Red Exile

Sods law. Out of the country that week...will be watching in Australia...whatever time it is there...

Not at all sure why folk are so keen to start rewriting the LJ story at this point. Fact was he was a controversial appointment. Personally I liked him as a player but it wasn't at all clear that he was the man to replace Cotts. He was SL's gamble, and so determined was SL to be proved right that he kept Lee long after other owners would have bid him farewell. As a consequence LJ outstayed his welcome. Hence the vitriol. But the salient point is that having been - we were regularly told by our owner - asked to deliver a promotion challenge Lee Johnson constantly fell short. By comparison with previous City managers he was given the keys to the kingdom. If he'd left earlier and spent less on acquiring clubs that never left the bag he'd be more kindly remembered. Almost 500 games as a manager, never delivered a promotion anywhere. He didn't have it in him, I strongly suspect he never will.

I'm also away. So yes, Man Utd - or Liverpool.

A really enjoyable watch. Excellent. Suddenly so much hope for the future. What a transformation. Congrats all round but what a day for Sam Bell.

In the immediate aftermath of the Boxing Day misery I'd lost faith in Pearson. On reflection, and after a couple of battling performances the like of which aren't displayed by sides who've lost faith in their manager, I agree with your sentiments. I have, however, no faith in SL to do more than keep the wheels on the wagon. Perhaps that is all we can hope for.

Just got back from a weekend with the in-laws in Hull - they remain optimistic, reckon a few wins will put them in with a play-off shout, all off to Wigan tomorrow to witness their revival! The contrast with my eternal pessimism was stark!

Great game to watch. In a different season a more confident City side with a bit more fortune would be winning these matches, and have at Coventry in the past!

Giving away stupid free kicks on the edge of our area with moments to go is exactly the type of unforced error that had blighted this season. Got away with it!

We need to score here. Well on top.

After today I'm afraid that miserable Nige has to go. Happy to move him upstairs, he seems a good football man, but he's working in the entertainment business and appears out of his depth in match management...moreover I can't think of a single game he's managed that I've witnessed in person that has entertained me. It's miserabalist tedium. I'm done with this season. For all that I enjoy the chat with folk around me the football is dire. That said the blame lies at the top. SL has presided over season after season of unambitious mediocrity - the Cotts years were a brief flicker of light. It's now 15 years since GJ had us on the brink. Largely wasted. Good luck everybody.

I'd like to ask SL what his ambition is for City these days...is it simply survival? I feel for my son who has made a long journey to be there tonight.

Despite it being painful to watch City at times I remain sympathetic to Nigel Pearson. Here he is, in one of the world's richer and more competitive leagues, at times being obliged to pick sides with a high percentage of young & often inexperienced players developed by the club. We might all want to believe - hope - that our youngsters will be world beaters but it doesn't seem very plausible that any club at our level will unearth a Championship-ready crop of early 20-something talent all in the same generation. That we're not dead certs for relegation seems something of an achievement in the circumstances and testament to his man management experience, not least be cause he, we, they, know that we can't afford the wages of many of the more experienced players and we're actively trying to shift them on. Your last point may be correct - in which case heaven help us because Lansdown's track record of manager picks is pretty abysmal. If we're currently in a mess it's a mess of his making - bet the house on his boy Lee and Mark Ashton...what folly!

Amazing to read some of the posts in this thread. I can't imagine who thought we'd be challenging for the top 6 at the start of the season! Lovely if it happened but a look at the players we currently have fit and available would suggest it highly unlikely. I thought today we were outplayed for long periods by a side with players of far greater technical ability and experience. Weren't Boro tipped for the top this year? A battling point was a good return today. Earlier in the week we outplayed the Blades and were desperately unlucky. Surely anyone who has watched City down the years knows that enthusiasm isn't enough. Investment is needed in quality. Lansdown having blown the budget on a pair of chancers NP has a tough job. Needs all the support he can get. He gets mine.

Good point. Blimey...never a comfortable watch is it? Max coming into his own - impressive.

This is a very mediocre City side. Hopefully mid table. The upside is that we're not likely to get relegated. Which is better than I feared.

was about to agree on underwhelming...really poor at times. You can't pick a single player out, it's all over the park...the passing is beyond belief at times, so casual. As for creating anything...

Impressive to hold out towards the end of the second half. Excellent result.

I agree with him that it is very frustrating to watch. A frustration that if it wasn't for the pleasure of the company on match day both my peace of mind - and my wallet - could well do without!

100% this as far as I am concerned. And it's a relief. More than that though we appear to have a team with spirit - I think we could be pleasantly surprised this season.

Couldn't follow the match today. As ever checked the result with some trepidation - but for some reason not quite as much as usual. Actually feeling confident about this side's performances. Is something happening? It appears it is.

Fine result that. What a goal from Antoine. Impressed.

Really interesting interview once it moved on from Baker and team selections, where he was unlikely to say anything revelatory. Interesting insights into the clubs position - and his position - re. transfers & loans, and on not collecting players. Reassuring. I'm glad that we have someone with his experience at the helm.

The best of luck to him. Fine player on his day.

Speaks volumes for what an utterly extraordinary decision it was for City to appoint Dean Holden manager. Like or loathe them the Stoke owners know something about running a football club.

To have watched such a high proportion of the matches we played in the bottom tier is surely worth a round of applause! Fair play - as they say.