Merrick's Marvels

Don't do social media but I'm sure someone knows how to tag this as a reply to the promo vid the club have just posted about ticket renewals.

They sold their ass to the highest bidder. Principles? What principles? (I bet Manning was livid)

Know what you're saying but back last June there was no way of knowing the promotion race was going down to the wire with potential for a dramatic finale. They probably thought Leicester were going to walk away with it like Burnley. Turns out, promotion might be decided on the very last day and also involve big, "sexy" teams that will guarantee an audience. Imagine if, last June, they'd booked 12:30 in for kick off and then Preston .v. Bristol City was a promotion decider! (Yeah, yeah, I know)

Doesn't it just. And none of the other teams we've played under Manning play like Saints anyway. So what's his point? The other teams - especially the ones who've come to Ashton Gate to sit deep and allow us to have the ball - have asked completely different questions of us and Manning has had no answer, he's been found wanting. To beat those other teams, we had to play in a different way to the Southampton game, and we haven't been able to. There's enough evidence now to suggest this is because Manning isn't good enough, rather than our players not being good enough. Manning is forcing our players to play in a way that manifestly doesn't play to their strengths. And that has resulted in poor form and poor results. Turgid football, 2 wins and 9 defeats in 13 league games this calendar year. Relegation form. Garbage.

Bingo.

We'd be 3 points worse off.

Tinnion: "So here's our transfer plans, Neil - young kids from the lower leagues who've already played loads of games but have still got growth potential. Some of them we'll loan straight back out again. Some we'll polish up and sell right out from under you. You might get a couple of quid back if you're lucky. The aim is the Premier League. Oh, and I'm in charge" Warnock: "What, no Sol Bamba?" Tinnion: "No" Warnock: "Goodbye"

Incredible isn't it. Even if they'd said to him privately at some point this season "look, we want to go in a different direction next summer so won't be renewing your contract but thanks for the great job you've done", I reckon Nige (and staff) has enough integrity to keep doing his very best until the end of the season, take it on the chin and move on. No tantrums, hissy fits, resignations. Just be honest and straightforward with him. He'd have wanted to do the best job possible right to the very end, I reckon - for his players and for our club. That's the sort of bloke he is, I reckon. The people running our club really didn't deserve him. And the sooner they're gone the better. All of them.

Not if it sends a message, surely? Even if it's futile, the current state of affairs surely warrant us sending some sort of message? But fair enough, if you think not.

So cost is the issue. Fair enough.

I'm not "calling you out". I haven't said you're wrong to renew. Why so touchy? I've pointed out it's entirely possible to watch us in person, even for every home game, without needing to buy a season ticket and that, very occasionally, this being one such time, it's a good idea to hurt the Suits in the only way they understand - in the pocket. If you're unhappy with the current state of affairs, of course. That is all. Nothing personal intended. Why on earth would there be?

Completely understand this point. But just occasionally, thus being one such time, I think there's things bigger and more important than that. Each to their own. I genuinely admire your ability to sit through such dross.

Eh? You don't have to have a season ticket to attend in person!!

Not sure it's doubling down. All this renewal stuff would've been in preparation for a good while. The recent run of form - 6 defeats in the last 10 league games playing turgid football and losing against the worst teams in the league - has come at precisely the wrong time for them but what to do? It's not practical to ditch weeks of work, so they've just had to put it out, cursed their luck and are hoping for the best. Which has made them look out of touch/cloth-eared/arrogant/incomepetent (again) - take your pick! Sorry - just seen Silvio's reply earlier - it's what he said.

I guess we've got different interpretations of "walking away". I've interpreted that as meaning "not going at all" but you may have meant something different?

Not having a season ticket doesn't mean you can't watch City!

Nobody's suggesting walking away.

I hope so.

Back foot defensive football, eh? Just what we were promised. Interesting that Lansdown Snr was there today.

Wouldn't make a blind bit of difference whatever you played.

Old Shakey coukd do base comedy too, mind! In other news, i see the Scotch are going haemward tae think again. Again. And as for the Welsh

NTTDS ?

The inside of Lansdown's ass.

The same number there would have been if the Internet was a thing when Pulis was manager. Or Ward. Or Osman. Or any other manager who was dull or useless.

Yeah, no, to be fair it is.