Alessandro

I can see the potential rationale behind the switch - but Manning didn't come out and exactly clarify in his post match either. "we found a way" was the interesting comment for me. But I've got to say, I can only think some people didn't see the game. Or the second half. I notice the, pretty close, off-side goal doesn't get mentioned much. It's certainly not in the highlights from the club - Boro's highlights have more chances. Had that stood, we probably wouldn't have won that game, IMO. Having really looked a threat on the break especially towards the end of the first half (even when Boro still dominated the possession) in that system, I don't understand why we couldn't have continued in that set up, with a more conservative, energy saving mind-set, committing less people forward for example. But with that switch at HT we lost any foothold in the game and Conway's 6 touches in 40 minutes showed how little ball he saw. The fact both Manning and James said it was a little scary at times suggests they didn't exactly feel in total control or confidence in what they were doing. As I said in matchday thread, great 3 points, but going forwards, 4 or 3 at the back is one to watch.

You know criticism can be constructive? Debating the good points and the bad points is part of the game, the analysis is normal, good and bad. Why are people so sensitive about a few balanced, sensible observations? Odd. You can bet your bottom dollar the management and team won't be saying "3 points, job done, no point in discussing the game, we won" - they'll be debriefing and learning.

The issue for me is not him making changes or not - it's making the right changes. Today, it was the wrong one IMO and it nearly cost us again. Agenda, no agenda. Those changes are worth a debate.

Win's a win. A great 3 points to stop the rot in the league. All in all a good 'away' performance. Slight fly in ointment - first half 60/40 possession in their favour, 2nd 70/30 (and effectively lost the half 1-0) Manning's changes couldn't get us into the half at all, frankly made us worse and worse (why go back 3?!) and we very much hung on for the points, but good hanging on, none the less.

Well! It's a pretty nice first half - feels like the game isn't quite done yet though... Ironically, it's football reminiscent of Nigel Pearson that has got us the two goal lead - credit to Manning for the set up, we looked like a swarm of angry wasps combined with awful hesitancy by the Boro defence saw us snatching the ball twice in quick succession for 2 excellent goals. Knight composed, James classy. But from there, less good - Boro doing as you'd expect and sorting themselves out somewhat and then dominating possession for rest of half. They had a number of crosses, particularly down our left. - but on the whole we've been solid at the back, Max only needing to make one decent save. Credit for limiting their chances. When we did play a bit of Manning ball out the back, we've broken their press fantastically at times - but get well into their half, turn back and lose possession - very frustrating. Our best chances came on the counter or looking for another high steal. Quick mentions: - Tanner - deserves that RB spot for me right now. Cornick - best half I've seen from him - dominant in the air, running the channels well, good on the ball...set up Bell for a fantastic chance which he should have buried and ended the game. Next goal crucial.

Not distraught, but thanks for your concern! Nicely selected sample size - another sample for you: 3 wins in 10 games in the league. 0 wins in 6 games in the league. Stand by what I say, a few draws against weakened premier league teams can’t mask the, totally valid, opinion that feels we’re under achieving in the league…IM calm O

There’s short memories but it was only a few days ago the same players got battered by Leeds. Where was that endeavour then? They didn’t look so tired last night…. Fine, well done, we knocked one weakened premier league team out a cup this season. Nothing new compared to previous seasons. Franky I want to see those same performances, much more consistently in the championship please.

Is this concerning? Where is the joined up thinking? I was slightly surprised when TGH was made permanent - just felt not a Manning favourite and he was the one to immediately give way for Twine in the starting 11. Looking more and more like the Twine deal was right to be questioned, in terms of squad development - perhaps one to keep Manning happy and the others he has 'gone along with'? So looks like Tinnion is very much in the box seat for picking the talent for the managers going forward. Perhaps being harsh/overthinking, but it just doesn't all feel quite right, quite aligned.

Yep - but at least the successful ones have something to show for it!

Bristol City - "Building for tomorrow, when we'll build for tomorrow again"

If the fee is right and we've stolen a march on our competition here, i'm happy with that deal.

@W-S-M Seagull - like you my initial reaction was one of suspicion - mainly because I am suspicious of BT and JL right now. Having heard a few more details on here, I think we’ve made a pragmatic deal, albeit not ideal, with no major risk for any parties involved and have added something we need in the squad. One to reassess in the summer - for now I’m happy just see what value he brings on the pitch.

You don’t have any opinions? Or you prefer not to hear opinions you don’t agree with?? Always amazing how often someone comes on OTIB, a forum for discussion and opinions and complains about there being discussions and opinions….

Yeah maybe overthinking but just discussing it…probably one to reassess in the summer really - as I say, on paper a great addition, but I’m not a massive fan of the if’s and but’s, wait and see strategy. I prefer every player to have a plan for us and one beyond 6 months personally. Maybe Twine does have that and we don’t know about yet, as others have intimated. Also given the rumours about how the deal came about, the loan doesn’t seem unreasonable. It is a departure somewhat, as I believe under RG and NP we wouldn’t have made this signing in this form, even if we wanted or ‘needed’ the player. Time will tell what value he brings in the next 6 months.

Leaving aside the black and white opinion club politics of the signing. Is Twine a signing that improves the team, yes. Is Twine a signing that develops the squad, potentially no. That’s the thing for me now with new signings, it’s not about a shiny new thing, a few more points this season and more ‘feel good’ down the gate factor for a few games - we’ve been trying to do that for years and getting nowhere. It’s about the strategy and the plan. I don’t quite see where he fits in that yet, with the current info we have around the deal. Under RG and NP we didn’t have loans for the sake of it and the development of our squad benefitted from that. If Twine is one of 2 or 3 signings this window that help us push on for 6th, brilliant I absolutely love and welcome that. However if he’s the only 1, IMO he will not be the player that makes the difference. So, what’s the point? Suppose it depends if you think we still have a chance this season at 6th or not, personally I’m looking at next. Call me Negative Nancy. Let’s see how the rest of the window goes. Therefore I’m asking the question - how does he fit in the team with regards to development for next season? Drop Bell or Mehmeti? Or is it Williams or TGH? If LM’s decided Williams doesn’t get a new contract, fine. Harsh maybe but there’s a plan there. If he plays Twine for 15 plus games (then he leaves us in the summer) having dropped TGH or Bell or Mehmeti, all players who are contracted to play next season, I’d be asking questions. Does that make me an ungrateful Karen? Well I don’t think so. IMO I’m looking more long term because it’s going to be a long term strategy (one we seemed to be on) that will get us out this division. We know we can’t buy our way out so we need that long term thinking. There’s a place for a good loan if it’s a “final piece of the jigsaw” type but not one or two Prem loans here and there to maybe finish 10th instead of 14th.

What sane, normal Leicester fan would come out of their way onto this forum months after Pearson has left, sign up, just to write some drivel that appears very few Leicester fans think….odd…but I think we all know that’s no Leicester fan. Anyway - Manning! Yes credit where it’s due - wrote elsewhere Williams is one of a few players whose levels seem to be going up under LM. I’ve been delighted to see Manning doing the simplest of things that so often managers don’t do - playing players in their right positions and to their strengths. Bell being another - I often complained with how he was used under Pearson, Manning has utilised him in a much better way that suits his game, and we’re seeing more from him, which is great. Same with Pring and Tanner - one with more license to roam - playing to strengths.

I admit I wrote him off slightly in the summer - in terms of being a ‘top 6’ player for us, more a squad filler who might struggle with injuries. Very happy he’s having this purple patch and staying fit. Let’s hope it stays that way! One of a few players whose levels appear to be going up under Manning which is also very positive.

Sorry if already mentioned - haven’t seen it: SC was analysing for 5live today from the game - I heard him whilst listening on the motorway. Made several interesting comments - slightly paraphrased, but this was the jist, not in direction relation to city necessarily, just general comments, but felt pointed at times: 1) Owners sacking managers - owners don’t understand the pressures of being a manager and often expect too much from the resources given. 2) Blooding youngsters - the pattern he always sees when a good prospect comes through is a burst onto the scene and then a dip in form - it’s then up to the manager to protect that player by “taking them out the firing line” so they can come back stronger. Made me think of a few currently in our squad…. 3) Absolutely called our game in the first half - talked about possession football and playing from the back. Asked why do it? Because it’s trendy or because you want or can break the press? Do you have the ability? He took City/Millwall as an example and said City can try and play pretty football all day but if you can’t defend set pieces…and Millwall will get a chance from one today….it’s worthless. Lo and behold…. Didn’t listen all game so he may have had more gems - but interesting comments regardless.

Dust settled and plenty of positives for me - always good to come away from an away game frustrated with a point. Birmingham have plenty of quality even if the form is not good since Rooney came in. Felt that several were not at their best last night, fatigue no doubt - happy to say we weren’t at our best and still picked up a point. Final third quality is missing, but we knew that in the summer didn’t we…enjoying the performances in this 4 game undefeated run though.

Actually a decent first half in a scrappy game with quite a few of them not firing on all cylinders. TGH and Mehmeti scrappy in final third - latter missing two good chances. Williams and Pring not at best on ball in the right places. Knight took a long time to get into it. Birmingham do look poor though, feel this really is a game to be won. Conway on for Wells.

Agreed - very happy to see us settling now under Manning. However what we’re seeing, in terms of league position and results, is nothing particularly new or ground breaking… You could argue the last few results simply ‘righted’ the poor ones we had under Manning before. As you also point out, let’s not rewrite history - we’re not yet beating teams we didn’t under NP and our league position now is not a position we haven’t been in under NP…nor potentially different to where we were when we started that run of bad injuries pre his sacking. I’m enjoying being where we are and that little run of wins - but for people to be saying ‘look how much better Manning is’ is perhaps a little premature/simple view. Add in any potential Jan business which further adds to the “we’ll never know”. As @Red-Robbo says - NP is gone so it is what it is - any further success will be upon his foundations and I’ll be very happy for Manning to have built on those if he does that!

Fantastic run of results - today we were brilliant - very positive how on it we were compared to Watford. Well done Manning and the boys - let’s keep it going and to the Lansdowns, let’s give Liam a few more materials to work with in January please now, thank you.

Off top of head - 20 years of the same mistakes over and over again - 20 years of underachievement: Taking far too long to put in place the necessary infrastructure at the club. Far too many awful appointments - jobs for the boys and poor promotions from within - See above - same mistake again and again. Inability to put the right people in the right positions of power at the club. Flip flopping between ‘plans’ - seeing us going round and round in circles. Complete inability to work with people with opposing views - meaning they’re increasingly shut in their own echo chamber (which 20 years has shown is an echo chamber of poor decision making and planning) Worse of all the increased levels of arrogance and disregard towards fans…”my money my club” Such a shame as what a legacy he could have had. Maybe still time to rescue it before he sells..

I mean it’s an absolutely shocking decision for the penalty - as soft as it gets. But is it just me or is it just very hard to get any sort of optimism or positivity about that half? At home and we just feel miles off another top 6 team - and Hull for ***** sake. Another club to the list to come back and over take us in the queue for promotion as we slowly drift backwards. Depressing. Merry Christmas.

Wow - I hadn’t looked at the table for a while - when Manning came in, as you say, we looked miles off the relegation zone and the teams in it looked miles adrift. In fact, didn’t someone start a post saying it’s all over for those bottom 3?! Certainly doesn’t look that way anymore, QPR have blown that last spot wide open and any team in that bottom half should be wary, including us now. Absolutely crazy to even be entertaining it TBH - what a shambles right now, needs turning around soon.