Some might disagree with this,but I agree he was run ragged

My View On his day Manga can be quality but away at Boro and Bristol City,he was caught out on many occasions and made quite a few mistakes.


BRUNO MANGA NOT SO MAGNIFICENT AT BRISTOL CITY

Media Wales

07th March 2016

It is not often you can say Bruno Manga was run ragged, but for long periods at Ashton Gate the Gabon international had a torrid time with Robins’ striker Jonathan Kodjia the main thorn in his side.

Kodjia is a class act, but Manga found it hard to cope with him for long stretches.

Manga got turned innumerable times, was forced into last ditch tackles and his famously cool distribution had to be binned on occasion in favour of a good old punt up-field.

Manga shootsBruno Manga shoots at goal
Surprisingly, Manga ,looked a bit more assured when, in the second-half, Lee Peltier had gone off and Sean Morrison came into the heart of defence with Matthew Connolly pushed out to right-back.

It was the first time this season Manga and Morrison had played together, but it managed actually to keep a semblance of control.

As good as their striker was, he did not score. Conolly was hoofing up field and when morrisson came on, he was clearing into touch.
Manga was calm on the ball and even covered for other players mistakes.
Maybe he was noticed more as he was on the ball more.

Ratcliffe on Radio Wales was really not impressed and was giving him hell especially in the 2nd half

As Ostend earlier won MOM on our coach hands down gaining 38 out of a possible 49 votes, and that's from people that actually saw the match, if so many football supporters are wrong perhaps they need to do something else on a Saturday afternoon.

The defence looked very hesitant in that second half. Morrison, understandably, looked off the pace and seemed to put Connolly on edge. Kodjia turned Manga inside out a couple of times, but other than that he did well, A good tactic by Slade near the end, to put Digashwee on as a sweeper.

he had a slating ion BBC Wales Radio

Clean sheet away from home...that is all.

I was there and don't agree, he got turned 2 or 3 times but kept with the striker who either had to pass the ball off or had his shot blocked, don't remember Marshall making a save from an attack where Manga was turned.

He was also the only defender who looked to actually pass the ball, although he did give away a sloppy pass in the first half.

He couldn't have been that bad, we were under pressure for most of the second half and apart from a few long shots, Marshall was well protected and we kept a clean sheet.

Our best defender overall is Peltier, no doubt.
Connolly was as bad as Manga

I cant for the life of me understand why anybody would want to critisize a player who has been one of our best players of the last two seasons as we approach the last few months of the season.

He's been part of a defence that has lost only once in 9.

Why knock a players confidence by critisizing him when the team are on an upwards run is beyond me, typical Cardiff City.

I heard about Radcliffe's comments on the radio and I was amazed.

I had Manga as man of the match. He had to dig deep at times but if you look at the instances where he was turned he still got back and got himself/us out of trouble. In the 2nd half when the ball came into our area he always seemed to be the one clearing it.

Interestingly, when Morrison came on the playing from the back seemed to disappear and that's why Bristol had more of the ball in the 2nd half. With Pilkington upfront it's even more important for the CBs to be able to play the ball on the floor and that was sadly lacking from Morrison who frequently went for the long touch finder as in rugby !!

Manga's ball playing and pace put him out on his own as our top centre back and I don't think it is any coincidence that our better turn of form has been since Manga has been back in and 100% fit again.

Western Daily Press (Bristol paper) named Marshall and Manga as our 2 best players.

Didn't go to the game on Saturday and having listened on Radio Wales I thought Manga had a really bad game. However I have now watched the whole match on Cardiff City player and my opinion has changed because whilst Manga may have been turned a few times he NEVER gave up on anything from the first minute to the last. For me he gave a performance full of character and determination and, as a fan, I have always loved players who just never give up.

Manga, Marshall, Immers and Pilkington were the stand out players for me on Saturday, Ralls and O'Keefe put a shift in as well and we won a massive victory at a ground where Middlesbrough lost in January.

I agree that Manga got 'turned' by the Bristol lad several times (I think Kodja would give most defenders a torrid time) but I still thought the effort he put in to chase and retrieve his situations was immense!

He intercepted quite a few last gasp situation when Bristol were being allowed to attack by the whole Cardiff team and even the superb Marshall was grateful to him on more than one occasion!

For the radio listeners, Ratcliffe (a commentator I usually respect) has the occasional pre-menstrual day when assessing the Bluebirds and it sounds like this was one of them!

The problem with that is that you get a mental picture of what is occurring but as Castle Blue states above (and I also know from my own experiences) a look back at the game on TV later can show the real picture!

Manga (for me) was Man of the Match marginally ahead of 'Pilks' and Marshall for the effort he put in and for not giving up on any ball for the whole 90 minutes!

I work in Bristol and 2 of my team have Bristol City season tickets, both said how good Manga was and how they couldn't get past him!

Manga had Morrison next to him and was against one of the form strikers in the league.

Kept a clean sheet

And people criticise?


Utter madness, should be ashamed of yourselves.

Manga had Morrison next to him and was against one of the form strikers in the league.

Kept a clean sheet

And people criticise?


Utter madness, should be ashamed of yourselves.

settle down

There must have been a lot of poor defenders around last saturday if people state he was poor, so poor that he was in the Sky championship team of the week

Even when Manga made a mistake he sorted himself out and he put in blocks and tackles to make up for it.

The guy done the same in the home fixture, credit to him as he seems a real talent and has grabbed a few goals for Bristol this season.

The fact is we got a clean sheet and only 3 real efforts spring to mind for Bristol which was his volley in the first half, deflected chance which Marshall saved and Tomlin free kick.

I think second half when Peltier went off the defence went a bit hesitant when there was 50/50's and ended up running back to their own goal.

Instead of slating Manga all through this, give the Bristol striker credit he did cost around 1-2 million and has a good record for a team near the bottom.

So Kodija 'turned' him 2 or 3 times, but on each of those occasions Manga still stopped him making a shot or chance.

I played hundreds of times at centre half and would not be bothered in the slightest about being turned as long as I could block the striker off.

Just be glad it was Manga marking him as he would have left the others on their arses.

Have a look at Manga's match stats if you can find them. I saw them yesterday and was mightily impressed.

All the lads with me agreed he was outstanding, clearing time after time.

Ratcliffe has a bee his bonnet about him. He's never had a good word to say about any of our centre halfs because at the end of the day , well ..., they aren't him !

By the way, for all his talent Kodija only managed one shot- from an angle in the first half.

2nd half despite all their possession he didn't have 1.

Ask yourself this. Who prevented this ?

By the way, for all his talent Kodija only managed one shot- from an angle in the first half.

2nd half despite all their possession he didn't have 1.

Ask yourself this. Who prevented this ?

This post and the post before are spot on, although I would like to see the stats if anyone can find them. Manga was my MOTM