Thorup. was no fan of it. He said (I think in one of the Danish interviews following his departure), that it drove him spare. What he was a fan of was keeping possession of the ball at every stage, including in transition, passing your way quickly forward so that, when the ball arrived in the opposition defensive third, it was still in your possession and the opposition defence had been pulled apart. As you point out Zog, this requires constant intelligent movement to disrupt any press and open up passing lanes. When we saw this in action as the season developed, it became clear that what Thorup was striving for was anything but ''fannying about at the back". Re, what you say about "our Achilles heel since Farke", when Dean Smith was appointed he said very much what Manning is reported to be saying now, i.e. that he favoured a more direct style, getting numbers forward quickly and forcing turnovers in the opposition defensive third. Didn't Wagner say much the same when he first came in? In which case, how come that, whatever the last three coaches have said about how they wanted to play, their teams ended up doing nothing of the sort?
Surely, in the end, it comes down to what has happened during training at Colney. If the players are not implementing what the coaches want it comes down to bad training.
Or too much time at the chalkboard and not enough in actual training. It's easy to 'talk the talk', but another thing to 'walk the walk' and achieve it on the pitch. Manning will be judged by the same criteria, but what he achieved at Bristol with a modest group of players provides some grounds for hope.
Apparently personal terms had been agreed and the compensation is set out in his contract. Other issues such as who else comes with him are separate issues which can be sorted out later. So why the continuing delay unless Manning won't come unless his mates come as well or interference from Sir in Trumpland.
I can never understand why these things take so long. Thorup's appointment became official on this date last year (30 May), when Knapper knew for months that a new HC was needed. That required immigration procedures which isn't the case this time. I'm sure that Attanasio would either be involved himself or had representatives involved. I think the delay is more likely to be due to EFL red tape
Apparently the appointment is getting close now: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-norwich-city-now-10225709
Onel Hernandez speaking on his recent vlog... ️ "My conditioning level wasn't great last season. I felt like training sessions were too easy; it always felt like you needed to do extra to maintain your conditioning level. It was a lot more off the ball, but not intense."
PinkUn are saying that it’s all agreed just awaiting final paperwork from EFL to be signed off. Possible announcement this weekend
What a contrast with Farke's double session training and I'd say Wagner as well as the players seemed far more fit than they were this season, when they often finished games exhausted.
Similar is being said by ITV reporter Ross Arnott on X: “I understand deal for Liam Manning is all but done. Club have told me they expect Norwich move and wish him well. All very amicable but city can’t comment until it’s confirmed.”
As the saying is, "You can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". Kellen Fisher was thirsty, and drank deeply, as did several others.
Having left the club, Onel has every right to speak in much the same way Thorup did to the Danish press.
Have I said anything about Onel not having the right to say what he wants? No! I was suggesting he reflect on what speaking out as he has done (including while still under contract) says about him. I find it rather sad actually.
Yeah, but Robbie the evidence points to us being unfit either physically or mentally how many points did we drop from winning positions last year? 35? Something around that mark it was huge! It was a far cry to the never say die attitude and the fitness levels we had under Farke. Granted perhaps the less training was a result of trying to avert the injury crisis we had, but that was exacerbated by two of our better players getting needless suspensions at the same time. I don't know the inner machinations of Colney, but from the evidence I have seen I would have thought young players should have been a bit fitter, previous year we had a lot more >30s so perhaps there are different training regimes for those players?
If physical fitness was the issue, Zog, how come the same players suddenly recovered their missing energy, and the stamina to maintain enough intensity over 90+ mins, in just five days between Millwall (A) and 'Boro (A)? I am yet to meet or listen to a professional sportsperson who doesn't regard maintaining themselves at peak fitness as their personal responsibility, no-one else's. Our players have access to top grade testing and condition analysis; if there was reason for concern they'd soon hear about it and find themselves on a tailored regimen to restore their levels. I don't think there is any obvious link between the number of points dropped from winning positions and physical fitness levels. It isn't as though we were regularly holding the lead with 15 mins to go and then equally regularly caved in. On occasion, yes, but not generally speaking. We scored more goals and conceded fewer in the second 45 mins than in the first 45. On average, we had more domination in the last 30 mins than in the first or middle 30. We scored more goals in the final quarter hour than in any other quarter hour. That doesn't suggest a team that has no legs left at the end.
The ban on mentioning Thorup applies to indirect references to Thorup and things that happened at a collective/managerial level in the latter half of the season. These arguments are poisonous. Let’s move on.
