Kibs

Yep, it’ll soon show if they aren’t up for it given most of the teams we’re playing still have it all to play for.

It’s an interesting comparison isn’t it

The use of Top 6 / Promotion quotes do crack me up. If JL/BT told you to jump off a cliff because it’s good for your health, would you do it? Or would you use your brain and reach your own conclusion? Our squad is weaker this season than last season IMO, certainly not stronger! Alex Scott was never adequately replaced, Antoine Semenyo was never adequately replaced - why on earth anyone feels we should even be competing for a Top 6 spot, regardless of the manager……I just cannot subscribe to that view. I could just never see where the creativity and goals would come from. Had NP been given the opportunity to use the Alex Scott money, I think we could potentially have had a bit of a go, but the second that was denied, I could never see us being anything more than mid-table.

My interpretation of his comment was that they send the team out with the attacking intent, but the Championship is so tight that sometimes how the opposition play doesn’t allow it. I was actually quite pleased to hear that, and accept it to a degree, but my concern is that they rarely seem to be able to figure out a way to change it. I’d like to see them be much bolder and braver in their approach (pre-game and in game), but I’m just not sure they have it in them! Maybe it’s just me, but the modern game/coaches seem to massively over analyse, overthink and try to be too clever. Im not really sure what sort of team we are now, or what we are trying to be. Its a massive summer for him, and I think even some of the more patient fans will lose patience pretty quickly next season if there isn’t early signs of improvement in performances.

This is a great post. And whilst we should of course aim high, it’s probably the most competitive league in the world. Theres not many teams above us that I look at and think “we should really be above them”, and similarly, there are a few below us who I think should probably be doing better, which leads me to believe we’re roughly where we should be right now. Losing Semenyo and then Scott, and to not adequately replace them (I know we couldn’t fully replace them, they’re too good) led me to the conclusion very early that we’d be mid table at best. Had we replaced them, I think we could possibly be abit closer to the play-offs. We’ve all watched loads of non City Championship games which are absolutely turgid, but when City are involved, it seems unacceptable. It’s just the league we’re in, good days, bad days, average players, very little between anyone on any given day. I think Mannings tenure has been underwhelming, but more in terms of performances than outcome - I know many will disagree, but I really think we’re pretty much where we should be with the “quality” of our squad. Will be a tougher division IMO next season, so without some real quality recruitment, I don’t see us mounting a top 6 challenge next year either I’m afraid - whoever is in charge.

6 months ago I’d have been happy to see him replaced and sat as our number two. Now I’m more concerned he’ll be one of the next ones off to better things in the summer! Delighted for him. Just goes to show how players can improve given the time and the opportunity, and how important consistent minutes are to help that development.

Yeah definitely I also agree with an earlier comment (think from WSM) that’s it’s abit of a mentality issue too!

Of course I don’t, but I’m assuming Manning does….which is a pretty logical assumption isn’t it? I’ve already said it’s not the way I’d have gone. We don’t know 10% of what Manning does, and there are some things you have to trust that he has made a decision in his mind, which is right based on the information he has available. For me, this is one of those. Sorry if you disagree.

I think this squad is built to play on the break and without the ball, so it’s absolutely no surprise to me that we’ve played well in the games we have and struggled in games like today. It’s on Manning to work it out and change that.

Do you have access to Tanners recovery data then? Fair play, feel free to share. Clearly, he’s rotating players based on data, and also trying to keep a squad happy….a new problem. Not saying he got it right, just saying he’s made the decision, in his mind, which is correct based on the information he has available - which by the way, we don’t have access to and so are assuming/guessing.

See my earlier post. Personally, I’d have used him, but given how we have performed in the last two games, and given our recent injury history, I can accept why he may have decided not to use him.

No.

Or next 13

Fine. Agree to disagree, but Manning was fundamental to why we brought Twine in, so other than Twine not being fit (then then why have him on the bench?) I can’t think of any other reason, you?

Na. Easy in hindsight. Had he brought Twine on ahead of the others (and we still lost) people would be criticising him for not using those who had performed well the last couple games. I fully expected this result(sadly).

Perhaps felt the players that had been available and performed well over the last couple games had earned the opportunity ahead of Twine?

Yarp…….

It’s mathematically possible, so yes it can be done, but if the Championship has taught us anything, it’s that points are often gained and dropped from where you don’t expect…. I think since their managerial appointments, QPR and Sheff Wed are both capable teams despite their league position so nothing would surprise me…..well, 6 points would actually But dare to dream and all that, I’m just pleased that we’re still amongst the chasing pack and It would be great to stay in the mix as long as possible.

We’ve averaged 1.375 PPG over 32 games, and now we’re talking about getting 30+ points from 14 games - 2.14 PPG, which would be nearly 100 points over a season….. And given we’ve won our last two, that would mean we finished the last 16 games averaging 2.25 PPG, 103.5 points over a season!!! I’m all for optimism but I think you’re getting carried away!!

It’s abit shit that members/POTD can rarely get a couple seats together in the south stand because it’s “sold out”……and then you get to your seat in the dolman/Lansdown and see that there are hundreds empty. It looks crap too and it surely can’t help the atmosphere. I hope they either bin off the U12 offer for that stand or at least set the price so that it’s not palatable to buy the extra seat and have it empty half of the time.

The Championship is just absolutely mental isn’t it It’s why I just didn’t get it when people were going mental after the draws away at QPR and Huddersfield… Year after year we see a league which the top few aside, there is barely anything between the rest. We could quite conceivably not win any of our next 2 and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit!!! It’s impossible to predict where your points are coming from.

I think the forum needs a new rule and this sort of shite should be an instant ban

This is just too simplistic a way of looking at it. There are two teams which influence the game. If we play against a team (QPR possibly on Saturday) who sit back, men behind the ball and let us have it, we simply can’t play like we did tonight, even if we wanted to. We have to be better in those games when possession is more equal, or in our favour.

Different attributes to Cam, I think Roberts is possibly better with the ball, but Cams physical attributes are unreal. I really rate them both.

If you read the forum, it’s actually only a handful of people who micro analyse every word/action/decision/interview and look to find something negative. The trouble is, they repeat it numerous times on every thread. I think the vast majority are relatively happy with him, and realise that it’s the people above him who are the problem.