Tinmans Love Child

5 hours ago, Tim Monaghan said:

I've been a devoted Bristol City supporter for 34 years, I find myself at a crossroads, a juncture if you will, where admiration and concern intersect. Its all steamed from the debate this morning on the FBC Podcast. Steve Lansdown, the visionary behind our beloved club since 1996, has left an indelible mark on our history. His passion, commitment, and financial backing have propelled Bristol City to new heights, this is undeniable, yet, as we stand on the precipice of another season of mediocrity (some on here will argue self inflicted), I can’t help but feel that this is a pivotal moment—a last chance saloon—for Lansdown’s ownership.

First of all, let me begin by expressing my gratitude. Steve Lansdown’s journey with Bristol City mirrors that of many fans. From fan on the terraces through his sons love of Bristol City, he transitioned from a passionate supporter to a director, and eventually, the owner. His investment in the club has been transformative. Nobody can deny that. The redevelopment of Ashton Gate stands as a testament to his commitment. Our new modern facilities and infrastructure have surpassed expectations, providing our players and fans with an environment befitting a club with ambitions.

But success in football is a fickle mistress. It demands results, both on and off the pitch. And herein lies the conundrum. While I will forever be grateful for Lansdown’s contributions, I can’t ignore the recent growing turbulence. Liam Manning’s appointment as head coach—I feel a pivotal decision—has placed the spotlight squarely on Lansdown’s shoulders yet again. I feel his success or failure will reverberate through the corridors of Ashton Gate on this occasion. 

As fans, we yearn for stability in fact its a must, however, football and sport in general is about progress, and silverware. But I'm asking myself, is it too much to ask for both? I want to see our team compete at the highest level, challenging for promotion, and perhaps even gracing the Premier League. I get that football is a game of fine margins, tiny percentages and a dash of luck, but I feel that they have made so many wrong decisions on the football side, that if Mannings tenure doesn't work out how we hope, the Lansdowns must introspect. He must consider whether it’s time to pass the baton—to let someone else steer the ship with new ideas and investment into the team. 

If, or as some are convinced, when, Manning fails, Lansdown must be prepared to make the toughest decision of all. Selling up. By his own admission, SL isn't a footballing man. JL is, I've actually played football with him, but this is also under question with a vast majority of our supporters. He will also always be the rich boys son or crayon boy as the highest intellectuals will crow. A highly unfair tag, but one he will never shake, lets be fair. 

Above all, do I trust the current set-up to choose another manager should (when) this one fails? After all, their track record is somewhat erm, shite (when you also include hires when he was part of the board etc): 

• John Ward - Success
• Benny Lennartsson - Failure
• Tony Pulis - Failure 
• Danny Wilson - Played nice football, but... 
• Brain (judge me on) Tinnion - Huge failure 
• Gary Johnson - Success 
• Keith Millen - Failure 
• Steve Coppell - Huge Failure after owners signing of David James meant he only lasted 3 months
• Derek McInnes - Huge Failure
• SOD - Huge Failure
• Steve Cotterill - Huge Success (pretty sure he was Keith Dawes appointment though and SL didn't want him)
• Lee Johnson - Mixed
• Dean Holden - Failure 
• Nigel Pearson - Failure 
• Liam Manning - Looking like its failing (even though I feel its too soon to tell) 

Anyway, this is a very long winded way, and maybe a chance for me to verbal diarrhoea some words on to a page, to say that if this doesn't work out then maybe enough is enough. Bristol is one of the biggest cities in the United Kingdom. Our catchment area is insane. We as a football club should have tasted success, especially with how committed, and lets be honest, patient, our fanbase have been. 

Mr Lansdown, selling isn’t a sign of defeat; it’s an acknowledgment of responsibility. It’s saying, “I’ve given my all, but now it’s time for fresh ideas, renewed vigour, and a different path.”

My mind has been swung. I appreciate your dedication, your love for the club, and the dreams you’ve woven into the fabric of Bristol City. But we also recognize that this is a critical juncture. I'm praying the footballing gods smile upon us, and Liam Mannings reign lead us to glory, I believe it can, but if I'm wrong (and many of you think I am) may you find the courage to pass the torch—to let another custodian shape our destiny. I feel its time. 

 

 

 

 

Was Brain Tinnion a typo?  Either way it's great!

11 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Nowhere near enough? Are you thinking 60 or perhaps 85 points needed for safety then?

No, I'm merely highlighting that it's the here and now we should be really worrying about, not points accumulation from months ago to give an arbitrary number 

9 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Yes, quite.

But the OP of this thread selected 12 games. We're saying largely the same thing - that choosing that group of games is meaningless. 

I'm honestly not defending his record or anything like that. I'm just showing that it's weird to go with 12 when you could go with the last 4, or the last 15, or even the whole shebang of 21, it's arbitrary.

Same as it was when you could go to the middle of last season and find a block of 10 games where we took 0.8ppg. You could even at one point find a block of 18 games where we took 0.83. But these were arbitrary then and they are now.

The important games for me are the last 4 and we've lost them all, whilst the likes of Sheff Wed have won all 4 and are now only 6 points behind us, when they were 18 points behind us 4 games a go!  We are 100% is a relegation scrap now and another loss this weekend will see us dropping further.  50 points won't be anywhere near enough this season to guarantee safety 

A little bit of me (not sure how much) wants us to get relegated just to see what BS the Lansdowns and Tinnion come out with!  We can't go down can we?

On 03/03/2024 at 18:14, Tinmans Love Child said:

You know we will win Tuesday, it is written

-49 goal difference after 27 games

13 hours ago, REDOXO said:

It is clear we are not playing well to a point where we aren’t just plucky losers that aren’t having the ball run in their favor, but just bad!

One of the biggest issues with me right now is we have a manager that is openly saying that he can’t get the players to implement what he’s teaching them!

That I thinK is probably true on some level, but what concerns me is how do you motivate players (people) that you are making plain even in the media you don’t want. 
 

So I was thinking about when I was under threat of being made redundant and how I got myself up to work! 
 

How would people on here seriously be approaching the players (or employees) to get results under those circumstances? 

It doesn't matter what field you work in, if you are a manager who needs to motivate and manage your team to do what you want then it's 100% on you to make them understand your message and for you to motivate them to work

12 hours ago, ralphindevon said:

I’m expecting a much better performance than the last 3 with some decent attacking play and maybe even a goal.

But Ipswich can’t do anything wrong at the moment. They’re riding one of those waves that happen to clubs (not us) once in a blue moon.

I predict 3-1

It did happen to us under GJ but we choked and then didn't turn up in the playoff final!

5 hours ago, Super said:

Roll on Tuesday then!

You know we will win Tuesday, it is written

36 minutes ago, italian dave said:

 

I was in Washington DC some years ago just after they’d had about 4 foot of snow come down.

They coped with it pretty effectively: the snow ploughs come out and shift it. The trouble is they shift everything on the road onto the pavement, which ends up under 8 foot of snow!

So, yes, you’re OK with a vehicle of any sort, not so good if you’re walking! But they don’t on the whole! 

In Germany it is the residents responsibility to clear pathways of snow outside their houses, which means all the paths are cleared and it costs the council nothing!

I had a call last year with our Canada off ie and they said they will always go into the office unless it's minus 20 C as that's a bit too cold!

Mad that if Stoke win their next 2 and we lose our next 2 we will be level on points with a team currently 3rd bottom!

6 minutes ago, City_USA said:

What's so shocking is how quickly he's done it too. 

 

He's the football equivalent of Liz Truss!

2 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Can't get my head around WTF has happened since West Ham, Southampton, Boro, then this crap.

Had a really good feeling about today, so lumped £100 on the win, but as always, they let me down

Never bet on City I thought everyone knew that!

1 minute ago, Bourne End Red said:

We must be near bottom 3 of the form table by now. Awful. Glad we gave him a 3 year deal.

Manning out

Bottom 4 on the 6 game form table, 6 points from 6, very poor when you consider those 6 points were in the first 3 games against teams above us

6 hours ago, Harry said:

Sod him. 
He wasn’t very good when he was here. He only achieved cult status because someone made up a song rhyming Knowle with Senegal. 
He now plays for those shits over the border. 
**** him. Why would I cheer him? 

So are you saying it's a maybe?

11 hours ago, steviestevieneville said:

Lee Clark ex Newcastle ,his  boy played for Liverpool tonight & in the cup final last Sunday . 

He featured on the welcome to Wrexham doc as played for them I think 

Just seen former City loanee Neil Danns son scored 2 for Liverpool tonight, when sons of former players are playing it does make you feel old! 

11 hours ago, BrizzleRed said:

I just couldn’t vote on this poll, as if Manning was sacked, it would be Dumb and Dumber doing the recruitment, so who could have any confidence they’d make the right choice in getting in a replacement?

My really big issue with Manning is he appears to be a one trick pony, who can only contemplate and work with one playing style.  To compound that, he seems incapable of adapting our tactics during a match and if our opposition change their gameplan, he doesn’t seem able to respond to counter them.

The only time we’ve looked really threatening under him is when we’ve moved back to a counter attacking game through necessity, but that clearly isn’t his chosen style.  Even if he got the players to suit his chosen possession based style, I can imagine plenty of opposition managers outgunning him tactically.

I just can’t see any indications that he could organise a team to dominate the opposition and actually hurt them.  It’s ok making umpteen square passes, but you’ve eventually got to do something positive and I can’t see any signs of him knowing how to make that happen.

I just feel totally underwhelmed by him and dread the thought of us starting next season with him and seeing yet another season going down the crapper.  The only way I see him getting us out of this division is through the relegation trap door tbh.

Just vote FYI I'm pretty sure this poll wasnt set up by JL!

1 minute ago, The Original OTIB said:

Too much time on the grass

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

Absolutely. 

GJ did brilliantly to get us up and then the following season was just magic. 

But after that he signed players that he struggled to manage and then some proper shite. The roots to our relegation lead to GJ. 

Same with LJ. Did well to keep us in this division and then built upon that to get us competing for the play offs but then just like his Dad he signed players he struggled to managed and then also signed some proper shite. 

We'd probably have got relegated this time too if it wasn't for Pearson. 

 

I wonder if we suffer from not being an attractive club so we have to dish out longer contracts than some of the perceived bigger clubs do to try and get the player?  Especially when you chuck in the mix a perceived lower division manager like GJ, LJ, LM etc who doesn't have the pulling power?

Nearly every manager has failed somewhere and usually multiple times, but unless you look at the context of the "failure" it's irrelevant.  

14 hours ago, Bristol Rob said:

Have you seen what Arsenal are doing? Obviously helps that they have more fans than seats, but that seems draconian to me. 

 

 

Whilst a great initiative when selling out every week like Arsenal, for us the problem is the disparity in pricing and the availability of more expensive seats on the day, which means people buy in the south stand and move seats to Lansdown.  They will have scanned their season ticket at the gate so the data will say they utilised their seat.  I can't see how it could be policed after that

4 hours ago, Silvio Dante said:

Realise this may come up in the “dead of 2024” thread on the general forum but this one is a bit of a shock. For a lot of us, Italia 90 was a real moment and the German team are as fresh in the mind as the England team - players like Klinsmann, Voller and particularly Matthaus (in my best team ever).

Brehme was huge in there and the best left back in the world at that time. For the three Dutchman at AC Milan, read the three Germans at Inter for who underpinned the best teams in the world.

Just one that makes you realise how long ago that summer was, and seems way too young. How can players from the era of Barnes, Lineker etc be leaving us already?

I had about 10 Brehme swapsies I remember! 

The Ivan rabbit hole has unearthed this article, he played for Moldova v England when Beckham made his debut and Ivan missed a pen!

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/bristol-fashion-stunned-ivan-the-trailblazer-8113850.html