Bristol city (away)predictions

[jordan12rhodes]

Well done despair. Great 3 points and closer to the play offs..

Oh and burnlehs decline under one trick pony dyche is under way..

[AucklandRover]

I had a great sense of relief when I saw the score. When PL was appointed, I said that 14 points before the end of the year would represent success, and we are on track for that.
Only those who have attended the three games will know if there has been significant improvement in the way the team has played. Even if there hasn't, PL does seem to have been granted that little touch of luck GB seemed to be devoid of: red cards, deflections, penalties in our favour. Lambert also came in with a run of fixtures ahead of him that provided the opportunity he needed to get the team up-and-running, and to lift the fans. With FFP removed as well, things do seem be falling into place for him and the Club.
Any points-haul ABOVE 14 will represent a real step forward, and might even give us the impetus to reach the play-off. I have learned to expect the unexpected in this Division, though. Did anyone predict those wins for PNE and Huddersfield?

[jordan12rhodes]

U can't have it both ways aucks, claiming on the one hand Lambert has had favourable fixtures to get the results he has, then at the same time highlighting the unpredictable nature of the division regarding results in a subtle defence of GB. Lambert has made his own luck with a positive approach for 90 mins in games. That's the first time in as long as I can remember today that we've scored second half goals to win a game we were level in at half time.

[AucklandRover]

U can't have it both ways aucks, claiming on the one hand Lambert has had favourable fixtures to get the results he has, then at the same time highlighting the unpredictable nature of the division regarding results in a subtle defence of GB. Lambert has made his own luck with a positive approach for 90 mins in games. That's the first time in as long as I can remember today that we've scored second half goals to win a game we were level in at half time.

Fair point. What I was doing, though, was going back to my post when he was appointed, which said that our run of fixtures till the end of the year did provide a good opportunity for him to get some momentum going.
I still stand by my general points. I know you are one of those who believe in that saying, " You make your own luck", but it remains nonsensical to me, as "luck" - by definition - means those things outside the manager's control - like refereeing decisions and defle

[jordan12rhodes]

No, sorry, I do believe you make your own luck, esp in football. Its too big and detailed a job to explain what i mean on that point. As for bowyer? He's left a decent platform for a better manager than he is to have a fair chance of success. That's the best compliment I can pay him.

[AucklandRover]

No, sorry, I do believe you make your own luck, esp in football. Its too big and detailed a job to explain what i mean on that point. As for bowyer? He's left a decent platform for a better manager than he is to have a fair chance of success. That's the best compliment I can pay him.

So if a striker under, say, Bowyer hits the post three times and the ball bounces away, but the same striker - under Lambert - hits the post three times and the ball deflects into the goal on each occasion, you're saying that's down to improved management skills?
Or if a referee doesn't notice that the ball has crossed the line under Bowyer, but spots it under Lambert, it's because Lambert is a better manager?
You will have to give me a lobotomy to convince me of that.
Different managers have differing levels of ability, but the better ones don't "make their own luck"! Can't you see the expression doesn't make sense?
As I have said many times,

[jordan12rhodes]

I believe a manager of the standing of Lambert will get more decisions going for him than a lesser figure like bowyer. Controversial but IMO the truth. That's one element of what I mean by 'luck'.

I also have never called GB a 'bad manager'..

Are we going to have these chats ad infinium..?

[robinrover]

A more experienced manager will know when to make changes to players or tattics to influence the game in his favour
now I am agreeing that Gary bowyer didn't have the rub of the green so to speak and Lambert is having more fortune however one thing that has changed is the use of subs
Gary bowyer was non existent at using subs but Lambert uses at least 2 maybe 3 at crucial times
now over the course of the season this will pay off for us
You get this from experience when to make the changes
Gary was very apprehensive at doing this.

[Despair]

I personally can see where both are coming from.
Aucks is correct in saying that not ALL is down to good/better management. And where one is a good one in one employ, does not equate to being likewise at any/every other.
However, I do believe that the 'general trend' of performance and points gained are seriously influenced by the manager. This being brought about by not just his approach to his task, but others around him, the squad under his charge and their reaction towards him, plus the luck factor one way or the other.
It's all a complex mix of , experience, skill, luck, tools, behaviour/character etc. As a 'blend' that ultimately determines a outcome.
I believe Jordan does not actually attend much, if at all. Aucks does not for geographic reasons. I do sparingly, and Robin does regularly (as does Dan, Howie etc.)
So I take Jordan's view with a pinch of salt, and Aucks with a consideration of not personally observing either GB or PL. This is not a criticism, but my take upon

[robinrover]

Couldn't agree more
venkys have surprisingly done something correct and appear to have done it at the right time
if we can get a good haul of points over our bogey period of Christmas we might just sneak into the play offs
the embargo lift enables Paul Lambert to bring in just a few players which will turn us into possible promotion candidates next season if not this one
it is still early doors as we are still in the honeymoon period and we are still to see how this squad will react under Lambert if we have a dodgy spell but I am slowly regaining confidence and we are looking like a team that could trouble any team in this league.