JoeAman08

Then how come he didn’t build off that good base? Yet Manning with barely any training time has us playing like, dare I say it, a top 6 side

You scorned NP lovers need to give it a rest. Trying to find any little detail to have a go at LM. I swear most of you would love to see him fail so much you wouldn’t mind city going down with him. Imagine Man City fans going I can’t deal with Pep’s spanish accent or when he is moody after dropping points. Embarrassing

Yes much rather have NP having a nice drawn out and detailed explanation! Especially after probably dropping 8 of the points we just picked up

Yes the Lansdowns, Tinnion, NP and everyone at the club. Not NP on his own. He did the job he was supposed to do. No more and no less. I have given NP his plaudits plenty before. While recognising that we were at our limit under him. What is wrong with that?

Great back and forth. Asked you to explain but your capacity for intelligent conversation is lacking isn’t it? It feels good to chat to such a defeated man. Hurts being so wrong about Manning doesn’t it? Maybe take a break from the forum mate and just enjoy the good times

Get what? I’m just happy city is playing attractive football and getting results. It has been 5-6 years since LJ managed two top half finishes albeit with stupid resources. And I find it strange there are still some that seem upset NP is gone

Or….maybe…..we saw NP was a good way to finish between 14-20th every season. I don’t go to watch a nice championship match and I’d argue no one does. What is the point of being in the league below the premier league if you aren’t going to take some risks to try and go up? Manning could have been a flat out failure and still could. However, he could be stellar and take us to a level we haven’t seen. NP we knew what we were getting. A high floor and low ceiling. Manning we may have a lower floor but the ceiling is much higher and you can see just how high after every game. Embarrassing is having not doing well even on your mind because you don’t agree with someone. Possibly all those heartbroken about NP going were wrong? Me, idc, I am happy knowing we can beat almost anyone at the minute with fluid and fun to watch football with players to come back and a transfer window days away.

Manning has done it with one international break and about 8 games. NP had the whole summer. The football is better, getting more out of our attacking players and the atmosphere at home is a lot better. Why are we holding onto NP like he brought us back to back promotions? He did a job. Not stellar and not bad. Can say he was transitioning the style all you want. We never looked comfortable in possession under NP. We were rarely a threat with possession under NP. Why can’t we just call it as we see it? He isn’t fit for the modern game. You want him to come keep you up in January with limited funds? Sure he’d be great. You want to get the most out of a talented young squad and push the top half? No he is not that guy.

Us Bristol Sport employees know our stuff eh?

Look at the football we are playing now compared to the last 2.5 years. His methods weren’t modern. It was keep it tight and play %. Back foot boring football.

His sacking at Watford was much harsher than here. Still they probably get relegated regardless. Maybe it speaks to his ability to get on with people in power positions. Just a guess btw but that old style manager died out in the early 2010s imo. Owners don’t want to sink money into a club and have some former player calling all the shots. For me he wasn’t adaptable. Couldn’t adapt to anything in the modern game and it is why the decision was made to let him go, rightly imo just wrong time. Should have let him go in the summer but maybe no one suitable available

Exactly and I don’t mean by spending like we did with LJ either. Don’t mind selling but reinvest portions back into the playing squad with more signings like Knight, Sykes, Dickie etc. Back him but don’t repeat that mistake basically.

They used to frustrate me but honestly it isn’t that bad. You look at our current spell in the championship, it is usually bigger clubs and PP clubs being promoted. You are usually looking at one promotion spot at best to grab between 24 teams. Manning is the first hire we have made that is on the “up.” He’s had setbacks in his career like all managers but he has naturally progressed. LJ wasn’t stellar anywhere before he come here. Holden didn’t deserve an interview. NP not done anything notable in almost 10 years when he got here. For me, it is a sign they are maybe getting things right for once. Track record says, even if I am right, that they will do something daft to waste it. That is the frustration is that when city is at a big moment for their future they usually squander it. What I want them to do now is back the bloke you hired. Keep him heavily involved in recruitment and help him build a squad for the way he wants to play. Not the way you think we should play. Even though I think Manning’s style is more what they want just let him be involved. The academy is fine for bringing in some depth but don’t hold back the first team for a year because someone from the academy might come good.

Just take it for what it is. A nice message to the passionate fanbase for the holidays. Let the past be the past. Not as if the decisions are coming back to haunt us atm.

It is here he comes under scrutiny. I don’t really mind him. He just isn’t going to bomb up and down the right like a lot of rb/lb do nowadays. He is dependable and there is nothing wrong with that. I’d like for him to gain the confidence to overlap once in awhile but that can come with time. He doesn’t let the side down

The only thing I’d argue is TGH. He will drive with the ball but he likes to occupy deeper positions to start. My point was we don’t get enough people in the area on attacks imo. I’d prefer one of the two “deeper” midfielders to take the risk once in awhile as it stands. We scored 3 but generally struggle for goals and think it could help

I know McRorie came in as a rb and Tanner is coming under a lot of scrutiny. However, I’d be real tempted to try McRorie in midfield with Hickman and Knight. We talk about Wells cameo and how he got us up the pitch. I also thought we were much better because Williams come on for James. It isn’t in possession that worries me. However out of possession and breaking up attacks I thought James really hurt us last night. James and TGH are also way too similar to me. Neither is willing to really make runs into the area or down a channel. I know this isn’t a big role for CMs but you look at our crosses last night and many only have Conway to find. Knight was often out wide helping create the overload which is fine. I am not convinced going 352 will make us better. We now have 20 minutes of Wells in the new BCFC and it led to two goals, granted we were chasing those goals but it looked good. Especially with Sykes form and Mehmeti possibly turning the corner. Also, really enjoyed Bell’s cameo. We still need a couple of players for that front 3. We need to find that bit of magic like Sunderland have with Roberts and Clarke. Like Hull have with Delap and Philogene when fit. So yea, both their returns give us options and depth and versatility. Looking forward to it. Them coming back plus an early January signing could see us maintain this top 10 form.

And the penalties too! This is what the few of us not heartbroken about NP were trying to say. This is the kind of team players want to be in. Especially the young players we recruit. When we recruit in January this is the kind of side good players will want to come to and take a chance on.

You’d be daft to think NP for 3 seasons doesn’t help in that situation Saturday. You’d also be daft to think the players are thinking that at the time. They put their bodies on the line and mostly great defending with some luck. That is NP, LM and recruitment. Can have NP but 6 lee tomlins and you’ll probably not see that out. Top 6 side? No not with our attacking players. We can be a top half side with the way we can keep goals out. Not going to win anything without goals though. Still think conway and wells can perform well enough with more creativity around them. Hard to recruit a cf with those two around imo. Maybe can try Conway on the left though? Say what you want about the Lansdowns and how they handled the NP and LM transition, but they aren’t the first to make a call like this. Can take our opponents from this weekend as and example. Had them playoffs and lost a couple key players now struggling to keep that form. Football does not stand still. You have small windows as non PP clubs as when you get good players performing they get plucked by bigger sides. No qualms with the change but they need to back LM in the market like they should have NP in the summer once they decided to let him go into the season.

Maybe down the middle will be his calling but I doubt that too. He is inexperienced but not that young. Conway isn’t getting much praise either but Bell is a bit over IIRC. Old enough he should be able to deal physically a lot better than he does. If we are going to play him it should be on the right imo. He likes going outside and crossing. His left foot crossing is terrible though he is willing. Problem is Sykes plays on the right and he is by far our best attacking player. We are playing a good style but the loss of Wells and the loss of Conway’s confidence is killing our top 10 hopes. I’d probably try a front 3 of Conway Wells and Sykes when we can. Our best 3 forward/creative players at the minute. Maybe that is the plan even with 3 atb. We need to be more ruthless whatever happens. No need to bin Bell off as Weimann OOC. Bell and Mehemti probably need to battle it out for minutes. Either could win out. Recruit one in Jan, let Weimann walk in summer and Bell, Mehmeti, Yeboah and Cornick can fight for minutes

I don’t disagree about when they should have sacked him. I said it myself end of last season, extend him or sack him. It was never a good decision to let him manage into his last year. I don’t need to argue that. It was handled poorly. They have handled LM start poorly insisting we should be top 6. No, we should push it like everyone else and not fade. Our performances should be more consistent. We should be more of a threat from open play. Things like that. The board is the board. They haven’t handled many things elegantly in the 10 season I have been going down. That is something we need to live with. Just doesn’t seem like this forum wants to get behind the team or new man and I don’t think that is productive at all. Who were their suitors? I think Knight was a good get for sure. Roberts I think regretted the decision early doors. TGH seemed like a last minute no plan and he wanted to play. Outside looking in that one was fortuitous. We haven’t really recruited a young highly rated attacker in years. I’m not saying we weren’t attractive to young players. I am arguing a more attacking and pressing style will attract even more and possible better calibre. I have no narratives I have opinions and I believe in them. So yes I’ll argue them.

We are close I think. Wouldn’t say a favourite but the margins are so fine from spots 4-21. Conway firing like he did last season then it looks a lot different. Something you can’t really account for, a drop of form that drastic. What I’ll say is he is getting more chances under LM than he did the last few with NP. Still need another to play across the front 3 imo but the return of Wells will also help

That is fair as I thought we needed one more. Which NP was part of that problem too. Think it looks pretty clear they did not want to invest too much under NP, rightly or wrongly. Think it looks like he was never going to be extended. Appointed to get us through the FFP tight years. Whether you agree or not, it is a normal football decision to make. Even if they go about plans completely the wrong way. I do think the football under LM will help attract different players. My opinion of course but we are recruiting lads in their late teens and early 20s. They want a pathway. They want coaching. They want to play nice slick football. I do think homework gets done on teams. Finishing 14th with a turgid style of playing for set pieces or 14th starting to move the ball around quick and creating chances are two different things for a 21 year old making a big decision on how to progress his career. Imo

NP hasn’t done anything for about 10 years. He wasn’t exactly successful in the premier league either. I just don’t think it was crazy to get rid and get in an up and coming coach with a more hands on approach. I just don’t see all the doom and gloom of the decision.

Yes but could be a case of one step back to take two steps forward. How I see it anyway. The powers at the top do not help whatsoever though. Putting the pressure of top 6 on either NP or Manning was unfair. However, I see enough to be top half and I feel better about that with Manning than NP. The base is there. However, it is goals that make you successful. We are 14th but have a better defensive record than about 10 of those sides. However, we are bottom 6 in terms of goals. What Manning brings is more shots, more chances and eventually(hopefully) more goals. Wells returning will help massively. Him fit we may be talking about these last 4 games very differently. We should recruit someone who can play in the front 3 as well.