Sir Geoff

Anyone else remember seeing them on Top of the Pops. Combine Harvester, iirc.

1 hour ago, HengroveReds said:

Wonder if Jon Lansdown or Steve will come on the pitch and give a speech. Used to be a regular thing with Steve. 
Jon can tell us all how proud he is of our top 6 squad. 

Gaven Marshall will be doing cartwheels due to our promotion, THIS SEASON.

1 hour ago, mozo said:

It think Manning's post match comments were interesting and suggest that what we saw on Saturday is not how we intended to play:

"It was just the basics for me. Mistakes will happen, I’m okay with the lads making mistakes, you’re never going to see or play the perfect game of football it’s then the type of mistake. It was just a little bit too sloppy, we turned it over too cheaply, too passive with the ball, too passive with our running.

"When you have an unforced error, make sure you don’t follow it up with another one, make sure you can get back in credit. If you have a little period when they’re pressing, okay, don’t be afraid to spin them and get up the pitch that way.

“I thought we did that in the second half, I thought we started okay, there was a bit more purpose and intent, engaging them a little bit higher. We still didn’t work it into enough good areas like the other night but at least we carried more of a threat and there was more play in their half than in the first half.”

...

So... if you think Manning prefers to be passive, to not engage high up, to not work the ball into attacking areas, and not to carry a threat...you might be wrong.

We have seen in the last year that our players have struggled to execute the game plan, under two regimes.

Ultimately, Manning is responsible for our success, or lack thereof, but I'm certain that it was his fault that we crap in the first half on Saturday. Sometimes the players just don't execute.

Well he was standing on the half way line all first half with his hands in his pockets. Why didn't he issue some useful instructions to the players to help them out a bit.

No point moaning about them in a post match presser.

34 minutes ago, Jerseybean said:

My observations about our style of play are based on the Huddersfield game, however, much of what follows has been a recurring theme under Manning.

The approach seems to be a very cautious one based on keeping the ball, particularly in our own defensive third of the pitch, this results in passing sideways or backwards and making no progress forward whatsoever. At times, despite our defence being reasonably competent, we expose ourselves to the risk of losing the ball, which would probably lead to a goal for the opponents.

Eventually, when a ball is played forward, either because Max has to kick long or we attempt to play out of defence into midfield, most times we either pass to the opposition put it out of play or pass to a  City player who is so closely marked that it is almost guaranteed he ain’t gonna control the ball and we lose possession.

Furthermore, there is virtually no movement or forward options, meaning we play a very pedestrian, predictable, chess like game, which gets us absolutely nowhere. Not only is this very, very boring and frustrating to watch, it must also be pretty soul-destroying for the players themselves.

Against Huddersfield, we had 27% possession, the vast majority of which would’ve been in our own defensive third.

Playing with a lone striker (whether that be Conway or Wells), with no creativity in front of them, or much support alongside them, means that they are extremely isolated and highly unlikely to be able to do anything when they do receive the ball, other than try to win a foul or hold the ball up in order to play it backwards again.

I’m not a professional footballer or a professional coach, but I have played the game and did some basic coaching qualifications back in the day. What I remember is that in order to score you have to get into the other teams half and better still into or around their penalty box. In pure percentage terms, this might then lead to goal scoring opportunities. In  our case we are creating so few scoring opportunities that even if we had Haaland in our team, we wouldn’t score many.

Put simply we need to play football in the opponents half far more than we do and get the ball into their box far more than we do!

The mentality under LM seems to be play for a nil-nil. Keep the opponents at bay in the hope that we might sneak a goal by some means or another, to be fair this actually did happen in the Huddersfield game, as we were awarded a 100th minute penalty, to be totally honest we never looked like scoring from open play.

So in summary Manning-ball is like a chess game involving static players and sideways or backwards passing, mainly in our own half. It’s hard to watch, unlikely to lead to much goal scoring action and highly predictable. Given that I watch football for enjoyment, entertainment, and excitement I don’t like it at all.

Finally, the style is totally at odds with what the hierarchy communicated at the time of Manning‘s appointment when they suggested we were a front-footed team that wanted to be attacking, pressing and exciting. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention, to be in the top six.

Exactly the reasons I won't be renewing. 150 mile round trip to watch that 23 times. No thanks.

32 minutes ago, Cov 77 said:

Ok fair enough but a crap first half Saturday made up your mind instead of a good win against the league  leaders two weeks ago or a 5-0 win on Wednesday? 

Indeed, it just proved to me one final time that Manning prefers to set up not to lose rather than play more expansive football to try and win.

In fact I've been hoping he would prove me wrong ever since the negative way he set up in his first game at QPR. 

Two decent wins aligned with one good performance in the past few weeks has not convinced me that next season won't be more of the same dreary boring football.

Took an age for the players to come out for their end of season lap of honour, last season. Thousands gave up waiting and went home. Let's hope its all a bit quicker this season or there could be an embarrassingly low number staying for the Wurzels.

Surely would have been better pre match. Get everyone up for the game.

2 hours ago, phantom said:

Steve and Jon have been at a number of games recently

Sorry to be pedantic but you could renew the morning of the first home game and still renew in time

Not unless you want to pay more for the privilege, or have a seat in the South Stand, or want to guarantee your current seat. That's what renewing is. Yes you can buy a season ticket anytime but it's not renewing is it.

25 minutes ago, FNQ said:

What if, and it’s possible, we lose at home to Rotherham? We’re playing Manningball, they’ve not won a single game away from home in the championship this season and are already relegated… Jamo, Williams and Kingy will likely have been told that they’re surplus to requirements for our promotion push next term… What could possibly go wrong?

Surely then SL would have to pipe up and be seen to be managing his business? 

Will be too late for renewals by then. My mind was made up at half time on Saturday.

2 hours ago, Cole Not Gas said:

Its from what i've seen in the past 3 years at A.G Clearly a guy in the game for so many years will have more successes than someone new to his trade. But also many more failings. It's like saying Warnock was successful as a manager. Of course he had successes but he had a more than a dozen failings that can be easily forgotten. Someone new like Liam has only had one sign of success (Oxford) and is too you to have failed. My judgement is an opinion just the same as yours. We will have to wait and see

 

Just wondering what his success at Oxford was that you mention. Please explain ?

6 minutes ago, Cole Not Gas said:

I know you were one of the 600 at Bradford that night and i wore my Cole not Gas T-shirt to the game and curry house after but I'm really surprised at your reaction above. The people in charge today have made tough decisions re sacking Cotts, keeping LJ when some fans wanted him out, sacking LJ, dealing with Covid-related issues (like zero income), appointing Pearson, getting rid and finding Liam. We are still higher than anything Cotts could get us to. Surely you appreciate SL asked Cotts what he wanted (5 players), backed him, backed him again to get Wilbs and gave us the best season ever in the 3rd tier?

Before clowns start assuming i work for the owner please consider where we have come from since losing at Colchester & Crewe and respond appropriately!

Morning Jon

8 hours ago, ORANGE500 said:

Yet again? the first goal conceded in 5 games so haven't started playing after going  behind too much of late have they.

Perhaps if we'd conceded first to Swansea or Sunderland we might have not played so mind numbingly boring during each game. 

37 minutes ago, Bris Red said:

Harsh, especially off the back of winning 5-0 at home (did we EVER batter a team at home like that under Pearson?) and solid albeit battling at time performances against Plymouth and Leicester.. 

I loved Pearson and was gutted to see him go as much as the next person but recent results and performances have given me hope that Manning can get things right. I've gone from fully wanting the bloke gone to being able to rationally look at it now and see small glimpses that he could be on to something.

Certainly not ideal though but it would be foolish to not remember that we were horrendously inconsistent under Pearson.

Beat Hull 5-0 weimann hat trick

Plymouth 4-1

19 minutes ago, Super said:

The togetherness? We were poor yesterday but kept going they never gave up. 

Yet again we only started playing after going behind. Yes kept going... for the last 10 minutes to salvage a point against a team that will be relegated.

Well done lads, you never gave up.

Will wait until the end of the season BUT......we were 11th in the league when Manning took over and the board spouted all the bull rubbish about progression, top end, top 10 budget blah blah blah.

Now we're 12th.

Progress, what progress.

Split the fan base, lost the trust of thousands.

Half empty stadium due to the most boring football ever witnessed at the Gate.

Season ticket sales in decline.

Well done John boy and snake. You sure know how to ruin a football club.

8 hours ago, stokes7 said:

Season was written off in the January transfer window 

Summer transfer window.

1 minute ago, Nescot said:

He didn’t play a back 3

Mcrorie,Tanner,Roberts

Sykes and Pring wing backs 

2 hours ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Yes we were poor today, but not as bad as your post suggests.  Playing without any centre halves is always likely to be interesting and I’d have taken a point as soon as I saw the lineup.  It was clear that we were being protective of the back line, which was hardly surprising.  Yes, of course we missed Vyner, but we got a point which we probably just about deserved.

But who's decision was it to play without centre backs ?

King, Tanner, Roberts, Pring Knight Lebel have all plated effectively in that position.

Or, don't play a back 3 requiring 3 centre backs.

2 hours ago, AshtonGreat said:

Five unbeaten

And still bored shirtless.

1 hour ago, Dr Balls said:

Agree either King or Knight-Lebel could have played in the middle of a back three. We had nothing to lose so why not play them. With Tanner and Roberts there we had no height at all against a tall physical centre forward, and it showed.

Manning was going to play King at CB but Brian wouldn't allow it under any circumstances. Stating it would be blocking the pathway and that Andy had to sit on the bench with JKL and talk him through the game.

I was in the concourse having left on 95 mins when Twines shot sailed harmlessly wide. Ran back in to Lower Lansdown with dozens of others to see the pen. So I sort of stayed till the end.

2 hours ago, pikeysrobins said:

So….why the MASS exodus of fans (a) when Huddersfield scored (b) on 85 mins?? I hate it when fans leave early at the best of times but that was embarrassing today. We have been on a good run of late and I know things are petering out to another season of mid-tableness but hey…fair enough if we’re losing 3-0 or similar! I’d like to know how many City fans saw Nahki’s penalty scored as we fought regardless of performance to get on level terms. 

Probably because we were shite until they scored.

1 minute ago, mozo said:

I must remember to quote this post when we score the winner 

Doesn't change the utter dross of that first 45 minutes.

1 minute ago, Super said:

We lack creativity needs addressing in summer.

Lack any sort of intent. Can't always rely on creativity. Sometimes you have to force the issue, play the ball forward quickly, press.

Yet another bore fest. Still at least the apologists can point to another clean sheet. Yipeee

28 minutes ago, Tim Monaghan said:

I hope that’s not aimed at me, as I’ve traveled up as usual from Bournemouth .

 
 

Well done. Hope you're still awake after another sleep inducing 45 minutes.