In the Net

My question related to that particular article, as you used "vile" in your description of it. I'm not defending him, just pointing out what the article actually said, and whether it is actually "vile" on this occassion.

Just read the article, he holds a grudge against the DoF, it sounds as though the bloke didn't go the best way about binning a 14 year old from his boyhood club. The bloke has been proved very wrong on that, and also on binning Baines and Jagielka - not great credentials as a talent spotter. Then went on to work for the FA - say no more. Is it really "vile" to hold a grudge against somebody who may well have ended your career before it started, if you hadn't had the character to keep chasing the dream? There are plenty of people in football who hold grudges against people who they've worked with in the past, just read a few biographies, or re-visit the comments on here about Mark Ashton. Barton gives plenty of praise to Plymouth Head Coach and his assistant, and says that he fancied Plymouth for automatic promotion last season. There are more postives than negatives about the Plymouth staff in the article.

I was just making a play on words, although it sounds doubtful, I'd never say never where footballers are concerned.

Most of the players who come from up North travel home on a Saturday evening, and I'm not aware of any who live in Bristol being located around there, so it would be surprising for a player to be in there on a Sunday. It'll be interesting to here what you find out.

I'm calling bullsh*t on this. ?

Wow - found that very moving. - as you say, both the song and video are thought provoking. Any idea how he came to partner up with the charity?

Will I be locked outside?

Thanks for posting this info - very interesting.. What would have become of the rugby club if Rovers hadn't provided the £2m working capital? I didn't really follow this very closely at the time, I'm not into rugby, and the main thing I remember about Bristol is that they were on the local news because their new stand had been built in the wrong place.

I can't imagine that JB's defence is Government funded, so he'll be paying the usual fee.

Sounds like he was a middle class toff - they don't like it up 'em. Well done to your Dad for putting him right.

Blimey - he sounds a right charmer. ?

I presume he felt that it was relevant to his point about the U23 teams being in this competition - it isn't really developing future players, because the vast majority won't make it as professionals. Meanwhile the competition has lost the little credibility that it used to have (that's my thinking, not JB's)

It was never high on the agenda, and the recent changes have ruined it completely. It remains because the Premier League chucked even more money at it when there were murmurings of discontent about their young squads being involved. Their Under 23 players are going to need more than 3 games a season in "men's" football, in order to find out if they have got what it takes. I've heard several older players talking about how U23 v U23 keeps them living in la la land with regard to their ability, hence not many actually get over the final hurdle into the first team.

The Palace documentary was very interesting - I'd like to see a follow up in a few years time, to see where the boys have ended up, and whether I was able to spot the ones with the best potential. ? Barton actually said that, if you look at their teamsheet in 5 years time, some of those lads will be working in civilian jobs - which is borne out by the stats that 97% of Premiership Academy players never play a Premiership game, and 70% of them do not get offered a contract in the Premier or Football League. He will be well aware of this, having been involved with Premiership clubs as a player.

You are correct. I believe that we got fined after Darrell Clarke subbed the first team keeper off after 2 minutes.

Now you're making me feel very old! Ernie Hunt was the maestro I believe - a very clever routine.

That does seem to be the case so far this season.

I can remember this fanzine being sold back in Ye Olden Days (when we used to play you). Has it kept going since then?

To be clear, I wouldn't want Barton to own the club, however, I think that people who have dodgy financial goings on in the business world are much more dangerous to the future of any club than a bloke who had a 6 month prison sentence 18 years ago.

Not sure what it was meant to achieve. The lad is Barton's step-brother, they weren't brought up in the same household.

As I said, a lot of footballers are just passing through (as it were). If they're from "up north" and own a property, I'd imagine that they'd keep that, and rent for a couple of years wherever they happen to be playing. The older, "family man" may buy a property, if they see the area as a place that would be good for their family to settle. In the lower leagues it can be expensive business moving house every 3 years or so, when you factor in stamp duty, agents fees etc. I'm an oldie, however I don't think that Exeter has the same "buzz" as Bristol - just speaking as an ordinary person, taking football clubs out of the equation. Not that I live in Bristol, just my opinion from visiting both places quite a few times. I've probably gone off at a bit of a tangent - just another JB interview, with various sound bytes for the press to dangle as click bait. I think he thrives on it!

I agree, if you're approaching middle age and looking for a settled life, then Devon is a delightful place to live - I'd fancy it myself if I could afford the house prices on the coast. Not sure it would have quite the same attraction for a young man though, although a lot of footballers are at a club for a maximum of three years, so I'm sure they cope.

I think they chased it up in order to get a response. ?

Somebody did contact the club about doing a bucket collection (I'm sure most people would be happy to bung a few quid in every home game for the rest of the season). This would have been easy to organise, I'm sure. I think the response from the club involved needing to be a registered charity, and do cashless collections. ?

They usually have other people who sort that stuff out for them - obviously a major fail on this occassion.