Holloway Interview

[The Original OTIB]

if you have access to City player, log into the Blackpool site and listen to the Holloway interview... a different perspective

[Guest Frome Red]

What did he say ? Totally different to our soon to be ex manager !

[milo1111]

Probably saying millen should carry on.

Like every other sag head.

[Northern Red]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

I agree with this, every last word of it.

[bucksred]

thats true, but most of the squad has either been working with Millen for years, or are Millen signings.

Millen cannot command respect among at least some (Isuspect most of) the team.

If this is the case he aint gonnna change it............results then become utterly predictable.

[Mendip City]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

Enjoy your pints - spot on post.

Only person to sort out the soft underbelly was Johnson. Add Basso McAllister and McCoombe to your list.

Which shit stirring current player were you referring to? James?

[Isawjonshaw]

It is apparent, there are more issues at the Gate than the ones on the pitch. Major problems behind the scenes, (one of the reasons coppell walked). And that mug of a tango man at the helm is doing us no favours at all. I totally agree with the players being spineless c@nts

[Keith_Lemon]

I don't like Ian Holloway. But everything said above is bang on.

KM may not seem the man to take the club up. But I feel sorry for the man. Not hardly being allowed to bring any players in over the summer bar a couple, working with a squad built by GJ and SC. A squad who all together are gutless, spineless, cowards, under-performers, lazy, talentless and selfish. And if I see any City player involved in the squad in person I will directly tell them that.

This is one of the worse squad's this club has ever had. It breaks my heart.

I understand people want KM to resign, but why should he? He'll lose out on a lot of money. I bet anyone on this forum including me would not resign and would wait on being sacked so that I/You could collect a hefty pay package from the club.

It will be best for all parties for KM to leave.

But it would be even better if most of this squad had their contracts torn up tomorrow.

[Isawjonshaw]

It is apparent, there are more issues at the Gate than the ones on the pitch. Major problems behind the scenes, (one of the reasons coppell walked). And that mug of a tango man at the helm is doing us no favours

at all. I totally agree with the players being

spineless c@nts, but the managers job is to motivate and again that table don't lie. A major over haul is needed, but the here and now is a new manager. League 1 year we comes....

[Brizzle Jordan]

Basically Bristol City Football Club is in one hell of a state. Starting to accept we may have to take a step or two back to take any forward.

[milo1111]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

Oh please. Skeletor would say that.

Who really thinks we should be challenging at the top? wed like to be but that isn't the expectation is it ffs. w'ere bottom so what does he expect. people are bound to be annoyed.

a cheap shot at city fans and some of our no. will still suck up to the creten.

ere

[BCAGFC]

As I have said before, I would love to run into some of our highly paid prima donna wasters in a dark alley....not one of them has the courage to fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

Not one of them has an ounce of aggression in them, even Capt Marv has given up now.

The sooner we get the likes of Chris Morgan & Shaun Derry, the better IMO.

BCAGFC

[Spud55]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

Agree with most of that.

I think it's time for Millen to go, but then i'd like to see 80% of the squad who are taking their money and doing nothing for it to go as well.

[rockin-robin]

Enjoy your pints - spot on post.

Only person to sort out the soft underbelly was Johnson. Add Basso McAllister and McCoombe to your list.

Which shit stirring current player were you referring to? James?

Carey would be my guess?

[BCAGFC]

It is apparent, there are more issues at the Gate than the ones on the pitch. Major problems behind the scenes, (one of the reasons coppell walked). And that mug of a tango man at the helm is doing us no favours

at all. I totally agree with the players being

spineless c@nts, but the managers job is to motivate and again that table don't lie. A major over haul is needed, but the here and now is a new manager. League 1 year we comes....

You can't teach aggression, you either have it or you don't.......none of our players do.

BCAGFC

[Pederho ll]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

Agree,......far to many of our players are spineless, gutless, overrated and overpaid little gits and we as fans of this club deserve a whole lot better.

[Guest always hoping]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

good assessment.

Also think that even though the results have been poor. the team has remained fundamentally the same with minimum changes. Just simply rotated the same players. City do not really have a deep squad, but rather played with a small squad leaving the rest to watch from the stands. Rumour if that this why Cisse was so pissed with club and wanted away,after being on the receiving end for the 1st half of last season. Wonder if a new Mgr comes if he will look at all the players and make selection on form & hunger to perform.

[Mendip City]

Carey would be my guess?

Yeah probably. Maynard cant be helping either

[Cider Army]

New manager and coaching staff watch the change.....I really believe these players havent played for millen,I couldnt care less what hollohead has to say its all to do with character of manager millen just hasnt got it to get these players motivated neither wigley .

[Frank Reynolds]

To me it's clear that the manager should take a large proportion of the blame. It is his job to motivate the players, and create a winning team atmosphere.

We're not the only club to pay players handsomely, so why do we have no team spirit? I don't think it's a problem with our players in particular (with some exceptions).

What is the players fault is that they seem to lack the fight for our club, and whoever the manager is, their professional pride should not allow that.

I think we need a clear-out on the playing and coaching side. This summer would seem to be an ideal opportunity with so many out-of-contract players, but we need a manager who can wheel and deal.

[notsobigfatdave]

Having just got back to Stafford where I am staying with a couple of Ex Bristolians overnight all I can say about todays performance is man for man Blackpool wernt that much better than the City Players... in fact some were inferior in terms of skill. However they were extremely motivated and well organised. It was patently obvious that the majority of the City Team dont want to play for Millen and are just not putting it in for 90 minutes.

Its almost as if they are just waiting for the inevitable, almost hoping in fact.

Also the last three games ive watched its been patently obvious some of the team are not as fit as they should be.

[Mendip City]

Oh please. Skeletor would say that.

Who really thinks we should be challenging at the top? wed like to be but that isn't the expectation is it ffs. w'ere bottom so what does he expect. people are bound to be annoyed.

a cheap shot at city fans and some of our no. will still suck up to the creten.

Well i dont know many fans who had high expectatioms but Lansdown said we were looking to get promoted.... thats where the expectations come from. i dont think holloway was popping at us fans but more the way clubs are run - to that end i agree with him.

[chinapig]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

They are old mates so hardly surprising. So for all his much vaunted motivation skills Holloway does not think managers have a key role in getting into the minds of players so they don't capitulate like ours? Must be that his reputation is undeserved then and presumably he could not make a difference to our players' attitude. And the expectations argument is nonsense. Nobody expected promotion (apart from Keith and Colin). What we did expect was the improvement that Keith promised would follow once he had had a transfer window and pre-season. Perhaps Keith could explain why that didn't happen?

Not that I am defending the players, they are as you describe but that is practically the job description for modern players. They will put in a shift when it suits them and otherwise do the minimum they can get away with. That's why you need a strong manager. This lot have been allowed to get away with too much through weak management, not least the craven grovelling to Maynard. Mancini has shown the way to treat prima donnas but Keith seems to prefer to indulge them. Hardly surprising if the the rest take advantage given their character when they see how weak the management is (and I include Colin in that).

Still if Holloway is right pretty pointless having a manager at all since he is by definition powerless to change players' mindsets and is not to blame anyway. Now that's what I call a doctrine of despair.

[Mendip City]

As I have said before, I would love to run into some of our highly paid prima donna wasters in a dark alley....not one of them has the courage to fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

Not one of them has an ounce of aggression in them, even Capt Marv has given up now.

The sooner we get the likes of Chris Morgan & Shaun Derry, the better IMO.

BCAGFC

spot on....

[oldstandrobin]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

dont post much but totally agree with this

[beaverface]

To me it's clear that the manager should take a large proportion of the blame. It is his job to motivate the players, and create a winning team atmosphere.

We're not the only club to pay players handsomely, so why do we have no team spirit? I don't think it's a problem with our players in particular (with some exceptions).

What is the players fault is that they seem to lack the fight for our club, and whoever the manager is, their professional pride should not allow that.

I think we need a clear-out on the playing and coaching side. This summer would seem to be an ideal opportunity with so many out-of-contract players, but we need a manager who can wheel and deal.

Good post. It's the managers responsibility to wind and motivate the players to just before breaking point so that they give their all without being reckless. If the players don't response, then it's up to the manager to bring in players who will respond.

Look at Warnock, hasn't he signed some players like Shaun Derry about three times? It's because he knows what he brings to the side and that's what he wants to stamp on all the other players.

[formerly known as ivan]

Millens players, end of!

If they are gutless why are they still here? Why were they signed to begin with. Millen is manager so lead by example. Have a gutless manager and your gonna have gutless players, simple!

All excuses, even from some not even associated with our club!

[CalgaryRed]

They are old mates so hardly surprising. So for all his much vaunted motivation skills Holloway does not think managers have a key role in getting into the minds of players so they don't capitulate like ours? Must be that his reputation is undeserved then and presumably he could not make a difference to our players' attitude. And the expectations argument is nonsense. Nobody expected promotion (apart from Keith and Colin). What we did expect was the improvement that Keith promised would follow once he had had a transfer window and pre-season. Perhaps Keith could explain why that didn't happen?

Not that I am defending the players, they are as you describe but that is practically the job description for modern players. They will put in a shift when it suits them and otherwise do the minimum they can get away with. That's why you need a strong manager. This lot have been allowed to get away with too much through weak management, not least the craven grovelling to Maynard. Mancini has shown the way to treat prima donnas but Keith seems to prefer to indulge them. Hardly surprising if the the rest take advantage given their character when they see how weak the management is (and I include Colin in that).

Still if Holloway is right pretty pointless having a manager at all since he is by definition powerless to change players' mindsets and is not to blame anyway. Now that's what I call a doctrine of despair.

[CalgaryRed]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

dont post much but totally agree with this

Re : Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here....I would imagine you're referring to a certain veteran Bristolian at the club ?

[JudgeRed]

Talked good sense.

As he said "how is it Millens fault if his players lose heart after a goal goes in" . He saw what I saw week in and week out - gutless overpaid shites.

This club has had a soft underbelly for years and we lost the only two players we've had since we were promoted who had any guts, Orr and Hartley. They went, the backbone went.cynic

I don't care who manages this club, with these players we will go down.

Spineless little gobshites the lot of 'em with one in particular who likes to sound off behind his managers back and wind up other players - he shouldn't be here.

The Reading game epitomises it. We were brilliant up to the point when Reading scored, then they gave in, rolled over and accepted defeat - WTF can any manager do about that other than get in players who have a winning mentality ?

Sure, Millen has his faults and maybe isn't up to this job, but it would help if his players were men and had some guts and professional pride and actually supported the manager instead of pretending to do so whilst undermining him.

Another thing Holloway was spot on about is the expectations of BCFC supporters - it's ridiculously over the top, including the likes of SL. As Holloway intimated, we (and Blackpool) aint a Southampton, Leeds, Leicester, Derby, West Ham, Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc etc who have played in the Premier League recently - we aint even a Crystal Palace or a Burnley, Coventry or Cardiff. Nowhere near it - so why do people expect us to be competing at the top with the bigger clubs ? We don't have the support that the established bigger clubs have - just look at some of the shitty threads on here where people are saying they don't care if we win or lose anymore or find it funny that we lose 5-0. Great support that is...........not.

Bollux, I'm off to the pub.

:clapping: Very well said cynic could not have put better mate.

[simonwheeler]

I agree with this, every last word of it.

Plus 2 - TOP POST

[milo1111]

They are old mates so hardly surprising. So for all his much vaunted motivation skills Holloway does not think managers have a key role in getting into the minds of players so they don't capitulate like ours? Must be that his reputation is undeserved then and presumably he could not make a difference to our players' attitude. And the expectations argument is nonsense. Nobody expected promotion (apart from Keith and Colin). What we did expect was the improvement that Keith promised would follow once he had had a transfer window and pre-season. Perhaps Keith could explain why that didn't happen?

Not that I am defending the players, they are as you describe but that is practically the job description for modern players. They will put in a shift when it suits them and otherwise do the minimum they can get away with. That's why you need a strong manager. This lot have been allowed to get away with too much through weak management, not least the craven grovelling to Maynard. Mancini has shown the way to treat prima donnas but Keith seems to prefer to indulge them. Hardly surprising if the the rest take advantage given their character when they see how weak the management is (and I include Colin in that).

Still if Holloway is right pretty pointless having a manager at all since he is by definition powerless to change players' mindsets and is not to blame anyway. Now that's what I call a doctrine of despair.

good shout. i half expected something along these lines from our old adversary from banjo island. knew he couldnt resist having a word about our current plight and that it wouldnt be his mate millens fault.

funny he should say all that because i rember him brown nosing alex ferguson last season about what a great man manager he was or something along those lines. but now it doesnt appear man management is so much of a big deal.

theres no doubt our players have let the club down, there is also no doubt that millen is a poor motivator.

what i dont get is why some of our fans buy into the crap that he spouts.

[REDOXO]

Oh please. Skeletor would say that.

Who really thinks we should be challenging at the top? wed like to be but that isn't the expectation is it ffs. w'ere bottom so what does he expect. people are bound to be annoyed.

a cheap shot at city fans and some of our no. will still suck up to the creten.

ere

Thank You! My thoughts entirely. Another cheap shot at Bristol City dressed up as serious commentary....Knob!

No one here seriously thinks we should be competing at the top (Premier League) but most of us think we should be competing in the Championship

Well done Ian you won today 5-0...Is there an open top bus in Blackpool you can sing about it from!!!

W4NKER

[The Casual Connoisseur]

Thank You! My thoughts entirely. Another cheap shot at Bristol City dressed up as serious commentary....Knob!

No one here seriously thinks we should be competing at the top (Premier League) but most of us think we should be competing in the Championship

Well done Ian you won today 5-0...Is there an open top bus in Blackpool you can sing about it from!!!

W4NKER

Well apart from SL who said our aim for this season is promotion before the season started.

Personally I'd of been happier if he'd said our aim is survival.

[Roger Red Hat]

Holloway was speaking generally about clubs like ours and Blackpool (these days) where expectations are unrealistic - he's 100% correct.

As for a cheap shot at our supporters, I don't think it is - our support is shit and has been for some time. We don't have support like some of the bigger clubs in this division who still got crowds of 20k in league one. We don't even get 14k in the championship and Bristol is one of the biggest cities in the UK - crap support.

As for Holloway being a cretin, compared to some of the illiterate morons on this forum who obviously have problems with simple comprehension, he comes across as a genius.

Spot on.

[REDOXO]

Well apart from SL who said our aim for this season is promotion before the season started.

Personally I'd of been happier if he'd said our aim is survival.

To be fair if we were competing at this level our aim would be promotion...

However I'll take 4th from bottom right now!

[reddoc]

That's just terrific! Mr Soundbite says somthing, and someone calling himself cynic quotes him verbatim. Namechange required I fear.

[Olé]

They are old mates so hardly surprising. So for all his much vaunted motivation skills Holloway does not think managers have a key role in getting into the minds of players so they don't capitulate like ours? Must be that his reputation is undeserved then and presumably he could not make a difference to our players' attitude. And the expectations argument is nonsense. Nobody expected promotion (apart from Keith and Colin). What we did expect was the improvement that Keith promised would follow once he had had a transfer window and pre-season. Perhaps Keith could explain why that didn't happen?

Not that I am defending the players, they are as you describe but that is practically the job description for modern players. They will put in a shift when it suits them and otherwise do the minimum they can get away with. That's why you need a strong manager. This lot have been allowed to get away with too much through weak management, not least the craven grovelling to Maynard. Mancini has shown the way to treat prima donnas but Keith seems to prefer to indulge them. Hardly surprising if the the rest take advantage given their character when they see how weak the management is (and I include Colin in that).

Still if Holloway is right pretty pointless having a manager at all since he is by definition powerless to change players' mindsets and is not to blame anyway. Now that's what I call a doctrine of despair.

This.

I don't agree this is anything as dramatic as the weakest squad we've ever had, and I think if you applied the 'which of our players would another established Championship side have' rule, you'd find quite a few. Hardly the mark of foregone overpaid League One material.

I've not been raving Millen out (mainly because his attitude has made me so lethargic) but as you rightly summarise, it's his job to get the right attitude from his players to the extent that it would not be an unusual setup for Wigley to talk the tactics and him to wind them up.

But that's not what we have. We have two coaches and no sight of anyone who can execute the role of 'manager' and lead and direct the players, motivate them, let alone make them more than the sum of their parts. When you have the opposite of that, the game really is up.

One last point on the players - it's fashionable to rip them to pieces as overpaid wasters, and whilst not altogether undeserved (their house of cards attitude this season stinks, they obviously don't need the win bonus) the reality is a number could go to a competitor and earn more.

When you lose all players of character, self-belief and professional pride (Basso, Orr, Hartley) it really is unsurprising. I don't think the James disparity has helped at all either. But Millen has a role charged with addressing this and building the TEAM mentality, and what has he done...

...just look at his signings. Not a character, a loud team voice or fighter amongst them. Isn't that a rather odd remedy? Isn't it strange he's signed small, quiet players almost without exception, even when we were told to expect a very different type of reinforcement this summer.

But it's not a mystery at all. It is the very deliberate result of a weak manager, promoted out of circumstance, trying to gain authority the easy way. If you have no authority then you look for a weaker mentality of person beneath you instead. Reverse or passive leadership if you like.

In business you come across the reluctant manager, promoted as last man standing and on the basis of long service alone, liberally re-assured of his suitability by disingenuous employers who want a cheap/easy option, and then left, timidly, figuring a way to make leadership painless.

Time and again they revert to building artificial authority by reducing the age, confidence and voice of the team. Which is exactly what Millen has been up to. To say nothing for their playing ability, Pitman, Kilkenny, Woolford, Stead and Bolasie would struggle to get heard in a library.

Why hasn't Millen signed a single senior player or leader? Too close to challenging his paper thin authority? If you can't step up, you need the people below you to step down. Is it really a surprise the team is now as mentally weak and lacking in personality and fight as it has been?

I wouldn't be surprised if Millen still wanted to be one of the lads. Wanted nice people around who will like him as their friend. Until we have a leader with a clear seniority and confidence in their own authority to have nasty people around, we will keep getting weaker and more feeble.

[Guest Dickie Rooks]

I think Holloway is taking the Mickey! This from a manager who's motivational skills have produced a team that achieve's far more than there level of talent deserve's.

I also think the die hard City fan has reasonable expectations,as Jack Charlton once said after the '82 problems 'it's good to see City back where they belong....about 8th in the (old) second division.to be honest what we would give to be in that position,some nice football,some good wing play that we have seen over the years,some exciting games,some boring....a decent cup run in the FA cup,the excitement of a decent home draw every couple of season's.

Most City fans I believe would be happy with this situation,once stabilised perhaps we can kick on in the future,but my expectations are not to be bottom of the Championship (old 2nddivision),knocked out the league cup and no doubt knocked out the FA cup at the first attempt,I can hear the Twentyman interview now ' well it's disappointing to get knocked out so early but it will now give you chance to concentrate on your league position'reply by Millen or whoever ' well I thought we played well and deserved more,the 1st goal was decisive,the other four were on the counter as we were pushing for an equaliser'

We live in hope!!

'

[Club and Country]

Great post, i for one have had enough of the players at this club.

marv lives off one season, the first in championship, not just picking on him, i cold slag of probably 90% of that team. next time i see any of them in town, bar a few, pitman, wilson, i will be telling them exactly what i think

they couldnt give a toss. average players on stupid money.

[Pederho ll]

Great post, i for one have had enough of the players at this club.

marv lives off one season, the first in championship, not just picking on him, i cold slag of probably 90% of that team. next time i see any of them in town, bar a few, pitman, wilson, i will be telling them exactly what i think

they couldnt give a toss. average players on stupid money.

Totally agree.

My distain for two players in particular came a couple years ago at an open day when l watched a nice man and his kids ask for an autograph. The players reluctantly obliged and as the family walked away the two players turned to one another and called the man a "******* tosser".

In fact that is jut the tip of the ice burg, sad but true.

You earn respect in this world through hard work, endeavour and most all treating people with a bit of decent and curtosy.

I have no respect for a handful of our players.

[Never to the dark side]

Just got back from Blackpool yes I did stay the weekend

I have the BBC Radio lancashire after match comments and review on me SD card,might try and have a listen to what Holloway said after the match

[RedZepperin]

...just look at his signings. Not a character, a loud team voice or fighter amongst them. Isn't that a rather odd remedy? Isn't it strange he's signed small, quiet players almost without exception, even when we were told to expect a very different type of reinforcement this summer.

But it's not a mystery at all. It is the very deliberate result of a weak manager, promoted out of circumstance, trying to gain authority the easy way. If you have no authority then you look for a weaker mentality of person beneath you instead. Reverse or passive leadership if you like.

Not to mention his choice of assistant manager, who has never wanted to step up to the full manager role and, on the occasion he did, he bombed.

How cosy.

[Tales From The Front]

I think Holloway is taking the Mickey! This from a manager who's motivational skills have produced a team that achieve's far more than there level of talent deserve's.

I also think the die hard City fan has reasonable expectations,as Jack Charlton once said after the '82 problems 'it's good to see City back where they belong....about 8th in the (old) second division.to be honest what we would give to be in that position,some nice football,some good wing play that we have seen over the years,some exciting games,some boring....a decent cup run in the FA cup,the excitement of a decent home draw every couple of season's.

Most City fans I believe would be happy with this situation,once stabilised perhaps we can kick on in the future,but my expectations are not to be bottom of the Championship (old 2nddivision),knocked out the league cup and no doubt knocked out the FA cup at the first attempt,I can hear the Twentyman interview now ' well it's disappointing to get knocked out so early but it will now give you chance to concentrate on your league position'reply by Millen or whoever ' well I thought we played well and deserved more,the 1st goal was decisive,the other four were on the counter as we were pushing for an equaliser'

We live in hope!!

'

Exactly right......what should our expectation be then Mr Holloway? To be bottom of the championship with 6 points after 10 games?....You find me a board of directors and set of fans that are going to be happy with that return, at any level of the game. Thats what the issue is and to suggest otherwise is using smoke and mirrios to justify a situation that is totally unacceptable.