Mendip City

3 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

It won't (Liam is in debt to them for keeping him in a job when some of the natives were restless).........so that will be another "ego" out of the door when the time comes!!

It’ll be interesting to see whether there’s any serious interest in him from elsewhere, over the summer. I wouldn’t blame him jumping ship. 

3 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

I agree with your general thread and that Manning is probably not the “open door” type that Nige literally was BUT if Chas and Dave think they have appointed a “yes man” they might be in for a shock imo. I don’t see Liam as that at all. I just don’t see him carrying the can for those two.

That said BCFC due to its hierarchy asked for a culture change, got one then bombed the bloke who delivered it out, moaning about ego’s (which every top manager must have btw). It takes an ego to change the culture (my way or the highway) but an even bigger set of ego’s to sense their power is diminishing and try and reverse it.

I could handle ego’s in the hierarchy if they show a shred of evidence that they have achieved something and know what they are doing. Therein lies our problem!!

Agree with that…. BTW I did say manning is NOT a yes man. Actually I can imagine him being quite stubborn…. Which might not go down well with the hierarchy. 

14 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

No preference really but I suppose Leeds just so`s we don`t donate six points to them next season.

And we’ll get a commemorative shirt to celebrate the one year anniversary of beating Saints if play them next season.  

8 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I don't think Manning is a 'yes man' but time will tell.

Wanting a 10, a winger and a striker is an element of intent although I'm worried about the lack of experience and prime leadership in midfield we may end up with.

He’s not a yes man but he’s fully part of the modern buzzword culture. It’s safe and “text book” rather than challenging and based on experience. Just the way the hierarchy love it. 
Look at the greatest manager of our generation, Ferguson, always appointed different coaches to keep things fresh but drove the culture from top to bottom of the club… oh how close were we??? 

Louis Carey hasn’t been mentioned yet. On appearances alone he’s got to be up there. Also a leader on the pitch and always committed… 

1 hour ago, Silvio Dante said:

I wrote this for Richard Latham’s book on the day - not sure if I’ve posted it here before. But just a fantastic day and full of memories.

And I say once again - WHERE IS OUR TRIBUTE TO TERRY COOPER THAT WAS PROMISED!!!

——

 

In 1986 8 of my family trooped to Wembley. I was 8, and my favourite player was the skipper Bobby Hutchinson. However, I only admired him. My seven year old sister, Zoe, absolutely adored Alan Walsh, getting his autograph before every game so her book was just full of ‘AW’ signatures. 

Even at eight, I knew Wembley was a special place, and was beside myself with excitement to be going. So was Zoe, however how she was going to get Walshies signature on the day was going to be a challenge in itself.

We all know how the game ended. Strangely, I never thought we’d lose - I think Hereford finished me off. However, come full time we’d won but Zoe didn’t have Walshies scribble so how could the day be complete?

Cue the lap of honour. Through the fences, and in a sea of red, Walshie spotted this girl who’d badgered him all season. He didn’t sign for her though - he did better and passed over the fence a battered orange shin pad with “AW” on it that Phil Neal hadn’t got near for 90 minutes.

Zoe’s long since got over Alan Walsh and City. She may not even remember the pad. But for that minute at Wembley, Walshie made her the feel like the absolute world.

Who do we talk to about the Terry Cooper memorial? 
I’ve mentioned it plenty of times. 
When you think of the fuss made of remembering beating the worst Liverpool team anyone can remember… it’s frankly insulting that Cooper is forgotten. 

25 minutes ago, The Coach said:

No, get rid of Tinnion all together 

And… not that it’ll happen but you wouldn’t need Manning. Moyes would be  a manager in the Pearson style not a head coach. 
 

Nice thought but not happening….
 

“Coming down here with you premier league egos, what do you know that our band of mates, good humans and family friends don’t?”

7 minutes ago, Sweeneys Penalties said:

Would love to see Rob back at BS3. 

Me too! 
 

It won’t happen. 

45 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Several mention the cup run as a reason for higher mark.

We won one game !!!! That ain't a cup run.

There’ll still be a commemorative shirt and open-top bus tour to celebrate the “run” on its 30th anniversary! 

3 hours ago, Ronnie Sinclair said:

Knowing us we’ve probably signed a 10 year contract with O’Neills

Probably because they don’t have big egos. 
Jon and Brian do t like big egos y’know. 

3 hours ago, TV Tom said:

Whatever happened to the magic sponge, a game of two halves and a kick in the balls, that was entertainment 

What happened to “vote of confidence”? 

43 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I agree (Well more hope), but….

….I also think this is pretty near to the reality. The facts here are that Burnley are in a pretty strong position negotiating wise - he’s got two years left on his deal, the head coach here has made it absolutely clear he wants him, they don’t need to sell as he’s not among the major earners there and we know the fee in January for a permanent was more than we wanted to pay (and as we were in for Azaz at £2.5m, it’s safe to say we were bidding at that level minimum for our main target).

Even ignoring whether you feel Tinnion, Lansdown and Marshall are the right men to negotiate, if you’re Burnley with those metrics in mind, there isn’t great incentive to drop the price - and particularly in the early summer.

I tend to err towards Graham. I think we’ll buy him. I think it’ll be undisclosed. But I think, if it’s done pre the players return, it’ll be nearer to £5m than not.

This is a bit of an acid test as to our willingness to move swiftly to plan B if plan A doesn’t work. Because I think we do get him later in the window for less, but that in turn means he’s not here for a chunk of pre season and is a gamble.

The other piece of this jigsaw is who will leave Burnley? They may actually need Twine. If they lose a number of players, a Championship-ready player might be just what they need….

I also think we’re likely to sign him.  Would it bother me if we didn’t? Not really would it annoy me if we paid anywhere near £5m? YES!!!  £5m for a player of his standing is from the old-world before the Covid reset. 

20 minutes ago, Street red said:

I think Naismith has a voice has been critical on robin's TV a few times will be interesting to see if he does stay I'm hoping he does because we need all the experience we can get.

I agree but the danger is his voice not being heard from the treatment room….

9 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said:

May be an interesting listen.

On Radio 4 at half three today (Thursday) for half an hour.

Sounds link below for after broadcast.

 

Football Club Names

Word of Mouth

Dominic Fifield explains how football clubs got their names, uncovering a fascinating social history behind the Wanderers, Wednesdays and Villas.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yxl3

 

Don't blame me if it's terrible, I haven't heard it either!

 

Though Word of Mouth is consistently good.

Thanks for sharing. OTIB goes all Radio 4, I love it!!  I often listen to Word of Mouth. Michael Rosen is an excellent writer, poet, presenter. Worth listening to a few more, if you enjoyed this one (IMO!). 

1 hour ago, Enclosure Old Timer said:

Bloody hell Slarti , if you're turning this thread into a Fairport history this could run for ages!!!

I think it will run forever…. In fact “who knows where the time goes” when you disappear into an OTIB rabbit hole. 
 

7 hours ago, Ian M said:

Didn't we sell him to Peterbrough? Got him from Colchester didn't we?

Haha sorry, you’re correct!! My memory isn’t what it once was!!! 

I guess they take into account what’s riding on the games. All those nominated have promotion / relegation issues to contend with. 
Despite the significant upturn in form - and it really is better - the games have, ultimately, been dead-rubbers. 

2 hours ago, Cityboy1954 said:

A few good ones at peterbro .

Remember the last time we bought their best player? Whatever happened to Szmodics??

13 hours ago, milo1111 said:

I’d love it if it happened. I actually wanted the European super league for that reason. So sick of the way things are at present with the illusion of sporting integrity. 
 

and apparently now the prem clubs are trying to rewrite the ffp rules so anyone can now spend £500m a season on wages and fees. What the actual ****

It’s all designed to ensure everyone is stuck in their place… as you say the concept of sporting integrity has disappeared over the horizon. Welcome to mid-table championship…. forever! 

39 minutes ago, milo1111 said:

There’s too much money in it for starters. Too much at stake financially. 
 

hence you get clubs ‘considering their options ‘ when they feel they cop a bad decision. Threatening legal recourse basically. It will get worse as time goes on.

Football in 10 years time will be more about sports lawyers than players IMO.

Agree…..

you never know though, in ten years time it might not exist in any way similar to today. Maybe all the celebrity teams will be playing in a global super league and we’ll have something resembling “our” game back. 

I got as far as this:

”…with the new Rotherham United manager declaring Bristol City a benchmark for his Millers side to follow.”

when I realised I now know the next team to pass us on the way to the Prem

How did we get from that to measuring offsides by millimetres and the endless bleating about it? 
 

46 minutes ago, Bobs Dad said:

Funny, but not true Ronnie as  most of the tanning salons in Southend had already gone bust when Steve Jones (formerly of this parish) moved on from Southend to The Chair boys.

A tanning salon going bust?? In ESSEX??? That’s just crazy talk!! 

Just spoke with a Norwich fan through work. He thought it will be tough but they are playing well at present. We’ve similar recent form.  I think, if Norwich start well, they could well find us in holiday mode tomorrow… but you never know.