Am I the only one?

[The hand of RO'D]

Excited with the prospect of Nige potentially leaving after this season?

Controversial post I know. Now, don’t get me wrong, the job he has done to this point has been great. He has trimmed the wage bill and has had limited funds at his disposal since he’s arrived which could be detrimental to how his success will be perceived in years to come. Look at when Leicester won the premier league, a lot of credit came Niges way from the players who were involved who said if it wasn’t for Nige sorting issues behind the scenes they wouldn’t have had that success. Are we at a similar crossroads?

The football since he’s taken over hasn’t been great. We had terrible form at home for a long time, struggled to take the game to the opposition and have treaded water in mid table for his reign. Has Nige sorted the club out off the pitch but has subsequently ran his course with the club? Is SL ready to take the plunge in another manager with fresh ideas who will bring, in my opinion, a much needed footballing identity to the club? Perhaps why we’re seeing the purse strings tightened after the sale of Scott & Semenyo?

Entitely my opinion but I feel we need a new coach, not a manager, with a clear footballing identity and style of play to take us to the next level.

Edited August 24, 2023 by The hand of RO'D

[BUTOR]

So just write off a whole season three games in? Far, far too early for this talk. 

[The hand of RO'D]

3 minutes ago, BUTOR said:

So just write off a whole season three games in? Far, far too early for this talk. 

Not writing it off but something feels unnervingly stagnant with the club at the moment.

[Mr Popodopolous]

12th in the League last season for home record.

Not terrible, not brilliant by any stretch just...average. We can all pick samples but from Barnsley at home October 2021 to final home game of laat season it was.

17-11-11. League only yes.

62 pts from 39, not stellar but not terrible.

[Red Army 75]

1 minute ago, The hand of RO'D said:

Excited with the prospect of Nige potentially leaving after this season?

Controversial post I know. Now, don’t get me wrong, the job he has done to this point has been great. He has trimmed the wage bill and has had limited funds at his disposal since he’s arrived which could be detrimental to how his success will be perceived in years to come. Look at when Leicester won the premier league, a lot of credit came Niges way from the players who were involved who said if it wasn’t for Nige sorting issues behind the scenes they wouldn’t have had that success. Are we at a similar crossroads?

The football since he’s taken over hasn’t been great. We had terrible form at home for a long time, struggled to take the game to the opposition and have treaded water in mid table for his reign. Has Nige sorted the club out of the pitch and ran his course with the club? Is SL ready to take the plunge in another manager with fresh ideas who will bring, in my opinion, a much needed footballing identity to the club? Perhaps why we’re seeing the purse strings tightened after the sale of Scott & Semenyo?

Entitely my opinion but I feel we need a new coach, not a manager, with a clear footballing identity and style of play to take us to the next level.

I see it totally different. He has had the hardest job managing city for a long while. All the hard work and ground work he has done has been relentless. Yes some of the football and results have been indifferent( no arguments there). But for someone to come in and start all over again is a bit deflating for me. I really like NP and would love to see him extend his stay with us. 
 

The cycle of average for Bristol City doesn’t seem to stop. 
 

But fair comments from the OP

[Mr Popodopolous]

Would be great if SL just saw some sense, offered him a 2-3 year deal, and to back him properly in that timeframe now that the financials have been sorted out.

Still within FFP but markedly more than now by back properly.

Edited August 24, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Fuber]

1 minute ago, BUTOR said:

So just write off a whole season three games in? Far, far too early for this talk. 

Think it was written off before it even began with our recruitment since selling Scott was confirmed.

That'll only change for me personally if we sign a keeper and a forward.

Too little depth.

5 minutes ago, The hand of RO'D said:

Excited with the prospect of Nige potentially leaving after this season?

Controversial post I know. Now, don’t get me wrong, the job he has done to this point has been great. He has trimmed the wage bill and has had limited funds at his disposal since he’s arrived which could be detrimental to how his success will be perceived in years to come. Look at when Leicester won the premier league, a lot of credit came Niges way from the players who were involved who said if it wasn’t for Nige sorting issues behind the scenes they wouldn’t have had that success. Are we at a similar crossroads?

The football since he’s taken over hasn’t been great. We had terrible form at home for a long time, struggled to take the game to the opposition and have treaded water in mid table for his reign. Has Nige sorted the club out off the pitch but has subsequently ran his course with the club? Is SL ready to take the plunge in another manager with fresh ideas who will bring, in my opinion, a much needed footballing identity to the club? Perhaps why we’re seeing the purse strings tightened after the sale of Scott & Semenyo?

Entitely my opinion but I feel we need a new coach, not a manager, with a clear footballing identity and style of play to take us to the next level.

Dont think it matters who is in charge.

Nige has done well with the tools he has - we have an aging squad in some areas who are more than likely not up to another season at this level (James, King, Wells, Weimann), but all are technically limited - not many have much end product and those that do (Naismith, Conway) have been, or are currently, injured.

Not many managers and coaches have a set style - and those that do specialise don't have much adaptability, Russell Martin springs to mind.

The risk for me is allowing Nige to run down his contract - in that players could down tools as they will be aware he has no owner backing thereby disturbing the culture built that took years to sort.

If we were looking to replace him, it would've made more sense to sack him or mutually part end of last season with a replacement (and associated targets with what Scott money was available) lined up - also allowing the likes of King to either leave or move into coaching the U21s further reducing wage budget spending.

Think we'll just have to sit and watch what happens.

[Port Said Red]

35 minutes ago, The hand of RO'D said:

Excited with the prospect of Nige potentially leaving after this season?

Controversial post I know. Now, don’t get me wrong, the job he has done to this point has been great. He has trimmed the wage bill and has had limited funds at his disposal since he’s arrived which could be detrimental to how his success will be perceived in years to come. Look at when Leicester won the premier league, a lot of credit came Niges way from the players who were involved who said if it wasn’t for Nige sorting issues behind the scenes they wouldn’t have had that success. Are we at a similar crossroads?

The football since he’s taken over hasn’t been great. We had terrible form at home for a long time, struggled to take the game to the opposition and have treaded water in mid table for his reign. Has Nige sorted the club out off the pitch but has subsequently ran his course with the club? Is SL ready to take the plunge in another manager with fresh ideas who will bring, in my opinion, a much needed footballing identity to the club? Perhaps why we’re seeing the purse strings tightened after the sale of Scott & Semenyo?

Entitely my opinion but I feel we need a new coach, not a manager, with a clear footballing identity and style of play to take us to the next level.

Genuine question, what isn't clear about our identity and style of play?

[The hand of RO'D]

6 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

Genuine question, what isn't clear about our identity and style of play?

If I knew what it was I wouldn’t be asking what it is. Pass it around the back & hoof it up front?

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, The hand of RO'D said:

If I knew what it was I wouldn’t be asking what it is. Pass it around the back & hoof it up front?

Isn't a problem that we lack a bit of craft in midfield?

I would trust Naismith to set the tempo say more than James or Williams. Knight is better higher up. Obviously Scott was 2 in 1 minimum.

[Port Said Red]

Just now, The hand of RO'D said:

If I knew what it was I wouldn’t be asking what it is. Pass it around the back & hoof it up front?

I do feel that a lot of people seem to go to the Gate with preconceptions of how we are going to play and then pick out the two or three times we play that way and then use those examples to confirm their view.  The stats show we don't play the long ball constantly, but we do switch it up. I think our identity and method of play is clear, but it's implementation hasn't really been right yet. That will come as the season progresses.

[phantom]

After 3 league games, even by OTIB standards this thread has to have broken some kind of record

Though thanks for starting yet another thread to discuss Pearson  

[Cidre Monita]

42 minutes ago, The hand of RO'D said:

Not writing it off but something feels unnervingly stagnant with the club at the moment.

You are right. Ignorant fans. 

[Slack Bladder]

I think Pearson is doing a great job, he is a manager I trust and feel we are better for having him

Things are difficult at the moment and you think it's frustrating for us fans, it must be an absolute nightmare for him having to sell all his best players over and over again and then be judged on results.

I think we all long for the day we can loosen the purse strings and have a go

The money the EPL is spending on players at the moment is just obscene, the Championship (just one tier down) is generally struggling. It's not just us.

Edited August 24, 2023 by Slack Bladder

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, Slack Bladder said:

I think Pearson is doing a great job, he is a manager I trust and feel we are better for having him

Things are difficult at the moment and you think it's frustrating for us fans, it must be an absolute nightmare for him having to sell all his best players over and over again.

I think we all long for the day we can loosen the purse strings and have a go

The money the EPL is spending on players at the moment is just obscene, the Championship (just one tier down) is generally struggling. It's not just us.

We could loosen the purse strings a bit now and have a bit of a go now but we are playing it a bit safer.

A month to 6 weeks ago I would have agreed but some clubs have gone through the gears a bit recruitment wise while we have sold Scott.

Certainly compared to the PL it is chicken feed.

[Slack Bladder]

1 minute ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

We could loosen the purse strings a bit now and have a bit of a go now but we are playing it a bit safer.

A month to 6 weeks ago I would have agreed but some clubs have gone through the gears a bit recruitment wise while we have sold Scott.

Certainly compared to the PL it is chicken feed.

My only complaint is we didn't try and replace Semenyo in the summer and we probably won't replace Scott, but that will always be difficult to find a player that comfortable with the ball at his feet

[Phil54]

We should be terrified of losing Nige because it would leave lansdown to pick another manager be afraid be very afraid. 

[RedRoss]

I really really hope we win tomorrow.

If we do we'll have some respite from polarised topics/posts until the next loss atleast.

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, Slack Bladder said:

My only complaint is we didn't try and replace Semenyo in the summer and we probably won't replace Scott, but that will always be difficult to find a player that comfortable with the ball at his feet

I sometimes wistfully think of if no injury and we hold on for 6 months, what a decent midfield Naismith-Scott-Knight could be, have been. James and Naismith can interchange a bit, Williams in reserve, King in further reserve..ah well!

Sounds like we won't be doing much else but a bit of an if only again. If we had gone for Casaedi or O'Brien on loan not identical to Scott of course..but suddenly the midfield somewhat transformed.

Semenyo again hard to replace like with like.

[Top Robin]

I want to give Nige some more games this season to allow him to get us playing better and challenging for the paly offs.

I must admit that I do get envious of those clubs who have brought in younger dynamic managers who have got them playing fast flowing attacking football and ultimately made them successful. 

[Lew-T]

1 hour ago, The hand of RO'D said:

Not writing it off but something feels unnervingly stagnant with the club at the moment.

Yes, the Lansdown’s need to go.

[Mr Popodopolous]

4 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

I want to give Nige some more games this season to allow him to get us playing better and challenging for the paly offs.

I must admit that I do get envious of those clubs who have brought in younger dynamic managers who have got them playing fast flowing attacking football and ultimately made them successful. 

That can be fleeting. Can you list some? Some who stand the test of time.

Carrick maybe one, now he is facing a bit of a test. Could make him but Middlesbrough minus Ramsey, Giles, Akpom and Archer is a bit of a different prospect.

Stam and Paunovic at Reading were..until they were not!

Edited August 24, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[ExiledAjax]

I don't see anything in OPs post that's writing the season off after 3 games. 

And no, @The hand of RO'D you wouldn't be the only one excited to see what another manager could do with a Club free of FFP concerns and with a stable squad. 

With a well managed handover and a considered selection period, it could make next season very exciting.

[milo1111]

Everything about the club last few years has been screaming a relegation season a la McInnes and SOD. The fact nige has done all the dirty work and had us well safe last season is a bloody miracle in my eyes. 
 

 

[Davefevs]

14 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

I do feel that a lot of people seem to go to the Gate with preconceptions of how we are going to play and then pick out the two or three times we play that way and then use those examples to confirm their view.  The stats show we don't play the long ball constantly, but we do switch it up. I think our identity and method of play is clear, but it's implementation hasn't really been right yet. That will come as the season progresses.

FWIW we’ve hit more long passes than anyone else this season (according to Wyscout).  We’ve made a lot more passes than other teams too.

However in each game this season, we’ve hit less long passes than our opponents!

This again plays into my view that our first three opponents are influencing the game type more than we are per se, but also highlights Nige’s “be braver” comment.  I’d categorise each of our opponents as good disruptive teams.  Something to improve undoubtedly.

For context, we are the 8th longest ball team (percentage of all passes hit long).  3 out of 7 above us are who we’ve played so far.

.

Just adding context.  Not adding conclusions yet.  But it feels we need to try to play our game not get dragged in to our opponents.

[Mr Popodopolous]

7 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

I don't see anything in OPs post that's writing the season off after 3 games. 

And no, @The hand of RO'D you wouldn't be the only one excited to see what another manager could do with a Club free of FFP concerns and with a stable squad. 

With a well managed handover and a considered selection period, it could make next season very exciting.

I see this argument EA but shouldn't it be the case that the guy who was responsible for a good chunk of rbjs as well as trending in the right direction big time compared to when he took over should get the opportunity to take us to another level?

Now if this is also with a potential takeover in mind, or investment it stats to make a bit more sense as new owners are often want their own manager. Still I believe he has earned the chance for full backing and a new deal by this point.

Still it is better always to try and hand over from a position of relative strength or at least stability.

[The Nest Egg]

I do not trust Lansdown to select a new manager that would take us forward. That 'nest egg', built under Pearson, has now been inexplicably withheld from him and SL just wants to find a mate he can chuck it at instead. Third time lucky, eh?

Edited August 24, 2023 by An Outstanding Human

[ExiledAjax]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

I see this argument EA but shouldn't it be the case that the guy who was responsible for a good chunk of rbjs as well as trending in the right direction big time compared to when he took over should get the opportunity to take us to another level?

Now if this is also with a potential takeover in mind, or investment it stats to make a bit more sense as new owners are often want their own manager. Still I believe he has earned the chance for full backing and a new deal by this point.

Still it is better always to try and hand over from a position of relative strength or at least stability.

Sure, it's an option. But as I say, if you give that guy an extension then you're saying that you think he's capable of both the rebuild, and the deployment of the new look club after that.

You don't necessarily get the guy that builds a house to decorate it as well do you?

It might be that there's someone available who's better for the future. It might not.

I'm not closed though to the idea of thanking Pearson for his hard work, letting the contract continue to it's natural end, and then getting excited about someone else taking us forward in 2024/25.

[Sir Geoff]

18 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

I want to give Nige some more games this season to allow him to get us playing better and challenging for the paly offs.

I must admit that I do get envious of those clubs who have brought in younger dynamic managers who have got them playing fast flowing attacking football and ultimately made them successful. 

Which clubs and managers have been successful playing fast flowing attacking football recently. I'll give you Kompany and Burnley but other than that. 

More chance of leaving this division upwardly by playing tight pragmatic football 

[Sheltons Army]

Jesus Wept

 

Some really don’t appreciate what we’ve got

The impatient and entitled