Fuber

25 minutes ago, Graham76 said:

I’ve listened to this part a couple of times.  Surely Nigel would have phrased this differently if he suspected BT & JL we’re conspiring against him.  Does this exonerate BT of being a snake?  

Not if his position on disparaging the club with regards to the NDA that Allardyce raised is to keep himself above it all. "Ask me in 12 months" etc.

He's just enjoying his time off - no reason to risk his pay-off over it I'd assume.

1 hour ago, eardun said:

Actually that points the finger at JL rather than BT as NP says that if JL had any issues re deconditioning he could have spoken to BT to understand the position. 

Its slightly vague - as it could also be barbed to insinuate that JL had spoken to BT, thereby that BT should or would have backed NP.
The latter didn't happen; and I'd be shocked if, as appointed technical director, that BT hadn't known NP was going to be sacked before it was announced.

32 minutes ago, mozo said:

I appreciate no one wants a Nige v Liam debate (sorry guys!!), but it's the easiest way to point out your double standard. 

Depends on the viewpoint of whether you're convinced by Manning, surely?
I'm not such myself, neither I assume is WSM; there arent many things to cheer about for LM in the context of the overall season (and not just the context of the last 5) - he's only just recovered to the position we were in the league at the point he came in (having just had an injury crisis), so I myself am undecided on Manning for example. Depends on what context the double standard marker is being applied.

It also depends on by what metric we're rating Liam insofar - i.e. personal view, or by the metric of the (unrealistic) targets set by the hierarchy, including those aside of league position such as player and academy development.

2 hours ago, Fjmcity said:

Maybe there was an concern that deconditioning issue would be dismissed/excused/not listened to by the incumbent manager - or that they perhaps had deliberately caused them through poor management or maybe to make a point 

How would they find out if they werent even communicating with him?

They'd already decided to part terms by that point imo. Its just an excuse made up after the fact.

Mods please delete.

On 22/04/2024 at 17:14, cotswoldred2 said:

Christ, are you at all serious?

We are 6 unbeaten and storming the league. 

Why would you or anyone want to go backwards?

Oh! yea it's OTIB.

 

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.

13 hours ago, Cole Not Gas said:

To Pearson's credit, he gave the lad a decent chance and kept him involved in what seems a fair combination of bench and starts. I'd trust Liam's judgement and we have Tinman seeing him develop under both coaches so Bath is probably his level rather than the Championship - but who knows? He could have a good summer and be part of a big squad where we will have a lot of potential wide players; they cant all make it.

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.

5 minutes ago, RedM said:

I like Twine, but have to agree. He isn't the player we saw in his first game for us either, he was exciting and creative. Either he hasn't recovered from his injury fully or we have coached it out of him?

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.

19 hours ago, HengroveReds said:

Wonder if any of these will be broke in the summer. Will never know the true figures, fees from transfermrkt
 

GK - Dan Bentley - approx 1.8mil

RB - Ross McCorie - 2.5mil

CB - Kalas - 7 mil

CB - Nathan Baker 3.8 mil

LB - Jay Dasilva - 2.1 mil

CM - Adam Nagy - 1.8 mil

CM -  Han Noah - 4 mil 

AM - Tomlin - 3.5mil

AM - Kasey Palmer - 4 mil 

ST - Nakhi Wells - 4 mil 

ST - Diedhiou - 5 mil

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.

7 hours ago, Nescot said:

Twine is worth every penny anything 4mil or under sign.

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.

1 hour ago, Barrs Court Red said:

I’m struggling to remember a negative reaction to a passage of play like that in all the years I’ve been watching.  

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

1 hour ago, pikeysrobins said:

So….why the MASS exodus of fans (a) when Huddersfield scored (b) on 85 mins?? I hate it when fans leave early at the best of times but that was embarrassing today. We have been on a good run of late and I know things are petering out to another season of mid-tableness but hey…fair enough if we’re losing 3-0 or similar! I’d like to know how many City fans saw Nahki’s penalty scored as we fought regardless of performance to get on level terms. 

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.

1 minute ago, IAmNick said:

Do you think there's a chance though that as the 1st and 2nd goals came from near identical balls that was planned? Conway on the first, Sykes on the second. Same ball, same defender, mistake from him both times.

You have to be playing the ball and have a player there ready to capitalise on it - and I'm not sure we would have done around Christmas time. So yeah, Conway didn't literally force him into playing that shit backpass, but he was in the right place to take advantage of it.

Agreed about MacFadzean.

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.

59 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

Shame he didn't join us at the start of this season

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?

14 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

Blackburn were absolutely terrible... but how many times have we said that over the last few years and come away with nothing, let alone a 5 - 0 win? You still have to beat them, and we absolutely put them to the sword. Yes, they made mistakes - but we forced the mistakes. Earlier in Manning's rein we wouldn't have been looking to force them, and wouldn't have been in a position to capitalise on them either. He's changed that, and for the better.

Well done City. Great performance, just what we needed, and set up in just the right way to take advantage of Blackburn's frailties so credit to Manning and the coaching staff. The fact Blackburn were so poor shouldn't take away from that imo.

I'm enjoying the football more lately. More direct, getting the ball up the pitch quickly, pressing more at the front, forcing mistakes, and a bit of grit in the middle from Williams and Knight. If he can take the best bits of what Pearson was doing, and add his own flavour to it that'll do me.

I'm not a Manning convert yet, but we're edging in the right direction. Hopefully we'll have got even closer by the end of the season.

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.

26 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

He’s up there with Kevin Long!

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.

7 hours ago, downendcity said:

So it's a mathematical certainty that the Pearson v Manning debate will continue into next season!  

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.

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Apparently attacking intent only comes if the opposition allow that.  It’s not about “us”, according to Hoggy (who sings from the same hymn sheet as Manning).

That’s a slightly facetious comment, but with a large element of truth about it.

That’s what we have, a team / game-plan based on what the opposition allow us, rather than us imposing our style / identity.

I can’t wait!  

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

16 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Given we've started taking votes for our end of season awards I wondered who out there was thought of as being up for the wider Divisional awards. I don't watch every team forensically but will suggest a few to get the conversation started.

Manager of the season - I think there are two stand out candidates: McKenna and Cifuentes. McKenna has a League 1 squad sitting on 87 points with 18 still to play for. Ipswich have been electric and have kept going until the end of the season and through the full 90 in every game. I expected them to collapse in the winter, and fairly they have not done so.

But I think there's a better candidate - Cifuentes. Good lord the miracle he's worked with a trainwreck QPR squad is remarkable. When he took charge on Halloween 2023 they were 23rd with 8 points from their first 14 games. They are now 16th with 46 points. The quick-minded will swiftly note that this means that in the 26 matches Cifuentes has managed, they've gained a stonking 38 points - 1.46ppg. Had the season started on 31 October when Cifuentes took charge, QPR would be 9th.

Notable mention to Danny Rohl at Sheff Wed who has overseen almost as good a renaissance (36 points from his 29 games in charge 1.24 ppg), but it's not quite the transformation that Cifuentes has managed.

Player of the season - The stats show Szmodics as top scorer with 23 and he's been involved in 41% of Blackburn's goals, Summerville tops both FotMob's and Whoscored's overall ratings and has a respectable 17 goals himself, Dewsbury-Hall has been exceptional for Leicester, and Armstrong has been very productive for Southampton. Jack Clarke at Sunderland has been key to their season, and Sara at Norwich has been fantastic. Further down the division or further back in the formations there's players like Coventry's Sheaf, Davis at Ipswich, Whittaker at Plymouth, and even someone like Chair at QPR could be in the conversation.

Young Player of the season - Caveat, I am not about to waste time checking who was 21 on July 1 2023, so this is just players who are currently aged 22 or younger. Also, I refuse to allow a player to win both YPOTY and POTY - so Summerville is in the chat for POTY, and if he gets that then as far as I'm concerned he cannot get YPOTY. They're separate categories for a reason.

Anyway, it doesn't look like a vintage year for young players (maybe everyone had a good tilt at the U18 FA Youth Cup). However,  Summerville's teammate Rutter is a standout candidate as he's had a spectacular season. Philogene is fun to watch, has a swagger, and has delivered with 8 goals and 6 assists this term. Rowe at Norwich is just 20 and has handed in 12 goals in just shy of 2,000 minutes, which is pretty impressive at that age.

I don't know, YPOTY would be one where I'd be interested to hear opinions.

For what it's worth, here's whoscored's current team of the season. The omission of Szmodics is probably the most interesting item, but the team is caveated by the fact they stick to a pretty rigid 442.

 

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.

4 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Game management isn’t necessarily something that can be coached, it’s largely common sense and today and on Friday City got it spot on. 
Having the likes of Williams, Cornick, Wells and Sykes all on the pitch in the last 10mins make a significant difference.

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.

3 minutes ago, Ian M said:

According to their forum he’s deservedly been dropped for poor performances.

That bodes well.