pongo88

With all the names being banded about on the Rovers forum, they seem to ignore basic facts. First, is the person likely to want the job? With some “out of work” managers they’re not working as a manager because they’ve moved onto other things after a career of nice payoffs when they’ve been sacked. Why give up your nice comfortable life to work at a desperate team? Second some out of work managers, who want a job, have a good track record and they don’t want to ruin it by going to a team like Rovers where success is unlikely. Third, good managers are expensive and Rovers do things on the cheap. So, what’s left? Experienced managers who are crap but desperate for a job or inexperienced lower league managers or coaches. They struck lucky and got some, by Rovers standards, success with Darrell Clarke and Coughlan but can they do it again

At least one person on their forum is realistic: "Playing for Red cards and penalties now, a bit embarrassing but no other way we are getting back into this."

That may be correct mate, but it doesn’t address the problems with the current ground configuration. It’s impossible to move the away fans from the Atyeo without redesigning the concourses to allow separate access and segregation and it’s impossible to create more standing without moving hundreds of season ticket holders who don’t want to move. In other words, it’s not going to happen any time in the near future. If there is ever a replacement for the Atyeo or Dolman then it’s easy but that, if it happens, is way into the future

The main problem with away fans in the top tier of the Lansdown is access. The only way to get there is through the main concourse at the lower level - ie home and away fans mixing = potential chaos. As for “making the matchday experience enjoyable once again” I think it’s fantastic as it is. The new concourse the runs under three stands is great and I haven’t got any urge to stand up. Some people do, some don’t, it’s personal choice but I don’t think any major changes are likely unless / until the Dolman is rebuilt

Trust the Post to go OTT with Rovers news. This is described as a “Global Partnership” with Cadbury. Does this mean that fans from Outer Mongolia can travel to Horfield for a free bar of chocky?

This is a good point. The stand basically consists of a steel girder frame with pre-formed concrete sections for terraces to support the seats. “Concrete cancer” can affect concrete structures but this is usually caused by water ingress causing the steel reinforcements to rust. As the stand has a roof, water ingress is unlikely and there is no visible sign of deterioration at present. As you say, there must be older stands. (The original Wembley Stadium lasted 80 years before it was demolished) Is there a structural engineer who can give a definitive answer?

The flats behind the Dolman probably have a life expectancy similar to the Dolman. If so, Steve Lansdown could do a deal with Bristol City Council to gain more land to enable a Dolman expansion in return for support for replacement housing. Extra land is the only way an extra tier is possible. If the Dolman was redeveloped on the existing footprint the modern legroom for seating would result in reduced capacity. Whatever, I’m sure he has a long term plan that we know little / nothing about Edit @TomF beat me to it with the same view

Steve Lansdown said, at a Senior Reds bash a couple of years ago, that he considered this at an early stage of the ground redevelopment. He decided against it due to the cost / difficulty of buying the houses behind the Atyeo. If City ever get into the Premier League it won’t be the extra capacity that generates income. It will be TV money and corporate events

If the information had been about Rovers new Santa’s Grotto it would have been front page news in the Bristol Post

Interesting Bert but I’m sure you only posted this because they describe you as: “flamboyant young manager BJ Tann” You may not be young anymore but you’re definitely flamboyant

The media and Rovers excitement over the club’s form is ignoring a basic fault. Rovers have played 5 league games and only scored 6 goals. Three of them have been penalties, so it’s only 3 goals from open play in 5 matches. Unless Garner can keep the penalties flowing that’s going to be relegation form. I’d vote for him as manager of the month on that basis

He’s aged 22 and has made a total of 4 league appearances. Obviously a late developer

Tell him to stop insulting Keynsham (spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M for Horace Batchelor fans)

A football stadium is only one of the things that are planned for the fruit market. If it goes ahead there will be housing etc as well. So, as you say, how big a stadium could also be built?

Someone on Radio Bristol said it was approx 9.8% (I can’t remember the exact figure). What was amazing was the caller said there had been a couple of managers with an even worse record. Dear @22A. I like your post that elevates the forum to a higher level with a quotation from the classics, but I feel that I must point out an error in your summary. There has been no best of times nor season of light with Ben Garner. I’ll give you a quote from Shakespeare: “The instruments of darkness tell us truths” In other words, the truth is Ben Garner is a crap manager

I think you should check with @Rudolf Hucker as to which is the best option. I hope not. Even with their limited resources he would keep them in League 1

Just listened to Garner on Radio Bristol. Apparently it was the referee’s fault. That explains everything

I used to occasionally watch Rovers when I was at school in the 60s. Living closer to Eastville than Ashton Gate it was relatively easy to get there (children used to actually walk long distances to places in those days). A lot of things were different including a lack of live football on TV and hardly any highlights. So if you wanted to watch a match when the team you supported wasn’t playing you had to go to watch another team. There was rivalry between the two sets of supporters then, but not the hatred you get now, so it didn’t seem strange for City supporters to occasionally watch Rovers and vice versa. Of course, when I went to Eastville I always supported the opposition

They haven’t blanked his face, he’s the Lone Ranger. The question is, where is Tonto?

At least one person on their forum has a sense of humour: “Plenty of positives to take from today's performance. Positives: Good to see Ehmer get on the scoresheet today from the header. We forced their keeper into a save. Great to see us resort to the long ball tactics which served us so well the first half of last season. We are showing that you don't really need a central midfield to hold out for 80 minutes. We are starting to look comfortable - when the ball is out of play. More players got 90 minutes under their belts. We didn't throw away a lead today. Defence is beginning to gel as we only lost 2-0 to Ipswich this time round. Pitch looked fab. Negatives: Attendance was poor today. Teams may now be aware that our plan A is to get a wide free kick and get the big men up. Ben Garner's baseball cap trend taking hold.“

I think you’re being rather unfair to Wael. He has spent money - Championship ready sprinklers, Santa’s Gritto and grass seed for their new training ground.

Don’t forget that City won the Welsh Cup in 1934

Even Shrewsbury and Burton Albion, who have not achieved much over the years, have modern grounds. They were built 15 and 13 years ago respectively, but Rovers new stadium is still just talk

It depends on how you measure things. Rovers play at the Memorial Stadium which was built in 1920/21 on a patch of ground called Buffalo Bill’s Field. The location was named after Colonel William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, whose Wild West Show had proven popular there in 1891. Did Buffalo Bill every perform at Fratton Park? NO - because Buffalo Bill knew that Portsmouth was always going to be a small club

If you’re far too bone idle to look, why should anyone bother to tell you?