spudski

As Lizz Truss said after becoming Prime Minister...you can be sacked as Prime Minister, but not if you are head honcho at the Bank of England.

It applies with us...regardless of who's running the ship, its those who are unaccountable and make the decisions that can't be sacked. 

Manning is way out of his depth imo, and by the week comes across more and more like LJ in his decision making. 

Many will be thinking the same but will sit on the fence so as not to be wrong. 

2 hours ago, Dr Balls said:

And then he came to Ashton Gate…

Even players with no previous injury history can become crocks when they are with us!

Next year's shirt sponsor is rumoured to be CrocksRus

19 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

Would I be correct in assuming you meant to say ‘waste of a headline’?

An interesting typo or predictive text.

It is, of course, quite possible that there was a fault in the translation from Flemish.

Who knows mate...looks like it was a massive brawl instigated by a woman hitting, scratching and screaming. Seems a lot missing from the whole story. I'm sure more will come out as the case is yet to be finalised somehow

14 minutes ago, joe jordans teeth said:

That’s fine,just seemed like you were and I’m fed up on the stabbing cases recently where it’s not the killer’s fault or the parents it’s the governments,until those closer to home start talking the blame and do gooders stop looking for excuses the better the world will be 

Couldn't agree more

21 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

Thanks Spudski, there's loads more pics from the replay, drawn tie, and a feature published later in the Daily Mirror.

Well if you get time, they'll be greatly appreciated. No worries if not...all good. Thank you

13 minutes ago, joe jordans teeth said:

Exactly as you are guessing and presuming,from reading the report the bloke was on his own while the pebble smasher was with his mates 

I'm not trying to justify his actions, just pointing out how easy it is to go to prison from injuring someone. If he had a bump on his head, the sentence would have been less. Like I said fine margins. 

The Mirror called it a rock...then quoted this...

In January, Antwerp's public prosecutor told a hearing: "According to many people involved, Ilias Chair lashed out at Niels T with a stone and knocked him unconscious. The consequences were dramatic for Niels T.

1 minute ago, joe jordans teeth said:

You are correct but red mist is throwing a punch off the cuff,I’m guessing he went looking for a brick/stone unless he carries them Willy nilly in his back pocket 

You're guessing and presuming...it might have been right where he was stood. And we don't even know whether the guy who was injured did the same thing. Like I said, you only hear one side when they are seriously injured. 

@Curr Avon these are very much appreciated. Thank you

3 minutes ago, joe jordans teeth said:

A fist fight is totally different than using a knife or in this case brick/stone,what a ridiculous comment 

It's not a ridiculous comment...you've just misunderstood the post. 

You'd go to prison if you punched someone and broke their skull, or they fell and broke their skull. Or even worse died from their injuries.

The fine margin is the outcome. 

Blimey...I remember being pelted with stones at the Ninian Park car park, both sets lobbing em. 

But that was considered high jinx back then. 

Just goes to show how lucky or unlucky you can be in an altercation.

He's hit him with a stone...I bet he wouldn't have intended to break his skull.

Yet you can punch an opposition fan and push him down the Dolman steps...and he survives any damage...yet could end so differently. 

Small margins in heated red mist. 

Used to play footy with a lad who had lost a bollock.

We nicknamed him Orinoco.

As in...Womball..

7 minutes ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

It's a very well written article but I'm afraid I don't share Dave's fascination with tactical aspects of the modern game. 

High block, transition, possession percentages, passes per sequence etc etc leave me cold. I just want to see City set out to play attacking football at AG with as much goalmouth action as possible. In other words to be entertained.

Modern coaches like LM should remember football is a spectator sport and if their cagey approach doesn't at least yield the 3 points - the one consolation for a dull match -  it can more often than not be a frustrating bore for the average fan who's gone down there to see some action, let off some steam, and be entertained.

 

In all honesty Noggers...how many sports these days do you watch and come away thinking I've been thoroughly entertained?

You get the occasional ones...but on average, most sports are dull as dishwater these days. 

Everything is too perfect. 

Technology, science, coaching etc, has pretty much nullified any ' entertainment'. 

Because its the imperfections that create excitement in sport. 

The more precise and ' perfect' it becomes...the less entertaining.

If LM set up as you'd like...there would be lots of goal mouth action...in our own box. 

It's just how it's become.

Television hasn't helped either. Full saturation. 

9 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

Top coaches say a lot of things. You can have the best players and be underperforming for years. A former top team in the EPL assemble top top players together and do not win regardless. 

The best teams have structure. Liam Manning is creating it, forming and establishing. Building towards a model and identity.

Its interesting to see how this progresses when he is inhibited by players limitations in key positions. 

Yes that's a given. 

Opposition coaches have said we play with a clear identity. The QPR coach spoke about it, and how he nullified it. 

Limitations are already to the fore in how he's trying to play in the final third. 

16 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

You could be describing the best teams in the Country. 

The best teams, have the very best players. As top coaches have said, if you've got the best players, they will win regardless...

4 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

Love these pictures mate. Excuse my ignorance, but did you take them? Official photographer?

2 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I don’t know if you saw the “Coaches Voice” video with Liam that @Davefevs posted the other day but it’s well worth watching. Essentially he was trying to illustrate what you’re saying he’s trying to do - draw opponents into areas and create overloads.

The problem is that the higher up you go the greater discipline opponents have and they don’t do what you want them to do. And again, that is really where his main problem lies and my instinct is that it’s ingrained and a pre season/recruitment changes nothing to resolve it from what I’ve seen thus far.

Yes I've seen it mate, and like you and Dave have also alluded, can see how easy it is to defend against if disciplined. 

And as we rightly say...the further up the pitch, the harder it becomes as the space is compressed and the opposition are more compact and generally have more players in that area. 

He very much comes across with an ingrained philosophy ( a one trick pony ). Other coaches will know how to defend against it. 

And as I've mentioned earlier, when we steal possession and counter, when the opposition are out of shape, or less numbers, we are affective. Not when we are trying to break down a well organised and disciplined opposition in defence. 

It would be hilarious if someone set up something like this, to get fans reactions straight after games. 

The instant post match reaction bollox spouted and Natch flying could be far more entertaining. Just for shits and giggles...

9 hours ago, SydneyCity said:

Maybe a bit harsh, but I don’t think Manning has his own style of play. He has “modern football 101”, which is why it’s so predictable and easy for other teams/managers to work out. They’ve all read the same textbook.

He needs to develop his own tweaks to the system to make it effective. This could come with a few years of real-world, fan facing, experience but I think he’s jumped up a level a few years too soon. I don’t blame him for this, but he should have spent a few more years honing his own style in leagues that are less tightly contested.

Modern football 101 will be occasionally successful against some of the Prem/Parachute teams but will ultimately fail due to those teams being able to outspend and out quality us. The rest of the Championship will just disrupt our predictable play.

My fears are, we’re paying for him to develop his own style, rather than getting someone in who has already been on that journey. Best case, we honour his contract but don’t really progress beyond mid-table to just outside the playoffs. Manning leaves on mildly amicable terms and goes on to have a decent career having got to tinker with his system at City. Worst case, we fail miserably next season and are left rudderless with a bunch of players who don’t fit any system.

Very much like your post. 

His style of play is agonisingly easy to see. It's very very basic as well. 

And as I've said countless times, proven by stats...that reliance on crosses to score goals is the least affective method, and so easy to defend against. 

In saying that...football can be overcomplicated. If we had the same movement and passing angles created in the last third, that we often create in the first thirds, then it could be more productive. 

But right now...if opposition teams are disciplined and not drawn into places we are trying to draw them ( to create holes/space) then we struggle to break teams down. 

We are most productive when other teams are in offensive mode, when we steal possession and counter..

28 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

I have the same worry. Rather like LJ, overthinks it. Johnson's best runs were when we were down to the bare bones and he had to ditch the tombola. I fear Liam may suffer from the same affliction and disappear up his own ass trying to be too clever.

I have that same feeling. 

10 minutes ago, Robbored said:

I can see that the play is more structured and that it enables players to try and exploit any available width but QPR certainly worked out how to stop it and Manning didn’t seen to have a plan B and his substitutions especially Cornick wide right baffled pretty much everyone

Having  such structure can inhibit players using their intuition/instinct as situation’s develop during play. I’m not convinced that a structure it’s always beneficial.

You need structure, but within that structure you need players to be able to express themselves, but when doing so, making the right decision, and realising if the reward is worth the risk, or will it leave the team open to being exploited. 

Scott was perfect at doing this...all within structure. 

We are structured, easy to read. We don't have anyone capable of opening up defences on a consistent enough basis. 

11 minutes ago, Robbored said:

I think that it’s premature to pass any kind of judgment on Manning who has inherited Nige’s squad which according to JL is good enough to be promotion candidates 

However - he’s only been in post a relevantly short time but it’s fair to say he hasn’t improved results as yet nor has he impressed us fans. None of us can actually see what his methods and strategies are despite there being several football savvy posters on here.

He bleats on about the relentless nature of the Championship and not having enough time to ‘work on the grass’ but every other Championship manager is in the same situation - he needs to bloody well get over it and realise that he’s in with the big boys now.

The summer will be when we’ll get a better idea of what he’s about.

Whilst I respect your reply RR...I think it's pretty obvious how he wishes to play. 

He spoken about his methods and it's obvious to the eye. 

It's actually easier to pick out than when under NP. 

I can now watch games, and it's so structured that I can call pretty much where each player is going to move after each passage of play. 

As others do and have pointed out. 

It is that drilled and structured. 

3 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

In my opinion he is not a manager/head coach. 

I think he is a damn good coach. But right now he doesn't have the attributes to be a manager/head coach. 

Something bothered me from day 1 about him dropping TGH and persisting with Mehmeti. We've had some baffling team selections and subs ever since then. 

I agree...his ' obsession ' with Mehmetti is not justified imo. 

My biggest worry with Manning, is I don't trust him to make the right decision on who to select from a squad that is nearing full fitness...apart from now Bell and Atkinson. 

I know we call it a ' squad game', but I have a feeling he will rotate often. 

Trying to keep everyone happy and making the right choice on match day, from a bigger squad to select from I can see being his Achilles heal. 

I'm getting vibes of it already. 

I've not been particularly enamoured by some of his selections and also some of his subs. 

If he also continues to make Mehmetti his number 1 pick nearly every week, then I can see us just doing what we've been doing...being pretty in our own half and toothless in the final third. 

Highlights up

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/highlights-bristol-city-u21-1-1-millwall-u21/