Alessandro

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Hits his hand.

@NcnsBcfc did not hit upper arm.

Spot on - surprised how many think it’s a bad decision.

Absolutely clear there, his left arm is up and out as he’s flung and twisted his body at the cross = making his body unnaturally bigger = penalty. 
 

27 minutes ago, redkev said:

I have been chatting to a chap that I deal with through work who is city through and through and watches many of the games u18s u 23s etc and he said that the next batch of youngsters coming through are decent but deffo sees no Scott / semenyo / Kelly / Benarous coming through , last year there were a couple of names he thought would push for first team this year however he said they don’t seem to have kicked on for some reason or another . So as a few others have said perhaps there is a little lull in what’s coming through tbf we have had a decent run 

If that’s the case it’s vitally important our recruitment is top notch for the next few years.

If they’re serious about the top 6 we can’t have repeats of last January’s window, for example, IMO. 

Fascinated to see if the wallet opens or not and by how much, in the summer. 

I was very surprised yesterday with the lack of academy player minutes.

Manning’s seeming reluctance to use them is not going to endear him to his bosses IMO.

Again, as with the discussions of ‘footballing style’ - you feel something will need to give here too…

I’ve agreed that under Manning we’ve been in a patch of what could be called ‘relegation form’ not so long ago - so only fair to acknowledge we’ve been in a patch of what could be called ‘promotion form’ recently.

Feels the sample of ‘poor’ was longer than ‘good’ - but perhaps we’ve turned a corner….Yesterday will likely fall into either category depending on our next few results though.

11 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

I've watched it several times and have come to the decision , Pen . 
We don't usually appeal that hard , ok late in a game chasing an equaliser may cause that.
The guy hardly moans , always a give away . 
His arm is raised , naturally maybe , but his arm blocks the cross and the Ref has a decent view. 
Undeserved , but I'll always take it.

 

 

https://fb.watch/rrmTqxKMmN/

 

Think this angle is pretty key.

IMO that lunge there, with the extension of his left arm, has made his body unnaturally bigger.

That is the handball law - so in my view that’s a penalty.

12 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Didn't even hit his hand/arm let alone being in an unnatural position or deliberate, whatever the rule is these days. I'd rather not have got a wrong un in a totally meaningless midtable match tbh.

All those saying it's a clear handball let's come back to see your reaction when a decision like that those against us in a truly important game 

What did it hit then?

7 hours ago, 2015 said:

Never a penalty and common sense should prevail in these circumstances. That could send Huddersfield down. Pretty disgraceful

And a rightful penalty not awarded giving Huddersfield 3 points they shouldn’t have would have kept Birmingham in the relegation zone, wrongly.
 

Would Birmingham fans accept that as common sense?

1 hour ago, luke_bristol said:

I’d be raging if that was given against us, he tried to make a sliding block and that’s a natural position for the arm to go because your head goes backwards as your torso goes forward, and instinctively your arm goes out prevent the back of your head whacking the floor.

Huddersfield were fuming though, so it’s funny.

I think what your referring to in this case is his right arm which protects his fall?

The ball hits his left, which was flailing has he did a bit of a clumsy twist of the body to protect himself from the ball. (He dived with his left instead or right foot which turned his body)

IMO - by the modern, current handball rules - it’s a penalty.

Is it a ‘harsh’ pen, probably yes by old standards, but that’s the rules these days.

Hence why in those positions players often choose not to dive in and instead try and block whilst holding arms behind backs. 
 

4 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

Is this really how pathetically reactionary we are going to be now? One disappointing draw after a decent run of form and a 5-0 win in midweek?

I was Manning out when we on an extended poor run. But our form has been much improved over the past few weeks. We are a mid-table squad doing mid-table things. Will we win games we don’t expect to and lose some we expect to win. Our league position is about par for the squad.

We can’t constantly keep changing manager without really strong justification. Right now I don’t think that strong justification is there, and Manning needs time - and the summer - to see what he can really do.

He will get that now - you can argue if he’s earned it or not - but it’s the only logical move for the club.

I suspect he won’t have that many games though, from the fans especially, to show he can have us up there (top 10) competing before he’s under massive pressure again though! 

2 hours ago, Kibs said:

Playing devils advocate, how do we know the intent has changed? 

Maybe it’s the execution and understanding that’s changed?

Maybe it’s the way that the message has been delivered that has changed? 

Maybe it’s partly down to confidence and opposition performance too?

Maybe it’s the return from injury or upturn in form of a few players? 

Hoggs interview last week implied that the intent has always been the same. 

Perhaps a few of these things but for me, simplistically, I feel what’s changed is the message, not the delivery of the message. 

Just now, transfer reader said:

Have I denied that at any point?

Ha mate - well if you haven’t, then you seem to have got yourself in a right old lather with multiple posters for no reason! 

3 minutes ago, transfer reader said:

Yes, if it was an accurate statement because then it would be correct.

I'd still have an issue with the very selective dataset for the first table and the second table having uneven amounts of games, but that's seperate to whether a statement is actually true.

So you agree then, at some points during this season, we have been in the form that would, some seasons in the championship, be relegation form?

@transfer reader - so if @Silvio Dante had said - during some seasons over the last 10 years, that period of PPG extrapolated over a season would be ‘relegation form’ - would that be acceptable? 

3 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Blimey- he did all that? Top bloke.

I bet Brian Tinnion , the owners and Richard Gould couldn't believe their luck.

Well I’m sure they’ll all be glad now he’s gone, giving us nothing but mediocrity!

Can’t wait for all the exceptional progress and football we have to look forward to now Pearson won’t be holding us back!!

3 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Marginally off topic but....

Are we still going to rename a stand after Nigel Pearson? I'm really concerned that it's just a matter of time before he's only remembered for a couple of seasons of mediocrity.

Yep - a couple of seasons of mediocrity saving our club from points deductions, potential relegation and fines because of the mismanagement of the owners that you so unconditionally support….

Oh and developing on the pitch the best young player we’ve ever had, the money from which your also don’t dare criticise Liam Manning will be benefiting from….

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

There is a lot of stuff I agree with here although I’m not so black and white.  All I can do is sit and watch us game by game and see if the recent games, still containing inconsistency, are the “new norm” or not. If they are then I can move forward. But if we start to see a move back towards the style we saw pre-Easter now he’s got himself a few points, then I’ll be very disappointed.

All I can hope is he’s seen a bit of light and realised his principles, identity needed a bit of a tweak to be more effective at this level. 

R.E Style and Principles etc - clearly something was going to give, wasn’t it? The style Manning seemed to be pursuing, for whatever reason, was not bringing results. 

Simply put, the manager and squad/club model were not aligned IMO. 

If the club are recruiting to a model, and have been for some time, either:

A) BCFC change that model for the each manager.

or

B) The manager has to adapt to our model. (Or get sacked - or be so good they prove their model is better)

Since the international break, (again) for whatever reason, Liam has fallen back into a style closer to our ‘model’ and one that was bringing more results.

Whether he came to that realisation himself or has been given an ultimatum by the club, I don’t really mind - it’s working for now - but as you say, time will tell if the style changes again.

3 minutes ago, Cole Not Gas said:

Interesting you pick out those two. Like everyone sitting around me, i think the players have looked far more 'on-it' and 'intelligent' since Liam came in. However, these two are important exceptions; i think Vyner was brilliant under Pearson and Skyes was at his most dangerous then rather than since October. In Zak's defense one of Liam's great tactics last night was to play the long ball against a suspect defence and several paid off- two didnt but that's the nature of a higher risk, longer pass. As you say, no strong criticism last night - especially the manager's subs! 3 goals and an assist in short time

Hi Mrs Manning - Liam will be home for tea in a minute!

49 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

First was an out ball stuck out the exit. The second resulted from an attempted pass. 

Tactic executed excellently. Not really. 

I bow to your superior tactical knowledge! 

I was referring more to the tactic of running the channels and looking to capitalise from that, which worked for the first two goals at least. 
 

EDIT - given we’re discussing “how good city were” vs “how bad Blackburn were” - in terms of the 5-0 win - what’s your opinion?

2 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

The first poster to use the word lucky was the poster moaning at people calling us lucky........................

We finished superbly, we pressed/condensed play, call it what you want superbly AND Blackburn were absolute litter. All three are a fact but some are so sensitive of perceived criticism of the manager that you ain't allowed to say it.

From my personal perspective I've got no issue with Liam at all if he keeps producing and/or showing signs that long term he can do the job. The only person I have an irrational desire to **** out of it is Tinnion, and no circumstance whatsoever and comment by anyone on here changes that.

Thank you, good post - this is the reality - not some sensitive nonsense about people apparently saying, which I haven’t seen, that we were lucky, just because we’re discussing us capitalising on school boy defending. 

15 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Fair enough. and having rewatched Conway's goal, I think you're right: the ball isn't trapped by Hyam but bounces off him and TC pounces.  Still needs good composure from Conway to seize the chance. Another 20 seconds and it's safe for Blackburn.

6 minutes ago, transfer reader said:

 

There was a coaches voice or similar video where a manager (possibly Dyche, but don't hold me to that) talked about a game where they deliberately conceded possession with a ball into the channel, with the intention of then pressing high.

Idea being they'd press up high while the opposition were still regrouping from the turnover, and try to catch people out of position in the process.

 

I know that's not necessarily what we were doing last night, just a point about how a long ball into the channel and a high press aren't exclusive and can be utilised together.

 out of likes today

It was clearly a tactic last night and it was executed excellently - regardless of their mistakes. 

10 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

To my mind, a "press" includes strategic balls over the top. It wasn't as if we were lumping it up from our half a la Pulis. We played on the front foot more or less from the off. Totally agree that they gave away stupid penalties. But then, most are...  Silvio is right to give credit to a ref who called them correctly particularly when others might've ignored the handball "because I've already given them one".  

I kind of know what you’re saying but for me a high press, say from a goal kick being played out from back, which results in a turnover from a good press is different to a ball into the channel IMO which isn’t a press.

The intensity and intent however is the same granted, willingness to run those channels and force mistakes with your pace and positioning yes, but that’s not a press. A straight out foot race between defender and attacker is not the same as the modern press. Regardless of if the attackers intent can force a mistake, like a poor touch or back pass.

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

I don't think we were "gift wrapped" goals. Hyams may have been poor but both pens and his under-pressure back pass came because we were pressing high and continuously. For his first,  Conway still needed to be alert to the possibility and bury it. I've seen us miss plenty of possible interceptions. As for Mehmeti's goal, there was nothing gift wrapped about it in my opinion. After robbing the defender he had to hold him off, take it into the box, wrong-foot another defender and shoot from an angle to avoid a third. It was pure skill. 

You don't fluke a 5-0. It comes because you were playing well - as well as them playing poorly. 

As I said on another thread, you lose 5 nil if you collapse or meet a far superior team.
Blackburn have the 2nd worse defence in the league and we’ve got the 8th worst goals scored in the league, so, it clicked for us last night, but they were awful. For our level of football those are gift wrapped chances.

Credit for our running and energy in the channels, but the first two goals didn’t come from a press but from balls over the top. From a defensive perspective, they both should have been cleared easily. First goal, awful first touch actually (it was a mis control, not back pass IMO) to let Tommy in. Second, mis-kick then reckless diving challenge when the angle was tight for Sykes anyway.

Third was good pressing, but Mehmeti isn’t outmuscling Hyam, he’s misjudged it and played for a foul and gone down like a child. Very poor. Then his team mates seem to wait for the whistle and just watch - lovely skill and finish from Anis to capitalise though. 

4th - I mean, come on.

5th - lovely goal, but they'd collapsed. 

4 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

#emotions 

#allthefeels

10 hours ago, Bar BS3 said:

Aren't most people basing in on the last 4 (certainly) possibly 7 games.? Not just tonight.

After the Cardiff game I was properly pissed off at how dreadful we were.

Swansea, I actually think was deliberately cautious to stop the rot.

Ipswich - at least we competed.

West Brom - wasn't great, but now looks like a blip in the run, rather than reverting to type.

What makes you think anyone is basing it on 1 game, when we haven't conceded a goal in 4 games & taken 10 points from the last 12 available..?

There’s a few on here using that win last night as justification to say they’re vindicated for their strong support of Manning - and sticking the knife those who’ve, rightly ImO, been critical of an otherwise underwhelming, and at times little streaky, reign under Manning so far. 

As I said in another thread, the last 4 ‘results’ have been very good - but in those 4 games we’ve been the beneficiary of some poor finishing (Vardy) and top keeping from Max (v Sunderland in an otherwise pretty poor showing) and we were literally gift wrapped 4 goals last night.

So all I’m saying is, within that nice run, it’s not all been perfect sailing - we’ve ridden our luck at times and despite the clean sheets we’ve continued to give away big chances, statistically that will catch us up.

That’s not taking away however from a big improvement from Manning, playing a footballing style that is better suited to the squad finally and more akin to what was suggested the club wanted when they appointed him. Hopefully that means he has adapted (voluntarily or otherwise) which would be very good news. 

Big improvement but as I say, I’m not celebrating anything yet….long way to go. 
 

EDIT - I dare say the results uptick have also been helped in part by the return of a player we don’t have next season too…

10 minutes ago, Fuber said:

My only caveat is that Hyam and MacFadzean have gifted us all five goals.

Aside from that, solid, organised, nice 'patterns'. Strong performances across the pitch.

Would be more bouyed if Knight takes that Pring full back and smashes it in when 2-0 up. As would then be an open play goal not directly from an error or penalty, but that's obviously nitpicking.

Yes it’s nice win but you’re absolutely right.

I don’t think you can understate how poor Blackburn were tonight.

If a team wins 5-0 either you’re meeting a hugely talented attacking team or the losing team have capitulated.

Given the fact we’ve only won a game by more than 2 goals 3 times all season and only 8 teams in the league have scored less goals than us…

Add in Blackburn’s current bottom 6 form and the fact they have the 2nd leakiest defence in the league.

Suggests more of the latter.

A nice win yes, credit for that - but IMo people probably shouldn’t get too carried away though on the back of tonight…