Alessandro

I’ve got to say, much as I’m pissed off with this whole situation: I would urge a bit of caution not to pile on Manning so soon.

I agree, some badly chosen words there - it’s not culture holding us back - but the reality is if he says it’s quality holding us back, that is directly critical of the players and board by default.

He is not the reason we are where we are. 

Still feel he ‘deserves’ more time to install what he wishes before the knives are completely out - given he is here and Nigel ain’t coming back.

Reality is, if it’s not working, the players will let us know first, and therefore the results…

Just my opinion.

27 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

i get that but you can’t argue the quality isn’t there. The pass for the OG was special. Idah physically in a different realm to anything we have. They had moments today that we just aren’t able to produce at the minute. 

 

See above about Norwich. 
 

We didn’t win very often with 40% possession neither. We have reset whether agree with it or not. There are already signs that the style will see us create more. You named their chances. Now name ours. We had plenty to be looking at 3 or more. We are more aggressive in the final third and I am enjoying it. 

For me we had a plenty of half chances. We no way looked like scoring 3 or more IMO. (Edit - just read our XG for 2nd half was 0.02 so my gut feeling wasn’t wrong…)

Clear chances - Conway maybe first half, decent save from Knight’s header.

Norwich had the clearer chances first half. 
 

Second half, they were happy to give us the possession - but for me we did nowhere near enough…Wagner will be laughing himself to sleep to have drawn Manning in like that and knocking him out with a late sucker punch.

Concern for me is the individual errors creeping back in, the basics slipping too often and the fact that it looks like Manning might be undoing all the hard work Pearson put in place to make us a tough team to beat….for me we don’t lose that game today under NP. 

Yes Manning is doing it differently - it’s clear to see. But different doesn’t always mean better and the jury’s very much out for me that it is better yet.

Just now, Robin101 said:

Didn’t say it was a good thing did I? Just explaining why Ashton Gate feels so flat. You could hear the hubbub of people talking for the first 10 mins of the second half ffs.

And I wasn’t on here during the game, for what it’s worth. 

But what would you like me to do? I’ve previously said I think it’s time for new ownership - I don’t think much is going to change til it happens. 

Fair enough, my post isn’t aimed squarely at you - I don’t know your posting history - but there’s been a lot of comments along this line recently….’it is what it is’ whilst still being in support of the board or new managerial change.

I just want a bit of hope and belief - something the Lansdowns seem inconsistently incapable of bringing.

1 minute ago, Robin101 said:

Agreed it’s a midtable squad. And we all know it. I honestly think that’s why the majority feel not that bothered/upset - at the end of the season, we’re 100% guaranteed to still be in the championship. Getting a bit boring really - anyone up for a spell in League One and looking good again? 

In which case, what’s the ******* point?

And why do you let the club take you for a fool, taking your time, commitment and money, telling you we’re going for top 6 when we’re nowhere near?

Not bothered but you’re on here during a game.

What’s the point of fans even turning up and getting excited if you don’t think we have a hope?

Honestly this sort of sheep attitude, apathy, is why we’re still where we are and the club get away with the stunts they pull.

Nothing surprises me.

This squad is nowhere near top 6, felt that all season, laughable that the club try and sell that line.

Looks like Nige had us playing as a sum greater than our parts.

Feels a step backwards on the whole with Manning so far - championship showing again it’s not a place to find your way and test the waters as an inexperienced manager and he’s finding out the hard way.

I’m not angry with him, although he’s got to take huge responsibility for that today - he’s going to have to find his feet very, very quickly with a big December coming up. 

Under Pearson felt like we were more likely to start fast and settle.

Under Manning again, like Boro, we settle then start moving through the gears. 

A good half, rode our luck with 2 very good Norwich chances before we scored, then it was all City.

Another goal for us kills this game, they look like they’ve little confidence. I hope we see that and actually come out faster this second half to do exactly that. No repeats of Boro after half time please!

Good first half.

Second awful. Absolutely awful.

Bar doing well to keep it down to 1, that was the only positive - that was as devoid of ideas and quality a half of football from City I can remember for a while. Never looked like scoring. Barely get the ball at times. 
 

2 breaks ending in complete lack of composure and quality - and one penalty shout (seen them given, not by Keith f ing Stroud though)

Didn’t expect much from that game but that second half has left me very deflated - especially as for the first time with this squad there was a sense of tension between the players, little agro’s, a lot of frustration coming through IMO…maybe it was just the game but the morale didn’t seem quite right somehow…

13 minutes ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

True but at a ticketed event it's the luck of the draw who gets the tickets, or should be anyway.

I don't know why it's held at the H&C, on a non match day, with a limit of 200.

The Q&A's I've attended were all held under the Dolman, a huge space as was. A couple were in the evening like the H&C but crucially not ticketed so anyone could turn up. Most though were either at 1pm before a match, or on an open day, so masses of fans were at the ground anyway.

You could organise beforehand as much as you like these days to get the right people there asking the right questions but under the current format no guarantee any of them would get tickets.

Btw, as I've said previously it was always an easy ride for the panel, there again none of the Q&A's were held at a controversial time for the club like this last one, more like an excited audience to 'welcome Steve Coppell', or those attending were charmed by GJ and Colin Sexstone. Even SL was smiley and forthcoming in those days!

 

Yep, may not be a complete controlling of tickets, but it was certainly well “stage managed” in their favour. 
 

R.E draw of tickets - what I mean is, if it was a bit more organised on here, we could all apply and give any tickets to those who might be good at asking the right questions in advance. 

54 minutes ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

Same as usual then, an easy ride for the panel with most fans seemingly just happy to be there, and no tough questions.

Regarding the above pre H&C post, and that it only takes 3 or 4 tough questions to make things really interesting, I note the likes of @GrahamC, @Bristol Rob and @W-S-M Seagull (maybe amongst others from OTIB) obtained tickets but have said they were unfortunately unable to attend on the night.

Who knows, perhaps these 3 were the ones who would have represented the majority on OTIB by asking those tough questions, thus making it a much less comfortable night for the panel and the whole event far more interesting.

It doesn't take much to make a big difference to the whole event, and this trio of absentees may have been very fortunate for JL and BT.

 

I hope OTIB will not let this happen again - next time, as a group, the forum will have to be more organised and make sure there are going to be enough of the ‘right’ people there, to ask the ‘right’ questions. 
 

Maybe the club intervened or maybe it was taken for granted by the fans this time that the club would face the right questions but instead we were left with a missed opportunity for some accountability. 
 

As others have said though, if you’re not there, you can’t really complain. 

Said it at half time and I’ll say it again - seemed noticeable how much braver the CB’s were on the ball, lovely to see and both Vyner and Dickie very capable of stepping out and it helps so much with keeping the opposition press guessing - good improvement.

Also seen a bit of stick for Tanner…think he did seemed to often be more one of three CB’s as we moved the ball across the pitch looking for space and his instructions were to be less expansive than Pring going forward. Also felt he/his area of the pitch was targeted for the overlap/overloads as Sykes got caught upfield - so was perhaps made to look to struggle more than he actually did, defensively. 
 

I enjoyed the game - felt like had we not made those couple of mistakes beginning of the second overloads, we were generally in control for large parts of the game. Obviously the second half got a bit hectic and open, from both teams.

Manning’s comments make sense - it’s not going to be high press/front foot/exciting football all the time - as JL and Tinnion banged on about before he was appointment - but knowing when to attack. Feel like we’re beginning to see that in that game there.

Dickie brilliant - TGH in his rightful spot at CM and looks undroppable now. 
 

Still want much more end product from Bell and Mehmeti - interesting to see Bell having to drop off a lot more.
 

Well what an interesting half that was, well done lads.

Felt second best for large parts - you can see the Manning changes but there was a feeling of, it’s different, but is it better?

One shot in 35 mins or so wasn’t promising - despite us feeling better in possession, more options, with Vyner and Dickie especially excellent stepping out from the back.

Then a real moment of magic for TGH. Curling in from distance - cue an implosion from the otherwise organised and calm Boro.

A bad back pass put Conway in who should have scored - then seconds later he’s in again after a Fry fumble, who takes him out, and should have been sent off. Only a yellow.

From the ensuing free kick, Fry again clumsily takes out James and some justice is served as a penalty is awarded that Conway slots away.

Positive stuff on the whole, despite us looking a little too open out of possession at times, our set up, often three CB’s, Tanner - Vyner - Dickie with Pring and Sykes pushed up were allowing Boro big space in the channels.

Good start for Manning so far though…

Amazing read this thread - there's been some re-writing of history over the years on here and people like to re-frame the facts after the event. It's happening already after only a few short weeks....

Also the thing that strikes me is there are one or two posts here that could have been copy and pasted from discussions around the appointments of our last 4 or 5 plus managers - amazing how history seems to be repeating itself.

I want City to succeed and I'd be very happy for that to be under Manning - and i'll give him a fair crack of the whip...but as other's have said, Pearson was sacked in large part for the fact that they want us challenging for the top 6 and they believe we have a squad good enough for it and a better chance with Manning.

So with that in mind; I believe a game like today, home to Boro, close to us in the table - is a game we should be at a minimum very competitive in, and if top 6 is the aim, winning.

Under Pearson i'd expect a close game with us being competitive and a draw or goal either way would be normal. I don't expect miracles from Manning after a few weeks, and he's got the rest of the season, in my mind, to show what he can implement - but that's my minimum expectation today - pretty low bar TBH, don't lose by more than 1 and be in the game/tough to break down for large parts.

12 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

So Rennie isn’t to blame for our bad injury record but these injuries are because he got sacked?

No i’m joking really - but just very ironic that Rennie was fired and the club briefed they were annoyed the players were left under conditioned after an international break as they’d been given rest time - and the following international break, they’ve clearly done the opposite and in a closed doors 11 v 11 we hear this news…non contact injuries -  just rather…ironic and very Bristol City

So looks like Rennie might have known what he was talking about, after all…dear oh dear - the first international break after the club sacks DR for giving players the last one sometime to rest and they thought they knew better and we now have this mess….

Take a bow Tinnion! 

I look at those names coming back and I’ll I really see is cover and competition, which is helpful - not sure how many of the below really improve the current first team, certainly not in sense of a promotion push which I just can’t see happening without spending in Jan:

Williams - CM competition, McCrorie - Jury’s out still hopefully an upgrade, Benarous - will surely need time to develop still, if stays fit more key next season onwards?, Atkinson - does he get in ahead of Vyner and Dickie now? Wells - obviously key competition for Conway, may depend of system Manning uses, Wiles-Richard’s, King and Robert’s - cover.

1 hour ago, Spreadsheet Boy said:

Knight, Sykes, Conway, Bell all gonna be missing.  Has Mehmeti been called up, I haven’t seen?

Plus the injured players - King, Wells, Williams, McCrorie, Roberts, is gonna make tactical detailing pretty difficult  you’d imagine.

Forget working on tactics during the international break….just hope he’s done his research and doesn’t give the remaining players any time off……

8 hours ago, Fordy62 said:

In all the years Nothing I’ve ever seen of Phantom would ever lead me to believe that he’s in any way a bull shitter. He’s a forum stalwart and if he says something then it’s either true, or he’s mistaken. 

What I will say however is the influx of new members who appear to share the same down trodden opinion of Nige is bizarrely coincidental - almost like something is going on. 

And remarkably they’ve all got the same opinion that Manning would be a great appointment…

Actually one of the benefits of the injuries was seeing TGH and Knight in the ‘deeper’ centre mid positions.

Thought Knight especially was more effective from deep vs. Cardiff and had one of his best games. 
 

So I kind of hope they stay with TGH and Knight there, rather than bring in Naismith. I’d be happy with either Weimann or Mehmeti in the 10.

Sykes back outwide FW - so Tanner has to come back in.

Vyner and Dickie for me at CB.

5 minutes ago, Tafkarmlf said:

Got ya

Starts off with needless and baseless antagonism, tied in to a conspiracy theory about Bristol Sport bots, a bit of projection and then cod psychology too 

Cracking post, *rolls eyes* 

Wow, that paragraph sounded so much like you were talking about yourself…

But then I realised - Oh you’re talking about me…I’m flattered you’ve been watching my posts so much  

1 hour ago, Tafkarmlf said:

Thought it was a good interview, honest and forthcoming.

Confirmed his mate status and is basically going once new head coach is in.

I see we're back to conspiracy again though. There's danger in over analysing everything to fit one view of another.

Just wondering what your bonus is in £££’s from Bristol Sport for every time you try and gaslight people with your posts on here?

30 minutes ago, beaverface said:

He also mentioned that the lads always train for several months and then have a break during the International break, and that's happened several times during the last 2.5 years. Basically justifying what DR and JE did.

THANK YOU. Yes said something like - we’ve given the players long time off at international breaks before and it was never a problem or mentioned then…

22 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Thanks for summarising.

We knew it already, will watch in full later but that just reaffirms how stitched up NP and his staff were.

The whole interview was unpinned with a philosophical, “that’s football” kind of vibe - but the meanings were clear.

As @petehinton said, he came out swinging for his mates, often in a read between the lines way, got some excellent points in and as always what he didn’t say was as loud as what he did say.

11 minutes ago, Eddie Notgetinya said:

I’ve read the transcript in the BP but doesn’t seem that controversial. 
 

what was said?

Slightly paraphrased but main takeaways:

• Players and staff in shock
• Knock on to 30 or 40 people, other employees, when a manager goes - not just one person is sacked.
• Nige will be back and they will work together again
• David Rennie one of the best in the business and has done a fantastic job
• 2 wins in next 2 games and table would have/will look very different
• 4 weeks time and the conversations over injuries would be very different - i.e many are returning over next 4 games or so, already 3 back in contention for Saturday
• His focus is on Saturday and that's it - focus is on the boys(players) - absolutely no conversation about putting name in the hat
• Talked a bit about Nige's achievements and legacy - culture installed and proud of what they've done here.
• Sad to be leaving, it's a great club, who wouldn't be sad

Fleming dropping a grenade or two there. 

That interview puts to bed anyone who thought they'd appoint him...

7 minutes ago, Frenchay Red said:

I agree and I would imagine that they all have their own individual training plans personally tailored to their "numbers".

They're hardly likely to come back from a short term rest and immediately get into high intensity workloads. Light efforts gradually increasing I would have thought. Plus it's not the start of the season, so core fitness shouldn't be an issue.

4 minutes ago, JP Hampton said:

  Fair shout. Especially as 3 months training should (as is the universally accepted standard approach), be followed by a week off.  There’s no way those players wouldn’t have been given a programme of tailored, light exercise. Otherwise after every summer break all teams would be having the same problems. 
 
It sounds more likely that, that was a convenient excuse to get rid of them. 

Out of emojis - but absolutely this. 

They wouldn't have all just gone on holiday - they would have been in the gym and light training.

It's the kind of thing you review and learn from, not fire good people for....