Nogbad the Bad

I can't agree with those saying that because we won't be in the top 6, or be relegated, that there's nothing to play for. Every City match is a contest between the club I support, and our opponents, which I want City to win, and preferably, of course, win well. It doesn't ruin my weekend if we lose as it once did - I don't expect it to having accepted long ago the passion of youth doesn't last forever - however it still pisses me off if City lose and perks me up considerably if we win. Going to AG should be a largely enjoyable experience, and for me that means the manager putting out a positive City team with the aim of scoring goals and winning the match. Sounds simple enough, it won't always be successful, but no tactics are and when I can see this is at least the aim I can enjoy supporting the team and continue to identify with them, win or lose. We have a good, honest squad who put in 100%, but we also have a coach who has much to prove, imo, as to whether he actually deserves this job, or not, and the performances of these players and this team are largely governed by his selections, instructions and the tactics and style of football he employs. Rather than getting angry about the politics of the club my choice is to move back to the basics of why I went (and returned) to AG in the first place - the atmosphere, the feeling of belonging and the camaraderie and shared purpose with fellow fans, really getting behind a team I quickly identified with and hopefully celebrating the win. I was young enough to not know or even care who was in the Director's Box and, while it's not easy easy to put aside exasperating peripheral matters as an adult I accept have no control over them so getting embroiled in them is not worth my time or energy. In my opinion this squad of players are, so I will continue to support them. I might disagree with, and may even have grown to dislike, some of those in charge - I'll never forgive the sackings of Cotts or NP - but I'm not going to let myself become obsessed by them over everything else, when in truth it's supporting the team that's always been my main interest and focus. As for LM, everything to prove but if he's staying for now as looks likely he shouldn't even consider that means it's OK to regularly bore supporters half to death, he'll never win over the majority of City fans with extended periods of tedious football lacking in real purpose or excitement. He must have a feel for the club and supporters by now and what's expected from a City manager and how his team is expected to play, so he has to show he can change and set up his team to really go for it, especially at AG.

Assumed Man City would be far superior but they really weren't. Without the 3 injuries and the disruption they caused we may well have won it. Poor crowd - I'd like to think it would have been much better supported at AG.

Good effort by Phillips, just past the post.

2 nasty fouls by Heskey now, should have had at least a yellow by now.

Nelson subbed, not Morrison.

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLL NAHKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKI!

According to Durden just now on RB he's 'picked up a minor injury which shouldn't keep him out for a great deal of time'.

Fair weather fans will be giving this one a second thought. Another hailstorm in BS3 just now to follow yesterday's epic one which saw my drain overwhelmed, and heavy rain now. Doubt it will stop them watering the pitch though!

He certainly did and I suspect on this occasion Gerry had already shown Prince who was boss in no uncertain manner very early on in that game. Prince then no doubt scurried away and made sure he wasn't within 5 yards of GG for the rest of the game.

No, the famous GG picture was with Stephens, some people just assumed it was Prince because he was supposedly Rovers' hard man.

Went to a few FGR games a few years ago. The Village Inn is an excellent freehouse for a pre match pint, worth checking but pretty sure they had Sky Sports on too. https://www.villageinn-nailsworth.co.uk/

In my youth each local club very much had it's own RB reporter - Herbie Gillam in City's case, and later on Phil Tottle was the long term City reporter and Colin 'massive Rovers following' Howlett did the gas for many years too. Maybe that changed when GT took over. In your case although it must have been great to commentate on City iirc you were lumped with a lot of Rovers games too, which really can't have been much fun being such a keen City fan. Perhaps if you'd been offered doing City full time you may have been encouraged to hang around the local sports scene for a bit longer. Note the likes of Herbie Gillam and Phil Tottle were not young men when they started their RB reporting and probably not particularly ambitious or keen to move on, or out of the area. More than happy to be known as the 'Bristol City reporter', though in PT's case he did the cricket in the summer too.

You can get 3 different ZV tee shirts and the ZV Hoodie for only £170! Absolute bargain - I'm hearing there have been chaotic scenes at the club shop which has been overwhelmed by hundreds of Zak's frantic fans desperate to get their hands on the stuff. Can't be bothered to join in the frenzied ruck, I'm going to buy the whole lot online.

Yes, L. XL and even 2XL. Hurry though while stocks last!

GT became very accomplished although he was very Rovers biased initially for some time, regularly interviewing his old Rovers mates 'Ollie', 'Boris' Mehew etc and reliving their old dressing room in -jokes and chumminess, which was irritating, and it took him some years before he cut out that crap and emerged as the respected figure he eventually became among City fans. Don't forget he left RB at one time to become assistant to Hollowhead at Rovers and had a bit of a nightmare in his early RB days with his OTT countdown to 'Judgment Day' before a Bristol derby which ended in serious trouble. He certainly became a good interviewer and held SL to account, although I saw less evidence of probing questions towards Rovers! Sims and Ray are long term fans and Owers and Honor previous long serving players who have genuinely strong feelings the club so I think we're better served than ever for City representation on RB, None of these are interviewers to compare with GT at his best when it comes to pushing awkward questions although I think Owers is definitely showing recent signs of getting there. Hoskin, Durden and Hadwin all have to commentate and chat about Rovers just as much as the do City so they can't be partisan in any way even if one of the local clubs was in their blood (which they aren't) and as non Bristolians this suits them, as does having ex-City players with more knowledge and experience of the club to talk things over with. They all let themselves down in my book by screaming about 'fantasic play by Rovers', 'brilliant goal by the gas', 'the Mem's rocking' etc none of which seem remotely possible to me but it's part of the job to appear excited and hype them up I suppose. .

The crowds are good but ticket prices are comparatively very low and you'd imagine the spend per head on alcohol, pies etc will be far lower per head than in the men's game. Players and staff have to be paid, there is a cost to putting on the match, so, even held at AG, hard to imagine it's in any way a money spinner.

Brookman is the gas summariser so drivel is to be expected. Hadwin and Durden imo. do a reasonable job considering neither are Bristolians but obviously won't have the same passion for City as they do the teams they support - Swindon and Portsmouth respectively iirc. Ray is a long term City fan and he's growing on me, and all I know about Hoskin is I find him an annoying commentator. In fact we've got Ray, Sims, Honor and Owers (despite his roots) all keen followers of City so as far as radio Bristol is concerned we've probably got more informed representation than ever before.

ST sales will be thousands down imo. and I don't think Manning leaving - as important a first step as that is - will on it's own be enough to salvage ST sales. Fans will also need to see that his replacement is the right fit, which means the next manager has to be a leader with a positive personality, a record of providing an equally positive style of football, with the character to enthuse the fans. Even then, such is the resentment and disconnect, many fans will not commit to backing the club financially again until they see evidence of far more exciting action on the pitch which gives them reason to think attending AG might actually be interesting and enjoyable again. The board may not want another Cotts/Nige type but they have to accept that's the sort of appointment this club needs, it's the right fit for the club and it's the right fit for the fans. Another in the mold of Manning will do nothing to re -engage a large number of very jaded supporters who'll continue to drift further away so let's hope those in charge have learnt their lesson.

Andreas Weimann reveals Bristol City contract glitch that led to West Brom move in January BYDECLAN HARTE PUBLISHED 10 HOURS AGO Andreas Weimann is out of contract at the end of the campaign HIGHLIGHTS Weimann's move to West Brom was crucial, offering him the game time he needed to shine after facing contract extension issues at Bristol City. With two goals and two assists, Weimann's impact at West Brom has helped push the team towards a potential playoff spot in the Championship. Despite being initially a loan, Weimann's performance may earn him a permanent stay, providing a smart solution for the club's attacking depth. Andreas Weimann has opened up on his January move from Bristol City to West Brom. The forward signed for the Baggies on loan until the end of the campaign, with his contract with City set to expire in the summer. AD AD AD AD AD AD The Austrian has become a useful part of Carlos Corberan’s side, featuring nine times in the Championship since arriving at the Hawthorns (all stats from Fbref). Six of those appearances have come as a substitute, with the 32-year-old contributing two goals and two assists from 355 minutes of game time. Uncertainty remains over his long-term future, but he has played a role in helping cement Corberan’s side inside the play-offs. Weimann opens up on West Brom transfer Weimann has claimed that a move away from Ashton Gate in January was very important for him, as he knew he wouldn’t be receiving game time with the Robins. The forward has revealed that he would be entitled to a contract extension if he played a certain amount, and that the club was not willing to offer him that game time. “It was very important,” said Weimann, via Kicker. “In the end, I wasn’t allowed to start for Bristol mainly because of a clause in my contract, because it would have otherwise been extended after a certain number of games. “That had nothing to do with my performance and wasn’t my fault, it was the club’s policy. RELATED Leeds United man will be hoping Celtic or West Brom transfer interest returns: View Joe Gelhardt has been frozen out at Leeds United and should be pushing for a summer move “So I had to leave because I no longer wanted to play just 15 minutes a week. “That has now worked out really well. “I am now at a club that still has a chance of promotion and where we will hopefully make the playoffs.” Weimann scored for the Baggies in wins over Birmingham City and Cardiff City, helping the team secure an important six points. Those six points could prove crucial come the end of the term, with Albion currently vying for a top six finish. West Brom league position Championship Table (As it stands March 23rd) Team P GD Pts 1 Leeds United 38 42 82 2 Leicester City 37 41 82 3 Ipswich Town 38 31 81 4 Southampton 36 26 73 5 West Brom 38 23 66 6 Norwich City 38 15 61 7 Hull City 37 7 58 8 Coventry City 37 16 57 Corberan’s side currently sit fifth in the Championship table, with eight fixtures still to play. The gap to seventh place Hull City is eight points, but the Tigers hold a game in hand. It remains to be seen whether West Brom would be willing to extend Weimann’s stay with the Midlands outfit beyond this initial loan. The Austria international is set to be a free agent at the end of the campaign, which could open the door to a permanent move in the summer. West Brom return to action after the international break with a trip to face Millwall on 29 March. Weimann was a smart signing by West Brom West Brom’s injury issues necessitated a new arrival in January, but a lack of transfer funds made things difficult. Signing Weimann was a smart solution to add some much-needed depth in attack for Corberan’s squad. He has proven a very useful addition, and is staking a claim for a permanent offer from the club at the end of the season. If he can continue to contribute from the bench, while also offering a good option in rotation, then he could prove a worthwhile signing in the summer as a free agent.

A Matter of Life or Death Zulu Jason and the Argonauts Kind Hearts and Coronets Brief Encounter

If the plan now is to get rid of the older more experienced fans, then I can see it being a remarkable success.

You too, sorry if I woke you from a nap.

Actually it would be to their credit to say, 'We accept and regret that it simply hasn't worked.' Other Championship clubs have taken decisive action in an attempt to limit damage and get fans back on side. They would have been embarrassed too but they knew it needed to be done and didn't shirk a difficult decision. When something's not working the sooner the situation is rectified the better - in this case for LM too imo. They may well be embarrassed, as they should be, but that embarrassment and discomfort will only increase the longer they leave it. Take the bull by the horns and put everyone out of their misery, no club should settle for the sort of stability LM brings which is rapidly emptying the stands.

As a fit for Bristol City it's hard to imagine they could have made a worse choice. On that basis any subsequent appointment must at least be an improvement.

Agree. Even if the results start improving his style of football is unwatchable.