chipdawg

I thought that for the Massengo one; it was at best 6 of 1, half dozen of the other. Certainly not a nailed on penalty. The Kalas challenge where he apparently "made no attempt to play the ball" was also bollocks. But **** it. Got a win, channel that bias into some more wins

I've always rated Nagy more than most, but if he wants to go then let's get some cash for him and reinvest. We have plenty of options in midfield

Actually, it's very much in line with the Sheff Wed judgement. They got found guilty for how they reported the sale of the ground, not the act of selling it. Derby (iirc) were in trouble for inflating the value of their ground, which Wednesday were specifically found not guilty of. And as others have said, I would think that the EFL will appeal The whole thing is an absolute farce, just ban clubs selling their grounds to their owners in this manner.

Yeah, I could see Paterson, Weimann and Eliasson having fairly free roles up front and O'Dowda and Brownhill playing either side of Pack and pushing forward. It's an attacking line up, however you arrange them PS many congratulations @havanatopia, though glad you got your priorities right and still knocked up a match thread on this very important day (by which I mean the first day of the season, of course)

I agree with the gist of your post, but it was never a foul. That referee was awful, barely seemed to understand the rules of the game

Thinking about it further, we lived a stones-throw from Filton before we left for the north so further connections there. Montreal though suffers/benefits from the Continental Interior Effect, which results in harsh winters and hit summers. I'd bet it's round about the same latitude as Bristol actually

That mince pie factory is what dragged my dad (and by extension, 3 year old me) north from Bristol 30-off years ago. Right at the start of the miners strike, the cake factory was located a stones throw from Carlton Main colliery- quite the introduction to Northern life for my dad.I haven'tlivedfurther south than Sheffield since (if you don't count a year in Massachusetts, which is at a lower latitude than anywhere in the UK). I worked in Barnsley for over a decade and despite it's many rough corners, it's a town and a club I have great affection for so I always look forward to these games. This is my first trip back since I left my job there in December. But there'll be no time for sentimentality and I expect a decent city win. We need to watch the boy McBurnie though by all accounts COYR PS watch for Airbus or BAE using their buying leverage to purchase parts of GKN as Melrose break it up. I suspect they're haggling for a good price

That's the spirit! (Though I fear you might be right)

Going to be -1 by the match finishes kids so wrap up warm. I'll be there, thermal base layer, ski jacket and all! People who are driving up may want to consider getting off at M1 j29, coming through Chesterfield and parking on a street in Heeley. Sheffield traffic is awful at the best of times and there is free parking and some good pubs (Sheaf View, The Brothers Arms, The White Lion, The Crown are all good, Tramshed if you like your hipster bottle bars) which I believe are fine with away fans If you are in town, West St is good for a party (if you like that kind of thing) Sentinel Brewhouse on Shoreham St is the best beer near the ground Enjoy everyone, 3-1 to The Mighty Reds PS Re: Sheff Utd and West Ham, what people forget is that had SU beaten an abject Wigan on the last day, they would have relegated West Ham. So despite WH stacking the deck unfairly, they still only have themselves to blame

We were the better team today, though it has to be said that Wednesday finished stronger than us. I thought we were defensively excellent and my Wednesday supporting mate couldn't believe we didn't score at least one goal. Brownhill was excellent and O'Dowda looked great too- the way they read the game makes me believe they're both destined to play at a higher level. Thought Taylor had some good spells too and Flint and Baker looked rock solid all game However, Bobby was too deep all game. When he got the ball in the final third he was always a threat but on occasion he was picking up the ball in front of the back 4. Also, Magnússon was the obvious weak link. He wasn't all bad, but he kept misreading the play and getting beaten too easily. I'd like to see Lloyd Kelly given a go there next time Joe isn't playing LB Decent performance though, I really think we're contenders this season

Luke Skywalker must be a red http://youtu.be/q1mfxGd0YCw

I thought Crane was a good signing when he arrived, lots of experience but I haven't seen Bristol much this season- live up north and actually don't particularly enjoy watching English club rugby. Luatua more fits the modern template for powerful, heavy back row forward and I guess he has a little bit of 'x-factor'. I've read he can play lock too, though I'd guess he'll come in to play 8 at Bristol? I love Super 15, when our daughter was first born I'd always take the early shift with her so I could watch games first thing while she slept on me. I saw Morahan a couple of times, he was playing centre at least one of those games so I'd assume he can tackle! It's difficult to tell in Southern Hemisphere rugby to be honest, so many breaks and broken tackles. It's just the way they play more than an inability to defend, it's one of the reasons I enjoy it. More freedom to attack less worrying about solid defence

Perhaps. I mean with the squad they're putting together and the league winner now going up automatically, promotion shouldn't be an issue and they'll be able to plan for the Premiership much earlier. Just seems odd that so many players should be buying in. With regard Luatua, I guess NZ aren't exactly short of back row options and perhaps they've told him their going a different direction. He's not the most 'subtle' of players, but I would think he'll be a good player over here I've watched a fair bit of Super 15 rugby (not so much since the little one figured out how to ask for cartoons!) and Morahan is dynamic in broken play from when I've seen him. Always difficult to tell how players will translate coming from Southern Hemisphere though as it's such a different style. He has ability though

Perhaps your right, but I can't imagine that any of them didn't have other offers. Luatua has 20-odd caps for the All Blacks for goodness sakes! I'm sure SL is putting his hand in his pocket, but still. Just seems like their recruiting to be in the top flight. Perhaps I underestimate to pull of Lam

Sorry, but the way Bristol are recruiting I just don't see that they expect to be in the Championship next season. I reckon they've been given the nod on an expended Premiership or a change to a no relegation system. Morahan, Luatua and Madigan would all have had decent options all over Europe if they wanted to play in the northern hemisphere, so why sign for a team who are going to be in the second tier? I'm sure they're well paid, but I can't imagine they'd earn significantly more than they would elsewhere in Britain, Ireland or France. Plus, these aren't players at the end of their careers, these are guys in their prime. Doesn't make sense unless Bristol know something we don't

I don't think it'd be 'ring fenced', I think they'd either make the financial and stadium rules so strict that promotion was practically impossible, or they'd have a 'hiatus' to allow the leagues to adjust. It certainly doesn't appear that they're considering it at the minute though, just seems like the perfect opportunity if a 14 team league is the aim

We'll see I guess. Take Irish and Leeds our of the Championship, not sure who there is that would meet the promotion requirements- especially if they got 'beefed up'. It might come to nothing, but it'd certainly be the opportunity to do such a thing, if that is indeed what the authorities are looking to do. Bristol certainly seem to be building a top flight team for next season

Either that or they've had a nod that the Premiership is going to be expanded next season (it's been rumoured for a while) and there'll be no relegation. The only shareholders in Premiership Rugby (or wherever its called) who aren't in the top flight are comfortably 1st and 2nd in the Championship

Timeline: 1. Sale Sharks sign expensive cross-code winger 2. Sale Sharks find they're spending rather a lot of money on wingers 3. Sale Sharks find reason to sack existing winger with whom they had a contract saving them wages and/or severance pay

A big one for me this, though can't make it due to family commitments. Grew up in Huddersfield, loads of mates and colleagues support them so you better do me proud today boys! 3-1 City. Tammy, Flint, Tomlin

Brighton were absolutely outstanding defensively tonight. Meanwhile, we huffed and puffed and created little of note. While I'm certainly not of the 'panic stations' persuasion, we are not functioning as an attacking unit at the minute. Not at all. LJ needs to do something to sort that out ASAP. In our defence though, I didn't think Brighton were that much more threatening. They scored one from the half way line and one deflected shot and other than some chances on the break that they were unlikely to have had if the score was still 0-0, they didn't create loads. Plus, Wilbs should have had an absolute, stonewall penalty. But still, not really good enough. At least we're still 3-0 better than Norwich though I'd also like to add that while he defended stoutly, Mark Little just doesn't have enough ability to play the way LJ wants the team to play. Flints lack of ability on the ball was also exposed a little tonight, but he brings enough else to compensate

The game's been fairly even to be honest. They scored one from the half way line and one that was deflected. That said, we haven't created enough chances and paid the price

My Barnsley-supporting friends are fairly gloomy about this-apparently they have 9 players unavailable from their 'full strength' squad. Therefore, I'm predicting 1-0 to The Tykes Only kidding, I reckon 2-0 to City, Tammy and Flint to score Excellent OP @havanatopia, Oakwell is the ground I have visited most in Britain (other than AG, though it's actually pretty close) and it's a special fixture for me too. Mainly for bragging rights at work. Glad to hear the funeral was as happy a time as these things can be One correction from your OP; Orgreave was actually a coking works, not a colliery. Hopefully it'll soon be known as part of the title of an Independent Enquiry too

Cardiff already look a proper Warnock team. Hate them more now than I did at 7.45 Only decision the ref has got right all night is their penalty The build up to our goal is exactly why they changed the rules regarding injured players. Immers fouled out lad (can't remember who it was now), saw space had opened up and stayed down to try and slow play We'be been shit, but Cardiff are just as bad. Decent wingers, defensively solid nothing through the minute. We'be created next to nothing but look to have more ability than them. Just failed to use it I'm nearly out of beer

Ah, get ya. Tomlin's getting flack anyway, but I do agree. If Tomlin let Tammy take it and it missed, Tomlin would get grief