TomSutton

100% agree on the ability to press but that’s why I imagine Bird’s been bought in to do exactly that more of a athletic player rather than the combative that Williams. I’m still 50-50 on keeping him he’s key in the current system but to quote LM we want to be a “front foot, possession based team”. Personally, I’m not sold on Williams while we have possession I still feel he gets the ball nicked from him to much for us to dominate the game. While I absolutely love him out of possession in our team he’s the one we look to in order to gain a bit of bite, when he puts in one of those classic big Williams tackles like Baker used to do it can spark all the other players on the pitch. I do worry if we lose that then we don’t have another player who can replicate it.

I think with Williams he’s entering the prime of his career I imagine they’ll be a divide from where we view him wage wise to where his agent and himself view him. I imagine like we had with AW if a compromise can be met then I could see him signing but as it stands it seems unlikely I don’t even believe the club are pursuing it like “allegedly” they are with TC. I imagine they’ll be looking to see if they can get better either through free agency or the market but most likely I imagine the former. I could see this decision being made in April time my gut says he goes which will be a loss because we’ve seen what he can do when he’s at it. Brings a real tenacious nature to that midfield almost like a throwback to a Marvin Elliot which we don’t otherwise have. However, does always want an extra touch for me while he does have a decent range of passing the consistency isn’t always there and if LM is sticking true to his word around dominating games that would mean us having more possession. I feel that Williams is one of those players who affect the game more and make more of an impact when we don’t have the ball ie winning it back or vocalising the press. If we are going to be a possession based team rather than a counter I could see him not being as effective as he is atm.

Ah plans may have changed I was referring to an interview LM gave a month and a bit ago. Was not aware Tins had spoke about him in regards to first team minutes my apologies

I believe he said on Bristol Live that if possible it would be ideal to sort him out a league loan. It’s clear he’s a quality technician of a centre back as he’s been Canada u20 captain for over a year now but he needs mens experience. You can’t have a 21/22 year old with under 20-30 games played these days as you are made to recall on previous experiences and if you have none to fall back on especially at centre back it can be extremely difficult. That being said unless your exceptional it can be difficult to break into an EFL club at centre back as unlike attackers where it is easier to sub on and off it is one of those positions which is built on an understanding of how each other work/play. ie: one covers, one man marks, set pieces and communication with the holding mid or full backs. It is a massive ask for a teenager to do all of those while focusing on his own game in a new league with a new team especially within the EFL. personally l am a massive fan of this Araoye loan as it provides that experience with communicating with older players and the level he’s at now is not a bad one for development and playing 90 minutes in a league men’s game the way I look at it could be worth playing 270 in a 21s game. in summary really interested in where JKL goes (should be a loan but to where and what level) as I think we’ve all known about his talent for years but he’s got to start kicking on now.

Stubborn or a potential control freak when it comes to how he wants the team to prepare evidenced with our new training pitch markings which is the way I look at it. Either way I feel he needs to add some form of adaptability to his tactical game as it’s all well and good us focusing on ourselves but we need to counteract the opposition as well.

Not sure he’s even played right wing back in his life let alone against what I imagine will be a near enough full strength premier league side away!

Bizarre, he’s an out and out winger too often playing high and wide to utilise his pace (he’s on 5”7 pushing 5”8) so unless we would bring him on for Mehmeti in the half left space not sure where he gets on in truth.

Lot of my friends have played with him at BIC weird how he’s not on a pro sure he will at the end of the season I play with his brother at SGS certainly a very talented footballing family I know Nelson is very highly thought of in the club but am confused why he’s not on a pro. BIC (Bristol Inner City) are a top JPL team when it comes to producing talent two of the lads I play with are with England C now others include Yeboah, Morrison and Nelson with more too definitely one of those teams with great links as I know they play the youth city teams in a showcase match in pre season every year.

Any idea why Nelson is currently within the 18 when there are others arguably better positioned to come on and play closer to the level needed. He doesn’t ever get on either I also don’t believe he’s signed a pro yet although am unsure on that

He did I believe mainly against Swindon (unsure). But he is the real deal especially physically at his age group is head and shoulders above others in the midfield battle.

Cheers mate, I’m 18 now so have played against a fair few of them or am friends with some of the 18s now. From what I’ve been told it’s an extremely talented group (Tinnion has mentioned it numerous times). As with the way the youth leagues are structured it is not possible to get promoted due to travel and the amount of academy’s around these days so they stay in one league. This 18s group many have been together for the last 4/5 years as within academy set ups having been in and around it I can say there are a few major checkpoints although I was never good enough to play for city. These are U12 where the club will look at how physically developed the player is, technical ability, behaviour/attitude, willingness to learn. U16 where a decision is made on scholarships at city I believe these to be around £700 per month to the player (not for certain) and is decided on the belief in the player to physically progress into the men’s game. U18 is where a select few will receive their first pro deal. City typically award 3-5 first pros per year with the more “talented” teenagers signing three year deals most will sign for two. Under the current crop of 21s there are numerous that I imagine will not be here next season due to how the club views it in three year batches. From the current crop successful pros have been: Scott, Bell, Conway, Low and Towler with others now or will be playing at a decent level in non league such as Pearson, Owers, Clark. I believe it is telling that the club feels that there is a lacking of players of real quality between the ages of 19-21 (bar SPH) where they have physically developed into their body unlike a 17 would have. Hence Stokes and Murphy signing. From my knowledge the most promising players from the 18s as it stands are Brandon Bak who was signed from weston Super mare first team at the beginning of the season having broken into their squad at 16. Strong, fast and a real out and out 9 he’s scored many of the deciding goals for the u18s this season including in the last round of the FA youth cup. Taine Anderson left back has trained with the first team and impressed with his willingness to get forward and has featured for the 21s Raekwon Nelson LW/RW Direct, pacey winger who uses his low centre of gravity to his advantage has been on the bench for the first team this season. Henry Kasakove RW again a direct winger with a taller frame though and brilliant feet for a taller stature. The most exciting I believe is Jed Meerholz would not be surprised at all to see this name very soon in and around the first team 6”2 left footed centre mid and a real engine on him a hard worker in midfield. edit: excluded a few great players, Morrison one name many will recognise from the bench at Man City at home last year has had knee issues but again a fantastic player. It is important to note that these guys are still so young and as shown with Benarous anything can happen but plenty to look forward to from the 16-18 year olds in the set up currently.

I can’t see a way he stays on, seemed very clear that Manning didn’t take King being suggested as a coach too kindly and shut it down instantly. From my perspective it appears to be he has a close circle of people he can trust and delegate responsibility too but if your not in that, then it’s extremely difficult to get into and that is where I believe king is now. I am imagining King would ideally want to have at least a house here still in the south west and if we were to offer him a deal as a coach I’m sure he would accept it I wonder whether theoretically he could aid with the u18s who appear to be a very talented group (5th round of FA youth cup coming up). His experience as a guy who’s had both success in his career as well as difficult times like in Belgium can only enhance his ability to guide the younger lads. will it happen probably not, would I like him to be kept on as a youth coach yes, would King see himself as just a youth coach though or would he want a more managerial role up to him in the end. *Also agree on having the premier league experience and is a great point of call for those in the first team looking to get there

Agree on King gone, without Pearson who was allowing him to transition into his coaching role and to be moderated while coaching I imagine with the academy boys which is necessary to complete your FAW and FA coaching badges like Kings done, it means he has no real role currently. From my understanding he’s a very popular figure but as is Williams and they cannot simply be kept on because of this. I remember reading on Bristol Live when LM first came in that King was strictly a player as Manning wanted to be in complete control around who coaches the first team hence Hogg and Krause coming in. It is clear that Kings legs have gone so I doubt he will play 2 or more games again this season (possible cameo against forest?) With AW OOC as well as MJ and JW all our more experienced players within the squad this will leave us 4 players over the age of 28 at the start of next season under contract these being. Wells (34) Dickie (28) Cornick (29) Naismith (32) Bar that we have many players entering the “prime” of their careers RE Vyner, Pring, Sykes and co but that will not leave us with many experienced heads who can act as a point of call for both the management to consult with (haha as if) or players to turn to for guidance like with Alex Scott and King.

Suppose it’s all done on hope really, Always the part that kills you.

Do wonder whether this team has the potential to lack experience pros. could possibly see Naismith being moved on too not down to ability but more his availability concerns. If Naismith was to move on your most experienced players within the squad would be Dickie, Vyner, Williams (if kept on), O Leary and Sykes. This of course is in terms of age and not games played but having played under different managers and systems can be all the more beneficial to the squad like King is atm, evidenced by how he appears to be always one of the first to greet the new player and take them out socialising with the squad. By no means do I think that moving on the likes of Weimann, king, James is the wrong decision but we do not want to end up with a squad solely made up of 20-25 year olds I personally feel.

Good point, my apologies appeared he was playing more central than maybe he was. Mebude is a differential player to me in the fact he’s a different physical profile to TC or NW. I do wonder if Sykes could fit into that 10 role where he had experience for Oxford if I remember correctly he was signed to challenge Weimann for that 10 spot due to his versatile nature he can play a range of positions. I’m a big Sykes fan although I don’t think he’s a brilliant technical footballer rarely dribbling past a full back 1v1 he scores goals and is effective. With that being said with a pre season and “important” attacking signings supposedly being made do we change shape slightly I feel we are becoming ever predictable in our combination play and rotation in midfield. At least Mebude with his raw pace and power offers a real out ball but the temptation then would be to continually use this like we did with Famara and play off second balls. What I don’t understand is when LM first came in we showed some brilliant triangle rotations which allowed us to dictate the tempo either by allowing us to reset or for a one-touch pass to Sykes or Pring where has this gone? We play too wide now and without Twine who’s a quality technician in between the lines it means we can rarely play through teams having to chip to get behind them and square back across

A valid point. Supposed from the clubs perspective it’s seen as an opportunity to cause an upset R.E West Ham rather than a free hit. The main issue is the league form especially the creation and clinical nature of which we create opportunities to score which since Boxing Day have been lacklustre when LM first came in we were a free scoring team but with an every growing predictable nature of how we attack teams are placing their centre backs on the cover to stop our lofted ball to Knight over the top from typically ZV or RM. As an intuitive coach he needs to come up to solutions to the game ahead of him rather than a blanket approach to all fixtures which we have adopted in recent matches of not changing how we play. I suppose in some ways that can be seen as bravery (that he bangs on about) that what we are doing is the correct way however, I think it shows a bit of naivety and lack of regard for the oppositions quality. In summary no game really is a free hit but this cup game is not priority over the league and as a collective group we have to become more adaptable.

In an ideal world could see Mebude playing either LF with Twine off the right. That said, against Watford twine played in a central 10 mainly first half. With that it allows knight to play in his preferred position as an 8 much like brownhill did for us in that box to box role that Pearson favoured him in. I understand Manning loves how he initiates the press with Tommy however, loosing that extra body from the centre of the pitch with and without the ball places more stress on James and Williams which I feel is why the can look over exposed at times

Ah I did think he had played there I know Henry Kasakove plays on the right for the 18s with Bak through the middle my confusion was the point of him at Wing back this is a guy who has had rare opportunities in the 21s on the wing let alone defending I don’t even believe he’s on a pro yet though I’m not sure. Campbell slowery is again another one who plays 18s and is some way off playing them in a game against a nearly full strength prem team like suggested is murder to both their development and confidence. If we’re giving youth players the opportunity to play (which I don’t think we will this season) it must be. Hutton, Backwell, Hewett

Really enjoyed coming on, interesting debate and I think a fair yet not reactionary view on the result last night. A bit of a free hit on Wednesday however, need to address the scoring issue hope mebude makes a difference as he adds a different physical profile to TC or NW and reminds me of Gatlin O’Donkor who Manning worked with at Oxford.

I was one of those who thought Vyner this time last year would never play Championship football, how he’s proved me and so many wrong. Certainly in my view our most consistent player this season he used to make individual mistakes every game now I can recount a mistake he’s done this season looks strong,quick and composed lots to be awarded to Nige and his coaching team for the improvement in Vyner as well of course