the squad he wanted and needed to bring home 2 trophies. Does LM have the knowledge to do this and will he be allowed to by the board? I don’t know if anyone agrees but to me he looks totally bereft of confidence in his TV interviews. His body language really highlights this, his head mainly down looking at his feet, and he struggles to look the interviewer in the eye. If he is lacking confidence that will rub off on a team that’s being told to play the “clubs way” If I’m honest I think this is a step too far too soon, not his fault. Add the manner of Pearson’s departure along side of the club saying we’ve a top 6 squad has added to the normal pressure of a new job. Should he stay or be sacked? That’s a difficult one. Given money and a full pre-season to implant his identity on the squad he maybe a roaring success. But can we afford him the time this season if results don’t pick up. The Ipswich game showed 2 sides of the man, we played well and for each other for large parts of the game, showing his style can work. But he highlighted his inexperience and poor game management by not using all his subs just to take time out of the game. King could have come on, the old warhorse type using up time here and there. Robert should have replaced Pring, who wasn’t having a great game but had run his heart out, when Wes Burns came on.We also had Mebude on the bench who may have given their defence something to think about. It’s all about small margins and knowing when to change thing and I’m not sure Liam has that at this moment in time.

Bringing in a new man in November with a different philosophy was probably not the right thing to do. Had the board used some common sense they would of held off replacing Pearson until the end of the season whereby they’d have saved paying off his contract and who knows where we’d finish. Had they waited, Manning would have the entire pre-season to change, not only the game plan/philosophy, but the squad as well and brought in players more suited to his game plan. I believe, once he gets in the type of players his system requires, it will bring about some entertaining football. Injuries in the squad haven’t help but then that was true for Pearson. I’m sure it isn’t time for doom and gloom, but it does call into question the timing of Nige’s departure. Could that timing have been down to the fact there were green shoot sprouting and once the injury list got shorter then he could have achieved the desired aim of the club and got us to, or at least, close to the play-offs. I suppose only the board and owner would know the truth and I don’t see them sharing that information. But still, if we didn’t have these situations it would feel like Bristol City. Regardless we will still support the club wherever we finish in the table because that’s what we do.

I agree both Vyner and Pring had a torrid time, I'd go as far as saying it was Vyners worst game this season. But Zac is the best example of coming good a couple of years ago. Let’s face it he looked 3/4 of the way out vthe door with many of us warming the car up to take him anywhere other than BS3. As someone has already mentioned Cam Pring is known after last season so clubs are playing to combat his strengths. George Tanner is a bit of a throw back, in as much as he's a tackler first and for most. He did have a few occasions in the game where he was supporting the attack but he made one crunching tackle that stopped a Boro counter attack dead in its tracks. Sam Bell does have huge potential along with Tommy Conway. Nigel Pearson nurtured both of these lads very well in trying circumstances. Hopefully Liam Manning will be able to enhance their development. We need to remember Tanner, Bell and Conway were thrust into the starting 11 before they were really ready due to injuries and the smaller squad and they’ve acquitted themselves admirably. With a younger Coach we may see them reaching their potential with new ideas and philosophies but only time will tell.

In the last day or so Jon Lansdown and Brian Tinnion have been wheeled out to outline what the club expects from the new Head Coach. But suddenly a high profile, celebrity coach has shown an interest in the job. Who would bet against those plans being amended to accommodate Frank Lampard ‘s conditions? We know SL like’s anything that gets the club more exposure, such as David James signing. As has been stated elsewhere on the forum, a higher profile could attract interest in buying the club especially if we start finding some form when the injured list starts falling. I’m not anti-Lampard, in fact i don’t really have an opinion on the next Head Coach, in some respects FL could be a good appointment in terms of getting Steve Lansdown to loosen the purse strings. I just want this process sorted out as quickly as possible so we can give the squad some stability and the new man can see what there is to work with.

I thought we had a great pair of tits and they both done interviews yesterday

I don't blame him for having an exit strategy nor would I blame him from making a few quid. But surely by backing a manager with NP's CV it could have brought about that windfall. How much would the club be worth if we did achieve promotion? A damn sight more than it's worth now. But given the plan that's been laid out I'd say its highly unlikely we will see Premier League football any time soon. Steve Landsdown continues to be the architect of his own failure regarding BCFC, but a clash of personalities once more set the club back despite Pearson delivering most of the points made by Tinnion. They say you must "speculate to accumulate" and who knows where we be had SL given Nige a budget once Alex Scott was sold.

Given what was outlined yesterday there is only one candidate who would fit the criteria, Brian Tinnion. With the vision he has set out in his interview on the way we should play I think we'll be promoted by Christmas

Which is a sad state of affairs when all aspects of the club should be pulling together.

I don’t think this is just the vocal minority this time. I would normally fall into the optimistic category otherwise know on here as a “Happy Clapper”. But this whole debacle has left me feeling that it’s time for the Lansdowns to cut their losses and move on. It isn’t just the sacking of Nigel Pearson but lying about it, who has ever been promoted by the end of October? This is compounded yesterday with a joke of an interview with Brian Tinnion. What self respecting manager/coach will accept those term, not one with a pedigree I’m sure. No this time the vocal minority is expanding and the bitterness it will cause will tarnish Steve Lansdowns legacy.

Or perhaps they had someone lined up but they pulled out after that car crash of an interview with Tinnion?

I know and that's the annoying bit.

WANTED Multi billion pound consortium or individual will to spend £200,000,000 on regional sport operation. No chance of profit but will take £30M off their taxable income. All enquiries in writing to S. Lansdown P.O Box 0000 Guernsey

If what Brian Tinnion say about having to play "their way" even down to the formation is true then I'll be disappointed in any self respecting manager that take the job. Once more the owner and board want to micromanage the playing side of the club albeit this time they have someone who has played (and played well for us) and managed (very poorly)to stroke their egos. I'm not one of those who demand a manager to be sack nor one to complain about a manger appointment (with the exception of Tony Pulis in both cases) so whoever gets appointed will have my backing being a fan of Bristol City not Bristol Sport or Steve Lansdown. But Lansdown needs to realise that the best person for the job might not the best personality. The right man for the job will set his side up his way and play his own style and as long as he is reasonably back with transfer funds will bring the success that has, so far, eluded Steve Lansdown in his time in charge of the club.

People say the Bristol Sport is an unattractive prospect but I inclined to disagree. I think BS could draw the attention from the U.S.A. or the Middle East. From the American viewpoint Bristol Sport has 2 teams in sports very big back home, basketball and women's football. Men's football is also getting bigger year on year and even rugby is starting to draw crowds. So any American individual or consortium would own their own version of Fenway Sports in one of the U.K's biggest City Potential Arab suitors will also look at the location, it's ripe for investment and the holy grail of football, the Premier League. The other sports will give them kudos back in their homeland and in the wide region. Now would either option be beneficial to the club or indeed the whole of Bristol Sport? Who knows. But if Steve Lansdown wants to retire without the worry of Bristol Sport these could be 2 possible option.

Didn't bananarama sing about him in the early 80's?

I agree. Given the financial restraints enforced on him it was an amazing achievement.

I've resisted jumping on here when I heard the news so I could think about things. I'm not one to openly dealing the Lansdowns criticism but the more I think about it the more damning that criticism becomes. Pearson was brought in after another poor management decision, promoting a part of the coaching team that had fared so badly resulting in Lee Johnson and McAllister both being sack. Once more the club turned down the chance of making the correct decision and appointed the cheap option rather than the right one. When the obvious happened and Holden was sack it appeared our illustrious owner had finally caught on and employed a man with both experience and a decent track record to steer the club in the right direction. Nigel Pearson came into the club with multiple directives, to keep the club in the Championship, to drastically cut the spiralling wage budget and use the Academy players to flesh out the squad. Nigel did as he was asked and even excelled with the Academy lads, so much so that Alex Scott was sold for £25M with Conway and Bell earning praise form Sky pundits. You would think that this would have gained him the support of Steve Lansdown and the board. Wrong. Despite the club selling Scott and losing the high wage earners such as Desilva he was give a pathetic transfer and wage limit. But was, it appears, told the owner expected promotion. The club are 5 points off the play-off places and 9 away from the drop zone, this is with 11 first team players out injured. Quite an achievement all things considered. We all saw the changes in the squads attitude from the side NP inherited. He has built a team and instilled team spirt, a refreshing change for the clubs fans. Yet here we are today being told he's been sacked because the owner/ board wish to give the club "the best chance of achieving their goal of promotion" Forgive me but that is Bull sh!t. I have always been supportive of Steve Lansdown and grateful for the money he has put into the club, but has he? The money he's put in has been by way of a loan he then so say writes that off by turning that loan into shares. So no it hasn't been written off he'll recouped that once he sells up. As I say I've always remained supportive of SL, until now. I do t know if the novelty has warn off owning a football club or does he need to feel important? Either way he needs to take a long look at the relationship between him, the club and the fans. Whilst he may own the club financially in all other ways the club belongs to the supporters who come through the turnstiles spending a large proportion of their disposable income for tickets and refreshments. Ownership passes on from Harry Dolman through Ken Sage and Scott Davidson and it will passion from Steve Lansdown. But supporters pass their passion on through the generations making the fans of tomorrow. Mr Lansdown what you did today was wrong, you sacked a man that was building a side that with a little luck could be in and around the play-offs. The reasons you or the club gave were nonsensical and by issuing that statement you insult the life blood of the club, its fans. I think we all know your time owning the club is coming to an end, go now before your legacy is tarnished too badly. Harry Dolman is still revered nearly 50 years after his death by people who were not born before he died. You to will be remembered the question is how you'll be remembered, do the right thing

I can understand where people who want Scott to stay, regardless of his eventual fee we could not find a like for like replacement. But what I see is the opportunity to strengthen the weak areas whilst also retaining enough funds to either spend next year or be able to keep Conway, Bell or Pring, or at least play hardball, if clubs come looking at them. The other thing is if young talent see the club won’t stand in the way if the Premier League come calling will make us more attractive. They already know there is a clear pathway to the first team (this could stop them leaving us as has happened in the past). No one knows how the season will pan out at the moment. My last point is this, say Alex doesn’t get his move and has a fantastic season, get noticed by a top 6 club they can afford to wait until his contract runs out and get him for peanuts. After all he’d still only be 22 and even better equipped to take on the Premier League. This would only take a word from a Man City or a Spurs in Scott’s agents ear. Something along the lines of “Stay at Bristol City until your contract runs out and you’ll get £ X amount signing on fee. I know if we just miss out on the play off’s people will say “If only we had kept Scott” But if only my aunt had ball she’d be my uncle.

I think there will be some frank discussions between the club and Alex Scott or at least his agent. I believe we will get the £25M and possibly more but will consist of between £15-20M as the transfer fee and £5M+ in add on’s and sell on clauses, some of which will be almost guaranteed others will rely on Scott fulfilling is potential. If he goes to someone like West Ham or Brighton there could be a European qualification and a non relegation clause. If he joins a foreign side such as Inter then there should be competition winning and International cap clauses. In an ideal world Alex Scott would sign a contract extension with an agreed minimum fee clause added. But this isn’t an ideal world and as much as I would like to think Scott could go with this I can’t see his agent agreeing to it. The club have a duty to get the best price for their most sellable asset and without an extension this or possibly the January window will be the most profitable time to sell. If we reinvest by getting 2 or 3 decent players with good potential in the same way Brentford have done for years we could strengthen the side (the sum of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts) and also continue to develop player to sell for a profit.

Stats are a great tool for footbal recruitment teams but they don't tell the full story. Having a scout watching in a few times give a small insight into his character his determination and his attitude especially when things aren't going his teams way. As for the goals and assists a scout can recognise his contribution to the build up, sort of assisting the assist, did his vision start the move that resulted in a goal. If his goals and assist stats were high eg 10 goals 10 assists would £25M be a little low. At 19 years of age he has so much room to improve and should he go abroad with better coaching and less media attention who knows how good he could become.

It's very early days with the Premier league only ending a little over a week ago and Sctt not long back from Argentina. Once the top clubs have had their pick of their target the mid table/bottom end club will know who they need to replace and just how much they have to spend. But you can't rule out the 3 relegated club who have or soon will be losing their star players such as Maddison and Ward-Prowse. Not sure if Alex would want to go back to Southampton but Leicester and Leeds could be interesting enough. Dortmund could also enter the picture now having sold Bellingham to Real. I'd expect to see speculation/tentative enquiries start early next week. As much as I've loved watching him develop I can see him being here when the season kicks off.

Perhaps the FPA can invite Flapper and micky Maynard back to the Gate so we can show them our appriciation for both their contribution whilst playing for us and what we think of their thought about us after they left.

Alex Scott has huge talent to go along with his huge potential, but , in my opinion, he has 2 things that will take him to the very top. He has a great footballing brain and a level head. He has gone on record to say he isn't in a rush to get to the PL and his development is best served playing regular first team football at this level. If he signs for a team like Bournemouth he would get a few months in the Premier league but could easily be back in the Championship next season. But by staying here a move to someone like Spurs is not only more feasible but he could step up to their first team in the same way Dele Alli did which in turn could likewise open the door to a full international cap. As a club we are in need of a cash injection but my preference would be to sell Semenyo along with any unwanted fringe players we can sell/let go to free up cash from the wage bill. The bottom line will be what Alex Scott wants to do. A big move now or a potential bigger move in the summer. Whatever happens I'll follow his career with fondness.

3 words to sum up this performance CARELESS USELESS CLUELESS

I thought bringing on older heads to manage the game was the sensible option. Martin holds the ball well, Williams adds more bite in the middle and Klose steadied the defence. As for the 2 right back/wingbacks on the bench, they aren't all that experienced at this level and coming on when we were down to 10 men could have heaped too much pressure on them. Ultimately NP made the right choices as we won without conceding. Yes perhaps a better team may have punished us, but we weren't playing a better team, if we were would Pearson have made those substitutions? Who knows. All I know is I enjoyed the game and our performance for much of it what more could I want.