More Questions Than Answers

[Silvio Dante]

I posted at HT in the matchday thread that it was the best half of football under Liam - and one of the best of the season. Nobody could dispute that and if the game ends at 8:30, or if Tommy puts away one of two very good chances, or if there’s not a worldie save, again we’d be having a different conversation tonight.

But we’re not. 
 

The second half was as bad as it’s been this season. I’ve no doubt Liam asked them to keep doing what they were, but Southampton, as Boro did on Saturday, changed. Quicker press, quicker pace, and we didn’t react. Maybe that’s due to the players - maybe that’s due to the manager - but that’s now twice in a row we’ve been caught cold.

There are undoubted positive signs here. The first half has improved over the three games to date which gives me confidence Liam can get a message across on the training pitch and construct a good team. Against that, the second half has got progressively worse week on week. We had a good 20 post TGH entering against QPR, were largely under pressure against Boro and were dire today (against noted progressively better opponents).

There are a lot of questions at the moment. The key one for me is that we undoubtedly have a very good coach in initial setup but appear to have a glaring inability to react. And I’ll say again, Liam couldn’t turn MK Dons around when things weren’t working to his plan.

I’m not hitting the panic button yet. But I am seeing a pattern. And that pattern needs to change soon.

[bcfc01]

I'm writing off the QPR game as a couple of days training is ridiculous to think any real impact could be made - and yet, there were signs of progress in that game. But its a write off as far as I am concerned.

So Boro and a win, a good one at that.

And now just the third game (second really).

We weren't dire, we were playing a team with better players, better squad, just down from the EPL and we matched them for large parts of the game. They stepped it up second half and we were second best because of it.

Expected result for me, but we could have won had Conway buried two gilt edged chances.

Smal margins.

Lots of positives from tonight, but also a lot to work on.

 

 

[Kibs]

Theres lots of points to counter the view that this is a problem pattern.

1. Its far more common in the Championship for games/performances to swing, rather than a team dominate the whole game.

2. This criticism was also levelled at NP a lot (playing well for half a game/periods of games).

3. We have played 2 top teams in three days with significantly fewer, and lower quality resources available than what they have, to change the game and momentum of the game.

4. you have to take your chances when you are on top. 

Edited November 29, 2023 by Kibs

[Mr Popodopolous]

A problem here is that we seem to start halves slowly.

3 goals conceded in the first 10 mins of the 2nd half across 2 games, blip or trend. We seem to come out a bit undercooked.

We early on vs Middlesbrough were quite underwhelming too.

Edited November 29, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[formerly known as ivan]

QPR = shocking (not buying this “he was only here a couple of days” rubbish, it was QPR!!!)

Boro = shocking first 30 mins, threw away a 2 goal lead early in the second half (clearly no fault of Mannings with the individual mistakes) but dug in and got the win.

Southampton = was always gonna be tough so hard to judge. But there was just nothing to get excited about.

So far I am not seeing whatever it is that we were supposed to see from Manning. He inherited a top 6 squad. Yes I’m going to be overly critical due to the circumstances around his arrival, but his arrival happened as he was supposed to be our saviour. So far it’s been 2 and a half games of dire football.

What is it about this forward thinking coach am I not getting???

[Davefevs]

Personally I’m not sure what people expected.

It’s a team with a good foundation, but lacking in real quality.  At times, just like all-season, we will have spells of good play, and spells of not so good.  Against the top teams, we will get exposed at times, like tonight, like Leicesters, like Leeds.  But we can stay in games.

All three games have been very representative of the current Bristol City team / squad / ability.  You can make a case for positivity, you can probably do the opposite.

[Northern Red]

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

Personally I’m not sure what people expected.

It’s a team with a good foundation, but lacking in real quality.  At times, just like all-season, we will have spells of good play, and spells of not so good.  Against the top teams, we will get exposed at times, like tonight, like Leicesters, like Leeds.  But we can stay in games.

All three games have been very representative of the current Bristol City team / squad / ability.  You can make a case for positivity, you can probably do the opposite.

Spot on, and I would suggest that anybody doing so definitively in either direction is coming at it from an already skewed viewpoint.

[1team]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Personally I’m not sure what people expected.

It’s a team with a good foundation, but lacking in real quality.  At times, just like all-season, we will have spells of good play, and spells of not so good.  Against the top teams, we will get exposed at times, like tonight, like Leicesters, like Leeds.  But we can stay in games.

All three games have been very representative of the current Bristol City team / squad / ability.  You can make a case for positivity, you can probably do the opposite.

Just another example of how pointless changing  the manager was. 

[BCFC Rich]

I think it gave lots of answers. 1st half we were patient and took the backward pass unless there was a good option on and kept the ball. Second half we constantly played more direct and didn't get into the game. 1st half felt like what LM wants and 2nd looked like we panicked after going behind and lost the game plan. It was the first time we've been behind since LM arrived and players need to show more commitment/belief in the style of play.  

[Bs4Red]

24 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I posted at HT in the matchday thread that it was the best half of football under Liam - and one of the best of the season. Nobody could dispute that and if the game ends at 8:30, or if Tommy puts away one of two very good chances, or if there’s not a worldie save, again we’d be having a different conversation tonight.

But we’re not. 
 

The second half was as bad as it’s been this season. I’ve no doubt Liam asked them to keep doing what they were, but Southampton, as Boro did on Saturday, changed. Quicker press, quicker pace, and we didn’t react. Maybe that’s due to the players - maybe that’s due to the manager - but that’s now twice in a row we’ve been caught cold.

There are undoubted positive signs here. The first half has improved over the three games to date which gives me confidence Liam can get a message across on the training pitch and construct a good team. Against that, the second half has got progressively worse week on week. We had a good 20 post TGH entering against QPR, were largely under pressure against Boro and were dire today (against noted progressively better opponents).

There are a lot of questions at the moment. The key one for me is that we undoubtedly have a very good coach in initial setup but appear to have a glaring inability to react. And I’ll say again, Liam couldn’t turn MK Dons around when things weren’t working to his plan.

I’m not hitting the panic button yet. But I am seeing a pattern. And that pattern needs to change soon.

Mental how you’ve gone back to MK Dons as your benchmark and not what come after.

 

I think Saints and Martin are an absolute prime example of giving someone an opportunity to make their mark. 
 

So many positives tonight, we just got beat by a better side. 

[Kid in the Riot]

5 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Personally I’m not sure what people expected.

It’s a team with a good foundation, but lacking in real quality.  At times, just like all-season, we will have spells of good play, and spells of not so good.  Against the top teams, we will get exposed at times, like tonight, like Leicesters, like Leeds.  But we can stay in games.

All three games have been very representative of the current Bristol City team / squad / ability.  You can make a case for positivity, you can probably do the opposite.

Well said. Some of the conclusions being drawn at the moment are quite unbelievable.

I reckon Liam has had no more than 5 or 6 days on the training ground with the full squad, given players being away on international duty.

Same injuries, same deficient squad, but apparently we're expecting different performances and results...very funny. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

My early concern is thst we also used to play well under LJ but when we needed to change plan, we didn't have a plan. 

But I hope that over the next few games we can see some adaptability. 

[reddoc]

Expected to lose tonight, think we're rose colouring the first half, few good chances but Southampton largely controlled the game. What concerned me was the subs. Saturday he got it right. Cornick great for running down a game. But Cornick/Weimann when we're chasing it? We were looking at half chances at best and Conway/Bell/Sykes are always more likely to finish one of those.

Edited November 29, 2023 by reddoc

[Severn Beach Pigeon]

23 minutes ago, formerly known as ivan said:

QPR = shocking (not buying this “he was only here a couple of days” rubbish, it was QPR!!!)

Boro = shocking first 30 mins, threw away a 2 goal lead early in the second half (clearly no fault of Mannings with the individual mistakes) but dug in and got the win.

Southampton = was always gonna be tough so hard to judge. But there was just nothing to get excited about.

So far I am not seeing whatever it is that we were supposed to see from Manning. He inherited a top 6 squad. Yes I’m going to be overly critical due to the circumstances around his arrival, but his arrival happened as he was supposed to be our saviour. So far it’s been 2 and a half games of dire football.

What is it about this forward thinking coach am I not getting???

How did QPR do last night?

Edited November 29, 2023 by transfer reader

[Dolman_Stand]

3 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Well said. Some of the conclusions being drawn at the moment are quite unbelievable.

I reckon Liam has had no more than 5 or 6 days on the training ground with the full squad, given players being away on international duty.

Same injuries, same deficient squad, but apparently we're expecting different performances and results...very funny. 

In fairness and as an overall statement rather than just for tonights game if we werent expecting different performances then we shouldn't have made the change.

I thought we looked decent tonight and matched a more than decent team for most of the game, they scored a worldie and we missed the better chances we made, it feels like we have a bit of a glass ceiling where we're never going to be able to beat the bigger / parachute clubs regardless of who's in charge or how well coached we are because we just don't have the same quality to be able to lay a glove on these teams.

[Graham76]

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

My early concern is thst we also used to play well under LJ but when we needed to change plan, we didn't have a plan. 

But I hope that over the next few games we can see some adaptability. 

I thought this too when we started to hoof hopeless balls up the field. We didnt seem to know how to react.

[formerly known as ivan]

Just now, transfer reader said:

How did QPR do last night?

Not relevant 

[formerly known as ivan]

10 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Well said. Some of the conclusions being drawn at the moment are quite unbelievable.

I reckon Liam has had no more than 5 or 6 days on the training ground with the full squad, given players being away on international duty.

Same injuries, same deficient squad, but apparently we're expecting different performances and results...very funny. 

Is that the reason for the change in management though? Why make the change and expect the same results?

If it’s about slow progress, again, why make the change?

[LondonBristolian]

I feel there are things to build on and things to work on. First half we looked fluid, passed well and created opportunities

 

But even then, there were some poor choices. A lot has been made of the opportunities missed but there were defensive misjudgements too. At one point Tanner sprinted for a ball he was never going to get and left a gaping hole at right back that thankfully was not exploited and Vyner’s block from Armstrong - exceptional though it was - only happened because we had spent too long playing across the back - Vyner to Dickie to Naismith when Vyner could have quickly moved the Naismith without going to Dickie and given him far more space and time on the ball.

Second half, I’d disgree that Manning had no plan to change things. He made subs and adjusted our style to get the hall forward quicker and we had three or four good breaks.

What let us down - as it so often did under Pearson - was players taking too long to make a decision and/or making the wrong decision. Cornick and Mehmeti were both culpable of squandering great positions. That’s not new and it is not something I expect a manager to fix in three games. The question is whether we have players who can be coached into making better decisions over time. 

[Severn Beach Pigeon]

Just now, formerly known as ivan said:

Not relevant 

Course it is.

They've had a marked upturn in form since changing manager (not that that would be hard from their previous form).

Since cifuentes was appointed they've lost just 1 game, so does that make Alex Neil useless?

He'd been at Stoke more than 3 days before they played QPR and got a much worse result after all

[LondonBristolian]

6 minutes ago, reddoc said:

Expected to lose tonight, think we're rose colouring the first half, few good chances but Southampton largely controlled the game. What concerned me was the subs. Saturday he got it right. Cornick great for running down a game. But Cornick/Weimann when we're chasing it? We were looking at half chances at best and Conway/Bell/Sykes are always more likely to finish one of those.

In fairness, Bell and Conway hadn’t seen the ball for about ten minutes. I’m not sure they were in danger of getting more chances to finish. Realistically our attacking options were the players who came on and Yeboah. I rate Yeboah but it is a big ask to expect a kid his age to change the game too. 
 

Manning had to change something as we were completely out the game and there weren’t many options. We looked better after the changes than in the first fifteen mins of the half. I’d have liked better subs but we’d have needed better options.

[Kid in the Riot]

6 minutes ago, Dolman_Stand said:

In fairness and as an overall statement rather than just for tonights game if we werent expecting different performances then we shouldn't have made the change.

 

4 minutes ago, formerly known as ivan said:

Is that the reason for the change in management though? Why make the change and expect the same results?

If it’s about slow progress, again, why make the change?

Come on gents, no-one still thinks the sole reason Nige was sacked was because of results, do they? 

He was sacked because the Lansdowns found him difficult and intractable. 

And because he hadn't appeared at training for six weeks because he couldn't walk and had no prognosis.

Now we can all cry till the cows come home, but those were the reasons. Not ******* results - we were 8th four days before he was sacked. And you think he was sacked for being 8th? A few pts off the play offs? Come on... 

No-one should be dumb enough to believe that shite. 

[maxjak]

22 minutes ago, 1team said:

Just another example of how pointless changing  the manager was. 

NP had 30 or so   months..............LM hasnt even had a month?  Give it a rest

[Better Red]

Two games.

Boro and Southampton 3 points not a bad return.

Far to early to judge him.

Needs a chance to assess and also maybe bring in a few players.

Our squad is so thin that any manager will find it difficult to just change the style over night.

I did see more tendency for the midfielder receiving  the ball to play quicker forward and some of the pattens of play when playing out from the back we did look better.

But this is the Championship not Div 1 so the opposition have much better players and they are better coached so the impact gets harder as you go up the leagues.

We will need at least 3 or 4 new players before/if he’s coaching will have the impact needed for us to make it to the next step.

Better coaching plus better players normally equals better results and a better league position.

Lets see if the players he brings in can deliver his coaching vision.

Now it’s down to the board to back their man. If they don’t give him the funds to allow him to deliver the team he wants then not sure we can criticise him to much.

For me the sacking of Nige is more about what the board do in terms of backing the new manager more than the actual manager themselves.

Nige built a great foundation for the club to be taken on to the next level. 
 

With a good manager and a good board we could progress but we do need both.

[eardun]

Judging by some of the comments on here, some fans think we should change  manager every 3 games. Talk of a worrying pattern after just 3 games is laughable and, frankly, weird. 

[Edgy Red]

30 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Personally I’m not sure what people expected.

It’s a team with a good foundation, but lacking in real quality.  At times, just like all-season, we will have spells of good play, and spells of not so good.  Against the top teams, we will get exposed at times, like tonight, like Leicesters, like Leeds.  But we can stay in games.

All three games have been very representative of the current Bristol City team / squad / ability.  You can make a case for positivity, you can probably do the opposite.

Thank you Dave... a voice of reason!

It will take Manning a few months to put his stamp on the team and recruit a few players of his choice to try and improve things.

[Mr Popodopolous]

5 minutes ago, eardun said:

Judging by some of the comments on here, some fans think we should change  manager every 3 games. Talk of a worrying pattern after just 3 games is laughable and, frankly, weird. 

Birmimgham fans or some of them were booing Rooney after 2, being 2 games, 2 losses and the 2nd being his first home game.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12674439/Birmingham-fans-tell-Wayne-Rooney-f-America-Blues-booed-second-straight-defeat-former-Man-United-star-replaced-John-Eustace.html

That aside, Manning and a honeymoon period. Well there ain't going to be much of one due to how NP was sacked, the way in which it was done and the expectations outlined therein.

Edited November 29, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Bs4Red]

6 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

 

Come on gents, no-one still thinks the sole reason Nige was sacked was because of results, do they? 

He was sacked because the Lansdowns found him difficult and intractable. 

And because he hadn't appeared at training for six weeks because he couldn't walk and had no prognosis.

Now we can all cry till the cows come home, but those were the reasons. Not ******* results - we were 8th four days before he was sacked. And you think he was sacked for being 8th? A few pts off the play offs? Come on... 

No-one should be dumb enough to believe that shite. 

Because we played such liquid football  under NP and his results were so good. Muppet

[GrahamC]

5 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

In fairness, Bell and Conway hadn’t seen the ball for about ten minutes. I’m not sure they were in danger of getting more chances to finish. Realistically our attacking options were the players who came on and Yeboah. I rate Yeboah but it is a big ask to expect a kid his age to change the game too. 
 

Manning had to change something as we were completely out the game and there weren’t many options. We looked better after the changes than in the first fifteen mins of the half. I’d have liked better subs but we’d have needed better options.

Totally.

Also we only had 7 subs tonight, we used 4, so the 3 left (Knight-Lebel, Yeboah & Bajic) haven’t started a single football league game between them.

With a couple of injuries we look shorter of numbers than anyone else in the division.

Manning knows this, so he isn’t putting kids he thinks are nowhere near the standard on the bench to pad it out, the way Pearson sometimes did.

Tinnion might pretend we have loads of U21s that are ready to step up but our head coach clearly doesn’t think so.

[Galley is our king]

7 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

 

Come on gents, no-one still thinks the sole reason Nige was sacked was because of results, do they? 

He was sacked because the Lansdowns found him difficult and intractable. 

And because he hadn't appeared at training for six weeks because he couldn't walk and had no prognosis.

Now we can all cry till the cows come home, but those were the reasons. Not ******* results - we were 8th four days before he was sacked. And you think he was sacked for being 8th? A few pts off the play offs? Come on... 

No-one should be dumb enough to believe that shite. 

Oh you are absolutely right but those LIES were what the powers that be trotted out.

Shameful. Neither JL or BT should be anywhere near running the club.

[spudski]

I thought we played really well. 

Moved the ball with a lot more purpose, often with speed and one touch. 

Passing accuracy and control was also noticeably better. 

Had we taken our chances, it would have been a different story. 

Second half imo, there was too much space between our midfield and forwards, and too often rushed hopeful passes made, that lost possession. 

My only gripe is I've started to play ' front foot' and ' behaviors' bingo...that's starting to grate.

Other than that...thought we looked decent. 

[A Horse With No Name]

25 minutes ago, reddoc said:

Expected to lose tonight, think we're rose colouring the first half, few good chances but Southampton largely controlled the game. What concerned me was the subs. Saturday he got it right. Cornick great for running down a game. But Cornick/Weimann when we're chasing it? We were looking at half chances at best and Conway/Bell/Sykes are always more likely to finish one of those.

Bell and Conway couldn't finish a crossword lately. Bell needs a spell out the side. 

[cidercity1987]

1 minute ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Bell and Conway couldn't finish a crossword lately. Bell needs a spell out the side. 

Who plays instead? Surely not Mehmeti

[redkev]

Reading the posts on here and the match day thread , I can see the pattern , people still going on about Nige 

he’s gone we just need to get on with it , it’s not as if we were world beaters ripping everyone a new arsehole there were many on here wanting Nige gone during his tenure , 

like other posters have said with this group of players even with pep in charge we are not going any where ( personally start of the season I thought we might surprise a few ) we need at least 3 decent signing in January, we are a mid table side who are no push overs but just don’t have the quality to challenge the top boys I’m afraid whether that being Nige in charge or Liam 

[Kibs]

Not a dig at anyone, because it affects us all, but it just goes to show how unconscious bias can play such a big role in our opinions. 

Southampton unbeaten in 10 now btw since their poor start to the season. 

 

[REDOXO]

I’m not sure about some of the idiocy I have largely brushed over. However we have given up three goals in two games straight after ht. 
 

That is just a fact! Luckily it has only cost us the full three points once!

Wake the **** up after your ht Orange everyone. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 minute ago, REDOXO said:

I’m not sure about some of the idiocy I have largely brushed over. However we have given up three goals in two games straight after ht. 
 

That is just a fact! Luckily it has only cost us the full three points once!

Wake the **** up after your ht Orange everyone. 

Yes good spot.

Not only that, but I thought we started the first half and the second half both today and Saturday quite slowly even not factoring in the goals.

Edited November 29, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[TV Tom]

Manning’s doing well considering the squad and injuries he’s inherited 

[REDOXO]

Just now, TV Tom said:

Manning’s doing well considering the squad and injuries he’s inherited 

Now if I didn’t think that was the most delicious irony in OTIB history I would have laughed at your post!

Are you serious with the comment or are you pointing out the obvious idiocy?

[Davefevs]

55 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Well said. Some of the conclusions being drawn at the moment are quite unbelievable.

I reckon Liam has had no more than 5 or 6 days on the training ground with the full squad, given players being away on international duty.

Same injuries, same deficient squad, but apparently we're expecting different performances and results...very funny. 

All on the hierarchy I’m afraid.  The fans (some) saw through their piss-poor excuses and peripheral decisions, and are virtually (on OTIB) holding them to account through LM.  That’s the reality.

They made it a divisive appointment, when it had no need to be.

My word of November - “unnecessary”

43 minutes ago, formerly known as ivan said:

Is that the reason for the change in management though? Why make the change and expect the same results?

If it’s about slow progress, again, why make the change?

Because they wanted shot / their analysis didn’t root out the real problem (or all of the problems if you include Nige).

40 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

I feel there are things to build on and things to work on. First half we looked fluid, passed well and created opportunities

 

But even then, there were some poor choices. A lot has been made of the opportunities missed but there were defensive misjudgements too. At one point Tanner sprinted for a ball he was never going to get and left a gaping hole at right back that thankfully was not exploited and Vyner’s block from Armstrong - exceptional though it was - only happened because we had spent too long playing across the back - Vyner to Dickie to Naismith when Vyner could have quickly moved the Naismith without going to Dickie and given him far more space and time on the ball.

Second half, I’d disgree that Manning had no plan to change things. He made subs and adjusted our style to get the hall forward quicker and we had three or four good breaks.

What let us down - as it so often did under Pearson - was players taking too long to make a decision and/or making the wrong decision. Cornick and Mehmeti were both culpable of squandering great positions. That’s not new and it is not something I expect a manager to fix in three games. The question is whether we have players who can be coached into making better decisions over time. 

It reminded me a lot in parts of Hull (a) and Swansea (a)…the good bits anyway.

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Manning’s doing well considering the squad and injuries he’s inherited 

3 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

Now if I didn’t think that was the most delicious irony in OTIB history I would have laughed at your post!

Are you serious with the comment or are you pointing out the obvious idiocy?

I’m glad you replied first.

[Mr Popodopolous]

9 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Manning’s doing well considering the squad and injuries he’s inherited 

Slightly amazed at that statement.

[REDOXO]

Just now, Davefevs said:

I’m glad you replied first.

It’s effing brilliant isn’t it! Pleeease @TV Tom give us a clue what’s in your mind!

[The Humble Realist]

Am I alone in the following 

A) there isnt really much difference post NP other than a couple of selection changes e.g. Sykes on the left tonight  , yeboah no longer getting minutes.

B) I dont expect there to be any changes yet and this is absolutely fine. The guys only been here 5 minutes !

15 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Manning’s doing well considering the squad and injuries he’s inherited 

Top 6 squad

[REDOXO]

2 minutes ago, The Humble Realist said:

Am I alone in the following 

A) there isnt really much difference post NP other than a couple of selection changes e.g. Sykes on the left tonight  , yeboah no longer getting minutes.

B) I dont expect there to be any changes yet and this is absolutely fine. The guys only been here 5 minutes !

Top 6 squad

I’m laughing myself to sleep tonight! 

[Davefevs]

23 minutes ago, The Humble Realist said:

Am I alone in the following 

A) there isnt really much difference post NP other than a couple of selection changes e.g. Sykes on the left tonight  , yeboah no longer getting minutes.

B) I dont expect there to be any changes yet and this is absolutely fine. The guys only been here 5 minutes !

Top 6 squad

A few are looking incredibly hard for differences that aren’t really there.

(you are not alone)

[Kid in the Riot]

28 minutes ago, The Humble Realist said:

Am I alone in the following 

A) there isnt really much difference post NP other than a couple of selection changes e.g. Sykes on the left tonight  , yeboah no longer getting minutes.

B) I dont expect there to be any changes yet and this is absolutely fine. The guys only been here 5 minutes !

Top 6 squad

You've really lived up to your name here 

[Guest]

6 hours ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Bell and Conway couldn't finish a crossword lately. Bell needs a spell out the side. 

I think they both do.

Both are young and shouldn’t be expected to start every game.

It might appear a backward step but I would bench them Sunday and start Cornick and Weimann just for some rotation and to take the pressure off of them.

[NewquayRed]

The main answer is that our striking options aren’t good enough in the final third against the top 6 in this division, they have quality for sure but we need little more physicality and expierence up top which they can run off and support.

Q. Do we need a new striker

A. **** yeah we do JL 

 

[Henry]

7 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

 

Come on gents, no-one still thinks the sole reason Nige was sacked was because of results, do they? 

He was sacked because the Lansdowns found him difficult and intractable. 

And because he hadn't appeared at training for six weeks because he couldn't walk and had no prognosis.

Now we can all cry till the cows come home, but those were the reasons. Not ******* results - we were 8th four days before he was sacked. And you think he was sacked for being 8th? A few pts off the play offs? Come on... 

No-one should be dumb enough to believe that shite. 

I don’t believe it. However, as the Lansdown/board said that was the reasons, I’m judging them on it.

By saying they want better football, better results as we have a top 6 side squad, they have made Liam Mannings job a lot harder. He is going to get less patience from the fans because of the Lansdown. 
 

If they had an ounce of leaderships between them, they could have told us the real reasons in the summer and sacked Pearson in the summer. They could have stopped pretending there was no money and gave their chosen man the chance to improve the squad.

[Gert Mare]

The biggest question for me right now is why I’m a 5XL in a City Shirt when every other garment I own is between a 2 or 3XL? 

I’ve had to put the pie back and go for a quinoa salad.

[1team]

22 minutes ago, Henry said:

I don’t believe it. However, as the Lansdown/board said that was the reasons, I’m judging them on it.

By saying they want better football, better results as we have a top 6 side squad, they have made Liam Mannings job a lot harder. He is going to get less patience from the fans because of the Lansdown. 
 

If they had an ounce of leaderships between them, they could have told us the real reasons in the summer and sacked Pearson in the summer. They could have stopped pretending there was no money and gave their chosen man the chance to improve the squad.

Simply brushing it under the carpet won't make it go away and merely widens the chasm between a large number of fans and the owners.

[LondonBristolian]

7 hours ago, Davefevs said:

It reminded me a lot in parts of Hull (a) and Swansea (a)…the good bits anyway.

The bad and good-ish bits reminded me of Leeds. In much the same way there, we competed first half but were let down by decision making then conceded early in the second half and then sort of held our own whilst struggling to create a real chance for a leveller. 

In both games, we sort of looked good away at a recently relegated side whilst failing to meaningfully lay a glove on them.

Edited November 30, 2023 by LondonBristolian

[DaveInSA]

I’m suffering from a severe case of cognitive dissonance.

The board and technical director say we have a top 6 squad. 

They sack the previous manager because we were 8th. They also say that there is no money for players, that the wage bill is maxed out and that what football makes football spends.

The new guy comes in and I’m expecting a magical turnaround, because we are told we have a top 6 squad and we want to play high intensity front foot football. The new guy should therefore be able to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

The evidence suggests however : that we are a mid table squad. With mid table results from the old and the new manager. We have a squad of committed players, who aren’t yet good enough to compete at the top end of this division. In addition we actually do have money to spend and might be in the market in January. 

Which is all very Bristol City. And I wouldn’t support anyone else.

 

[westonred]

We cannot compete with the big boys in this division who have a lots of international players throughout their squads where we cannot even fill a bench these days (emarrassing)  Players like Bell arn't ready yet and ought to be out on loan gaining much needed experience as he is too weak and non existent in games, like last night.  If he wasnt a darling of the fans, a local boy and the son of a legend he would be getting the Cornick treatment. I know BT bangs on about these kids are good enough but they are not ready for Championship football yet. Most of our successful academy players went out on loan before being ready for our 1st team Semenyo,Vyner, Reid, Bryan, Pring (8 times) yes there are a couple of exceptions Kelly / Scott but we seeem to be chucking them in too early now as a cheap option hoping it'll work 

[RedRoss]

We were decent.. Good first half, not so good the second against a very good team. Their only goal was a moment of magic from a player who made his debut for England last year. Let's have some perspective please.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, LondonBristolian said:

The bad and good-ish bits reminded me of Leeds. In much the same way there, we competed first half but were let down by decision making then conceded early in the second half and then sort of held our own whilst struggling to create a real chance for a leveller. 

In both games, we sort of looked good away at a recently relegated side whilst failing to meaningfully lay a glove on them.

I thought we were a bit ragged v Leeds, lost shape a bit too often.

I don’t think Southampton are in the same league as Leicester and Leeds though.  The epitomise Russell Martin, easy on the eye, can pass it for passing’s sake, but don’t take you apart if you want to sit deep…and you can play through them if you execute well.

We will continue to learn more.

We will have more answers when we’ve played a bunch more sides and sides of different levels.  Just like starting the season with a win a draw and a defeat versus Preston, Millwall and Birmingham, three very similar style sides wasn’t a real indication of where we were.

[Phileas Fogg]

3 games is far too early to judge anyone really. And I doubt we’d have got a better points return if Pearson was still here.

Manning has clearly been bought in to work to a longer term plan - he’s not a manager you bring in during a crisis to get quick results in the short term.

We will probably spend the rest of the season bobbing about in mid table, which is pretty unexciting, but the board will measure progress over a longer period of time. 

Edited November 30, 2023 by Phileas Fogg

[Midlands Robin]

10 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

 

Come on gents, no-one still thinks the sole reason Nige was sacked was because of results, do they? 

He was sacked because the Lansdowns found him difficult and intractable. 

And because he hadn't appeared at training for six weeks because he couldn't walk and had no prognosis.

Now we can all cry till the cows come home, but those were the reasons. Not ******* results - we were 8th four days before he was sacked. And you think he was sacked for being 8th? A few pts off the play offs? Come on... 

No-one should be dumb enough to believe that shite. 

It's absolutely this.

When you add this to the really good point that Fevs made about the quality of the squad, we can see the problem.

Who ever came in after NP was always going to have an issue and that was the total bollocks in the comms around NP's sacking. The line about the performance of the squad and where we should be in the table. I know the vast majority of us knew that was a pile of horse crap and I don't expect that St Tinnion of Gurnsey believed it very much either.

LM is going to need time as any new manager needs time. Lets look at it again, to begin with after 10 games and then after the January transfer window. I've no doubt he knows where he wants to add to the side, and no doubt his kitty will have more cash in it.

Nige has gone, the whole thing was a crock of shit. We know that.

Liam is here. He had nothing to do with Nige going. Let's get on with it. Stop pulling the team apart in a way we would never have done 3 months ago and let the bloke find his feet.

[Son of Fred]

10 hours ago, redkev said:

we are a mid table side who are no push overs but just don’t have the quality to challenge the top boys

This is us in a nutshell.....

All the talk on here, the comical spin from 'the club' -we can talk, they can spin, until we're all blue (sorry,red) in the face -

Simple fact remains imo - without an injection of quality to the squad we ain't heading north of where we are at anytime.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Son of Fred

[Davefevs]

@Midlands Robin

[Charlie BCFC]

12 hours ago, formerly known as ivan said:

QPR = shocking (not buying this “he was only here a couple of days” rubbish, it was QPR!!!)

Boro = shocking first 30 mins, threw away a 2 goal lead early in the second half (clearly no fault of Mannings with the individual mistakes) but dug in and got the win.

Southampton = was always gonna be tough so hard to judge. But there was just nothing to get excited about.

So far I am not seeing whatever it is that we were supposed to see from Manning. He inherited a top 6 squad. Yes I’m going to be overly critical due to the circumstances around his arrival, but his arrival happened as he was supposed to be our saviour. So far it’s been 2 and a half games of dire football.

What is it about this forward thinking coach am I not getting???

QPR - Not great but got a point against another new manager and last 20 minutes was much improved 

Boro - Played very well against a team who beat Leicester not long ago and are further into their project

Southampton - Very good first half, second half we dropped off but we also played a team who has a lot more quality than us 

 

Only three weeks in but happy with the progress we’re making

[bcfc01]

6 hours ago, Countryfile said:

I think they both do.

Both are young and shouldn’t be expected to start every game.

It might appear a backward step but I would bench them Sunday and start Cornick and Weimann just for some rotation and to take the pressure off of them.

Seems like both Bell and Conway are currently suffering from lack of confidence/form.

A fit and firing Conway would have had two goals last night and another against Boro.

Do you drop players that we know are good enough or do you persevere until they play themselves back into form ?

For me, its having a bit of patience and giving them the time to get back into form, a goal from open play would do wonders for both of them I reckon. I would start both personally.

In a few games time, we'll be talking about January and Bournemouth again (hopefully).

 

[italian dave]

14 hours ago, 1team said:

Just another example of how pointless changing  the manager was. 

Unless there were other reasons for changing the manager?

Which, I think it’s fair to say, the vast majority of us believe to be the case.

So I’m not sure there’s much value in persisting with conversations that put the change solely in the context of results/league positions/performance on the pitch.

Other than to make the point that we weren’t told the real reasons (maybe for good reason) and that the comms around it were bungled.

But we know that too!

Edit: @Midlands Robin @Kid in the Riot apologies - this teaches me to read the whole thread before commenting on an early post! You’ve both said much the same as this, but much better! 

Edited November 30, 2023 by italian dave

[redkev]

19 hours ago, Kibs said:

Not a dig at anyone, because it affects us all, but it just goes to show how unconscious bias can play such a big role in our opinions. 

Southampton unbeaten in 10 now btw since their poor start to the season. 

 

Seems to have gone under the radar that 

[REDOXO]

10 hours ago, Charlie BCFC said:

QPR - Not great but got a point against another new manager and last 20 minutes was much improved 

Boro - Played very well against a team who beat Leicester not long ago and are further into their project

Southampton - Very good first half, second half we dropped off but we also played a team who has a lot more quality than us 

 

Only three weeks in but happy with the progress we’re making

Progress. Your word!

[Superjack]

21 hours ago, TV Tom said:

Manning’s doing well considering the squad and injuries he’s inherited 

Manning is doing well at not being abrasive.

[Clutton Caveman]

On 29/11/2023 at 21:58, Silvio Dante said:

I posted at HT in the matchday thread that it was the best half of football under Liam - and one of the best of the season. Nobody could dispute that and if the game ends at 8:30, or if Tommy puts away one of two very good chances, or if there’s not a worldie save, again we’d be having a different conversation tonight.

But we’re not. 
 

The second half was as bad as it’s been this season. I’ve no doubt Liam asked them to keep doing what they were, but Southampton, as Boro did on Saturday, changed. Quicker press, quicker pace, and we didn’t react. Maybe that’s due to the players - maybe that’s due to the manager - but that’s now twice in a row we’ve been caught cold.

There are undoubted positive signs here. The first half has improved over the three games to date which gives me confidence Liam can get a message across on the training pitch and construct a good team. Against that, the second half has got progressively worse week on week. We had a good 20 post TGH entering against QPR, were largely under pressure against Boro and were dire today (against noted progressively better opponents).

There are a lot of questions at the moment. The key one for me is that we undoubtedly have a very good coach in initial setup but appear to have a glaring inability to react. And I’ll say again, Liam couldn’t turn MK Dons around when things weren’t working to his plan.

I’m not hitting the panic button yet. But I am seeing a pattern. And that pattern needs to change soon.

I think at the point opposition coaches don't yet know who we set up. After the first half they see what we are doing and adapt their style in the second half. As we play more, teams will see what others have done in the second half and do the same.

[maxjak]

I see Russell Martin believes that his team of over paid ex Premiership players should have won 4-0 against us on Wednesday?      Apparently extremely frustrated that it was only 1-0...............See U Next Tuesday Russ?    

[Mr Popodopolous]

On 29/11/2023 at 22:45, transfer reader said:

Course it is.

They've had a marked upturn in form since changing manager (not that that would be hard from their previous form).

Since cifuentes was appointed they've lost just 1 game, so does that make Alex Neil useless?

He'd been at Stoke more than 3 days before they played QPR and got a much worse result after all

He's set to get the sack so the answer would be, perhaps!