Wright started the 1st game Nunez didn't that's all we know. I believe the reasons behind that decision are unknown, unless you have additional information I don't. In which case please share ? I wouldn't have sacked Farke nor Wagner, but we are where we are.
So you drew a conclusion from the very limited information you had that Manning thought Wright was better than Nunez even though Manning has never publicly expressed that view. There could be a 101 other reasons why he made his decision including your assumption, but the truth is you don't know why the decision was made.
I'm wondering if the main issue at the moment is more about lacking a serious, creative ACM / 10 rather than Manning's tactics. I don't think it's Crnac's role and haven't seen Marcondes or Schwartau grab it when given their chance. It's all a bit laboured and predictable. Who can be Sargent's Buendia?
Those of us who read Bristol City's board when we took on Manning saw that the majority were glad to see the back of him because of his non-stop sideways, backwards style of play and his refusal to change. Those who supported him because they had finished in the top 6 were swiftly reminded that they got there due to a boost in form when Manning was off on compassionate leave and the coaching staff took over. Based on that and what we have seen ourselves we have got another Russell Martin on our hands - a one trick pony who refuses to change his tactics no matter how bad the results. I appreciate that it is ridiculous to suggest sacking a Head Coach after 5 games but if this level of performance and results continue then he has got to go before the end of the year and, as Carrabuh and Robbie say, the owner has got to look at Knapper as well because, with a couple of exceptions, all the players he has brought in are no better or even worse than what we already had.
What a well thought out, unbiased appraisal of Manning's first 5 games !!!!!! How insightful to identify that Harry Darling is worse than what we already had !!!!!! The aimless backwards / sideways style of play started well before Manning arrived. If anything his coaching from the sidelines seems to suggest it's something he's trying to change. Your views might get more support if they were a little more objective. Everyone was disappointed with last night's performance and clearly significant improvements need to be made, but the game needs to be put in perspective.
I did say ' with a couple of exceptions' and obviously Darling is one of them. I have seen absolutely nothing, in the home games in particular, of anything changing in Manning's tactics but, like everything else, it is a matter of opinion. I can only be objective on what I have seen and that is my opinion to which I am entitled. Last season we were the 2nd highest scorers in the league under Thorup so something must have changed for the worse.
Seems obvious to me, Nunez was fit, came on as a sub. Wright started. No mention of any injuries reported regarding Nunez. I doubt Manning was picking the team he didnt think was best. I think its a very fair inference given the evidence.
Crnac is on record saying that he's played that role for most of his career: "He (Manning) told me that he sees me at that 'number 10', left or right," said Crnac. "That's the role I've played most of my life. I like it, especially when you get to play with a striker like Josh (Sargent)."
I don’t agree that the signings are worse than we already had. Any new signing carries a degree of risk, so a good chunk will not work out. I’ve seen nothing to suggest they couldn’t all (but of course definitely won’t all) be an improvement. The first key issue being that they all seem unfit. Otherwise, sadly, I agree. It’s been a bad start, with no clear reasons to be optimistic it may improve - like under Farke’s start we deserved better from performances etc
Why each year since the Farke days does our side seem unfit when we start a season? It is the same unfitness that killed any chance of staying up during the covid season when we had the restart we were woefully unfit. Why do we never seem to be fit enough or injured? If we have had lots of players in and they are unfit at least those that have been with the club all summer should be fit and ready to go. If a player isn't fully fit I'd prefer to bring them on as a sub for 30 mins at the end of the game rather than them start and tire easily
I agree with carrabuh; he has bulked up since coming to us, and even more so over the summer. Possibly under instruction in the belief that the Championship needs it. If, as carrabuh says, you look at clips from his time in Croatia, he was much less bulky, but nevertheless very strong when it came to withstanding contact and levering opponents off the ball. I think he's one of the most skillful and intelligent players we have, as well as one of the best strikers of the ball. But that doesn't automatically translate into effectiveness in a team not set up to exploit the undoubted talent there. Last season our attacking play was biased heavily towards the left side, the focus being to get the ball to Sainz and Sargent. Crnac, who wasn't expected to be a regular starter, ended up making 38 Championship appearances and finished as our third top scorer (7 goals); that's despite him appearing to be invisible to team mates, whose brains and vision seemed to be fixed (fixated) on S & S. IMO he's well capable of playing as a 10, but neither he nor anyone else can be "creative" without those around them doing their bit. Wes Hoolahan regularly gave the ball away, or played what seemed an aimless pass into empty space, not because he lacked skill or creativity but because of what those around him did or didn't do. Re. Ante's reference to Sargent, Josh could be for Ante what Holt was for Hoolahan.
As I said there could be 101 explanations including that Manning thought Wright was the better player.
Call me old fashioned, and some of you will, but I agree with the philosophy of Farke, Neil, Lambert, Saunders and others that the first priority is 100% fitness. I doubted the fitness levels under Thorup and certainly under Manning. Whether the theory and tactic is based on the idea that if you pass the ball amongst yourselves you only need fitness levels for short bursts I can't say but something appears to be seriously wrong on that front and needs sorting out quickly with a long season in front of them.
Agreed. Don't know what Manning's teams are known for in terms of fitness. Keeping an open mind, particularly because he highlighted the preseason planing that was organised before his appointment as a cause for concern.
