38MC

One might say we made them look ordinary, others could say they played within themselves until the quadruple sub. One praises us, one critiques them. Depends on the side of fence you sit on because it’s impossible to prove.

Totally. We played well, but let’s not pretend Ipswich were on full song. The fear for me is that this will be one seriously demoralising defeat.

Probably was and didn’t mean to dig you out in my response. To be honest that is quite a scene for the 2020’s, just a few less sprightly might look at that and think ‘aww bless’… and I don’t mean to patronise or glorify anything that came before; as pathetic as it was then it is now

When you think the attendance was in the region of 20k, 30 odd blokes dancing around a park isn’t that much of a scene.

I’d have him. Based on naff all, except the landowns clearly want a young upcoming manager and the fact he’s worked under some of the best. If they’re going to go the route of someone who isn’t going to challenge them, there’s few with a better scholarship than him. I don’t doubt he’d do a Kompany if he was successful, but that’s tomorrows problem. Compare that to some no mark mark sacked at MK Dons and still not yet poached (until we came in) at Oxford based on a good few months. the logic that appointed Manning would see us paying a fee for Chris Martin

I think we are safe. I’m sure a mathematician out there could go through each fixture list and come up with a minimum points which is based upon who has to play who and we’re probably only a handful of points away. There’s a lot between us and relegation based upon who plays who etc. it’s too many teams to overtake us. im not complacent we need a few points to get over the line, but I’m sure we will. With or without the current manager.

I’m not sure you can read across the two to be honest. But the only reason is because manning is really not that good (see the 5 posts above, and what our own eyes tell us). I’m a Pearson fan, very much so and appreciate what he did with what he had, it’s just a bit meh comparing a pear to a rotten apple. I’m not surprised Pearson has achieved more than Manning, because in terms of managerial qualities, I don’t think the two should be in the same sentence. I’ve said before and I’ve said again, I think our criteria must have been ‘media friendly and young’… it certainly couldn’t have been competency based our decision to appoint him. oh and unfortunately, he ain’t even media friendly.

Absolutely. To be honest, even maintenance would have probably been just about okay and on you go to the summer window if we are to allow for transitioning. I have for a long time not taken to LM, but he lost me, probably for good, with his post match presser last week, pre match presser this week, and post match. 1 bad performance in 20; chucking players under the bus, but worst of all was saying ‘I coached them how to defend that corner Cardiff scored from’… we’ll you weren’t very good at it then, were you?!

I agree 100% that BT and JL are the architects of this and are ultimately to blame. I’m do not agree LM is dealing with unrealistic expectations from the fan base or was set up to fail. None of the fans bought into the top 6 narrative and no-one is realistically using that as a measure of LM’s performance this season. It gets brought up quite often but I feel as a dig towards BT/JL for the stupid, rash decision they made in November. The reason LM is getting stick is because he’s showing himself simply not to be very good; at all. Just because his bosses are crap doesn’t mean he isn’t crap. I’m judging him by what I see for 90mins each week and how he manages in-game. And for me that’s the reason he hasn’t shown enough to continue in his role. And that goes for BT and JL too. They’ve shown they are incompetent stewards of our club. All 3 should go. Realistically only 2 will be going anytime soon and we know who those are… and based on what I’ve seen so far I do think they both will be gone before the season is out, possibly even in little over 7 days time. I think SL is going to come in and wield the hammer; I know I’m in the minority there, but it does feel much like when he came in to fix the Holden mess.

And you have to wonder who thought that was a good idea and why?!

The issue is JL is here until we are sold. We can’t really force that issue as a fan base. Look at Reading - an owner is nigh on impossible to remove. As for BT, I suggest he does get his fair share of pelters. I don’t think it’s fair to suggest the fans have eased up on him. Indeed many say when manning goes he rightly should fall on his sword as well. So whilst I agree the vitriol is due to each, I do think they each get their fair share. As for Manning, I cannot sympathise with him because he’s simply not competent.

True, but I think there will be plenty that don’t actually renew and the numbers themselves should be alarming. They’ll already know how many season tickets are going unused as they compare through the doors v tickets sold and this will be a worrying trend in and of itself

I’m stupid so will probably renew, but one things for sure, it won’t be until the last day of the renewal period. I want them to worry about a cliff edge drop off unless they act decisively.

I don’t think it’s for attention. I think it’s a genuine concern (for them). But when you realise that’s a lot of teams to overtake us, and many have to play each other, that puts the 66/1 into context. If you look at the table it’s easy to see us dragged into it, if you look at the fixtures you realise not each team can make ground on us each game week. I’m sure we are safe, but only because of points on the board from before Manning arrived. Had he arrived sooner, or in some weird universe there were 15 games left, I’d be dead worried.

Tbf @Shauntaylor85 that’s quite a few different topics/polls/discussion points tonight. If you beat the drum too much you can lose the audience. Manning is incompetent, the decision to relieve nigel was equally incompetent, but we aren’t going to rewind the clock. Nigel is (wrongly) gone, but he’s gone for good. The next step is for Manning and Tinnion to sling their hook too, and for the Lansdown’s to (finally) eat some humble pie and realise the medicine they need is not the medicine they want to swallow… but it’s the only way Steve is getting his exit plan. Appoint an experienced manager, and experienced CEO, and trust them from afar.

Agree, didn’t see any need to change from Pearson and when I saw him I thought another young gun to be chewed up and spat out by this incompetent regime. It’s unfortunate as Manning probably could and should have stayed at Oxford and done his due diligence on us as a club and said ‘nah, I’ll go the same way as McInnes’. The Lansdown’s romanticise about being an easy on the eye, good footballing side with a media friendly young manager, and being everyone’s favourite second team - we basically want to be Barnsley under Danny Wilson… but it ain’t going to happen with the interference from them. They don’t realise that they are the reason their ideals won’t work, because they won’t let them get on with it, they won’t back the right horse at the right time, and they dangerously think they understand the football business when in 20 years they have demonstrated they are so bloody wet behind the ears that they are better off writing cheques from afar. Then and only then they might actually achieve what they want. But whilst they take a side step and let Keith Burt for example take the reins it all goes well, but they want to jump right back in once we are in the championship. Their ego is the problem. Pay the money Steve, get someone in who can properly act as CEO, stay in the background. Then you have a chance of promotion to the PL in your lifetime and a good shot at exit. Whilst you have your son running things with charlatans like Mark Ashton who’ll piss your money away, or Brian Tinnion, you’ve got no chance.

That’s why I think he’s signed his own death warrant. It’s impossible to have faith in him now. Had he interviewed well you could see those at the top giving him time, but he’s absolutely crashed the car and written it off the past 2 post match and the pre match pressed. He seems a man out of depth, out of ideas and, frankly stressed to high heaven

Seems we are in the minority but I too think he’s walking the green mile. You never know how things play out in football, but I think 2 losses or even a loss and a draw would see him gone - unless they were strong performances. There are obvious reasons why you’d start questioning his position but the part for me that in my head says ‘he’s gone’ is the post match presser today and last week. He’s supposed to be an ‘on-the-grass’ coach. Well last week he trained the team perfectly and they were shite, and this week he claimed the team were coached to defend a corner of the type Cardiff scored from. so not only is he not living up to his front foot football, not only is he chucking players under the bus, he’s now admitting what he coaches can’t be put into practice by the squad - so you’re calling yourself out as a poor ‘on-the-grass’ coach then aren’t you? his last two post match and this weeks pre match he’s basically talked himself into the only conclusion that he’s just not very competent. Whilst I think that sort of ‘appraisal’ of his words would be beyond JL and BT’s leadership, I think SL will see it.

Agree with everything you say, except I stand by it is a huge part of a managers job to man-manage - eg motivate.

I think that’s too simplistic. Money doesn’t motivate when you can wipe your arse with £20’s… and these guys are and do have motivation - they’re part of the 0.001% to make it to this level. Having a weak, poor, leader is very demotivating regardless of what you earn

Isn’t it a managers job to find a way to motivate the players for 90’ week in week out?

Even if another appearance triggered an entitlement to a new contract I’m pretty damned sure Matty James would say ‘don’t worry guys, I’ll go and be a free agent, get a signing on fee and get the hell away from this car crash that you’ve created for yourselves’

That’s my fear. But for SL his fingerprints aren’t over Manning - they are for getting rid of nige - but his ego will assume that’s under the carpet now, and he’d just love to put himself in the spotlight as the leader we all know he is incapable of being.

I honestly don’t think he’s got much time left. I reckon that dressing room was a pretty toxic place post-match, and SL loves to interfere. I expect after losing to Cardiff he will be speaking directly with one or two players, who I doubt have much positive to say. Can see him ‘riding in to sort this out’ like post-Holden if we got tonked on Tuesday or v Swansea.

I see; yeah I’m with you on that history. Unfortunately I think we’re already creeping into the danger spot with Manning. I’d rather cut losses and get someone in and inspire the players. Otherwise I can see a lot speaking to their agents to engineer a way out of here, few wanting to come here if the slide continues, and too big a rebuild job being needed to fit into the style of play he will not deviate from.