Jerseybean

Player ratings…https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-player-ratings-leicester-9196885?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bristol+Live+-+BCFC+Newsletter_newsletter&utm_content=&utm_term=&ruid=eda3a0ce-34ec-4a85-96cd-ae68727a6b80

More Manning-speak to digest….anyone got any idea what he actually means?

“I definitely think there’s an element of that where a couple of games has compounded what then happens after that and some of that has led to me trying to tweak things, try to ease pressure off players, try to help and support them in that way which, rightly or wrongly, I think it’s always done with the best intentions,”

“We’ve sat down and looked at it and some of it, when you look at December-January-February, being able to press when you have a game every three-and-a-half days, the physical output, it’s been challenging from that perspective.”

“In general it doesn’t change what I want the game to look like across the course of a season. It might look different in certain games, depending on the level and who you’re playing against but, in general, I want to be a team that gets after it, I want us to go and engage higher.”

In a nutshell….much improved performance, great result, rode our luck somewhat, on another day Vardy could have had a hat-trick, Max my MotM, happy Easter City fans

5 minutes ago, Antman said:

does it work? - it just bounces onto porn or spam websites for me.

Works for me 

39 minutes ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said:

http://www.fawanews.com/Bristol City vs Leicester City.html

Many thanks ETR

Anybody got a stream please

LM pre-match https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/liam-manning-previews-foxes-clash/

It’s a sell out, but will it be a Good Friday for Bristol City?

Their last game was a 4-2 defeat against Chelsea in the FA Cup, a game in which Callum Doyle got a red card, so he won’t feature.

We lost 1-0 at the King Power in September with Jamie Vardy scoring from the spot:  https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/extended-highlights-leicester-city-1-0-bristol-city/

Based on the last 10 league games they are 8th with 17 points and we are 17th with 10 points, in the form table.

Nigel Pearson had two spells in charge at Leicester City, 20 June 2008 - June 2010 and 15 November 2011 - June 2015. Here’s a fascinating perspective: https://www.leicestertillidie.com/nigel-pearson.html

Last season they won their last game against West Ham to give hope of PL survival, however, Everton’s 1-0 victory against Bournemouth sealed Leicester’s fate.

Gary Lineker’s thoughts at the time: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/65743099 and Dean Smith’s reaction: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/65715134

Prior to this season we last played them in January 2013 when they won 4-0 (Chris Wood scored a first half hat trick and Matty James notched the fourth), our line up that day was:

Dean Gerken

Stephen McManus

James S Wilson

Liam Fontaine

Greg Cunningham

Ricky Foster

Liam Kelly

Stephen Pearson

Cole Skuse

Steve Davies

Jon Stead

Players introduced from the bench were Paul Anderson, Joe Bryan and Bobby Decordova-Reid.

Manager Derek McInnes was sacked shortly after the game, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jan/12/bristol-city-sack-derek-mcinnes, McInnes was dismissed after losing 31 of his 62 games in charge.

Head-to-head record

Won: 20

Lost: 29

Drawn:19

James and Williams are likely to be included in our squad following injury.

LM comments: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/liam-manning-on-international-break/

Match preview: https://www.theleaguepaper.com/latest-news/football-league-championship/422511/match-preview-bristol-city-v-leicester-city-friday-12-30pm/

Their forum: https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/topic/134328-bristol-city-a/

Officials

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Assistants: James Wilson and George Byrne

Fourth Official: Martin Woods

City will remember supporters who are no longer with us at  half-time, a tribute video featuring the names of supporters who have passed away this season will be played.

The foxes were crowned Premier League champions for the 2015-2016 season. Their unlikely success has been hailed as the ultimate example of what can be achieved with team spirit, dedication, self-belief, vision and no small amount of ability.

Last week it was revealed they could face a points deduction https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68580638 and https://www.otib.co.uk/topic/224809-leicester-city-points-deduction/ and https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68635985

As mentioned there is the NP connection (plus MJ and AK) thought one of their fans summed NP up well, ‘It always saddens me when Nigel Pearson gets sacked.  Pearson  builds a team, doesn’t buy one. He’s got the ability to work within a budget and change the mentality of the the team and players. He pays special attention to a players character and personality. None of that can happen overnight and not many teams give him enough time. It seemed like you guys were starting to do that so fair play to you but then it all came crashing down.’

Another said ‘think I speak for many LC fans when I say that Bristol City had become our second team for the obvious connection of Nige, Matty James,  Kingy and briefly Simoo. But that all disappeared when you culled our favourite guy.’

As per the title: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/food-drink-festivals-taking-place-9172604?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bristol+Live+-+Daily+Newsletter_newsletter&utm_content=&utm_term=&ruid=eda3a0ce-34ec-4a85-96cd-ae68727a6b80

The Derby midfielder is out for another week or so after picking up a calf injury in training. Speaking after the win over Bristol Rovers, Warne said: "He damaged his calf in the warm-up last Tuesday. We dropped him out and he had a scan and he's going to be out for three weeks maybe. That's a big blow to the team.

Man v Fat heard a good programme on Radio 4 about this recently: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001tgtn

https://www.manvfatfootball.org

Just listened to the programme from last night. 

Several key points stood out for me….

1) How to turn things around - winning games seemed the solution, as nobody in the studio suggested the Club would dispense with LM any time soon. Given our recent performances, low confidence (which was also discussed) and the increasingly toxic atmosphere it’s hard to see us winning many of our remaining eight games.

2) Lack of leadership - an old chestnut and as pointed out on the programme and above NP filled that role very well.

3) Owners lack of ambition - another old chestnut, references were made to significant investment in infrastructure much less said about investment in quality/proven players.

4) Communication - JP was pretty straightforward and forthright when discussing the framing (untruths) of NPs sacking and in many ways there was an agreement that the mess we are in all stems from that decision and the way it was handled. 
 

A good listen even if if the content was very concerning.

3 hours ago, Red Skin said:

Can we finally just ignore the sh1te the ownership said about Pearson going?

 

You of course can if you want to RS.

I however think it’s important to hold the Club and individuals to account for their words and actions. Many of us considered what they had to say as total nonsense, but nevertheless they said it and I for one ain’t about to ignore it.

14 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

He has been in charge for 23 unless I missed one.

Did I sleep through one such is the style of play.

Unless you know something we don't and we beat Leicester! Then 8 wins it is. 

So I’ve actually credited LM with a win which in fact belonged to CF

38 minutes ago, Tinmans Love Child said:

Lucky you didn't compare with Nige's first 24 games in charge as well, I remember we seemed to lose most of them!  That's Statistics for you!

TLC I did consider doing that, however, in terms of a comparison it seemed more reasonable and more realistic to compare the resources available to NP at the end of his tenure which were then made available to LM 

11 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

He has been in charge for 23 unless I missed one.

Did I sleep through one such is the style of play.

Unless you know something we don't and we beat Leicester! Then 8 wins it is. 

Thanks. I stand corrected Mr P I’d overlooked the game CF was in charge, 23 it is. 

10 hours ago, Spike said:

I think it would be a balance of results and performance. At the very least they'll expect 9-10 points but more than anything they'd need to see a team capable of competing next season and that is where I think he'd lose his job. There is no way we're going to see a competitive team in all of those 8 games. 

Leicester away - Only chance we have with this game is if Leicester comes looking to thump us and play aggressive opening up the game to suit us. Personally I think having given up a massive points lead at the top of the table they'll be looking to get that top spot back so we'll be getting a very up for it Leicester. 

Plymouth away - in the relegation battle, most likely going to set up not to concede and make things difficult for us, exactly what we struggle with. I could see this being one of those games where we struggle to create a lot. 

Sunderland away - probably one of the games we should be hoping to get points from, they're midtable, far enough behind to make a final push unlikely but also safe from relegation so we should be hoping they're not much up for a scrap. 

Blackburn home - another team who could be in the relegation fight come this game, currently only 3 points of relegation and another team who may set up to frustrate us. 

Huddersfield home - in the relegation zone, a point could be huge for them at the time we play them, definitely going to be looking to set up defensively against us and frustrate. 

Norwich away - Currently in the play offs, if they're still in or around them when we play them they're going to need that win, could play in our favour if they look to bring the game to us but whatever their gameplan they will be up for it. 

Rotherham home - already dead and buried, anything other than a win in this fixture and Manning has to be in trouble. 

Stoke away - also in the relegation battle, kind of hoping they may get enough points to be out of it by this game meaning it could be a little less cagey but if they're in the battle still then I'd expect them to be looking to take the game to us. 

 

It's not an easy run in, on paper you'd look at alot of those games and say we should be getting points but based on what I've seen under Manning I could see it's dropping a lot of points if he doesn't find a way to overcome our struggle to score goals in own play and break down teams who sit back and frustrate. 

The prediction thread about our remaining eight games relates 

Manning compared to Pearson.

Manning has now been in charge for 24 league games, here are the stats comparing his 24 league games with Pearson’s last 24 league games in charge.

Nigel Pearson

Won 8

Lost 11

Drew 5

Liam Manning

Won 8

Lost 11

Drew 5

Yep, identical and Pearson was sacked.

A few references follow which apparently informed the decision to sack NP and appoint LM.

1. We currently have a squad deemed capable of winning promotion/ being at the top end of the league (JL/BT) 100% the aim this season is promotion (GM) “This squad should be at the top end”, “the aim is promotion and we wouldn’t have made the change if we didn’t think we could achieve that”, “there would be no point in making the change now if we were happy to just bumble along for the rest of this season”. 
2. We (the Board) know (apparently for the first time) what we want from our new Head Coach which will include playing in a particular way (see next point)  (JL/BT)
3. We (the Board) know our style of football, throughout all teams, we will play progressively, on the front foot, pressing, attacking,  showing aggression and pace (JL/ BT)
4. The Board opted to sack an experienced manager, citing recent results as the reason (at the time we occupied 15th place with 18 points 5 wins, 6 defeats and 3 draws) our form in the six games pre the sacking was lost 4, won 2.  LMs last six games = lost 5, won 1 (scored 4 and conceded 9 )
5. We were only five points off a play- off spot when NP was sacked and only three points before the Cardiff game, which we faced with an injury ravaged squad.
6. We are in a really good place as a Club and it is set up nicely for somebody to take forward (BT)
7. ‘We aren’t doing as well as we wanted to and that’s what the decision was based upon’ (JL) We had a three year plan with NP and the objective for this year was to be challenging at the top end of the table (GM)

Highlights: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/highlights-west-brom-2-0-bristol-city/

1 hour ago, Natchfever said:

5 points

Agree with you mainly but reckon we will draw with Hudds and lose Blackburn.

Coming across for the Huddersfield game so really hope you and @Cityboy1954 are wrong! 

Half of our remaining games are against teams who are currently below us, our record  against such teams is poor. Lose those four and the current mood among many fans will get much worse. 

Given the mess we are in a bit of light relief seems appropriate.

So captions invited.

19 hours ago, The Humble Realist said:

Am I alone in thinking I'm in the silent majority that are pretty fed up with the current situation, unhappy at how the Pearson situation was handled BUT completely willing to wait til next season to judge manning (where he WILL be judged from game 1 onwards)?

Theres a lot of noise about manning out etc but do most fans feel like me ?

Not looking to knock anyones opinion (2024 has been dreadful and masked from looking even worse by the FA cup), just sometimes the loudest voices portray a larger sentiment than the reality. 

 

The ‘great divide’ section of this article is relevant and worth a look, https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-verdict-process-proving-9170907

Personally, I do now want Manning out, although initially I was minded to give him this season I have - based on the evidence - changed my mind.

City have had 32 managers/head coaches since I started to support them, as below. I think SL has been involved in the tenure of 23 of these.

There have inevitably been some good, bad and indifferent appointments in the last 60 odd years.

However, I can’t recall anybody who has so swiftly fallen out of favour, so quickly, with so many of the fans, as Liam Manning. I’m sure some may disagree and I’d enjoy hearing what others think about this.

I attribute this to the following:

Team and individual’s regression

His style of play and our performances

Results

His predecessor being generally popular among fans and many feeling badly disaffected by his sacking and the rationale for it

His personality

His inexperience at this level

Only one of those factors is not directly about him (NP) and I don’t see anything to suggest that any of the others, other than him gaining more experience in the Championship, is going to change if he stays.

He was appointed to get more out of a squad which was (although contested by many on here, including me) deemed good enough to compete at the top end of the Championship. He has failed to do that.

If he stays and is backed with a budget the Club will be investing in his way and his team, meaning we are landed with his style of play, personality and inexperience.

The time to act is now.

24 minutes ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said:

Sorry JB, didn't see your post, as was watching the game. For future reference, if you click on the game, you will get a box come up, just click on read on or continue and in the next page scroll down and a screen will appear. If it's too early it will be blank, but nearer to KO you can click on the arrow and it will play. I always mute the sound, as I have RB on the OS. Hope you can understand it. Cheers.

Many thanks ETR 

i managed to get it on WBA TV in the end.