Numero Uno

12 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

I would normally always prefer performance over result at any time of the season, I want to be entertained, unfortunately there has been very little ‘entertainment’ in the last five years irrespective of who the manager is, I’d like to see Manning make some brave team selections and display some bolder tactics in the last few games  though I’m not sure he has the personnel to change much

Agreed. If the promise from the club management is that they will produce a shocking game of football accompanied with a 1-0 Binary Ball win or a 0-0 Binary Ball Draw or a 0-1 Binary Ball Defeat I can watch that without being as disappointed on the BBC Website at 4:55pm on a Saturday. Not to mention that if you produce good performance levels consistently this will almost certainly be followed by positive results and GOALS (the whole sodding point of football) consistently. Doesn't matter who replaced Pearson one of their tasks is to improve the football on offer - if you don't like it then shouldn't have taken the job (not saying that is Liam's view on it).

55 minutes ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

I'll take results over performances for the last 5 games. Finish as high up the league as possible and instil some confidence for something to build on for next season. We have plenty of time in the summer to work on style. 

As somebody sitting through the next 270 minutes of football at Ashton Gate I hope Liam gives us something worth watching tbh. If it's like Swansea I'll be ******* off early again. Not watching that shite.

Bentley had some superb games for us but come the end of his time he was a liability that HAD to be replaced for both our and HIS benefit. He was playing crap and glued to his line. That game against Birmingham away was one of the weakest performances a City keeper had put in for years. He didn't have any intention whatsoever of coming for a high ball and, personally, I can't have that from a Goalkeeper. It's a surefire sign that your bottle has gone at that particular point.

However managerial experience that has totally bypassed Jon and Sid decided "this clown is letting team mates and myself down and not only that has no intention of signing next season so I've got a number 2 and he's playing for the rest of the season". He didn't shit his pants when Max made a few mistakes, stuck with it and the long term benefit for the CLUB is we now have a keeper that is certainly at the level and playing above it occasionally too. It surprised me but Nige came out earlier this season and said Max is a better keeper full stop. It seems that Liam rates him very highly too from comments over the last couple of weeks.

For me, the difference is that Max is now putting in 8-10/10 performances occasionally now whereas for the first 12 months or so of his run in goal I would say he was a steady 6-7 pretty much every week bar the odd poorer game. He would rarely win us points but now that is starting to occur. A great lesson in patience and proof that these football types aren't totally clueless in terms of what they are seeing.

20 minutes ago, petehinton said:

A striker to replace outgoing Conway, probably another one on top that’ll be the ‘physical 9’ from abroad. 
 

Bird is James’ replacement, another CM probably needed on top as King is off & Murphy probably won’t be fit for the start of the season and no one has any idea how good he actually is yet. 
 

Need another backup to replace Bajic. 
 

An AM that isn’t Twine as I would be amazed if he comes back. 
 

Other than that, I really can’t see too much happening unless we sell more of the Crown Jewels again. I genuinely believe January was the bulk of the bigger summer business. 

The Technical Director seemed to hint that we were doing our business early. However, that business won't be anywhere near enough as it stands imo.

14 minutes ago, Fontaineofallknowledge said:

Not sure a couple of dead rubber games are going to have any bearing on that decision for me. 
 

im expecting a transformed style next season after Liam shapes his squad and has a pre season to implement his methods. This season largely irrelevant for me 

It is for you, I and anyone else who will ultimately renew anyway but some have made it clear they don't have "trust" in this manager yet (I don't to be honest because his output has been so varied between the sublime on a few occasions and the ridiculous on significantly more than a few) and are holding on. I do think it's important that we win at least one of the next two home games and make sure we beat Rotherham. Getting done by that mob in our last home game of the season will certainly upset a few!!

10 minutes ago, Fontaineofallknowledge said:

So you'd still sack manning?

It's not about whether anyone on here would sack him or not. That's not our decision and in reality we all know he isn't going anywhere whatever we might or might not do personally. The issue is that a number (and it's not a tiny number) still need to be persuaded to buy season tickets next season. I will get round to buying mine regardless right near the deadline for reasons I've already gone into but others need to see Liam produce something that they can get on board with. That's why performances in the next three games, two at home against the type of lower ranked teams we so often struggle against, before the deadline are crucial.

5 minutes ago, transfer reader said:

Course it was

And how many hours ago was that?

Rent free in your head because I don't over hype every single save made, but instead give credit to the actually good ones made.

 

Obviously.

7 minutes ago, transfer reader said:

Obsessed.

I've said he made one exceptional save, clawed another off the line although Sykes also had it covered and was our best player today.

The majority of the shots he faced today were ones where questions would be asked had he let them in, and yet I've still called him our MOM but you still want to misrepresent what I've been saying for some pathetic wind up.

 

Approximately an equal level of obsession as your comments on this thread earlier............which is why they got noticed!!

4 minutes ago, Fontaineofallknowledge said:

It wasn't that bad given the conditions. Ground out a decent point on the road. 7 points in 3 games since the bed wetters called for manning ahead-hope there's enough humble pie to go round!

You're going too early to be honest. If Manning brings his own players in and struggles to improve performances in the first third of next season his job will not be safe. Calling people bed-wetters and talking about others eating humble pie after a record of 33 points in 26 games and 19 points in the last 17  (mediocre but not humble pie levels in truth) would then look a bit daft, especially if he goes on another "run" of poor results. He's still got plenty of fans to win over whether you agree with it or not.

11 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

 

Why? He saved 36 pea rollers and made just the one decent save so I'm led to believe. The Sunderland Manager, the Bristol City Manager and the Sunderland fans who attended the game and commented on their forum were all lying through their teeth when they said he won us a point. Clearly trying to upset someone on here I reckon...................

13 minutes ago, Dastardly and Muttley said:

Top six, I thought.

Did you really? I didn't. All that tells me is that the hierarchy needs a revamp.

The Manager? Well, as it's clear he isn't going anywhere, whether you agree with it or not, he needs to produce something to give those who are dithering on season tickets a reason that makes them renew. If Liam had achieved his 33 points in 26 games with a better spread of performances I wouldn't be bothered. Had a certain ex-Manager produced his results we would be seeing words like "streaky" bandied about. In particular he has a real issue beating and even avoiding defeat against lower end teams in the division and look what we have on the horizon, a very comfortable run-in in terms of opposition league position bar Norwich away. So for me he's got to produce performances against this type of team now to show people he can do something more than tread water or worse next season.

1 minute ago, mozo said:

I don't think it would do any good for Manning to stand there and say, "Our boys were pathetic today. Pring looked like he was already on the beach, Twine's got no chance of a transfer, Jamo I'm going to call Lame-o from now on. You spend all week talking to them about 'shape' and they go put there and look as organised as a nursery nativity play. The worst bit is, on OTIB they'll all be blaming me, not these chances that I have to choose from week in, week out!!" [Throws mic to the floor and storms off]

If I was on the verge of the sack (Liam isn’t obviously) and didn’t need the dough that would be very tempting!!

13 minutes ago, Fontaineofallknowledge said:

It was a poor performance but let's add some context please. The conditions were shocking-extremely windy, sun in the players eyes and litter swirling all over the pitch! It's also a meaningless game which we got a point out of!

The worst thing about it was the sun changed direction at half time……..just our luck!!

1 minute ago, winsaw said:

Proper end of season game , we looked on the beach and Sunderland looked like try had sold there shooting boots o. eBay :laugh:,

As we are now safe I would like to see us giving some of the fringe players some game time , maybe some of this under 18s team we hear so much about , showing what they can do in the first tea

Against two teams that need the points a team with 3-4 18 year olds in it would get mullered.

1 minute ago, BCFCGav said:

Very end of season feel, especially second-half. A Knight-Lebel start would be interesting viewing, but a quiet few weeks ahead for City. Roll on August

With many season ticket holders yet to renew and having sat through some pretty turgid football. I think Liam owes us at least two decent performances in the last three home games. Can’t guarantee results but let’s see performances now. Show some attacking intent.

2 minutes ago, joe jordans teeth said:

This,we are safe so let’s see some progress in the way we play,I can’t see it,we are hoping our keeper has a blinder every game

Next two home games are the acid test. 10 points in 5 so no confidence issues. Go out and perform.

I counted a dozen world class saves today from Max. Best keeper I’ve ever seen full stop. Should be Ireland first choice………..I’m sure we ALL agree on that.

Iconic.

Just now, TDarwall said:

You've only gone & said it!!

I know!! However Liam needs to show us these types of teams and Rotherham can be sent packing. It’s a huge red flag on his record so far.

Two “winnable” home games on the horizon and two good opportunities to put in better performances. Two teams who will be desperate to leave the Gate with a 0 on the goals conceded column so let’s see how Liam deals with that.

1 minute ago, bexhill reds said:

I’d be checking his availability, always been impressed with him.

Leaving in the Summer but there will be competition for him no doubt.

1 minute ago, MelksRed said:

Can I ask who is first? (Genuine Query)

Viktor Johansen will be most saves but not highest percentage.

1 minute ago, Super said:

Poor again from Tanner good save Max.

Don’t say “good save Max”, someone gets very upset.

Binary Boy has got this very wrong so far.

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Tbh Lev, I haven’t either.  It’s mainly minor stuff, and I’d argue the things I associate with Manning introducing appear to have a slightly negative effect (over-simplistic)….apart from the efficient trigger of the press.  But even that has its pros and cons.

What I’ve enjoyed, e.g. when we do press, when we can counter, we already had in the toolbox imho.  I’ve yet to see someone that Manning has really brought to the piece for distinct benefit.

That’s the point for me. Liam is here to bring about positive change otherwise why sack people and pay settlements? If the last two games are an indicator that he’s getting his act together then fantastic otherwise we’ve spent money to go either nowhere or even backwards and pissed a lot of fans off in the process.