Not far off reaching our optimal level - Liam Manning

[W-S-M Seagull]

Post Sheffield Wednesday interview on Radio Bristol. 

[95red]

I can't listen  to him ,he's more depressing  than his football team .

[Shauntaylor85]

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

Post Sheffield Wednesday interview on Radio Bristol. 

What game is he watching. If that is what he calls close to the optimum level then it’s a relegation battle! 

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

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

Post Sheffield Wednesday interview on Radio Bristol. 

As interesting and appealing as a three month old bowl of millet gruel.

[Street red]

He didn't say that did he? Please tell me he didn't

[Slack]

I just want to see some emotion from the guy,hard to watch / listen to 

[Slack Bladder]

His bar is set a hell of a lot lower than mine then

[Andrew_V1]

If that is close to optimum then **** me do we have low standards.

How has this chancer blagged his way to this level? 

[formerly known as ivan]

It’s these comments in interviews that made my decision not to renew my season ticket under the current set up more valid than ever!

[BITW]

6 minutes ago, 95red said:

I can't listen  to him ,he's more depressing  than his football team .

Paint watches Liam Manning dry. 

[Son of Fred]

We need to look at the positives - 9 unbeaten at home,, only 2 losses in 8 this season....

Improve the away form & we're cooking..

[Dr Balls]

So optimal would appear to be midtable at best.

Thanks but no thanks Liam. Got to be much better than tonight. We lack creativity and the goals have dried up. Yes we are unbeaten in 9 at home, but that papers over a lot of cracks, including quite a few draws.

[FNQ]

This, against a team that has lost every previous away game this season conceding nine goals and scoring one..

"We've conceded a lot of goals this season so to keep a clean sheet is a massive plus for me.

"I've got a frustrated dressing room that we didn't convert the chances in the first half.

"I don't remember our goalkeeper making a save and we looked really solid, which I couldn't have said four or five games ago."

[roadyred]

We are another one of those teams with a “trendy” manager trying to be something we aren’t. Scholars of the game sucking the life out of it, over analysing every aspect and totally unable to go off script and do something different. The fact we are “not far from reaching our potential” speaks volumes of the team they want us to be.
 

Play the game with emotion, some freedom and give supporters just something to get on side with because at the moment we all know we are going to be midtable, at best, again. 

[Atyeo's Love Child]

The bloke is a total clown, and a blagger

[W-S-M Seagull]

6 minutes ago, Street red said:

He didn't say that did he? Please tell me he didn't

Yes. He said we are not far away from bringing it all together and hitting our optimal level and he agreed that if our x factor players put on a show then we could turn teams over. 

[Cityboy1954]

6 minutes ago, formerly known as ivan said:

It’s these comments in interviews that made my decision not to renew my season ticket under the current set up more valid than ever!

Johnson mark 2 talks the talk.

[Silvio Dante]

Just now, W-S-M Seagull said:

Yes. He said we are not far away from bringing it all together and hitting our optimal level and he agreed that if our x factor players put on a show then we could turn teams over. 

Strange he mentioned X Factor players. I’d rather have Leona Lewis in the number 10 role than Scott Twine. She might not be as good at “emoting” but at least she might be semi entertaining 

[petehinton]

3 minutes ago, FNQ said:

This, against a team that has lost every previous away game this season conceding nine goals and scoring one..

"We've conceded a lot of goals this season so to keep a clean sheet is a massive plus for me.

"I've got a frustrated dressing room that we didn't convert the chances in the first half.

"I don't remember our goalkeeper making a save and we looked really solid, which I couldn't have said four or five games ago."

First half chances?

[Graham76]

It’s all well and good Liam telling us how great we were tonight, but his team just got boo’ed off the pitch. He’s deluded! 

[W-S-M Seagull]

3 minutes ago, FNQ said:

This, against a team that has lost every previous away game this season conceding nine goals and scoring one..

"We've conceded a lot of goals this season so to keep a clean sheet is a massive plus for me.

"I've got a frustrated dressing room that we didn't convert the chances in the first half.

"I don't remember our goalkeeper making a save and we looked really solid, which I couldn't have said four or five games ago."

I'm pleased with our 1st clean sheet of the season tonight but I'm not sure shouting from the rooftops about it happening against a poor team is wise. 

The positive of the clean sheet is balanced out by not scoring against a weak defence. 

[FNQ]

1 minute ago, petehinton said:

First half chances?

The own goal attempt I assume..

[Mr Popodopolous]

There were 2 saves like outstretched arm saves by Beadle but we never really built up any kind of positive momentum or a head of steam. We seemed reasonably secure, but flat, average.

[petehinton]

1 minute ago, FNQ said:

The own goal attempt I assume..

that & the Mehmeti header, which was brilliance from him rather than a chance, are genuinely the only things I can remember from the first half let alone any chances. Though I am in the SS, so do tend to miss some stuff when attacking the Atyeo, but I genuinely can’t remember any decent chances at all let alone ones to be frustrated over. 

[Baldyman]

I honestly think that Liam Manning doesn’t really exist . He’s some kind of AI lab creation that spouts total shite courtesy of an algorithm I’m sure of it . Might explain why no one heard of him until 2021 ! 

[W-S-M Seagull]

1 minute ago, Graham76 said:

It’s all well and good Liam telling us how great we were tonight, but his team just got boo’ed off the pitch. He’s deluded! 

If those guests on RB are reading this, we were booed off today because despite all the possession (which doesn't win games)we didn't score and we struggled to create good chances against a team that have a poor away record this season and the second half they managed to pin us back at times. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

1 minute ago, petehinton said:

that & the Mehmeti header, which was brilliance from him rather than a chance, are genuinely the only things I can remember from the first half let alone any chances. Though I am in the SS, so do tend to miss some stuff when attacking the Atyeo, but I genuinely can’t remember any decent chances at all let alone ones to be frustrated over. 

Vyner had a good chance that he put wide from a few yards out but he recieved the ball at pace. 

[Kodjias Wrist]

2 minutes ago, Atyeo's Love Child said:

The bloke is a total clown, and a blagger

I can give him and the team / style time I guess but when they make comments like he does it’s frightening. Holden said some howlers too when we went for games without scoring and getting shots on target for several games.

[2015]

18 minutes ago, formerly known as ivan said:

It’s these comments in interviews that made my decision not to renew my season ticket under the current set up more valid than ever!

That is the one positive I am taking so far this season

[chinapig]

Optimal (OED):

the best possible; producing the best possible results

Put down the coaching manual and pick up a dictionary Liam.

[2015]

14 minutes ago, roadyred said:

We are another one of those teams with a “trendy” manager trying to be something we aren’t. Scholars of the game sucking the life out of it, over analysing every aspect and totally unable to go off script and do something different. The fact we are “not far from reaching our potential” speaks volumes of the team they want us to be.
 

Play the game with emotion, some freedom and give supporters just something to get on side with because at the moment we all know we are going to be midtable, at best, again. 

Yes. These type of "Head coaches" for me are absolutely stinking the place out in the EFL. 

Just another FA Coaching AI robot with no personality, or charisma and they coach any type of personality out of them.

Can anyone really hand on heart say we are a better team than we were in October 2023? 

[not_for_you]

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

If those guests on RB are reading this, we were booed off today because despite all the possession (which doesn't win games)we didn't score and we struggled to create good chances against a team that have a poor away record this season and the second half they managed to pin us back at times. 

They seemed incredulous that the team should have been booed off. I’m not really sure what game they were watching. Sheff Weds were there for the taking and we did nothing second half to win that game. Chris Honor normally talks sensibly but both he and the happy clapper fan seemed bemused and a little defensive that the crowd reacted that way. I thought the boos were justified assuming that they were directed towards Liam Manning for shoddy in game management and puzzling substitutions. 

[Davefevs]

36 minutes ago, Andrew_V1 said:

If that is close to optimum then **** me do we have low standards.

How has this chancer blagged his way to this level? 

FWIW he didn’t say tonight was “close to optimum” he meant that he can see us being close to optimum at some point.  Subtly different, and also just words, ultimately.

[Fuber]

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

Post Sheffield Wednesday interview on Radio Bristol. 

While being 6 points worse off than NP same stage last season.

Glad I didn't renew.

Writing that hurts. Never been more disengaged and dissinterest in the 'project'.

[Ronnie Sinclair]

Blithering idiot

[IAmNick]

Things Liam Manning says in both a press conference and in bed?

[Silvio Dante]

Just now, IAmNick said:

Things Liam Manning says in both a press conference and in bed?

“That’s the biggest bit”

[Red white and red]

Until the Lansdowns sell this club (which they won’t), and actually give somebody else a crack at success, Bristol city will be a mediocre to poor side. Bristol city will achieve absolutely nothing. I’d rather have an old stadium and average training pitch, to frequently be sniffing at the top 6. This side are an absolute mile off achieving anything. 

[WolfOfWestStreet]

40 minutes ago, Cityboy1954 said:

Johnson mark 2 talks the talk.

Unfair on LJ his football was WAY better than this 

[W-S-M Seagull]

9 minutes ago, Fuber said:

While being 6 points worse off than NP same stage last season.

Glad I didn't renew.

Writing that hurts. Never been more disengaged and dissinterest in the 'project'.

And -2 from the same fixture last season. 

[Redtucks]

9 minutes ago, Fuber said:

While being 6 points worse off than NP same stage last season.

Glad I didn't renew.

Writing that hurts. Never been more disengaged and dissinterest in the 'project'.

But still engaged and interested enough to post about it on this forum???

[Red white and red]

11 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

FWIW he didn’t say tonight was “close to optimum” he meant that he can see us being close to optimum at some point.  Subtly different, and also just words, ultimately.

At some point? Against Cardiff? In 6 months time? In 5 years time? How long is a piece of string. 

[Randy Marsh II]

 

[Fuber]

1 minute ago, Redtucks said:

But still engaged and interested enough to post about it on this forum???

Dissatisfied perhaps more than disengaged. Fair point.

I still try and make the odd home game such as tonight (when able). And got a free ride to Blackburn. 

Maybe I'm the problem *laugh*

Think I'm just going to take a break to be honest. Better for my sanity.

[EX8 Red]

Have we become draw specialists already this season?

Ok,a point is better than none, but at home to Sheffield We’d, who had no points on the road this season.

Draws are unbeaten but if you drew all 46 games,you might be unbeaten but would likely be relegated

[W-S-M Seagull]

57 minutes ago, Graham76 said:

It’s all well and good Liam telling us how great we were tonight, but his team just got boo’ed off the pitch. He’s deluded! 

 

42 minutes ago, not_for_you said:

They seemed incredulous that the team should have been booed off. I’m not really sure what game they were watching. Sheff Weds were there for the taking and we did nothing second half to win that game. Chris Honor normally talks sensibly but both he and the happy clapper fan seemed bemused and a little defensive that the crowd reacted that way. I thought the boos were justified assuming that they were directed towards Liam Manning for shoddy in game management and puzzling substitutions. 

Ultimately both them and Liam Manning know that was simply not good enough, especially with the significant amount of money we've spent this season (by our standards) 

For whatever reason from both Liam Manning and these guests, there is a real desire to reframe things and put a positive spin on things. 

Looking good in possession doesn't win us games. 

The boos were totally justified. We have dropped 2 points from the same fixture  11 months on. 

If you actually compare the 2 fixtures then you'd really struggle to see the progress weve made in 11 months. 

Same game last season we actually had slightly more possession and made 401 passes forward compared to tonight's 304 passes forward. 

Whilst some people may think our possession football looks more pleasing, passing the ball 5 yards sideways to the next player and repeat is extremely boring. 

Why Earthy did not get 10 mins I do not know. The guests kind of spoke about that and offered the excuse that maybe he's not fit. I don't buy that. If you're fit enough for the bench then you're fit enough to play some part in the game, otherwise it's pointless having them on the bench. 

Edited 9 hours ago by W-S-M Seagull

[The Masked Man]

I thought the players tried hard tonight but Manning did nothing to change the pattern of the game. If legs were tired why didn't we use more subs earlier and perhaps change the formation. That's why he was boo'd at the end. Devoid of initiative. 

[Silvio Dante]

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

 

Ultimately both them and Liam Manning know that was simply not good enough, especially with the significant amount of money we've spent this season (by our standards) 

For whatever reason from both Liam Manning and these guests, there is a real desire to reframe things and put a positive spin on things. 

Looking good in possession doesn't win us games. 

The boos were totally justified. We have dropped 2 points from the same fixture  11 months on. 

If you actually compare the 2 fixtures then you'd really struggle to see the progress weve made in 11 months. 

Same game last season we actually had slightly more possession and made 401 passes forward compared to tonight's 304 passes forward. 

Whilst some people may think our possession football looks more pleasing, passing the ball 5 yards sideways to the next player and repeat is extremely boring. 

Just as a point of order, I always think comparing results against x team from last season to this season is a bit misleading. The opponents could have different player availability, different management etc etc that could impact things both positively and negatively.

I’m all for holding management to account but I’m not sure doing so by looking at a Sheff Weds team who this season are a better team than when we faced them last year really is the most effective way of doing so.

[Harry]

4 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Just as a point of order, I always think comparing results against x team from last season to this season is a bit misleading. The opponents could have different player availability, different management etc etc that could impact things both positively and negatively.

I’m all for holding management to account but I’m not sure doing so by looking at a Sheff Weds team who this season are a better team than when we faced them last year really is the most effective way of doing so.

Personally I think it’s as good a comparison as can be made. It’s very much like for like. If they’ve improved, why haven’t we (having spent about £7m more than them??)

[W-S-M Seagull]

4 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Just as a point of order, I always think comparing results against x team from last season to this season is a bit misleading. The opponents could have different player availability, different management etc etc that could impact things both positively and negatively.

I’m all for holding management to account but I’m not sure doing so by looking at a Sheff Weds team who this season are a better team than when we faced them last year really is the most effective way of doing so.

Fair point. 

I think I was trying to highlight that in 11 months it's really difficult to see any real tangible progress. 

[Davefevs]

31 minutes ago, Red white and red said:

At some point? Against Cardiff? In 6 months time? In 5 years time? How long is a piece of string. 

I wasn’t defending him, like you, merely pointing out the absurdity of the comment.

The performances do not merit a “we are about to stuff someone”, “you can see it clicking” type crap.

Who knows, maybe it will, but there is little sign of it.

[Silvio Dante]

2 minutes ago, Harry said:

Personally I think it’s as good a comparison as can be made. It’s very much like for like. If they’ve improved, why haven’t we (having spent about £7m more than them??)

I think my thing here is that if (for example) last year you played a Sheffield Weds team not under Rohl and in poor form, then it’s a different animal the next year. I’d acknowledge it’s imperfect and you’ll never get the “same game twice”, but I do generally go with if we’ve spent x and then y - even if they were starting from a handicapped base and have players coming back - you would expect improvement.

I suppose my point is that it shouldn’t be classed as an absolute. And people say I don’t defend Liam!

[Superjack]

1 hour ago, BITW said:

Paint watches Liam Manning dry. 

Surely this HAS to win the day!

[Superjack]

1 hour ago, Son of Fred said:

We need to look at the positives - 9 unbeaten at home,, only 2 losses in 8 this season....

Improve the away form & we're cooking..

Look at the positives. 

My house burned down.

Saved me a fortune on heating that evening.

[Superjack]

52 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

FWIW he didn’t say tonight was “close to optimum” he meant that he can see us being close to optimum at some point.  Subtly different, and also just words, ultimately.

Good for him. 

I can't.

[W-S-M Seagull]

8 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Who knows, maybe it will, but there is little sign of it.

According to Manning and the RB guests there is signs of it! 

[Harry]

6 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I think my thing here is that if (for example) last year you played a Sheffield Weds team not under Rohl and in poor form, then it’s a different animal the next year. I’d acknowledge it’s imperfect and you’ll never get the “same game twice”, but I do generally go with if we’ve spent x and then y - even if they were starting from a handicapped base and have players coming back - you would expect improvement.

I suppose my point is that it shouldn’t be classed as an absolute. And people say I don’t defend Liam!

I guess where I’m coming from on this is that stats are often used such as “and we’ve not won at Elland Road for 87 years”. 
Surely the historical results involving completely different players and era’s don’t matter a jot. The only game that can be used as a good comparator between 2 teams is the last one they played. 

[Superjack]

47 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

Things Liam Manning says in both a press conference and in bed?

Twiney.

[bearded_red]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-really-unjust-liam-manning-9600851

Didn’t boo myself, not something I ever do, and infact I was far too bored to show any reaction at all, but my god this bloke is so far up his own backside.

If people aren’t happy watching your miserable football, they can let you know pal. Go back to managing MK Dons or a club with a car park for a home end if that’s an issue for you.

[Andrew_V1]

5 minutes ago, bearded_red said:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-really-unjust-liam-manning-9600851

Didn’t boo myself, not something I ever do, and infact I was far too bored to show any reaction at all, but my god this bloke is so far up his own backside.

If people aren’t happy watching your miserable football, they can let you know pal. Go back to managing MK Dons or a club with a car park for a home end if that’s an issue for you.

‘It’s where the world is at’ ok yes it’s a societal issue that you serve up sour boring flaccid football and we decide to vent our frustrations accordingly.

Utterly unlikeable with no previous history with the club so just why are we putting up with him?

Oh well as you say if he doesn’t like it please do not hesitate to pack your fa coaching manual and hit the road at the earliest opportunity 

[BS3rich]

3 minutes ago, bearded_red said:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-really-unjust-liam-manning-9600851

Didn’t boo myself, not something I ever do, and infact I was far too bored to show any reaction at all, but my god this bloke is so far up his own backside.

If people aren’t happy watching your miserable football, they can let you know pal. Go back to managing MK Dons or a club with a car park for a home end if that’s an issue for you.

So much BS it’s unreal… Claiming he was the first to hold his hands up after the Blackburn result…No Liam, you blamed the players and didn’t take any responsibility.

First time we haven’t scored..Derby, Blackburn also come to mind! 
 

Extra day off..half of the team hardly played on the weekend & you used 3 subs..you had 2 more to use!!

 

[WolfOfWestStreet]

4 minutes ago, bearded_red said:

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-really-unjust-liam-manning-9600851

Didn’t boo myself, not something I ever do, and infact I was far too bored to show any reaction at all, but my god this bloke is so far up his own backside.

If people aren’t happy watching your miserable football, they can let you know pal. Go back to managing MK Dons or a club with a car park for a home end if that’s an issue for you.

It's scary how deluded and/or thick this guy is.

Trying to blame booing on "where the world is" ... wtf does that mean? Like its some kind of societal problem people find his football absolute dog shit. What a clown. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

4 minutes ago, BS3rich said:

So much BS it’s unreal… Claiming he was the first to hold his hands up after the Blackburn result…No Liam, you blamed the players and didn’t take any responsibility.

First time we haven’t scored..Derby, Blackburn also come to mind! 
 

Extra day off..half of the team hardly played on the weekend & you used 3 subs..you had 2 more to use!!

 

No he's not saying he held his hands up and took responsibility. He's saying he was the 1st to say the players were not good enough. 

[Andrew_V1]

1 minute ago, WolfOfWestStreet said:

It's scary how deluded and/or thick this guy is.

Trying to blame booing on "where the world is" ... wtf does that mean? Like its some kind of societal problem people find his football absolute dog shit. What a clown. 

Personally I think it’s sheer arrogance and he genuinely thinks he’s the next big thing for English football.

Absolutely nothing at all to back that up mind and his hype is based on coaching kids for city football group? 

Once again we have jumped on the latest fad and hired ‘young and progressive’ whatever the **** that is supposed to mean and we have ended up with crap. 
 

[Out of his pie crust]

2 hours ago, roadyred said:

We are another one of those teams with a “trendy” manager trying to be something we aren’t. Scholars of the game sucking the life out of it, over analysing every aspect and totally unable to go off script and do something different. The fact we are “not far from reaching our potential” speaks volumes of the team they want us to be.
 

Play the game with emotion, some freedom and give supporters just something to get on side with because at the moment we all know we are going to be midtable, at best, again. 

I’ve not heard the word trendy for a while. Full marks for bringing it back 

[Superjack]

When all said and done, if Liam Manning reaches his own optimum level in football, we will never hear of him again.

[W-S-M Seagull]

I've just listened to his club interview and jeez thats even worse. I don't think getting a clean sheet against a team that has scored the grand total of 1 goal in 4 away games this season is as big of a flex as he or Sheridan thinks it is..

"We restricted them to very few chances" well considering they've only scored 1 goal away from home then I'd fully expect that to be the case. 

Considering the opposition I don't think you can use today's game as a barometer for improvements. 

Of course it's good we got a clean sheet but the positive focus on it I'm not so sure about. 

"Really pleased with the clean sheet, it's the first one of the season and the foundations for me of what we did last year" 

What did we do last year that was so great? 4th best defence in the league I guess? Why 8 games into the season are we having to rebuild the foundations? 

He then went on and waffled about really good opportunities and that soon they'll fall for us and then excuses about us being leggy after a really full on period. 

He mentioned how Swansea was a really physical game and then quickly got in there "which we looked good in" which just stuck out as a comment that wasn't needed in that conversation. 

I'm just now getting really tired of him always putting a positive spin on things. I suspect that's cos he knows he is under pressure so hes trying to alter public perception by being positive, which I'm not sure I like. 

Nothing wrong with saying "pleased to get the clean sheet today, there were phases of the game I was pleased with but ultimately we didn't do enough to win the game and I'm disappointed with that" 

He looks worryingly quite happy with the result and performance and that bothers me because ultimately tonight was just not good enough. We achieved the absolute bare minimum.

Once again with Liam it seems he just can't find the balance. We were better defensively (against a poor team who came for a point) but the improved defence came at the expense of attacking play which resulted in us watching a borefest. 

[Jimbo76]

6 hours ago, not_for_you said:

They seemed incredulous that the team should have been booed off. I’m not really sure what game they were watching. Sheff Weds were there for the taking and we did nothing second half to win that game. Chris Honor normally talks sensibly but both he and the happy clapper fan seemed bemused and a little defensive that the crowd reacted that way. I thought the boos were justified assuming that they were directed towards Liam Manning for shoddy in game management and puzzling substitutions. 

No such thing as boos directed to the manager. 

The booing will be felt by the team. 

IMHO, boos should relate to perceived effort from the players and I didn't see a lack of effort tonight.

To boo the team because of the result,  irrespective of effort,  and because you want to send a message to the manager (maybe rightly) is counter productive. 

Maybe clap the team and boo the manager when he does his little walk around, or get the bedsheets out or whatever,  but surely we want to keep morale up amongst the players?

[temp]

BT and LM seem quite happy about it anyway

[One Team]

Wow, optimal being yet more mid table obscurity then. 

The arrogance and delusion is just unbelievable. 

Comparing him to LJ is doing LJ a real disservice. I wasn’t his biggest fan either but he did play some exciting football at times, amongst the bullshit, and had some glimmers of success. 

Manning is a whole different level of nonsense.