headhunter

Good comment Mark. FFS, I've read it all now from some on here suggesting we're now towing the party line!!! There are comments at either end of the right/wrong spectrum regarding Nigel being fired and Manning being appointed. The fact that this pod has created two pages of debate on a wet Sunday in November is testimony to it achieving its purpose of creating a platform for the expression of different views. I have never professed to be a tactical expert akin to DaveFevs but when he's on as a guest I welcome his forensic analysis. I've yet to see a battery of criticism towards Neil Sutton's comments when he's been on. I think a lot of the antipathy towards Ian is not so much what he says but the "superior tone" of his delivery. We must be doing something right as we're nudging 1500 downloads for some of our episodes - would be interested to know how that stacks up against 3Peaps and OSIB whose numbers don't appear to be in the public domain like ours,

We got a point in a performance that was pretty dire but no way as bad as some have suggested, "...worst in two years. Try and take the positives ... Listen live at 9.00 AM or on podcast platforms from midday.

Excellent piece Paul. Dave Barton & Lisa Knights, the club's & Bristol Sport's communication supremos, should be called out regarding the shambles you refer to in the opening paragraphs.

Bit like when Cotts signed Wilbraham

I thought that too

We're often accused on FBC of having a cup half empty view. Just trying to be positive at this time as the joy factor being a City supporter doesn't last long. Noted and I will change that!

Yes, 1-0, 9 November 74 with a goal at the East End by John Emanuel. Was there. Won 1-0 at Old Trafford too, last minute winner by Gillies.

Thank you for those kind words!

Now if Craig Short is coming too as his assistant then I am encouraged - check out the 55 year old's playing record: 500+ games mostly at this level or above. That's the sort of experienced No.2 LJ should have had back in 2016. But wait, that person was already here: Wade Elliott - shown the door early on as LJs ego wouldn't let him listen to advice? Manning's other assistant ,Chris Hogg, is 38 too with a less impressive career.

I wonder if he will insists on having a release / buy out clause like he had at Oxford? If he has any level of success here he'll probably be off to the highest bidder.

Not sung that many times when he here though was it (at Ashton Gate)?

Excellent interview by Ross Arnott and, in fairness, Marshall comes across quite well too. None of Ashton's smarm, JL's nervousness or Phil Alexander's wooliness.

Don't know about illegal but callous and lacking any form of compassion come to mind in describing the behaviour towards him by the Lansdowns

Of course they were aware. They could have made this better for themselves and Nigel by saying he was going to take x weeks leave of absence to sort out his health. This could have led to them bringing in someone as an interim with Fleming & Euell reporting in or just leaving them to it. I very much doubt Nige will be back to full fitness by the new year. Had he still been with us there would have been an even shorter period left on his contract and they could have dressed up his departure by saying they felt it was time to go in a new direction, pay off the remainder and at the same time wish him well in his ongoing recovery. He's gone because they don't like his forthright attitude, simple as that in my view. There was no plan in place to replace him.

Not enough to stop them attending and enjoying participation in the Champions League though!

That, for me, is the key legacy of Nigel's time here. He has overseen a reset in every aspect of football operations which in previous years would have seen us drop down to League 1 and have to build back better [that phrase seems familiar!!]

As will anyone we appoint be - somewhere! Check out 2004/05, Tinnion's sole full season in charge - missed the playoffs by a point, might have made it had he not acquiesced to SL's instruction to have Keith Millen as his No.2. Win rate 39%. OK, 05/06 started badly and ended after 8 [1-3-4] games with that 7-1 thrashing at Swansea. That takes his win % down to 36.1% which places him in the middle of the all time managerial record.

Good spot [btw, you've spelt it wrong, should be Venables] and I meant to say sacked by Spurs. That was years ago but at the time there was talk of fans walking out at the next home game in protest. It never happened. My follow up was saying if we're 3-0 up at half-time against Wednesday this weekend, regardless of who's in charge, sentiment over Nigel will rapidly drift away as that's how fickle people are.

Dave, that bit about the fall out being caused by a row over bringing in free agents, such players would be experienced such that he wouldn't have to "expose the youngsters". What would Nige's objection be? Unless he wanted the free agents and the ****s wouldn't cough up the cash.

3PIAP are very affiliated to the club and even share the same sponsor. We have, and always will be, wholly independent. This is a results business but we felt Nige would at least get to the international break. He deserved an extension even if that were just to replace a contract with 6 months to run with a rolling 12 month deal. Quite simply his brusque personality was too much for SL & the boy to deal with. I actually feel quite sad about how it's gone for Nigel and wish the cards had fallen more kindly for him. Injuries were his undoing but he hadn't made the right call with his aversion to loan signings while other clubs have to good effect.

DaveP & Ian are debate Pearson's sacking with contributions from Neil Sutton & Chris Honor:

We're doing a live podcast at 3.30 - have your say:

Knight?

I'm glad you have said that, thank you. With Ian, he is what he is and Dave is a good antidote to that.

Suggest you raise that with @Davefevs