Liam Manning - CONFIRMED NEW HEAD COACH

[Neuilly]

Just now, Philly The Kid said:

There's bound to be a few ITK posters on the Oxford forum!!!!

I’ve looked and on Twitter. All pretty confident he will stay. ‘3 year deal, only 8 months in, building something at QUFC’ etc etc

[RedorDead BCFC]

1 minute ago, Philly The Kid said:

There's bound to be a few ITK posters on the Oxford forum!!!!

Looked at their forum and they seem nervous. But you would have expected to see one or two hinting its true and happening. 

[daored]

1 minute ago, RedorDead BCFC said:

Bit I don’t understand is. If what Manning says last night no contact, then last night we would have had to negotiate a buy out figure for him, him to then agree to sign for us all before last nights rumours that an announcement was tomorrow. 
Timing don’t seem right. 
I know he may have been lying, but someone would have leaked it by now. 

Agree, if it’s him would have been noise Oxford end of him talking to us or we’ve agreed a compensation figure with them. There is absolute radio silence which suggests whoever it is , is currently not in a role , whether they be English or foreign 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, BrizzleRed said:

Who’s got a problem with the new coach having fitter players, I certainly haven’t!

The whole point I’m making is, Pearson would also have enjoyed those same benefits, but wasn’t given that opportunity.  Don’t forget, this was supposed to be his first proper season with his own squad, but it’s been ravaged by injuries.

We’ll now probably be heading into the unknown again, with the new HC inheriting someone else’s squad, so would you bet against yet another rebuild looming??

Well exactly.

NP would have also benefited from these 2 games, Sheffield Wednesday at home and QPR away. 4-6 pts quite likely, international break coming up likely players return and more time to do so.

They pulled the rug just in time, at perhaps his weakest point of the season when injuries imposed huge problems.

[Harry]

1 hour ago, Bar BS3 said:

I think we all hope that this season can see us improve under the new appointment.

Be a bit more consistent  score more goals & generally look like we are moving in the right direction.

To expect promotion would be crazy - to look like we are heading in the right direction for it would be excellent & refreshing. 

I agree. To expect promotion would indeed be crazy. 
And this is exactly why there were hardly any fans (if any at all) were judging Pearson on a promotion shot this season. 

Now, I’m not as ‘bothered’ about Nige leaving as a lot of others are. For what it’s worth, I was happy for him to see this season out but I always knew he’d never be re-signing after the 3 year contract was up. So I’ve always been comfortable with the fact that he would leave, whether at the end of this season or potentially earlier - I thought it might’ve been new year, ready for someone new to come in and take the next steps. 
So my thinking is not clouded by any particular love for Pearson.

But the manner of the sacking is what puzzles me. The reasons given have been crystal clear from Jon & Brian. They were expecting THIS squad to to be at the “top end” of this division and that “the aim is promotion”. 
They have judged Pearson on a very different expectation that any supporters I know. As I said, I don’t think any of us expected promotion this season. 
 

This is why I will be 100% behind whomever the new manager is, and my judgement of how we perform will be on Jon & Brian. 
There is no fannying around to be had. The new man hasn’t got a free hit this season and then challenge the top next season. The expectation is quite clear from both of the men in charge. 

“THIS squad should be at the top end”, “the aim is promotion and we wouldn’t have made the change if we didn’t think we could achieve that”, “there would be no point in making the change now if we were happy to just bumble along for the rest of this season”. 

Those are direct quotes from the blokes in charge. The change had been made because they still believe THIS squad should be at the top end THIS season. 
It’s their sole reasoning they’ve provided for making the change. 
 

As I said, I’m not going to judge the manager on this. The manager is being expected to come in to THIS squad and get them to the top end. I keep putting THIS squad in capitals because this is what has been stated, quite clearly, that they both believe this is the best squad in years and should be at the top end, playing the way we play “throughout the club”. So the new boss has to work with what he’s got, within the parameters set and get us to the “top end”. 
I’ll be judging Jon & Brian on this, as the philosophy is now theirs to own and the next appointment will be theirs to own. 

Edited November 5, 2023 by Harry

[BrizzleRed]

4 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Well exactly.

NP would have also benefited from these 2 games, Sheffield Wednesday at home and QPR away. 4-6 pts quite likely, international break coming up likely players return and more time to do so.

They pulled the rug just in time, at perhaps his weakest point of the season when injuries imposed huge problems.

Absolutely Mr Pop and I suspect many of us are thinking the same thing regarding the reasons for the timing of this sacking.

I’ve also got a feeling that we’re going to find ourselves in a similar divided position as we had about LJ.

Any upturn in form due to returning players will probably be seized on by people who were not particularly keen on NP, or still supporting the actions of the Lansdowns as vindication for the sacking.  

Hopefully this won’t signal a new line in conflict

[Superjack]

I have already stated that I don't give a flying **** who it is, and the reasons for that.

But if the Lansdowns are reading this, I bet that they are ****ing themselves silly. 

"Ooh... they don't know who it is! And we do!".

Grasping every morsel of power over the fanbase that they can. 

Glad that I am finished with them.

 

[chinapig]

10 minutes ago, Harry said:

As I said, I’m not going to judge the manager on this. The manager is being expected to come in to THIS squad and get them to the top end. I keep putting THIS squad in capitals because this is what has been stated, quite clearly, that they both believe this is the best squad in years and should be at the top end, playing the way we play “throughout the club”. So the new boss has to work with what he’s got, within the parameters set and get us to the “top end”. 
I’ll be judging Jon & Brian on this, as the philosophy is now theirs to own and the next appointment will be theirs to own. 

Absolutely and by their own logic the new head coach should be sacked if he doesn't achieve that.

They really haven't thought this through, which surprises me not a bit.

[Charlie BCFC]

I think people are getting ahead of themselves, can’t see things happening this quickly if it’s Manning. I really like him though and think he’d be a great appointment, I get he doesn’t have the experience but as we’re seeing with other managers in previous years experience isn’t exactly key to do well

[Fuber]

1 hour ago, Bar BS3 said:

Perhaps, but coming to terms with something they would have preferred to turn out differently & then being deliberately dim/obtuse are 2 totally different things.

To claim the expectations of NP before the season started & whoever the new bloke is, with a third of the season gone & starting with already having to make up the defecit of NP's tenure, is just being ridiculous.

NP has gone. His record here was poor-just about average.

Our home form throughout his tenure has been pretty abysmal.

The timing (injuries) made the decision surprising - but that doesn't gloss over the fact that we have hardly progressed in his 2.5 years in charge. 

Speechless.

[petehinton]

For those who think things won’t happen fast because he’s in a job, it’s similar to transfers. Everything will be basically agreed via representatives then will be down to the ‘formal permission’ and ‘approach’ that will sound like the first step, but is one of the last. Him saying he’s had no contact or approach was deliberate imo, he won’t have had contact or approach, his agent(s) will have and the discussion would be done through them. 

I’ve no idea if it’s him or not, but certainly wouldn’t rule something being done very very fast still if it was. Alex Neil was appointed Stoke manager with pre recorded media & all the morning after the ‘approach’ from Sunderland, and IIRC that wasn’t exactly very first in the day too. 

[Harry]

12 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Absolutely and by their own logic the new head coach should be sacked if he doesn't achieve that.

They really haven't thought this through, which surprises me not a bit.

Exactly. By their logic he should be sacked if he doesn’t gain promotion. 
My logic is, it won’t be the manager who should carry the can. It’s the people who chose that manager and expect him to play a specific way. 

[Harry]

As I’ve said before - if I were to ask Manning to be my manager, I would need to furnish him, at minimum, with a creative number 10, a tempo-controlling number 6 and a possession heavy number 8, and an attack minded right back. 
I wouldn’t expect Manning to come in and get this current squad playing the way he wants. Unless he’s a miracle coach. 

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

29 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Some people are still disappointed at the way Nige was canned and will be for a while yet I suspect. That is more aimed at the Upstairs Mob than the new Manager I would suggest. If Liam Manning comes in and wins ten in a row then brilliant, if he comes in and earns 1.5 points per game most will be happy, but it doesn't change how many people feel Nige was treated. I'm sure the majority of fans will cut the guy enough slack and not expect him to deliver the promotion that Lansdown and Tinnion seem to think is almost mandatory with our squad.....however I think those two might well be in the firing line when we come up short this season.....and to be honest, deservedly so too.

I understand the disappointment and I have stated countless times that I thought it was the wrong time to sack NP.

What I don't follow is the amount of people who consider that a new coach/manager should in some way not benefit from any uplift in support from the Lansdowns because it is unfair on NP or that it is in some way unfair to judge a new coach in comparison on the basis that he may benefit from returning players . 

It's like everything on OTIB at the club is all about Nigel Pearson and only Nigel Pearson- it's like a collective hysteria (imo). Over decades there has been differing financial support to different Managers. That's football and not peculiar to BCFC.

As for BT & JL- they have both said the aim is playoffs/promotion. Just like Nige has said since he joined. Yet this has been changed to BT/JL demands promotion or expects promotion this season. I can't find where they said the latter but changing a few words makes a great narrative . By all means find the quote where either categorically state that a demand has been made. It's pretty academic as only the deluded genuinely thought that promotion was/is a realistic possibility this season after the sale of our best and no real replacements. However, the majority of Championship clubs stated aim is the play offs/promotion. I'd love to see a Chairman of one of the clubs similar to us state that their aim was mid table irrespective of that likelyhood.

If Nige, for example, led us to 10th in the League this season and as expected didn't have his contract  renewed whilst the new guy leads us to 10th - what the hell is the difference ?

Wherever the new guy gets us will for many be the minimum of what NP would have achieved. There will be threads about his input and what we could have achieved with him for a generation and it's all just words.  

30 minutes ago, Superjack said:

Perspective - you need to put the 'sigh' in asterisks(,) otherwise you are just saying 'sigh'(,) rather than sighing. 

You're welcome.

Unnecessary use of commas. 4/10. See teacher.

[Superjack]

Just now, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Unnecessary use of commas. 4/10. See teacher.

Touche.

My phone wouldn't let me do the accent above the 'e'.

And also, my dog ate my homework.

[Hartleysbeard]

If it is to be Manning, then JL would not have done himself any favours by openly dismissing a list of names Manning is pretty high on. And it would make nonsense of Manning’s statement about not being aware of anything connecting him to the job. 
 

Or is this just how football is…all cloak and dagger and deliberate subterfuge?

[Merrick's Marvels]

12 minutes ago, Harry said:

As I’ve said before - if I were to ask Manning to be my manager, I would need to furnish him, at minimum, with a creative number 10, a tempo-controlling number 6 and a possession heavy number 8, and an attack minded right back. 
I wouldn’t expect Manning to come in and get this current squad playing the way he wants. Unless he’s a miracle coach. 

Benarous is that 10, James the 6, McCrorie the Right back. I'm struggling for the 8.

Certainly don't have 2 for every position though, bearing in mind your earlier posts about the way Manning's teams have set up at MK and Ox.

Start by opening the nest egg and paying Burnley whatever it takes for Twine! His career's going nowhere there and Benarous won't be up to speed for a while.

Edited November 5, 2023 by Merrick's Marvels

[Neuilly]

Guess we will find out tomorrow. Late night change in FL and LM on SkyBet:

Frank Lampard 1/2

Liam Manning 6/4

[Cityboy1954]

Better off with Bernard Manning .

[Lew-T]

2 minutes ago, Hartleysbeard said:

If it is to be Manning, then JL would not have done himself any favours by openly dismissing a list of names Manning is pretty high on. And it would make nonsense of Manning’s statement about not being aware of anything connecting him to the job. 
 

Or is this just how football is…all cloak and dagger and deliberate subterfuge?

Tbf I don’t think Manning was on the list at that time.

[BCFC1512]

1 minute ago, Lew-T said:

Tbf I don’t think Manning was on the list at that time.

Nope. He appeared Friday I think 

[Hartleysbeard]

2 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

Tbf I don’t think Manning was on the list at that time.

Ok, fair enough then. Struggling to keep up with all the names and when they came into the mix! 

[Mr Popodopolous]

26 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Benarous is that 10, James the 6, McCrorie the Right back. I'm struggling for the 8.

Certainly don't have 2 for every position though, bearing in mind your earlier posts about the way Manning's teams have set up at MK and Ox.

Start by opening the nest egg and paying Burnley whatever it takes for Twine! His career's going nowhere there and Benarous won't be up to speed for a while.

Naismith or is he more conservative despite a strong range of passing. Perhaps not an 8..Naismith in midfield?

Edited November 5, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[KeepUpLino]

My, my what an embarrassing state of affairs

[Mr Popodopolous]

In terms of Manning, I can't say I am especially enthused. Not his fault the circs he would be arriving in but he doesn't yet have a strong track record to speak of.

Edited November 5, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Superjack]

4 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

In terms of Manning, I can't say I am especially enthused. Not just fault the circs he would be arriving in but he doesn't yet have a strong track record to speak of.

I am confident that this is not a consideration.

[astrondrew]

18 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

In terms of Manning, I can't say I am especially enthused. Not his fault the circs he would be arriving in but he doesn't yet have a strong track record to speak of.

His record is very good for a young head coach, to be fair. Not likely to be heading to a top Prem team, obviously. Unless he does well with us (if he joins).

[Mr Popodopolous]

3 minutes ago, astrondrew said:

His record is very good for a young head coach, to be fair. Not likely to be heading to a top Prem team, obviously. Unless he does well with us (if he joins).

Some promise but query his readiness for a start.

Putting aside my views on NP and his staff, to justify such a decision you need to be replacing with someone as good as NP but perhaps younger, thinking of medium to long term or indeed someone who is better.

Manning fits neither criteria, if he wants a rebuild e.g. it is just a waste of time and money on top.

[W-S-M Seagull]

24 minutes ago, astrondrew said:

His record is very good for a young head coach, to be fair. Not likely to be heading to a top Prem team, obviously. Unless he does well with us (if he joins).

His record is very good?

He got sacked from Milton Keynes cos they were shite under him. 

 

Edited November 5, 2023 by W-S-M Seagull

[Davefevs]

4 hours ago, Loosey Boy said:

Agree re Manning as whoever comes in, will also be bringing in their own back room team too….often, these are the same people they are currently working with - rumours would surely have been out there by now if we were about to poach Manning and some of his back room staff

For info, this is Oxford’s set up:

Hogg followed Manning from MKD to Oxford.