Manning’s poisoned chalice

[Sir Geoff]

12 hours ago, Midlands Robin said:

You have to add into the chalice the bizarre January transfer window. 

Manning arrived at the start of November and therefore had between 8 and 10 weeks to run his eye over the squad and request funds to strengthen his team.

What he got seemed to be a continuation of the previously planned January transfer window strategy. It smacks of absolute arrogance that the board felt we wouldn't need to worry about any major signings until the summer.

Most clubs considering a manager change take the timing of transfer windows into account. It was discussed on here at the time NP was sacked that a contributing factor would have been not wanting to give Nige money to spend in January when he wasn't going to take the team into the following season. The fact that they also wouldn't give Nige any money in the summer after Scott left  supports that point.

To sum up then, Manning is brought in to replace a popular manager who had worked hard with very little to develop a hard working squad. The squad kept performing despite the loss of several key players. Manning's managerial style doesn't fit with the agenda set by the board who hired him. Then, he seemingly has no opportunity to inject any of his own signings into the team when he and the club have over two months to adjust the recruitment strategy 

Poison chalice indeed.

 

Disagree. Twine and Medube are clearly Manning driven signings.

[Davefevs]

44 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Disagree. Twine and Medube are clearly Manning driven signings.

Yes.

Twine most definitely a case of - “I must have him”…and fair enough.

Mebude more the case of - “young lad out in Belgium where it’s not working out, I know him from City group, let’s see what we can do”.  I don’t believe we were seriously tracking him, before Manning came.  

I don’t think Manning would’ve died in a ditch over Mebude either.

+++++

And I think it’s fine fine for the manager / head-coach to specify certain players, e.g. I want this type, ie Twine, see what you can do.

From what I gather we tried Twine early, got pushed back, went for Azaz, missed him, so went back for Twine.

Nige did it with James and King to an extent.

Edited March 4 by Davefevs

[Monkeh]

On 03/03/2024 at 11:00, Fordy62 said:

In my 35 years of supporting City never have I seen a manager set up to fail quite so badly by the top brass. I said it at the time of his appointment that he’d been dealt a poisoned chalice and it’s playing out exactly as I hoped it wouldn’t. 

So let’s try to remember that none of this is Manning’s fault. He took a lucrative job that none of would have turned down and none of us can blame him for taking. I’m sure he and his team are trying their very best.

Fortunately I lost my mojo for Bristol City when Nige was sacked. I saw it before with Cotterill and history has repeated itself. I say fortunately because I find myself really not caring too much about our games, how we’re performing etc. I find it sad I feel like this, but it helps eliminate the problem of the City result ruining your weekend - which I suspect is how many of you feel right now. 

But I suppose my main point is try not to get on Manning’s back. It’s not his fault. 

I’m grateful for the investment the Lansdowns have made, our new stadium is brilliant and we’re in a really good place off the pitch. But I think we’ve definitely run our course now, and with my very best wishes it’s time they sold up and left. And if they wouldn’t mind taking their mate Bri with them at the same time, that’d be ideal. They’re getting the comeuppance they deserve in spades. Completely out of their depth. 

I suppose you could sum up my feelings on them the same way they dealt with Nige. You feel the need to gamble on something new, yeh, it could well be worse, but it’s probably worth the gamble. 

I disagree with some of this, but that's not to say this is an excellent post,

We've had many managers over the last 20 years, we've had success we've had heartbreak, there has been on constant throughout,

The ownership, when you've changed everything and nothing seems to take you to that next level, then it's time to look at the ownership model,

Thinking purely in business terms, there is a monopoly at the club, monopolies are never a good thing in business,

If lansdown really wants to deliver success, the  he needs to leave the echo chamber, bring in new shareholders have more voices on the board,

Only when that happens will the club move forward,

As for manning, he is just lee johnson, the similarities are there for all too see, except johnson did a good job compared to manning

[Steve Watts]

On 03/03/2024 at 11:46, sh1t_ref_again said:

Think you can add the fans to that, never known such a quiet tame atmosphere for a derby game, or perhaps blame the players performance, where were the blood and thunder tackles, maybe its  a chicken and egg question, do the players need to get the fans going or do the fans help to get the players going, either way its on a downward spiral, but easy to sit back and blame everyone else 

It's difficult to create an atmosphere when you're asleep......

[Fordy62]

22 minutes ago, Monkeh said:

I disagree with some of this, but that's not to say this is an excellent post,

We've had many managers over the last 20 years, we've had success we've had heartbreak, there has been on constant throughout,

The ownership, when you've changed everything and nothing seems to take you to that next level, then it's time to look at the ownership model,

Thinking purely in business terms, there is a monopoly at the club, monopolies are never a good thing in business,

If lansdown really wants to deliver success, the  he needs to leave the echo chamber, bring in new shareholders have more voices on the board,

Only when that happens will the club move forward,

As for manning, he is just lee johnson, the similarities are there for all too see, except johnson did a good job compared to manning

In fairness Lee Johnson was given about a billion pounds. And that’s my biggest fear here…

[Mr Popodopolous]

On 03/03/2024 at 11:46, sh1t_ref_again said:

Think you can add the fans to that, never known such a quiet tame atmosphere for a derby game, or perhaps blame the players performance, where were the blood and thunder tackles, maybe its  a chicken and egg question, do the players need to get the fans going or do the fans help to get the players going, either way its on a downward spiral, but easy to sit back and blame everyone else 

Not fully sure I agree. Yeah to some extent but pre game the atmosphere was building a bit..when Vindaloo came fans were signing along to the England bit and then they put that crap music which is more suited to a night club as Cardiff get Battered Everywhere they go was starting to gain a bit of voice.

A rare good call, followed by a reversion to type. Depends where you are in the ground too..bit of the Dolman hear the Safe Standing area can see sound come across alright.

[Monkeh]

51 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

In fairness Lee Johnson was given about a billion pounds. And that’s my biggest fear here…

Mine too,

[sh1t_ref_again]

12 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Not fully sure I agree. Yeah to some extent but pre game the atmosphere was building a bit..when Vindaloo came fans were signing along to the England bit and then they put that crap music which is more suited to a night club as Cardiff get Battered Everywhere they go was starting to gain a bit of voice.

A rare good call, followed by a reversion to type. Depends where you are in the ground too..bit of the Dolman hear the Safe Standing area can see sound come across alright.

In the Lansdown stand, south stand end, but thought the atmosphere was very flat and nothing like a normal derby. Get the point some have made about dull performances and not much to cheer about, but like I said is it for the players to get the fans going or can the fans help to get the players going?

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, sh1t_ref_again said:

In the Lansdown stand, south stand end, but thought the atmosphere was very flat and nothing like a normal derby. Get the point some have made about dull performances and not much to cheer about, but like I said is it for the players to get the fans going or can the fans help to get the players going?

Oh the Lansdown or in close proximity. No offence to Lansdown Stand but I've written it off ages ago in respect of a lively atmosphere there. Ticket prices, the Upper bit having a Family area and of course the majority of corporate type areas.

Mix of the weather, recent malaise and yeah I credit the club with Vindaloo and then I critique them for the next song which was mismatched bit visibly drowned out attempted chanting.

[Midlands Robin]

8 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Twine most definitely a case of - “I must have him”…and fair enough.

Mebude more the case of - “young lad out in Belgium where it’s not working out, I know him from City group, let’s see what we can do”.  I don’t believe we were seriously tracking him, before Manning came.  

Referring back to my point, I think I agree with you now Fevs, that Twine was probably a Manning signing, all be it a short term loan.

I assumed we'd been looking at Mebude for a while but am probably wrong on that one then.

Either way, I still think the lack  of strength in the transfer market in January or any sign of a manager stamping his mark on the squad with stronger signings is very strange.

Edited March 4 by Midlands Robin

[Davefevs]

19 minutes ago, Midlands Robin said:

Referring back to my point, I think I agree with you now Fevs, that Twine was probably a Manning signing, all be it a short term loan.

I assumed we'd been looking at Mebude for a while but am probably wrong on that one then.

Either way, I still think the lack  of strength in the transfer market in January or any sign of a manager stamping his mark on the squad with stronger signings is very strange.

I’m only guessing on Mebude.