RedRoss

I think Knight is nailed on. He shows so much commitment, great attitude on the field and one of our best players already. Plus sounds like a proper professional everytime he's interviewed. At 23  he's already captained Derby youth and at senior level, Irish youth team and us this season.

I was in the minority according to the poll on here recently that wanted James moved on. I really appreciate what he's done for our club. Was here exactly when needed to help set the standard during Nige's tenure. I just thought he's one of our top earners and we've already got his replacement lined up and thought it's the right time to move on with his head held high.

I keep seeing how much experience we've lost and we have. However, I don't think they are counting the likes of Knight, Vyner, Wells ect and even Bird next season. Just because most of these players are young doesn't mean they don't have plenty of experience already. I think we've recruited well in that respect. Young but experienced players.

Time will tell but recruitment is one of the things I think our club is doing better in my opinion so I trust this decision.

https://www.footballinsider247.com/hull-city-plotting-new-manager-move-for-mark-robins-sources/

Hull apparently after Mark Robins. If true surely he wouldn't leave Coventry for them?

4 minutes ago, Harry said:

In a normal world I’m sure @Davefevs would be an ideal candidate. But I’d imagine it pays minimum wage so would rule out anyone who’s not just left school. 
 

It is strange that the money is so low in a role that could have considerable impact on results. Yet the contrast to players/managers wages is huge. I guess because it's a fashionable job so they can pay less.

2 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

I could be wrong but I'm suspecting the retained list to be 90% things we know or suspect already.

King's obviously retired. I suspect we'll get an announcement we're negotiating with Williams rather than that a contract has been signed.

I imagine Weimann, Wiles-Richards, Idehen, Kadji, Bell, Boyd and Acey will all be released with thanks.

That leaves Matty James plus Backwell, Francois and Leeson as the questions marks. I reckon Backwell will be offered something but the other three I'm far less sure. Really hope we at least negotiate with James but we shall see.  

 

I agree but I guess it's the 10% we don't know that is the most intriguing i.e James (offered a contract or not)

I think Francois won't get a contract. He's 22 at the end of this year and hasn't really kicked on. Not sure about Leeson, he's always looked decent but I thought the same about Vince Harper.

1 hour ago, BUTOR said:

It’s only a start but a welcome one - got to give credit where it’s deserved. Don’t think there’s a need for cynicism on this one. Just a day to look forward to in the summer calendar.

Completely agree.. The club does something that fans have wanted for a long time and rather than being happy with the announcement it's treated with suspicion. Just be happy it's now on!

23 minutes ago, Steve Watts said:

I haven't watched any of the kids to be honest, but straight off the bat Knight-Lebel. An obvious one at that.  He moved around several players, including Sykes to LWB, rather than play him in some dead rubbers in his natural position.  Came off the bench at Forest and looked calm and assured - surely should have been given a chance in the final two matches at the very least.  The repeatedly understaffed bench rather than bringing some along for the senior match day experience. Again, as well documented elsewhere, he's never been one to give youth a chance in either of his previous EFL jobs.

Let me flip it round.  Seeing as Tinnion is always banging on about the pathway etc, what signs are you seeing that make you believe that he will utilise the very expensive tool at his disposal...? For my money we might as well release SPH as there's no way he's going to make it here.  Manning plays 1 striker and a "number 10", both positions that we are stated to be recruiting in.  SPH, no matter how good he may be, won't be getting in the squad ahead of Cornick, Wells and Conway. 

The Academy has been a minable product that has helped to keep the club from going into administration over the past 10 years.  It feels to me though that Manning is doing all he can to ignore it.

I understand that and trust me I always like seeing youngsters given a chance but they atleast have to be good enough. I expect they won't be another Alex Scott (I wish) who just comes into the fold and looks first team straight away but they have to be able to get to the standard. You basically said one player. We've been very lucky with players coming through in recent years and resold for good money, a very important part of our business. However, that gravy train will stop from time to time. It can't always produce. This is exactly why we've signed Murphy and Stokes to supplement what we have. I don't think any of the experienced youngsters Kadji, OTC, Idehen, Francois ect are good enough frankly. Shows what a desperate and great job Nigel did having to use them. For the likes of Morrison and JKL ect they are literally 18 or 19 and time will tell. Also the academy is not the only revenue stream for us either. I'll say it's likely Roberts will be worth millions for us in a couple of years and we brought him in for free.

I think its a little early to say LM won't play youngsters. Especially considering he seemed to fighting for his job not so long ago. Post that losing streak I don't blame him for playing experience and playing it safe. His job and reputation was seriously under threat. Perhaps with a better start he might find trust in SPH for example. I agree if he doesn't next season in parts, it does go against the club ethos which is reiterated by Tins all the time. Whether that is SPH or Murphy or whoever is good enough.

1 hour ago, Steve Watts said:

How very dare you! 

Well given that Manning has shown zero interest in giving youth players proper senior minutes then I'd say it's a big leap to assume that either of them will be utilised next year.

He's probably the overseas striker Tinnion mentioned.... Bringing Seb into the squad from Wales and Murphy from Ireland we're going proper multicultural.....!

It was mentioned by another post in another thread.

What youngsters should of been  given more minutes over the first team out of interest?

He underachieved with the resources available and knew his remit and the outcome if it didn't happen. Not necessarily promotion but play-offs minimum. Not to say it's all his fault because I think the owner is playing football manager with the recruitment. Spending big money on the big names which is risky and doesn't guarantee success in this league.

The talk about he'd be good here is strange. He's not done anything YET that would prove he'd be any good for us. He could be but I'm not convinced so far.

3 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

But then realistically everything is pointless? If I said on here Mark Sykes was shit that doesn’t mean we sell him. If you post Rob Dickie is awesome it doesn’t mean we give him a new contract. If people want to say “posting is pointless” then they probably shouldn’t post themselves!

My point is that the club (sensibly) use this forum to gauge the fanbase. And there are reasons behind ticket sales other than satisfaction as we know.

Ultimately all that will change things for Steve is if he gets the money he wants. But any company worth their salt does market research.

And I do agree, that posting the same thread (or a variation thereof) can be tiresome. But I’m not going to belittle the guy for it.

It's not pointless because I think this thread isn't really about changing anything re the club. It's for attention and ironically I've added to it.

We've had loads of these disillusioned threads pop up especially the last 12 months. Many of them say things like 'I won't renew my ST' or just waffle like the OP. Then months later they've renewed and are actively posting in match threads about the game. It's all about personal attention and achieves nothing.

Belittle him.. Like he's done to to JL in the starting post? If you were JL would you consider a fans point of view if they call you crayon boy? Again it's not going to achieve anything especially like that.

2 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Ignoring the irony here of people in the thread posting that posting in a thread does no good…

We know the club read this forum. Things are said here then magically alluded to by the club in pressers shortly thereafter. You have the technical director blocking people based on their social media. You have post Pearsons sacking Bristol Sport employees trying to influence opinion on here. The club read this - and they would be fools not to. It’s excellent continual market research.

So, when there are comments along the lines of “writing on a forum does nothing”, those are the comments that are naive. Well constructed and reasoned posts here are far more likely to be taken seriously than painting “JOHNSON OUT DWARF SHORT” on a bedsheet, and we’re way past the days of chanting “Sack the Board” outside the Williams entrance.

The comments along the lines of “well you get the money and buy the club” are also bloody daft. I’m damn sure nobody has £200m knocking about.

Whether people like it or not this forum is one of the most surefire ways of the club knowing satisfaction or dissatisfaction - so, yeah, posting is actually “doing something” and the attitude shown by some on this thread is a bit odd.

Come on Silvio, he's literally spamming the same message over and over. I'm sorry but regardless of whether the club or hierarchy look at the forum it is pointless. What are they going to do after seeing this pearl of wisdom? Oh yeah Jaws is right.. I'll sell up tomorrow. Of course not. I've said many times before if fans aren't happy vote with your feet. They clearly haven't and don't each year as attendances keep climbing.

23 minutes ago, JAWS said:

If SL wasn't our owner but he had been employed & trusted with someone else's money to make ALL the decisions.

How long do you think he would've lasted in the 'job'?

Also imagine that 'someone's' reaction if they had just returned from extended leave (22 yrs ). 'So Steve, we're still not in the Premier league & I see we haven't been in there once in the 22 years I've been away!?  Not only that but you've bought a rugby & basketball team & saddled me with over £200 million in debt which I'm never likely to get back as no one's gonna buy us now ffs you melt! Our merch is shit too! I may as well have left Marina in charge. Now get your coat and take crayon boy with you 

Great WBA flyweight title fight on already too.

.

10 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

He didn't, he called it far earlier than that so unless we only sold a few hundred tickets in the final five or six days of sales he wasn't correct at that point.

To be fair it's not miles away based on the web scraping above 11.22k plus 2.5k approx South stand boxes. Nearly 14k.

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Some of the euro leagues domestic / regular seasons don’t end just yet either, e.g.

• Belgium / Denmark 26th May
• France L1 19th May / Lg2 17th May
• etc

Plus there are some running Summer calendars, e.g. Sweden and Norway.

The vizzes are prepared, in case of rumour!!!

Maybe a certain Max Dean at MK Dons?

He also mentioned potentially going to some play off games here and abroad if time allows due to watching players live for recruitment  Perhaps we have our eye on someone in League One, Two's play off teams.

It's a no from me. We have enough in that position next season i.e Knight, TGH, Williams?, Bird and more cover from Naismith and McCrorie if needed. 

The wages would be available for another player to come in for a position we are lacking in. 

1 hour ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

It's hilarious Dave. 

We hired a head coach that didn't fit with what we wanted like many of us on here suggested. It then sounds like he had to be told to play a different way and then it's no surprise that as soon as we play a style that's more suited to the squad we have, we get better results. 

Didn't these conversations happen during the recruitment interview? Its just incredible. 

My thoughts on Manning are clear. It's going to take a very long time for me to move past him going rouge this season. 

Again you criticise him for adjusting..  As if that's a crime, surely that's a positive part of a skillset you want to see in a manager of a football club.

You have the benefit of hindsight, Manning didn't. It's easy after the fact to scoff at how things pan out.

The fact is you set your stall out early on him, and you still have a bad taste in your mouth re the board which hardens your stance. You lose your log in details when we win games or go unbeaten. When we lose you set post per hour records on here telling us how bad everything is with Manning, Tins and the board. Someone will pick you up on it and and you'll claim they are picking on you. Rinse and repeat.. it's intolerable.

14 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Imho he’s been good all season, and latter part of last season too.  We have nobody who plays like Joe.  Hope we find a way to get the deal done.

I agree he's been good all season, the player we all expected from Wigan. I've been more than supportive of Tins but not sure why he clarified Joe has been good since Manning. 

11 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

It's slightly concerning that your obsession stretches as far as keeping tabs on my travel arrangements. 

We missed our mega bus so drove to London. 

Took us ages to find a petrol station open at 6am in the morning. 

Eventually got to London and parked up. Elizabeth line was then suspended so back in the car we got and drove to another station for a different line. 

We then headed to the o2 arena where I had a breakfast followed by some beers. 

Another line then got suspended so we had to uber it to the tax payer funded stadium which once hosted the Olympics. 

We arrived just in time for kick off so had no time for pre match beers. 

We then watched Bristol City play in the former Olympic stadium and had a fantastic time with 9000 other Bristol City fans. 

At half time I had another beer which looking back at my bank account I wasn't charged for. 

After the game we walked around the former Olympic stadium and had beers with the West Ham fans in the home bars outside the stadium. 

After that we then went to the shopping centre which we had to wait ages for the gates to open. Spoke to many West Ham fans whilst waiting too. 

We then went into the shopping centre and we had Popeyes. 

Following that we then went to Wendys for some burger and fries. 

We then got the lizzie line all the way back to where the car was parked and my friend drove home. 

Fantastic day that will live long in the memory which then set up a replay at Ashton Gate which we then won. 

You missed out going to Co-op for a packet of ready salted.

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Ask me when we know the fate of each division.  Rudoni if they go down is an obvious shout.  I don’t think Miyoshi is anything like Twine / Azaz, but Rudoni is.  We aren’t (imho) looking for a winger / dribbler type to play no10 (hence why I wasn’t fawning over Millar in your other thread), we are looking for a clever passing type no10.  We have Mehmeti as the dribbler-type, Sykes too, although he’s a bit different.

Where do you get that notion from?

I feel they are being clear by their actions but may be completely wrong of course. My feeling they don't is because they moved him on twice this season just feels like they are trying to actively sell him. There are a few permutations which will change things i.e what league they will be in. We'll see I guess. Either way we won't pay 5 million in my opinion.

We won't sign him for 5 million. Regardless of what Burnley valued him at in Jan.  I know others have said he has x amount of years on his contract, they don't need to sell. However, they will recognise he's not exactly elevated himself to match that fee this season. They clearly don't want him, he wants to move on. I think a deal may get struck if it does it'll be for less than January's valuation. If it doesn't we've been priced out and we move on.

32 minutes ago, Waffleflap said:

Bet he regrets coming here next season

This post sums up some of our supporters especially recently.

How you can turn an absolute screamer for a highly rated player we've signed for next season already into a negative baffles me!

Just now, Sir Geoff said:

How on earth is the business done in January better than what we did last summer.

I was on about both windows.