cidered abroad

Could be "The last time we played Cardiff" for a long time.

0-2 to Brighton already.

I've had an ST for approximately 85% of years since my first in 1966/7.

Had one when living in Shrewsbury and Livingston for a total of eleven years but didn't for seven years living in Portugal with one season but I did have one in 2008/9 and came to see 12 home games.

Had standing ST in Covered End in early 1980's after 1982 fiasco.

I'm now almost sure that if Manning is still here then I won't renew.

I don't mind losing or playing badly and winning but this rubbish is dreadful.

I just listened to his post match interview. Blaming it all on the players not doing what he wants.

What a sad person

26 minutes ago, mason said:

Its a tough choice, and I have been a long time over 50yrs with this my club and its hard as hell to walk away,

Yes another poor choice by our present leader has got us to where we are today.

We seem to be selling off our best players to cover their mistakes cant see that changing anytime soon either.

I'm feeling the same after 74 seasons. It will be very hard to not renew and not come again but it's supposed to be entertaining, win lose or draw.

1 hour ago, BCFCGav said:

Anticipate a battering here but I’ll post my thoughts anyway. 
 

We should keep him. LM is going poorly - let’s have it right. We’ve lost to three teams with worse squads than us on the spin. Criticism is more than fair and us, as paying and long-suffering supporters, are qualified to give it.

But.

- These are not his players. They don’t suit his style. His one ‘big’ signing in his mould is injured (an ongoing issue here that long precedes LM). He will need the summer.

- The same idiots still own the club. The next appointment will also struggle - they struggle at appointing managers.

- He’s got over 3 years of contract left. So has his assistant. We’ve sorted our money issues, let’s not piss all that money away now.

- This will be the least popular one. We showed some signs of progress today. We nicked the ball high on about 4 occasions, that’s our best avenue of attack and we saw signs of it. I actually think we were the better team today. They scored one set piece, and their keeper had a solid game. Today was better, albeit against a low bar.

 

We’re safe this season. Some will say we’re not but we are. 9 points AND 9 places clear. 6 more points from 11 games will do it. 
 

The problems lie above his head, and until they’re gone, we will always fail at this level. No amount of chopping and changing managers will change that fact. And even if they do finally get it right and appoint a man to take us forward… we know they’ll sack him anyway. 
 

 

Six points away from bottom three! Safe?

Like hell we are not. I wouldn't gamble on us staying up.

Manning may be a useful coach but he's a lousy manager at this level. And can he take Tinnion when he leaves.

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Team for tomorrow:

O’Leary

McCrorie Vyner Dickie Pring

Williams James

Knight

Sykes Wells Conway

what I think LM will pick 

Considering the comments that I've seen since the Wednesday match, not there or even listening to Radio Bristol, the two full backs should be Tanner and Roberts.

And I'll bet that he doesn't play two strikers.

And how we need a midfielder who can make penetrating passes. How about Naismith instead of James or Williams?

Anyway my pessimistic mind tells me that it will be another home defeat. Cheerful sod aren't I.

5 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Absolutely. I said at the time of the change from Pearson to Manning that either Manning or the squad would need to adapt to the other. Seemingly the decision Manning has made is that it's the squad that must ultimately adapt to him. Ok, but then as we say can that be done quickly enough to capitalise on the positive opportunity we have in 2024/25? You say no. I say perhaps.

A fair opinion to hold. 

So the follow on question is can someone else come in and do it? Someone available. Someone employable. Someone persuadable. 

I don't know enough about managers and assistant managers and various German U23 or B team managers to answer that. But I think this is the question that if answered tells you whether we change now or give Manning an opportunity to prove you wrong.

Change now while we aren't in real danger of the drop! And early enough to plan for next season.

Also if there was any doubt that Conway would want a move this summer, that is a 100% certainty that he will go. What a waste of a good striker.

I know I said it earlier this week but his body language told me that he hasn't a clue on how to organise the squad into a team that suits him.

Simple answer is to get a MANAGER, not a head coach, who will be able to restore the players confidence on the pitch.

As that will not happen, he will have another relegation (did MK go down at end of his time there) on his career record. 

What was so important about those goals and the 2 points for a win. We also won the home game v Shrews the next day and on the following Saturday a 2-0 win over Oldham at Ashton Gate meant we won promotion by goal difference over Mansfield.

PS, it wasn't goal difference but I can't remember how it was calculated.

11 hours ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Always wanted NP as manager and will go down as my favorite, along with Cotts and obviously did not want him sacked, but and to quote my WSM flying friend, the elephant in the room, is there must be more to it than the obvious cover story as maybe the truth could not be given (although I think it was poorly handled), complete speculation, like everyone else.

Now whilst I loved Nige and would have been very happy to see him invest the Scott money and have a go, I am not sure that the football was all that great at times (not saying we did not have any good performances), recent criticism of no plan B, was the same thing we said between our group of season ticket holders about NP, in fact parts of the last 2 games reminded me a lot of games under NP with every striker on the pitch and other times of hitting long balls down the channels, so cannot pretend all was always rosy before.

When he was sacked I thought we would rush and appoint John Eustace who had Birmingham playing well. When we appointed LM instead I had my concerns about his experience as I always felt LJ and GJ had problems dealing with the better more experienced players, due to the lack of having been there and done it, particularly when results go south. In fairness to LM I did think at times we started to change things and going in the right direction, but the last 2 games have moved away from the direction we were going in, perhaps to many changes in players and shape, but think Cardiff is massive for him now, but even if we lose I would not panic and change, although that may change if things do not improve in 5 or 6 games.

Exactly what I'm thinking. LM is reminding me of the first three or four years with AD.

He was a very young ex player who hadn't achieved anything as a player. No caps, no cups and no league promotions. It took him four years of scraping enough points to avoid relegation before the team that he built with the then version of Academy boys won promotion to Div One, nine years after AD arrived.

As for the other City managers that have won promotion for us. Either ex players with caps or who had been successful  at the level we were at.

Pro footballers hardly ever respect managers who have never played international games, won trophies at a higher level or proven high quality coaches such as Fred Ford.

I suspect that at least several of our squad were thinking "who the fxxx is he and what's he won?" Especially when as mentioned, he was more concerned with the defence before his first match at QPR than scoring goals.

12 hours ago, Harry said:

Re Point 2. I agree. We should be aiming higher this season. We finished on 59 last year and so we’d want improvement. So neither is good enough. 
 

Re point 1, I’m not having that. 
Nige was without Conway for 7 games. A period in which he got 11 points. 
Nige was without Wells for 3 games whilst Liam was without him for 7 games. 
Liam has had Pring missing at times.  Hasn’t had a single minute out of Naismith. Has had Twine out. Has had Sykes out. 
The only major change really is that Nige had Vyner out for 6 or 7 games I think. 
 

Ultimately though, none of that matters. End of the day, current trend would suggest 59 points. The same as it was trending for Nige. 
As I mentioned the other day, we are basically getting the same results overall but just in a slightly different way. 

Does that mean Liam should be under scrutiny. Yes. To an extent. But it certainly doesn’t mean “get rid” like many on here are ridiculously shouting for. 
It basically means we are where we are and neither manager was able to get any more out of it. We’re a 59 point team, whether Nige or Liam is in charge. 
 

And that is purely down to the players we have. 2 managers playing different ways are getting roughly the same results in different ways. We have a 12th place squad of players. That’s where we are. 

Harry, I hope that your points estimate at end of season is what we'll end up on. But, having seen seven relegations in my time, I have a nasty feeling that the team spirit built by Pearson and his managerial colleagues, is no longer with us. That spirit over the last two seasons has kept us well away from the bottom five, but what will happen if I'm correct in my assessment? It only needs another two or three poor, losing, games to leave us facing a real problem. Those in the bottom five have been battling to get out of bottom three all season; most of our squad will not even see it coming!

7 minutes ago, 2015 said:

I find it hard to consider a lot of those players in that era "legends" when we used to get beat by Chesterfield, Port Vale and Wycombe quite often which would stuff our chances of promotion. 

Great players do not hang around in League 1 for most of their career.

They were very well paid and had a busy social life. Why go elsewhere?

ST holder. Do I go to the match, leaving home just after breakfast? Watching a dull game that will probably end in humiliating defeat?

Or stay here, start the evenings bolognese, and get on with plenty of other things like gardening, laying paving slabs in back garden, track-laying on my latest model railway?

What should I do? Advice please.

15 hours ago, spudski said:

LMs appointment suits JL and BT. 

JL isn't going to feel intimidated by him and Tins knows with his age and experience can manipulate and control him to his advantage. 

Tins knows he's landed in leprechaun shit...good academy manager...but now he has way too much influence. Not justified or qualified. But it suits JL as he is a 'mate' learning on the job.

LM comes across on the coaching pitch as ' one of the lads'. Slapping backs and hugs...he doesn't hold any presence or 'I'm the boss their will be consequences ' etc attitude. 

Most of the players have achieved more than him, and played under managers and coaches better than him, and some that have won the Prem. 

They will have heard it all from better coaches. 

And they are expected to respect him and his ideas. A nobody...employed by nobodies that got given a job by their billionaire dad and another that lives off scoring a winner against a crap Liverpool in the Cup. 

Says it all really. 

So miss having the presence of NP here. 

Run by cowards. 

I've just watched the post match interview and his body language shows him as a completely negative person. Looking down as he answers, mumbling rather than talking clearly. Not one positive reply, or comment along the lines of "poor today but we'll pick them up by next Saturday for a local derby".

And totally agree with your comment about being one of the lads. I remember as a seven year old, reading that the Wolves manager Stan Cullis only worked withe the players on a Friday. So asking my Dad why, he said that the trainer, the only coach on the books, worked with players all the week to get them fit and ready for the match, but that Cullis spoke on a Friday to wind them up to play like hell in the match. 

4 hours ago, Silvio Dante said:

I’ll caveat again by saying I didn’t see the game but based on comments here this seems poorly judged. The comment of “I’ve said to the players we can give you all the information but if you don’t do the basics” may be right but is total deflection from any responsibility. I can’t see it playing well with the squad overall.

Worrying.

 

I told them what to do and they didn't!

As others have said just like too many in football; blame the players and not me. If he is still here next season we are certs for the drop.

I've jokingly said for many years that when I can't get to Ashton Gate to watch and enjoy City playing football, please screw the lid down and send me to the crem. I never thought that I would choose not to go because I don't enjoy it! I stuck it out in 1982 to 1984 but this is the club taking the piss from all supporters.

5 hours ago, Shauntaylor85 said:

Players look demotivated. I am not convinced by the assistant manager. Like that Tony Doc we had. 

We don't have a manager or assistant manager.

We have a Head Coach (not) overseen by Jon and Tinman.

47 minutes ago, TomThumb84 said:

Anyone else?

I have followed the club a long while and have been ecstatic, passionate, heartbroken, hopeful, nervous, anxious and everything in-between.

Right now, I feel so disconnected I am genuinely numb to the same old same old, which is worse than any of the emotions above.

The club is just mediocre, boring, dull, beige. Sleepwalking around clinging on to FA Cup wins and draws against poor Premier league clubs.

The transfer window in Jan has to be the worst in living memory when you consider the reason for Manning coming in and our league position, in conjuction with the now infamous “Top 6” quotes - not to mention the endless and meaningless rhetoric/propaganda from the club which accompanies anything we do, which is grating beyond belief.

The pattern of half a step forward and one step back with a strange ray of hope result thrown in amongst the normal dross is also now too common to even care about.

Have a good evening everyone and heres to a 1-1 draw at Palace away in the 3rd round of the Cup next year and the ensuing euphoria around it as the real stuff that matters drifts away even further.

 

74 years support and I feel exactly the same. I know it's often said that no renewal of ST but that is how I feel and I never thought I would ever say that.

Manning is not a football team manager!

3 minutes ago, Ecko said:

This has been coming for about 20minutes. Why didn't manning change tactics? 

He's a coach and not a manager!

Disgusting. Longevity of support for the football club and elderly age are not reasons to avoid a ban on attending pro football matches.

22 hours ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

It's a very well written article but I'm afraid I don't share Dave's fascination with tactical aspects of the modern game. 

High block, transition, possession percentages, passes per sequence etc etc leave me cold. I just want to see City set out to play attacking football at AG with as much goalmouth action as possible. In other words to be entertained.

Modern coaches like LM should remember football is a spectator sport and if their cagey approach doesn't at least yield the 3 points - the one consolation for a dull match -  it can more often than not be a frustrating bore for the average fan who's gone down there to see some action, let off some steam, and be entertained.

 

As one who started following City when the normal game tactics were so similar by almost all clubs, I absolutely agree with what you want from a game.

Excitement near the goals so that even a nil nil draw is an interesting and uplifting match. After all the objectives of the game is to let off steam at the end of a working week. Not a chess match that requires the brains of a genius with moves taking place at one per day!

I saw Inter Milan in a European match at Aston Villa a year or two after they had won in the 1990 World Cup win and Brehme Matthaus and Klinsmann played. Well worth the entry money.

11 hours ago, spudski said:

I've never understood these fan podcasts. 

Why do fans, want to watch and listen to other fans pretending to be television soccer pundits? It's cringe worthy..

And then put them on a pedestal like they are something special and more knowledgeable. When they obviously aren't. It's just personal views like any of us. 

All seems a bit weird to me. 

The forum is one thing...this however is just blokes playing at being TV pundits. It's exactly the same type of conversations you have with mates at work or down the pub. 

Never understood why anyone would give it their time, and then want to comment about their views. Like these people's views are important. 

I find it very odd. 

Maybe I'm in the minority...

@spudski

I guess that they are on an ego trip. Since I was a young boy, I've enjoyed "talking" with other fans of all ages in newsagents waiting for the Green In to arrive and on the train to and from Ashton Gate with eight or nine adult neighbours. But we just gave opinions on things that had happened during matches and what we'd do in the future games. It was just banter and not taken too seriously.

I know I spend too much time on here but I have so many other things to fill my day like dog walking, cooking our meals, learning another language, gardening, diy'ing and building an N gauge model railway. I'm sat here now waiting for daylight and the first dog walk on the beach. Have a happy day everyone.

1 hour ago, Mike Stone said:

Frustrating as it was mate a lot of them are knackered. 

Physically or Mentally knackered?

2 hours ago, Red white and red said:

Maybe Bristol City and Liam Manning just aren’t very good? Maybe. 

That performance following Tuesday tells me that Manning may be a good coach but he is NOT A MANAGER.