Phileas Fogg

Amazing how in one tweet, Pearson is able to write more eloquently and offer more insight than Manning does in the entirety of these programme notes. These could’ve been written by Chat GPT. https://www.bcfc.co.uk/city-men-news/liams-notes-sunderland-afc-h/?fbclid=IwAR0cazhCd-vaSwbZWlEjFNndlgNQ6fTVRWna9KoqO8vtn5OAsklBbjN15Zc_aem_AeEzoJ4jlYWGmGG0JAWs2FM9WaCr78n5hus6ZUh2Qe6Mauxpp8LuKA3PH818csJ_Zoo I asked Chat GPT to write programme notes with the following prompt: “Write me programme notes as if written by Bristol City manager Liam Manning for the upcoming home game on Saturday against Sunderland. The audience is the supporters and it needs to be about a page long. Mention the recent games (draw vs Huddersfield and defeat vs Blackburn) welcome the Sunderland interim coach Mike Dodds” (gave it a couple bits of up to date info as it won’t know it proactively) - it came up with this.. sounds a bit like Manning but is actually more inspiring than the real ones! --- **Bristol City vs Sunderland - Home Game** **Programme Notes by Liam Manning** Dear Robins Faithful, As we gear up for our home clash against Sunderland this Saturday, I want to extend a warm welcome to each of you at Ashton Gate. Your support is our strength, echoing far beyond the stands and directly onto the pitch where it matters most. **Reflecting on Recent Outings** Our recent games have been a mix of emotions and learning. The draw against Huddersfield showcased our resilience and ability to fight back under pressure. Although we didn’t secure the win, the team's spirit and determination were commendable. In contrast, our defeat to Blackburn was a tough pill to swallow. It highlighted areas we need to improve, and rest assured, we have been working tirelessly to address these. **A Welcome to Mike Dodds** I'd like to extend a special welcome to Mike Dodds, Sunderland's interim coach. His reputation for insightful football strategies precedes him, and we expect a well-organized and spirited Sunderland side under his guidance. It's always invigorating to match wits with such capable coaching, and I look forward to the tactical battle that awaits. **The Sunderland Challenge** Sunderland brings a unique set of challenges. Known for their robust playing style and strategic approach, they will be looking to capitalize on any opportunity. However, we are ready. Our preparation has been focused and intense, aiming to harness our strengths and mitigate our vulnerabilities. **Our Tactical Approach** In training, we have emphasized on improving our ball retention and creating more goal-scoring opportunities. We aim to be more dynamic in our attack while maintaining a solid defensive structure. The team is in good spirits, and I have full confidence in their ability to execute our plan effectively. **The Power of Ashton Gate** As always, Ashton Gate is our bastion. The atmosphere you create is our advantage, and we need that more than ever. Your support is not just appreciated; it is integral. Let's make our home ground a fortress where opposing teams fear to tread. **Unity and Support** This game is about more than just the 11 players on the pitch; it's about all of us – the team and the supporters – united in our passion and commitment to Bristol City. Your cheers, your belief, your energy – they all matter. Let's stand together, cheer relentlessly, and drive the team forward to a victory. **Conclusion** We embark on this journey together - players, staff, and supporters. Each game is a step towards our collective goals, and your role in this journey is invaluable. Let's show Sunderland the true spirit of Bristol City and secure a win that echoes our ambition and determination. Together, we rise. **COYR!** Liam Manning Head Coach, Bristol City FC ---

It’s simply because he’s a younger manager I think. Pretty lazy comparison. I think there are lots of valid points of debate about this appointment, but I feel they lose validity if that comparison is made.

Exactly what I’d like to see also. It’s in issues like that where it’s clear to see the board don’t really understand football.

It is something that needs exploration - obviously the talking shop fans forum the other week wasn’t the place. It just baffles me why the club allow this to happen - boneheaded design.

It really is ridiculous that we allow that to even be a factor at home. How many proper teams wilfully allow the away side to have a whole end behind a goal whilst sticking our own vocal support as far away as possible? There’s absolutely no need to gift the away side a marginal gain like this.

What I mean by that the board clearly have wanted to be part of the ‘progressive manager’ club. They’ve seen lots of similar sized and smaller clubs get promoted with this model. If that’s what they’re looking for then Manning is a logical choice. He has good credentials and far better experience than Holden or Johnson when appointed. Is November, in a competitive league, the right time for such an appointment though? It’s a big risk.

Agreed, they’ve made a big call and have to ride it out now. I can understand the thought process behind Manning, that in itself is an improvement when you compare to the appointment of Holden. I just question whether it’s the right time for such a different approach.

My issue is the confirmation bias in all your posts - why not just give him a chance? I think it’s far too early to say it ‘hasn’t worked out’. The decision to remove Pearson and then target a manager so different in approach is on Tinnion and Lansdown. If we did end up in the farcical situation you’ve endorsed whereby Manning ends up at Swansea somehow - the club would look even more rudderless. Our pool of potential managers would shrink even more. Unfortunately, regardless what any of us think of the wisdom behind the situation, Manning is here now.

So basically - you don’t want to be seen as wanting him to be sacked because it would look hasty and reactionary.. but at the same time, quite happy for him to leave in circumstances which don’t make you look hasty and reactionary.

If only we were able to have Manning as head coach, Pearson as some sort of hybrid DoF/Tinnion role/bridge between playing operation and board plus Richard Gould in place of JL. That would be a real recipe for success I think and would work as Pearson doesn’t have the insecurity to tread on Manning’s toes. Obviously not possible, but such a shame to have the knowledge that we’ve had all 3 of those components at the club over the last 18 months. That’s exactly the sort of vision that clubs who’ve leapfrogged us in recent years may have. We’re so stuck in our ways and with a board who seems threatened by trickier personalities that it would clearly never happen.

Lots of it is about delivery. Lee Johnson had a few similarities in his use of vocab, but I usually listened to his interviews. I can already tell pretty early into his tenure that I am just not that interested in Manning’s. I just don’t find them very interesting to listen to. Being a great interviewee isn't as important as winning games, but it’s little areas like that where Manning will be able to win the support over. I think Pearson’s communication style and candidness got him lots of support (and patience) from the fanbase. Actually if you use a fairly broad stroke approach to it - managers here who spoke plainly (Gary Johnson, Cotterill, Pearson (and to a certain extent Holden)) were pretty well liked by the fanbase. Managers without charisma and/or use plenty of jargon (SO’D, McInnes, Manning) found it much harder to form a relationship with the support. The outlier is Lee Johnson who sort of crosses into both types - he obviously used lots of jargon, but is pretty charismatic. However we all know how decisive his tenure was. The interviewers have to work a bit harder with Manning, the questions are usually horrendous.

It’s fine for you to admit you got Semenyo wrong. It really doesn’t matter.

It's just that you've clearly already made your mind up about Manning. What's done is done. Seemingly most of the fanbase didn't agree with it or how it was done, but that's not Manning's fault. It's the board who made that decision, not Manning, so why not give him a chance?

There seems to be lots of British managers approaching the end of their careers (Hodgson, Warnock, Pearson) and then lots of the 35-45 age bracket - but not as many in between that. It feels like in recent history there was plenty more mid-career managers on the circuit at our level (Gary J, Coppell, Cotterill, Dave Jones, Curbishley, Pardew, Nigel Adkins, Owen Coyle). I wonder if that, with clubs gravitating towards more of a ‘head coach’ style structure, that leaves that age group a bit out of the loop. They’re neither seen as progressive enough for the newer model nor experienced enough to be a ‘safe pair of hands’.

It does seem like you are absolutely determined to frame anything you can as a negative against Manning so that you can potentially be vindicated in not wanting him. There really is no need to be so partisan so early into his appointment. Why not wait to see how it pans out ?

It also indicates that there is clearly a bit of an "us vs them" mentality towards the fans from the board which is a bit of a concern. If they had total confidence in their actions over the last few weeks, there wouldn't be as they'd have total confidence they are going to get it right in the long term.

Dave Barton's questioning doesn't help either. For an experienced journalist, he asks an awful lot of closed questions. Manning clearly isn't that comfortable in front of a camera and is nowhere near as articulate as Pearson. Makes it even more important that Barton thinks about his questions more to ensure they're actually going to help Manning get his points across. All that happens is that Manning is forced to needlessly over-expand in his answers when he has very little to go on. It makes his answers wordy, boring and allows fluff and jargon to seep in.

It's just so lazy too. It's the managerial equivalent of comparing any black central midfield player to Marvin Elliot.

A bit odd he felt the need to announce it. All it does is draw attention to it. You could argue it's a bit unprofessional given his role.

Scott was a real anomaly though. Most academy graduates will probably have a first couple of seasons like Sam Bell or Vyner.

3 games is far too early to judge anyone really. And I doubt we’d have got a better points return if Pearson was still here. Manning has clearly been bought in to work to a longer term plan - he’s not a manager you bring in during a crisis to get quick results in the short term. We will probably spend the rest of the season bobbing about in mid table, which is pretty unexciting, but the board will measure progress over a longer period of time.

Not trying to diminish your experience, but what did your dad say to them? I’d find it fairly implausible that they’d react like that unless he gave them an earful.

There's no way questions on Pearson would be allowed unless someone essentially heckled them. Notice how when Lansdown was floundering a bit re: atmosphere.. Dave Barton quickly moved things on to discuss the academy. It's very stage managed.

I'm not a fan of Mark Kelly aka Ned Flanders. The questions about atmosphere etc demonstrate yet again the club has absolutely no desire for AG to be a vociferous stadium. Questions still awful - clearly vetted before hand? Why so many questions that give Tinnion the opportunity to show the club in a good light?

That's because it's clearly 90% attendance from Coach 1. Waste of questions annoyingly.