Rich

I've been in the shop a few times and been really disappointed at the choice of goods available. I understand that the club want to maximise profits by having in house manufacturers but, when you can only choose from a small stock base, surely that limits the possible profits as well. The size and availability of merchandise to choose from is quite frankly embarrassing. The shop is barely big enough for just City merchandise, let alone the other two. Another thing that rankles with me is, not seeing any City related merchandise in any other outlets. It's no wonder we're seen as a little club when you can buy a Norwich, West Brom or Rovers kit and coffee mug, in multiple outlets but, not a City one. The thrill I used to get from being able to buy a City badge in a shop in Newquay as a kid, will stay with me forever. Long time supporters have been gained by raising the awareness of the club to people far and wide, the Scandinavians are proof of that. I think we're missing a trick with the blinkered approach to promoting the club in this way.

Sounds like a Victorian illness. My great Grandmother had a bad attack of Skegness,.

No the shaft got stuck.

How about, CSI Nemphnet Thrubwell?

Grimsby?

I remember a good few on a train coming out at New St, must have been about 72. We chased off a group of brummies down some stairs, this was outside the station. Next minute the Tavern in the town pub emptied and we had to make a retreat back up the stairs with bottles and glasses landing all around us. That was an eventful day and had to run the gauntlet getting back into the station. We then gave them a volley of crockery from the nearby cafe. A lad called Yeo Pickering? hit about three of them in one swing.

We haven't "always" been a selling club as the OP states. That's because sometimes, we've had sweet FA to sell, or, we haven't needed the money. Going back a little prior to the example of Merrick and Ritchie. We sold a certain Chris Garland for £100k in 1971 to Chelsea and I believe Bobby Kellard, to balance the books. Most of the proceeds of those sales went to pay for the "new" Dolman stand. Two years later, we sold Peter Spiring to Liverpool, for £50k, says £60k in wiki, good business. Going back even further, late 1920's, according to my father in law, we sold two players to pay for the cover on the East End, it was known by supporters as the Keating and something stand, can't remember the name, after the two players sold. So although we've not "always" been a selling club, we've always sold, when we've needed the money.

Knees bent and on your toes helps to do that. You are also in the position to spring either way.

I think it was a special that I went on to Portsmouth in Jan 1973, for a 3rd round F A Cup match. The usual welcoming committee, with a really tall Pompey skinhead fronting up the city lot on a green area. Takes a lot of balls to do that but, eventually he got a pasting. We apprehended (sort of) a Portsmouth fan for knicking a young city supporters scarf in the ground and handed him over to a copper who'd seen the event happening. Bobby Gould scored a late equaliser, which pissed off the Pompey fans. On the final whistle, my mate said he knew a short cut back to the station, rather than going out past the Pompey pub and all their lads. So we headed off out of the open end somehow, then made our way along some back lanes, then onto the railway track and into the station. As we climbed up onto the platform from the tracks, we realised that the crowded platform was Portsmouth and not as we thought, City fans. We had to make a quiet exit along the platform and back up the stairs, after persuading the local plod of who we were. We then got some funny looks from the City lot as we emerged from the station full of Portsmouth fans. Interesting and exciting times indeed.

Correct, two little pins stuck to the floor are harder to move in reaction to a shot.

I wasn't claiming that we would regress on the attacking front, just that we possibly could. Our two older strikers will be another year older, which inevitably brings a slowing down in pace, this is likely to affect Weimann more so than Martin, as it's one of his major assets. Along with that, being recognised as a dangerous striker, no doubt he'll receive a little more attention, which has probably already happened. Given the extra attention and the slight effects of the ageing process, I think it's fair to say he won't get any better than this season. So, as two of our strikers will possibly be less effective, however slightly, it remains for Semenyo to up his game a bit to take over the mantle. I have great faith that he will improve still more but, will it be with us, I certainly hope so, as he's one of the most exciting players I've seen in years. Add in another big, fast, strong striker to replace the disappointing Wells and we'll have a really good strike force. I suppose a lot of this is about the entertainment and excitement of seeing a good effective strike force. Martin is Mr reliable but, doesn't get me out of my seat in expectation. I'd like to be able to experience that a bit more than recent seasons.

Never let facts get in the way of a dig at BCFC and it's supporters by a gashead.

Not sure if this has been mentioned as I haven't read through the thread. The OP believes that if we can sort the defence out we should challenge at the other end of the table next season. OK, I agree but, who's to say that our strikers and goals for will stay the same, get better or, more likely diminish a little. Weimann has had his best season in relation to goals scored, can he keep that up for another season, would it be expected, personally I doubt it. Martin has had a decent season, with a one in four return and been steady holding the line. Will he be able to do the same another year on, again, I doubt it. Semenyo is hopefully the one out of the three regular starters that we all hope gets better and will make up any dropping off from the others. For me, we need another more mobile, bigger, faster version of Martin, if we have ambitions of challenging at the other end of the table. Basically, a swap for Wells, if we can offload him.

He was both excited and traumatised having been allowed to go, as long as he looked after the young hooligans.

I also remember that special to Blackpool. I had to stop some young hooligans from setting light to the train.

Divided local authorities, all bickering amongst each other. WECA supposed to bring it together but one council opted out and the others disagree with the WECA Leader. We shoot ourselves in the foot every time there's a major decision to be made and, it'll happen again when we vote out the mayor system, back to bickering and no agreements and no investments as a result. Avon was the best chance for the region but the name and the way it took authority from from those little local councils gave it little chance of longevity, it was disbanded and the bickering started again. We are just such a politically divided region and governments know this, so take advantage. I believe this is why we're a backwater in many respects.

Maybe not Tom, hindsight is a wonderful thing, a bit like organising new IT schemes which cost billions, only to be scrapped. In terms of government money, it's not masses, they can waste billions and every government has but, they have to be seen to be scrutinising anything that in reality is minor expenditure. We know they're getting their excuses in to scrap the funding. The ridiculous thing is the amount of money planned for a bus route alongside a perfectly good train line, between Bristol and Bath, £400 m is it?

They're on a cost cutting mission after the country and it's economy have taken massive hits this last two years. The areas deemed less vocal will receive the biggest cuts, that'll be this area.

Do you honestly think it would be any different without those "pricks". All previous governments have failed to deliver on any of the planned infrastructure to this area. Dawn Primarolo famously took away the funding of £100m for her own city's planned rapid transport link. I personally have not heard a whisper from any of "our" MP's over this issue, aren't they supposed to represent us? Make no mistake, this funding will go to a perceived more deprived area than Bristol, guaranteed to oop north. We get sod all investment in relation to other areas, as I believe we're seen as a soft touch and easily fobbed off. Meanwhile I believe that in Wales, there's millions being spent on new stations and upgrading lines across Cardiff and the valleys.

Yes Dave, of course you're correct, I just wanted to keep my post simple and didn't want to go into what has already been more than covered in the other topic. I'm confident we'll comply with FFP, through trading, reduced/torn up contracts, or with luck, sell on clauses. What we can't do is be held to ransom by clubs that want our players and letting them know that we're desperate, which is what I believe comes across from Pearson.

He'll probably remain single, that is unless he finds a gas girl. The type that have blue hair, dribble constantly, cross eyed and with hairy toes.

Why do people read all the wrong things into a statement and subsequent twists of a statement? I believe Pearson said something along the lines of, "I can't see us spending any money at the moment". That doesn't mean we won't be spending any money and, it doesn't mean we won't be signing any players. He stated "at the moment", well at this moment, we are still in the season and, that only applies (if) we don't do any trading of players whatsoever. We have possible funds coming in from sell on clauses and there appears to be other clubs willing to sign some of our players should we agree to that happening, along with hopefully the reduction of wages from bigger earners freeing up some more for other players. Because of our reported loss £38m, people are looking at the doom and gloom side of things. It doesn't mean we have to get £38M before we can do any business or, that it has to be repaid, SL will cover that again, no doubt. The only criticism of Pearson's post is, that it's come at a time when the club are promoting SC sales. He did also state that they'll have to be inventive and he's never paid much for a player anyway and, they'll possibly have to do some trading. So I'm far from unhappy at the upcoming seasons comings and goings, in fact, I'm quite excited to see how it progresses, as always. Be happy, look at what the possibilities are, not what you think has been said.

I think this is where we have problems, you've hit the nail on the head. Our defenders have to train against our forward players, so have little if any threat in the air to deal with in training. The same cam be said throughout the squad, are we challenged enough in training by good enough players to replicate proper match day scenarios. We see them get done on a too regular basis individually, yet think we've got a good squad.

I'm fully aware of that, thanks for pointing out the bleeding obvious. But, that's not what I was implying. I referred to the ability of "some" players, not "all" players. There's also a difference regarding age of players and the expectations on whether they could do this or that type of role. Could Deidhiou have performed a a centre back? Much like has happened on numerous occasions with players of age as well. I wasn't for one moment suggesting that a skillful slightly built winger would turn out to be a great central defender, or a bruising six foot five defender be a tricky winger. Merely suggesting that to the coaching staff, he'd done enough to give him more game time there.

I'm scared shyteless.