Mendip City

I think we’re agreed on most things. Certainly the clumsy departure of NP which, in turn, has heaped pressure on LM. All the stuff JL said about top end, top six, the budget etc and the assertion we’re underperforming with what we’ve got…. It can’t be unsaid. It’s nonsense of course, mid to upper-mid table would be respectable for this squad. Your point about power shifting from Steve to Jon is interesting - Steve always loyal and sometimes too loyal. Jon…. Trigger happy? Lucky old Pat Lam that Steve is still close to the rugby team!!!

I take your point but you’re effectively saying that he’s taken the job not believing he can do better than the previous man and that the job became available for reasons other than the previous manager wasn’t doing well enough…. We all know Nige was sacked for reasons other than results…. But that’s the message given and how Manning and his “top end championship squad” has to be assessed. He’s the Lansdown’s boy. He believes what they’ve spun him, believes the project….. or he should have told them to stick it. I’ve never in 40+ years known a manager have such a clear objective “top end”. Let’s see…. But if we’re not top end, those of us who “got” where Nige was taking things will, rightly, be angry.

With a top six squad don’t forget.

I broadly agree with you but it is a bit Manning v Nige. Manning signed up to this gig, the he will know the board expect “top end” championship…. surely JL mentioned this at interview stage? He must believe he’s more capable of that, with these players, than Nige. If we lose today we’ll be miles off “top end” and he’ll have a mountain to climb. I hope he does well but am I confident? No. Hopefully LM won’t regret jumping ship so early from Oxford. He’ll have received a pay bunk-up I’m sure but I think the objective from the deluded ownership is near impossible.

Agree, I really hope we don’t grow the squad too much. Looking at your list, I’d think Benarous is a space - he’s played senior football but if/when he comes back (let’s hope he does but it’s been a very long time) he’ll likely be back to “prospect” status rather than first teamer. A bit off topic but seeing that list graphically explains to me just how off the mark JL’s assessment of us being play-off quality is…. I think we’re still where we have been for a while, lower-mid-table and slowly improving to genuine mid-table, with a fair wind and bit of injury luck we could be top 8. I hope I’m wrong and Manning can get the extra 20%+ out of this squad that’s going to be required to hit the ownership’s target.

This is it! The point of this thread should be about how exciting or not appointments were (I wanted both GJ and Cotts as it happens). The point here is managers with experience do well here…. We’ve yet to have any tangible success from a young exciting up and coming boy wonder tracksuit head coach…. But the Landsdowns love it, keep going back and as you say it’s madness. Let’s hope Nanning bucks the trend set by Tinnion, McInnes, SOD, LJ, Holden. An array of well qualified head coaches with no achievements here between them. Good luck Liam…. Let’s hope you’re not interfered with and bring us some success!

Knowing the way Nige operates, those breaks were probably more for the players psychological wellbeing, keeping them mentally fresh. Seeing the same faces every single day and doing the same things isn’t great. As others have said, modern footballers aren’t doing nothing or stuffing their faces with fry-ups the second they have time off! But JL is now some sort of fitness guru so who am I to argue….. Actually he just sounded like one of those business “leaders” who don’t trust home workers and want them in, under their nose, to micromanage….. micro meddling from the Lansdowns more like!

I agree. Short would have also learned tons from repeatedly working with Warnock (which I see as a bonus). Oxford also have Derek Fazackerley as some sort of DoF type character….. bags more management experience than Tinnion. Not that Tinnion will be going anywhere any time soon, unless the Lansdowns disappear.

The appointment of Head Coaches has, it seems to me been far less successful that the appointment of managers at our club. head coaches: holden LJ SOD mcInnes managers: pearson cotts GJ Millen I think all before that would have been titled “manager”.

Well they’ve played in the top flight since we last did. Oh and won the league cup. We’re such massive underachievers!

He was once FL’s assistant manager… what difference that makes I do not know!

Maybe Jon isn’t talking football… perhaps he’s thinking an impressive human being. You know the sort, polite, nice, doesn’t argue or answer back…. the type you’d take home to Guernsey to meet your dad.

Blimey…. Derek Fazackerley is a blast from the past. Craig Short also an interesting name. Worked with Neil Warnock multiple times.

I agree…. Profile would help us and might even help us get some momentum going for a proper tilt at success.

I didn’t hear it that way, if think JL said the names on the betting sites do t really reflect who they have/will speak to. Which could mean anything really!

And if you can’t get Lampard…… you get Jodie Morris!!!!

He’s probably been summonsed for his opinion on who the next manager should be….. the answer will end in Johnson!

Competent at what….???

But no injury crisis at Ipswich. Yet another thing that’s more about the club than individuals.

And flimsy as anything at the back

Let’s not pretend the club wasn’t at least as keen to cash in as Scott was keen to leave so it was win/win. The only losers being us fans!

Completely agree and you become a bigger/higher profile, more sustainable club just by having a year there.

Tony Hart has aged well

It smacks of cost-cutting or downsizing. I wonder whether Nige is seen as a cost that could be cut? Put it another way, I’m sure you could get cheaper managers than Nige. I can see his co tract not being renewed. That would be a mistake IMO. I agree with your concern about a “yes man” or jobs for mates/faces that fit culture….

Not far fetched, if anything it’s completely logical. Should this be the case, let’s hope it’s quick and doesn’t leave the club in limbo.