Swede

Actually today, in a tight game you could see a value. He popped up many times in good positions, in between the lines. These fine margins could be the difference between winning and losing. This is what I think Manning sees. He's a very intelligent player always thinking on the front foot. Unfortunately for him I don't think he affects enough of what we need in a game. This is down to his slight physique & perceived lack of pace. So he's never going to out pace or out muscle a defender.

He is never worth £4M, I would say more like less than half of that.

In all fairness having both of this season's centre backs missing made a huge difference. With that makeshift back three they were always going to be tentative & safety first and that set the tempo for a largely uninspiring game. Huddersfield looked dangerous, had more tenacity which meant they were on the front foot and were pretty solid across the park. More than once I saw Tanner either caught the wrong side of their central striker (No.7) or just not strong enough to impose himself on him. When we applied a bit of tempo you could see that unsettled them a little. Rudoni was their best player, shame we couldn't sign him when the opportunity arose.

Hopefully both centre backs will be back next week.

55 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Don’t think it’s been mentioned, but John Galley’s debut for City in 1967 was a hat-trick at Huddersfield.  Best ever debut by a City player?

What about Joe Royle's 4 goal debut v Boro!

On 11/04/2024 at 09:38, 22A said:

Ever pondered why you're single?

Please, someone tell me that for authenticity that is also a tent.

Dickie. Been fantastic all season.

Sykes. Such an influential player & we really missed him when he was injured.

James. We simply play far better when he plays.

Pring. He is such a strong player on the left side.

Knight. What a signing he's turned out to be & now seems to be playing in a much more influential position.

Stoke or Birmingham? Birmingham all day long. A few seasons without eyoweeheads and that excruciating KRO song would do nicely.

As one of my favourite actors famously once said "they are a shower, an absolute shower!"

(One for the oldies!)

Respectfully no. We may have problems of our own but they pale into insignificance with the "family" club.

On 06/04/2024 at 17:13, View from the Dolman said:

When your concourse looks like someone's selling a few pints from their barn during a village fete

 

What a dump

1 hour ago, The Gasbuster said:

True; but how is it that a shitty little club like Luton can come up from L1, spend just two seasons in the Champ, and then get promoted to the PL ?

By employing a new coach to take this Championship challenging squad to another level by playing fast paced front foot football. Its all in the behaviours, don't you know.

From what I've seen on the training clips he's finding it hard to fit in. An outsider, the competitive nature of being a footballer means that you are a team mate but also a rival for a position in the squad or a new contract.  He's low on confidence and I get the impression he's come with the big Man City fanfare build up and has been unable to live up to it. He knows it, the players know it and its only a matter of time before he's gone again.

Its sad, its not very nice seeing someone in life struggle to live up to expectations & it would be lovely if he could recapture his confidence for all concerned, club, fans, fellow players and more importantly Dire himself.

Good luck fella.

Bolton 2 : 0 Bolting (as in horse punchers)

I would renew both contracts, without question. Both offer so much in experience which is irreplaceable. Losing King is bad enough, losing both of these players as well would be catastrophic. We'd end up forking out a lot of money short term for someone like Luongo or Morsy to try and stabilise us. Sadly, I have a feeling Williams will be off back up North.

20 hours ago, cider hoss rules said:

From a mate of mines FB account, I’ve removed his name to save his shame!
Proper tinpot, a bar in a horse box

I mean all joking aside, that is terrible. How anyone can provide "facilities" like this and deem it acceptable is beyond me.

20 hours ago, cider hoss rules said:

From a mate of mines FB account, I’ve removed his name to save his shame!
Proper tinpot, a bar in a horse box

Do they serve red rum at that "bar"

13 hours ago, pillred said:

Finding it difficult to join in this love-in for Alex Scott, sorry if that sounds harsh but to me it's like wishing your ex-wife well after she has left you for a bloke uglier than you who had a few bob, whilst you had to carry on working in Aldi.

Its because Alex Scott is a generational talent destined for bigger & better things. That was clearly evident whilst he was here. To be the EFL player of the season playing for a mid table provincial side in a footballing backwater takes some doing. Bournemouth also realise it and if he carries on the same trajectory he'll be off to a bigger club before long.

6 hours ago, redsquirrel said:

are these the first two times he has changed tactics during the games? it reads like it from post match talk and highlight that ive seen. previous games have felt like  'thats the plan and we are sticking with it' 

if it is the first two times,what has taken so long for the penny to drop and think something else might work?  its going to  be a tough journey if hes learning on the job and it takes this long to grasp something so glaringly obvious

I quite agree. I must confess its the first times I can recall. That shows progress! Or that he avidly reads OTIB.

I remain cautiously optimistic.  These were two games we could easily have lost on paper.

Manning set his team up and had a game plan for Leicester. I saw him coaching his way through the match. He made positive, not reactive subs. This carried over to Plymouth where he was not afraid to change something he didn't like tactical wise and was quick to point out that it wasn't performance issues that led to the changes.

This is what I want to see a lot more of. We have a good chance of making it three wins on the spin so let's go for it, be bold!

Today is the acid test if Manning can be a success here. Good Friday was yet another yard mark from where we have to kick on from. He can't afford another dip in performance on and off the pitch. For every top team we play there are 5 or 6 average Championship teams (and I'm not being disrespectful) Its no good beating a top team and then fail miserably against the rest.

19 hours ago, JBFC II said:

You can count them yourself if you want!

Top quality shithousery! 

On 30/03/2024 at 08:13, cidercity1987 said:

Even a club like Plymouth coming up automatically with quality and momentum have really started to struggle.

Imagine if ragtag Rovers sneaked in fluckily through the play offs one year with a squad like theirs at the moment. They wouldn't have the first clue how to compete and I could see a record low points total

 

Argyle are streets ahead in size and fanbase to the deluded few. I've said on many occasions that until they realise and accept where they are in that they are a small lower league club they will never get anywhere. They never will, its what they do.

On 30/03/2024 at 06:43, Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan said:

Yeah its of a shame that they always bang on about their supposedly MASSIVE away support isn’t it? 

75 at Fleetwood, 300 at Lincoln, this shit turnout yesterday. The away support that, apparently, is the “envy of most clubs in L1” according to sags 

Deluded idiots.

 

I'll have you know POH that that is what's commonly known as a "large contingent from bristol rovers"

Amazingly, I haven't seen any evidence or statements from any of their wet brained amoebas banging on about the obvious massive support at Vale Park.

4 minutes ago, spudski said:

If you think we've got problems on this forum re reactions...then read the post match comments on the Foxes forum.

https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/topic/134410-bristol-city-1-0-lcfc-post-match-thread/#comments

Oh dear, I would mind having their problems. Typical overreaction from a Premier league spoilt entitled fan base. ORIB would be in meltdown if the roles were reversed and Conway missed the numerous sitters Vardy missed yesterday.

Pleasantly surprised today! He set up well AND was coaching through the match! We competed well. Played Knight in his best position also which reaped rewards. You can't underestimate the importance of Matty James, just plays it nice and simple. I thought George Tanner had his best game for us as well. That's the marker for Monday and now on. It's now up to Manning to replicate and improve on that performance. I am still not convinced by him but credit where credit's due today.

For what its worth, I'd go with;

Max

Tanner, Vyner, Dickie & Pring

Williams, James

Sykes, Knight & Twine

Wells