Red Skin

Fair comment. I agree with most of that, but whilst we make the same observation of failing to adap, I don't think we see the reasons behind this being the same. I see it as WE fail to adapt, whereas you tend to lay most of this on LM. Here's the mitigating factors as I see them - players still have had quite limited coaching. LM mentioned 6 days, which seems a little conservative, but the obvious message is that he doesn't feel he has time to coach as much as he'd like or the players need i.e. they aren't equipped to deal with every eventuality they encounter. You can't coach a unfamiliar pattern of play from the sidelines in game. - players aren't reading and/or understanding the game to make in game changes and respond with what they are faced with. - players aren't choosing the right solutions to counter what's happening. Forget which game now, but to beat a high press Max started kicking long. This stretched the game and opened up space in the middle of the pitch, but Max continued to kick long rather than utilise the midfield He did the first bit right, but failed to recognise and change. - players just fail to execute or implement things correctly. They just fall short for a period of the game. - We don't have the right players. I think it's clear we need clever coachable players that can understand tactically what's happening. They also need the physical attributes to implement what is needed. We probably don't have enough that can do both. James/Weimann can probably do the former but not the latter. Maybe TGH has the ability, but not the understanding yet? I think I am more forgiving of LM as I feel these other factors go a long way to explaining why we aren't putting in complete performances. I have seen enough good stuff in the games so far to suggest given time and some signings, LM will take us in the right direction. For you, and others, I may be letting LM off the hook, but what is the alternative? If you feel he can do the job you have to support him and give him more time and resources.

True I did, but it's a pretty redundant sentence with that qualification so why mention at all? You ignore my other point, so I guess that's fair though. If everyone knows how we are gonna play, then why did have a good first half? It's clear we aren't able to play a full 90 mins dominating a game, except may be Watford. What isn't clear is why. On a previous post along these lines is you thought 80% Manning, 20% players but I don't see it the same way.

If teams know how to play against us, then why did to dominate the first half? I don't think it's fair to criticise LM not not anticipating a change by Lowe. Maybe he should have reacted, but he can't really anticipate and make changes on guesswork. There does seem to be a pattern where we dominate early, then don't react to a tactical change by the opposition though.

Horrible illness. I'd say he's probably had a good life. I hope he has a good death.

To be fair to Manning, he also said he didn't really have anything to do with Moyes either, though he was aware of his influence around the place (or words to that effect). I like that about him, very understated. I remember a question in one of the interview when he first joined about biggest influences on his career. Being part of the Man City set up, I was expecting some mention of Pep even as a somewhat distant role model. Instead Manning described about 4 very obscure coaches in various clubs like Ipswich that I'd never heard of. He also mentioned working in school as Teaching Assistant as important in learning to deal with people. Very refreshing.

A wise man once said to me always live at the top of a hill. That way the walk home will keep you fit and you will live a long life. I told him to stop preaching and jumped into an Uber.

Sorry if this has been covered already, but what does the safe standing look like these days? I'd be happy to stand for the game itself, but being a bit of an old git these days I appreciate a sit down at half time. Would each standing area have a seat that could be used when needed or are these fixed either up or down like the rail seat design?

8f he was his coaching badges whilst he was here, then you'd think we'd have given him some kind of coaching opportunity. Maybe he was considered too much of a threat?

Nice to see him get some recognition from Shay Given on MOTD. Max is doing fine.

Thankfully, the powers that be have finally faced up to what really happened at Hillsborough and admitted the real reasons were poor policing. It's time now to revisit some of the decision made at the time made under false pretences, like safe standing, that have taken some of the fun, enjoyment and atmosphere out of going the game.

I'm tempted, but I'm slightly concerned about all those kisses in your name. Can you reassure me that when park we will just be getting straight out of the car and going to the game, rather than hanging around in car park for 'friends' to show up.

I consider my first proper boots as my first screw-ins. It was the 70s and we were pretty skint so they were second hand pumas that were two sizes too big, but I wore them. First pair that I got bought for me new, were Adidas Santiago. Loved those boots.

Some horrible scrote lived on the side of the green where I used to play football with my cousins and had this sign on his shed wall adjoining the pitch. Needless to say there was no chance of getting the ball back if it went over his fence. We treated him to a game of Wally against his shed wall with the new ball as a thank you.

Really looking forward to seeing this lad play. With all the Irish lads at club I may have to dust off my tricolour and bring it down the gate.

@downendcity Great post! I do remember getting through what seem like 100s of these back in the day. Cost my poor dad a fortune. I hope this post pricks the conscience of the grumpy bastards that kept the ball when you accidentally kicked it into their back garden. Miserable sods!

I think we have generally tended to start games well, and other managers have made tactical changes at HT to counter us. It is then that we don't respond. And yes, we can disagree about percentages of accountability, but I'm not absolving LM from some responsibility for that. Perhaps I am being too patient, but I am not sure what the alternative is? Hound Manning? Get on the players backs so they become even less ambitious on the ball? Right now we really need to be supporters rather than detractors. Despite what the hierarchy said we all know we are a number of players short of top 6. It'll take some new signings to take us further. Admittedly it's only been for short periods, but if we can play the way LM wants us to play with players capable of playing that way then I feel progress is possible.

Good post. Obviously results and performances haven't been what any of us wanted. It's a forum so everyone has a right to an opinion, but what I find frustrating in some of these opinions is that people seem very quick to judge and write off the style LM is attempting based on results and performances without considering any the following mitigating factors: 1) Player implementation. How successful the players are in implementing it. Just listen to LM post-match comments on Saturday and he mentioned that the players weren't brave enough. He did not send them out to play turgid unambitious possession football for possession sake. 2). Opposition tactics. The opposition's success in countering our initial game plan. As teams study our performances they will become more successful setting up to counter it. 3) Player education. The still limited time LM has had to coach the players on how to deal with all the eventualities and different patterns of play they need to use to deal with different in game scenarios. The players are still learning. 4). Player understanding and decision making. The players' ability in game see what is happening and to pick the right approach to counter opposition responses to our initial game plan. Other than perhaps Watford we haven't seen a complete 90 min LM performance, but we have seen aspects of it for spells in almost all games. What we haven't done well is change in response to the opposition, which really needs to come from the players (once they've been schooled of course). Thankfully, LM does recognise these and is staying true to his beliefs despite some poor performances and results, because he is better placed than any of us because he knows what the players have been coached in, the things he still needs to teach them, what he has asked them to do and where they have fallen short. (Which may mean we need some different players, despite what we were told by the hierarchy). It's clear from quite expansive comments the players have made that they believe in what LM is doing so I am happy to so along with it too despite the frustrations. Sure, there are aspects of what we are seeing that are questionable e.g. persevering with one up front. But maybe when Wells can last a full game, then we might see him and Tommy together up front? Despite the protestations otherwise, I still believe that if we had sacked a manager that was unpopular with the fans then LM would be afforded more patience than he is currently being given by some on here.

. and here's the acoustic version. Love it.

Home alone?

Didn't go to the game, but obviously saw the feedback on what seemed a great performance. Can't recall you ever scoring the overall team so highly. Good to see.

I appreciate your concern and obviously you know your son better than me, but will it really be that wild in the away end? Maybe he won't get as good view as fans will be standing, but won't it be exhilarating for your son to be part of a big away following amongst his own? I have a young son with Down Syndrome and he absolutely loves away games above any home game. We stand in the usual seats, not in a disabled section. There is a sense of danger, but for the most part this isn't in any way real. He loves singing and being part of a minority in the ground supporting his team. By contrast, the atmosphere in the family section of the Lansdown is pretty dire.

That's very sad. Please accept my condolences.

Really pleased with the performance last night and great to be really entertained. Kinda lost my voice this morning, and that only usually happens for the first couple of games of the season so definitely more to shout about. It's still early days, but we are playing well for longer spells in games now so I'm optimistic that things will still improve. It's pretty high stakes at times, but I welcome players trying to beat their man to open things up. High risk, but high gain when it comes off, and I'll take that all day long. I would have loved to see Alex Scott and Semenyo playing in a LM team. Hopefully, we can recruit a couple of gems in January.

Really pleased for the guy. He'd lost all confidence before and now he seems to have got his mojo back.

And so did Man Utd, but it looks like they won't be this season and maybe for a few more if they don't get their act together. It's an unfair meritocracy at present given the finances these clubs enjoy, but at least there is a chance others can break into it.