steveybadger

And we got him even cheaper than his dad

6 minutes ago, bs22 red said:

500k for Andy Cole. Best city player i have seen at the gate

There would no argument at all if we’d had that sell on clause

Dare I say Southgate. You can argue with results (though personally I think that is really harsh), but he’s the first England manager I’ve warmed to since Bobby Robson. He’s got a bit of emotional intelligence and I think it shows, like Potter.

15 minutes ago, DaveF said:

Always been a fan of Eddie Howe. Good manager and he looks like a Teddy bear.

I did until he stuck his head in the sand  and took over the Death Star (see David Squires in the Guardian ).

1 hour ago, Desso said:

With the Bears playing on Friday and a widespread frost forecast, the pitch might not be very good on Saturday. 

Plus, I hate those rugby lines showing on the pitch, it makes it look like a 1st or 2nd division stadium. Wish SL would build a separate stadium for the rugby and just use Ashton Gate for the important stuff.

This Gloucester Rugby fan wholeheartedly agrees

1 hour ago, marcofisher said:

On the right for Sykes, which admittedly isn’t his best position. Or behind the striker in a more offensive set up.

See I think after yesterday Sykes has to play there - we had so much more cutting edge I thought. So yes behind the striker but which of the midfield 3 do you leave out? If Scott goes it’s less of a problem but until then…

Here’s a thought. If we keep this formation when Weimann returns, where does he play? Appreciate it’s a squad game and selection varies for a variety of reasons game to game, but this formation worked a treat (and IMO made us look a lot more dangerous), yet I can’t believe Pearson would leave him out?

Hope we didn’t get a £30m offer phoned in after 65 minutes 

1 minute ago, RedRock said:

We don’t do nasty ‘winners’ here…..unfortunately.

I’d quite enjoy the winning but the turgid style of play, constant moaning at refs under NW? Not so much. 

Although I have to say I quite warm to him off the pitch.

8 minutes ago, AppyDAZE said:

There's something of the loves himself about him.

Then again, I suppose you could say that about a lot of people  

Yes that’s it!

18 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Gregor ?

Imagine if somehow Pearson was a pundit. Sod the game, 90 minutes of that!

2 minutes ago, AshtonGreat said:

Bring back Des Lyman - best ever for me!

World class subtle eyebrow movement

30 minutes ago, Vidal said:

Alex Scott is the worst presenter I have seen fronting live football, she is only there because she is female and black. Fronting live sport requires a level of clarity and depth of understanding and she lacks it. In my view the perfect example of someone in a position due to her characteristics rather than talent.

 Before people moan there are some outstanding female presenters out there, Balding is clearly brilliant as is Emma Patton, Emma Saunders and the Italian sky football reporter. They are far superior to Scott.

So you don’t think the 100+ international caps gives her a depth of understanding? 
 

Regardless, the fact she actually does some research puts her above most pundits. Not a high bar you’d think,but too high for many.

2 minutes ago, Super said:

Chappers hopefully.

There’s just something about his style that really grates with me. But he is a pro.

He’s far and away the best football  presenter, simply because he has been there and done it. And (admittedly in a field of cosy, bland, non-informative golf club types) he’s actually the best pundit too. He’s come along way and while I appreciate his ‘wider’ opinions aren’t to some tastes (though right up my street for the record), at least he actually has some and can express them intelligently.

As for who replaces him, Gabby Logan is the most competent but in terms of footballers? Hhhmmm.

Oh but those 2 and a half games v Liverpool, when we kept the solid back line, knocked the ball around like Barcelona but with Junior B up front…..

Did that make up for the rest of the turgid tosh? Hhhmmm.

I guess in an attacking sense I’d say Sykes (and possibly the lesser spotted Wilson) offer more. But it’s keeping goals out that has been our problem and he’s been solid, so all power to him.

3 minutes ago, TomThumb84 said:

Biggest shock here is that we are still surprised that we have a number of “fans” that know very little about football. I know thats the case in a lot of clubs but we seem to have more than our share.

A topic for another day maybe, but we talk alot about the “culture” of our football club not being right, well there is an argument to say that about our fanbase too, and how fickle we can be. I wonder how wanted footballers feel at our club and if that disconnect stops us progressing.

Circa 2000 I sat in the Dolman and listened to - “Tony Thorpe is so lazy - apart from scoring he does nothing”.

Always stayed with me that! 

Reminds me of the similar cricket one which Nasser Hussain used to quote about a selector (Gatting?) talking about Graham Thorpe, except he was talking about runs!

1 minute ago, Bazooka Joe said:

Lettuce hope so.

Without the need for any half time rocket

Spent last night with a Charlton supporting mate, who took me through the latest of their basket case owners.

There is a phrase about grass and how green it is somewhere else….

1 hour ago, LondonBristolian said:

I get what you mean but, at the same time, his game is based on instinct and positional awareness rather than pace and physicality. As long as he maintains his basic fitness levels, he's not going to have the same drop-off between 32 and 34 as a player who relies on pace and relentless energy. Plus it sounds like he's a good role model/mentor for younger players so I can see the rationale for thinking he'll still be able to contribute for the next two and a half years.

Yep that’s fair. 

1 minute ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

He deserves it, has knuckled down when out of the side and delivered when in it. Seems to have worked well wirh Conway.

It will save a bit on amortisation and presumably a wage reduction.

Otoh he is 32- will be 33 next season and 34 in 2024-25 if still here- at what point will his effectiveness start to wane? Not a reflection on him, happens to all players.

Was going to post something similar - given his age I feel slightly uneasy about this. He’s undoubtedly worth a contract on this season’s form, but in2 years time? There’s no point offering a contract extension which costs a similar amount over the longer term, if the player isn’t able to cut it in the future. But on balance I guess it’s a good deal overall

12 hours ago, Malago said:

We’ve got the Euros first in 18 months time.  Not easy qualifying group with Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia (who knocked Italy out of WC qualifying PO) and Malta who will be the whipping boys of the group.

1 hour ago, clunes said:

Yeah, tricky qualifying group for once.

Am I right in thinking top 2 qualify automatically but still possibility of play offs?

Can’t believe the crowd and commentators giving Ronaldo all the plaudits because he smiled when his team scored and tried hard when he came on.

sort of thing I did for my kids when they were toddlers!

11 hours ago, Red DNA said:

What is it with the obligatory shot of FIFA President Gianni Infantino sat in the stands as the match starts? Is it written into his contract that the TV companies must show him at least once during each game? 
He may well be President but it seems to be a bit  a rse licking to me. 

My theory is that his face only gets shown for a second now, as the moment fabs see him on screen they start booing

1 minute ago, Sturny said:

Not harsh but keeper had defenders blocking the view, you could argue his positioning should be better 

Messi is a genius but the Beeb pundits saying he meant to stick it through the defender’s legs are so wrong.

And I know it pales into insignificance alongside the bribery and corruption needed to actually be awarded the tournament, the thousands of (denied)worker deaths building the stadiums, and the previous and ongoing human rights abuses, but the pitches are really shit in this WC. Loads of players falling over, cutting up badly, like a mid winter UK Sunday League pitch.

And it’s in a ruddy desert!