spudski

You can still get tickets every day from Naples to Rome by train for 12euro. In the middle of the afternoon. The fast trains that take an hour are more expensive.

It came from a poet travelling in the 18th Century. Who on seeing Naples back then, wrote the expression...meaning you will die from its beauty.

Sorry bud...hadn't noticed ?

TV now has just become so ' vanilla'... Inbetweeners, the fast show, little Britain...so funny, still is imo. And who can't remember the Big Breakfast. Bring it all back. Fed up of cancelling everything because someone might get offended ? Remember this...

This 'tool', which is free, to access the points system on whether players are eligible to play in the UK could come in handy when talking about prospective signings. https://www.transferroom.com/gbe#calculator

I thought I'd post this, as it explains how we, and other clubs, come to the current market value of players when selling. We've used it for a while now apparently. Going back to Nagy's departure, even though there was no fee. Also used when selling Semenyo recently. https://www.transferroom.com/ Article on it here. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-antoine-semenyo-bournemouth-8276611

Keep up Major ??

I don't disagree with you regarding it's essential to overcome the nerves and focus. My point being...is that as fans it's easy to be flippant and think it's easy to overcome. Whilst we all at some time have focus on us in the work place...we don't have thousands screaming for your blood if you under perform. Like I said in my original post, imo, it's the most over looked thing that pros need to overcome.

Whilst I get your sentiments RR...I can't help but feel from your reply you truly don't understand it. Have you ever performed in front of a crowd before, in a sporting sense? Players may know what to expect, but that still doesn't prepare you. Money has nothing to do with it...you can't just switch a button because you've been paid ££££s...human emotion doesn't work like that. Your response sadly proves my point, that fans generally don't get it. What to expect and money has no difference on the reality. It's like saying... 'here's a gun, I'm paying you a shit load of money to run on that beach and be shot at by the Nazis, you've seen the films, you know what to expect...don't shit your pants, feel sick, it's not going to hurt.

That's easier said than done RR. It's so easy for us as fans to not understand what it's like to be playing in front of a crowd. Imo...it's probably the one thing that's most over looked by us as fans. Playing any sport in front of a crowd is nerve racking. To be able to play without any nerves, and block it out, is nigh in impossible. It's probably the one thing that annoys me the most with fans, is when they get on a players back if they make mistakes. As fans...why don't we encourage instead of moan, boo etc? Getting behind a player as a supporter would be so much more beneficial, but the majority do the opposite. Even NP alluded to it last interview when he spoke about getting used to the ' theatre' of games, when talking about OTC debut. As a teenager or early 20s...playing in front of a crowd that are judging you is ridiculous pressure. Being able to play your natural game with nerves, adrenaline, head pumping, legs shaking...takes some doing. E

I once read this story...now every time I hear or see the name Brian Tinnion, the words ' Mallet ' come to the fore. I think it should be his chant in future ? Quote... Gazza sat down with pie in one hand and Mars bar in the other. He munched his way through a drab 1st half. Gazza’a youth team pal, Brian Tinnion. played in midfield for Newcastle that night. He’d been to the hair stylists and donned an outlandishly short sided coiffure that made his head look like a hammer sideways on. Gazza was merciless. Every time Tinnion came near, Gazza would ball at the top of his voice “Mallet! Mallet! Mallet!” which seemed to be his deliberate transmutation of the word ‘mullet’. He wouldn’t let up. I recall seeing Waddle put his head between his knees in embarrassment. Tinnion looked up once or twice in our direction. He didn’t share Gazza’s humour and had a miserable game. At half time, a young lass turns to Gazza and repeats, “Gazza, do yer want a hot dog, Gazza, do yer want a hot dog?” “Aye, gerrus a hot dog”, came the reply and off she trotted. Five minutes later, the lass returns, “Gazza, there’s no tomato Source, Gazza. Someone’s nicked the lady’s tomato Source at the stand like”.“ Gizzit here!” commands Gazza whilst withdrawing the tomato Source bottle from inside his coat. By now, Waddle not only had his head between his knees, he had his hands behind the back of his head to hide his face.

Blimey...that's his 8th or 9th loan out in the past couple years. Certainly doing the rounds. When I watched him at Yate this season he looked lost...but in saying that, the football under Beadle made everyone look lost ? He, imo, looked behind OTC in his development, who looked the best player at Yate when on loan. In saying that, I would have never thought he'd be making his first team debut for City this season going on his performances. The football under Beadle did both an injustice. And never really allowed either to shine. It'll be interesting to see how his development goes now.

Just to clarify...if you watch the Cornick video I put up, Harry speaks about Social media and it's influence on a player. He says he no longer reads it, or ' Google's his name', as it does effect a player. He also says he's had times in the past where fans were highly negative of him, so it's not new to him. I'd suggest most players don't read social media posts about them. However...it's obvious local media use social media posts to gauge a feeling from the fan base. They sometimes quote posts. Constructive criticism can be positive. Negativity for the sake of it, not so. Fans can make a difference in many forms. You've only got to read Joe Morrells comments about how the blue few booing inspired him and Ryley to up their game and stick one up them.

The Italian Ultras, don't think like our hooligan element. Anyone is fair game...scarfer or not. Especially if you are English. There are numerous groups of Ultras at Napoli. All vying to be the best and out do one another. As for ID...it's sporadic. They'll check away fans more often, but rarely home fans. You can just hold up your ID, they very rarely check it or it corresponds with ticket. Naples is still corrupt, still has massive mafia influence. Police, stewards, bars, shops, all ' bought' for info or told what to do. Naples is not comparable to the majority of the rest of Italy. Imo, if there is any trouble it will be away from the ground, and focussed on any bars where English fans are gathered. They'll get tipped off as to where English fans are.

I can't see his strengths, long term, as being the first man target Dave. I really hope we aren't looking to try and turn him into that. I was hoping he was going to be the front right of a three up front. With say Bell, Conway, Cornick as the three. Cornick being the competition for where Sykes has been playing. His strengths as a player over recent years has been blocking and tackling defenders, assists, taking players on, acceleration, direct running, short term pace. As a 'central target man'...he's neither strong, aggressive, good at holding the ball with his back to goal, and definitely weak at Arial duals. I thought he'd suit our style of play with a high press and counter attack. He's had a purple patch in the past centrally, but it was a one off imo. He's also gone, not so long ago, 41 games without a goal. I hope we aren't long term trying a square peg in a round hole.

No sure whether this has been shared on this thread, but it gives an insight to the player.

Thanks for the detailed reply and opinion Dave. ?

Yes indeed...James, King, Naismith, Kalas, Wells, Weimann all contribute masses of experience, Premier, International, higher Champ etc. Martin gone, Klose gone...both age, legs gone, desire etc. All the above are now past their best, in their autumn/ winter years. Even if our youngsters and new low level signings mature...they are only going to mature and have experience at this level right now. The old heads' will be gone, the talented youngsters sold, replaced by more inexperienced players...ready to develop. Surely some older more highly experienced players will have to be replaced with like eventually? I'm all for the ' plan'...but imo I'm happy to lower my expectations of mid table, rather than promotion contenders any time in the next few years. What is the likelihood of finding another Scott and Semenyo? And if we did...keeping them? Having to sell our best players, and not have highly experienced older heads, and purely relying on academy and league 1 gems to gain experience at this level is imo, not a formula to gain promotion. Keeping our best players, adding a fewer older highly experienced heads to replace those past it, and keeping our developed academy and league 1 gems that have a couple seasons under their belt at this level could possibly work. I guess the magic formula would be a scenario where you've kept the likes of Semenyo and Scott... James, Wells and Naismith at this/ last season's age, and the likes of Tanner, Sykes, Pring, Williams, OTC, Conway, Bell and Mehmeti etc with a couple years experience at this level under their belt. Otherwise after a few seasons your left with a squad of Vyners and DaSilvas

After yesterday's game, NP for the second week running, commented on how far away we are from making a serious challenge in this league. Quote after yesterday. "We have made some good progressions but we have still got a long way to go before we become the type of side that is really knocking very hard on the door for success and succeeding at this level.” After Luton... "We want to be in the Premier League but we're a long way away from that at the moment." "You have to remember we have a long way to go in terms of getting players who are very established at this level. "A lot of our players are not established Championship players but I think they are doing well. I think they are doing fine." He's spoken about recruitment, an unbalance etc ( yesterday) So with those comments in mind...it got me thinking. The question that came to mind, was...are were going to rely on 'established Championship' players, being players who have gained their experience playing for us in the past year or so and in the next? The youngsters from the academy and from league 1 etc. Bearing in mind the words spoken by Tins about the type of players we are looking to recruit ( not established championship players). As pointed out before, our present established Championship players with Prem experience as well, are all past their best and aging. They aren't going to get better. These players in the next season/two will be done with at this level or the level we are wishing to achieve. If we aren't looking to replace these highly experienced players from a higher level, and look rely on our inexperienced players getting minutes under their belt and become experienced at mid Championship level...are we not going to lose that vital input that vastly experienced players like James and Wells etc can bring? Keeping in mind also, anyone that does well from our ' inexperienced ' players, like Scott and Semenyo get sold. Whilst I see the pond we are having to fish in, the progress at the Club, and the benefits NP brings...I can't help but wonder how we will ever get to being a team that challenges for Promotion under this plan. I'm not blaming NP...I think he's the man for making us established in this league. However...with all those highlighted points above, and also the inevitable injuries that teams get every season... I can't ever see us being Promotion contenders. Not unless we keep our best players, add a few ' old heads', and our ' rough diamonds' from academy and lower leagues keep improving every year and gain experience and knowledge quickly. And avoid injuries. I look at Vyner and DaSilva... These are players that have developed and gained experience at this level over a period of seasons. What we are expecting our Academy products and lower league signings to emulate over a period of seasons to become ' established'. That doesn't fill me with hope at becoming Promotion contenders...more likely mid table established. I'm not complaining...I just can't see how the ' want of promotion ' can become a reality unless a lot of luck happened.

Cheers mate...I couldn't remember what they were called last night, one too many Rattlers. ? I've worn them in the past when playing golf. They really do make a difference. They are thinner than a football sock. https://www.amazon.co.uk/grip-socks-football/s?k=grip+socks+football

Some will actually cut the whole foot off the sock, and just leave from the ankle up. And wear a thinner shorter sock on the foot.

There are plenty of complete collections in mint condition on eBay and such like, for approx £20. They turn up often. I've owned and sold over the years the football coin collections and Esso foil badge collections. Tbh...I've never come across anything rusty. If you are into collecting that type of thing, it's worth remembering other countries did their own collections. Some of the Dutch and German coin and such like collections from the 70s are lovely.

It really is fun. The ground is English in feel. I think it might be a while for the next derby. Samp going down, Genoa going up.

I agree the Olimpico is rather soulless unless it's a big game. The one I've enjoyed the most in Italy is Genoa/ Sampdoria.

Some of you might like this. Plenty of City crowd shots.