RollsRoyce

It is relegation form, and we need points fast. I would still be astonished if we got anywhere near a relegation situation, really astonished, as we have had moments of decent performances, and have enough about us. It has nothing to do with Leeds, who are on another planet compared to us, but the preceding games against the other mid-table sides. There are a couple of tough games to come, Boro and Saints, but after that we do have the opportunity to get back on track, we have to be looking at 6 points against QPR and a very poor Wednesday. There is a good 5-point gap to the next group below us, and we have 38 points. We will get better I am sure, and 45 points should be enough this season to be relegated, so 7 points is easily achievable. I think we will end up somewhere around 55 points this season.

If we do not beat Boro next week, that will be 3 points in 7 games for Manning. Pearson got fired for 6 points in 7 with a last game having a bench with 5 players who had never started a league game. Manning has never had that level of injuries to deal with . Ok, Manning needs time, but can we just stop the nonsense that we have improved under Manning. He has failed to deliver his main objective, which was to improve the side this season, not next season. The objective was to get us higher in the league this season. Thank god we did not bring him in to avoid relegation, as his current points per game over the last 7 will see us relegated if he does not turn it around fast. Go and do the calculations. Leeds are a great side, it has nothing to do with tonight, but there seems to be a bizarre illusion, maybe because of a few cup games, that Manning is doing something special. He is not. He is now making us worse. He will be looking at games against QPR and Wednesday for a result at this rate. He will need time, because he is out of his depth and needs to learn the job. But he has been a spectacular failure against the prime objective of his appointment. Next season he will need to be much much better.

The issue is not losing against Prem squads with PP, Leeds, Leicester or Southampton. The issue was not beating Preston. Brum, Milwall, Watford. Leeds were just better than us. No shame in that.

Hey , Leeds are a good side. They have some really good players only a PP club can afford. It is frustrating but that is how it is, and has been. It is not the games against Leeds that get you a play off spot. It is the Brum/Preston/Milwall results

Behave or Port sad red will get agitated

Leeds look and are quality, they have a great squad and huge money. But, why are we playing 3 at the back? We do not have the players for that, and we have gone from having 2 CB's who knew what they were doing, to players looking confused and far from automatic in their choices of positioning. Leeds are very good, we cannot forget that, but I do not know why we are messing around with the defence, because that was one thing we did not have an issue with.

I hate you

Leeds look a good side, and of course, are at the top end of the form league and confident, we are at the bottom and it shows, hesitant and lacking fluidity. But, we are not losing, have not conceded. Some adjustments are needed to the set up at half time, and it is very much all to play for. Leeds may have been better, but they have not scored due to some great work by Max. We have seen before, if you do not take your chances it can cost you. So all to play for. Ground looks empty for a sell out.

A manager and leader he is not. But he is a coach and should find his place, and a good one at that. I can never see him managing or leading as a number 1, it is just not him, but it would not be a surprise to see him have a long coaching career. He works hard, very hard, and I hope for him he finds his level/role. It was not his fault he was given a job he was never equipped for. But he also needs to recognise his own limitations and strengths.

What does this guy need? I have no idea about him.

It will be interesting to see what type of player this lad is. and where he will play The signing a club like ours should be making. Yes there is risk, but we cannot afford the finished article. Let's see what he can do.

This a vague loophole that will be closed

He had no say in any contract details. Tinnion/Alexander are the names you need to insert to correct your misinformation.

A point away at in form Coventry is no bad result. Unfortunately, we are out of form, 3 points from the last 5 games puts us at second bottom of the current form table. We need points from somewhere to match the hard work and aim of getting top 6.

That is a shame

Finally some quality , great finish Wells

We need JL to cast his expert eye , yet again, over the medical team, as it would appear the changes he instigated have not worked. Or is it too much time on the grass? Or is it just football?

Well it does. I am not questioning Manning per se, but taken to the extreme of what I was trying to explain, it would be like putting Klopp in charge of Man City, and Pep in at Liverpool. It would be nonsense, but both are amazing managers. At the weekend it was noted how Liverpool will be using extensive data analysis to identify the replacement of Klopp, to ensure that there is a match-up with the current approach/squad, that they have assembled and developed from top to bottom. Pretty much what Brighton have done as well. I contend Manning is the wrong appointment, more so for him. He should be at Swansea, not BCFC. If we move to a back 3 (5) as a fundamental, which is neither right or wrong in football terms, it confirms that Tinnion has hired the wrong person.

The plan in the summer was to have Pring and McCrorie as the 2 FB in a 4. I would suggest that having two strong FB like that would stop teams doubling up on Pring, and would have enabled us to be both defensively sound and offer an attacking threat. That threat would come from Pring and McCrorie, but also by allowing an extra player up front. I cannot believe the plan in the summer was to play a lone striker. Far from it. Before Scott was sold, he would have played in behind 2 forwards, TC and probably Wells. Mehmeti was ear marked to play in a central role, but has struggled so far, but has shown some signs of evolution. Playing 3 at the back, and wing backs, well that changes everything. More so if we get an injury or two. The squad is not set up for that. We will have huge gaps and will need to change our approach. As a one-off, maybe I can understand, but it looks more like this is the approach for the future. If so, we need a big recruitment change in the summer. These are fundamental issues and should have been sorted when we recruited the head coach. Does anyone expect the next Liverpool coach to change how they play , say to a Pep approach? Not a chance.

Yes we played well. But seriously. Robbored has finally met his match.

We have only had one manager this year. So far.

We have played very well. The FAC seems to suit us. Best half I have seen from Mehmeti, for the first time he has not been missing passing opportunities or holding onto the ball too long. A game that can go either way. All to play for.

Clearly filling the gaps we have within the current youth players group, recognising there is no one in the pipeline that is deemed able to meet the level. The sort of signing we should be making as a club, some will work, many won't, but this is where we have been more successful in the last years. We will all enjoy following his journey and development.

A Kevin Mabbut hattrick at Old Trafford was a rather superior memory for me, as was beating THE Liverpool (Dalglish, Hanson, Souness, Clemence, Neal, Thompson etc) European Champions at home, a couple of times, the most amazing in front of 38 688 fans. But I would hardly expect a presentation today to commemorate it. Probably the Leyland Daf trophy win, and a first trip to Wembley has more modern significance. But yes, we are sadly somewhat tinpot as we have achieved nothing in our history. For a city the size of Bristol, that IS some achievement. We did get relegated in successive seasons from the old Div 1 to Div 4, which was a first in the game (though Wolves also followed that achievement) We are one of the most underperforming teams in the history of football. 44 clubs have won the FA Cup, 52 teams have played in the Prem, 23 Teams the FL cup (another 13 runners up, a list that includes Roherham and Rochdale) However, where we beat anyone and everyone, and are 54 times champion, is ... The Gloucester Cup. Anyway, if people enjoyed the Liverpool game celebration, that is great, who should deny anyone a bit of fun? For others, it is just a harsh reminder at how poor we have been in our history. We peaked too early in 1907/8