mozo

Yes but no! He'll want 2 years. We've moved away from those kinds of deals and we have cover. So it would be a very reluctant no from me, even though he's one of the best players we've signed in my lifetime.

Basically I agree with you. I deliberately said 'performing', to infer that we are executing the gameplan nicely which I don't think would be turgid. There would just be one or two tactical levers pulled in a different direction.

I don't really mind if it's a low block or a high press etc, so long as we're performing to our level and getting results. The intent stuff is a secondary concern to 'performing' and succeeding imo. Obviously I appreciate that there is a view that the two will go hand in hand. Realistically, I expect Manning will mix it up.

Well we do know that LM is a student of the game, and avid analyser, so I'd be stunned if he were just ignorant to the possibility of tweaking things until the players knocked on his door. I would imagine there's more to it than that.

Yeah that's fair, and let's face it we like to receive as many insights as we like. It's just important that the insight doesn't snowball into a wild myth. It wont be long before its widely accepted that the players refused to play the Manning way and Jon L had to take training and pick the team which kickstarted our success! Remember the Massengo to Chelsea thing Ultimately, it doesn't really matter how we get there under Manning, it's just important that we get there, and I reckon you and I will have pretty similar expectations next season. Edit: no one slides into my DMs BTW!

With the 'players told Manning to change' rumour, I think more context is needed before we can make a judgement. For example, there's a big difference between a group of fed up players demanding change and an open conversation in which change is discussed. Unless someone has heard it from a reliable person that was privy to the conversation there's a large amount of doubt there.

Yeah if NickJ is judging us on points behind 6th, then the logical thing to do is to use ppg to extrapolate where we would be based on the pre-Manning total. We're still in with a chance of finishing 7 points off the playoffs, which would be positive no matter how you look at it. The obsession that some people have with the top 6 comments kind of needs to be put to bed now that Jon L yesterday tried to row back in a rambly from those comments.

I must be an idiot because I don't comprehend this... Hasn't our Points Per Game improved since Manning came in? How is that regression?

It's still possible that we finish 9th and only 7 points off playoffs which is a bloody good season given where we've come from. Probably won't happen though

You can see how I've highlighted it, that's how it jumped out at me when I heard it. It could absolutely be that he's waffling and giving the wrong impression. But it seems strange to make a point about a head coach having adjust his style, having just said that he liked the style since Easter.

It was us reading between the lines: JL "For me specifically...the way we've played since the international break, certainly pressed higher up the pitch and got on the front foot, and that's really important for us, I think you can see that in not just the results but in the enjoyment as well..." Q. That style of play is important to the club as a whole...? "...That's how the academy play and that's how we've been recruiting. Again that's something that anyone coming in, you can see from their records in management that they play that way or they're going to have to adjust..."

You won't be surprised to hear that I won't be joining you on taking that leap! I saw enough good stuff pre-Swansea to encourage me. Maybe I'm easily pleased! I really hope Jon L just gave the wrong impression!

It was a decent effort, but a lot of stuff should have been said ages ago. When Scott was sold, they should have explained the transfer strategy then, which would've saved a lot off disappointment and anger. The annoying thing about this interview was he had a golden opportunity to go some way to appeasing fans that are angry about the Nige sacking. By basically saying "no comment", when he could have said "we are really thankful for the immense progress made under Nigel, and we're sorry if the way it happened disappointed some of our fans", he proves what I said about billionaires never being wrong.

Yes Dave, that's the most eye-opening part for me. He made it sound very much like the board told Manning to change. This might explain why in one presser Manning made made a point of saying 'no one was complaining when the block worked against Southampton and West Ham'. Which brings us to a strange scenario whereby we actually have Jon L to thank for our success

Uh-oh...

I don't want to. Just putting it out there. We could lose Conway for way below his value anyway.

I think it's one that VAR would give, but most fans wouldn't. There was a moment of sloppiness from the keeper who prods Tommy's foot, followed by some Latin dramatics from Tommy.

Or is there a deal to be done with both Twine and Conway involved? If I was Burnley, that's what I'd do * *I'm also assuming they'll come down.

How does this relate to possession Dave? It's interesting that since Easter we've had a variety of different possession stats. Is the output similar regardless? Is there a relative trend?

I think that's a great summary, and really, the more additional metrics you add into that collective, the more sense you'll get out of it. On its own, it's pretty useless. Imagine a cross is drilled into the box, takes two deflections and lands to the left foot of Zak Vyner, who has an open goal in front of him. Surely that would be a high xG? But realistically the ball would end up in the stands. Context is everything.

When did their scouts actually see him in action?!

Scott, Semenyo and Kelly all start for Bournemouth, who at 1-0 up currently lie 10th in the Premier League!

Totally disagree Dave... I'd like Tins to come on OTIB and share everything!

The kid needs to find a home, that's for sure. He's learning about levels at least.

I had to quickly find his interview just now... He says top 6, which is obviously a good target for the players. For me, the 70 points mark that you mentioned is a testing but achievable aspiration. And if we get there with one or two games to go, we'll be fighting for top 6.