Merrick's Marvels

Do you mean Loneliness of the long distance runner by the same author - Alan Sillitoe - which contains a short story called The Match and begins with the line "Bristol City had played Notts County and won." Contains evocative descriptions of football in the 50s but isn't really about the game, rather about working class life in Nottingham at the time, much like a lot of his writing. Microsoft Word - The Match.doc (uwo.ca)

The team of Vinny Jones, David Batty, Chris Kamara. Even before you get to Revie's lot.

Well if Jon Boy ever re-designs the badge again, there's the new motto right there: " Bristol City - A work in progress since 1894 "

If he was still at Derby, do you think Manning would be after him this summer? I'm not so sure. Looks far more a Pearson player in a Pearson team, to me.

Much a prefer a steady Eddie, someone you know will give you 7 or 8 out of 10 every week. That was Maenpaa. O'Leary has been excellent in our cup ties, now calamitous. Unfortunately for him, the die is cast - he could have a dozen good games in a row but never shake the feeling that a cock up is just round the corner. So it's a No from me. On balance.

Jürgen Klopp is right: man-management skills are being lost in a rush of data | Jürgen Klopp | The Guardian

It's what happens when you lose a play off final and then stagnate. Who are we to cast the first stone?

This deserves a thread of it's own

But you were saying Twine injured isn't a problem...

Mark Robins is not an idiot.

And?

I'll be too busy celebrating, mate!

Of course other teams do. But what other team in the Champ is relying on 1 player to create/score as much as we are on Twine? We all know the implications of this team, losing this player, for an extended period - the season deader than the deadest dodo, because we cannot score a goal. Why? Because the new manager's philosophy is so alien to his defenders that it's taking forever for them to get to grip with how they're supposed to pass into midfield. So need more time. Then again, the midfielders are taking forever to understand what the new man wants too. So they need time too. Meanwhile, our centre forward waits in vain for a sight of goal. In short, we rely on quick transitions of one or two passes, or a set piece, to create chances - ie Nigel Pearson's team. The Forest game illustrated how the defence and midfield are getting to grips with Manning's way but without Twine there's a way to go yet. You knew all that but happy to help.

Because as soon as he joined... he's injured! But don't panic, young boy Jon is sacking our entire medical staff as we speak, so everything will be fine tomorrow. Again. Not.

Will Mr ExiledAjax please report to reception urgently - your wife has gone into the labour. Get yerself home, son!

Agree 100%. For a long time we've been a team that could barely string a few passes together. Now Tinnion has decided to appoint a possession heart coach - despite us having few players suited to that style. To change tack so drastically will take time and new/better players. Manning has had neither, imo. Yet last night there was clear evidence that the players we have are slowly adapting - especially the defenders. If we're now building from the Back much more, it's the defenders who need to be a heck of a lot more technical and a heck of a lot more braver than they used to be. Without the defenders getting up to speed the whole system falls flat on its arse. But last night showed our defenders can play that way and do it well, against an above Championship standard team. So step 1 achieved, base camp established. Of course the final third needs improving but that won't happen over night. I'd argue there hasn't been time yet to either tweak our tactics, improve our current attacking players or upgrade with new ones. Again, time and money needed for that - ie the summer. But if we can play like we did against Champ teams between now and the end of the season, add Twine and maybe one more new attacker, I reckon we'll create plenty in the meantime. Forest defender no.40 played well last night - and at times had to. Last night was a step forward for me.

Nor do I especially, if it's keep ball for keep ball's sake. I just thought there was a bit more intent about our play last night. Perhaps it's an overreaction to years of watching us be 2nd best on our own pitch but we totally dominated a superior team last night, and one that was a bit more "up for it" than West Ham. Obviously in the final third we need to do better but if we can play like that against Championshio teams I think we'll see more end product.

I would encourage you to watch again. We played far more vertical passes at the earliest opportunity, looking to move forward as quickly as possible- compared to previous games. The pennyvisxstartingvto drop with the players, Manning's message starting to connect. Yes there was sideways passing but it wasn't just metronomic sideways passing for the sake of it to my eyes, there was purpose. There were even times we feigned to go sideways, threw the opposition off, before going up into midfield. Dickie really is excellent. Manning talked before the Watford game about his style being cat and mouse but qualified that by saying the players had to learn when to go sideways and when to break the lines vertically. He said they had to learn that it might take 1 sideways pass or half a dozen before going vertically. Tonight was the first sign I've seen that the players have got the message. From back into midfield and forward again was excellent tonight. Now we need some killer forwards.

Ok. You didn't have the best angle then. His first touch, which took him past the defenders, also took him beyond the far post, meaning he had to try and cut a shot back across goal while going at full pelt. Not easy and a miracle he was even there in the first place.

We dominated possession against Premier League opposition. Whereas we've spent years barely able to string 3 passes together, relying on counter attacks and being half decent at "pressing" Tonight we looked like we could play football, proper football. The attacking improvements are needed and will come. Probably needs new players for that though - so the summer.

When! Second half he made a lung bursting run full length of the pitch counter attack, leaving all our attackers in his wake, the touch he then had in the box took him just fractionally too wide for a clear shot at goal with w defenders closing him down. Would have taken Messi to control and finish that - he's a Left back!

Bingo!

What was?

We put in a 90 minute performance, dominated a Premier League team with better players, played front foot! possession football in modern, progressive patterns that had the opposition chasing shadows and when we didn't have the ball, barely gave them a look in. Only thing missing, a cutting edge. But you're not getting much more out of any of those players, virtually 9 or 10 out of 10 all of them. So back to the league and we need that again from all of them plus Twine to create mayhem or a spending spree next week.

2 weeks away according to Manning