Fuber

Would rather we didn't bother to be honest. I like Andi and he's been a great servant. But squad balance shows we need less runners and more players with greater technical ability for Manning's system to work.

Not to speak for Seagull. But for me? - Eustace. On the assumption we're most definately not able to get Nige back. And kick out Tinns while we're add it if he was in fact an advocate of getting NP sacked, same for Jon. Did well at Brum under strict financial conditions until the Bellingham windfall and Brady takeover and were the best coached team Ive seen at AG this season, and played a (more similar to NP) structured counter system that was not possession based. Actually has Experience playing and managing at this level. Manning was a boneheaded appointment with regards to playstyle and timing. Do I want him sacked? - No. But in my view it'd be better for the club at this stage, as he doesnt seem to be at all flexible to the needs of the squad, who struggle in possession and technically.

Add in LJs Tombola. I hated Ashton's mannerisms, but with him poaching Probert he evidently actually had an eye for staff. The more time that passes and the better Ipswich do, the more I consider in contect that the buck starts to stop more with the ownership and LJ. Still an ego-centric tit mind.

I ****ing hope not.

What do you mean our academy progression was only due to an appointment not by Lansdown(s)? Say it aint so! (Appointed under Keith Dawe to Development Phase Coach, and promoted to Academy manager in 2016). Thats surely an exception and all of SLs appointments have been stunning successes in his own periods of holding chairmanship(s) of the club. (Silence) .... ...Right? ... Right?... Guys?

Disagree. Some of the analysts are the same, sure, as they were employed by us directly. But MA had his own network via which most of his transfers were made, using consultant and scouts to filter options that were then liaised to MA and LJ. Gillespie was nowhere near qualified to head up recruitment like he did when NP first came in, but he was tasked with it under Gould to help keep costs down. MA had his own network of both scouts, consultant, and agents. That stopped when he was out on gardening leave his final season. It's also how he was able to immediately get signings on board when he got through the door at Ipswich.

What this misses also is the impact of Gould. The feedback and intervening between NP and the board, after the removal of action, highlights the stark difference to this summer and role he played. It seems Alexander was backing NP and was sacked for his troubles. I'd arguably disagree with the bold section, but this is a forum and I understand your view and respect it. It's the off the pitch element is what game myself and others theoretically keep NP in plenty of credit. Our culture when he first arrived was the worst I've near seen at any club or ourselves previously. Similar for recruitment - as when MA, the latter took the entire recruitment team with him, which meant no scouting network at the time. It was the reason why on paper signing such as King, James, and Simpson made more sense in that context. Also, I could be wrong here, but which 6 home games did we only score 4 goals? - unless we're picking the worst results for us scoring across the this season. But Coventry and Ipswich we were very light on the ground at that stage with King, Pring, and Dickie as back three. With Robert subbed off first half. It's a results business, three points across those two was expected with the latters form. Stoke agreed was poor. As for Preston, we were the only people they battered physically, they got off to a flying start. The key thing that had fans on Nige side, for me, is he made us very very difficult to beat, even with a massively depleted squad and no depth.

No CEO means buck stops with the owner. When the Chairman, which in this case is family and therefore a nepotistic appointment, even more so.

Part of me wonders if Conway was rushed back too soon with Wells injured.

You mean aside from the fact that the whole reason we played counter attacking football under NP is because he knew we didn't have players who could play the full 90 with the ball at their feet without concentration problems. We had the second best defence in the league on a conceded per 90 basis before Manning. Nothing 'Good' about the games. Just tippy happy across the back, too slow and too ponderous. We get pressed, panic, and concede. Parallels to SO'D.

He's not helping himself by forcing the transition now - that's squarely on Manning. The big risk for him is if he loses confidence of the players. He should have stuck with the old system for the time being until he got players in January and made small adjustments. It's just basic poor management. Either way, I don't think the majority of fans will blame Manning directly, vitriol will be saved for the board. As without them this whole mess doesn't happen.

Was more just about the control aspect and the criticism Tann attracted from Cardiff fans (re the colour change). If SL had managed what Tann managed, or was as competent, and he isn't (not intefered much and just let a manager get on with his job), we wouldn't be talking about this mess and NP would still be here.

De Boer had less. And ironically had a similar ethos regarding possession. #justsaying

Agree with all your point Fox. However with regards to Leicesters decisionmto rappoint Nige meant your owners didn't have too big of an ego trip. Sadly Lansdown seems to have such a fragile ego where he sacked NP in the first place, and the last time he attracted criticism he spieled the old "its MY club" card. If he wasn't English there'd be more than one comparison with a certain Vincent Tan. Sadly can't see him admitting any mistake. Wish he'd just sell. Him expecting what he values Bristol Sport at means thats not happening any time soon either. Delusional. Him, Tinnion, and his Son. None of them at all qualified.

Think it's fair to say I think Hargreaves got the lions share of the brains and acumen at this stage, at the very least with regards to decision making and management. I appreciate the money SL pumps in, but the lack of forethought and stratagem from the top is stifling. Can't accept a contrary view to his own that's at all forthright. Ends up with yes men and no backbone in his management. Said it once and I'll say it again, GJ aside, the only good appointment in the last 15 years was Cotts ...who was appointed by Keith Dawe when SL stepped away from the club slightly.

I feared it the second they sacked NP. Not because NP was the best manager in the division, he isnt. But because of one simple word. Stability. And we chcuked it out the window as our manager rightly felt he wasn't being backed, and the owners ego couldn't seem to take valid and accurate (critique) feedback without Gould buttering him up. If we get relegated, and I hope not - but it would be everything the leadership deserve. This should have been all sorted (new manager, full preseason) over the summer period. Simple planning, structure, and targeted recruitment. Instead, we, the fans, now have no choice but to feel sorry for Manning, and pray he adapts. All because of their ego and stupidity.

James Hill, Matt Hill's son. They were referencing latter's playing career.

Yeah see loads of people excited over us playing like we're back under O'Driscoll. Not. Behave - people are rightly pissed off - namely with club leadership, and worried about the fact this could realistically lead to relegation dogfight. They've dug their own hole. Manning wasnt going to get a grace period after the way NP was treated, rightly or wrongly.

No other player reminds me of how badly we wasted money in that period. Dear lord, how we had him for three years on the books...

Still think we're roundly way too slow shifting the ball across the pitch. Reminds me of O'Driscoll too much.

Hiding.

Much worse for NP. Cardiff. NP didn't have Vyner, Tanner, Williams, Conway; with six of eight bench players being Yeboah, Knight-Lebel, Backwell, Idehen Thomas and Nelson. Conway was still named on the bench despite not being close to fitness. Manning today at least had options to try and change the game.

With 11 players out injured with games against Leeds and Leicester? He has the latter right as with him, despite those "7 games" we were within touching distance of the play offs with Jan on the horizon after he wasn't backed in the summer. Absolute miracle, if you ask me. We had some sense of stability in spite of the tiny squad he was working with.

Think context needs to be provided here. Rolls got shat on due to the type of injuries we were getting - we had 5 players out at one stage due to Calf and Hamstring pulls and tears at one stage. Compare that to Rennie where we had two ACL injuries (which are plain unlucky and more linked to development (15-19) than anything with regards to fitness, and Vyner, Tanner, among others who were impact injuries. The only player I can recall with Hamstring issues is Conway - Williams had recurrences and has been crocked ever since the Rolls period, O'Neill was also critical of our medical team - think it was mentioned when he was a pundit on one of our matches before getting the Bournemouth job. See if I can find out which.