mozo

Manning started strong if you look at the fixtures mate! It was something like 14 points from the first 8 games.

Agreed, I would definitely give JKL the opportunity. I suppose making McCrorie or Tanner sit out is a little harsh, but still, this is an ideal game for a young player.

No you've probably heard that Huddersfield is the biggest public toilet in the UK?

I really don't know how to answer your question. Will Huddersfield pose a different threat? Probably. Will we adapt? I don't know.

I think that's fine so long as you're open-minded and reasonable enough to give Manning credit if by October we're in or around the top 6.

I didn't follow this. Did we get relegated or not?!

That would be such a sweet end to the season

Even if he can't get there, he should absolutely be aiming to hit those levels. That what Nige and Co were trying get out of him I'd imagine. He's one that needs a carrot not a stick perhaps.

I spoke to one of the NP coaching staff about Sykes and he said that they made a point of bigging him up because the player was too modest, and maybe didn't realise he had the potential to play in in the Premier League.

That's a great suggestion, I'm just going to dig them out now and indulge in some after timer ridicule

A better phrase would have been shit form

The most frustrating thing during LJ's reign was that the same set of players could look like promotion candidates for a spell, then the exact same players would look meek and disjointed for a spell. Infuriating and unfathomable. They're the same bloody players!! The other weird thing about this, is if we think of the post-Easter form as proof that Manning finally hit upon the right formula, that's implying that we could have stormed it in those first 20 games too, which means promotion was there for the taking. I can't accept that to be true! My head hurts...

Interestingly, between GW 9 and 19 last season, we picked up 8 points from 11 games. Later, from GW 25 we went on a run of 17 points in a block of 10 games. So we had a lesson last year in patience. I find the symmetry quite telling, particularly as most of the players are the same. Execution and consistency are the tricky bits, I guess.

Just out of interest, do you think there was a consistency of intent last season?

I was just responding to your point about that run of games, but I think I've said a few times, I personally think that even 6 months is a small size (within reason!) For me, the fact that the effort levels were high, that we had spells of good play, a handful of very promising games and were only being edged out of games (WBA the only two goal margin), was enough for me to not give up hope. It's strange really, because despite neither of us having any particular prejudice for or against Manning we saw the performances so differently. Funny old game!

Yeah and my high press comment is not aimed at you or the more analytical fans!

You definitely wouldn't have scored the Mehmeti goal!

By that logic someone could reach the conclusion that since we are on promotion form across a 6 game period, that Manning has therefore proved he's capable of winning the league?! Neither are very likely!

Haha, those are hard questions Regards the tolerance, I don't think there's a strict formula, although 10% sounds reasonable. Certainly in the season when we couldn't get a penalty decision, it makes sense to be more lenient. I keep banging on about the fine margins in the Coventry and Ipswich games, so I guess I'll apply a 5 point buffer this season. Injuries have affected us, but thats been happening for years, so I wont make an allowance for it. It's very subjective, obvs. I think for next season I just want growth, the logic being that every player is a year older and has that little bit more experience at this level, and LM has had more time with the squad. If we finish 11th this season with 63 points, I'd set a par of something like 69 points and 9th. The only factor that I would amend that expectation for is transfer activity. Selling Scott last season and not buying a quality striker with the dosh changed my outlook to the point whereby 10th was a good outcome.

I think the control is what we can associate with Manning. If we couldn't get down a flank we cam back and recycled the attack either on the other wing or through the middle. Early in the second half when Blackburn tried to rally, we slowed the game down a bit and squeezed and made sure we dictated the rhythm of the game. I sense there will be a misconception that we can only win with a high press, which I don't believe is the case. We can use a block too, it's just about how you execute it.

The most annoying thing about last night is we could have won 7-0 if we'd been more clinical!

So if we manage those 7 points, I think that would be 20 points from the final block of 10 games, which is good going. I hope we can! But will we ever overcome the trauma of the Mebude loan?!!

That is a bit subjective imo. I personally didn't think we were 'dire' in most of Manning's games. And attacking play has been a problem ever since Weimann's wonder season.

I think if we beat Huddersfield, and if the weather starts drying up, we will get a decent crowd and atmosphere for the last home game. Dream scenario is we win our next 2 games to set up a really positive vibe, but I appreciate I'm asking a lot.

That's a very good point. My only counter to that would be that the sample size available 4 games ago just wasn't enough to reach such a strong conclusion, and this run of form has proved that. I actually don't believe we should make any final assessments even if we win our remaining games. I think we need to be patient.