cidered abroad

What about the start of the climb back? Chester City to go up from Div 4.

A very proud day for Sam, Mickey his father, his mother, City fans everywhere. That is two City youngsters who have played at England under 20 level. Plus those who have been selected for Wales, Scotland and Ireland. I know that the outlook for our club is not all bright and sunny at this moment but there are so many things that remind me of a time just over fifty years ago. Quality youth in abundance and a young manager / coach who servedserved their apprenticeships with quality seniors teaching them.

I'm the same as you at 80. I had a great father who spent his earnings on his two children rather than going to the pub every night. So my first away match was an FA Cup at St Andrews in 1951. We lost 2-0 and from then to now they rate as the club I most dislike as we hardly ever beat them. Keep the faith @CliftonCliff

Thanks a million, Mr. Manning.

Your reference to have only our Academy boys in the first team. Thoroughly agree and while not trying to be critical of AD, he had so many that were very young when they started at City. Apart from Hunter, Royle and Cormack, the core of the team stayed together for five/six years. I believe that this was one of the reasons we slipped from 8th in the First in October 1979 to relegation by April. They were stale without fresh quality input. I consider the ideal is for the squad to change each summer with a couple of Academy graduates and two from elsewhere. Not drastic changes to the team plan but enough (15 to 20%) to keep it fresh.

Sorry, missed that one or cannot remember it. Senility creeping in?

All of you that have done so many grounds are true football fans. Although that doesn't lessen those who for various valid reasons have only been to a few. I'd still walk across a road to see kids playing on the other side.

The format of three strikers playing up front but spread across the total width is almost going back to the 2-3-5 that was played before Alf Ramsey changed it to 4-4-2. Of the front five, the two wingers hugged the touchline and the centre forward generally stayed in the middle. At the back it was two full backs with a centre half so in effect the 2-3-5 actually was 3-4-3 with wing halves and inside forwards filling the middle between defence and attack. Similar to what Pearson played but without the four midfielders attempting to swamp the opponents defence - usually one or at most two. So how can a striker like Conway get his goals with only crosses from wingers to him alone. I dread to think how many less that Big John would never have scored. We shouldn't throw caution to the wind but we have to be much more positive in our attacking to win games. And try going through the middle a bit more.

Here goes. Football League clubs at time of visit to see City playing: 78, from all four divisions Of those grounds I also saw matches not involving City at 20 of them. City Cup matches at Wembley and Cardiff Scotland, none involving City : 9 Overseas stadiums to see matches, International and domestic league: Berlin, Cardiff, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon. I won't be doing any more away matches as I find distance driving very tiring. Just going to Ashton Gate and I'm asleep in the chair for the evening. I'll still try to see one rugby international per season at Cardiff as I get a train there and back. I've always enjoyed going to see any match and meeting the home fans even at Millwall. I remember a trip to Barnsley and their fans were brilliant hosts in the bar, to one of ours who was at the last one of the 92. And being able to see some of the great players of the world. Bobby Charlton demolishing Wales at Cardiff, Di Stefano, Eusebio and Puskas at Wembley, the double winners of 1961, Spurs, slaughtering Gornik of Poland 8-1 in their first home European cup match. And three German world cup winners for Inter Milan at Villa Park. Last evening I saw Alex Stepney on TV at Charlton's funeral and remembered seeing him at Ashton Gate for Millwall when the whole crowd clapped him off the pitch for a truly magnificent display of goalkeeping. A few months later, Man U bought him. I leave the best until last. I saw Atyeo's first and last games for City and hundreds in between. My hero as a footballer and a person.

Try walking let alone playing football on the beach at Burnham on Sea. Thank goodness it's blowing west to east otherwise I'd be eating breakfast in Cardiff after the dog walk!

Yet another example of the tightening of the purse strings at Bristol City. Do the Women's team stand any chance of staying up?

I was there. Dolman in the block nearest Covered End. And also at Old Trafford to see the Mabbutt hat trick. Oh those days!

One very good example of a great manager who never played professional football is Lawrie McMacMennamy of Southampton.

Absolutely no comparison with each other. Manning had a very short career as a player but has spent nearly two decades in coaching and not only in this country. Johnson played for his father for 90% of his career. Nuff said.

Amazingly @ralphindevon there were only four managers in my first thirty one years beginning in 1950. Pat Beasley, promotion, Peter Doherty, responsible for relegation but sacked before it happened. Fred Ford promotion and AD with promotion to Div One and also partly responsible for three relegations in a row even if he'd gone after first drop. Eight up and seven down. Will Manning be responsible for a return to top tier before they screw the lid down?

Wow! Is it him or a very similar Monsieur?

So you have seen six promotions and six relegations! I'm at eight up and seven down so am desperately hoping that I stay positive before I get dispatched in a wooden box.

No, Robins is not the one for us. If we cannot have an aged Pearson why should we have another one from Coventry? If it is Manning it will be someone with fresh ideas and a real target to aim at.

Well done! To get an away win in any league is good and especially in a Premier League.

A car sales company in Bristol. Oops sorry BIRMINGHAM!

I believe it is a quite simple explanation. SL is an accountant who uses the past to decide what will happen in the future. No sense of a different pathway! All of the money making came from Hargreaves the investor and as such, one who would gamble. Not recklessly and not all the time but enough to make higher profits than the totally safe route. SL has spent good money on the buildings which are certain to be better than, for instance, the old shed/Covered End/East End. And like the Lansdown, which can be used to considerably increase non football revenue in addition to 11,00 dearest seats But not one clue about the game of football, the people who work in it or those who turn up to watch Liverpool or Manc one day and a week later travel to Darlington or Rochdale for an evening Division Four game!

How many would even consider making any comment about a stay on hospital? Yes he calls a spade a spade but is always very quick to thank and praise people for trying their best. That is how to manage people and make them feel and perform to the best of their ability. I hope he has a healthy remainder to his life. Thank you Nigel just for being open and straightforward with all of us. Who do you want to win tomorrow? City or a club you played for and have a good feeling as a supporter. Will you be moving back there or staying in yokels Somerset.

You'd leave Dickie out? I'd put Naismith in defensive midfield with Weimann on the bench.

Will SL be there on Saturday? I doubt it very much.

If this is true, I would imagine that he would be asking for a very minimal salary but with a nice bonus if he achieved promotion during the contract. He already has enough cash in his bank account for a couple more lifetimes so I think if it happens, it would not break wages structure.