Ian M

Just now, Super said:

Not sure you can blame the FA here.

I can blame the FA for the way they are currently ostracising addicts rather than getting them the help they need. They might even learn better ways to prevent/solve the issue in future as a by-product.

He's clearly an addict that needs help. Instead our FA will throw the book at him and refuse him access to his colleagues, pushing him further down a hole.

7 minutes ago, Phileas Fogg said:

I like that he’s got a bit of an edge to him. He’s got that win at all costs mentality and given his ban, the tournament may well come when he’s at peak game readiness. 

....and should we feature in a penalty shoot-out, he'd likely put his house on scoring his pen! #confidence

On 25/03/2024 at 19:45, Reigate Red said:

Enough about crosses - what about stars !

France, Germany, Italy & Spain all proudly display their world cup winning stars on their shirts but for some reason we camouflage ours so it's not really visible.  It seems like we're embarrassed by it. 

Maybe we're embarrassed it's only 1?

Trundle wanted to be inspired by his manager not to go on a bender in Magaluf 4 days before the season began.

The largest pay contract of his career wasn't enough inspiration to be professional.

Although, I suppose to his credit, he seems to now accept his attitude was wrong.

1 minute ago, The Coach said:

He’s been class all season but only getting the plaudits now.

I don’t watch huge amounts of Man Utd. Maybe I should

We may be losing but I’m enjoying fanboying Mainoo

Mainoo is so good!

14 minutes ago, The Coach said:

Is that before this game?

Only reason Toney isn’t at one of the teams fight for CL places is his ban and determination to stay at Brentford after it expired. Watkins at Villa is his level.

I can’t believe Mainoo has only played around 20 pro games!

4 hours ago, Steve Watts said:

Genuine question... Is that England or the UK... Because if it's the former then Rangers and Celtic may well be circling.

England unfortunately. Manning’s Tommy probably does go to Glasgow. Nigel’s Tommy probably was Prem bound.

6 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Probably circa £3 million. But that is money you don't have anyway. Then factor in cost of new striker on higher wages. No guarantees that the striker Tinnion is hinting at will score more than 9 goals, particularly if playing Manningball.

Replace the coach, change the system, keep Tommy (yes you may have to let him go for nothing in 12 months), if he scores 9 or so between August and December you may get a fee for him in January.

He won't be free if he stays in England at the end of his contract (and technically not if he goes to a UEFA club either but far less compensation). If we keep him, it's in our interests to play to his strengths and get a goalscoring season out of him.

I know people hate Pearson vs Manning comparisons, but it's not really in doubt that Pearson created value in our players and I argue that Manning is actually devaluing them.

1 minute ago, ExiledAjax said:

Technically, but imo not meaningfully.

Pearson was on 16 in 15 this season; 1.14 p/g

Manning on 29 in 26; 1.26 p/g

It's really a very small difference considering you can't actually score part of a goal.

General shots against and shots on target against are basically the same. xG against is actually slightly better under Manning.

But certainly isn't "tightened us up defensively" by any metric.

5 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Just checked.

Under  NP- 15 goals, 14 games.

Fleming- 1 goal, 1 game.

Manning- 28 goals, 23 games BUT 3 penalties and 1 own goal.

Weighted for that 24 from 23..about the same if not proportionally worse.

Isn't goals conceded worse despite club apologists claiming Liam has tightened us up?

Presenter: "I think you only need 3 maybe 4 players and this team could really go places" re: going to Manning style football.

However, with departures that still leaves us with a paper thin squad. And for those 3 or 4 players to turn us into a team that can dominate opponents in possession terms they need to be best in division type players and those aren't "100 games in League One" types, they cost £5m plus, each.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_bristol

From what you guys are reporting, how easily they seem to have forgotten Southampton.

14 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Notes from it:

- Matty James is fully training as is Twine. Williams not as yet

- They’ve had some physically tough sessions which in turn develop mental toughness - have now given them days off as recharging is very important (at this point I believe I saw Jon Lansdown smacking his head against a wall)

- The large volume of games we’ve not won or drawn we’ve been in them. The culture is good and it’s important to stick together

- Questioned as to how much of the plan is set game by game and how much is based on how he’d like us to play. Answer was that the behaviours needed to be right, had to run and had to compete, but he very much sees football as cat and mouse (….sake) and if the opponents are struggling against us then they will change and it’s about having a culture when the players solve the problem and that’s the big bit. 
 

(NB - major issue here. He’s right that opponents will change but the problem is he doesn’t and he can’t expect the players to solve the macro problems. They did when they went off piste vs Swansea but that’s in spite and not because of him)

- Bit about the fans, the youth cup, nothing else major. New phrase is “we need to do us” which is very romcom.

Not worth 8 minutes of your life.

How does that tally with Liam's stated belief that once a game has started there is very little a manager can do to affect the outcome?

Personally I would take Liam's quote and change a manager to this manager.

1 hour ago, NcnsBcfc said:

He really is the most boring public speaker.

I wish he would talk less about what the players are going to do and focus on how the management team have been working on their game management and intent.

Tinnion spoke about him "learning on the job", well he took over a team of seasoned Championship players who he's failed to develop or enhance in any way. 

He may be excellent on those FA coaching courses, but now is the time to be brave in your selection/formation/leadership and tactics. Let's see real improvement in the next week, or it's going to be even more uncomfortable for both the Management and the club.

That in itself is an admission that he is currently not fit to manage our club. Question is how long do the club's inexperienced hierarchy think it will take and who above Liam has any knowledge of how/what a successful Championship Manager acts/does?

Just now, W-S-M Seagull said:

The excuse has already been put out there by Manning "we have a lesser squad" 

So he disagrees with his bosses that this is the best squad they’ve known at this club?

Thats awkward, this lot don’t particularly like it when managers disagree with them.

32 minutes ago, RollsRoyce said:

Well if he has got 8 games and the Gay chap was just giving an opinion, which is hardly outlandish is it, what will the club be expecting from those 8 games. if indeed they are even remotely considering a change. What can you see in those games you have not seen already? What I mean is that there is almost no chance we will see anything earth shattering in performances , as it seems we do not have the players to play his way. So imho, you can either decide you are going to go with Manning next season no matter what, or if you have doubts, it is far better to cut him out now and start looking and recruiting for a replacement. Waiting another 2 months is wasting time, as you will want a new person to start summer planning asap. Recruitment can be long winded too, and after this mess up, it will need to be done in a far more diligent and in depth manner too. 

So I do not get the 8 game stuff. If you are keeping Manning next season, then keep him. If you are in doubt after what you have seen so far, those 8 games will change nothing. Get rid now and start building. Getting rid at the end of the season would seem daft to me, and looks more like a forlorn hope something magical will happen so someone can avoid a big decision. 

I’d personally use the first few weeks to find a competent CEO and DoF to lead the search.

After all the shit they said at the time of Nige’s sacking, imagine how embarrassing it will be for the hierarchy if we don’t even match 22/23’s points tally