RedRock

Coventry, Leeds, Sags, Bolton, Arse, Forest, Liverpool, Man U…in that rough order.

Share that experience. In my rush to get a plane-like object built I’d often found that important things like the pilot were still in the box attached by his neck to the grey plastic spine. Don’t think I ever read the instructions, a habit that has stayed with me throughout my life. Glue in those days was real glue that often melted the plastic. Most of my Subutteo men ended up like dwarfs, most lopsided.

The ‘Boris Defence’ of ’It didn’t happen’, ‘I didn’t know’, ‘Wasn’t there’, ‘Nothing illegal’ would suffice, particularly if PC Dick was investigating.

Really look forward to an Ole report and normally agree with most of the content, scoring seems to have gone a bit off recently though in terms of my thoughts. So, the verdict from the South Devon jury:- O’Leary 5 Pring 7 Kalas 6 Vyner 6 Massengo 8 Scott 8 Dasilva 7 O’Dowda 4 Weimann 6 Martin 5 Semenyo 6 Williams 8 Wells 6

Personally, thought Williams was brilliant when he came on. Got to the speed of the game straight away and some of his passes were Tinmanesque. Was it his cross to Andi? If so, that was sublime and should have been buried. Wells came on like a man possessed and within seconds nearly grabbed an equaliser. Shame he lost his way a bit but not bad be any means. Can’t recall ever being so upbeat after a defeat. Pearson looked gutted in his post match, but hopefully he’ll reflect and see what strides we have made. Cut out the (recurring) stupid goals and we’ve now a platform on which to build.

Are we on the cusp of an up-turn in performance? I thought, in spells, we played some of our best football for years last night. A style of football based on power, passion, precision and pace. Are these Pearson’s pillars? After witnessing years of limp-wristed, slow, ponderous play what a revelation. We weren’t just winning 50:50’s, our youngsters - Scott, Semenyo, Pring, Vyner, Hano and Jay were consistently winning 40:60’s. That I like to see. Not only did they ‘dig in’ they showed immense skill, real high quality control, quick feet and sharp passing. A real desire to get the ball forward, quickly. Brilliant. Far from being out of the woods yet. For me, we are still in the relegation mix. Confidence could evaporate if we keep gifting soft goals away. However, there’s hope. Genuine hope we have a leader that’ll dispense with the half- hearted and only put players out on the pitch that will give their all, and then some. Keep it going Nige…and Tins, I’ve been a critic of the Academy system for decades but at last we have a batch of youngsters that have the right attitude, skills and strength. Good on you. COYRs.

Thought Vyner was decent tbh. The biggest positive for me tonight. There’s genuine hope! Hope for a better future after enduring 4+ years of absolute dross. As Nige would say we are work in progress, but we have some excellent individual young talent and have the makings of a very good side. Can I say it????? Yep, I can actually see the an IDENTITY developing, and an attractive one as well. Bravo.

Don’t get the criticism of Wells. Did more than Martin did in a 10 minute cameo. Can actually see the green shoots. The quality of some of our play was exceptional.

Another key learning point from tonight is Tins talks a lot of sense and is as emotionally connected to the Club as the supporters. Top man.

Gutted. Better team lost. Thought Scott, HNM were awesome in midfield. Nice football. Played well. Negatives. Martin can only play one game a week. Max just doesn’t have the presence.

Get in. Deserved.

Think that was Scott’s man. However, bright and intelligent football. Just lacking that quality in the final third. Nice to see a bit of bite in midfield with the youngsters, with nice control, fast forward passing. Most unlike City.

Make it pay City. Dominant. Really, really good stuff.

Super start. Slick, high tempo football. Nice.

Watched around 30 minutes in 1st and 2nd half. Had dipped in to a few bits of games during the season where we appeared to be ok and improving. However, this was just primary school stuff. Fitness and physicality, skill and the other basics all sub-standard. Frankly, just dire.

Disagree, but the analogy of the ‘it’s all a bit of the band played on the Titanic’ is brilliant. I think where I depart from your line of thinking is that Big Nige, having snatched the wheel from Captain Ashton, is trying to steer the Titanic away from the looming iceberg. Grant you he has made some questionable decisions on line and course to date, but it’s a bloody large ship to stop and turn about given Ashton had set us up as a direct hit at full steam ahead. I’m still with him, partly on the basis he’s vastly experienced and should have the skills and knowledge to manoeuvre us out of our perilous position, but also partly as there are very few lifeboats left available and time is running out!

We have the ground, the brand new training facility, the non-football income stream, the Bristol Sporting umbrella …..however, the ‘extensive behind the scenes (football)hierarchy’ comprised of Mark Ashton and his band of merry men (now all at Ipswich - poor sods). So close, yet so far. The fundamental of a knowledgable football man at the helm, with a good network of scouts, and competent support staff was our missing part of the strategy. Anyone with any nouse could see it. Pity others didn’t. Think many feel Pearson - despite some odd signings, player selections, substitutions - may yet be our saviour. Support might, however, be primarily based on the fact that we’re all pissed off with the players and just like a manager who fronts them up and bins them.

Really impressed with Brighton. Just need a bit more power/presence in the centre forward area. Webster was immense. Lummydaze, how far have they progressed beyond us since that play off final.

Good luck Bakes. On his day a superb, body-on-the-line defender. In my footballing journey, got head knocks on several occasions both as a keeper and a centre forward. One was pretty serious, apparently I walked off the pitch through the crowd to the changing room after going up for a ball from a goal kick. My only recollection was continually asking ‘what day is it?’ to the paramedic in the ambulance en-route to hospital. Seemingly, he kept telling me, only for me to say ‘but, what day is it?’. Funny old thing is the brain. Anyhow, if it’s any consolation to Bakes, forty odd years on I’m still here and functioning. All the best lad. If medics are telling you to take a break or retire, nothing is more important than your health.

Cheeky offer anyone? CoD for Pato. Not a great Pato fan but offers more when he’s ‘on heat’.

Be gone to Ipswich soon given Ashton must rate him sufficiently highly to give him a 3-4 year extension with us. A decision that bewildered everyone apart from Ashton himself.

Defeatist mentality. Sure those Clubs that haven’t got billionaire owners look at us and think it’s all unfair. Doesn’t stop them beating us. Neither should we roll over and let parachute payment Clubs take the 3 points. Yes complain at EFL committee meetings, but as soon as you start whinging in public, there’s a ready-made excuse for our players. A well-drilled decent team should always be capable of competing with and beating a collection of footballers that are the next grade up.

My recollection was Gert was alright. Not in the realms of being Gert Lush, just decent. Pertti, likewise. Didn’t we end up with three decent strikers at the time?

Ummm…. don’t think they were welcomed in the East End that day. A case of trying it on and being put firmly in their place from what I recall. Never forget taking my 10 year old nephew to his first game at The Gate in the early 80’s. That Millwall match …. Dolman, Block A, centre. What an introduction! Had quite a few dodgy moments over the decades but never seen anything like that home or away, before or after.

I think this could be the chance for the forgotten and not quite so forgotten men. Reckon Palmer, DaSilva, Bents and Wells could all be in with a chance of a start - assuming no interest has been expressed from other Clubs in them. Would be interesting to see how they preform. We want a Cup run financially, so it’s not a dead rubber, even though the League is more important. Arguably, their inclusion should strengthen us - on paper at least. The selection will tell us an awful lot about where we are going with Nige player-wise.