Bedred31

2 headers, 2 one- on - ones. Nice bloke- bought a house near us in Congresbury. Bumped into him at Euro 2004 and he claimed it was the happiest time of his career.

Fantastic- and credit to Manning’s substitutions in both games.

He set us up well and we played with spirit and intensity. And, crucially, he made good substitutions at the right time. And according to Sky we had more shots in the first half than in any other match this season. So, credit to Manning.

Pring outstanding so far - so he’ll be off to Bournemouth in the summer.

Defo pen- as the Sky pundit says ‘why would Tommy Conway go down there?’

You mean it’s “Leicester legend” Matty James 100th game for us today. James, ironically, played 101 times for Leicester.

Going to stick with Sky because I want to watch the match ( I’m away for Easter), but it’s going to be an ordeal. It’s Leicester and some other side - Ipswich has had more mentions so far than us. After all ‘it’s crunch time at lunchtime for Leicester City’.

And I’ve never really understood how buying a 40% share = investment. Presumably the purchase money goes primarily to whoever previously owned the 40%. Instead, the idea seems to be that if someone gives you £100m, then ‘you’ automatically become £100m more valuable, whereupon 40% more shares are magically created to represent this increase in value and given to the outfit who gifted the £100m. Which looks suspiciously like a fairly basic form of financial support. This is not an anti- Ipswich rant, as many clubs seem to do it, not least our own SL. If there’s one lesson from this, it’s that money always follows success, and that if SL really wants to realise his investment and get his money out, then starving the squad and driving down towards League 1 may not be the best commercial strategy.

Tinnion’s outstanding at the academy. Like any employee who does a job very well, he invariably gets considered for other, higher roles. But he’s been very bad at the two he’s had over the years. I’m sure that there’s a management consultancy book out there called something like ‘Horses for Courses’ and SL really needs to read it.

I get that this doesn’t fit the current snowball narrative. And I’m on the record for stating my view that Manning has to go, irrespective of result today and ultimate league position this year. He’s simply the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time. Otherwise, it’s facts. We’re not losing and may still win. Anyone who comes out with ‘the worst performance I’ve ever seen’ simply hasn’t been paying attention for the last 40 years.

To be fair, it’s 0-0. We’re not losing and in the game. A horribly poor game, certainly, but I think we’re more likely to get the 3 points than Swansea.

I’ve crossed the line re Manning- he’s got to go- but that shouldn’t hide the bigger issue, which is investment in the squad. If spending £1-3m per season on players is the model we’re now chained to, then relegation is pretty much certain, and probably sooner rather than later.

Looked for Swiss Tony running around the pitch and punching the air at the end, but couldn’t see him. Which is a small plus, I suppose.

You can be a family club and still have a rocking atmosphere. Exhibit 1 - Selhurst Park. I’ve been going to the Gate since 1972 and it’s always been sedate. Bristolians are pretty calm on the whole, which is rather a good thing generally. But atmosphere is a decision rather than a mood and we do need to decide to pull our fingers out.

Not blaming him for tonight. Simply seen enough to know he’s not going to take us forwards and we’re now gambling with the real risk that he could drag us into danger. I really don’t think this is a relegation battling squad.

Not a great squad but good enough to be doing better. No confidence in Manning’s ability to get the best out of them and now visibly dragging us down. He’s got to go.

Ipswich now scored 3, missed a pen and hit the post. Hard to dress this up as a defensive masterclass.

We’re not terrible, or hopeless, or disinterested. We’re cursed- and that feels a whole lot worse.

For what it’s worth, I predict a strong performance tonight, with at least a point- narrow win as likely as a narrow defeat. Ipswich will press a bit, our ‘thinking time’ will be reduced and and a bit of space will emerge, allowing us to get in behind them, if only occasionally.

Always cheaper to keep a decent young player than sign a replacement, particularly if a big transfer fee is out of the question. Not a big gamble to offer TC a good contract, as he’s proven while still maturing. At the very least, dangle a big carrot and if he still says no, we at least know there’s absolutely nothing we can do and the pressure is off a bit.

What’s your address?

Can’t have a ‘yes/no’ response to a question that contains two alternatives! But I appreciate the sentiment.

Think we’re pretty much at the ‘give him the next 4/5 as it will only confirm what we all know’ stage. Clearly, he’s got to go, but I wouldn’t want the new guy (presumably it’s the turn of ‘experienced older head to dig us out of the Sh*t’) to be undermined by the last 4/5 of a meaningless season. Absolute key for me now is ensuring he doesn’t have the close/pre- season.

Saw England play Wales at Cardiff in about 82? Home international. Quite an experience!

Either side will nick this- hope to God it’s us. 97th minutes fine by me.