handsofclay

I was away for most of yesterday and caught up with a fair few (but not all) posts in the early hours, but obviously that's one I missed. Apologies to DaveFevs.

In boxing parlance fighting off the back foot is being a counter puncher. Fighting off the front foot is being the aggressor, taking the fight to the opponent. I take it that when JL was telling us we would have front foot football it was a reaction to NP's counter attacking style and telling us we would have a manager who took the game to the opponents and controlled the game rather than NP's style of absorbing opponent's play and exploiting holes created to hit quickly on the counter. Straight away we saw that Manning was trying to turn us into a possession based side who would control matches and (in theory but not practice) create more chances and goals from that dominance Front foot football grabbing the game by the nuts and turning that authority into goals. I apologise if these stats have been used before but I have looked through the stats of every single league game played under Manning, 23 to date. On 8 occasions Bristol City have had more possession than their opponents. The return from those games is 2 draws and 6 defeats. 3 goals scored and 10 against. All 7 wins have come with City having less possession. Thus not playing possession football, playing the tactics employed by Nigel Pearson. It is as plain and stark as that. The fact LM is still in his post isn't due to the implementation of his tactics, one of the reasons given for ditching NP, but because of falling back (whether by accident or design) on the tactics NP favoured. I know plenty on here have stated that, and I apologise if these same stats have been used elsewhere. I just thought it was worthwhile spelling out the obvious and backing them up with the plain and simple facts.

It was mentioned a few times how teams have caught us up and then overtaken us on the way to the Premier League. (Thankfully, it being SotC no Gasheads were listening to give them ideas.) It was pondered why is this so. I'd venture it's because those clubs gear themselves up to become successful. If they get a manager who brings kudos and success they stick by him and cling to his coattails on the upper trajectory. Here, if any manager does well or becomes popular it seems to signal his demise because the owner doesn't like it. The manager is dispensed with and we return to this Head Coach title with the next appointment, the man in charge of training and selecting the sides firmly knowing his place.

It was brilliant he said about imagine Roy Keane with his steely stare about to lead the Manchester United players onto the pitch against Liverpool and Fergie approaching him and telling him to cut out the emotion today. Or before a City v Rovers match at Ashton Gate it being announced over the tannoy 'Could the City fans please cut out the emotion, thank you'.

Ross: Hey, Tommy are you also going to get a programme for the boss? Tommy: Nah, he came pre-programmed unfortunately.

I feel like I am a bully picking on Liam Manning as I inevitably do. If you are reading this boss, it's nothing against you personally. I just simply think, in fact I know, you are not up to the job. I am not blaming you. You were put into this situation by the Lansdowns and BT. Don't trust them to ever run a crèche, they'd be getting the kids to play in water dangerously way out of their depth. I have been going to Ashton Gate since 1970. The Pearson sacking was the worst dismissal and most unwarranted of a Bristol City boss in all those 54 years. Prior to that I would say the John Ward departure was the highest own goal in terms of how that was handled and then subsequently panned out, but the Pearson sacking usurps that. (Although the kind of constructive dismissal of Cotts is up there too.) Having lived quite a few years now I am no longer surprised that certain members of the elite just don't have their fingers on the pulse. They live detached, privileged lives. They didn't like a mainly popular Bristol City manager and believed they were all powerful and could dismiss him as it is their club. Not that of the thousands upon thousands who pay good money and invest their money and HEARTS in the club and its fortunes. So they sacked a popular manager and mentioned top six squad and the need for front foot football as a means, they thought, to win the backing of these strange fans who liked the bloke they despised. In his place they have installed someone who just isn't up to the job. Once again, I call upon my experience of following Bristol City and from the outset LM was a totally uninspired appointment and it is evident that not enough effort was put into checking him, his suitability for the job as manager of the highest profile club in the West Country or his achievements and ethos. He had a few months of relative success at MK Dons followed by a terrible slump and a few months of success at Oxford. That is it. As others have said it made LJ's record when he was given the post look greatly experienced by comparison. Two of the trio in charge have no nous in football. They are like you and I, except they have money. Indeed, we have something they clearly don't, a grounding in following a football club and knowing what the masses think without feeling entitled. Is it any wonder it has gone so wrong. The sooner they acknowledge they made a massive balls up of the dismissal of Pearson and foisting this emotionless novice upon our club the sooner Bristol City can get back on track. Until that happens I am afraid the Express to the Promised Land has been derailed for some considerable time to come.

They agreed to lift the ban if he mentioned Southampton.

I don't remember that exactly. All I recall is that he played against us several times while in our starting XI

A friend of mine used to obtain seasonal work as a Santa Claus in a store in Norwich in the early 1990s. He remembers Liam Manning very well. He said that he was the only 7 year old he's ever encountered who when asked if he was looking forward to Christmas replied that he was looking forward to it as much as any other day of the year, for to raise his spirits over that period would inevitably result in a feeling of depression once the euphoria had been exhausted and consequently would impact negatively on his ability to learn how to read and comprehend the tactical jargon and nuances contained within the six thick coaching manuals, without pictures, his Uncle had given him last Christmas. When asked if he had enjoyed meeting Santa, Liam said that he had found the encounter far from pleasurable, indeed, rather alarming as nothing he had read in the manuals provided any indication as to how to stop anyone in a red and white kit giving away so many presents.

Basically he has admitted that we would love to be playing front foot football but it's difficult because we are up against tough opposition in the Championship. We are in a very tough league. Sunderland have lost six on the bounce. That's how tough it is. Strange why they sacked Pearson then he was nowhere near losing six on the bounce.

It's the only way we get to see young local lads on the pitch now Manning is here.

Obviously Bristolians must love their mothers much more than Brummies. The Aston Villa v Spurs match kicked off just 30 minutes later and from pictorial evidence the stadium looked fairly packed.

I was gutted when Cardiff didn't buy him in the January transfer window. Mainly, in fact exclusively, because when Cardiff had their first corner last week against us Ng would have totally wasted his journey into the box.

I was very relieved we got the win today. That was the most important thing. But it's so obvious things aren't working with the new manager and are unlikely to do so and that win most probably secures LM the post for next season. That is very worrying on what we have seen so far. I recall under Holden we took a quick two nil lead v Huddersfield and were then battered for the remainder of the game. How we came out 2-1 winners instead of losing 2-6 was baffling. Fortunately, lots of posters on here pointed out how fortunate we were and articulated their concerns, despite some flak from those who rejoiced at the win and thought that was all that mattered. We soon entered the losing streak that cost Holden his job, but it was so evident in that win. The same applies today, unfortunately. I fear Manning will be given funds to bring in his type of player in the summer and we will become like Swansea were today. Lots of possession, but precious few chances created that aren't executed and the fans at home especially will be bored senseless. If you are reading this I hope you do succeed, Mr Manning. I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong. But presently I have little confidence in that happening.

I thought the very same thing.

I think he meant Manning will be pleased City are still at nil nil after being so poor. He also said that Bristol City haven't had a single shot in the first half and that the Bristol City players don't seem interested!

If we continue like this nil nil will be the best we can hope for. Nearly a third of the game gone and we have done diddly squat as an attacking force.

You're being kind

Will be interesting to see the official attendance. The stadium looks half empty at best.

There was one mention, Nogbad told us yesterday on the transfer forum.

This is the nub of the problem. You have both highlighted a MAJOR defect in LM's experience. Very few football managers let alone successful football managers have no career as a footballer to fall back on and earn the respect of their charges. The very few, such as Jose Mourinhio, who do succeed manage to do so by force of an incredible personality that masks that defect. Liam Manning, as we and the players have sussed, has very little to boast about in the personality stakes. I've yet to see a spouter of coaching manuals top the billing at the London Palladium.

That's ridiculous. The first part season Nigel Pearson was here his aim was to save us from relegation. The next two seasons his aim was to drastically cut our wage bill while consolidating our position in the league while utilising our academy and playing decent, fast counter attacking football which wasn't by any means spectacular. It was next season 2024-25 that his aim was to produce brilliant football and be elevated to God status. That's why the Lansdowns got rid because they only had enough room at Ashton Gate for the new basketball arena. They simply couldn't shoehorn a Temple to the Cult of Nige into the plans.

Sad news for anyone who remembers Scott Hendy the ex Mangotsfield United centre back. He has passed away aged 45 at a pub in Pilning. Head injuries and apparently someone in their 20s has been arrested.

Quite agree, it would make Manningball somewhat more palatable.

Plus, I forget when it was, I think it was under GJ, where at Forest City kicked the ball out so a player could get treated. The ref gave them the ball to kick to our keeper and they kicked it into touch near the corner flag. From the resulting throw they got the late winner!