CliftonCliff

Anyone else watching this one involving our opponents next Saturday? Opening exchanges would argue strongly for employing a high press against Norwich. Two ghastly errors made in the first ten minutes, faffing about in and around their own area, both of which should have resulted in goals for Burnley. The second one did. Tim Krul presented the ball straight to an opposing forward on the edge of the box. Thanks very much. 1-0. (Bit like us, on occasion).

So glad you posted this. Without wanting to take away credit due to others who have also made very significant contributions to the development of our young players, Tinnion’s input has been immense. Have enormous respect for the man.

Three words: WHAT. A. PLAYER.

It’s an annual source of exasperation. For ST holders, if you secure your own seat, it ought to be possible to have the ticket simply loaded onto your ST card electronically. It happened that way a few times in the early days of the current system, but was quickly discontinued, presumably because of technical hitches, but it shouldn’t be beyond the wit of man in this day and age to enable that. Surely that’s more efficient and what such systems were devised for?

I sit quite near the away bench area and so was able to watch Carlos Corberan at fairly close quarters when we played WBA not long ago. He was incredibly animated and hugely energetic on the touchline, constantly on his feet, urging his players on and shouting instructions. He must have burned up an enormous amount of energy over the course of the game, so much so that I remember thinking he'd come off the pitch almost as knackered as the guys who actually played. He was totally involved and utterly committed. That level of intensity and enthusiasm must communicate itself to the players during the match. For that alone I have to say I was impressed, but they were failing and massively underperforming under Bruce and he's turned that around remarkably quickly. Got them playing some very good football, as we saw to our cost. I am pro-Pearson, so absolutely not wanting to see managerial change at AG, but if we were appointing and stood even the remotest chance of attracting someone like him, I have to say he'd do for me.

I am very not tech-savvy. I just googled BBC Bristol Sports Live and took it from there. Simples.

He began that task, yes, but wasn’t here anywhere near long enough to bring it to fruition, because the people who appointed him then decided to sack him. SOD has been vilified by the majority of OTIB members. Only a few of the more balanced views acknowledge that he did some quite important work in his relatively short tenure. More recently, the realisation has finally spread more widely that most of the club’s problems have for a long time had their origins not in the office of successive managers, but in the boardroom, which is why the idea of sacking Pearson is, frankly, just plain dumb.

The reference to a surgeon is disconcerting...

You're looking for a virgin channel and you're having trouble getting it? Jesus, don't tell me your ****ing troubles. I'm 75. How d'you think I feel?

Yes, very tough on Wells, who has ben excellent of late, though I can understand the probable reasons. Expect to see Nakhi on at some stage. Be surprised if he doesn't come off the bench.

Nowhere near as often as I used to, but still too often, apparently, judging by the extent to which it continues to try my patience!

Whether he’s pissed off or indifferent, I wouldn’t know, but he has pretty broad shoulders and said on Monday that he’d rather the fans had a pop at him and not the players, so I’d be very surprised if he felt the need for his agent to speak in his defence. He’s more than capable of taking care of himself. In any event, it’s not a particularly appropriate or well-judged intervention: its main effect, as we can see, has been to prompt people with nothing better to do to engage in yet more wearying and pointless speculation that it signifies more than it actually does. A bit unusual, yes. Interesting, not especially. Largely irrelevant, definitely. It’s a non-story.

Well, considering he's got three wins in his last 13 games with a squad that's vastly superior to the one at the disposal of Pearson, who also has three wins on his last 13..... er, no.

That is a somewhat harsh over-simplification - but there is a disturbing amount of truth in it.

I can’t like this enough.

Or, to look at it another way, of the minuscule portion of the club’s fan base that even think it’s worth participating in this exercise, currently 103 agree that NP should stay. On the other hand, the most votes garnered by any other single individual would be the princely total of 35 shown against Wilder’s name. Hardly makes a convincing case, does it?

Richly deserved appointment. The man's commitment to the club over decades has been huge and his contribution immeasurable. I have enormous respect for the guy.

"Stealing a living" is usually a big favourite with the cliché merchants: surprised we haven't seen that tired old insult rolled out again in the last 24 hours.

Sounds exactly like a description of Lee Johnson at the time of his appointment here. That's a neutral observation, by the way, not a dig. Whether you consider that subsequently went well or not is a matter of personal opinion. Just pointing out that all approaches have their pitfalls and none are assured of success. Promising, young manager or coach whose career is in the ascendancy (been there, done that), or senior man of experience who is available and realistically likely to consider taking it on (which is what you've currently got). You can make a case for either. What you can't make a case for is lurching from one to the other, which is what you do if you're hell bent on terminally screwing up the club. I'll leave it to others to provide examples of the latter scenario - God knows there are plenty of them out there.

I will second that. Great respect to anyone who offers that kind of support to kids in need.

I watched the whole game and I can tell you it was glaringly obvious that they missed Brownhill hugely. Quite surprising, really, that a PL club didn’t go for him when Burnley got relegated.

It’s been addressed. It has yet to be satisfactorily resolved. (That’s not mere pedantry just for the sake of it, by the way. I’m saying NP is well aware of it and has spoken about it numerous times. He either doesn’t yet have the players who can provide the required physicality and aggression, or he’s not succeeded in consistently bringing out those qualities in the players that are here, but he certainly recognises it and is clearly frustrated by it.)

This is a very well-written piece and should be required reading for City supporters, especially those who closely follow this forum. Gould’s departure represents a huge loss to the club. People of his calibre are rare and very hard to find. Anyone who has dismissed this news with a “so what?” shrug is completely missing the point. We all saw what went on under Ashton: that’s been done to death here, but it is a stark lesson as to the scale of the damage that can be done by having the wrong incumbent in what is a vital role. The next appointment will be crucial to the club’s future and confidence in the owner’s ability to pick ‘em does not run high. I for one will be watching developments with considerable apprehension.

You beat me to it.

Well, I may be in a minority of one, but I can’t really see the justification for all these rather negative comments. Decent, steady first half away from home against an admittedly out of form opponent. Had the lion’s share of possession, denied Reading any clear scoring opportunities and go in level at HT, with every chance of getting a result. Most people sound dissatisfied, but it’ll do for me at this stage.