I think its just shows how bad Manning's coaching was

It was abundantly obvious to me watching the team under him that players did not know what to do when they received the ball. There were no drilled in patterns of play or patterns of player movement to give options to the player in possession of the ball. They either had nobody to pass to other than an easy backwards or sideways pass or they had to pause to look for options which led to us getting caught on the ball. Opposition teams worked out that if they pressed our midfield (especially Topic) or full backs we would eventually give it away. We could not progress the ball up the pitch against aggressive pressing teams.

Couple that with the fact the players were not fit (not sure whose fault that is given we have an extensive fitness team who are presumably still there) and it was a terrible combination.

I think Manning is a classic "FA Coaching Badges" product with his "let the players work things out for themselves" manager speak which is just lazy coaching for me. It may work for Manning if he gets lucky with the right group of players or when things are going well but in general i think footballers like to be told what to do, at least when it comes to the basics of team shape etc. A friend of mine met one of the players recently and he just said that they all know exactly what they are doing now!

Posted By: Jim on January 21st 2026 at 10:58:50

Message Thread

I would assume most things/people at Colney are the same we.ve had for a while, (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Jan 21, 09:32:53
- Ali Ahmed is a shocking omission (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Jan 21, 11:04:31
  - Up the Canada (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Jan 21, 11:12:51
    - what a knob (n/m) (NCFC) - Jumbo1, Jan 21, 13:14:30
    - Good grief (n/m) (NCFC) - Old Git, Jan 21, 12:47:14
    - What a c*nt (n/m) (NCFC) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Jan 21, 11:25:15
    - "Divorced" (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Jan 21, 11:15:37
      - :D (n/m) (NCFC) - Lentil Weaver, Jan 21, 15:07:36
      - Shocked (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Jan 21, 11:26:24
- It has happened to us before (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Jan 21, 10:38:43
  - I think the most astonishing part of our turn around (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Jan 21, 10:52:02
    - I think its just shows how bad Manning's coaching was (NCFC) - Jim, Jan 21, 10:58:50
  - The squad wasn't really finding its feet under Manning (NCFC) - norwaay, Jan 21, 10:48:05
    - Injuries played a big role (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Jan 21, 11:23:34
      - He was playing 3 at the back... chrisene a centre back. (NCFC) - ParrotPuncher, Jan 21, 11:43:32
        
        Slimane was injured tbf (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Jan 21, 11:47:19
        
        And Wright has been in every squad possible. But Details. (n/m) (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Jan 21, 11:49:38
        
        Yet didn't feature. (NCFC) - ParrotPuncher, Jan 21, 11:52:53
- It's got nothing to do with the change of manager (NCFC) - Klobo04, Jan 21, 10:08:22
  - Any video of the season (subject to continued improvement natch) (NCFC) - camcan, Jan 21, 10:13:17
- Managers don't make much of a difference (n/m) (NCFC) - jamesward, Jan 21, 09:56:57
  - wtf we've changed managers, has manning gone? (NCFC) - Tombs, Jan 21, 10:33:03
    - I think PC is a 'manager' and currently I think he is calling the shots (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Jan 21, 11:07:51
- Absolutely amazing what a difference a manager can make (NCFC) - Old Git, Jan 21, 09:54:31
  - I still don't know whether Topic, Medic, Crnac and Shlupp are good enough. (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Jan 21, 10:50:03
    - Topic ok..Medic too slow..Shlup shorterm contract (n/m) (NCFC) - The Ghost MP1969, Jan 21, 10:58:28
    - Topic and Crnac will come good (IMO), Schlupp was only a short time signing? (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Jan 21, 10:57:49
    - Forson probably on that list still, and for the same reason as most (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Jan 21, 10:53:37
      - Yep (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Jan 21, 11:13:32
- Different mentality. Coaches coaching differently (NCFC) - ParrotPuncher, Jan 21, 09:54:15
  - I suspect there is a direct correlation between lack of fitness and injuries. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Jan 21, 10:46:02
    - There also seems to be a correlation with form. Players seem to play through knocks more (NCFC) - Jim, Jan 21, 11:01:08
  - Maybe different expectations of what is needed (NCFC) - The Ghost MP1969, Jan 21, 09:59:52

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