Swede

The reality is that most of us are left with a slightly tainted overall view of our club. With Pearson gone we are left with a void to fill and naturally Manning and the club's hierarchy become more of the focus for that void. The club won't say any more on the matter, presumably hoping that time and the team itself will draw attention away and heal the wound.

How do we overcome this? Well, the club have a focus, it may not be clearly explained but the recent transfer business was very cute and is a very positive pointer which we all have to use as a positive indicator.

They want success as we all do, its just the way they've gone about it that rankles.

Next season (as always) there has to be a significant improvement otherwise all of this season will have been for nothing.

I think this programme confirms pretty much what we all have surmised from the events in that Nige is a man of integrity and its shown that the influential powers that be who run OUR club suffer from a lack of it.

It had left an open wound for many (including me). He made reference to "classy" Leicester as a club which I also took as a slight on the way he was treated here. He obviously has to be careful with the confidentiality agreement in place.

To soften the blow a little I do think that the club were thinking about changing direction at the end of his contract anyway and his health issues and barbed comments probably hastened the exit. I also think his way of managing and leaving it up to the coaches to coach also just underlined to the hierarchy to just get a head coach and save money on him and his entourage. 

It will be interesting to interview him after the confidentiality agreement has finished as I'm pretty sure he will fill in the missing pieces when asked.

Brum to go down for me. We should've relegated them a few seasons back.

Well I never would've thought dirty Leeds would lose 4:0 at QPR. That leaves the second promotion spot firmly in swiss Tony's grasp. I am not sure which is worse but the thought that he could actually get away with all of that out of control spending and now have it masked by the millions gained in the Premier League, something just isn't right.

Create an artist's impression and they will watch from the streets without planning permission.

Er. . . Apart from the Bears & the Vixens, there IS only one team in Bristol, so he's correct.

That's pretty impressive for a nothing game considering the change of direction made by the club mid season and the mid table finish. I'm really looking forward to the game and it would be great to sign off this season at home with a high energy performance and a win. The already relegated Millers have nothing to play for now so should be entertaining.

I've renewed my ticket. Its a 50 - 60 mile round trip for me and I still work so I can't make all of the games especially some midweek games.

By renewing my season ticket I am supporting the club whether I attend all of the matches or not, its my choice. I really can't understand all of the fuss with people not attending and leaving seats empty. There's usually other areas not occupied so what's the problem? Non attendees are counted in the attendance anyway and if its a high profile match them I'm sure the non attendees would be minimal.

VAR is ruining football; not improving it! Every decision is becoming more and more contentious. Its riddled with flaws and with it its affecting the true spirit of the game. In real time, Coventry won that match fair and square. How can a player's size 9's be offside when the rest of him isn't?!? 

It's a poor Man Utd team from top to bottom. If only we'd beaten Notts forest. I definitely would've fancied our chances against them.

7 hours ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

'There doesn’t appear to be much wrong with your football club other than a few quality addictions in the summer'

Ah, good old Freud steps in again...

You'd have to have a few quality addictions to enable you to support swindle!

Sorry Shaun, I know you were being sincere!

On 20/04/2024 at 06:03, Shaun Taylor said:

Swede, we’re definitely shite but have the potential to get in league one if only we had a decent owner who wasn’t full of bullshit and surrounded by crooks

You've had a few of those. At least you've been in the Premier League. There's a few on here who need to be careful what they wish for.

Of all of the players signed last summer, Roberts was the one that really caught my attention. Nothing seems to phase him. Technically he is very good and he reads the game very well. We have a very accomplished player there. The one worry for me is the "Rob Edwards" syndrome. His versatility could be a hindrance between switching from a back three to a left back/wing back which will mean he'll get shunted in and out of the team. I really hope not because (like Edwards) he's a talented player in his own right. Atkinson, Dickie & Roberts would make a formidable back three.

Correct me if I'm wrong but Bird is a box to box defensive midfielder, so that would be a more dynamic replacement for a Williams or James (obviously without their experience) or a Naismith if he ever gets fit again. So it would seem that the club is moving towards releasing King and James at the end of their contracts and with Williams there will be an offer of a new one but no guarantee he will accept.

10 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Pretty much everything about the Prem is shit.

I know that many want us to get there but having seen us play 4 seasons of top flight football in my life (a totally different, fairer world), I’m genuinely not bothered about joining that circus.

I understand the sentiment but I'd like to think we'll turn the tables at some point and buy the likes of Solanke from that nothing club. That will only happen if we get into the Premier League.

I think we're seeing of late exactly the the reason we signed him in the first place. Re signing him is a no brainer.

I would re sign James as well but I guess we can't have everyone. We will be losing King (sadly) so there's where Bird steps in.

It seems to me that a lot depends on where the club sees the midfield structure.

All sentiment aside, when both James and Williams were signed it would've been on lucrative contracts & someone correct me if I'm wrong but the rules governing football contracts are that we have to offer the same terms (or more) or they can go to the open market.

1 hour ago, BCFCGav said:

They’re asked the same 20 questions every week - be incredible if they never repeated themselves.

"Stupid question"

4 hours ago, Shaun Taylor said:

Also we get bigger home crowds than them and we’re shite and there’s only a few teams in league 2 that bring 500 or more.

Shaun, at least you know you're 5hite. Those cretinous ******** actually believe they are something special.

It definitely wouldn't be Loftus Road. I am really surprised that the SAG haven't reduced their capacity still further when you have such crippling restricted leg room, can't see the touchline in the upper tier, have seats behind pillars and a really narrow concourse. There are so many restrictions it would take an enormous effort just to get out in an emergency. A 5hit hole.

The thing with Max Bird [it would seem to me] is that the move to us elevates his gravitas in that he's no longer carrying that "academy product" tag. He's an important player in his own right, much like Jason Knight has become.

Derby are obviously a big club and a bigger club than Bristol City but at this moment in time we are the bigger fish, much in the same way Bournemouth are to us. 

There's really no comparison {& I'm not blowing our trumpet]

Not even Swindle would be a comparison. They have a bigger stadium, have been in the Premier League & have won a major cup competition. Although they haven't won the Watney Cup.

A better comparison would be Forest Green or Cheltenham, much more their level.

Tanner, Roberts & Dickie for me.

Tanner has looked stronger and more assured. The coaches are obviously working on the positive side to his game.

Roberts is a class act. Nothing phases him. He's very astute, reads the game well and delivers a lovely dead ball.

Dickie, has been the player of the season for me. Strong in both boxes but its his ability to play out from the back and hit decisive passes that really stands out. When Atkinson is back we will have a formidable back three/four. Question is what will the coach do? Atkinson, Dickie & Roberts would seem the best to me.

Rather than many with rose tinted glasses pining for him & thinking we messed up by letting him go, he didn't exactly set the world alight when he was here and rather it was an opportunity HE missed.

Good luck to him, sometimes it just doesn't work out. I would like to think that he used the disappointing experience he gained here to re double his efforts elsewhere. It certainly should make for a lucrative transfer for him this summer.

I learn' t a very long time ago never to leave before the end of the match.

That match was an F A Cup 3rd round match 1978 at Ashton Gate v Wrexham of the Third Division who were winning 4:2  with 5 minutes to go. I left early, thoroughly disgruntled. We scored twice in the final minutes to take it to a replay [which we lost, miserably 3:0]

The last time I had to leave early was when we broke Southampton's calendar year home record at St Marys [because the car park I was using was closing]

I really can't understand why a lot of people do leave early irrespective if its dross you're watching. It must be pretty demoralising for the players seeing all those fans leaving.

It makes sitting through Cardiff tearing us a new one with a 6:0 home drubbing all the more sweeter when Nahki Wells slots home that last minute injury time penalty & let's face it, if they hadn't been time wasting warnock style, the excellent referee would've blown up for time earlier.

18 hours ago, formerly known as ivan said:

After not having attended a game since Swansea for my own sanity, performances and results have picked up. Some on here and social media believing Manning is in fact the second coming. So against my best judgement, I decided to have another look myself.

Wow, that was dire! It confirmed everything we already knew. This new and improved Manningball was a flash in the pan. That my friends is the football you have to look forward to next season, which will come as no surprise to many.

Good luck all for next season. I shall look forward to a return to the gate in a year or two.

No one has said Manning was the 2nd coming, far from it. Most are still questioning the sacking of Pearson who had done a great job of tidying up the 5hit show he inherited. Before anyone jumps on the "move on" bandwagon the reason fans still are questioning the sacking is because the club have been perceived in being less than economical with the reasoning. 

There are a few questions that remain unanswered.

Manning's tenure seems to hinge on the club (not Manning) getting the correct players in the summer. It will be an interesting summer and whilst I am sceptical you have to say that the business done from last summer has been largely very good.