Bristol Oil Services

How delightful to see Chelsea craning their obnoxious necks as they look up the table at Brentford (ffs!), Fulham (!) and Brighton, and Liverpool right in amongst those three, doing their best to rise above them. How sobering to recall the years we were competing with Brentford, Fulham and Brighton at both the level we are now, and the one below.

Are we going to love bomb Geoff this evening? Are we going to make the effort to actually pick up the phone for once later and bombard Radio Local, inundate the switchboard, and demand to be put through to Geoff to tell him how much we remember him as a somewhat slow and cumbersome long-ball merchant who got a bit lucky playing as high as Division 2 have appreciated his measured coverage and Paxman-esque grilling of Sleepy Steve and Slimy Ashton? And how we will miss him? Will we ****

As has been said before, it is not our budget or our wages that have determined our failure to reach the play-offs, it is the two or three people at the very top making the most important decisions that have failed to be up to the task, and have indeed had "their pants pulled down" by yer Lutons, yer Millwalls, yer 'uddersfied, and yer bloody Prestons. "But look at Sheffield Wednesday, Derby, Ipswich, Sunderland" cried many on here, betraying their Little-Bristolian/loser/can't-do-mentality by using failing, basket-case clubs to measure our "success" by. We have enough wedge. We need enough nous. And a little bit of luck, such as a season where two of the three relegated clubs are in a bit of a muddle. Then we can finish above Preston again. One likes to think....

What about your lad? Who will sit with him?

Joe Royle's stands out then, being the only one above third tier standard. And unlikely to be ever matched or beaten, I tentatively suggest?

That was Justin, I believe

"Get yer tits out for the lads," is gender politics mate.

I went to 5 away games in 85/6, and every away game in 88/9, and Newport in '82, so I should be ok. That bloke that's done a thousand consecutive on Cats, he should be ok too.

Not many City go away 5 times, mate. Maybe 50?

This is a very good point. I think Norman Hunter was more dirty than hard. Dirty and a bit sly. Check out his ding-doing with Franny Lee, Norm would've been (literally) on the ropes in that one, had their been ropes.

Nah. We was going to go, we ummed and ahhed a bit (200 miles, bloody hell), then we couldn't be arsed. Up the City!

Mick Harford, any one said Mick Harford yet? Mick Harford, for me.

He is an "entitled" top level footballer - he believed he was able to harangue a linesman without any comeback (other than a card), and could scarce believe it when there was comeback ("he hit me! On the chin!")

Crikey. Too much info

What was Geoff better at - football or radio (bearing in mind Radio Bristol is the "Bristol Rovers" of media outlets)?

What were your thoughts about Twentyman the hoofing centre back? No need to be impartial, fair or balanced.

The field of psychology puts forward a number of suggestions as to why people moan like ****, one is that where we are powerless to do anything about a situation important to us grumbling about it is a way of coping with how we feel about this helplessness. It's a way of managing or coping with unpleasant feelings (tension/fear/anxiety/disappointment/etc). Some people aim this at Liam Fontaine/ Marlon Pack/Harry Cornick, while others prefer Lester Shapter/Clive Thomas/Keith Stroud. Or drive home and start "Today's ref" threads. And some people like to make vulgar gestures toward the away end with their hands.

Does he wear boots while broadcasting?

Yeah, we have to wait so blinkin long on here for @Olé to file his report from away trips up north, and the photos from @Never to the dark side are so bleedin bleak and grim from rubbish northern away games, whereas Reading and QPR, much preferable away days for us all on here on our sofas on the Match Day thread ....

If we hadn't been 2 up, we'd've lost 0:2 today.

Why Frank bloody Lampard again? Why not give John Sparrow a go? Or Micky Droy? Or Ken Monkou?

You've got a long wait now, mate, til August. And about ten minutes into the first game, when we go 0:1 down to Sheffield Wednesday, or Ipswich. Then things will liven up a little again

Yes. And they will both (just about) keep their trousers up: Roy his stylish, tailored trousers with a classy Gucci belt, Colin his polyester Sports Direct joggers with an elasticated waist (and belly to fill)

Stop fretting.

You are right, of course. Other teams have injuries too.