Heading in the Right Direction

[wizered]

Liam Manning insists Bristol City are 'heading in the right direction' despite West Brom loss
Bristol City were off of the pace as they were beaten 2-0 by Carlos Corberan's West Brom side at The Hawthorns

Liam Manning has insisted his Bristol City side is "heading in the right direction" despite his team's "passive" defeat to West Brom at The Hawthorns.

The Reds extended their winless run in the Championship to four matches as they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Carlos Corberan's side in their final game before Christmas.

Mikey Johnston opened the scoring midway through the first half as the former Celtic winger lost his marker to head home Tom Fellows' cross, before doubling his tally just before halftime as he curled an excellent right-footed effort past Max O'Leary.

Although Manning opted to change shape at halftime, the Robins were unable to lay a glove on Albion in the second period. The defeat in the Black Country means City have won only one of their last seven matches since the November international break.

While the Reds boss is confident his side are still on an upward curve, the 39-year-old knows that his side have to start winning more games frequently to ensure they don't "drift" into the second half of the campaign.

"We need to win more games, simple as that." the City head coach told Bristol Live after the full-time whistle. "I think there's no hiding from that, we have to win more games.

"I know I’ve spoken too often about good performances and not results, but ultimately we’re in the results business. I know we're heading in the right direction, so it’s a tough one today because it's not the performance that any of us want to put in.

"We have to start winning games. I think that's the biggest bit. What you don't want to do is drift or go too many without. I think that's the biggest bit in this league. If you want to push on, you have to get consecutive results, and we haven't done that yet."

Bristol City's chances at The Hawthorns were limited, with Fally Mayulu coming the closest to getting on the scoresheet as he forced Alex Palmer into a difficult save with a long-range effort. Barring the Frenchman's strike, the Reds did little to ask any questions of the Albion stopper.

At the other end of the pitch, Manning's side were cut through far too easily. While Corberan's Baggies ended up claiming all three points comfortably, they could have won by four or five goals had it not been for the work of Max O'Leary in the City net.

Having been left frustrated by the Robins' lack of cutting edge in last weekend's draw with QPR at Ashton Gate, Manning was disappointed in his side's work out of possession on Sunday afternoon.

"Last weekend the performance was good and we didn't get the result I felt that we probably deserved," explained the 39-year-old. "Whereas today the better team definitely won. They were better than us.

"Breaking the game down, in the first half I thought we were a little passive and at times caught between pressing and blocking. When we did get it right, the press, I thought we let them out of spaces and areas a little too easily and then we gave away a couple of really soft goals."

While the City squad and supporters won't be heading into Christmas with a win under the belt, the congested nature of the Championship calendar over the festive period means the Reds won't have to wait too long for a chance to get back to winning ways.

The Robins welcome Luton Town to Ashton Gate on Boxing Day and Manning has challenged his side to produce a response against Rob Edwards' side having been "picked off" by West Brom.

"I thought understandably the lads wanted to show a reaction by chasing and instead of doing it collectively and at the right time, we disconnected a little bit and started doing it as ones or twos rather than as a group," said Manning. "You then end up getting picked off and played through.

"We have to respond on Boxing Day, I think that's the biggest bit."
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liam-manning-insists-bristol-city-9812976

I have no wish to be negative but I hope LM is correct,t I don't think 6 games won out of 22 played is heading in the right direction, unless he has lowered his ambition, to me it seems to point in the opposite way to up. I don't think 2 shots on target today is much evidence to display our direction of travel.

We were outclassed and looked it.

 

[realred1952]

CRAP RESULT but expected a draw and conceed 2 goals ... we should have had a penalty to go 0-1 we didnt!
but there is some good patch's ....... just need the finishing .... so would be in concurrence!

 

[AshtonRed]

We were crap, lucky it was only two. Should have had a penalty and the ref was a Homer. But we were still second best all over the pitch. We were disjointed and had no coherent game plan.

Mayulu is totally lacking confidence. I really don’t understand why we bought him, he obviously isn’t suited for how we play.

My issue with Manning is he wants to play to a system, and tries to mould players to it, rather than playing to the strength of the players at his disposal. So why buy a player that doesn’t fit the system you want to play. That’s not the players fault. They must have had something in mind when they bought him, so what was it?

The season is over, we’ve spent whatever money we got from the sales of Semenyo and Scott, and we’ve gone backwards. Very depressing.

 

[Angelicnumber16]

Not sure what LM is on about
We are a toothless epitome of a mid table non entity of a team
Inconsistent should be our middle name

 

[realred1952]

Inconsistent should be our middle name

no we are consistent with our game plans they are just a template as opposed to flexible option ... At 0Oxford he rarely used the same formations at each game .. had 4 or 5 different ones that seemingly btought the success of all their wins against varying oppositions ,,, now it is the same week in and week out ... i am quite impressed by Pringy BTW

 

[Redprintt]

I think our top brass are having us all on.
They must know what it takes to get promotion yet across the board we 'make do and mend'.
None of ours would get in a Leeds, Sheff Utd, Burnley side because of 1 word....quality.
Quality costs money and we choose not to spend anything other than mediocre.......whether it be manager\coach, technical director or player.

And perhaps RR wont be far wrong because I think we're more likely to flirt with the bottom 6 than the top 6.

 

[Red Robin]

Taken from X

This isn’t a Nigel Pearson fan post BUT he was sacked because of “results” he had 131 games with 32.06% win which overall isn’t great, now look at manning only 58 games with only a 31% win rate…. Surely he’s got to go because of “results”

 

[Supcon72]

Taken from X

This isn’t a Nigel Pearson fan post BUT he was sacked because of “results” he had 131 games with 32.06% win which overall isn’t great, now look at manning only 58 games with only a 31% win rate…. Surely he’s got to go because of “results”

If, LM’s win percentage is not any better after 131, and not 58 games, then this becomes a valid point of discussion. Until then, it’s just pointless.

 

[Cliftonville]

Not sure what LM is on about
We are a toothless epitome of a mid table non entity of a team
Inconsistent should be our middle name

Given the stable foundation Liam Manning took over, and the budget he has been given inconsistency is not progress. Treading water results wise with much bigger resources than the individual he replaced.

 

[invermeremike]

If indeed we are currently treading water as you say then I just hope it is really thick skinned so we don't sink in our own corporate apathy. We have had more than enough chances to seal the deal but the bigwigs always seem to block our way by coming up with a stupid new "buzz phrase" designed to baffle us with false words of support. I can remember last season listening to a Leeds broadcaster during a game against City showing his utter shock at why Bristol City and their great revamped stadium have never seemed interested in chasing the glory that the supporters and the stadium thoroughly deserved. If they can see through the thinly veiled epithets of our board and owner then why why on earth can't Lansdown see past the end of his nose? It has to be the time for a change but if it does become the manager then just get used to the same old crap ad infinitum. Year after year after year and still the supporter's needs are being ignored, and you do so at your own peril.

 

[bcfcredandwhite]

We haven’t ‘headed’ in any direction for years.
We have had streaks of good performances followed by streaks of toothless ones.
We will be around mid-table again.

 

[Cliftonville]

If indeed we are currently treading water as you say then I just hope it is really thick skinned so we don't sink in our own corporate apathy. We have had more than enough chances to seal the deal but the bigwigs always seem to block our way by coming up with a stupid new "buzz phrase" designed to baffle us with false words of support. I can remember last season listening to a Leeds broadcaster during a game against City showing his utter shock at why Bristol City and their great revamped stadium have never seemed interested in chasing the glory that the supporters and the stadium thoroughly deserved. If they can see through the thinly veiled epithets of our board and owner then why why on earth can't Lansdown see past the end of his nose? It has to be the time for a change but if it does become the manager then just get used to the same old crap ad infinitum. Year after year after year and still the supporter's needs are being ignored, and you do so at your own peril.

The team isn't progressing? Winning more? No. More points? No. Key performance indicators? No.

The clubs expectation was that this team would be competing at the top end of the championship. Everything indicates it will not be.

Liam Manning has spent £11.5 m in two transfer windows, increased costs to trend sideways, or is it middle downwards? Pearson under significant club financial concerns trimmed the squad, reduced costs, had to include players from the academy and spent 7.5m in five windows to have a team that was trending upwards.

 

[Red Robin]

The team isn't progressing? Winning more? No. More points? No. Key performance indicators? No.

The clubs expectation was that this team would be competing at the top end of championship. Everything indicates it will not be.

Liam Manning has spent £11.5 m in two transfer windows, increased costs to trend sideways, or is it middle downwards? Pearson under significant club financial concerns trimmed the squad, reduced costs, had to include players from the academy and spent 7.5m in five windows to have a team that was trending upwards.

supcon have a read

 

[Supcon72]

supcon have a read

Pretty sure we trended downwards after LJ left….

 

[realred1952]

Pretty sure we trended downwards after LJ left….doh

would agree totally with that comment especially with all that transpired from 2020 till 2022/23 start of.
However .. we are in a state of flux .... and it is a time where we should expect to consolidate. I dont knee jerk... I always look at the bigger picture and make "what is the real scenario" when you start spouting out figures like % or out of's with out seeing how they actually fit in you end up with with a rather matchbox veiw of events rather than a tea chest [ [ for the younger! a tea chest was for transporting tea leaves usually about 90cms x 70cms x70cms .. and a match box usually about 5cms x3cms x1,5 cms ]

CURRENTLY TEAMS FROM 10TH TO 24TH ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOX!!! THERE IS A 4 POINT GAP TO 9th!
10th / 20th/22nd/23rd/amd 24th all have a game in hand [ 5th and 8th also ] SO 10th / 20th/22nd/23rd/and 24th ARE going to be playing mostly amongst themselves for the 3 points or shared.

last 10 games CITY AVERAGING 1.1 pt == 53/54 for the season.

best performing over last 10......... blue is away
P W D L GF GA W F L GF GA GD PTS [ next 7 games H ..4 A ..3

1 Sheffield United 10 4 0 0 7 0 ..................4 2 0 11 5 13 ..26
2 Leeds United 10 6 0 0 17 1 ....................... 1 1 2 5 6 15 .....22
3 Burnley 10 3 2 0 5 1 .................................. 3 1 1 5 2 7 .......21
4 Watford 10 4 1 0 5 1 ..................................1 2 2 10 8 6 ....18
5 Blackburn Rovers 10 2 0 2 3 4 .................4 0 2 6 3 2 .....18 <<<<< 7
5 Blackburn Rovers 10 2 1 3 3 4 .......4 1 3 6 3 2 .....20 <<<<< 7
6 Middlesbrough 10 3 0 2 9 6 2 ..................2 1 17 12 8 ......17
7 Sheffield Wed 10 3 3 2 8 9 .........3 1 2 7 3 3 ......22 <<<<< 6
8 Queens Park Rangers 10 3 2 1 9 6 .......... 1 2 1 3 3 3 ......16
9 West Bromwich Albion 10 2 3 0 8 4 .......1 3 1 5 5 4 .......15
10 Sunderland 10 2 3 0 7 5 .........................1 3 1 4 4 2 .......15
11 Millwall 10 3 1 2 4 3 ................................1 2 1 3 3 1 .......15
12 Swansea City 10 1 1 2 8 9 .......................3 1 2 8 7 0 ......14
12 Swansea City 10 3 2 2 8 9 .......................3 1 3 8 7 0 ......21
13 Luton Town 10 4 2 0 8 4 ......................0 0 4 3 14 -7 ....14 <<<<< 1
14 Portsmouth 10 3 1 1 11 4 ......................0 2 3 3 10 0 ......12 <<<<< 2
15 Coventry City 10 1 2 1 7 7 ......................2 1 3 7 10 -3 .....12 <<<<< 5
15 Coventry City 10 2 3 1 7 7 ............2 2 4 7 10 -3 .....17 <<<<< 5
16 Bristol City ..... 10 1 1 2 6 4 ............2 1 3 6 8 0 ...11
16 Bristol City ..... 14 4 1 2 6 4 ............2 2 3 6 8 0 ...21
17 Stoke City 10 1 3 1 5 6 ............................1 1 3 5 7 -3 ........10
17 Stoke City 10 2 4 1 5 6 ............................1 2 3 5 7 -3 ........15
18 Derby County 10 1 1 2 7 5 ......................1 2 3 5 8 -1 ........9 <<<<< 4
19 Preston North End 10 0 4 1 4 6 ............1 2 2 5 6 -3 ........9
20 Norwich City 10 2 0 2 11 7 ....................0 2 4 4 11 -3 .....8
21 Cardiff City 10 1 0 4 3 10 .......................0 4 1 5 6 -8 .......7
22 Plymouth Argyle 10 1 3 1 10 10 ............0 1 4 2 16 -14 ....7 <<<<<< 3
23 Hull City 10 1 2 3 5 8 .............................0 0 4 2 7 -8 ......5
24 Oxford United 10 1 1 3 6 12 .................0 0 5 0 12 -18 ....4
24 Oxford United 10 3 1 3 6 12 .................1 1 5 0 12 -18 ....14

 

[realred1952]

FROM THE ABOVE TABLE it can be seen our next 7 [ at the moment ] indicates positions of the "form of the teams we play" 5 in the bottom half Of course this might change eg: ... if DERBY go and win 3 then then the form will be than 18th! theorectically we are 3 losses away from relegation zone . not nice to be talking that close this far into the season

 

[AshtonRed]

If, LM’s win percentage is not any better after 131, and not 58 games, then this becomes a valid point of discussion. Until then, it’s just pointless.

When the appointment was meant to improve us and take us to the next level of course it isn’t pointless. So far he’s failed. In his recent interview LM said we’d moved forward since his appointment. The fact is at this point we haven’t in the way that matters most… points

 

[invermeremike]

The season is over, we’ve spent whatever money we got from the sales of Semenyo and Scott, and we’ve gone backwards. Very depressing.

The above quote by AshtonRed is spot on in my books. We are extremely quick in selling off our best assets but have never, by my recollection, ever re-invested the money to properly improve our squad. When you sit back and analyze our transfer dealings over the last 10-15 years it is clearly evident that Lansdown never had any intention of a major spend on new talent and that is a shocking damnation of his ownership. Stubborn is the word that comes to mind when I think of SL and although our revised stadium, and his investment on infrastructure, is something to be rightfully proud of the same can't be true of the pathetic attempts to supposedly make us an annual contender. It has taken me a long time to really wake up to the antics played by SL although I have questioned his commitment on too many occasions and I have come to the conclusion that all the time we are under his stewardship will take us nowhere quickly. The superb fan base and a stadium that most can only dream of is clearly not enough for the money man to give back something for the supporters to enjoy. The football currently on display is shockingly inconsistent to say the least and despite the fact that so many of us think we are going nowhere under Liam the song will remain the same as long as certain people stay in a position of power or aren't sacked.

 

[Cliftonville]

Pretty sure we trended downwards after LJ left….

Yes, Holdens spending on new players over two windows was 1.25m. Squad wages downwards ..

 

[raver]

The season is over, we’ve spent whatever money we got from the sales of Semenyo and Scott, and we’ve gone backwards. Very depressing.

The above quote by AshtonRed is spot on in my books. We are extremely quick in selling off our best assets but have never, by my recollection, ever re-invested the money to properly improve our squad. When you sit back and analyze our transfer dealings over the last 10-15 years it is clearly evident that Lansdown never had any intention of a major spend on new talent and that is a shocking damnation of his ownership. Stubborn is the word that comes to mind when I think of SL and although our revised stadium, and his investment on infrastructure, is something to be rightfully proud of the same can't be true of the pathetic attempts to supposedly make us an annual contender. It has taken me a long time to really wake up to the antics played by SL although I have questioned his commitment on too many occasions and I have come to the conclusion that all the time we are under his stewardship will take us nowhere quickly. The superb fan base and a stadium that most can only dream of is clearly not enough for the money man to give back something for the supporters to enjoy. The football currently on display is shockingly inconsistent to say the least and despite the fact that so many of us think we are going nowhere under Liam the song will remain the same as long as certain people stay in a position of power or aren't sacked.

I would like someone to realistically suggest how we replace Semenyo and Scott. £30m+ of talent in two players. The fact is we cant.