Alessandro

You may well be right…but I’m not so sure that’s the case with Manning - have a feeling he’s BT and JL’s pick so wouldn’t be surprised to see Steve step in on this time. Either way him going next week or later this year (if he doesn’t markedly and quickly improve) - there will be no ‘good’ way out on this one for the Lansdown’s - and they’ll know the reality is the longer he stays, the longer and more expensive it will be to put it right…which may dictate things more this time round and they may save more face by acting quicker on it.

Sorry if it’s been said elsewhere…if it was on the players and Pat the other night when we conceded from a free kick… Presume it’s credit to Pat that we won today? Given it was his short corner routine that was calmly executed by the players? Thank you for the 3 points Pat Mountain!

Agree entirely - surprised how many people presume he’s now safe after that 1 win. For me there is still debt to his name, one win has paid some of his overdraft, but he’s far from the black. Didn’t see much of the game today, but have read it wasn’t great and I saw the empty seats you talk of..money talks… 2 loses in the next two with similar showings up to now and as you say he’ll be in big danger of going.

Absolutely - you can talk about interpretation of what he said, as @ExiledAjax is on the other side of the coin. But for me, it's vague - if you have a specific point, make it. It felt to me it was a half-hearted attempt to explain (absolve blame) conceding from a freekick vs Ipswich. But that phrase he used is really not good. Even if those defending manning are right, I still disagree with what he said: set up, freekicks etc, the manager can affect things - yes the players need to know roles and adapt to changes in game but: Take the freekick example - the players will be focussed on one thing in the heat of the moment and jostling - "winning their duel". The manager has the responsibility to see the bigger the picture - perhaps a player's set up to make a late far post run, for example, that is unexpected. Even if it's time sensitive or hard to get message to players - that's your job! You can't expect the players to take all the responsibility to see "the whole picture" when they've also got to mark a player who is pushing and shoving you to get into position. That's what they should be focussing on. EDIT - I don't mind his interview manner, I actually quite like him, I imagine he's thoughtful and supportive of the players off the field. Yes I was a fan of Nige and he had the opposite style in many ways. But for me - if the message is good and the quality is there, I don't mind how it's delivered. My question is not Manning as a personality, it's Manning as a coach.

The words don't match the reality for me. He keeps talking about us going in the right direction? The only thing I can think he is referring to is this ethos that he repeats time and again that clearly runs through his whole coaching philosophy - that is to equip the players with the skills to do it on the pitch themselves and take responsibility. Hence a lot of talk of players; didn't implement the plan, let emotions get in their way and when they cross the white line he (Manning) can't affect things. One on one player meetings. Giving them the tools. etc etc etc So perhaps when he talks about making progress, I can only presume he means in terms of the players accepting this way of working and reproducing it on the pitch? I don't mind some elements of this man management to an extent - but my god, sorry, the best coaches in the world facilitate their players in ways beyond just preparation and set up. That's a crazy comment about in game influence. Manning is putting a hell of a lot faith in his processes and the players ability and willingness to make it a success. He's basically all in on it with little flexibility or ideas beyond the players "producing" his imaginary, ideal plan - if they can't, what does he have in his locker next? Very little it seems so far. Must win on Sunday or concerning times...

The way I describe last night was like a boxing match. We were a weight division below, but came out positive and swinging - landing some good blows. Ahead on points. But instead of being ready for the inevitable comeback from our superior opponent and looking to box clever - we kept looking for the knock out blow, left ourselves wide open, and got knocked out. So you can say, oh well done, we’ve had a go and showed some spirit and looked good at times, but we still got knocked out. It was naive. Against lesser opponents it might work, but ultimately again we seem unable to play the right game for the right opponent. Interestingly though - I’ve got a question - if I and plenty others can see that, did Manning: A) Not see that and froze in the headlights again, failing to adapt to the game situation again. or B) See it and think, no we stay the course, regardless of result? I suppose what I’m asking is, did anyone else have the feeling Manning is now playing ‘his way’ almost like he’s been told he has a free pass - “just go out and play your game” from above or is he being stubborn to show, “this is how I play, take it or leave it and back me in the summer if you want us to close that gap”? Because surely he can see what us layman can, right?

We’ve done well in large parts of that game. Our 2 goals, from very direct play. But I’m sorry - you cannot say Manning is without fault tonight. Yes it’s 3 bits of poor defending - but: I thought we were just too naive tonight. It could have been 4 or 5 in the end. You don’t concede that many goals (in such a short period) if the set up and instructions are good. We were under the cosh, Ipswich coming at us and he doesn’t make one change to try and help the defenders out in response to their multiple attacking subs - they just sit and watch us concede 3 goals and a penalty with no response from the bench. Maybe Roberts to double up Burns who tore Pring apart to start with. The players looked lost defensively and crumbled there at the end - and when so many do in one go, you have to question the manager too. Shame because we really could have won that tonight and we wouldn’t be having this chat.

Low bar I admit, but he’s done his job off the ball, on the whole, yes one stray ball I can think of, but 3 or 4 others at least guilty of that. Supported his LB more. Carried the ball and pressed better IMO.

Well in terms of being away to the team in 2nd - a very good first half. Matched them, pressed well, been brave in possession, Manning gone to 4 at the back, good energy levels. Defensively strong, Vyner and Dickie great. Much, much improved. Less good - still looking rather toothless up top, very little to shout about, better from Mehmeti, not sure about Knight up front (other than what he does off the ball) We’ve got to be careful, looked master of our own downfall with careless possession that has almost cost us a few times. Feel if we keep doing so, they will punish us. And finally will McKenna have an answer to us tactically, surely Ipswich will have a tweak at half time and improve? Can Manning do the same?? Or can we do to Ipswich what others have been doing to us and nick a goal for an unlikely win?! COYR

Excellent post and the fact that this similar thing keeps happening over and again at the club - suggests something about the Lansdown’s. I read a quote recently from SL, can’t remember exactly what it was, but something like: ”we’ve created a direct line of communication from owner to manager” or something on those lines - and that’s the rub for me: He can’t have people of experience and talent in those roles of JL and BT because frankly no one good would put up with the meddling. Hence the pile up of bodies fired or people jumping ship - Burt, Cotterill, Ashton, Gould, Alexander, Pearson in not many years. We may not hear from SL anymore, but his fingers are all over the current set up and situation IMO. There’s the other view the Lansdowns want the glory and they want to own it themselves. Hence why they’ll experiment with bringing in their ‘own men’ and running the show themselves, but then when they’re in a mess, go back to basics and get someone with experience in to fix it. When we’re back on an even keel, they go back to the ego move of saying “we can do this ourselves again now”, but they can’t and we get in a mess again. What next?

I agree it’s very unlikely we’ll go down, there’s a lot of teams between us and the bottom 3, despite what the points say. But I do see us getting within 3 or 4 points of it and from there if we’re in a tail spin, we don’t know how the players and management will react under the pressure and that could see us getting dragged mighty close for comfort, maybe even in as soon as 3 or 4 games time as it’s a tough little block of 4 coming up.

If these rumours are true - you can see why Tinnion went for him - big enough ego to stroke and he’ll toe the line to keep ‘ITK’. However, Brian, it’s turning into another bad appointment for you mate - he’s not as talented as you hoped and is crumbling under pressure!

Yes noticed that - low blow considering you’re not there to defend. Maybe I’ll have a listen on Wednesday

He is like a talentless Chris Sutton, Brian Moore or Micheal Vaughan. The trend to put someone in who is contrary and controversial - I’m sure the pod host knows that and that’s why he’s there. IMO he added nothing else for me today, just comes across as someone who is that dangerous mix of arrogant and ignorant. The ultimate know it all, out of touch, old idiot in the pub. Sorry if that’s too personal. But ultimately there are almost as many posts on this thread about Ian Gay than not….so from a ‘click’ perspective… I watched for the first time out of interest today, I won’t watch again if that Ian is on - but if they do without him I’d tune in personally.

Simply put, Southampton was the anomaly. It was a Pearson-esque style performance, ironically perhaps the kind we might have seen more often under NP if he hadn't been fired and had a fitter squad and a Jan window. It's was a mirage IMO. Even the "cup run" - 1 win in 4 games against weakened premier league opposition. Think we all wanted Manning to help us kick on, but he's giving us very little to shout about.

A few questions for Ian - so you supported NP out because you felt someone could do better and we were inconsistent. But now we’re still inconsistent and in fact doing worse than under Pearson… And it’s now the player’s fault?! And if as you claim, it’s so obvious and simple, been the same for years, why haven’t you said it before? When NP was sacked, for example? And if you think the squad isn’t good enough, whose fault is that? And why hasn’t that been addressed for years? And why don’t you call out those who are and have been in charge of recruitment for years?

Spoken about relegation in another thread - I personally don’t think we’ll actually go down, but I can see us getting sucked down the league to an uncomfortable position - I wouldn’t be surprised to see us within 3/4 points of it at some point, at this rate - which is frankly shocking. But the simple fact we’re even discussing it, we shouldn’t even be having this conversation - and those who defend Manning are now saying “we’ll be safe” is a sad reflection on how much of shit show we’re seeing - from nicely placed when he came in and lots of play off chat - to now: 12 points from play offs. 6 points from relegation zone. And going backwards.

Agreed - we can thank the Lansdowns for much of what they’ve done - but I think to put it politely, Steve Lansdown has passed his “sell by date” with the club. Out of energy, out of ideas and seemingly out of cash. Fun fact - in his 20 years of ownership there have been 18 new premier league teams. That’s 18 teams, without parachute payments, that have gone up to the premier league during Lansdown’s ownership. Almost 1 a year….makes you think….

Not only that but decisions made and a model driven by one of the worse appointments (for the second time in his case) the Lansdowns have made in a long list of bad appointments - overseen by the owners son who is seemingly running it like it’s Football Manager on his PC.

Our last 10 games is bottom 3 form. At the moment yes, we are in that position where we need 2 or 3 more wins to be safe. However, we have a couple of tougher games coming up, lose to Ipswich and then Swansea have the incentive to leap frog us - then it’s two tough ones up next. Vs Leicester and WBA. You could easily see us coming out of that 4 game spell with 1 or 0 points - then the pressure would be huge, the players morale would be low, the dressing room gone and it will not be looking good going into some massive 6 pointers against lower end teams, teams that we continue to struggle against, who will have the incentive of reeling us in with a win. A win changes everything luckily - but I’m still concerned.

When the dust settled on the sacking of NP, the decision to and the manner of it - I think it’s fair most of it admitted, if it’s the step the club needs to kick on, then agree or not - we take it. The reality is Manning had fantastic foundations from which to build on. The rate of decline is the most alarming thing - I think he has, as much as you can with this unbelievably professional squad, lost the dressing room now. You can sense it. We’re bottom 3 in last 10 form, we’re looking over our shoulders 6 points from relegation. It’s back fired big style.

Hate to say it - but I cannot think of one positive from that game today. Not a single one.

Spoke to Cardiff mate - I said we’re hit and miss at moment and he said they’re mostly miss - would be happy with a draw. Really good chance today to get a confidence boosting win and shut the likes of me up for a few days! COYR!!!!

Conway leaving is a bit of a shocker. Consequences of the clubs actions and I strongly believe he will go on to another club where he’ll kick on and have a career that will have us thinking, damn, how did we let him get away. This season we’ve got Mark Ashton flying high with Ipswich (another team overtaking us) Next season it could be Conway firing a rival to promotion from the championship as we watch him sail by. Makes you proud doesn’t it!

This interview is absolutely mental. I’ve given the board a lot of stick recently and talk a lot about same mistakes being made over and over, well here we go again - right now, this is why. New manager brought in to improve and maximise already existing squad basically admits he can’t. Absolutely mental - so what’s the way forward? Last managers two years of building this squad will be ripped up to start again bringing in new players to fit a whole new system under a manager who is ultimately, a massive gamble - even if he gets ‘his players’ can he make a success of it for us at this level? Jury is out, I bloody hope he can, or that will be at least 2 more seasons wasted. Or admit the, misjudgement, and sack the new man - well they’re not going to do that. Mental but so unsurprising and so Bristol City. Buckle up for another rebuild…