robinforlife2

The problem was the shortlist wasn't very good and it's a public vote and in the public eye Mary Earps has a lot of followers and fans. The sad thing is, someone like Lanfranco Detorri should have won a lifetime achievement award, not been put forward for the main event which he would never win. I agree KJT would have been more worthy than Mary Earps, and would have been the most fitting winner, but in a popularity contest which is what it is now, those who are in the public eye, followed and adored by many, will win for their popularity rather than achievement.

Agree, one of only a few managers I would have loved to seen manage us, same as Holloway. Don't care about their history's, who they support and the like, but in their prime they installed passion in players and fans and made people over achieve, and that's how winnings done.

Remember, remember, remember, remember Remember, remember, remember, remember

22/23 season we were shocking up to Xmas. The West Brom game at home on Boxing Day, we were rudderless. He should have been sacked then. We wasted a year of any chance of real progress, and in that year he signed a couple of duds in Cornick, and Roberts. I also don't like how he showed disrespect to the owners and basically tried to use the fans as a fuel to a new contract. It comes across as Narcissism to me. People go on about what he inherited. The team may have not been playing well for Holden, but we finished lower under Pearson than we were in with Holden and that side had far more quality than the side now. yes it was on a wage we couldn't afford, but Pearson hoodwinked the fans into how he talked and operated and tried to be in a position where he could force a new contract and the day he tried to call out the owners, he shot himself in the foot. I get many fans love him, and thought he would come good, and could get us somewhere, and many liked that he was relatable and they saw him as one of the lads, but I think he was clever, quite manipulating and done a good job of winning people over despite offering the same shower of shy-te on the pitch every week. No tears shed here, I'm glad he was sacked. 10 months later than he should have been.

No it means I agree with Lansdown and Tinnion, that in order to progress, Pearson had to go. I'm not sorry he went. I did think we would get until the end of the season, but I never saw him as the bloke to take us forwards. So he had taken us as far as he could, and therefore it was right to relieve him of his duties. Whether the man they have appointed is the right man to do that is a completely different question.

I agree with a lot that Ghost Rider has put to be honest. I personally find it rather pathetic the amount of Nige threads ranging from a leaving card to how fans want to chant for him every week etc. Nigel Pearson came in to do a job. What was done off the field, was done very well. However, this was not JUST because of him. It was because of many people employed to work towards that remit. Whoever was manager, would have had to work within that remit. On the pitch however, we were poor. We were under achieving and we weren't going anywhere. It was time for a change for one the pitch reasons. People seem to praise Nige for bringing down the wage bill, steadying ship etc. However, do you really think it was Nige chatting to players about lesser term contracts, identifying affordable targets. He even said many times, the coaches done the training not him! People say he blooded in the youth, he had no choice, no manager had any choice, whoever was in the job would have had to have done that. Yet he still turned to Andy King ahead of the youth so many people say he was keen to blood in! It was not just Pearson who was responsible for the transition, there was a whole team of people. Pearson's number one job was to get performances on the pitch and he failed at it. I really do not get the love in one little bit. He was part of a team who steadied a ship through tough times, don't get me wrong, but he was not some vital cog that without it all fell apart. Had he concentrated on getting us to play better and get results, he wouldn't have lost his job. The love in with him is a joke. We won nothing under him, we were bang average and the way he is lorded like he won us every trophy under the sun, because he was relatable, spoke his mind and had the fans backing is somewhat crazy! The fans who idolised him, were hoodwinked, he played up to the board, when he knew the fans weren't happy with the board. He tried to make himself untouchable by having the fans on his side, by calling out the owners and trying to manipulate them into a new deal. He knew he was getting sacked and deservedly so. He just tried to roll the dice by getting the fans on the backs of the owners and on his side, to try and get what he wanted. Yet he was continuously failing to improve us on the pitch. His time had come, the board made the right decision to try and progress and improve. If it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't, but it was not going to work under Pearson, so despite many fans on here wanting to fall to their knees and bow to someone who achieved NOTHING here, he was not the answer. There is a chance Manning might be, there's also a chance he won't be and the dice will be rolled again.

He's not, that's the point I've been trying to make. What we were sold and what we got were poles apart.

21-22 season that video. He started playing less and less after that, the answer to that question of why that was, no one knows. Maybe that's what we are finding out. The Harry Cornick in the video, is not the same Harry Cornick we are seeing now, that's for sure.

https://www.capology.com/player/harry-cornick-34798/ Capology which is largely accurate, do not have him on a low salary. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-estimated-average-weekly-wage-of-a-bristol-city-player-in-the-202324-squad/#:~:text=Bristol City's highest earners&text=Centre-back Rob Atkinson (£,among the other higher earners. Then you have this. https://salarysport.com/football/player/harry-cornick/ Salary Sport have him on £8000 https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/football/bristol-city/bristol-citys-highest-and-lowest-paid-players-according-to-football-manager-2023-photo-gallery-4063191?page=5 Bristol World say £7500 https://www.fifaindex.com/player/216155/harry-cornick/fifa24/ Fifa index have him at £18000, whilst Football Manager have at £15000. Both of these companies do a lot of research into these matters. I don't know what he is on, but I am sure he is somewhere in the mix of a lot of those figures at 10-12K. he is not on as low as people think, which is in agreement with a lot of the data sites above.

Maybe not by when Martin signed, but I'm sure he extended during our wage cutting stage did he not? I think by the time he left, what Cornick is on now, is more than what Martin was on when he left. IMO, Wells is a far better option than Cornick either to start or off the bench. Yes, I agree he looked a sensible signing on paper, but I doubt he is as cheap a signing as people think. In January, Luton were up there, and ended up promoted. Cornick left for more football, but was still getting odd games at Luton. If anything the role he had last season at Luton, is the same one he's having now. He wont be on peanuts, I think the transfer fee has given people the idea he will be on low money, he wont be. He'll be one of our top earners, but not playing or performing like one. I don't calls for him to start, are a reflection on how he is playing, but more on how poorly others like Conway and Bell are playing, and people think we should mix it up. If you think a player will leave a top 10 Championship side when they are pushing for the playoffs, to join a midtable side on a low wage, I'm surprised and thought you were more knowledgeable than that. Cornick is an experienced Championship player, who has scored goals at this level. He will be one of our top earners under the new structure. The talk of him being low cost is insane. A 28yo at the peak of his career with maybe one move left in him, was not coming to be on a lower wage, he will most definitely be in the 10-12K a week bracket and be one of our top earners. Capology has him on a predicted wage of 15K a week. I'm not saying that is accurate, but I don't think it's miles off the mark. My point is, people are forgiving his poor performances thinking he is low cost. If it was revealed he was one of our highest earners, which I strongly suspect he is and any data out there actually indicates, I doubt most fans would be as forgiving for the disappointing signing he has been. Luton seemed happy to get rid, people are saying look at the video from the 21-22 season, but we are a season and a half later and not long after that video reel, he started to get picked less and less by Luton and ended up being sold to us, for a low fee. This whilst being at a peak selling age of just turned 27! Something doesn't add up to me. He has himself in interviews always said he was very fit, one of the fittest on the pitch, but was never one of the best players. It could be the legs are starting the go, the fitness levels can't be maintained and as a result, I think Luton saw this, and decided to move him on, before he became the player we got rid of in Chris Martin. I just feel, as if by fate, we replaced Chris Martin with an identical player, only a few years junior, but on the start of a downward trajectory. I think Luton knew it themselves, and maybe Harry knows it as well, which is why he is playing with no confidence at all, and nothing is connecting for him. It's nothing against him, he gives his best, but I honestly feel, we've inherited a regressive player, and those who are labelling him low cost because of his transfer fee, are being kind. As one of our top earners, he is anything but low cost, and we've got him for another 2 and a half years on this contract!

He seems to get sympathy because he is a "squad player" and people see him as 2nd or 3rd choice, therefore expectation is lowered by some. However, he was brought in to replace Chris Martin, who many were saying shouldn't be playing, was a waste of a space on the bench etc. Martins legs had gone, wasn't good enough. So, Martin left, and we replaced him with someone who cost us another 300K, is probably on double what Chris Martin was on, and is not even a step up on Chris Martin. Martin may have regressed to a point that he wasn't good enough, but he still had the odd goal in him and done a job. Cornick has offered little, has cost money, is on a bigger wage than the player he replaced, and is barely better than the player he replaced. At Cornick's age, there was never going to be any sell on value in him, and he will be on pretty close to 10K a week, as an experienced player with goals to his name, he was never going to be on a League One or League Two wage, that's for sure. So, the facts are, at the end of the season, we will probably look to replace him. either loaning him out, or letting him go on a free, as Manning will want to bring in first team players, so any fringe players will drop down the pecking order. By this time, he will have cost us over £1m. This is not money well spent at all. We could have signed an aging ex prem experienced impact player on 10-20K a week, to support the squad over the course of a year to eighteen months, and they would have had a equal or better effect, but also been able to guide our youth and help younger players learn. I've no doubt that Cornick tries his best, but that isn't a free pass for being totally and utterly out of his depth at this level.

I'll try again, I'm a right nosy git

So did I, but couldn't find anything?

The thing is, why does a club suddenly stop playing a player who was playing and scoring like that, and sell them so cheaply. It's like they knew they had got the best from him, and he had lost his speed or strength, or confidence or whatever. People say he was cheap, because he was like 300K, and many think he is on a low wage as he came from Luton, but, he scored goals in the Championship and he wouldn't have left Luton for a lesser wage. I would be very surprised if he was on less than 10K a week. Strikers tend to be top earners, and I doubt he is on as low a wage as people think.

Then they went on to marry Gary Johnson? It's beginning to make sense at last

Why? He's gone, he ain't coming back, get over it, move on. A lot of the fans on this forum are starting to sound like a 18yo boy whose girlfriend dumped them!

Not totally sure I agree. We had some good players back then, some of them may have not been performing great for Holden, but there was certainly a lot more quality in that squad, than in the current one, and one might argue that the best of the current quality is out injured, given we can't even fill half a subs bench without raiding the academy.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when Pearson came in until the end of the season, before he got his 3 year contract, I think we amassed something like 9pts from 14 games. I was actually surprised having lost 9 of 14 games in charge of us, he was actually given a long term contract, so given Manning is on 4pts from 5 games, he is still well on target to amassing more points from his first 14 games, than Pearson done in his. Far too early to be criticising Manning.

I feel sorry for Manning. Most new managers are given at least a chance by the fans, but it really does feel that a number are wishing him to fail because of their displeasure at what the board have done. This is not Liam's fault. I don't think we've played badly, and I think over time, when we get a couple of additions and key players return from injury, the way he wants us to play, will improve us. It's going to take time, but I think in the long run he'll come good. Yes vent and have a go at powers at the helm, but we should be giving Manning full support, and chants about Nigel Pearson as nothing but disrespect towards LM.

Or hopefully Tinnion.

Mehmeti played better last night. Bit like he did when he first signed, showing a bit of pace, trickery and running at his man. His crosses weren't bad, but he doesn't really have a shot on him. Reminds me a little of Ivan Sproule. Cornick huffs and puffs, works hard, but for a big lad, he isn't very strong. I would play Mehmeti ahead of Bell, but I struggle to see the positives of having Cornick starting. I would opt for Mehmeti, Conway and Sykes on Saturday. We could really do with Nahki back very soon.

I deem a success as someone who is delivering for the club right now, an improvement on what we had. McCrorie may in time prove a success, but to not have not had him available for a single game and he cost 2-3m, that is not a success, even if the injury is unfortunate. Had we not signed McCrorie, the money used in doing so, could have brought in 1-2 others who may have been more successful. Roberts is not playing and has been on the balance poor. He is currently not a success, regardless even if he comes good in a year or two. At this very moment in time, he is not good enough. We don't need impact players who can't score goals, neither do we need a low cost squad player to come on and sure up a game. We had that already in Chris Martin! We had that already in Andy King. He would not have been on low wages at Luton. He'll still be on 5-10K a week, and he is no improvement on what we had, he is the same, or a regression if anything. That is in no way, shape or form a success. Mehmeti does the pretty stuff, can't do the simple stuff, and looks like he is struggling. Regardless of what players cost, they have been recruited and none of the above are first team starters, or any more than impact players, albeit one is not available. We had 4 first team playing players to replace. We have brought in 7 players since it was clear these players were going and needed replacing. 2/3 of those players have been replaced. The remaining 4 signings are not improving us at all, if anything they are lesser versions of what we had. I'm not saying it's Nigel's fault, but the recruitment team as a collective. But we have overall recruited poorly since our financial situation improved.

I said 4 of the last 7, not 4 of his 7. It's a failure of the recruitment team, which he was very much part of and would have had a say. Signings pre sales of Semenyo and Scott mean little to me. It was at this stage, our financial position was stronger and he knew he needed to replace players of quality on a new budget. I would argue that we needed recruit better than ever at this stage as we also lost DaSilva and Kalas in this period, so 4 first team players left. Of the 7 signed since January and I'm not going to include a 3rd choice keeper, one has yet to play for us, since picking up an injury, and for all this is unfortunate, we spent 2-3m on getting the player and was in many ways, our big money buy this summer, so whilst whether he is a success long term or not, up until now, he is a poor piece of recruitment. Mehmeti and Cornick, were brought in, in January as players we would have tried to sign in the summer, but the sale of Semenyo allowed us to fast track that! One is struggling big time at this level, and the other is bought on for a cameo role late on most games, and adds very little. When 3/4 starting 11 players leave and other solid squad players leave, replacing them with bit part players is far from ideal. Hayden Roberts has been poor and is not ready for this level. People say he was signed as back up, but the question has to be, did we need him, do we need him, and the simple answer is, on what he has shown so far, no. Knight, Dickie and TGH are good players and promising players, these have been recruited well. In many ways, Dickie is an upgrade on Kalas, TGH an upgrade on DaSilva and whilst Knight does not player the same position as Scott, he works well in centre midfield. So 3 in adequately replace 2/3 starting 11 players, but a key player has not been replaced, and 4 players have been signed who are currently not first choices at all. People say Nigel done wonders with youth, but his hand was forced, through injuries and lack of investment, he had to promote these players and give them a chance. A couple of them aren't ready yet, but are getting minutes. However, the philosophy is to promote from within if we can, and it has to be said Nige preferred to use a past it Andy King, then call on one of the younger players to step up, when the technical director says 10/11 of these players in the U23 are ready for the step up, or should be used. Therefore, this was a clear example Pearson was not looking to follow that protocol and for someone everyone says worked miracles with the youth players and gave them a chance, the sword he fell on, was because he would rather use an old and past it player, then step one up when his job was on the line.

I would agree that Sykes, Dickie, and Knight are good signings, and they fit the model of the buy to sell type players. TGH, is on loan, we have not signed him yet. I'm sure it will become permanent in January, but at present, he is only a temporary player. I wasn't laying any poor recruitment at Nigels feet, but the recruitment team. This is a collective of people. Ironically the same recruitment team will work with Manning, whether they identify diamonds in the rough or turds in the meadow remains to be seen. I do think though, that there has been a few poor additions. Lets not forget Kyle Wilson who was in and gone within a year. Cornick who looks a league one player at best, Mehmeti who doesn't look up to the task. Now not every signing will be successful, but whilst praise can be given when you find a gem, it would appear, people are willing to ignore the same recruitment strategy that found that gem, also found a few duds, or a few possible duds. You can also ask, did we need Andy King & Danny Simpson? Could their wages have been utilised better elsewhere? I am not going to judge Atkinson, because he has been a bit hit and miss for me, but is now injured. McCrorie we've not seen. Tanner, I like going forward, but defensively he worries me a little. I think in Nige's time there was good and bad recruitment, like with any manager, but of his signings since Janaury and there have been 7 of them, I would argue only Knight, Dickie & TGH look as if they are good enough for this level on what we have seen, and if 4/7 in 12 months are questionable or failures, then you are not creating a progression, as more haven't done a job, then have done a job. That is of course my own opinion.

Sorry for not replying sooner, have been unwell since wrote my comment. You make some good comments, but miss my point slightly; "Pep has done the job that Man City brought him in to do. So not sure why you are using that stick to beat Nigel with. Quite bizarre. What you're suggesting is that unless a manager does a better job than they were brought in to do, then there has been no progress? " This is where you assume wrong. Pep was brought in to Man City to win trophies, and try and win the Champions League. Pep has done this, so there is no comparison. At a point Pep fails to have them winning trophies or the league, he will be dispensed of I'm sure. In the case of Nige, he was brought in to sort of clear out the backroom clutter, stabilise the teams position through a sticky financial period, and effectively guide us through a transition. All of which Nige done a very good job at and done the task ask of him. However, during his 3 years through constraints, we have maintained our position as a mid table side, and despite being able to bring in his own players over the last 3 windows, albeit on a small budget, the team were showing little signs of being able to be better than mid table. Nige commented in the summer, that he felt the team could be competitive. We have heard from Tinnion, that Nige was happy with the squad, when asked if he wanted to add one more when Scott was sold. Now granted, many will say he didn't have a choice, and that we wouldn't of signed anyone, but none of us truly actually know. But we were again looking a mid-table team albeit that can be pointed at the injuries. Pearson succeeded at the tasks he was given, but now the club wants to move in the direction of progressing out the league, and build a squad capable of promotion and achieve that. This was never Pearson's task, and the club do not believe he was the right person to do so. Whether Liam Manning is or not firmly falls on JL and BT's shoulders, but this is the decision they made. If I own a company and I want to make 200K of sales each year, and I have a taskforce who do that, they are doing their job, but at some point I may want to expand and aim for 500K of sales. In doing so, I may bring in a new sales manager, fresh vision etc. It's not being disrespectful to the previous sales team, but I've decided that a new team stand a better chance of succeeding in what I now want as a company owner. This is where I have some agreement with JL & BT. Nigel Pearson completed the task he was brought in to do, but that doesn't give you security that if the plan changes, or new goals are set, that you are going to be the person tasked to do them. When the club decided to move from transition and stability, to progress, and aim for promotion, Nige in their eyes no longer was saw as the man for that job, which is why he was replaced. I don't know if Liam can do the new task, it's far too early to judge, but in any business you have to have a back them or sack them mentality, and if you don't believe that person managing the situation is the one to bear fruits, you can't back them and you have to sack them to progress, so I get why the club have done what they have done. Whether Nigel had afforded a crack at the new targets / roles is beside the point, those who make the decisions decided that he didn't fit the task in hand, so they made the right decision if that's the way they feel. In any successful business, you can't afford to be sentimental. You have to be a little ruthless. One could argue those at the top don't know what they are doing, and they may have got it wrong, and that this is what the fans feel, but that is why BT and JL will be held accountable for any slump, as they misjudged the situation, but if Manning does have us competitive and then promoted in due course, then the board would have been proved right in their decision making. Only time will tell on this one, and it's far too early to reserve any judgement.