22A

That was suggested on local radio this morning. Meanwhile that FA Cup 5th round tie v Man C is fast approaching. It had better be a good caretaker manager.

How it was; every club's gate receipts were divided three ways. The majority went to the home club, some to the visitors as their fans had contributed to the gate and a third segment went into League pool. At the end of the season, that was divided into 92 equal portions with one for each club. At the same time there were voting rights at the AGM etc. Clubs in divs 1 & 2 had one vote each whereas divisions 3 & 4 had just four voted between them and they were classified as Associate Members. They then demanded equality and he big clubs came up with a suggestion that incredibly was accepted by the majority. The 2 clubs in Div 4 - 1 vote each, the 24 in div 3 - 3 votes each, the 22 in div 2 - 6 voted each and the 22 in div 1 - 12 votes each. Yes, the 22 div 1 clubs could now outvote the other 70 clubs. Using that power then they voted in a motion that each club now keeps 100% of their gate receipts. Great if you're currently one of the top clubs, not so for the remainder.

Too true. Go back forty years to 1982 and other than the five promotion seasons, there have been only four other seasons when we've conceded less than fifty goals. 1985, 87, 2003 and 04.

The first opponents under all three of the first set of floodlights were Wolves. The first time, in the 50's they were invited down. The next two times was the luck of the fixture list.

So their agents (?) will suggest to other clubs "Buy these guys now" and he'll pocket the usual 10% or more. Elephant in the room; the players might think "I'm too good for this club. I wonder if any Prem club's interested in me"?

Wow! For once an opposing fan not saying City were lucky; https://www.oneboro.co.uk/forum/topic/13090-bristol-city-vs-middlesbrough-2-1-crooks/page/40/#comments Well that was a weird game! After a bright first 5 minutes or so, Boro got caught on the hop and conceded early on. After Weimann's goal we just seemed to lose our shape and attacking intent. Overall a pretty miserable first half. As bad as the first 45 was, Boro were immeasurably better in the second half...to an extent. As the stats show, we enjoyed more possession, had plenty of goal attempts and won set pieces. Unfortunately we just couldn't convert those chances into goals. When Robins' keeper Bentley wasn't pulling off saves, Boro contrived to mess up by shooting wider or high, or else messing up the final ball (or not playing it). We did a lot of things right...but just couldn't convert our periods of dominance into goals. At least not until the last minute of normal time when we finally took a good corner that Crooks was able to guide into the net. As usual our defence looked shaky and this time we were up against a team with an attack that made us pay for our defensive lapses. Two very similar teams in that respect - potent attacks but fragile defences. While Boro didn't deserve to win today, I don't think a draw would have been terribly unfair. But we failed to take our chances and also defended poorly, so getting nothing is probably fair.

In the early 70's there was a fleet of 19 coaches carrying fans from Middlesbrough. The Police stopped them routinely and found many of the occupants were carrying axes etc. As a result the entire fleet was turned round. They then stopped at Coventry and ran riot in their city centre before making their way to Highfield Road. After all these years, did those axe carriers single out this game or was it routine for them back then?

Exeter are meant to be playing Barrow today, but their stand suffered damage on Friday, so they called the game off then to avoid a wasted journey for the visitors. That was considerate of them, however, it means the rearranged fixture will now be one mid week evening. It's over 300 miles each way; how many visiting fans will turn up?

Their match day thread is already 13 pages long (it started on Tuesday). https://www.oneboro.co.uk/forum/topic/13090-bristol-city-vs-middlesbrough/ They differ in their opinions of today's probable result; "3 nil defeat. That is all." "1-3 away win," "Of all the games so far this causes me the greatest concerns because BC are tricky little blighters when it comes to playing Boro, others may brush them aside but no not us"

Linfield is a professional club and have played in Europe.

This week could be pivotal for P'boro'; Reading at home on Wednesday then travel to Derby on Saturday.

Listening to the commentary "Bristol City haven't been in the game and they just rely on Swansea making a mistake". http://sportsnest.co/a-swansea-city-vs-bristol-city/

http://grenntv.onstream.site/soccer.php?fbclid=IwAR2bnnsbjVC23eCrR2l9iByNgPampmhgUa0uLK6ZbaG8SDX01VFMsTPpd5M But you then have to "register for a free account" and when I tried, I was met with;

Sorry Mods; please move this to the match day thread, thanks.

They are impressed we are taking more to Swansea than Cardiff did. They also say it's a game they should and will win. They also don't think too much of today's Ref. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/forum/282261/swansea-city-v-bristol-city-matchday-thread-matchday-!/#43 This is the exact type of game we have to win if we want to make any progress in the league. 2 games in hand over this mob. This game is made for Pato and hopefully Piroe if he starts. They are 16th in the league and one of the few teams we have earned more points per game than, fairly local rivalry, a few players playing against their old club, at home in front of a crowd desperate for a win. 2-0 Pato and Piroe. Referee is Keith Stroud again?. Oh dear.

Swans parking; this pair have nailed it.

https://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=189124&sid=0fdfe711481a04b7d35c551bac42b358&start=100 They can't get the red button to work either. Also sat their keeper is poor, but the game's heading for 0-0.

Do they ever?

The Frome or the Trym?

Their fans are concerned about their team for tonight; https://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=189124&start=60 'Brave' choice by Paunovic dropping Swift and Southwood. But at least he's binned off Drinkwater. Good luck to Hein, there'll be a feeding frenzy if he makes a mistake. Will TDB be central and Ince and Hoilett wide, or will TDB be deep, Ince behind the striker and Rino RW?

I've know we've only seen him for one game, but that Boreham goalie looked confident and capable. Not conceded a goal in the six cup games Boreham have played this season. Worth a look at by City? Downside of today's result, that ends the South West's cup interest. Bournemouth, the Devon three, Yeovil City, Rover, Cheltenham and FGR all out. Six months time our local non leaguers start next season's cup run.

OK, I wasn't at the game and only saw the highlights on Quest. Recently one or two players have been criticised on this forum, but watching TV, it appears the entire defence just did not perform. Looking back though, it's two months since we last conceded less than two goals in a League game. Are our players 1; definitely "out of their league", or 2; is their coaching and tactics not good enough?

For Gogglebox viewers; As it's Blackpool, will "Pete and his sister Sophie" be attending ?

Their views of this game; https://avftt.co.uk/index.php?threads/blackpool-v-bristol-city-official-matchday-thread-05-02-21.28735/ Rain and 40 plus mile an hour winds forecast, should be interesting. Andreas Weimann is their most dangerous player. Creates and scores goals.Need to keep him quiet. Tough game this 2-2 We’ll need volunteers to guard our statues.

None of us are old enough to have witnessed it, but City's first ever game in the League was a 2-0 win away to Blackpool. That must have been impressive. I'll be happy with an identical result this Saturday.