At this point in the season, how would you rate Pearson as manager

[somebum]

Was just wondering what city fans thought of Pearson so far.

[DB11]

7/10

[Stuliasz]

Excellent. He seems tactically sound, team selections are generally good and the substitutions he makes seem to pay off more often than not. Getting the results to keep us in and around the top of the table too so can't complain.

[somebum]

A guy I was talking to said he wasn't impressed at the way City were playing, but I guess that will come later?

[iancognito]

We're playing some decent stuff even if the end product isn't always there. His signings have been mostly successful and the only time you hear him giving interviews is pre and post game. The points we've dropped aren't directly to do with any decisions he's made, so generally very good.

8/10

[renards]

Difficult one to call.

Has followed a string of poor managers inc a diobolical one + we are in the third division, so bound to look half decent.

However, the team, manager and tactics seem to have been sussed + we are made to look very ordinary by poor teams.

Based on recent performances (inc a poor one yesterday regardless of result) and using Wenger/ Fergie as a 9/10 guide I give no more than 5/10

[Trav Le Bleu]

Based on recent performances (inc a poor one yesterday regardless of result) and using Wenger/ Fergie as a 9/10 guide I give no more than 5/10

So a manager who loses or draws games he really should win is worth 9/10?

9/10 for Pearson it is then!

More seriously, I'm happy with the guy without getting over excited. Unlike previous managers of recent years he not afraid to critcise his team when necessary and he seems to be able to spot where changes are needed (most of the time) and use subs effectively.

[Daggers]

6/10

I think recent matches have proved that he is not tactically aware, has not used subs to our advantage and has dithered when it comes to decisions. Hopefully yesterday proved a point to him that taking attacking decisions and risking formation changes sooner rather than later can be beneficial.

On the other hand our squad is fitter and at a higher state of motivation than in seasons gone by. Plus, when he got around to switching the formation yesterday he proved that he can instill a desire not to quit.

Less Milwalls and Cobblers, more Cheltenhams and Rovers please.

[Webbo]

7/10. A little tactically inflexible but all his signing have come off and he has a quiet authority about him that we haven't had since Brian Little.

So far so good.

[Thracian]

Considering we are potentially top of the League if we won our game in hand it would be harsh to have expected any better.

Okay, I think we have failed to win some vital points that could have taken us away from the pack - and that will be important in time - but there are always surprises and just as we were a fully justified penalty away from winning at Brighton before ending up with nothing, we could easily have lost or drawn yesterday despite another nailed-on penalty.

But there are always hiccups in any season and , given that, I fail to see how anyone would be disgruntled at our position. A quarter of the way through we have given ourselves a genuine chance by manouevering into what is arguably pole position.

At this stage that's really all we could do.

The challenge now is to keep improving and to keep all first team contenders fit, fresh, confident and movitated.

I'd give Pearson close to 7/10.

I still think the team has been allowed to do silly things on occasions. I think he's been wrong to keep Gradel stuck on one flank. I think he's been neglectful in not securing proper cover at right-back, centre-midfield and up front, I think our free-kicks have generally been a disgrace and I'm not happy that that decent reserves like Adams, Hayles, Henderson, Porter have spent too much time on the sidelines.

I'm also aware though that he's still a novice manager and accept that he won't get everything right all the time. Overall though he's a godsend compared to the other shit we've had to put up with.

[Head Honcho]

Excellent. He seems tactically sound, team selections are generally good and the substitutions he makes seem to pay off more often than not. Getting the results to keep us in and around the top of the table too so can't complain.

I tended to think before yesterday that he lacked a plan b and on the back of one good set of substitutions I'm not going to change my mind just yet!

I do still give him 7.5/10 though.

[Kopfox]

7/10

Think he is ok, but strikes me as a little stubborn in his team selections, ie same team every week, although in the recent past we have said managers were changing things every week!

But by sticking with Howard who is slow, lumbering etc Gradel who is a show pony this was starting to cost us.

BUT yesterday he was forced into changes near the end of the game for fear of losing, so he threw his caution to the wind, and my what a difference the three subs made.

Keep this team for Yeovil please.

[Thracian]

7/10

Think he is ok, but strikes me as a little stubborn in his team selections, ie same team every week, although in the recent past we have said managers were changing things every week!

But by sticking with Howard who is slow, lumbering etc Gradel who is a show pony this was starting to cost us.

BUT yesterday he was forced into changes near the end of the game for fear of losing, so he threw his caution to the wind, and my what a difference the three subs made.

Keep this team for Yeovil please.

Gradel is not a show pony. In fact he's been in the only teams at City that have ever won things in the last five years.

I realise that after so many years of indifferent football at the Walkers, some people have a built in hatred for anyone who doesn't tackle like an All Black. But Gradel has immense talent and there is no-one I'd like to call on more when it comes to winning a vital game.

If anything I think he's been trying too hard to impress. I'd like to see him do the simple things more and only try to use his individual skills when he's a lot closer to goal.

But his flawed decision-making is understandable. He's aware that he has competition for his place and will want to impress. He just doesn't always go the right way about it, that's all, and if the manager has told him to keep taking people on then doing so and failing will be frustrating for him.

Pearson's right to a point but should perhaps qualify when and where Gradel should do his dribbling and also insist that someone tries to make an overlap or offer an off-the-ball run to help give defenders around Gradel more to think about. Gradel, for his own part, needs to mix dribbling and passing so that defenders are kept in two minds.

It's all about coaching really and certainly nothing to do with lack of ability or effort. Nor of confidence. Even the City team members acknowledge that Gradel is the most skillful player in the camp and we need to get the most out of him instead of chucking him on the scrapheap because he's not yet the finished article...something I warned about lots of times despite the claims that he's been over-hyped.

We really are short-sighted on occasions. This comment is not about keeping Adams out of the side either. Adams is a good player in his own right and I really don't care if Adams starts, with Gradel on the bench or vice-versa. I've always thought that both should be used. But we shouldn't pretend that, because a couple of sub play out of their skins for 15 minutes they can do that for 90. Or that Adams will cope with close marking any better than Gradel. Cos he won't. It is teamwork and movement which will do for man-markers.

[hesapeepingtom]

hes doing a good job with what hes got soon as we get a decent forward in and another midfielder all will be well oh and another right back! january sales!

[Lovejoy]

We've conceded goals, haven't won every single match so I'll give him a generous 5/10 .

[lcfc81]

I think he is just what we need.

Calm, thoughtful, not reactional.

It strikes me he doesn't jump to quick fire decisions

He is not obsessed by fame or one liners.

In a world where no one is perfect, I think he is perfect for us.

He does need a full season however before real judgements can be made.

[marbelladave]

Gradel is not a show pony. In fact he's been in the only teams at City that have ever won things in the last five years.

It's all about coaching really and certainly nothing to do with lack of ability or effort. Nor of confidence. Even the City team members acknowledge that Gradel is the most skillful player in the camp and we need to get the most out of him instead of chucking him on the scrapheap because he's not yet the finished article...something I warned about lots of times despite the claims that he's been over-hyped.

We really are short-sighted on occasions. This comment is not about keeping Adams out of the side either. Adams is a good player in his own right and I really don't care if Adams starts, with Gradel on the bench or vice-versa. I've always thought that both should be used. But we shouldn't pretend that, because a couple of sub play out of their skins for 15 minutes they can do that for 90. Or that Adams will cope with close marking any better than Gradel. Cos he won't. It is teamwork and movement which will do for man-markers.

Nail>>>>>>Head

Overall I think Pearson is a decent manager, where I have issues is with the coaching, particularly going forward.

We are far too ridged, our wingers are isolated and Gradel has had no support since Gilbert got injured. Long balls to Howard are largely a waste of time and our set pieces are awful.

Anyone know who is our main coach in these areas? I have no idea if it is Pearson or not but whoever it is really does need to sort some things out.

Just a thought. Why not play Adams and Gradel? Adams on the right, Dyer left and Gradel free to support Fryatt. Play the ball to feet, with the players we have, you know it makes sense!

[Finnegan]

6/10

I think recent matches have proved that he is not tactically aware, has not used subs to our advantage and has dithered when it comes to decisions. Hopefully yesterday proved a point to him that taking attacking decisions and risking formation changes sooner rather than later can be beneficial.

On the other hand our squad is fitter and at a higher state of motivation than in seasons gone by. Plus, when he got around to switching the formation yesterday he proved that he can instill a desire not to quit.

Less Milwalls and Cobblers, more Cheltenhams and Rovers please.

Pretty much. Let's not overlook the fact he's still pretty new to this and fairly young in management terms. The negatives that Daggers lists are things you'd hope will develop with experience.

That'll be the measure of Pearson, how he grows, whether he learns from his mistakes and learns with the team.

[smokey]

He is doing a very good job!

If we win our game in hand we are top of the league, we are in the quater finals of the only cup we can win so what more can the man do!!

I think if he buys a Central Midfielder, Striker and Right Back in Jan and funds it by moving on a couple of players like DJ and maybe even Mattock then we will be there or there abouts come the end of the season!