INCRED

31 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

That’s a pretty strong West Ham line up, all depends if they are up for it?

would take a draw and replay 

14 minutes ago, View from the Dolman said:

This one is getting a slightly different level of treatment including a signing interview...

 

Seems like a very confident lad and a good sense of humour. For an eighteen year old he speaks very well and certainly has high ambitions 

I think he will fit in very well 

1 minute ago, Andy082005 said:

Big, big step up for the lad . Not so sure he is going to feature that much in the short term 

He’s going to have to earn a place and that means performing at U21 level and progressing the same as the rest of the younger players 

If he is half as good as what those in the industry are saying then he won’t be waiting in the wings for long 

Just now, Simon bristol said:

Welcome to the young man!

We are very fortunate to land this lad, going to be a very exciting prospect for us as long as he steers clear of injuries 

6 minutes ago, George Rs said:

Feel the same about Conway, that role does not suit his strengths at all and even so he barely gets the ball to feet in the box anyway. 
 

Might’ve tried to play more positive in the second half but as soon as we had possession Millwall reverted to a 5-4-1 which we couldn’t break down.

Mehmeti lacks the pace to be dangerous unless we can consistently get the ball to him on the edge of the box, which we didn’t do today, and Bell doesn’t have good enough close control at pace to make his speed useful either. 

And I’m sure he’s a lovely lad but Cornick looks completely out of his depth at this level. 

Like others have said, a very midtable side, what annoys me is we had the means to change that in the summer but didn’t, countless games we could’ve picked up more points if we had a bit more quality. 
 

Having Atkinson, Mccrorie and potentially Benarous coming back from injury will help us, but still think we need at least two attacking signings with different strengths to what we have currently to make a considerable playoff push. A lack of variety makes games like this extremely difficult to win.

You won’t see Benarous this season 

Having watched that today and in spite of the last 4 results it is glaringly obvious to me that we desperately need a RB that can attack. Tanner is a solid defensive RB but we need both flanks to provide a threat 

We also have a midfield that can’t operate as a triangle and pass through the midfield either as a pivot or a point of a diamond 

We also lack athleticism in areas of the team which makes a massive difference if LM wants to play a high tempo pressing game

Finally, up front - totally lacks any threat physically and Conway got bullied today and didn’t hardly have a kick against their CBs 

Theres still a lot of work to be done to get us anywhere near the quality we need to be to challenge at the top of the division 

They have a few players out injured and suspended so will be slightly weaker than previous games. Still have a few dangerous players and I’m guessing JB will be playing today for them

If we start with a high tempo and get at them early then I fancy us to win comfortably 3-1 

2 hours ago, RedRoss said:

I don't think he needs that burden put on him if he does arrive. I obviously hope he hits the ground running. He has his own skillset and looks talented but doesn't need to be Alex Scott mk2.

No, I totally agree and wouldn’t want to label the lad as AS mk2 but I just see a lot of similarities 

I’m sure the staff and coaches would choose the right time to introduce him to the first team playing squad 

1 hour ago, BCFC31 said:

Exactly this ! It will be just like city to lose this game tomorrow I have seen it time and time again let's just hope for a changing of the tide under Manning we need to go there and keep those energy levels up get in there faces win our 50/50s press them from the first minute and look to really get at there makeshift defence.

I can see us winning comfortably if we play at the same levels as the last 3 games.

With Millwall on NYD at home and a free hit v West Ham to come, I’m looking forward to 2024 with an air of confidence for a change

With players returning from injury in particular McCrorie who I think will be a huge player for us for the rest of the season and a couple of January signings it has the makings of an interesting & exciting time

3 hours ago, James54De said:

I presume this one would be looking towards the first team pretty quickly? 
 

come in, settle in for a few months, have a crack at first team football. 

I would expect him to be pushing for a place in match day squad and sub appearances by February 

Reminds me of AS and I’m surprised no one else has gone for him before us. He is going to be a top player and having Knight & Sykes around is going to help him bed in to the club 

2 hours ago, wheretheheartis said:

Two more good performances and we could be taking over London, leave alone West Ham 

Playing like we did today and West Ham might get a big surprise when we play them in the cup

Getting 3-4 players to consistently perform at 7-8 out of 10 every game is what most coaches/managers look for but to get the whole team at that high level takes a great deal of coaching, organisation, communication and belief - today was one of those days where everyone played at that high level, did what was required. Manning and his staff need to take a lot of credit as well as the players for todays performance as I for one thought it may take him a lot longer to apply his way of how he wants us to play. The squad have obviously adapted and taken onboard a lot of information and we are now starting to see those shoots of a playing style that entertains us and gives us that hope that we can compete towards the top of this division which has been so sadly lacking the past 4-5 seasons 

Is it the start of something new and exciting, I hope so!

31 minutes ago, Robbored said:

I was thinking of posting something similar, three consecutive wins is a great start and another win at Brum and we could be at the beginning of a serious push for the top six. If that happens then it’ll be whether City can stay there.

It would definitely make the remainder of the season interesting!

Maybe Manning can go on a run similar to the one Ipswich have been on until recently?

Automatic spot anyone?

7 minutes ago, bcfcredandwhite said:

What a great set of results against good sides. Today we looked really good. Hungry and playing for each other. 
also, not sitting on a 1 goal lead is VERY refreshing for me. Even at 90 minutes we were looking for the 5th. 
Well done to Liam and the lads - thanks for giving me a very happy Christmas 

That’s 3 wins against teams around us competing for a play off spot. Birmingham & Millwall up next but can Maint ball deal with slightly different types of challenges 

We have gone under the radar so far this season but I fear Sky and other channels may start paying a few more visits to our games over the next few months???

Finally, will the board recognise this as an opportunity to bolster the squad in January and give us an injection of added quality/cover?

12 minutes ago, Sheltons Army said:

Any chance of Morgan Whittaker in January.......

 

I would 

1 minute ago, Fordy62 said:

Alex Scott wonder assist for Cherries. 

Looks so comfortable at this level, I can see him getting a move to a big club in the next 18 months if he continues like this

Semenyo on the other hand plays exactly as he did at City, in fits & starts 

2 minutes ago, johnheadbcfc said:

Ever since we signed him I thought it was only a matter of time 

Natural leader and leads by example, always gives 100% and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him being given the role permanently next season 

58 minutes ago, Southend Blue said:

Don't dislike us because of one individual.    I never asked Mark Ashton to come on board with us, all right he's now part of a (mostly) successful club side and fans at ITFC have more or less now welcomed or accepted his position but i've rather talk or discuss what occurs on the pitch.

Today was disappointing, don't like noon kick-offs particularly in such pivotal games of this nature but they were value for the win.     Leeds beat us and scored 4 at Portman Road earlier in the season, they've beaten us again at their own ground and scored another 4 times.    That's a promotion team in every sense of the word but we can only concentrate on our own objectives and try to keep in with the automatic promotion places.  

we have Leicester coming up soon and another performance and result like today just won't be acceptable.  Very few teams stop us from scoring over an entire game of 90 minutes but we hardly registered a shot on goal up there today.    Concede too many goals although that's compensated by an attack and forward options that many others in the league simply can't match.     Still in a very good position to challenge though.     So many other teams would jump at the chance to be where we are and the opportunity that goes with it.  

There was a certain club 5-6 years ago who we’re competing for top spot in this division with Wolves and played a few days before Xmas against them and lost, it all went pear shaped and ended up finishing 8th 

I wonder if Mr Ashton has learnt any lessons from then and his disastrous transfer dealings???

It’s all falling apart for Ipswich and the only way is down 

1 hour ago, Southport Red said:

If poor Ayman’s rotten luck ever improves, he would also feel like a new signing. 

Based on the multiple times I have seen Ayman play I don’t get the expectation that he would command a place in the first team 

He’s had a nightmare time with injuries and the lad has talent but when he last played for the first team he was physically lacking 

I sincerely hope he makes a full recovery and gets back to playing but he’s yet to prove himself capable at this level 

48 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

I do think Manning had a go at changing it more quickly to start with then 5 points in 6 games probably shifted his attitude a little. You can certainly see what he is trying to implement in terms of midfield players like Knight and TGH breaking lines but it relies too much on Dickie atm (Norwich blocked off his "passing lanes" and Sunderland went full on individual press) albeit Vyner's passing was better last night tbf. I think we are seeing gradual change now.........which I also think is the correct way to go about things WITH THE PLAYERS WE HAVE.

What Manning is doing right now feels right.....a further improvement on Pearson's slow improvement (might end up being a quicker improvement given funds by the hierarchy). It's pointless saying what about "top 6" and "front foot".........let him manage but never forget that we have two idiots in charge!!

With reference to blocking passing lines, when Atkinson is back and fit, his passing and surges forward will bring a new dimension and open up options when we are building play as well as having both Dickie & Atkinson as threats at set pieces. I think Vyner is a decent defender but Atkinson trumps him in what he brings to the team both defensively and going forward 

4 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I was very impressed with Hull n the opening 20 that night….and then very impressed with us for much of the rest of that game.  We should’ve taken the 3 points up there too.

They are a good looking side though, but they aren’t good defensively.  That will be their Achilles heel.  You are always gonna be in the game with them.

In Hull’s last game v Boro they looked vulnerable at the back and they got away with it that night but not this time with us. A dangerous attacking team that play good football but you always have a chance against them 

Just now, Andrew_V1 said:

Huge win. Sunderland and hull back to back like that is impressive. Let’s hope we can strengthen in January then see where that takes us.

 

And get McCrorie, Atkinson & Naismith back into the squad 

A couple of attacking signings and all of a sudden things look far more rosy

A big coup if we get him now with bigger clubs interested. Depends if he wants a clear pathway to first team football or not. 
 

obviously liked what was said and what he saw before the medical scuppered the deal in the summer so you would like to think some assurances and commitments were agreed between both parties 

For me he is an Alex Scott clone and could become a very valuable asset if he progresses well and stays free of injuries 

39 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

Doesn’t get any easier either. Hull will be extremely tough 

I fancy us to beat them also. Time for us to go on a festive winning streak 

Get Atkinson, Mcrorie, Wells & Naismith back fit and a couple of new faces and watch us rocket up the table