Fuber

I'd trust the man who couldn't hack it as a manager in League One to judge player development in the Championship nearly 20 years later. That's basically what you've just said. As for Manning, he's had a couple of opportunities with injuries to trust academy players. He hasn't once trusted any with a start. He didn't bring through any at Oxford that were not already established. Neither of them have any track record with recruitment so far, of which January was a complete utter farce, and Tinnion cucked NP with the timing and replacement for Scott. Not disputing that you could be right - but this summer is huge for them, with all of James, King, Williams, Conway, and possibly Pring at likely to leave.

We need an attacking midfielder mobile enough to beat his man and create space - similar to what Scott did last season from deep but higher up the pitch. We really lack someone who can act as a pivot higher up the pitch in the pockets. Twine isn't that player. In the same vein, as when he got through on goal - I was surprised how slow he actually in over any distance not the first 10ft the more I've seen of him.

Could go 3atb - puts Webster in the picture. Ie. Bentley - £2m. Kalas - £8m, Webster - £3.6m, Baker - £3.8m; Weimann - £2.25m, Palmer - £4m, Massengo - £4.6m, DaSilva - £2.2m; Tomlin - £3.5m, Wells - £4m, Diedhiou- £5m. McCorie, and I could be wrong, according the Aberdeen side was £1.8m initial.

No. Highlighted yesterday was the fact we have no real threat in behind - I.e. completely lack of pace. Even our options off the bench (Cornick, Mehmeti) fail to help in this regard. Twine is no better than the latter on current showing, on double the wages, and four times the fee. First half, if he was Cornick and losing the ball that often, he'd be crucified on here.

Happened multiple times under the end of LJs tenure to be fair.

Speaking personally - it's end of the season and I'd just rather get food sorted for the family as live round the corner from the ground - so I'm in an advantageous position. If anyone saw us creating jack shite up until the penalty, then fair play to them. Ultimately consider today, in context of the last few games , as two steps forward (Leicester, Blackburn) one step back back (Today). Excusing the CB situation, going forward we were poor, perhaps highlighting how a differing approach- ie.e. pressing lanes against us - does a very good job of nullifying us. Something for Manning to prep for with regards to next season, imo.

I'm loath to infer much too much from today in general to be honest. After the first, Hyams confidence was gone as the rest of the match proved. I was boggled when Eustace kept Hyam on with Carter on the bench, and then subbing Wharton.

Correct me if I'm wrong - but are we not in the same league position now as we were after Sheff Wed under Fleming? So... we'd be in exactly the same place?

I take the general point. However would point out that Hyam playing suicide ball for the first, and MacFadzean pretending to be a basketball player, were not 'forced' by us - that was their own unforced errors. 2nd and 3rd - 100%, good pressuring. By the 5th they'd already capitulated.

Difference being Long had played something like 8 matches in the previous 12 months.

My only caveat is that Hyam and MacFadzean have gifted us all five goals. Aside from that, solid, organised, nice 'patterns'. Strong performances across the pitch. Would be more bouyed if Knight takes that Pring full back and smashes it in when 2-0 up. As would then be an open play goal not directly from an error or penalty, but that's obviously nitpicking.

Well. I've seen some poor opposition individual performances. That tonight is the first time I felt pity for an opposition player that they played that poorly. Dear Lord.

Right so - to be honest. Pretty heavy pressure on Manning (and the leadership) for us to improve upon this season considering the complete spiel they shat out after sacking NP. We were barely positioned higher in the league after NPs staff's final game, (Fleming in charge at Sheff Wed - after a cataclysmic injury crisis) than we are now. Up to Tinns to nail the summer window with regards to recruitment - as the last three have been pretty poor aside from Dickie, Roberts, and Knight. Less said about January the better.

*Shivers in end-of-LJ tenure remembrance.*

Was about to say probably Szmodics over Armstrong. For me I'd also have Sheaf over Fatawu (moving Sara wide right in the 4-4-2 as specified), otherwise Jack Clarke has been indispensable for Sunderland. With regards to Keepers - this season there haven't been many strong ones. I'd actually have O'Leary on sheer shot stopping ability - him and Hermansen on 74.5 and 74.8% respectively, but Max making more saves, 117 vs 104. Really puts his performances in context to the rest of the division.

It can be - it depends on the source of the errors in said game management, it could be as simple as an experience issue. I think Manning has clocked that he can set up a team, and for reasons, it may not always work - the problem for me has been ego (his stubborness re processes); and now he's started making subs much earlier, as needed, instead of reacting like he was in earlier matches. As per my original post - hopefully it continues and he doesn't revert to older habits.

Credit where its due - much better the last two. Some, myself included, previously criticised him for it. Hope Manning keeps it up, being more proactive when it isnt working - that is.

That bodes well.

One of those where it wouldn't surprise me if mutual parting was agreed in the summer, or nominal fee. It's a shame - as that period after NP gave him the cold treatment he had a spell where he scored 2 and 3 assists (one of which was the cross to TC at Cardiff?). Add to that, 34 in June - could just be the legs can't hack it anymore. Was surprised when Vestergaard caught up when he was put through on goal by James when he came on.

We have many, many, more pressing issues before it comes anywhere close through that list to get to keeper though, surely? Him, Dickie, Vyner, Pring, Tanner, have all been solid. McCrorie good in flashes but expect him to need the full summer to get bsck to top shape. It's the mess in front of them Tinnion needs to sort in the summer. TGH and Bird - I don't see being the answer being blunt. Hoping the latter will surprise me on paper but the verdict will come once he has 15 games under his belt. The former doesn't provide much evidence in BTs favour - jury is out still. Especially if he's hoping one of Stokes and Murphy are stepping up next season to cover King, Williams, and James leaving. That's not touching on the lack of wide options we have and the poor form of our forwards. We have James, King, Williams, Twine (Loan), Mebude (Loan), all leaving as stands. Add to that Bajic heading for the exits. Then youth clearout - think 7 U21s are out of contract (Wiles-Richards, Leesson, Acey, Idehen, François, Wood, Backwell. Gives some room for Tinnion to maneuver, if, for example we get circa £3m for Conway (not getting anymore than that for him with his return this season imo). Should be enough to get two in, plus a couple of frees. Whether that's enough to make this Mannings squad is a completely different question. Apologies for the spiel - I've ended up just yammering.

Sure he set us up well. Means nothing until we see some consistency. I'll praise him if we see similar performances against Plymouth and Sunderland. This could very easily be Southampton all over again. A false dawn.

The token revisionism - 'Tinman' this that and other is so, so transparent. @Cole Not Gas explain to me how Tinnion gave Bell his chance. He didn't sign him nor Conway. Tim Kirk did. He didn't develop him nor Conway. Gary Probert did. He didn't play him, nor Conway. Pearson did. He didn't integrate him, nor Conway. Pearson did. Aside from finding local loans (which literally anyone could resolve/organise, and some - Bells loan to Grimsby - were a waste of time), what's he done?

*Pearson.

... so they're bigger than us?

Personally, keeping hush until we see some consistency. As in literally any. Was more impressed with Southampton as a performance - ironically thought Leicester looked bereft of any confidence. Want this to to be a corner turned - however, thought the same at So'ton. Not sure I've been watching the same games, in the league at least I count those supposed 'really good performanes' on two fingers. We played well today, but Vardy and Fatawu not fluffing their lines changes the complexion completely.