Silvio Dante

1 hour ago, 1960maaan said:

I don't think there was a change in demeanour with results, but there seemed a definite change in attitude by Pearson. I found him a bit tetchy even adversarial at times to start, but he definitely relaxed as time went on , which is interesting in someone so experienced. I think he may even have mentioned relaxing himself. 

Manning is different , this is his biggest job and he's still relatively young and inexperienced . I don't enjoy them ATM , I find them quite dull and repetitive , TBH that could be the same for any Presser . That's why I appreciate your bullet point posts. 
With luck and time he will relax and they will become better, even enjoyable. But trying to come up with new things to say , new phrases etc is almost impossible , but it's the information that is key . 

My take on Nige is that although he had an idea he was walking into a shitshow, he didn’t quite understand how bad it was. When he got here and found that out there was a degree of “WTF have I gotten into?”. I agree he then broadly relaxed into it and I think that was because he saw the trajectory was improving and he was happier with what he had. In short it was someone who enjoyed the job more the greater chance he had to shape it.

Thats always been the contrast with Liam - again, done to death but he didn’t  walk into a shitshow playing squad wise and he probably put himself under a bit of unnecessary pressure due to the reasons you outline. Hopefully he’s over that now.

44 minutes ago, RedRoss said:

What were they supposed to say when bringing him in? We are bringing in an average player to see if he's any good. It's likely because ultimately he arrived Tins and his staff were bullish about him because they thought he was good. It hasn't worked we'll send him back.

You can't selectively look at recruitment. It has to be looked at as a whole. I think we've brought in better players in areas we were lacking (not all areas) whilst keeping fees low. Those players are all fairly young too and will improve. Asides from Dickie who's been a revelation and is only coming into his prime. This has been one of our best value transfer windows since Cotts I would argue.

To be fair, you’re using windows as a plural - and I agreed if you go back to the summer the recruitment was good. There was a thread a few weeks ago on hits/misses/jury out and at that point for me the jury was out on McCrorie, Roberts and to an extent TGH. Jury in on the second of those now, and I agree, a good summer window.

But if you take window in the singular as in January then it can’t be viewed as good at present. A lot will depend on how good Bird and Stokes are but for various reasons the three arrivals haven’t worked out. I’m not sure that’s in any way a controversial take.

As in what they’re supposed to say, there would have been absolutely nothing wrong in saying “It hasn’t worked out for him in Belgium but we’re going to take a look”. They chose to fabricate a story about work permits. And to be clear, lying in football happens (it happened yesterday re saying we haven’t had discussions re OOC, it happens when we say someone isn’t fit). This wasn’t one of those. It was a totally fabricated story to cover they got it wrong, and it was easily disproven. The lying then continued with Murphy’s mystical pre season.

As we stand, the January window worked out poorly. It happens. But head in the sand over it and accepting whatever bullshit people say is never a good move.

16 minutes ago, RedRoss said:

I really don't understand all the conversations re Mebude. He has come in as a loan player with an option to buy. Likely because we thought he would strengthen us where needed but needed to show us he could before spending money on him. We've clearly taken a look and not interested for whatever reason. Seems sensible to me considering we've not bought him. The rest of our recruitment has been pretty bang on this season.

 

It’s been done to death but the main problem was in how the deal was presented. Tinnion was very bullish over him, and DM was given the whole big signing video. It was positioned as one for the first team that we’d been scouting for a while and a bit of a coup. Had it been positioned as coming over (effectively) for a trial then it’d have been viewed a lot differently.

The club then made things a lot worse by bullshitting over his work permit situation in Belgium - both Liam and Brian very guilty of that.

The bottom line is we’re not signing him (or we certainly shouldn’t) and the way the deal was presented through to how he’s been plonked on the bench with no chance of getting on (assumedly due to a “matchday clause” in the deal) has been bizarre from start to finish.

If anything, it’s a lesson to the club in communication.

As for recruitment I broadly agree if we’re going back to start of season. However, and having liked the Jan window to start with, the three signings who arrived here then can’t be classed as anything but poor on aggregate (Bird and Stokes I maintain good business to get done early but clearly can’t comment on their ability)

Medube - A load of bullshit about work permits, an abysmal 30 minutes, no sign of touching the pitch

Murphy - Seems to have a chronic injury, probably pointing to why we passed in the summer

Twine - Largely indifferent

With the benefit of hindsight it looks pretty poor. The get out here is that we can send two of them back and one is likely to have not been expensive and we can claim on insurance if he’s totally unable to play (hopefully!)

5 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

@Silvio Dante did you do these for all of Nige's pressers? I can't recall. 

Nope. Can’t recall the first one of Liams I did but as @1960maaan said, it seems to be appreciated so I’ll keep doing them if I have time.

Its been interesting both because you can see that a change in demeanour leads to better answers (I don’t think there was a Pearson change in demeanour against results that was as clear) and because Piercys bit is always good value (I tend to want the RB bit to be done so I can get to him). 
 

Title of thread is pretty clear so if it’s not something people are interested in they can always skip past

31 minutes ago, eardun said:

And possibly also linked to Twine - he wants him. 

And tbh that kind of worries me. I’ve not seen enough in Twine over his games to date that he’s a worthwhile signing. I don’t concur that he’s “unlocked” Knight - his movement isn’t great, he’s not drifting into spaces, he’s just “there” - no more than any other AM (or even AM) would be. A presser like today was Liam giving “come here” vibes to Twine and Burnley will have picked up on that and negotiate accordingly - and I’m not sure Scott is worth what they will want.

And again, in terms of results, correlation doesn’t equal causation. Scott has shown a real lack of desire at times and has also tended to be - in short - a bit of a whiner. He gets fouls but it’s not a “Scott” in drawing fouls - it’s going to ground easy, getting some, and not getting others and being affronted by it.

I said when we signed Twine that the best case may have been an underwhelming loan spell which kept the price down. We’ve got that. But we’ve also got a head coach making “**** me” eyes at him which pushes the price back up. Worst of all worlds.

32 minutes ago, phantom said:

Obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinion and let's be honest this forum would be dull if we didn't, but surely you must be seeing things differently now? 

I’d hazard a guess it’s how it’s cached.

Take the sentence “I didn’t explain myself probably as well as I could, I want players to be emotional” and contrast it with what was said of “People don’t listen properly”

The fact is that he did say what @Superjacksays he did in the manner he did. The way he’s cached it - when he could have made the point so much better - is a bit “I was always right and you were wrong”. 
 

I thought it was a decent presser overall, and again, I’ve made the point before when he said emotion that he didn’t really mean that and had explained himself poorly. But a flag that remains is “are we changing to save his job and he’ll revert to type”. Comments of this nature add, understandably, to that concern.

Just now, Davefevs said:

I heard it as he picked up back “issue” at the weekend, and this was a “test” that he was ok???

Haha, must be aimed at the players and the press, because he doesn’t read social media.

+++++

2+2=4 we are gonna try everything to sign Twine!

JKL - yeah it was. He was carrying a knock as opposed to got a knock.

Twine - yes we are, that’s my reading. I wouldn’t based on evidence to date and I’ve not seen great signs of a Palmer-Afobe type link between Twine and Conway (neither of whom may be here next season). I think he likes the player and he’s reading correlation and not causation.

As for the people not understanding - no comment!

1 minute ago, mozo said:

In all seriousness, I'm interested to know how he knows that there's that preconception of him. Someone obviously told him. I'm sure Nige use to reference things that the fans thought too. How do they know?

Ummm….its a public forum where you don’t need a membership to view? 
 

I know Liams denied being on social media before but I’ll be damned sure that the club (and we’ve seen posters here from the club) are tasked with trawling social media to gauge the fanbase - that’s not a bad thing, it’s sensible management. It follows that they’d then brief the manager/head coach.

This isn’t the masons.

I visited Solihull Moors as part of my boys “groundhopping” earlier this year pre West Brom. It’s pretty much right next to the NEC as a ground - closest ground is St Andrews so I’d guess Brum would be rivals (particularly as there may only be one division between them next year!)

2 minutes ago, phantom said:

On the point about contract discussions, it seems a common theme when other Managers and players are asked they usually say it's not discussed until the end of the season so no reason to disbelief what he said 

I think it’s a case of a collective fib. From both sides perspective, once the division they are in is known (or even highly likely) then there is no reason for as a minimum representatives not to talk. In practical terms discussions start a long way before that.
 

Anything else is naive. Why would the head coach and TD have:

- Identified the players they want (confirmed ongoing)

- Planned pre season in intense detail (confirmed)

…but not spoken to members of the squad to determine if they’re going to (or likely to) stay and how that wage impacts the budget. The point fundamentally feeds the recruitment strategy and leaving it until 5th May wastes a lot of time where replanning/rebasing will be needed thereafter.

It’s a dance. We know he’s fibbing. He knows we know he’s fibbing. 

Antoine Semenyo scoring for Bournemouth at Wolves too.

(Mods - Please move to ex players forum  )

If ever a thread was made for @Lorenzos Only Goal…

Just to prove it doesn’t only happen when things are bad. I’ll take a wild guess as to which bullet will get the most attention…!

- Vyner has a chance but very unlikely to be fit

- Doesn’t see it as a specific test of playing a lower team, more about how we play

- Unsure what expectations were post break. Definitely feels there is progress, more resilience and fight - really enjoyed a lot of us with the ball against Norwich and started post second half well, playing with purpose

- Noted matched points from last season so want to beat that with two to go. Referenced he thinks we’ve been good defensively consistently, pointing to QPR, Cardiff, Ipswich

- Looking forward to time on grass in pre season, heavy schedule post Christmas. Happy with where group are at and now about fine tuning

- Conversations with OOC players haven’t happened as yet (I’d say that’s a lie…!)

- Thinks Joe Williams has done well recently but been helped by those around him, credit to the staff and coaches as that’s what they do in improving players and most have

- Haydon Roberts not seen as backup. Had to be patient but has done well. Didn’t answer question as to what he’s seen as (fullback or centre half)

- Medube - looked decent in training and might get an opportunity (I think that’s the second lie)

- Thinks Norwich goal offside, Cornick onside

- Watched 21s yesterday - were some decent bits, attitude good, Brian’s done a great job, behaviours were right. Didn’t name a specific player. Watching 18s later

- Knight-Lebel comment - taken off after 60 minutes as back injury as opposed to plans for first team

- Need more goals from across the team

- “People misread what I say and don’t listen properly at times. I want players to be emotional but recognise you need to be in control and not make rash actions” In training gave bad decisions in game to work on reactions (I do that with 12 year olds so wholeheartedly back it!)

- Psychology plays a big part in recruitment- need to understand the whole package, sometimes don’t understand that until they’re in the door. Look at recovery, positioning as these tend to be focus and desire behaviours - the team are very good at that

- Knights current position; has done a great job there, the group understand how to play positions now. Asked if it was a long term plan or had developed - said it wasn’t a plan long term and LM is adaptable and likes to tweak things. Knight is now running less/smarter.

- Conway - no update. Want to keep him, he has an offer. Loves working with him. Thinks Conway has improved this season and should score 15+ a season, Twine helps that.

- Body alignment coach visiting the club. Wasn’t Liams decision. End of season need each department needs to review how they work.

- Every day of pre season is planned already in terms of session, running distance etc.

Again, pretty relaxed (as expected). The comment of people not listening was a bit barbed - but it’s also no coincidence he’s got better at communicating as he’s got more relaxed and it was a large part of he wasn’t articulating as well. (And tbf I had noted I think he said emotion when he meant focus and he’s using it in a different context here). That whole section was pretty interesting and is worth a listen.

29 minutes ago, petehinton said:

I’m confused, how can the south stand be “sold out” if they aren’t letting anyone buy STs there?!

Technically, they could have sold less in the South Stand than this season and it’d be sold out because they’re not selling them.

Mind. Blown.

4 minutes ago, mozo said:

It's also possible that many fans were like me in thinking that City weren't as bad pre-Easter as some were making out. 

Who knows 

I'm sure there are lots of factors, but the main one could be that the matchday is a big part of their lives.

I think the last point is entirely it. I’ve said I’m pissed off with the hierarchy- and I am - and still want change. But I was here before them and I’ll be here after them. It isn’t like a normal product 

6 minutes ago, Street red said:

Seems to me they are not worried about season ticket sales more about POTD going by what marshall is saying.Why do I get the feeling season tickets will be gradually faded out over time. 8000 is'nt exactly that great and him saying 15k he is definitely living in a dream world.

I can’t agree with that. Unless you know you’re selling a “sure thing” then the proverbial bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. ST sales are guaranteed income and although they may get you less revenue then filling the ground with POTD, they are income you’re sure of.

If we could be sure we’d be top of the league and win every game 6-0 with people falling over themselves to attend it’s a possible business case to focus on POTD. But we can’t, and we won’t. Imagine phasing out season tickets then having a relegation season and what that does to income.

5 hours ago, 22A said:

In Nat Lge N, I see Glos City are relegated. Which league will they play in next season please?

A few years ago Lowestoft made it to Nat Lge S, but when they were relegated a year or two later they were placed in a different one to which they had won promotion from.

This is a phenomenal resource and regularly updated - clicking in will give you the likely makeup next season. Forecast is for Gloucester to be in Southern Prem South:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1j9Xsb52BW6OYS98S4SIM4ueejxbA2I9CHePzrzlqSlk/htmlview?pli=1#

1 hour ago, Welcome To The Jungle said:

We signed two Irish lads in Coppels summer who were suggested by the same agent who represented the Hunt brothers and Shane Long for Coppel whilst he was at Reading

That would be Patrick Hoban and Jimmy Kehone. Both have made semi decent lower level/Irish league careers overall.

Just now, Davefevs said:

I dunno.  I think someone posted last week the various comms that went out last season as a comparison.

I’d be surprised if we didn’t hit 10k - the 8k mentioned by Marshall was as at Thursday, and many left it late to renew as we know.

But I’d be equally surprised if there was a large number of seat moves. People will be reticent to move from the South Stand as they can’t get back there now. Possibly a few hundred overall.

The number of 15000 mentioned as this seasons figure on the pod and ambition to grow it do feel unlikely for a number of reasons. Ultimately ST holders miss odd games but the volume missing from several recent games does suggest a degree of disillusion.

My guess is we hit around 12-13k sales overall. Down on last year due to several reasons:

- Disillusion and dissatisfaction with club hierarchy (think that’s #1)

- Cost of living crisis remains ongoing and it becomes a necessary or reasonable sacrifice

- Unhappiness with management/style in some quarters 

- The new TV deal (I think that’s a tiny factor - the club haven’t publicised and it won’t be known unless you look)

It’s still a decent number and bigger than our neighbours capacity. Won’t be any joy from me if the number is down but if the hierarchy think the main reason is anything but them then I think they’re probably not reading the room

34 minutes ago, eardun said:

I don’t have an issue with it either. What would be good though is if as some point City could launch a site where you could make your seat available to purchase by other fans when you can’t attend (as some other clubs do). Fans won’t always have a friend or family member who can go to the match concerned so the current forwarding option could not be used - a ticket exchange site would widen the pool of people who could take the seat. 

It will happen - but will only happen when games sell out constantly. From the clubs perspective they’ve sold your seat to you and have the money for it - they’d rather sell the other seats in the ground then have to resell yours (and possibly give you a cut)

Story from the club on Twitter and the website. Copious quotes from Marshall but missing one detail 

7 hours ago, fairweather said:

Does this launch Ant and Dec? 

Thankfully no, so the memory isn’t sullied. That was Byker Grove

9 minutes ago, Ziderarmy said:

Strangely it appears you can’t until 10am 

But you could yesterday. 
 

To recap - Up until 12 yesterday you could move your seat to any seat in the stadium (not SS) that wasn’t held for an existing ST holder.

They have now reset the system and removed the holds for existing ST holders, releasing their seats, which will be available (in addition to all other seats which weren’t held) from 10am

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

A 21 year old striker who's scored roughly a goal every 225 minutes for two seasons (noted penalties) will have absolutely no issue at all getting a contract at a Championship club. 

Any club that feels they can give Tommy the right service will be queuing up for him.

I'd be surprised to see him stay tbh.

As would I, but as a bit of devils advocate here if he wasn’t one of our own would we be so bullish? The fact is that if you take out the penalties Tommys scoring record this season has been pretty poor (debate/discuss the reasons why) and there is an argument he’s regressed. I don’t think a Scotland U21 cap adds any real value so if we were looking at a player who say, played for Stoke and had Tommys record this season pre penalties would it be a deal many of us would be that keen on?

(FWIW I do think he’ll have suitors, I do think he’ll go but in view of the above I’m not sure we’re getting top dollar, particularly at this contract stage)

9 hours ago, IAmNick said:

Blimey.

If you look at the page source you'll see a JSON object in there full of stuff like this:

{
    "guid": "e79935ff-5695-4725-bedd-6126de0f4d53",
    "name": "W9",
    "type": "SelectedSeats",
    "free": 184,
    "soldOut": false,
    "isBlocked": false
  }
 

Then write a bit of code (or whack it in a spreadsheet if that's easier) and sum the free column. It's currently at 6331 free and will save you a lot of time!

 

I’d also guess that they haven’t reset the system as yet and this seasons ST seats remain classed as “sold” prior to today to ensure that people don’t transfer into them, so probably a futile exercise all round.