The Swan and Cemetery

Fair point, would still be cautious given so few games. And we’ve beaten xG by chunky amounts last two? Things look really promising, would just like to see it over a slightly longer time frame before calling “could we? Really… could we?” and ordering my Prem 24/25 vs “I was wrong” half and half ski hat.

Words of caution: - 2nd (and then 3rd straight after theirs) goals were crucial, forced them onto the front foot and gave us more attacking opportunities. - we’ve comfortably beaten xG in our last two games, so arguably statistical anomaly rather than dramatic progress (and 3 wins on the trot maybe unusual for us, but isn’t definitively a trend we can be confident in) - still early in LM era so maybe an element of surprise for opponents that will wane over time, can we adapt when opponents are more ready for us? Less Grinch: - since pretty much LM’s first game think we’ve shown improvement in retaining the ball, but not pointlessly, seeking to create space and then move forward purposefully. - LM took over in difficult circumstances and has managed to get the players to adapt (a bit, think sensibly not wholesale change) and retain the spirit/effort which might have been at risk. Feels more like building on foundations than starting again (eg late DH/early NP days of rarely getting out of our half > later NP days of being much more capable going forward > early LM days of lots of goal attempts), which hopefully means the first few games were the ‘one step back’, rather than needing half a season or 3 windows. - Players back from injury helping in a small squad and Anis starting to add a lot more (well done to him and LM/CH). - 9 points from 9 means a decent result at St Andrews and maybe SL will see the opportunity to do some reasonably serious recruitment in January - whatever anyone thinks of the squad’s quality, even with McCrorie/Atkinson/Roberts back, it feels a couple light (optimistic to think we’ll never suffer another injury).

If he improves us consistently fair play to him and contrary to (some) popular opinion, everyone will be delighted. Definitely some positive signs, but a) very early days and b) not that long since we had a manager who managed long winning steaks, but also had a penchant for long losing streaks. Too early to be drawing useful comparisons for me (and nothing will ever be like for like, so probably more important how we’re getting on than whether Manning is de facto better than Pearson, Dicks or Beasley). Great performance today.

Apart from he wasn’t, by anyone, you make a great point.

So 8 out of 15 above 1.2 PPG and 5 out of 15 above 1.375 PPG.

Congrats.

And not much more we can ask of the player themselves. We can be angry about purse strings and recruitment quality etc, but the tone of voice from some that the player is in some way at fault is odd to me. If not trying, fair enough, but difficult for him to convert himself into something he isn’t. I’m with @Davefevs that one error and pile on ensues.

Pub near Bury’s Gigg Lane. Battling with the Springfield Arms, Wigan for my favourite away pub, slightly more intriguing name wins the day.

Reported fee was £300k wasn’t it? Not sure what we expect for that, but presumably not expecting him/anyone for that fee to tear up the Championship? Personally think he does okay given the outlay. If we’re saying we’d prefer to have £10m strikers, think that’s a different debate.

Eh? I just asked what standard you were comparing him against? Prem ready, top 6, top half etc. “people like you”… blimey.

Not good enough vs what standard?

Not convinced by this. There are a few on both sides who endlessly seek to retrofit things to their point of view, but most are just trying to be balanced (which includes disagreeing with those who are obsessively anti NP or LM).

Wasn’t a thriller, they were poor, we were a bit better, but not great final third (reasonably common under both NP and LM). But given the weather conditions, not sure that’s the game to be passing much judgement on.

Think it’s worrying that in the kerfuffle of the changes, we seem to have completely lost a role: manager. Fleming/Euell coaching, replaced by Manning/Hogg, coaching. May well turn out (or may not) that the latter pair are better coaches, but not convinced that the man management/motivation is showing obvious signs of being a strength. Hopefully coaching will lead to winning, so culture becomes more self fulfilling, but think what NP instilled off the grass, was critical to a small squad without an array of top notch players, holding their own on it.

I can see change, but not sure, net, it’s progress yet. Think some of the ball retention is then resulting in us getting through the lines to the final third (ie it’s not just sideways). But we’re also setting up to be less effective on the break. And whichever route, improved decision making and execution in the final third is still needed (for top six). Defensively changes less obvious to me and given some individual errors, would need to see more games to be confident in whether we’re getting stronger or weaker. I was very much in the camp of keeping NP, but the only plausible reason for changing him requires a change in style of play and reasonable to give LM time to achieve that. My biggest concern about today was probably body language, which didn’t seem to have quite the togetherness/energy we’re used to, but get that maybe due to getting used to new systems and being frustrated as a result, aka growing pains.

Agree re the Mehmeti/Bell comparisons, but thought he should have done better for their first, initially knocked off the ball too easily and then didn’t work hard enough to get back in to cover the first time cross.

Thought it was more lacklustre than terrible today and some of the possession did eventually lead to openings, just continue to lack quality in the final third. That said, although it didn’t come off for him today, thought Tommy looked closer to his best than we’ve seen for a while, given a relatively thankless task up there on his own. Less positively, the amount of times we attempt to win the ball via proper tackles is insufficient and results in endless second balls for our opponents, when we get indecisive nicks first time of asking. And support from wide areas needs to improve - as others have mentioned, Tanner may not have had his greatest game, but very isolated and left hand side not clicking either. Would like to see us adapt defensively in game a bit more, pretty clear Idah was quicker than Barnes, but we continued with a high line. Poor from Zak, but with a better tactical shape, it could have been avoided, get we were going for the win, but still think we could have dropped a bit deeper.

Hackney Wick has some decent places for a drink and easy walking distance. Albeit I’ve never been there pre football, so no idea if it will be swamped with raging ICF.

First half yes, second half definitely not. Composure entirely lacking. Admittedly against a very good side at this level, so no shame in the overall performance. Composure in the final third has been a challenge for a long time, hope it can be coached, but think we need a bit more quality to push on.

Decent gaslighting.

Surprised you’d have that view…

Maybe to people who are seeking to find an argument against that view, without being able to come up with any logic. OP has stated facts which for lots of people are reasonably compelling, the alternative argument appears to be to call them paranoid, not sure “you’ve a psychological problem” is winning the debate, but if that’s the route, fair enough.

Or just people’s opinions on what they’ve observed? Might be right, might be wrong, nothing to indicate it’s paranoia.

Passionate for a week and a half… I don’t buy it.

Why would the timings be what they are if it was just BS employees with a passion for the game? And few employees are as sycophantic as to follow their employers point of view without a hint of challenge.