Red Skin

RIP Clive.

I hope they haven't pissed on his cornflakes too. Wonder what was pissed on for lunch?

You need to lay off OTIB for a bit, mate. I dreamt I had a threesome with Scarlet Johansson and Natalie Portman. Unfortunately, when I awoke it was just Scarlet next to me in bed in the morning.

I'd go for this too. Without a natural ball carrying midfielder, then we need to use Dickie and Naismith to carry the ball into midfield and become creative. Both are capable. Strong press from Conway, Wells, Knight supported by Sykes and Pring playing high up the pitch.

Sounds like they need to be reported to these guys. Football clubs are businesses like any other and this smacks of a cartel dressed up as a competition.

This is probably the only positive to come out of this mess. At least Nige can concentrate on getting his health back on track.

That would exactly fit with our model wouldn't it?

Christ, when did Alex Ferguson become a saint? I'm really out of touch with the Premier League.

I don't agree with Pearson's sacking but 8 do believe this is the correct model for running the football club. We need a consistent identity and a way of 0laying and recruit around it. This is what progressive teams like Brighton and Brentford are doing. Otherwise, every time we get a manager he had to buy a new team of ',his' players that can play to his system and we are left with a bloated squad of players from the last manager that this one doesn't want. You also need to have a succession plan for when your coach leaves because he is successful - like Graham Potter. However, to implement that model you need a club that has reached a certain level of maturity in its operation and culture, which Pearson is still implementing. And you shouldn't change the medical team when a manager leaves, especially in the midst of an injury crisis. ( I appreciate Dave Rennie may have decided to leave as his friend was sacked, but that just goes to show that it was not the right decision to sack Pearson and it's deemed as unjustified by so many).

I believe SL does want to sell the club, but what concerns me is that we are in a Catch 22 situation. We wants promotion so he can sell the club for the highest price (and get some kudos for getting us there). But that will probably attract exactly the kind of owner we don't want associated with our club! Hard to see a happy ending.

I agree. It was just an observation. Continuity and consistency is what is needed but he doesn't get it does he? But he does want promotion, even if he doesn't know how to go about it.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to grieve! There's been a lot spoke about SL not wanting promotion because it'll cost him more. On the contrary SL is desperate for promotion because it's his exit strategy. Much easier to sell a Premier League club than a Championship one.

Well that would make sense. That's what the Technical Director would be responsible for. If that's true, then it is very disappointing. I do recall mutterings that Tinnion was less than supportive ( to put it mildly) of Danny Wilson at the time he departed. Only for Tinnion to take over from him. What's very clear is that SL had a nonexistent relationship with NP so that cannot be ignored either. I think NP was just too big a personality for our owners to deal with.

I'm gutted that Pearson has gone, but I don't necessarily agree with your analysis. The one chink of light in this is that potentially Tinnion will be the kingmaker rather than the suits. I've long felt we needed a Technical Director/Director of Football to define the footballing identity and to recruit players and coaches (yes, coaches) to fit with this. That is the correct model I believe. But for that to work, the football club must have reached a level of maturity which I'm not sure we have reached yet, despite all the good work NP has done. Undoubtedly when NP joined we needed a Manager rather than a coach to address the absolute mess the club was in. I hope the culture and identity NP brought to the club, hasn't also left the building with him. (I'm really worried that Dave Rennie has left). Personally, this feels like the end of a relationship so as far a speculating on who his successor with be, I'm sorry but I won't be polishing up my Tinder profile and checking my photos for ones that I'm less fat and less bald in just yet.

I had a similar experience in Morocco about 30 years ago. Started up a conversation with the taxi driver and when I said were fly in from England he immediately said 'Bobby Charlton'. Fantastic player and God only knows how he managed to overcome the tragedy of Munich and carry on, though it obviously changed him as a man. RIP Bobby.

Personally, I liked random posts about ex players that popped up every so often. Like bumping into someone in the street you hasn't seen for ages. I think these threads were fine in the main forum. If you don't want to read the post, then don't.

So how's his injury?

Broadly speaking you are close enough, but there are subtle differences. Have a read of this: https://www.visagov.com/en/blog/nationality-vs-citizenship We'll agree racism = bad though

I am not sure where this thread has veered off to, but where does nationality sit with this? Citizenship and nationality are distinct and different things. Since the Good Friday Agreement anyone in the North of Ireland can choose their nationality. That's why Mark Sykes can choose to play for the Republic of Ireland, whereas Neil Lennon could only play for Northern Ireland (and receive bullets in the post for the privilege from his NI 'supporters') . And why since the GFA some unionists disgruntled with Brexit have got Irish passports and claim can Irish nationality (as well as British). Isn't citizenship more about the right to residency and right work? If this has morphed into a debate about identity, then surely nationality is a better yardstick then citizenship? Anyway, back on topic. I, for one, applaud the club for this. Racist behaviour shouldn't be tolerated and hopefully it will make it easier to call out if it is witnessed.

I'm really happy with the team we have in terms of effort and commitment. Love seeing young academy players like Bell and Conway play. It was a joy to have Scott for the short period we did. Yes, we are missing a bit of quality, but things a pretty good right now.

Of course I mean BLM Black Lives Matter. Not BTM Bristol Temple Meads. Bloody dyslexia!! Well done the club.

Very good article in the last OSIB mag about an Muslim Asian City fan and his experiences at games. Sadly, it's still a thing. Maybe @Shtanley could share? As a white male I really have to look the those on the receiving end to gauge its effect. I'm sure some of subtlety and nuance is lost on me. Personally, I'm still pretty shocked by the amount of boos from our fans on the rare occasions opposition players take the knees. No one will ever convince this is some political conspiracy by BTM. It's just veiled racism.

I always was and always will be Irish. I've mellowed with regard to England. These days I want them to win (except against Ireland), but still find it funny if they don't.

I think Ange will win something with Spurs and could well be attracted by the England job. I don't think he's stayed too long anywhere. Imagine being the manager that wins a major trophy.

After celebrating like a lunatic after 15 minutes my humble pie was decided served cold in the 89 minute. Very hard to swallow and difficult to stomach.