Red-Robbo

19 minutes ago, Swede said:

I've renewed my ticket. Its a 50 - 60 mile round trip for me and I still work so I can't make all of the games especially some midweek games.

By renewing my season ticket I am supporting the club whether I attend all of the matches or not, its my choice. I really can't understand all of the fuss with people not attending and leaving seats empty. There's usually other areas not occupied so what's the problem? Non attendees are counted in the attendance anyway and if its a high profile match them I'm sure the non attendees would be minimal.

My view as well. It's supposed to be an entertainment option, not being in the fricking Army!  If you can't go, you can't go.

I missed three home games this season and haven't had any away days - which is very unusual. But work, holidays, family, comes first.

I've renewed. I always do. My dad had a season ticket for almost 50 years and I hope I will too. 

4 hours ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

It's coming up to the end of the season and I was musing about the summer and friendlies while thumbing through past community match programmes when some familiar but not so familiar names got me thinking again about poor signings. Every team ofcourse has made poor signings, and we're certainly no exception, but the 2016/17 programme for our match with Bristol Manor Farm contained a City squad with no less than 3 players that we'd signed (not loaned) who were never to wear a 1st team shirt in a competitive fixture, namely Tin Plavotic (now with Austria Wien in the Austrian Bundesliga), Paul-Arnold Garita (now with Al-Faisaly in the Saudi 1st Division) and Diego de Girolamo (now with Buxton in National League North). None of these players were blighted by injury just (presumably) deemed not good enough. I wonder how many other signings, not loans, there have been. 

The Austrian Bundesliga is not a bad standard, Uefa ranks it 10th in Europe, just below the SPL. but Plavotic has only played one game there and seems to have spent most of his career in the Austrian 2nd tier - not a good standard.  I think it's as well Tin got canned here. 

3 hours ago, 1960maaan said:

Thinking of taking a short trip in May. Any must sees, places to visit or recommendations ?
Is the beach area or Town better to stay ?  

Any ideas would be appreciated .

I stayed in the Gothic Quarter...

Seriously, while there visit the Boquaria market off the Rambla. I ate at the famous restaurant El Quim there - because I have a juvenile sense of humour. 

While there have a paella. The people of Valencia claim they invented paella, but the Catalans dispute this. At any rates, it's tops in Barcelona.

From the shoreline, take a 30 minute walk and you can climb Montjuc, a hill that overlooks the city and holds a castle (with a nice military museum in it, if that floats your boat) plus the various installations of the 1992 Olympic games and a motor racing track. Oh and it's got a funicular railway up to it, which sometimes even works. 

For beaches, I'd say forget Barca's minute, although very walkable, shoreline and take the light railway (it's cheap and easy to work out) out to one of the Costa Blanca beaches just north of the city; we went to Tossa Del Mar. Because I have a juvenile sense of humour. Sitges, to the south, is said to be nice but is also reputedly the gay capital of Spain. Not that that should put anyone off!

Oh and visit La Sagria Familia and Nou Camp (if the latter has reopened to tourists), because, although it's sooo touristy, you'll kick yourself if you don't. 

I've had the same pair of Monitor Audio speakers since the 80s. They've moved house with me 14 times, survived being dropped down a stone flight of stairs, lived through a party that blew up the amp powering them and worked after Mrs Robbo #1 threw a jug of water in one of the bass cones. 

I can't recommend them enough. 

https://www.monitoraudio.com/

Perhaps he just peaked early. Might be nothing to do with attitude, but while the typical "career arc" of a player sees them at their very best in their mid-to-late 20s, some just fade earlier than others. Might be a mental thing, not getting as much enjoyment out if the game?

5 minutes ago, riggers said:

I don’t get all the hype over Tommy. Yes give him space he will finish and is a good penalty taker, but he has flaws to his game that others would see.

watch replays of any corners for or against and you will see he never challenges for the ball. He very rarely wins the ball upfield when challenged and always looks for a free kick. He chases and closes down well, but only rarely wins the ball. The problem he plays in a number 9 position but does not play like a traditional centre forward 

There is always a difference to the way we play when Nakki comes on for Tommy and we look more likely to score. So a younger and a bit bigger Nakki would be a better fit in our system.

I think Nahki's experience gives him much more awareness of players around him and per minute played I'd imagine he gets more assists than Tom. That'll come in time perhaps for TC. No one can accuse him being half-hearted in our games - at our worst, when heads have dropped, it's often Conway encouraging the team to pick up and attack. 

Can we do better than Tom? Of course. The question is will we? 

7 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

John Lowe, ranked 2 in England, 3 in the world, you can’t possibly get any higher than that!

My favourite, and one that shows Sid's Classics background, is:

"At the age of 32 Alexander the Great sat down at the banks of the Hyphases and cried salty tears for there was no more of the civillised world to conquer. Jocky Wilson's 31!!!"

9 hours ago, TonyTonyTony said:

Written by Sid Waddell, amazingly. Just learned that myself. 

Double first in Classics from Cambridge. A very clever man. 

All his memorable phrases - "there's only one word for that - classic darts!" etc - were uttered deliberately and tongue in cheek to amuse his audience. 

1 hour ago, BigTone said:

Lick arse !!!

Have you been spying?   :laugh:

Just now, TV Tom said:

Too old ? someone like Gwyneth or Cate Blanchett would do for me despite being in their 50s (slightly less likely than Rovers finishing in the top 2) 

Helena Bonham-Carter, Julianne Moore, Michelle Pfieffer would all be more than welcome!  But truth told I'm more than happy with Mrs Robbo. Just in case you're reading Otib for the first time in your life, you're fab! 

2 hours ago, DaveInSA said:

What I like about Rugby is that there is a structure. A platform. And you can play the solid base, kick, chase, and rely on defences to make mistakes. But, you’ve got players now in the back 3 who rarely make mistakes. So it’s becoming less productive.

from that structure, a little bit of magic can unlock defences and it’s enthralling

 

Well, that is a bit like football. No matter how talented the player is though, goals only ever come from defensive mistakes (not necessarily mistakes made by defenders). A high-tempo game in both sports is more likely to produce those mistakes and be more attractive to the spectators. 

1 minute ago, TV Tom said:

Hope you get your passion with Jessica Alba, who is she ?

She's an American actress and I have to be honest I googled "attractive actresses" to find her. The ones I used to fancy are now too old or too odd for the average board member. 

2 minutes ago, Taz said:

Based on what!? That's like us saying we're targeting a top 2 finish next year, but not putting any extra money or players into the squad.

Wishful, hopeful, deluded. Whatever you like, silly gastards.

I'm targeting a night of passion with Jessica Alba. It's not going to happen, but it's as likely as the Gas "coming for us". 

What was the keeper thinking! Took his eye right off the ball.

Just now, TV Tom said:

I do oppose the pedestrianisation of the city centre though. People need access to Tandy's. 

9 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

I'll be honest and say that in addition to the factors you point out - sight lines, comfort, tight to the pitch -  a huge part of it for me is the area surrounding the ground.

Stadiums that are set in the heart of a city, surrounded by characterful pubs and bars, a variety of food options, within an interesting walk from a railway station, those are special. Places like the old Griffin Park, Kenilworth Road, St James Park (both Exeter and Newcastle), the City Ground, even somewhere like Stamford Bridge or the Emirates. The atmosphere at these grounds begins outside the gates and it's often wonderful.

Pub options near Kennilworth Road are woeful. And to be honest it isn't much better at Stamford Bridge!

Griffin Park - now you're talking! And even the new ground has an easy walk to some lovely old pubs in Kew Village. 

My favourite away ground - although I won't be travelling there this visit - is Carrow Road. Near the city centre and not too far from the station, nice waterside pubs nearby and some cracking bars and restaurants. Far away enough to be a real jaunt. I usually stay over as I'm a big fan of the city and Norfolk on general. 

2 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

 

From their own FB page….Located on Southville’s bustling North Street, our Café Bar is a hub for great food, drink, music and art.

Resist the Southville attempt to invade its neighbour. Whatever Red Trousers and various estate agents try to tell non-Bristolians North Street is Bedminster. All of it. 

3 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

 

 

Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Road, Bristol, BS3 1TF, https://tobaccofactory.com Located on Southville’s bustling North Street, this Cafe Bar is a hub for great food, drink, music and art. Converted from a historic factory, once at the heart of Bristol’s industrial past, the bright, contemporary and welcoming space is a unique spot to eat and relax. 10 minutes walk away from Ashton Gate.

 

 

 

Southville my arse! That's a red card offence!   

11 minutes ago, BS3 Ark at Ee said:

More pillars in the stadium than fans!! 

You've misspelt pillocks. 

18 minutes ago, Cole Not Gas said:

  Will be good to see Pompey back at the Gate next season

No it won't. F- the Skates. 

7 minutes ago, Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan said:

I’ve always thought we’re lucky to have a song like Drink up thy Zider associated with our club. It’s a proper anthem with a huge connection to OUR part of the World.

Not many other clubs have that…including the Gas. 
 

Was just going to say this. Drink Up is just so massively better and specific to us. Imagine singing a 1930s dirge about a cuckold about to kill himself. AND having borrowed it from another club.

3 hours ago, 1960maaan said:

I'm not really worried about results ATM , I wanted to see us put in a performance against one of the "poorer" sides in this division. We seem to go missing against these sides .

Because, as I've noted elsewhere, sides that've been cack all season are suddenly revitalised by the need not to have a relegation on their CV, with attendant potential loss of income and career prospects. It really focuses the minds of lots of players. Results at Home Park, St Andrews and the New Den show Huddersfield's players aren't the only relegation-threatened team to play with a new urgency at this stage of the season. 

5 minutes ago, Three Lions said:

 

Robbo your referring to guidance to law 12 from ifab prior to 2022 and law 12 handball was rewritten since then.

 You're right although according to the 2023 PL guidelines it's still a handball if "The player falls and the hand/arm is extended laterally or vertically away from the body". IFAB still distinguish between a supporting hand/arm and the other arm. Most of the rule changes seem to cover deflections. 

The rules that come into force next season (and already are applied in European competitions) seem to suggest that if it hits the upper part of the arm and the position is accidental and "justifiable" by a player's action, that would no longer be considered handball. 

As ever, it's very much at the ref's discretion if they think the movement of an arm is natural and thereby justifiable or exaggerated and therefore unnatural. 

Having read what's coming in, I don't think it clarifies the law at all. 

5 minutes ago, BrizzleRed said:

I completely agree we’ve seen far worse in the past …… on the pitch.  

I honestly can’t remember such a half arsed, shambolic, amateur, unqualified bunch running the club before though.  

How SL can think this mob is what’s required to run a successful Championship club completely baffles me and I think this is the root of the problems at this club, not the head coach, though he doesn’t help matters!

Totally agree, but it's a bit like my local boozer: the landlord is a bit of a twonk and he's had the pub on the market for a while - but I still go there because it's my local and there are things I like about it, that are nothing to do with him.  City are my club, so I'll hopefully last out the Lansdown years. 

. A player is not deemed to have committed an offence if he/she handles the ball while falling “and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body”. 

So, if it had struck his other arm, no handball. Waving arm for balance, even though not deliberate, handball.