RedRock

Maybe Jon and Tins thought we had those players, Manning - based on his two matches against us when Oxford manager - had a similar view, but the majority of us fans and Nige knew we didn’t. Up to Jon and Tins now to salvage the situation by buying in the players that fit the ‘Pep’ system and for Manning and his coaches to try and develop some of our core players that have the potential to deliver his style.

Simples. Front-foot, attacking football is what we were promised and Manning wants to deliver that via a ‘Pep’ style of play. If I have to watch 2 sideways passes at the back before we trigger a rapid transition through the lines to create a chance, then I’ll tolerate the sideways passes. If I have to watch sideways ‘crab’ football with no end product, because no one off the ball moves, we have an inability to spot the free man, or just can’t execute an accurate, fast forward pass …. then bin that style of play. What we know from Manning’s first block of games is we don’t have the squad that can implement - at least consistently - his ‘Pep’ style of play. Nige was pragmatic - with our players and budget we couldn’t afford the type of player who can operate that ‘Pep’ style effectively, indeed, few can. He built a side of limited ability Championship players based on togetherness and hard work. We either invest in this window to get the quality ‘Pep’ style players or we build a team and playing style based on our players limited strengths. The choice is Jon and Tins in this window.

..and you can add Dyche, O’Neil, Hodgson, Moyes as ex-City players/managers to be charge. Amazing really, can’t think of any other Championship or below Club that has such representation in the Premier League.

Awful, awful news. Life can be so cruel. Rest well fellow red.

Love the Bristol Sport model, the Stadium, Training Ground, community work and the fact we have genuine supporters in charge of the Club. On the field, as once written on a Gillingham flag, ‘ these things take time’. …a bloody long time in our case, but progress from a yo-yo Champ/League One Club to an established Championship club is not entirely to be sniffed at. Yes, the Lansdown’s have made mistakes, and I think they’ve admitted it, but who hasn’t made mistakes? Time to get behind the Club ownership and stop sniping in my view … who wants £zillionaire foreign owners and be like The Gas, profiteers like the Glaziers, or perhaps follow the Chelsea model of chucking £100’s million on random pretty useless players chasing the dream. For us, got to be the promised land next year, possibly the one after or, perhaps, though the one after that….

But that is just his public persona. I think I heard that his past Clubs player re-unions have big turn-outs due to his popularity with players. The character of teams generally reflect the persona of the manager. Neil is very smart, passionate, a fighter and doesn’t tolerate people who don’t give their all, and then some. Above all, Neil is a winner. I would like my team to have those characteristics. In a very ‘soft’ Bristol, with its ‘that’ll do/ that’s ok’ type culture he would have been a revelation. Sadly, I think unless things go totally pear-shaped with Manning and very quickly, he will never grace our Club.

Not personally, but hey, someone who shares similar interests, outlook on life, management style, temperament and is an interesting, rounded and, clearly, artistically talented man, ok, is someone I’d be comfortable to ‘relate to’ rather than ‘love’ maybe.

Wow. Mind you, his father (rip) has ‘legend’ status at Exeter. That sponsors logo mind. Imagine the flack Jon would have got if we had that abomination on our shirts!

I loved Nige both as a person and manager. Wish him all the best for the future and hope he regains full health soon. It was clear, notwithstanding his health issues and his own statements about retirement, that Nige was going in the Summer. The indications were we weren’t going to be strong challengers for promotion - even with some re-investment of the Alex funds and I think that was his set target. Like virtually all Clubs in the League we wanted a young, ‘tactical’ advanced and modern hands-on coach to push us forward into the future. I suspect Nige may have been pushing his own staff as his replacement..but we’ve been down that road! It seems football has evolved where older managers come in to ‘rescue’ Clubs and then either young English or foreign coaches take teams on. We seem to be following that established model. The reaction, in the context of the above, against Jon and Tins to the management change has been a bit OTT, particularly mindful of Nige’s public grenade throwing. Jon is both a likeable chap and a genuine supporter. Currently, he’s not suited to a CEO role though. Jon either needs to shadow an experienced operator or have a good ‘mentor’ for a few years. As Jon is playing at several levels above his current capabilities he tends to appoint non-threatening people at management levels within the organisation. That provides him with a comfortable life, but is dangerous for the organisation. Without a ‘mentor’ or experienced CEO, Jon needs to learn very quickly or the Club will become a car crash. Early signs of Jon as a CEO in all but name? Well, the jury is out on the new coaching team. A massive gamble, which could be a roaring success or dismal failure. There’s early signs of hope though. Off-the-field? A shambles for decades, but do I detect some green shoots? Little things, like communication being more open? The presence of a reasonable presenter on Robins TV and, struth, even Xmas jumpers AND available before the 25th December! Last, but not least, the injury situation …. blindly obvious for years we have an issue for years and, very belatedly, we seem to have at least recognised there is one and will investigate it (it’s not hard to do…hint, Ipswich). I really do hope the Lansdown family can push us on to the promised land and have the last laugh at those who constantly abuse them. No doubt some of those abusers are the same supporters who were slagging off Nige this time last year and now treat him with God-like status! Anyhows, onwards and, hopefully, upwards and a Merry Xmas to you all. COYRs.

They won’t allow away gear. A Leeds fan and his son were refused entry to that area a couple of years back and, if I recall correctly, did a self-pitying selfie with his son in tears outside the stand. Didn’t get much sympathy either. Not quite Millwall, but all stands here have a volatile element which is why stewards act quickly to remove any ‘triggers’. Family area safest, and as long as it’s just a child doing a short celebration with the parent sitting tight should be ok - on the proviso there aren’t any/many other away fans in the area that attract attention. Sad state of affairs. Hopefully, one day we will have designated ‘safe’ family sitting areas at all grounds.

The best of Williams (and Anis), combined with Wells causing a nuisance…two great subs.

When I think back to the ‘dark days’ under late LJ/Holden and early Nige when we could barely complete a pass to a colleague two yards away, that was wondrous. Still ‘work in progress’ particularly the final third but better, far, far better. Happy Xmas Jon

Back to the science vs art argument. I get the science bit, I really do, but football is also an art. This is showing signs of Shaun ‘I don’t look at the league table’ O’Driscoll. He was all about possession and data. Unfortunately, without him looking at the tables we became firmly anchored to the bottom of Division 1. And then came, Cotts who ‘built a team’, and what a team! We do seem to lurch between the two approaches. SoD to Cotts then back to LJ, then on to Nige and now returning with Manning. Ever decreasing circles. Thought after Nige’s appointment we’d now never see Warnock down The Gate … but, the next spin of the wheel and back to the ‘building a team of fighters’ approach?

Ha. Yes, was always in trouble of some description- a lovable rogue. Remember that he was rather uncomplimentary about the fine women of Dartmouth back in the day. My abiding memory was him at the Watermans Arms - his rival drinking establishment being the next pub up the creek - half perched on a stool affectionately caressing a rather large glass of red on the bar! As you say, RIP. ps The Maltsters Arms at Tuckenhay was Floyd’s was it not.

Bigbury methinks. Has/had connections with nearby Totnes. As a sensible chap, he knows South Devon is best - although Totnes is in its own independent galaxy! He could have called into my wood en route between those two places, to compare experiences of managing ‘work pressure release’ woodlands. Think Nige would have got on well with Keith Floyd who once ran the nearest watering hole to the wood!

And me. The difference between a textbook manager and experienced old school. This bloke better be a fast learner. If we, as supporters, think substitutions like this are amateurish, what about the players!

We just don’t do discreet. Our merchandise lacks both subtlety and class. Been that way for years. Yes the old porta cabin in the Grandstand car park was like a tardis, an Aladdin’s cave packed with treasures and a thing of great delight.

It’s complex, agreed. The model is fine, if you have a visionary (possibly philanthropic) owner who isn’t in it to make a quick buck. Therein lies the problem. Everyone is chasing easy, quick money for their own personal interest. Women’s football is on the up, possibly the same with basketball - so I don’t think they’re a deterrent to investment. Rugby though needs a refresh, the stand alone English Prem (no relegations?) just doesn't sufficiently excite and the Rugby Union aren’t doing enough to promote the game. The funds from the housing development should provide a handsome profit for the Lansdown family, I suspect, even after funding the sporting quarter and all that goes with it. Whether they accept that to help offset the loses of Bristol Sport and, as a consequence, reduce the asking price of Bristol Sport I’ve no idea. I think the problem we have is there is no ‘local’ investor that could fund the purchase. That leaves us open to foreign investment funds that just considers profit lines with no interest in doing what is best for Bristol sport. On the upside, they may chuck money at the football club to try and get us in the Prem, but if that fails, and it a massive gamble, …. we’re then doomed. On the downside, we may go into a tailspin. The Lansdown’s running of our football club has been far from perfect, but I for one would love it if they said we’re going to stick around for another decade to see this project through and will do all we can to make it a success.

The fish rots from the head. Unless we can get our forwards firing my fear is sub-par performances will start to spread through the team. Sykes’s (my mom) frustration was clearly to see. We’ve got to have buried at least two of those chances.

I’d ask to be dropped off at Exeter if I were you.

Thought it was decent. Just a different character to Nige. Talked sense.

What is this number ‘3’ I see before me?

Steady on!

I’ll buck the trend here, having been a Pearson supporter even if the dark days last December when many were calling for his head. Loved Nige, but I can see the logic of the managerial move (and I’m not privy to what went on behind the scenes which, I suspect, may well have influenced decisions). A big gamble, but if you don’t take risks you rarely succeed in life. The Lansdown’s and LM have my full support ( and I like the Bristol Sport initiative too, just not the rugby pitch markings) but please will you now get a decent *********** scouting network in place to support the manager will you!

Always been so… Us vs Sags Liverpool vs Everton Man Utd vs City Arsenal vs Spurs Forest vs County The Sags are condemned to a life of being even more hopeless than us.