mozo

The most frustrating thing during LJ's reign was that the same set of players could look like promotion candidates for a spell, then the exact same players would look meek and disjointed for a spell. Infuriating and unfathomable. They're the same bloody players!! The other weird thing about this, is if we think of the post-Easter form as proof that Manning finally hit upon the right formula, that's implying that we could have stormed it in those first 20 games too, which means promotion was there for the taking. I can't accept that to be true! My head hurts...

Interestingly, between GW 9 and 19 last season, we picked up 8 points from 11 games. Later, from GW 25 we went on a run of 17 points in a block of 10 games. So we had a lesson last year in patience. I find the symmetry quite telling, particularly as most of the players are the same. Execution and consistency are the tricky bits, I guess.

Just out of interest, do you think there was a consistency of intent last season?

I was just responding to your point about that run of games, but I think I've said a few times, I personally think that even 6 months is a small size (within reason!) For me, the fact that the effort levels were high, that we had spells of good play, a handful of very promising games and were only being edged out of games (WBA the only two goal margin), was enough for me to not give up hope. It's strange really, because despite neither of us having any particular prejudice for or against Manning we saw the performances so differently. Funny old game!

Yeah and my high press comment is not aimed at you or the more analytical fans!

You definitely wouldn't have scored the Mehmeti goal!

By that logic someone could reach the conclusion that since we are on promotion form across a 6 game period, that Manning has therefore proved he's capable of winning the league?! Neither are very likely!

Haha, those are hard questions Regards the tolerance, I don't think there's a strict formula, although 10% sounds reasonable. Certainly in the season when we couldn't get a penalty decision, it makes sense to be more lenient. I keep banging on about the fine margins in the Coventry and Ipswich games, so I guess I'll apply a 5 point buffer this season. Injuries have affected us, but thats been happening for years, so I wont make an allowance for it. It's very subjective, obvs. I think for next season I just want growth, the logic being that every player is a year older and has that little bit more experience at this level, and LM has had more time with the squad. If we finish 11th this season with 63 points, I'd set a par of something like 69 points and 9th. The only factor that I would amend that expectation for is transfer activity. Selling Scott last season and not buying a quality striker with the dosh changed my outlook to the point whereby 10th was a good outcome.

I think the control is what we can associate with Manning. If we couldn't get down a flank we cam back and recycled the attack either on the other wing or through the middle. Early in the second half when Blackburn tried to rally, we slowed the game down a bit and squeezed and made sure we dictated the rhythm of the game. I sense there will be a misconception that we can only win with a high press, which I don't believe is the case. We can use a block too, it's just about how you execute it.

The most annoying thing about last night is we could have won 7-0 if we'd been more clinical!

So if we manage those 7 points, I think that would be 20 points from the final block of 10 games, which is good going. I hope we can! But will we ever overcome the trauma of the Mebude loan?!!

That is a bit subjective imo. I personally didn't think we were 'dire' in most of Manning's games. And attacking play has been a problem ever since Weimann's wonder season.

I think if we beat Huddersfield, and if the weather starts drying up, we will get a decent crowd and atmosphere for the last home game. Dream scenario is we win our next 2 games to set up a really positive vibe, but I appreciate I'm asking a lot.

That's a very good point. My only counter to that would be that the sample size available 4 games ago just wasn't enough to reach such a strong conclusion, and this run of form has proved that. I actually don't believe we should make any final assessments even if we win our remaining games. I think we need to be patient.

It was the same with LJ and with Nige. And forever more... I said on a another thread that I think Manning needs 7 points from the last 4 games to hit par. That's a stretch, but with our current momentum, it's possible. 'Par' is just my personal assessment of what I think a competent gaffer would achieve, and the same target would have applied to the previous gaffer. If, however, we only manage 4/5 points, we're still bloody close to par. Finishing near my abstract par is fine, and certainly not a sign that the head coach is out of his depth IMHO. My par will then be raised next season. BTW, how we achieve par is irrelevant. Streaks are fine, and quite normal at this level. Yeah, I just want the yo-yo clubs to be disrupted.

Not just objectivity, after a few defeats it was frequent ridiculing.

I think it's a bit mad that he's become a crucial player for us already, and maybe that expectation is a bit high. He's not playing at his absolute best atm but I'm sure he'll get back to it.

I pointed out to you previously that this inconsistency existed under Nige too, so that says to me that the blame isn't necessarily with the gaffer all the time. At the start of the season, in all comps, we only won 2 of our first 7 home games. You tell me who or what you blame for that? That includes being 2-0 against a struggling Stoke side who came back to beat us 3-2. If we judge Manning on his inconsistent form and disappointing defeats, then we have to judge Nige the same. I personally don't blame either of them. By the way, check out our line up for that Stoke game. Besides Conway being injured and Wells replacing him, it was a really strong side. The reason I'm dragging Nige into this is as an illustration that our squad is not currently capable of producing consistent performances.

Let me explain how it works... If we win, pro-Manning people will post 'I told you so'. Anti-Manning people will post 'yeah, we won, but...' If we lose, anti-Manning people will post 'I told you so, sack him'. Pro-Manning people will post 'yeah we lost but...' If we draw, we all grasp for positives and negatives and have a big argument. Then we basically just carry this one forever.

And we're still in the playoff race with 4 games to go Sort of...

It's an interesting result in the context that a lot of people were hoping for Eustace over Manning. I wonder how he would have done here.

I actually want another clean sheet more than a win on Saturday

Nooooo... you just invented a story

I think he stills needs us to pick up another 7 points this season

He tried a few threaded balls and long shots which didn't come off, but you want players trying these things.