formerly known as ivan

1 hour ago, Phileas Fogg said:

 I listened to the press conference (rather than picking out a quote with no context from a printed summary) and I believe this was an answer directly to a question about data.. in which case, what else is he supposed to say in his answer?

 

Fair point

22 minutes ago, Red Skin said:

Just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean it's nonsense. 

The fact I have to sit there and watch what this data produces is an issue for me though

3 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

You’re completely right but if we had more than 5 points from a possible 18 then this sort of nonsense wouldn’t happen.

If we had more than 5 points from the 18 he wouldn’t be talking about data full stop!

5 minutes ago, Charlie BCFC said:

Hence why he said data doesn’t equate to league position or points then

So what does it show?

13 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Well it isn’t, Brentford/Brighton etc being obvious examples of the ‘big data’ models. Our problem is we’ve always been shit at using it effectively.  

Ok, let me rephrase this… obviously data plays a part, but who cares? All we want to see is a good performance and a win. How that happens is irrelevant. When we are in such poor form and he starts coming out with quotes about data showing the direction we are heading in it’s nonsense! We know the direction we are heading in as the league table and performances tell us that. I couldn’t care about how many times our centre backs pass to each other!

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Yes.

 

 

But we’ve also been under the cosh at times too!

So it makes the quote even worse then as the data showing we are in top doesn’t equate to wins?

8 minutes ago, Bainsey said:

Don't see anything wrong with that quote myself.

The fact it’s a load of nonsense?

"Data doesn’t give you points or change league positions, but what it does tell you is the direction you’re heading in and if you continue to create chances, and minimise the opposition, then you’ll win games."

Assuming this is a correct quote from Manning as it’s on the Bristol Live page. What waffle! Back to the days of measuring grass it would seem. Its nearly enough to make you want to tap out at this point.

1 hour ago, mozo said:

The important thing is we've seen some good stuff in those games, unfortunately not across the full 90, attackers not taking their chances and some unforced individual errors. Not really anything Manning can do about the last two. 

Could you point out the “good stuff” please? I think I missed it…

Did he mention turning possession into chances??? 

1 hour ago, Edgy Red said:

That is going to be our market tho. Top talent from League 1, journeyman Championship players, or youngsters on loan from The Prem.

I can see us being interested in Brannigan from Oxford and wouldn't be surprised if we went after others from League 1, as Manning will know alot about the best talent at that level.

We have to be realistic about the wages we commit to and therefore League 1 may be where we look.

Brannigan is 27 and has spent pretty much his whole career at Oxford. If he had the capability of playing in the championship someone would have signed him by now. Look at players like Ben Pearson and Ryan Ledson.

I get being interested in top league 1 talent. Unfortunately I feel like anyone playing for Oxford under Manning doesn’t fit that category.

1 hour ago, BCFC Rich said:

Sykes was from Oxford, Atkinson too. Not saying you're wrong, but surely not impossible they have players who could/can step up and they would already know LM's style.

Exactly, it’s a good point but we’ve had the best they can offer.

Regardless of who we do sign in January, all I ask is please please please do not let it be anyone from bloody Oxford! Simply not good enough to improve what we have, yet would be the easy move for Manning to make.

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

Cornick scored 13 at this level in 21/22 & cost £300k, less than a third of Watkins, who has never done that.

Not sure in what way Watkins has the better record, whether Cornick ever turns out to be a success here.

 

Watkins 3 goals in 27 games, Cornick 2 in 31…

Genuine question… would people prefer Watkins or Cornick given a choice?

Feel Cornick is the better player, but Watkins with the better record, if you can call it that!

5 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Secondly due to squad size loads of them, Yeboah & Knight-Lebel in particular are already with the first team.

Is this not part of the issue though? They are not championship ready but have to be involved.

Yeboah is a prospect but clearly not ready to championship football and ideally would suit a lower league loan, but we can’t afford him that.

Yes he has energy and has shown glimpses, hence me saying he is a prospect, but he looks out of his depth when he plays ability wise.

6 hours ago, ChippenhamRed said:

This thread is exactly what I feared when they sacked Pearson. Whoever the new man was, they were never going to be given the benefit of time when the outgoing manager was widely regarded to be doing a good job. It’s not really fair on Manning, but I blame the board for that. They have created this entirely avoidable discontent.

Exactly right. The only thing Manning has done wrong is be the person the board wanted. It could have been anyone and it would have been the same reaction. Every decision Manning makes, every result that goes against us, people will be pointing fingers purely based on the fact that he shouldn’t be here. All he can do is win us round with fantastic football, which feels a long way off.

I keep seeing people mentioned “chances” but I don’t know what chances these were?

Sykes smashed one wide just before the goal, then there was the goal, then Conway forced a save. I can’t remember any other chances. What ones am I missing?

Norwich seemed to have more. Blasting one over the bar, hitting the post, few long range efforts.

The only reason we are not talking about a relegation fight is the fact there are four worse clubs than us in the league, but even one of them is now picking up points.

A new manager should bring a resurgence to the club. This is anything but…

5 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Beat me to it. I was going to start a similar thread. On the left, his body shape is all wrong when he receives the ball, necessitating 2 or 3 touches by which time the space in front of him is closed down and he has to go backwards. On the right he can receive the ball on his right foot touch it in front into the space and he is away. I noticed this at Southampton and was surprised he started on the left again today. I thought Manning had realised it was a mistake and switched him to the right only to move him back 5 minutes later. Crazy.

There was just no understanding between him  and Pring either, looked like they had never met before.

5 minutes ago, Charlie BCFC said:

But wouldn’t you say that’s unfair on Manning when he’s had 4 games? We need to move on from Pearson, as much as I thought the decision was harsh performances were really poor for weeks and that’s even when we had the players

Again, if you think it’s unfair then blame the board and the expectations they have set. Manning didn’t come in with the ship sinking, needing to turn things around. He came in inheriting a “top 6 squad”. He has the job of getting the squad where the board expect them to be and where Pearson was failing. There are no signs of that happening within the first four games. It’s been worse than it was before he came in! Boring, possession based football with little for fans to be excited about.

And he will probably be judge more harshly under the circumstances he came in. We had a popular manager who was building steadily and fans were patient with. The board decided it wasn’t good enough and want promotion, Manning the one being chosen by them and agreeing to take the task on. That’s just how it is. Succeed and get the fans behind him. Unfortunately after 4 games I struggle to see that happening.

Just now, Charlie BCFC said:

If you’re talking on the forum @formerly known as ivan clearly wants him gone. Most of them I have seen are on Twitter and at the Gate, which is incredibly fickle after 4 games 

As much as the situation was awful at the time easy to forget we were 8th (somehow) and 3 points off playoffs a couple of weeks before Holden was sacked. He’s of course got us into a great position now but Manning deserves the same patience Pearson had, some of the football I’ve seen over the past few games in one half of football is some of the best we’ve played for years. If we get those last details right then there’s no reason why we can’t challenge for top 6

I don’t want Manning gone, but I never wanted him in! Pearson should still be here. I want the board gone. Manning being unsuccessful shows the boards complete incompetence.

Manning was bought in to move the club forward. He had everything in place to do so according to those who decided he was going to be our saviour. Until this happens he will get criticised by me and others.

29 minutes ago, Henry said:

I noticed Manning said he is looking to sign an attacker in the January. For me, this must be someone who can naturally play on the left.

Bell is out of form. He contributes nothing to the build up and can’t beat a man. Mehmeti just isn’t doing and can’t be trusted to play from the start every week. Sykes is our most effective attacker and needs to play in his best position on the right.

Just started a thread about Sykes being played on the right. Would have added it to this had I seen it before posting.

Needs to be played on the right hand side. He looks completely lost on the left. Our goal today followed quickly by Conway’s chance both came from Sykes down the right hand side. Start of the second half he is back on the left and taken off for some reason not long into the second half. It was clear Bell should have come on for Weimann with Sykes moving to the right.

We seem to be able to play a decent standard of football between the 30th min and half time if we are lucky. The rest of the time is dire. There is no purpose to anything we do.