Offside

I have no knowledge of how Manning’s previous teams have set up and played.

But here are a couple of things I’m hoping City can improve on:

Ball retention - we struggle to maintain possession at times and give the ball away very cheaply, sometimes gifting the other team a scoring opportunity. 

I’d like to see us improve at running with the ball. Since Scott left we have very few players who can carry the ball. Pring can do those surging runs (less in evidence this season). Mehmeti too, but he has hardly featured. Naismith, but he usually sits deep. I can’t think of anyone else.

Closing down the huge gaps we leave  in midfield - we let opposing players run a long way with the ball. 

Being able to create pockets of space - our players often seem static when we are in possession. 

At least the waiting is over!

Welcome to the club, Liam. 

Best wishes to Curtis. Sad to see him go. 

That was the first season I had a season ticket. The Wolves home game was horrible. 

It was an odd season, we had some good players but our defence was awful and we were wide open too often. I always felt confidence was an issue too - in one of the first games we let in a late equaliser at QPR and I’ve always thought that had we held on for the win the season might have panned out differently. Similarly, later in the season when WBA equalised deep in injury time in our game at this ground it felt like things were against us. Plus we suffered two serious injuries that game. 

There was a spell of games around Easter (I remember beating Portsmouth away) when it looked like we might perform a great escape, but it wasn’t to be. 

3 hours ago, Renaissance Williams said:

Exit Music (For a Film) - Radiohead 

B Movie - Elvis Costello & The Attractions 

A welcome 3 points, but far from convincing. Very little creativity and we continue to put ourselves under unnecessary pressure by making silly decisions and giving the ball away. 

Good to see some of the injured players back and TGH played well. 

4 hours ago, Renaissance Williams said:

Blinded By The Light - Bruce Springsteen 

I Can’t See You Any More - Husker Du

53 minutes ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

Tiger Feet...Mud

Fell In Love With A Girl - The White Stripes

I know nothing about him other that his Birmingham team played well against us in the game at AG earlier this season. 

The squad is good enough???? But it’s obviously not because it is wafer thin and we sold Scott without using any of the money to fill that gap. 

That interview gives no justifiable explanation as to why the decision was made to remove NP as manager. 

I usually feel sad when a manager  goes (Pulis being the exception - his departure was a cause for celebration). But this is the first time I’ve felt pissed off about it. Usually it’s clear that a tipping point has been reached (losing the players/fans, threat of relegation, abysmal form etc), but that isn’t the case with NP, who still had the backing of players and fans.  

1 hour ago, Jerseybean said:

It might have been mentioned already but I note that Coventry, under Mark Robins, have won just two of their last 12 games…. 

I’d be happy if we ended up with Mark Robins - he’s done well at Coventry. 

Just heard this news. Horrified. With a wafer thin squad and the number of injuries we’ve got any manager would struggle to get results. Pearson has been treated harshly. 

With the number of injured players out I can’t see us getting anything out of this game. Hopefully I’m wrong. 

2 hours ago, Red Shadow said:

The Stealer - Free

Sale Of The Century - Sleeper 

1 hour ago, weepywall said:

Bank Robber...The Clash

The Bartender And The Thief - Stereophonics 

2 hours ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

Oops!...I Did It Again...Britney Spears

Accidents Will Happen - Elvis Costello & The Attractions 

I agree with @spudski, some of our passing and movement is dire. Far too often we struggle to retain the ball and put pressure on ourselves by giving it away in our own half. 

32 minutes ago, italian dave said:

A Design for Life……Manic Street Preachers.

She Said - Plan B 

He was definitely limping. But I agree that NP didn’t sound happy with him on the radio last night. 

I have no idea what’s been going on behind the scenes with Mehmeti, but I always find it odd when a player gets signed and then months later can’t get game time. Mehmeti blew hot and cold last season, but I’m surprised he hasn’t had more game time this season from the beach, especially when we are chasing games. 

Presumably one reason is that Yeboah, alongside his attacking threat (raw though he is), offers more defensively. 

Yes, I thought the same. I drove along West St towards town and there was hardly any traffic. 

Frustrating game. I thought we started brightly. Conway should have done better with the header. Then we gave their player far too much room for their goal and were second best for the rest of the first half. Far too often they had space in the middle and yet again we put ourselves under pressure with poor passing. 

Second half we improved and Cornick made a difference. We did enough to get a draw. 

Ipswich played well as a unit and were clearly but based on tonight’s game they were nothing special and will fall away. But when we played Luton at home last season I thought they looked like a relegation team and got promoted, so what do I know. 
 

Glad to see Knight is starting. But I fear this makeshift side used up some luck on Saturday and we’ll struggle to get anything from tonight’s game. 

1 hour ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

She's Wanted In Three States...Larry Clinton

Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers