JBFC II

Under Pearson we were averaging 1.29 PPG this season, under Manning we are averaging 1.21. That's basically one more win over the course of a season under Pearson. So we've not regressed nor have we improved, we've stayed where we were. We're on to finish with 59/60 points at the end of the season, so absolutely 0 progress from last season as things stand!

They'll be heading back up this season anyway, so at least a season of not having to face them...

Not too concerned about losing to Leeds, they're on a different level to us wage budget and quality wise. However, we've barely paid a glove on them and have gifted them chance after chance through our own sloppiness. Really frustrating

I believe the Sunderland game is at Eppleton Colliery next Monday, looking to head over to see how the youngsters get on

Imagine being a youngster in Kuwait, growing up dreaming of being the next Messi or Ronaldo and hearing that an English club has started an academy in your country, turning up to find out it’s this lot…

Just for context, an adult and child (with a membership) could get tickets in the family section of the Lansdown tomorrow for £27. No wonder they have an aging fanbase and are struggling to get 9000 through the gates each week

An excellent role model for our younger players, never gave anything less than 100% and at his best was up there with the very best in the division. Had more of a bit part role this season on the pitch, but it's evident that his role off the pitch has been influential. It's rare that someone signed at 27 goes on to make such an impact at a club, that speaks volumes about how important and consistent he has been for us over the past five years

Was incredibly fortunate to be at St James' Park last night and watch him in action. Every time I've seen him play live he's produced something that is on a different level to anyone else on the pitch. His ability to spot that pass for Bobb last night is something you can't teach, as is his calmness with the ball at his feet for the 2nd goal, as soon as he picked up the ball you knew what he was going to do. The best midfielder in Premier League history for me

If it results in a reduced fee for TGH that's a superb deal imo. A great servant over the past 5.5 years but at 32 he's slowed down slightly of late. A good move for all parties I think

Do Bristol Bear season ticket holders count as members? If so that’s around 9k already, plus presumably 4/5k more. It adds up a fair bit

Perfectly set up for a 95th minute Norwich equaliser before they win on penalties

Anyone got any tissues for this West Ham fan? Good F.A. cup tie, two teams of vastly different talent, skill and capabilities levelled by one side resorting to the traditional dark arts. Liam Manning, hang your head in shame. You've embarrassed youself today. You did the easy bit, spotting how vital Coufal is to us going forward, and consequently he was targetted. Mind you, poor old Mavropanos really bought a stinger from the Bristol City thug who went full Harry Kane, backing into him mid air. Thats ghe sort of snide tackle that did for Winston Reid. As for your muggy supporters singing a tired old ditty about us selling our soul, enjoy your day out, but dont be rushing to book time off for the next round. A muggy club from a dull corner of the kingdom.

Dream now is they get a top 6 club in the draw on Monday, only to lose against Norwich in the replay...

To be fair, all he needed to do was add the word 'families' and we would be talking about half the fan base...

I mean we're currently closer to the premier league points wise than they are to the championship. So clearly them saying it is on another level of delusion to anyone from City mentioning it

Not sure how accurate this is, but if it's true what a poor indictment of them. Top 7 wages to be 10 points off 7th, pitiful stuff

Incredible to think they are the 3rd biggest club in a 2 (pro) club city

Spot the difference

Forest fans have a quite amicable relationship with County from what I’ve experienced living in Nottingham. Derby are their main rivals, even Leicester are a bigger rivalry than County for them. Very different from Bristol, where Rovers will always be our main rivals with Cardiff and Swindon popping up from time to time

Considering what Gary achieved between 06-08? All on a, comparatively for the league, low budget

I guess it depends on how you think a manager should be judged. If it is legacy (which is an interesting one as we can’t see what Pearsons legacy is yet, and we won’t for a few years at least), then how do we judge legacy? Is it about where someone has taken a club and what they’ve put in place for building in the future? In which case, was Ferguson a success at Man United legacy wise, considering the legacy he left behind (I.e. the future of the club) being in a relatively poor place. Was Mourinho a success at Chelsea? He left the club in turmoil, yet delivered on the field for them in a way no manager had done for many years. Thats why I’d say that’s a difficult way to judge a manager, and why on field success should take a much higher pedigree than it has done in @Merrick's Marvels post. You can leave a club in a poor place having achieved great things there, look at Clough leaving forest having been relegated, it doesn’t detract from the success you’ve had previously. Gary Johnson left us 10th in the championship, having overseen a promotion and our highest league position in decades, somewhere we haven’t been since. All while working with a comparatively low budget squad (especially pre 2008). If Pearson gets to those levels that would be superb, but despite all his work off the pitch he’s yet to come close to that on it, which is why he can’t be viewed in the same way as GJ is imo

I guess I’m claiming that because both Johnson’s delivered us our best league position finishes in the last 45 years, they could have a claim to having a better record as manager of this football club than Pearson. Of course, Pearson has dealt with huge set backs, and off the field we are in a far superior place than we were when he arrived, however the side on the pitch hasn’t seen anywhere near the success that the other three saw, perhaps that will change this season, I hope it does, but until then, in my books, he can’t be placed in the same category. Since when do circumstances mean that much? Should a manager only be judged positively if they come in with negative circumstances surrounding their appointment? If Gary Johnson had done what Pearson has done, would he be viewed greater in your eyes than how he is viewed now, as the man who nearly took us to the Premier League? In fact, I would say Cotts took us over in a position that is very comparable, perhaps even worse. An aging squad with a high wage budget being spent in the wrong areas, key difference being we were heading to league 2 when he took over, not heading to lower mid table in the championship. Pearsons Points per Game is far exceeded by either Johnson and Cotts, as good as his off the field management of the club has been, it’s only recently that we’re seeing progress on the field, albeit in drips and drabs. He isn’t getting enough, but if you compare the squad he comes into this season with, and the squad we went into the 2007/08 season with, then it’s incomparable. Gary Johnson took us from perennial nearly men in league one, to one game away from the premier league. I’d argue that your view here would be different had he won that game, so are you claiming that Pearson has been a better manager at Bristol City due to one match Gary Johnson managed in? LJ is always going to be a disputed topic, but he did take us to greater heights than Pearson has, as did Cotts. Gary Johnson can’t be disputed thoug imo, everything points towards him being the best manager we have had since Dicks, and Pearson is far away from that right now imo, and I’m amazed that’s not a common belief