Red Skin

Richly deserved.  And what a fantastic response from him in that video.  Totally genuine lad.  Really made yup for him.  

I don't really care about promotion tbh.  Young City academy players playing great football in an exciting team that give their all for the shirt is all I ask for.  Fantastic season so far for me.

Went for a lovely walk then got caught in the traffic for the ******* rugby!!  

WhyTF does the rugby go ahead today but the football is cancelled!! 

Very sad news.   Wish him and his family all the strength they need to cope.  

Nevermind false 9 or 10.  Gimme Joe Jordan and his false teeth any day. 

Maybe they could finally switch the lights off in the stands.  How I ever managed to find my seat in the past without having a serious accident is beyond me!! 

Good post.

I think NP having his own coaches in and replacing players without poor attitudes (or that weren't gonna play) and replacing them with strong leaders has been key.

Also playing Naismith and Atkinson who are both able to carry the ball out of defence does mean the opposition midfield have to deal with their threat as well as the strikers (typically Weiman) dropping deep between the lines.   We seem much more able of open up teams this season especially with the pace of Conway and Wells to play on the shoulder and exploit teams playing a high line.   I like us playing out from the back (although nervy at times) as the whole pitch gets stretched allowing us to play.

We just seem much more fluid and have players much more capable of seeing and exploiting weaknesses in the opposition that they sniff out themselves, rather then being instructed on what to do.  (I know SO'D still gets stick, but I remember this was a big thing for him and I thought he had a very valid point in this regard).  They seem to be taking more responsibility and playing more with instinct and less with fear.   Can only get better if results continue to go they way they are  and confidence grows.  

Very exciting times.  Just hope we can keep all our players. 

1 hour ago, TommyD68 said:

After being unsure at the start of the season I think these 3 are really starting to look like a good combination at the back. I think they all bring a different elements to that back line and compliment each other very well. Only going to get better over time!

I’ve been particularly impressed with how Atkinson turns defence into attack this season, reminds me of Adam Webster on occasions when he brings the ball out. he’s looked good defensively too which is of course the main thing.

After a couple shaky moments from Naismith this season I can definitely see why we’ve brought him in, I think he’s been outstanding last couple of games and is a real leader in the back line. 
 

And finally praise for Vyner as people are so quick to jump on him if he makes a mistake I’d like the praise to be as loud as the criticism. He’s also looked great last couple of games and has that ability to play a cutting edge ball and start attacks. Did it against Luton and also yesterday through to Wilson at the end which should have ended in a goal. Also seems to have a bit of an edge to him last couple of games that I like to see.

Will be great to have Kalas back fit again but IMO opinion no reason to change as long as the wins and clean sheets keep coming. Keep it up lads

And that's the thing isn't it.  If they were all perfect then they'd be playing in the premier League.   

Fantastic interview.  Watching our local lads come through the academy and putting in performances like Tonmy did on Saturday is what it's all about for me.  It's really means everything to him to get to where he has and boy does it come across.  Well done Tommy.

And also to hear NP recognise his hard work, character and commitment is really pleasing. 

Hopefully we'll see alot more him this season. 

25 minutes ago, 2015 said:

If you ever watch European football you realise how BAD our officials are from the top to bottom. Most of them just don't even understand the game

We have foreign players and coaches so why doesn't the game recruit the best referees no matter where they are from?  

1 hour ago, ZumerZetSmithy said:

I also caught a train . It was late so missed my favourite breakfast any where.  Went to 3 lions  . My first flag day.  Walked enemas to the ground.  Sat in my seat . The football did not spoil my day out . My son came home and we had a great day . Too many ciders to many hours waiting for trains . But a great day out

After your walking enema, are you sure you didn't shat in your seat?

2 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

Personally I think the result has clouded a lot of people's judgment, the first hour we played some really good stuff.

We did ok in phases.  And we have generally improved under NP.  That's encouraging.  I am not overly concerned by the start to the season.  My response was mainly to clarify what I (and probably others too) that talk about wanting to seeing entertaining football actually mean.  It isn't measured by the quantity of goals, it's the quality of the football which judging by your original post I am not sure you grasp.  Maybe it's better to say I want to see enjoyable football.  

18 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

What were you expecting? It was exciting and lots of goals. It just confirms what I have always said about those who say, "we don't expect success but we expect to be entertained". Bollocks do they.

8 hours ago, MattWSM said:

Nope. i was expecting a much better performance but was left  disappointed about many things and least was the actual result tbh, felt the quality was even less than last season. Happy to lose like we did many times last season but then often came away  thinking could have won or drew but didn't because I felt it was 'just' down to an individual error or two, generally, not all matches of course. Yesterday felt deserved to lose and Sunderland were better side and we were poor in many areas for large swathes of the game.

That's simply just how I saw it,  which dont think my opinion is bollox as you say but fair enough if thats you see it...haha.

 

Spot on @MattWSM.

I always say I want to entertained rather than win at all costs, but I don't mean I just want to see goals.  It's about the quality of football we play and there wasn't a lot on show from us yesterday.

9 hours ago, maxjak said:

The only real mistake SL made was taking his eye   off of the ball, and being seduced by the Dark Forces of Mark (Darth) Ashton, SL loves Bristol City, and without his largesse we would be well and truly phecked?.  He has made mistakes,     which i am certain he is well aware of, but they are honest mistakes, when he thought he was doing what he believed was for the good of the club.  He has at times, i think, been given bad advice, but the bottom line is, he will not sell unless he is certain that his fantastic legacy will be continued. For all our current problems, we are still in good hands........for which we should be grateful?

And that's just it, he has made mistakes.  He may have the best interests of the club at heart, and attempt to do due diligence but you just have to look at the shambles of Holden's appointment process and SL blind faith in Mark Ashton to know he doesn't get thing right.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions as the old saying goes.   

15 hours ago, The Humble Realist said:

 

Yeah but there were heaps of empty seats. Way to many to be 'just season ticket holders on holiday '

I go in group of 6 season ticket holder.  (Used to be more). 4 couldn't make it yesterday. 

Get well soon.  

Sorry for your loss.  Thank you for sharing some of the great memories you made together.  

On 26/07/2022 at 07:52, SecretSam said:

Firstly, I didn't listen to the interview (I live in Bucks)

But...HNM has a real bond with the fans, he is much liked. That is very much at risk here, does he know what it's like to play for us (or any club) if the fans have turned against you? Has happened with so many players in the past...

Probably been said, but you can listen to radio from any BBC region anywhere in the country and on catch up too.   Download the BBC sounds app to your phone and search the radio stations.   Or just search 'sounds of the city' in the app and you'll see 20man mug pop up.  I usually listen this way even though I live in Bristol as I usually doing something else when it's broadcast live.  

Thought 20man should get some credit for the interview.  He always seems to get NP to open up a bit more.   Obviously being and ex-pro helps but I think he is genuinely a good interviewer and his longevity in his job and living in Bristol must help too.  Well done Geoff. 

2 hours ago, ralphindevon said:

I don’t remember Wellington having much of a team, they must have improved over the years.

That will be an interesting derby match. 

Things picked up for them when they switched to football boots. 

6 hours ago, Red Army 75 said:

Chris Martins wife gave birth last night hence his absence . Congratulations to them

What a professional, timing the birth for out of season. 

9 hours ago, maxjak said:

Big fan of CHRISTIAN E..................So what a shame he has chosen the team i despise most in the Premier League, however i wish him well as an individual.  I guess it's all about long term financial security, but sorry he did not stay at the club that had the faith in him to introduce him back into football? 

That's strong.  What makes you despise them?

Given his health can't blame him for going for probably the best contract available over staying with Brentford 

15 hours ago, elhombrecito said:

I may have got a bit carried away with the James signing too...

I didn't.  That's me in the background. 

10 hours ago, LondonBristolian said:

I agree it's a shame. A few years ago I remember the Secret Footballer talking up a teenager at his final club who he felt had the potential to go to the absolute top of the game. There's a general consensus based on the evidence that it was Dave Kitson talking about Callum O'Dowda. 

It's really hard to justify us keeping him and, beyond the injuries, he has to look at himself as to why he's not delivered on all his potential. But it is a massive shame for both us and for him that he's not become the player everyone wants him to be.

It's impossible to wish him well given he has gone to Cardiff. But he now has an opportunity to prove the doubters (and maybe himself) wrong and finally kick on. It's down to him to take it. 

That's interesting.  Sure Callum shares some responsibility but we really failed to get the best from him.   Successive managers seem to pick him regularly, but failed to really play as an out and out winger, which is the player we bought from Oxford.  Not knocking WSM, but if we had got in a pacey centre forward to play alongside Callum on the left and Semenyo on the right we'd have had a devastating counter attacking team. 

2 hours ago, AG City said:

When he signed from Oxford, he seemed to be an out and out left winger, bombing forward, beating full backs.

Johnson then  tried to be clever, sticking him out on the right wing.  Then whenever he had to cut inside on his left, more often than not lost it or got crowded out.  I am not saying he didn't have his faults, but Callum strikes me as confidence player and if he was put in his proper position early on I think he could have flourished.

Good luck Callum, you don't deserve some of the nonsense written on this thread.

100% agree. 

41 minutes ago, chinapig said:

When Nigel was asked about this he said we would not be appointing a DoF. What we don't know of course is whether he agreed with that decision.

I do have faith in NP but that's the tail wagging the dog.  A DoF should be in place and the manager answerable to him.  All this is down SL. Fucking shit show.  

On 27/01/2022 at 10:35, tin said:

Interesting read. IMO, it shows how far behind clubs like Huddersfield we are off the pitch. We still have no DoF or sporting director; no head of recruitment; no psychologist. Granted, that takes time to implement. But it also pulls into focus the all-encompassing job Nige is doing, and doing well.

This is bordering on negligence by SL and the board.   Investing in the right structure would be peanuts compared to playing staff and would actually save money by getting recruitment right.   Bewildering.  There may be some fleeting success if we get lucky with signings, but I cannot see any sustained progress without it which is quite depressing.