Phileas Fogg

4 minutes ago, Robbored said:

15 goals - how many were penalties?……. I get that he has to bury them  but essentially pens are a free shot at goal.

To me Conway is lightweight and misses too many one on ones. He messed one up today but got lucky and won a penalty.

Once again that’s you misunderstanding what’s being said - @Lrrr clearly that makes the point that in a better team Conway would improve - why is that tricky to grasp!?

1 hour ago, Lrrr said:

I thought you didn't like wild unfounded speculation 

I’ve always endorsed him being banned from the transfer forum - live by the sword, die by the sword.

51 minutes ago, Henry said:

Is this the Tony Wilkins one? Find it really strange he’d make to be associated with him. 

Haha I saw this - haven't had a listen to those two intellectual titans chewing the fat just yet..

28 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

I could be wrong, but I don't think there's been an occasion they've all been fit - certainly not since Palmer has burst on the scene.

I don't think we do lose much dropping Bellingham back because he's also a brilliant ball carrier. And any argument debating that should also acknowledge that Rice has been playing higher for Arsenal quite often with Jorginho sitting deeper so you could argue we lose a bit with Rice by playing him CDM.

Probably a good job we don't judge players on one game then. I think it's mad the criticism Pickford gets (albeit I didn't see Monday's game) He's never let England down at a major tournament and don't forget he's probably the hero of Euro 2020 (21) if Saka puts his penalty in. 2 saves in a major final penalty shoot out!

As for this season he has the second highest clean sheets this season in the Prem and second or third for save percentage too I think. Everton have conceded the 4th lowest goals this season.

There's no better option than Pickford at the minute, and he's the least of our concerns in that back 5.

I think on current form and injuries our front 6 should be the following :

Rice Bellingham (not necessarily a flat 2)

Saka Foden Palmer

Kane

But, to counter the point about players playing out of position they need to be given the freedom they clearly had against Belgium to inter-change. Foden and Bellingham seemed to be given free roles and we need to do that and trust their ability.

Defence is questionable at the moment, needs to be decided closer to time and hope we have no further injuries. Think left back is the main concern

Would you pick Rashford? He seems to be a real Southgate favourite - but, imo, hasn't justified being anywhere near consideration. 

My favourite grounds aesthetically are Ibrox, Anfield and Villa Park. I also really liked Maine Road, very unique looking ground. I also like The Valley. 

My least favourite type of stadium is that lower league bowl style - somewhere like Doncaster

53 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

I agree that AG strikes a very good balance between quality of stadium, location, size, facilities. It's not perfect, it's not what it once was, and it's not the absolute best that it could be. But you'll never build something that please everyone.

My understanding is that away fans often compliment it and TV companies like it (boo hiss, but this is important). Basically it seems popular with outsiders of all persuasions.

Yeah - I don't think it's been planned brilliantly in terms of generating atmosphere - and the concourse areas feel unfinished - but it's pretty good. 

I remember the bizarre "bus stop" proposals for the new ground when that was on the table - at least we didn't end up with that.

I think generally people class a good ground as somewhere with history, status and tradition (Fratton Park, Villa Park, Anfield, Ibrox etc) or an exceptional modern ground that has world class facilities (Spurs new ground for example).

What you don't want is to go from a traditional ground with character and tradition into a disappointing new ground/rebuild - (Man City, Coventry, Southampton, West Ham) that loses all character and tradition but isn't necessarily a massive upgrade.

I think we've done relatively well with the AG rebuild in balancing both, it's not perfect but given the limitations I think it's pretty good.

1 hour ago, shahanshahan said:

Bit disappointing to read most of these comments. Last night's episode was a much needed live discussion/fans panel from two City Women fans & good friends of mine (one of which is a fellow SC&T board member but was giving their own opinions) - to go into detail & to hold people to account.

There's been a bit of imbalance between City men coverage & City women coverage in some episodes this season (and in some episodes there was no mention at all despite the team playing a game that weekend), so it was great for Radio Bristol to use their platform to give more time & coverage on their main show for Bristol City.

Radio Bristol go to City Women's press conferences & also cover the WSL home games - but a lot of match going fans like myself will miss that coverage for obvious reasons, hence usually listening to Sound of the City instead.

As Nigel Pearson once said, the women's team are also a first team, just like the men's...

I think the comments on this thread are ok really - so it shouldn't be disappointing that people don't hold the same opinion.

26 minutes ago, mozo said:

I'm not mocking him, and it's good that he's being ambitious, but realistically he's not going to get back to the level required for the England team.

It’s likely a metaphoric goal about getting back to his best - makes sense to aim as high as possible.

7 hours ago, Major Isewater said:

Atmosphère is probably great for away fans as they outsing our brave lads. 
I have known the Gate rocking and menacing but mostly we are self conscious and discreet unlike those loud ruffians from up North or chirpy cockneys from outer Bristol. 
 

This isn’t the middle ages - people don’t stay in one place anymore so I don’t know why you keep posting this.

The general consensus from ‘chirpy cockneys’ West Ham about loudest set of fans to visit them this season? Us

I’d quite like them to let Jon Lansdown off the leash and use his creative genius honed at fever pitch to devise the most hated kit possible. 

Onyego as sponsor, Robin badge in LGBT colours, made by O’Neills, font in comic sans.. would really like to see what he’d come up with

1 hour ago, Robbored said:

I can’t say that I’ve noticed that many new accounts Dave. I tend to pay attention to the more regular posters so that explains why I haven’t noticed - that said there is one new account that regularly questions some of my posts…….

Seems very sinister to me.

 

…….

5 minutes ago, San Fran City said:

I’ve just read their forum and from before our goal, they were demanding manager be sacked and a complete overhaul of their board. 2nd in the table, probably will go up…puts Otib into perspective when we gain an L. Modern day football fans eh ffs! 

It’s all relative though - with their league position and wage budget - you’d expect automatic promotion fairly stress free.

2 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

I don’t know about losing the dressing room. Luckily he hasn’t lost OLeary. 
 

City played well enough no doubt. However OLeary who was easily man of the match papered over the cracks. 

Vardy’s finishing was odd - I appreciate he’s getting on a bit now, but you’d expect him to bury at least 2 of the chances he had.

It felt like one of those football manager games they throw in sometimes where you’re doing too well so guaranteed to lose regardless. 

43 minutes ago, The Original OTIB said:

Indeed, they are in poor form, in form Vardy scores at least one.

Back it up Monday and belief will build. Happy for that to happen but Argyle need points so could be a slog.

Agreed - win Monday and I think I’ll be more open minded. I appreciate we’ve had lots of injuries - but I just feel so uninspired by it all. I was fairly ambivalent whether we won or lost today.

2 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

Despite supposedly losing the dressing room, being out of his depth, and boring I'd say our manager deserves a lot of credit for today's excellent victory against Premier League bound Leicester.

Although I expect several of you to disagree.

 

I thought we played well - but I had the nagging feeling we won essentially due to Leicester being on poor form. I doubt they’d have missed the chances they did if they were on form.

Our game plan worked though, Manning got that right. Lots of managers would’ve subbed Mehmeti off before his goal - good to see Manning stick with him and it paying off.

I’m far from convinced but he deserves credit for today - he got it right.

On 28/03/2024 at 13:30, GrahamC said:

Anyone think the club might have engaged Lynton Crosby? Famed right wing Aussie strategist who advised Boris Johnson amongst others on a “dead cat” strategy.

This is where you announce something so totally random that no one then talks about the important thing, in Boris Johnson’s case his laziness causing thousands to die from Covid because he didn’t bother to read stuff properly.

To bring this back to City, we currently have an 11 page thread on a T shirt with one of our defenders middle names on it, whilst the football is so dull it makes your eyeballs bleed, we have lost 5 of the last 6 games & appear to be coached by an AI programmed robot.

Clever move, eh?

They aren’t clever enough I don’t think - it’s just a textbook JL blunder

2 hours ago, Tim Monaghan said:

Think everyone needs to give their heads a wobble. Just don’t buy it, it’s as simple as that. Ahhhh, but we hate the club at the moment don’t we, so let’s just have a meltdown over everything. It’s a tshirt lads. A T-shirt. 
 

I’d understand if it was our kit, but it isn’t. Make yourselves a cup of tea. Maybe have a custard cream, and take 10 minutes out. 
 

In through the nose, out through the mouth. Is there really any need for this outrage?

Oh come on Tim. You know there any outrage, people are having a nuanced discussion about what is actually a macro issue about awareness and decision making.

There is no need to dumb it down so much with a straw man. 

17 minutes ago, transfer reader said:

Or perhaps it's just the time the stuff was ready?

If they'd waited for us to win 3 on the bounce the same people would be say it's capitalising on a few good results.

It's a frankly stupid thing for people to give a shit about one way or the other.

People aren’t fussed about the clothing range itself - it’s the lack of awareness from the decision makers which obviously will bleed into meaningful decisions they need to make. 

18 minutes ago, SydneyCity said:

I’m going to make an educated guess as to how this came about… in all “fun” social media posts, players are asked:”Who has the best fit?” and the answer is always Zak.

Some social media junior (probably Jon) put two and two together and came up with this mess of an idea.

Agreed. Without wanting to turn this into a criticism of Manning, I don’t think this would’ve happened under Pearson. Actually I think most of our previous managers - perhaps Holden aside - would’ve had objections.

How they failed to anticipate the response this would’ve received is beyond me.

Interestingly, Vyner hasn’t shared anything about it on social media. If this was his initiative - he surely would’ve done.

Wonder what on earth he thinks of it.

5 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

I know it’s easy to get carried away with things that don’t really matter, but for me this says so much about our club and it’s culture.

The lack of care. The lack of attention to detail. The lack of concern for the quality of the product. The disconnect and disregard for supporters demonstrated by charging £35 for a cheap looking white t shirt. The lack of self awareness to not realise how embarrassing this all is.

I really don’t like this club at the moment.

Exactly - it’s not about the clothing range, it’s precisely what you’ve written above. 

12 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Aye, 

Fair play to Zak, but this is a very much a “release in the summer” thing.  Not least, because at the same time the club are trying to encourage people to part with season ticket money.  

 

Would you see this from any other club in the EFL 72? Probably not. 
 

 

It feels a bit like they’re trying to adopt a similar marketing strategy to an NBA team.

Stunts like this, the (royalty free) drill music instrumentals for the team getting off the coach video. The social media team also have favourite players - usually ones who you can tell they deem as ‘cool’ - notice how much attention they give Mehmeti, Vyner and even Mebude relative to others.

I’ve complained about the media side of the club for years - whilst flashier now, we lost real understanding of the support when Adam Baker left. It’s almost as if it’s done for them and what they like rather than us. 

11 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

He doesn't understand, he doesn't care. 

He's also not very good at fashion design, and whilst I'm always reluctant to get personal, let's be honest - it's hardly a surprise given the way he dresses. I mean he wears some truly awful items of clothing, most recently at the Liam Manning arrival presser.

I mean WTF. 

Look at the range of textures on that!

Amazing really when he has the money to wear whatever he likes.

What is quite telling is that this is almost definitely a JL project. He knows, or at least he should know, that fans aren’t happy. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to do yet another thing that will no doubt get disapproval and even ridicule.

Whilst this (the clothing range) is obviously fairly insignificant - it does worry me how little he seems to understand the support.

If they did something like this after a real high point people wouldn’t care. It’s just about the worst possible time to choose, especially as it’s been an international break without much City news to discuss.