mozo

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.

It was the same with LJ and with Nige. And forever more... I said on a another thread that I think Manning needs 7 points from the last 4 games to hit par. That's a stretch, but with our current momentum, it's possible. 'Par' is just my personal assessment of what I think a competent gaffer would achieve, and the same target would have applied to the previous gaffer. If, however, we only manage 4/5 points, we're still bloody close to par. Finishing near my abstract par is fine, and certainly not a sign that the head coach is out of his depth IMHO. My par will then be raised next season. BTW, how we achieve par is irrelevant. Streaks are fine, and quite normal at this level. Yeah, I just want the yo-yo clubs to be disrupted.

Not just objectivity, after a few defeats it was frequent ridiculing.

I think it's a bit mad that he's become a crucial player for us already, and maybe that expectation is a bit high. He's not playing at his absolute best atm but I'm sure he'll get back to it.

I pointed out to you previously that this inconsistency existed under Nige too, so that says to me that the blame isn't necessarily with the gaffer all the time. At the start of the season, in all comps, we only won 2 of our first 7 home games. You tell me who or what you blame for that? That includes being 2-0 against a struggling Stoke side who came back to beat us 3-2. If we judge Manning on his inconsistent form and disappointing defeats, then we have to judge Nige the same. I personally don't blame either of them. By the way, check out our line up for that Stoke game. Besides Conway being injured and Wells replacing him, it was a really strong side. The reason I'm dragging Nige into this is as an illustration that our squad is not currently capable of producing consistent performances.

Let me explain how it works... If we win, pro-Manning people will post 'I told you so'. Anti-Manning people will post 'yeah, we won, but...' If we lose, anti-Manning people will post 'I told you so, sack him'. Pro-Manning people will post 'yeah we lost but...' If we draw, we all grasp for positives and negatives and have a big argument. Then we basically just carry this one forever.

And we're still in the playoff race with 4 games to go Sort of...

It's an interesting result in the context that a lot of people were hoping for Eustace over Manning. I wonder how he would have done here.

I actually want another clean sheet more than a win on Saturday

Nooooo... you just invented a story

I think he stills needs us to pick up another 7 points this season

He tried a few threaded balls and long shots which didn't come off, but you want players trying these things.

One thing I can guarantee you is there will be peaks and troughs, individual errors and inconsistent performers. That's just the reality of supporting a mid table Championship side. I do hope though that we continue the way we look to pass the ball forwards, which isn't a new thing, but is more evident during this hot streak. Bravery + confidence = sexy football. Stick that in the coaching manual...

A boring point from me... By my reckoning, Manning needs us to win our remaining 4 fixtures for him to end the season with a 40% win ratio in his Bristol City tenure so far. At all his previous clubs he had 46% or more.

And to think you nearly tempted me away from the game tonight!

I would like to see @Shtanley and @petehinton doing one of these

BBC said 15 shots, 7 on target

Damn, Liam Manning now has too many good games to refer to...

Only Middlesbrough have more points to than us from the last 6 games. They're also the only team to have conceded fewer goals.

Sorry if already mentioned but what was our last 5-0 win?

There's literally no point in playing him at the moment. If we'd had an injury crisis maybe, but we just don't need him and there's no point in giving him a courtesy run out.

Mehmeti's goal was really good