Liam Manning - CONFIRMED NEW HEAD COACH

[REDOXO]

21 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

Why wouldn't he ?

Tinion/someone questioning playing King above an academy player seems to have been what brought this to a final head. 
 

As someone above says they think there is a chance he will be taking a hike. Either way I’m interested to see how it plays out. 

[premisesmanager]

Appointment will be cheap option .Typical Lansdown appointment . Quite deflated. Still Tinnion will be happy. 

[Ronnie Sinclair]

A bit nonplussed by this appointment, but that might be due to ignorance at his career on my part so I will read up on it - and then give him 10-15 games to form a proper opinion and not write him off before he's even donned his shiny new O'Neill's tracksuit

Edited November 6, 2023 by Ronnie Sinclair

[Merrick's Marvels]

14 minutes ago, George Rs said:

We are scraping 1-0 over a 10 man sheff Wednesday. Give the man a chance.

Please explain, why you have ignored my first sentence and where I haven't given the man a chance. 

[Ian M]

The Oxford fans seem angry. I'm taking that as a good sign.

[W-S-M Seagull]

1 minute ago, italian dave said:

I've said my bit. I think he should be given the chance and judged by what he does at Ashton Gate. And as long as he's here I'll support him in trying to achieve success. You've clearly decided otherwise. 

Are fans such as myself not allowed to have our concerns? 

I'll always support the team as I did on Saturday. 

However this guy gets no period of grace. And thats not his fault. That's on the owners. But by taking the job Manning knows the expectations he is under. He obviously feels as if he can meet those expectations.

[Port Said Red]

I have spent years on this forum reading people bemoaning the fact that we never seem to get the next big thing coaching wise, why Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth etc? Now we look to be bringing in someone on that mould and it's WTF is this guy? what does he bring? And so on. 

To me it's more important that the guy has reputation in the game rather than on the terraces, what I am hearing is that the players are very happy with this guy, that those who still have links with Oxford have been told that he is definitely worth listening to which is a huge plus.

As for @W-S-M Seagull and others bemoaning the "bullshit bingo", there is a huge difference between talking in those terms and understanding and implementing them. I think it looks and sounds like this man is in the latter category. Also, with that in mind, the biggest problem most seem to have with LJ was that it was all about him and what he did, whereas in that video he explicitly talks about the players and helping them make the right decisions. That last part is not a million miles of what Pearson wanted either.

 

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by Port Said Red

[George Rs]

1 minute ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Please explain, why you have ignored my first sentence and where I haven't given the man a chance. 

Didn’t mean to suggest you hadn’t my bad, just this thread in general currently.

[W-S-M Seagull]

Just now, Ian M said:

The Oxford fans seem angry. I'm taking that as a good sign.

Barnsley fans were angry with LJ when he left them and they remained angry for quite a while after.

[Dan11]

33 minutes ago, Evs said:

The Kieran McKenna who was at Manchester United for about 5 years including 3 as assistant manager when they finished second in the Premier League before moving to Ipswich so its a slightly more impressive CV than 2 years split between MKD and Oxford. The Lansdown's have taken a huge gamble and it feels very much a yes man appointment but as Nige says lets get behind OUR TEAM.

Ipswich fan here...

Manning is a very impressive coach with quite a similar background to McKenna. He has spent years learning his craft, specialising as a coach after retiring from football young. He started coaching at Ipswich in his 20's and was very highly thought of before going to West Ham where he did an excellent job. He was then poached by and progressed through the ranks with the 'City Group' who don't just take any mug! His MK Dons side were fantastic (we played them a couple of times in L1) and they were extremely unfortunate not to get promoted with 89 points. If he hadn't lost everyone half decent from that side, he would have challenged again last year (thankfully for us he did and they didn't!). It is no surprise to me he has got Oxford playing great football and competing at the top of the league this year.

If McKenna were to go tomorrow, I can guarantee he would be most Ipswich fans choice to take over. He shares the same footballing principles and also has a lot of the same personality qualities - very emotionally intelligent and players will love playing for him. His assistant (assuming he comes too) Chris Hogg is also a fantastic coach that was highly thought of here too and he ended up spending time at Newcastle as U23s coach. 

[bcfc01]

18 minutes ago, Ghost Rider said:

NOBODY FROM THE CLUB SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING APPOINTMENT. 
 

HOW MANY MORE TIMES???????

Wrong.

[Merrick's Marvels]

1 minute ago, George Rs said:

Didn’t mean to suggest you hadn’t my bad, just this thread in general currently.

OK. 

I agree about scraping a win over 10 man bottom of the leaguers too, btw. 

[Finley_Smith10]

3 minutes ago, premisesmanager said:

Appointment will be cheap option .Typical Lansdown appointment . Quite deflated. Still Tinnion will be happy. 

a manager with near 50% win rate wherever he’s been. Cheap option yet we have to pay money to get him. Oxford fans gutted. Just see what happens no point in being so negative. He’s obviously highly thought of

[Super]

16 minutes ago, transfer reader said:

Mikel Arteta had never managed anyone before the Arsenal job, McKenna no one before Ipswich, Howe no one before Bournemouth

All of them were less experienced than Manning is now.

Should Carlisle have not given Pearson his first managers job because he hadn't managed at (what is now) League 1 before?

He learnt off some bloke who's pretty good though!

[Northern Red]

Up The City!

[bcfcape91]

2 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

I fully expect us to give this guy some big backing because he is their guy and they will do all that needs to be done to prove their decision was the right one. 

It's possible that we're going to need Pearson back here to clean up the mess when yet another project fails.

Yeah, I think the board will happily spend to prove a majority of the fan base wrong about being upset over Nige's sacking. Not that it will prove anything, they've certainly backed themselves into a corner now. Either get promoted with their new man with the same constraints of the previous regime, or spend to achieve what couldn't be achieved before, undoing the house keeping of the last 3 years.

The circumstances do take the excitement out of the prospect of spending, and a new manager. It does feel very much like "here we go again", we won't be lucky enough to be able to call on Nige should history repeat itself. 

One thing guaranteed is that there are no guarantees, so good luck to whoever the new manager Head Coach is. It's certainly an awkward situation to come into, I hope it all works out alright!

[RedRoss]

3 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

Wrong.

Proof that's wrong?

[Super]

3 minutes ago, Dan11 said:

Ipswich fan here...

Manning is a very impressive coach with quite a similar background to McKenna. He has spent years learning his craft, specialising as a coach after retiring from football young. He started coaching at Ipswich in his 20's and was very highly thought of before going to West Ham where he did an excellent job. He was then poached by and progressed through the ranks with the 'City Group' who don't just take any mug! His MK Dons side were fantastic (we played them a couple of times in L1) and they were extremely unfortunate not to get promoted with 89 points. If he hadn't lost everyone half decent from that side, he would have challenged again last year (thankfully for us he did and they didn't!). It is no surprise to me he has got Oxford playing great football and competing at the top of the league this year.

If McKenna were to go tomorrow, I can guarantee he would be most Ipswich fans choice to take over. He shares the same footballing principles and also has a lot of the same personality qualities - very emotionally intelligent and players will love playing for him. His assistant (assuming he comes too) Chris Hogg is also a fantastic coach that was highly thought of here too and he ended up spending time at Newcastle as U23s coach. 

This has given me a bit of hope.

[italian dave]

4 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

I fully expect us to give this guy some big backing because he is their guy and they will do all that needs to be done to prove their decision was the right one. 

It's possible that we're going to need Pearson back here to clean up the mess when yet another project fails.

And, out of interest, do you think he should be given money to spend? And did you think Pearson should have been given money to spend?

Because this is another example where people seem to be holding decisions made by other people and a previous regime against someone who was nothing to do with those decisions. Not saying that with you in mind, hence my question.

If we need to spend money to strengthen the squad then we need to spend money. If it was the wrong decision under Pearson, then it doesn't suddenly make it the right decision under his successor. And it's certainly not something to use as a stick to beat that successor with.

[steveybadger]

1 minute ago, bcfc01 said:

Wrong.

Regardless it depends on what you deem exciting. Personally (and regardless of NP) I’m more excited by this than a ‘glamorous’ Lampard type appointment. 

[Selred]

14 minutes ago, East Londoner said:

It just seems a very Bristol City appointment going for a cheap option from a lower league 

We had the chance to try something different not necessarily appointing a big name but looking in leagues we don’t usually look in. Instead we’ve reverted to type and if you keep doing the same things normally the end result is the same 

Nothing against Manning but i fully expect the cycle to go round again just like it has while SL has been our owner 

Is it cheap? 6 figures release clause, plus he'd bring his own team with him as we sacked everyone else.

What "big name" did you want?

[bcfc01]

1 minute ago, RedRoss said:

Proof that's wrong?

Look and you shall find grasshopper.

[Lew-T]

It’s just very difficult to be excited about this. I still don’t understand why Nige is not here, I mean JL mumbled it in an interview but still don’t understand it.

Currently it looks a very stupid and unnecessary move.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Lew-T

[TonyTonyTony]

5 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

As for @W-S-M Seagull and others bemoaning the "bullshit bingo", there is a huge difference between talking in those terms and understanding and implementing them. I think it looks and sounds like this man is in the latter category. Also, with that in mind, the biggest problem seem to have with LJ was that it was all about him and what he did, whereas in that video he explicitly talks about the players and helping them make the right decisions. That last part is not a million miles of what Pearson wanted either.

100% agree. Some people have an aversion to what they would describe as management lingo. 

[Severn Beach Pigeon]

4 minutes ago, Dan11 said:

Ipswich fan here...

Manning is a very impressive coach with quite a similar background to McKenna. He has spent years learning his craft, specialising as a coach after retiring from football young. He started coaching at Ipswich in his 20's and was very highly thought of before going to West Ham where he did an excellent job. He was then poached by and progressed through the ranks with the 'City Group' who don't just take any mug! His MK Dons side were fantastic (we played them a couple of times in L1) and they were extremely unfortunate not to get promoted with 89 points. If he hadn't lost everyone half decent from that side, he would have challenged again last year (thankfully for us he did and they didn't!). It is no surprise to me he has got Oxford playing great football and competing at the top of the league this year.

If McKenna were to go tomorrow, I can guarantee he would be most Ipswich fans choice to take over. He shares the same footballing principles and also has a lot of the same personality qualities - very emotionally intelligent and players will love playing for him. His assistant (assuming he comes too) Chris Hogg is also a fantastic coach that was highly thought of here too and he ended up spending time at Newcastle as U23s coach. 

You're probably the person on here who knows most about Manning (based on all the posts made so far), so to hear good things is reassuring 

[italian dave]

5 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Barnsley fans were angry with LJ when he left them and they remained angry for quite a while after.

Rightly so.....three years later LJ had established us as a top half Championship side and taken us to a Cup semi final with Man City!

[johnheadbcfc]

I for one can't wait for the announcement so some can move on from pearson it's getting abit out of hand now 

[Riaz]

When city fans say we've gone for the "cheap option" Such a dumb thing to say

There is no such thing!

A bad manager will cost a club millions in the long run

[RedRoss]

2 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

Look and you shall find grasshopper.

I'll take that as you have none then. 

Edited November 6, 2023 by RedRoss

[lenred]

1 minute ago, johnheadbcfc said:

I for one can't wait for the announcement so some can move on from pearson it's getting abit out of hand now 

As are the people moaning about the people moaning about Pearson. 

[italian dave]

8 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Are fans such as myself not allowed to have our concerns? 

I'll always support the team as I did on Saturday. 

However this guy gets no period of grace. And thats not his fault. That's on the owners. But by taking the job Manning knows the expectations he is under. He obviously feels as if he can meet those expectations.

Of course....and I've got plenty.

But when you say 'support the team' does that also mean 'support the manager' because that's not what it feels like. Maybe I've misjudged that?

[bcfc01]

Just now, RedRoss said:

I'll take that as you have none then. 

You may take it as you will.

It is of no consequence whatsoever to me.

[italian dave]

Just now, lenred said:

As are the people moaning about the people moaning about Pearson. 

Just stop moaning about the people moaning about the people moaning about Pearson will you?

[Mr Popodopolous]

11 minutes ago, johnheadbcfc said:

I for one can't wait for the announcement so some can move on from pearson it's getting abit out of hand now 

The only thing that makes a good chunk move on is if the new man is a clear upgrade on the incumbent IMO.

Unsure Manning if it's him will get much of a honeymoon period. It's a shame, not his fault but there will be an expectant audience, perhaps with some scepticism too.

All he can do is win games and hit the ground running and maybe get some momentum.

That's all he can do- he will get a chance but patience with this change isn't very strong.

Doesn't change the fact that NP was stitched good and proper though.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[petehinton]

3 minutes ago, Riaz said:

When city fans say we've gone for the "cheap option" Such a dumb thing to say

There is no such thing!

A bad manager will cost a club millions in the long run

And I’d say a cheap option is someone without a club, not someone who we’re paying a 6 figure sum to get out of their current job. 

[JoeAman08]

Looks like the type of appointment we have been crying out for. Young manager plucked from the league below like many of our players. Has worked hard to move up through academy coaching to coaching abroad and lower league with pretty good success at all 3 clubs. What LJ was supposed to be but come here for the wrong reasons. 

[Nugget]

Anyone from Oxford player wise he’d wanna bring I wonder 

[CiderJar]

4 minutes ago, Riaz said:

When city fans say we've gone for the "cheap option" Such a dumb thing to say

There is no such thing!

A bad manager will cost a club millions in the long run

But he could be cheap AND a good manager in which case the board have played a blinder.

[W-S-M Seagull]

5 minutes ago, italian dave said:

And, out of interest, do you think he should be given money to spend? And did you think Pearson should have been given money to spend?

Because this is another example where people seem to be holding decisions made by other people and a previous regime against someone who was nothing to do with those decisions. Not saying that with you in mind, hence my question.

If we need to spend money to strengthen the squad then we need to spend money. If it was the wrong decision under Pearson, then it doesn't suddenly make it the right decision under his successor. And it's certainly not something to use as a stick to beat that successor with.

The club have stated that they believe that we have a squad that should be challenging. 

So with that in mind then any investment into the playing side should be minimal? And along the lines of what Pearson was likely to have recieved in the next window. 

My concern is that this guys system doesn't fit with what we've currently got and therefore hes going to need lots of money in order to get in the players that fit his system. 

Thats not the route I thought we were going down. I was under the impression that we'd ve bringing in someone who could work with the players and system that we already have. 

[Southport Red]

4 minutes ago, Riaz said:

When city fans say we've gone for the "cheap option" Such a dumb thing to say

There is no such thing!

A bad manager will cost a club millions in the long run

Very true, everyone understands that except (it seems) the owners. 

[Super]

1 minute ago, Nugget said:

Anyone from Oxford player wise he’d wanna bring I wonder 

Bodin?!

[pl00peh91]

4 minutes ago, Riaz said:

When city fans say we've gone for the "cheap option" Such a dumb thing to say

There is no such thing!

A bad manager will cost a club millions in the long run

In fairness the internal promotion of Holden was genuinely the cheap option at the time, not the case here though 

[tin]

Much like Holden, I won’t blame Manning for taking the job. It was only this time last year he was sacked by MK Dons in League Two! Yet here were are 12 months on willing to pay a six-figure sum to bring him here. I thought we had no cash?! 

At MK Dons, he had Twine and Darling sold above his head so he’ll be used to losing his best players and not having them replaced with sufficient (or better) quality, so he should be happy to do the same here all in the name of the owner’s nest egg.

I imagine another attractive tick in the box for the board, or shall I say Tinnion, is he’s happy to put up with interference and deferring on recruitment. 

I can’t wait for the press conference when Manning blows smoke up the Lansdowns’ arses, tells us all how we’re a PL club in waiting, and talks about our vast potential. All that without managing a single game at this level and not knowing that he’s walking into a shit show. 

JL said this is the best squad he’s ever seen, that we have a top-10 budget, and the top six is the goal. So best of luck, Liam. You will need bucket loads of it. 

Lansdowns out.

Edited November 6, 2023 by tin

[bcfc01]

Just now, W-S-M Seagull said:

The club have stated that they believe that we have a squad that should be challenging. 

So with that in mind then any investment into the playing side should be minimal? And along the lines of what Pearson was likely to have recieved in the next window. 

My concern is that this guys system doesn't fit with what we've currently got and therefore hes going to need lots of money in order to get in the players that fit his system. 

Thats not the route I thought we were going down. I was under the impression that we'd ve bringing in someone who could work with the players and system that we already have. 

Well, maybe BT/JL have been playing Bullshit Bingo ?

[Southport Red]

17 minutes ago, Ian M said:

The Oxford fans seem angry. I'm taking that as a good sign.

We are to Oxford what Bournemouth are to us.

[Fuber]

8 minutes ago, Riaz said:

When city fans say we've gone for the "cheap option" Such a dumb thing to say

There is no such thing!

A bad manager will cost a club millions in the long run

You say that as if we didn't make that mistake with LJ.

Or Holden.

Or Millen.

Or Tinnion.

[Bob Turnip]

53 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

These stats against them fills be with so much confidence. Rovers had 10 men for a third of the game.

 

So are these stats an example of a trend / common theme? Or have you picked the worst one's you could find?

 

[Merrick's Marvels]

21 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

I still don’t understand why Nige is not here

1. They don't like criticism.

2. Tinnion convinced them he knows more about training and fitness etc than Pearson and Rennie. 

3. They wanted to go in a different direction with a younger, more hands-on coach.

4. Nige was never going to be renewed, so why wait until the summer because plans for player recruitment need to be put in place now.

But why they couldn't just explain that, instead of lying or talking bollox, is beyond me.

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by Merrick's Marvels

[cityred2000]

Is it not a tad odd that Manning has done an interview, seemingly today ahead of their match in midweek? 

 

[Ian M]

1 minute ago, Southport Red said:

We are to Oxford what Bournemouth are to us.

You're not the only person to think this, I said the same in a WhatsApp 2 hours ago

[Southport Red]

4 minutes ago, tin said:

Much like Holden, I won’t blame Manning for taking the job. It was only this time last year he was sacked by MK Dons in League Two! Yet here were are 12 months on willing to pay a six-figure sum to bring him here. I thought we had no cash?! 

At MK Dons, he had Twine and Darling sold above his head so he’ll be used to losing his best players and not having them replaced with sufficient (or better) quality, so he should be happy to do the same here all in the name of the owner’s nest egg.

I imagine another attractive tick in the box for the board, or shall I say Tinnion, is he’s happy to put up with interference and deferring on recruitment. 

I can’t wait for the press conference when Manning blows smoke up the Lansdowns’ arses, tells us all how we’re a PL club in waiting, and talks about our vast potential. All that without managing a single game at this level and not knowing that he’s walking into a shit show. 

JL said this is the best squad he’s ever seen, that we have a top-10 budget, and the top six is the goal. So best of luck, Liam. You will need bucket loads of it. 

Lansdowns out.

I'm sticking £20 on hearing the phrase "Sleeping Giant" sometime soon

[W-S-M Seagull]

1 minute ago, Fuber said:

You say that as if we didn't make that mistake with LJ.

Or Holden.

Or Millen.

Or Tinnion.

Exactly!

I have zero confidence that they will get it right this time.

[Ian M]

1 minute ago, cityred2000 said:

Is it not a tad odd that Manning has done an interview, seemingly today ahead of their match in midweek? 

 

He took training today too.

Source: Carey6 whose mate plays for Oxford

[lenred]

Just now, Ian M said:

You're not the only person to think this, I said the same in a WhatsApp 2 hours ago

Stuck between Oxford United and Bournemouth…..living the dream indeed! 

[NewquayRed]

What excites me about this is that he obviously sees plenty of potential in this squad to make what is a pretty high risk move for him, ballsy decision when he's plane sailing at Oxford presently.  Get's my vote that 

[Gillies Downs Leeds]

8 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

Looks like the type of appointment we have been crying out for. Young manager plucked from the league below like many of our players. Has worked hard to move up through academy coaching to coaching abroad and lower league with pretty good success at all 3 clubs. What LJ was supposed to be but come here for the wrong reasons. 

Whilst I agree on the coaching side, it could well be a good appointment. And I think it will be. My fear is the structure above him and is it strong and experienced enough to handle the non coaching side of things. Time will tell.

[Swede]

Its Manning. Don't panic Mr Manning

[Hayfield8]

39 minutes ago, nebristolred said:

No offence to the bloke at all and I wish him the absolute best, but whatever happens this is still one of the most ridiculous, unnecessary and stupid decisions in the whole tenure of the Lansdown's.

Whichever way you look at it, to sack a manager who had been doing pretty well, a manager with a proven record of promotion from League One AND the Championship and with a history of building good teams, to then decide that what would be an upgrade is a manager who has done not much more than turn around MK Dons to an extent and have a good start to the season with Oxford.... it's a totally stupid and unnecessary risk and defies all logic whichever perspective you take.

A completely unnecessary and ridiculous appointment, but that isn't Manning's fault. He has a good win % and there are reasons for optimism, and he'll get my full backing. But he is anything but an upgrade on Pearson, and we shouldn't be anywhere near this place of having to consider him in the first place.

This is how I feel, he might be ok, (in league 1, for a quarter of a season so far) but he is by all measures a downgrade on what we had just over a week ago.

This is the biggest gamble they have taken and shows that they would rather have a unknown who will not question their authority than a proven quantity that didn't completely toe the line. 

[bcfc01]

Just now, NewquayRed said:

What excites me about this is that he obviously sees plenty of potential in this squad to make what is a pretty high risk move for him, ballsy decision when he's plane sailing at Oxford presently.  Get's my vote that 

If he's actually joining us 

 

1 minute ago, Ian M said:

He took training today too.

Source: Carey6 whose mate plays for Oxford

 

[Big C]

12 minutes ago, Nugget said:

Anyone from Oxford player wise he’d wanna bring I wonder 

Cameron Brannagan finally

[Old Sodbury Red Evs]

56 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

Wonder if our young progressive new coach will play Andy King? 
 

 

Manning wants to play King.... Tinnion said No No No

[Spud21]

1 minute ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

The club have stated that they believe that we have a squad that should be challenging. 

So with that in mind then any investment into the playing side should be minimal? And along the lines of what Pearson was likely to have recieved in the next window. 

My concern is that this guys system doesn't fit with what we've currently got and therefore hes going to need lots of money in order to get in the players that fit his system. 

Thats not the route I thought we were going down. I was under the impression that we'd ve bringing in someone who could work with the players and system that we already have. 

What system does he emply that won't suit our players? always difficult to tell from highlights but I've been watching some and they seem to get a good few goals by moving from back to front very quickly with 2-3 passes to move the ball from defenders to forwards, which could easily be made to suit our players I think. 

They also look like they can retain possession and dominate teams when necessary, so from what I have seen he looks to be exactly the type of manager we want.

As I've said many times I think the timing of all this is a massive risk and bloody stupid but that doesn't mean I think someone like Manning is anywhere near a bad appointment and I am actually quite excited to see qyt he can do but at the same time concerned that he might be on a hiding to nothing because of the boards decisions. 

[East Londoner]

12 minutes ago, Selred said:

Is it cheap? 6 figures release clause, plus he'd bring his own team with him as we sacked everyone else.

What "big name" did you want?

‘Not necessarily a big name’ i just wanted us to try something different, we’ve gone for apparently up and coming managers before with the likes of McInnes and LJ and we’ve then gone to more old school managers like SOD, Cotts and Pearson 

We’ve done those and haven’t progressed further than where we are now. But still we try the same things.

Look at Norwich or Huddersfield in the not so distant past they were nowhere and tried something different and appointed two different managers from Germany and both then got promoted.  I’m sure there’s other non German recent examples too.

[cheddarwedlocker]

1 hour ago, ollywhyte said:

All football fans are fickle, win his first home game, couple fist fist pumps to S82 and he will be the second coming of Jesus Christ.
 

*until he loses the couple after that 

Pearson sacked cause he never started the east end bounce

[Major Isewater]

1 hour ago, Homer Simpson said:

Who's Phew managing at the moment?

The Blue Phew? 

[Bazooka Joe]

24 minutes ago, Ian M said:

The Oxford fans seem angry. I'm taking that as a good sign.

I believe they were angry when Mark Ashton left them to join us.

That didn't turn out well.

Will this be a case of . . .

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"  ?

[Ian Pople]

52 minutes ago, nebristolred said:

No offence to the bloke at all and I wish him the absolute best, but whatever happens this is still one of the most ridiculous, unnecessary and stupid decisions in the whole tenure of the Lansdown's.

Whichever way you look at it, to sack a manager who had been doing pretty well, a manager with a proven record of promotion from League One AND the Championship and with a history of building good teams, to then decide that what would be an upgrade is a manager who has done not much more than turn around MK Dons to an extent and have a good start to the season with Oxford.... it's a totally stupid and unnecessary risk and defies all logic whichever perspective you take.

A completely unnecessary and ridiculous appointment, but that isn't Manning's fault. He has a good win % and there are reasons for optimism, and he'll get my full backing. But he is anything but an upgrade on Pearson, and we shouldn't be anywhere near this place of having to consider him in the first place.

Spot on

[Merrick's Marvels]

8 minutes ago, Southport Red said:

I'm sticking £20 on hearing the phrase "Sleeping Giant" sometime soon

When you do, can you get me a price for "front-foot football", although I fear this might be odds-on by now.

[W-S-M Seagull]

One of my big concerns is that him and Nige both have very different perspectives on the game. 

Nige has been at an elite level. He knows what we were missing and what was required to get to that level. 

Manning doesn't have that elite perspective. He's coming from League One. The step up is huge. 

The quality of players is much higher and our facilities are much better. 

Is he going to walk in and think wow all this is absolutely fantastic? Compared fo where he's come from? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[W-S-M Seagull]

4 minutes ago, Spud21 said:

What system does he emply that won't suit our players? always difficult to tell from highlights but I've been watching some and they seem to get a good few goals by moving from back to front very quickly with 2-3 passes to move the ball from defenders to forwards, which could easily be made to suit our players I think. 

They also look like they can retain possession and dominate teams when necessary, so from what I have seen he looks to be exactly the type of manager we want.

As I've said many times I think the timing of all this is a massive risk and bloody stupid but that doesn't mean I think someone like Manning is anywhere near a bad appointment and I am actually quite excited to see qyt he can do but at the same time concerned that he might be on a hiding to nothing because of the boards decisions. 

From what I've read 3 at the back possession football? That's not what we are set up for.