O’Driscoll on paper was what everyone wanted. Coppell only he knows why he wanted out, but we were all excited about Millen was a knee jerk reaction to Coppell timing. Pemberton was only temp till LJ was appointed. GJ took us closer than anyone to the Premier league (not forgetting Dicks, but that he was way before) LM took us second highest. Pearson and Cotts were just what the club needed at the times. Both turned the club around and left them in better positions than when they came him. McInnes had a good rep like LJ so were good choices. So barring Holden, I’m ok to let them choose the next one.
Bristol City Owner ‘Deserves’ Liam Manning To Norwich City – Ex-EFL Star https://insidefutbol.com/2025/05/28...m-manning-to-norwich-city-ex-efl-star/684521/
Not for me, it’s very different styles of football needed between trying to keep a team up, and one to press for the top 6. My old man is an Argyke fan, he said, his style of football was awful, but it got some results when they needed it. You won’t get away with that over 46 games
On reflection it was a terrible shame SL didn't back LM in January. We're now floundering around looking for some lower league wannabe coach to trawl players from the lower reaches of the football pyramid.
Same old same old under the Lansdown clan. Time for new owners - who buys a football club without a football ground.
It’s bit of a one sided, and badly researched article, it didn’t mention that he was given money in the summer, most of which was frittered away. Whilst he did an amazing job getting us to top 6 and we do need to strengthen the squad I can understand our reluctance to allow him more money this summer. If we get our recruitment right for our next manager and it’s completed quickly this could work out for the best. Our board knew he saw us as a stepping stone, so they shouldn’t be surprised he’s looking to move on now, Let’s get this done as quickly as possible so as to cause as little disruption as possible. I hope he doesn’t come back to Nick some of our players, (unless of course they offer £5m for Twine), especially considering how keen he was to bring him here.,
Finally some of the home truths are starting to surface against our owner and for me it absolutely right on the mark with my thoughts for too many years. Lansdown has always wanted full control of everything and his insistence on keeping Tinnion around the place has been some of his undoing in the face of the public. I was utterly shocked at our summer signings and how quickly it became apparent they weren't up to snuff and I have a strong feeling that Liam was kept out of the loop on all things important. The January transfer was the final straw for me and I sort of knew that Liam wasn't going to be a long term solution at Ashton Gate and the potential news all look to point that way. Our owner has let us all down as I truly think that if Liam had been given better support we could have done better but when you have the kind of interference now becoming well known around the country how on earth would any decent manager want to work for Lansdown. I saw that trait way back to Steve Coppell and our history since then has been all under question and here we go again.
FOOTBALL HINGES on a couple of differing things...... A solid plan to build to a promotion Luck based on the failure of others and an ability to be in the top half [ average team ] for most of the season, and almost taking an opportunist chance when it opens. City this past season pretty much touched on all 3 ! The main aim when bringing in Liam was to build a squad fit to go for promotion / top 6. City 2024/25 were always just another average team, each segment/ quarter of the season saw them struggling to targetting 68/69 points. Team in 6th forcast mostly was always above 71/72+. the interesting/ factual/ statistic of 2024/25 was that 6th position points forcast was pretty static, why? well it was a remnant sort of thing, a team would get a run and take it to 5th then get a bad run so after a few games the points in 6th were there from the falling team from 5th and surpassed by others climbing to 5th. other than top 4 there were at least 5 teams maybe 6? [ after first 12 games ] to get to 5th and 9/10? into top 6! LIAM achieved part 1 of the plan to build a team, it is pretty much taken that a players best years tend to be from 24 /25 onward, so thats why the under developed 18 plus year olds are a necessary addition to a squad [ even on the edges or on loan ] Armstrong and Fayulu were part of this "build" as were Twine and Yu 3 out of 4 aint bad! Although Armstrong was the weakest of the trio but improved! Fayulu needs a bit of TLC if "homesick" a good run in the team maybe.. sell to buy? [ City's stratedgy ] Well looks like Norwich might do the same ! get rid of 2 centre pins and need to find replacements! so be wary LM it could fall out of bed, as they have never really [ recent times ] had a quality team to keep them in Prem . up down up down etc 2024/25 was supposed to have been their year! [ again! ] sorry to him go but that's football
The expectations at Norwich will be way higher than at Bristol City just because they have been there and done that more than once. Bristol City just drift around making big statements about things not important and making business decisions that boggle the mind, such as why no investment at all during the winter transfer window to back Liam in such a way that we might have done better. Lansdown needs to face up to what has become a bit of a sick joke when he allows his team to falter on many levels without any sign that he is willing to fix the problem. Another summer of discontent and questions faces us and I wonder if the solution, even if they bother to get one, will be worse than a play-off spot for the first time in 17 years? Just imagine that you are an up and coming manager looking to prove your worth at a club that is ripe for the picking, would anyone decent ever choose working under Lansdown given his history of utter apathy, lack of communication and constant decisions not to back his manager?
looking at a wider picture, than just spend and add to squad without giving the core plan a chance to ferment is rather narrow sighted. the squad from jan 1 to may 8th 2025 improved quite a lot we took on board YU, so that was a fee plus contracted wage, si it cant be said SL NEVER or the rest of those behind the scenes didnt "spend out money" A player on loan may give quite a lot or just enough, we did well with GE, HE GAVE IT HIS ALL! ? ... Yu obviously liked it here, and being on contract did improve a tad although fair to say he needs to be in his best position to really excel!
Breaking NEWS ! From #bristolcity ITV News West Country 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. Told Rob Edwards interested if/when vacancy comes up at Bristol City. please log in to view this image
they apply for permission the board discuss it the board then discuss with LM LM might be on holiday eventually permission given to approach Norwich discuss with LM ...... IF HE AGREE'S TO DISCUSS! LM makes a decision ........... LM may come back to City board and say they have offered this that other[ which is in line with what he wants ] Board may agree to these items / increase wage structure... contract ... etc LM makes a final decision ............. " does he stay or does he go "!
