Liam Manning denies Bristol City's season is slipping away despite defeat at West Brom Bristol City were beaten 2-0 by the Baggies and remain marooned in mid-table after a poor run of results Liam Manning remains confident Bristol City can end the season in a positive state with signs of progress on the field and in the league table, as a fifth defeat in the last six games saw the Robins booed off by the away support. City fell to a 2-0 loss at West Brom as goals right at the end of the first half by Tom Fellows and then quickly after the restart through Jed Wallace left the Robins with too much to do, and ultimately collapsed the foundations they had tried to lay in the opening 45 minutes. Jason Knight and Mark Sykes both hit the crossbar from corners in the second half but the Baggies also could have increased their advantage as Grady Diangana, Fellows and Okay Yokuslu all had fine opportunities. The unrest among supporters that has remained, even in light of last weekend’s win over Swansea, was further witnessed in the away end at The Hawthorns as the final whistle was greeted with boos while players and staff were further jeered as they walked towards the fans to clap them home. Manning’s belief in his players remains, with the head coach claiming it was another 90 per cent performance in which the Robins let themselves down at key moments, not just in terms of the timing of the goals conceded but also not taking their own opportunities; at 0-0, Tommy Conway was sent through 1vs1, while Ross McCrorie also wasted a good opportunity in the second period. “I believe in the lads,” Manning said. “It’s a bit of belief, a bit of edge, a bit of arrogance that will change it. We’ve won games already against teams at the top end of the table, so we’ve shown we can do it and we showed today and against Ipswich, for 90 per cent of the game, we’re as good if not better than the opposition. It’s now making sure when you’re on top, and you get your opportunities in key stages of the game that you get what you deserve.” Public criticism of Manning isn’t solely centred on the head coach as while results continue to trend downwards, it’s also directed towards the board and their decision at the end of October to sack Nigel Pearson from a position of seeming stability. Increasingly it feels like a wasted season, of little progress and a wholly unnecessary atmosphere of toxicity all of their own making. Manning retains his belief, however, that with eight games remaining, City can finish the campaign on a high heading into the summer. The Robins are 12 points shy of their points total from last term and one place above where they finished 2022/23. “I can only control what I can,” Manning added, before drawing reference to the sales of Alex Scott and Antoine Semenyo to Bournemouth. “You have to have an element of realism that the club sold two players to the Premier League last season, we’ve recruited, made a change mid-season and we’re still in a position where we can show progression despite selling two or three players to the Premier League. “I can’t control what the fans think. For me, it’s around sticking together. If players stepped onto the pitch and showed no idea of what they’re trying to do, no plan, no identity, no way of working… then by all means (criticise). “Of course we want the fans with us, the energy from them has been terrific at times but it’s on us that we make sure we stick together and build on the positive aspect from today. “I don’t waste on energy on it, to be honest, I can control what I can control. I turn up and do my best every day, that’s it, the staff give the players everything, we’re in at 7, we finish at 7 - I think you can see the plan out on the pitch, what we do need is people to step up at key times and that’s the bit we’ll work hard to change and I don’t worry too much about outcomes, I’ve never chased outcomes. "For me, I concentrate on doing the best job every day. I know the work we do is good, it’s about making sure we get the players in position where they’re making sure they can do it for 100 per cent of the game and not 90.” Manning was particularly frustrated by the first goal as Fellow shot into the near post but Max O’Leary’s view was obscured by Diangana running across his eyeline from a clearly offside position. The goalkeeper and several of his teammates protested but referee Tom Nield and his assistant remained unmoved. “First half went probably how we wanted it to look in terms of restricting them to very little, before the goal no shots on target, while we carried a threat and played a bit more than we did against Swansea and probably the frustration is you can see some of the work we did in the week come out in the game,” Manning said. “I thought the plan worked, and then to concede that, we have to take responsibility; there are a few errors leading to the goal but, for me, looking back on it, it looks offside. We need help in those moments as well. “Waste your breath on them, to be honest, I thought he was really poor today, the ref, so I don’t want to waste energy on them. “There were so many positives in the first half, to then get that at the end, naturally the lads come in, frustrated and disappointed, so then it’s a case of making sure you keep them in a calm emotional state and we spoke about trying to gauge and get a bit more pressure higher up, and made some little tweaks to it, and then to concede a soft goal four minutes into the second half kills it, really. “It comes down to belief and quality, ultimately, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. I thought the lads left it all out there, even in the 93rd minute they were still trying to ask the question, still running hard, still trying to play with purpose - we hit the bar twice, Ross got into a terrific area but didn’t work the keeper - and that was ultimately it, for me. "We continued to try and play, we just lacked quality in the final bit which is something that has to improve. We keep saying it, so we have to keep working and improving it.” https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/liam-manning-denies-bristol-citys-9170778
We are sleepwalking back into League one with this so called head coach who was going to improve our current squad, next season will be a disaster.
Bristol City verdict: A process proving increasingly hard to trust and a widening divide All the talking points following Bristol City's 2-0 Championship defeat at West Brom https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-verdict-process-proving-9170907
I don’t know, what I do know is signing him rocketed us down the league. Our form since his arrival is relegation. The change and the way it was hand has managed to create a situation where there is now a disconnect across the whole club, the board, the players, the coaching staff and the fans. Unless something is done to fix it then I believe as a club we could well implode.
Not me other fans Pearsons sides went through brick walls for him-Mannings sides just ain’t interested. 8 games 27 points -8 of bottom be very worried guys that fat lady could soon be singing.
The haters are here!!!! Fickle bunch IMO.......3 months in the job. But hey Nige is allowed 3 years...........still failed
Nige is gone , get over him. He was allowed time because we were in a mess. He was also honest and said it would take time. Now moving on to Liam, when he arrived we weren’t in a mess, his job was to improve us immediately, not to take 3 years to do it, different times, different objectives. It’s not a difficult concept to understand
Our past managers have all gone and now we have to concentrate on Liam Manning and his exploits that have got us to where we are in the league. When it was announced in super fast broadband that he was to be our new manager/coach it didn't really surprise or shock me because trying to fathom out why Bristol City do things the way they do is a total mystery to all but the bosses. Liam saw an opportunity to boost his portfolio by joining a team that on the surface offered him Championship experience and I can't fault him for his decision - can you? I truly think he was sold a bill of goods, along with a possibly higher salary, plus compensation when he inevitably would get fired and what's not to like about that offer? His ability to coach at this level has to be questioned due to the lack of progression during his tenure to date and the future is starting to look bleak for the near and distant futures. Blaming Liam is a bit harsh because it is so obvious that all is not well deep inside the recesses of Ashton Gate that strangles the life out of anything forward thinking intended to improve our lot. Until such time as the Lansdown's collectively face up to the facts of life in football and hire and support the best coaching team possible on our budget our fortunes could fail dramatically sooner rather than later. How many more times are we expected to suffer this constant rebuild with sub-standard players being told what to do by someone who doesn't know any better? Is there anyone at Bristol City who knows how to run a competitive football squad and make correct choices when needed or are we destined to go through this utter apathy downwards to lower levels? I am losing the will to continue supporting this nonsense year upon year as the promises and predictions made never match the words of the twerps at the top of our tree. Shake it up for all it's worth and you never know what might happen, but I may suggest that it will not have a snowball's chance in hell of happening during the continued reign and DNA of the Lansdowns. What a shame because we have all fallen for the garbage spouting from the mouths of the corporate elite who don't give a rat's backside about the supporters or what they think.
Gut feeling Steve L wants out and Jon L is just steering the ship-however I really do not understand how. Bristol City can be purchased because there are no assets because it all falls under Bristol Sport so the stadium is not part of the package. Anybody have an idea as the club is worth nothing without assets.
Sooner the Lansfowns go the better Yes there’s better infrastructure, a better set up etc but these are all things designed to make money not progress as a FC They don’t take the club forwards and yet again under Mr Smug & Son we’re going backwards We see through you Lansfowns
He’s stated he would sell if an acceptable offer was made. The trouble is what he considers acceptable. What confuses me is how he’d separate the football club from the rest, also the Bear's use AG, how would that work?. Bristol Sport also makes things much more complicated surely?
I asked the question Bristol City FC has no assets how could anyone value it or wish to buy it. I have a sneaky suspicion the rest of Ashton Gate development will not happen. Think SL has lost all interest let’s get it right that is where the money has come from not Jon boy.
I’ve the same feeling that the rest of the development won’t go ahead, I also can’t see anyone offering anything close to what Steve wants for the club. He also seems to have lost interest and allowed John to run it, if he wants to stop us being relegated next season he’s gonna have to take the bull by the horns and remove his son, and his lackey, Brian, and appoint proper people to their roles, and then go about finding a decent championship manager. If he doesn’t the value will sink even further.
Liam Manning hopes to have Bristol City cavalry back for visit of Leicester City Bristol City have been without captain Matty James for the last month https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/liam-manning-bristol-city-leicester-9173339
