Sandhurst Red

If they lose their next 2 - Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth they are in big trouble. 

You could argue Southampton will be out of contention for automatic by then (if not already) so may rest a few players, meaning they could need 3 points final day. 

Probably shouldn't say, but if that were the case, I'd go to an away game I wasn't intending to do.

Is it wrong to take joy from others misery?

7 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Welcome back. Glad to see you've remembered your log in details. 

More nonsense spouted by yourself. For what it is worth, I log-in most days. Not all of us are so attention seeking as yourself and feel the need to comment (negatively) on every little thing. 

You seem to despise the new boss, team, philosophy, owners, burger van, tea lady - anything connected to this club. Would it not make sense to go and do/support something else. Negativity breeds negativity and though a forum should be about openly challenging views, the biased agenda you have is just depressing. 

13 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

I can. All we've got to go on is what was said and numerous interviews by numerous people said that the expectation was for us to improve this season. Other wise why make the change (JL) 

When people say "Jon didn't actually mean what he said" makes me piss myself as they are just making things up to suit their agenda. 

We were just outside the play offs. We didn't bring these in to be happy to sit in mid table. 

Oh my.

The irony from you of all people. 

Do some forget that NP was given more time than many managers at other clubs would have been allowed? On 2 occasions there were consistent calls from the fanbase he should go... And yet he was stuck by; until the 3rd time. 

Irrespective of the fact he was doing a rebuilding phase during some of this period, the lack of consistency was alarming. Also, so many seem to forget the football was woeful to watch at times.

I struggle to understand some of our fans who have allowed Manning less than 20% of the time NP had and yet want him gone. Give the bloke at least a preseason and the first 15 matches of the 24/25 season to judge him. 

Nothing else to add. 

Can't be any worse than Kitchen v Leicester surely?

It's getting even worse for Reading - even more than Wycombe buying their training ground today.

I know a few folk connected to the club and they had auditors there today, looking for any assets. 

They are even considering dismantling part of the ground and selling off seats and rails as assets. That's how bad it has got.

Many locally think they will not be around in 3 weeks time. The inevitable is going to happen. And to think Dai Young is worth an apparent £17 Billion.... this is just spiteful to the EFL, who I must add should be held accountable for this and allowing him the opportunity to even do it. The bloke was rejected once with Hull and then swindled his way into Reading. 

Reading are an awful club in may respects, with an awful matchday experience, and some of the most plastic fans you could find - they have simply vanished as a fanbase since they left the Prem. That said, their most loyal fans don't deserve this. It outline so much of what is wrong with modern football. 

Not defending some of what has, and is happening at BS3, but those that crucify the Lansdown's would do well to see what happens when you don't have that support and then sell to the wrong person.

2 hours ago, formerly known as ivan said:

That was bloody terrible. Literally the worse performance of the season. 

Unfortunately all it’s done is give Manning breathing space.

Making that my last visit to the gate this season. Can no longer sit through it and cant celebrate even when they win.

Another 'look at me, look at me' post. Simply put - Bore off. 

If you don't like it, don't go. Stop making yourself out that you're important. This place has become so negative and poisoned, and irrespective of the football, it's down to the attitude of the posters. 

Yes today was poor. And yes we've not been great recently, but give Manning a chance. We saw far worse games under Pearson.

Am about to drive from Berkshire, and people moaning in Bristol, saying can't get the car out etc. Spoken to a few local friends and what is being shown on here is hysteria at it's finest. 

What has happened to this country?

The term snowflake has never been more apt. 

Just drive carefully where there is snow and you'll be fine.

Talk of canceling a game due to a bit of snow.. give your heads a wobble. 

6 minutes ago, Erithacus said:

The Big Day has arrived! What are your thoughts on Superbowl LVIII?

I'm finding it difficult to look past Mahomes and the Chiefs' offensive firepower, now they seem to have repaired the issues of earlier. It means the test will pivot on the 49ers' D, which is a good one but I suspect is not going to apply too much pressure on passing downs. Tight game, but I'll go for Chiefs by 3. Meanwhile, the dough is being left to prove...  

You've summed up perfectly my feelings.

Mahomes just has the ability to do something other QBs can't. Unless the 49ers are 10+ ahead going into Q4, the outcome will be a Chiefs win. The recent experience for around 12 of their squad having done 3+ Superbowl's will be telling and help settle the other players, who often just get overwhelmed by the whole occasion.

And if down at HT, the Chiefs and Reid are arguably the best at making adjustments, and so with a longer break due to the show, watch them come out flying in Q3.

Chiefs by 7, after being behind at HT.

A few folks were ejected and led out in the away end last night at Half Time - when I queried it with the steward closest to me, he said they had been seen snorting white powder on CCTV.

The mind really does boggle. 

4 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

Derby fans in meltdown. Why Bristol City , ******* Bristol City etc etc. Love it 

Oxford and now Derby - niggle games due to player trading.

Bit like I hope we batter Ballmuff next time we get the pleasure to visit their little crappy place. They still wind me up, as many in the media  suggest they got into the premier league via hard work and a romance of good investment.

The reality is that they went all in - Promotion or major FFP breaches and go backwards 10 years. They got lucky. Wish it had badly backfired on them, and the Russian funding was properly reviewed. 

8 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

A weird one on every level

We pay a fee for a player we could get for free in the summer and then loan him back so he doesn't even play for us in the period he's cost so much? WTF,  monumental waste of money and don't forget 5 months ago, I am sure we were one attacking midfielder away from a play off challenging team. Pearson denied the money.

 

From the players perspective Derby could get promoted and then he has to leave his boyhood team of 13 years?

WEIRD WEIRD WEIRD

Only winners are Derby here 

But he would not be free in the summer. A tribunal would set a fee and we could lose out to another club. If he was a big summer target and we've got it done in Feb, smart business TBH.

I agree that the scenario that could play out, where he gets Derby promoted into the league of the club he is about to join, and he still then departs his childhood club, would be odd and almost unprecedented.

But then, maybe he wants to try something new and we are offering better contractual terms. 

If I was a Derby fan, or if a player did that to us - I would be very bemused.

However, for us, a great signing. 

47 minutes ago, Malago said:

Fundamentally disagree.  The midfield is fine, our problem is the quality of the two wide forwards.  I’ve seen enough of Mehmeti to think he won’t make it at this level and Bell is very much a work in progress.

A fit Sykes on the right and Tommy and Nakhi interchanging between the centre and left is worth trying and may solve the creative problem.

100% This.

Both show flashes of good play. But both lack serious consistency for Championship level.

Fine for squad players, but both shouldn't be starting. Hopefully Bell has time and development on his side, but Mehmeti, seems to lack the require football intelligence to make it at this level. You can see the player he wants to be, but his decision making is just terrible. Hopefully Manning and Hogg can educate him, and we see the player he has the potential to be. 

3 hours ago, FNQ said:

This will no doubt go against the grain, but in my opinion he ain’t up to it.

In such a critical position we need better. JK has a great engine, never stops running or trying, but he’s lacking the quality that we desperately need in such a critical midfield position. If we are to move on then so does JK.  He’s the weak link when compared to Matty James, TGH, Sykesy, or Joe Williams, and even Scott Twine..

There I’ve said it..

I respect anyone's opinion on a forum - that is what they are for. To constructively agree and disagree on topics. 

HOWEVER... on this occasion, I can't disagree any further. I would even go as far as saying he is our player of the season so far. 

You are correct in identifying the critical nature of this role - but I would say his performances to date, his contribution with goals and assists have been a real stand out for the season. At times I feel his is playing a non-natural role, due to his versatility, and that may go against him.

You must also remember he is only 22 - his output based on that age is above average and in the off-season I fully expect Matty James to move on, and Knight is the perfect replacement. When Knight was dropped from the starting line-up recently, we lost our shape entirely. 

I don't know if this is a Bristol City attribute, but for some reason we seem to always feel a need for a midfield scapegoat. Thinking back - Marlon Pack and Cole Skuse fill this void, and for some fans you only realise what they offered, when they have gone.

 

I also think some will be buying these with a view, to not actually attend but get another away trip on their record. At £17, it's a cheap way to do it.

Thinking ahead to a limited allocation for Plymouth away, it is likely you will need 6+ away trips to be in the first group that are able to buy, and could sell out before reaching remaining ST holders.

As part of the Stokes deal. End of Paragraph Two. 

33 minutes ago, Ian M said:

Did he watch a lot of Northern Premier League Division One South football (Tier 9) back when Vardy was a teenager then?

(Vardy made it to tier 5 at 23)

I've no idea. I've copied and pasted what I was sent by a friend, who watches Aldershot week in, week out. 

I can't vouch for what the local journalist has said, but I do know that Vardy was being scouted and watched from around 18, despite not making a move until his early twenties. 

Being local to Aldershot, I messaged a friend who is a season ticket holder for some insight on him. Fair to say his response, has filled me with quite the optimism. 

His reply:

'He seems like the real deal, a natural finisher but he's also an intelligent player. His work rate enables him to get in the right positions, to take advantage of mistakes at this level. I've seen plenty of non-league players come and go, often trying a level above, to just flop as they can be an unknown. My concern for you would be, you only get one chance in a game. At National league level, you just wait for the next mistake from an opposing player to capitalise on. However with Stokes, there is something different about him. He's got an instinct of playing football I've rarely seen at this level, and that goes back over 15 years now. The correspondent for the local paper (but also does national non-league coverage, say's he's the best teenage player he's seen since..... Jamie Vardy. Only time will tell if you have yourself a similar level of player'.

I want Forest for the simple reason, we need to right the wrong of THAT game from a few years back where Lyle Taylor scored 2 90+ minute goals in a smash and grab 2-1 win.

I'm still angry and pissed off about that match to this day and often think when we get to games at 90 minutes, "not again, please". 

Akin to that of a referee, the position and role of a GK is often over scrutinised as it's easy to highlight mistakes (especially with slowed down replays and multiple angles).

Max was superb yesterday, anyone who can't see that really needs to watch more Championship level football to see how good he was v Premiership level opposition. 

This season, defensively we are more sound (the stats prove this) and Max is a significant contribution to it. He also made some glaring mistakes, but so does every GK - it's the nature of the position. 

GKs are often loved and praised due to their flamboyance or exuberance, and Max is not that type of character which is one of the reasons I feel he gets often attacked by fans for his performances. A lot of his football goes unnoticed, which is unfair, but by doing this, he provides stability to the team, which is not a bad thing.

Across the Championship division, I can perhaps think of only 2 GKs I would rather have than O'Leary and at 27 he is entering his prime. 

He needs better competition, and someone to challenge him, but I feel he's had a very good season and is getting better and better, and is clearly trusted by the defence infront of him, which is critical. 

58 minutes ago, The Gambler said:

Key change in the game was Paqueta going off injured. Had he stayed fit I think we would have been well beaten. He is their best player and way above anything you will see in the championship. 
 

Once he went off we established a foothold in the game and 2nd half we were excellent. 

Exactly this. Talking to a West Ham fan (who was very complimentary about not only our side but our fans) said the same. They rely on him too much. Hadn't dawned on me until he said it, how his substitution changed the whole game. 

The best time of year...for Gym based 101s.

This week alone, things that have annoyed me:

* Mobile phones in the gym

* People using equipment but not actually using the equipment, instead sat on it texting/playing games

* Gym bags being taken around with them, but no actual additional equipment being taken out of the bag to be used. Store in a locker like everyone else.

* People reinventing ways to use equipment or using it in a way that will not give any benefit whatsoever.

* Headphone over hoodies. With hoods up... Why. Just why?!?

I could go on, but you get the gist.

Due to the game having changed day, if you purchased before the announcement was made , then you are entitled to a full refund. Contact the club.

Failing that, good luck selling them. 

18 hours ago, WoodsDTES said:

Shocked Weimann made it to the second half, was like a 6 year old kid following the ball across the pitch. When you’ve got 3 in the middle the last thing you need is a supposed wide player standing in the middle of the pitch. Gave us zero output on the right hand side especially as we have Tanner on the right because he won’t progress into the space. For an experienced pro I’m really disappointed and annoyed by his lack of football intelligence. Genuinely don’t think we will lose much if he goes soon.

He also has a habit of moaning and complaining long after a decision has been made, and is therefore out of position.

I love his passion, but 3 times he left us exposed by not just getting on with the game after the ref (who was very poor) had made his decision.

I'll say this. Since our time back in the Championship and across the 8 last seasons, that was about as complete an away performance that I can remember. 

What excites me most was Manning saying, we've just got started. We've still got more levels that this group can find.