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Someone not happy with the improvements made to their "Ground"

He Should have refused to come on this time

It's pretty sad isn't it. I'm old enough to remember when facup saturday meant getting up at 7am and getting the mirror or the sun (or both) for their facup specials and watching blanket cup themed coverage all morning leading up to the finale of the season.

Chris Bryant MP has just Tweeted that this is a lie by Abramovich’s PR team to make him appear less of a Putin follower. Between Abramovich & Chris Bryant, I know who I would choose to believe.

At least its a week after we play them!

That is something I find a bit annoying, a lack of research. I know OSIB sometimes does the same but they then Google the information to find out for definite. I do enjoy the pod overall though. I don't mind the ranting but it has been better with Neil, Les and DaveFevs on there as they mostly provide a more rounded view on the situation.

It was never hatred Dave - just surprise and bemusement about how you can be so passionate about a football club to which you have zero links - just because they are successful and ‘good’ ... you’ve even interacted with Geoff Twentyman about your love for Liverpool FC - just found it all a bit strange - still, congrats on your club winning yet another trophy - you’ll sleep soundly under your Robbie Fowler duvet tonight ... ??

Does that mean Lee Bowyer will throw on Troy Deeney! ???

Pearson’s lack of loans is easy to understand in my opinion. He is trying to build a long term side and squad. There is no point in doing that with loan players who won’t be here next season. If we had a better squad and were pushing for play offs then I think he would get a loan or two to make us stronger and hopefully get us over the line. There was no point this season in getting a loan or two and finish 12th instead of 16th. What’s the point ? Waste of money and resources. The only benefit would be to make the fans feel a bit better. It’s a long term strategy and loans by definition are short term

The 'joke' was made many years earlier in one of Tom Sharpe's Blott novels, when the lady in question mistook a thermos flask. Does anybody on here remember the wonderful Tom Sharpe novels? Did anybody actually read them? My apologies if, once again, I have derailed the thread.

Bring on a keeper for the penalty shoot out, doesn’t save any of 11 and misses his. Cant make that up

I just love it that we provoke so much debate! Ages & other facts - sorry listeners, can't get it right all the time! As I have written before, i always welcome new contributors and as @NcnsBcfc has shown since his introduction to our panel its not just about Ian's views and for those that say we are hypercritical I'd refer to @Curr Avon comments earlier in this thread. It's not compulsory listening but I guess for some it is becoming a guilty pleasure. PS - sound better quality now?

On current form, you would think Newcastle are pulling clear meaning Leeds and Everton are in danger, If Leeds get a new Manager 'bounce', it could just be Everton staring down the barrel. As I've family in Liverpool that are all mad keen Evertonians, I would like to see them survive but it may be their time to drop and regroup prior to moving into their new stadium. personally, I think Brentford are coming back down. Norwich, Watford and Brentford. That's straight back down for all 3 innit?

Still blaming the efl, Morons the efl have given them more support then they gave Chester Bury and hereford

The Forest comparison isn’t relevant. They are going for the play offs. Regardless, I was answering the question of why the lack of loans. Whether you or I disagree with the current policy doesn’t really come into that. The reason is clear. I would say that for a podcast to be most affective it needs debate and even sometimes for people to play devils advocate to create that debate. The fact that nobody could put the counter argument for not loaning players in (Pearsons argument) meant that an opportunity for debate was lost. As Fevs mentioned, some contributors seemed to pretend they didn’t know. Let’s not confuse understanding the reason behind the decision with agreeing with the decision itself. I actually do completely agree with Pearson on this but other views are fair enough. I’m certainly not going to disagree strongly with fans wanting short term plus points by way of loans even if I believe it just slows down long term success. It’s just personal preference.

Looks like Russia are about to be suspended by FIFA, so they are out of the World Cup if so.

Can you just imagine for a minute the media meltdown if it was Everton, Newcastle or Leeds. "they're too good for this league blah blah" Most of they're matches would be televised with all of the media foaming at the mouths as their Premiership inflated waged large squads plus their obligatory parachute payments for failure pump 3 or 4 goals per match past their hapless & skint FFP restricted Championship opponents every week in front of their frenzied fans who appear all over the stadiums sparking sporadic fights with the locals. All it will underline is how unfair and unbalanced the Championship has become and the urgent need for a salary cap that is clear and more importantly, policed.

About time there was a breakaway from FIFA. If they get this call wrong and leave Russia in the WC maybe that could be a catalyst for something that should have happened decades ago.

Or a nicer club! Funded by oligarch money stolen from the Russian population!

It’s really mild criticism though, isn’t it? Abramovich is close to Putin & got obscenely wealthy as a result. He’s also already formulated his escape plan from any issues in the UK by his friendship with the Israeli Government (past & present) so this handing the club over stuff is just a fig leaf, utter bollocks. It’s a disgrace he, Usmanov, Demim, the Man City & Newcastle owners were ever allowed to buy/invest in English clubs.

Could really screw up the Qatar World Cup. You never know, teams might boycott it if any sort of Russian presence allowed. A fitting end to a tournament that should never have been staged there. Although Putin removed, Russia withdraws from Ukraine, normal service resumed, would be a much better option.

The Fewers will get upset when they find out that Championship ready sprinklers have been replaced by Championship ready squirters.

1995. Matt Jackson after we dominated the entire game, they went on to win the cup. Then in 1999 we lost 2-0 to them, Ibrahima JohnandYoko scoring twice late on

Always hilarious when Bristolian Liverpool ‘fans’ who have been to Anfield about five times, text the WhatsApp group celebrating, about 45 minutes after asking who Harvey Elliott is!

Watched Frank bemoaning it so I had a look.... Dear oh dear.. Even with VAR they couldn't get it right. I mean it's not even borderline, it's handball, ref said he didn't see it . Fair enough but the VAR guys did and they said no penalty you don't need to have a look. ..???????

I heard "Tess of the Dormobiles" on Radio 6 Saturday morning, Brilliant track.

Couldn’t agree more - book him the first time - does it again he gets sent off and an outfield player has to come on! Respect should be shown - like Kelleher did!

Can't understand why the ref didn't book him as he had to virtually push him back to his line for each pen

I got it on the day it was out and can attest to its continuation of fabulous lyricism and offbeat subject matter. It's perhaps a little more professional and less endearingly ramshackle than early 'Biscuit', but who can but love couplets like "See you later undertaker/In a while necrophile"*. * From "I'm Getting Buried In The Morning", a song about a bloke's last day on death row.

Totally agree with all that but, given the nature of Putin's regime and Abramovich's ties to him, even mild criticism is a departure from the norm. Interestingly it's now being reported officials in Ukraine contacted Abramovich a few days ago for help in trying to broker a peace deal. I've no idea how true this is or how committed he is to doing it but the fact a Russian billionaire close to Putin is trying to be seen as against the war - and two further billionaires have criticised it - furthers a sense that even the Russian Oligarchs who have previously been loyal to Putin aren't willing to support him when he goes against their interests. It's not a lot but it is another thing that weakens the sense of total control and authority that Putin relies on to prevent any internal challenges. I completely agree the handing over the club is absolute bollocks and it's both disgraceful that oligarchs from autocratic regimes have been able to gain so much financial influence over English football (and the UK in general) and that we are now becoming reliant on those same oligarchs to talk Russia down from imminent destruction. Whatever the ultimate outcome of this, it really is all another symptom how how seriously ****** our entire society (and the wider world) is.

If we're honest 200k or 3.4m they are both tiny amount of cash to you top premiere league teams. I think the reason most of the top teams field weakened squads is fixture congestion with lots of them competing in European cups as well. They cut their losses on the domestic cups if they think it will.benifit them in the league in Europe. That's the Europa prize money minus the tv revenue, you see why the domestic cups get a poor priority. Stage Prize Money Group stage participation €3.63million Group stage win €630k Group stage draw €210k Group stage winners €1.1million Group stage runners up €550k Last 32 knockout round participation €500k Last 16 knockout round participation €1.2million Quarter final participation €1.8million Semi final participation €2.8million Final participation €4.6million Winners €8.6million

Virgil's was the funniest pen. Kepa openly stood that side of the goal and van Dijk still smashed past him ?

I'd have thought with the power of hindsight he'd have just dived the right way for every penalty.

After the second time of asking the ref should have booked him, arrogant piece of shit. The young Liverpool goalkeeper on the other hand showed so much more respect and delivered! Good ending to a really good 0 - 0 draw.

Unless D-day is moved AGAIN ?

It may not be worth much financially but there's still plenty of glory attached. And it's another precious opportunity for lower league clubs to go toe to toe against the game's aristocrats.

Local women will be dribbling in the stands.

You really aren’t a Deeney fan are you?! Remember you saying he’d fail at Birmingham cos ‘his legs have gone’ - this season Chris Martin 34 league games, 9 goals, - Nahki Wells 24 league games, 2 goals - Antoine Semenyo 17 league games, 6 goals - Troy Deeney 18 league games, 4 of those as a sub, 4 goals - given the goals to games ratios that’s an awful lot of ‘legs that have gone’ ... TD is still a very capable Championship striker ...

Thing is here, can you imagine the Brummies in the sex shops? ”Alroite, I’d loike your biggest dildo bab” ”No problem babby, is it for some hard anoil” ”Nah babs, that’d be bostin but it’s to lob on the pitch at the blooows” ”You’re a louying bastard babs, but I’ll sell you it and when you use it you’ll be blartin” ”Alroite, I’ll have it. G’d bye t’Jane” Methinks it’s a way for the adult shops in small Heath to increase sales…

You won’t ever win anything with a dodgy Kepa ?

Yessssssss, get in there Liverpool. Just for you @And Its Smith and @BS4 on Tour.... You can be joined in harmony tonight in your hatred of me liking another club.

Good result for the second biggest team in Bristol

I worked with Radio 5 live Simon Mann's brother for a couple of years in the nineties. He (brother, not Simon) was a Derby "fan" - I've no idea why, he was Bristolian as far as I knew. Would wear a Derby top on work skittles nights etc. Funny thing was that I'd seen Derby play and been to the baseball ground more times than him, and that was only through watching City play. Try telling these people they aren't actually fans and they get all offended.

Go Poland!

FIFA showing their true colours. I suppose it was asking a bit much expecting that they'd do the right thing first time around. Shame on UEFA for backing this position. Time to bin them both off.

No, I just said it was skewed, didn’t say take it out. I wasn’t agreeing or disagreeing with Swan either. It provides some added context to an “average”, which by virtue of being an average doesn’t always tell the full story, especially for someone who’s not played many minutes. I could’ve just replied with a figure, e.g. 2.09 per 90. I could provide the whole squad….here it is. Looking for extremes in data, rather than just averages, was one of my big learnings in analysing data from my time spent at Warwick Business School, especially when taking small sample sizes. I surveyed customer satisfaction survey scores from London Zoo (was actually a large sample). We were presented with averages, made our conclusions, then they gave us the raw data and we saw the odd crap score (and comments) that highlighted an issue with a single employee. If you’re bored, the other big learning is referenced in my “placebo” thread from a few seasons back. When I’m buying something from Amazon, I look at the review score, but I always read a few of the reviews where they give 0 stars. I don’t remove them and recalculate the average, I look at why they gave 0. Was it a product feature that is key to my usage? Is it a poor returns experience? Etc.

This is absolutely the point. I am also frustrated in particular the likes of Davis signing foe Forest. He would have been great in the position up front with AS and AW, with Martin back up and in as suited. But that is what frustrated me with the presumptions on loans/no loans that the FBC Podcasters were making. How do we know that City didn’t cast an eye on Davis or other players? Is NP really ”anti-loans” for City as they kept saying? Pearson has loaned in the past at clubs. I interpret much of what NP says as tied to what is going on at owner/board level. I saw it that he wasn’t going to waste funds on a player in a pretty much dead rubber season during a three year minimum rebuild plan when we are struggling with finances. If we were fighting to stay up or go up, I’m pretty sure the purse strings would have been loosened slightly and damn sure NP would have loaned the right character to get us better success. Do they not realise that we probably spent a lot on loans over the last few years which have contributed to our financial problems now, and have often contributed to blocking a pathway for a young academy player? Do they not realise it costs to loan GOOD players like Davis, Garner, Tammy, Tomlin, etc? I do think that a lot of the contributing factors behind NP’s decisions at times is what is going on with contracts, finance, potential plans to change ownership, etc. Look, if Pearson stays or goes is neither here nor there as far as my influence over ultimately SL decision making, but I do think there is no magic wand, we have been wastefully managed at least since we came back up to the Championship. Squandering money raised through good transfer fees to keep us treading water at this level. My expectations of this club are not low, they’ve become even more realistic over the last few years. My dreams for City are always high however, and I always think well maybe next season... The reality for me supporting City since season 1966-67 season is that we have been decidedly average apart from one second tier promotion, 4 seasons in the top flight, a few yoyo promos/relegations mainly between 2nd tier and 3rd tier, 3 league cup semi-finals and a couple of notable FA cup wins against Leeds and Liverpool. That’s not to dismiss those individual achievements, we all loved them, but lets be honest, collectively over 55 seasons or so, that’s hardly setting the world alight from the 6th(?) largest City in the UK. That also doesn’t mean to say that I don’t have aspirations for City and we get to the top flight or win a trophy soon. Ha, well, maybe next season... What I would find interesting from the FBC podcast @headhunter is what would they say would be their ideal model and maybe person to lead us into more success? Would be a good debate. Would also be interested to see how you @Davefevs evaluate the situation as I do think you try taking a fairly measured view of our progress (or lack of) as a club. I would also like to add that I myself feel just as knee jerk, angry, frustrated, whingeing, etc after a game like yesterdays, as much as the next fan. But I’ve got to the stage where I enjoy a range of views which might offer some more insights, possible ideas and offering solutions (and hope!) for debate. Again, despite some criticism for the FBC podcast, it gets me listening, and fair play to the time you guys (particularly @headhunter) put into this. The Rob Newman interview was excellent, so thanks so much for that.

Nicky Tesco from The Members

I know people won’t like this, but, he hasn’t got anything like “his squad” yet. He has signed just 4 players he expected to be here in year 3…Weimann (re-sign), James, Atkinson and Tanner. Of course there are some existing players who will be on that journey too. But it isn’t even a full eleven. Finances have made it very difficult to “trade”…made worse when the likes of Diedhiou left for free, giving him nothing additional to spend. I think he’s trying to tread water against the tide at the mo’, and even if it is helped by points deductions of Derby and Reading, we’ve had a season (so far) of not really having to look over our shoulder. I think that’s a positive, especially when you’ve blooded plenty of youngsters, some of whom have suddenly either given hope for ourselves in the future or worst case (contradictory) will be sold for fees that sort out our finances to a great degree. Its bloody frustrating, but I’ve really enjoyed this season. I do wonder why some actually support us? ??