Red Skin

2 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

Unionists in N Ireland are British citizens. They're British, as are republicans in N Ireland. The side of that debate on which someone sits does not affect their citizenship.

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. 

5 hours ago, Red Skin said:

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. 

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

Well done the club.

3 hours ago, Wedontplayinblue said:

I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, as it must do to some degree as it does in life, but how often do people openly hear racist abuse at city?

I can honestly say in my 30ish years of watching city, I’ve never heard a racist remark. 

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.  

8 hours ago, Oh Louie louie said:

Id take the spurs boss in a heartbeat loves attacking football 

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.  

28 minutes ago, Slacker said:

You might find it useful listening to The Wurzels before you get here.

And for balance, listen to some Massive Attack. 

Welcome @BigKiwi

I think Max's distribution has always been very good.  Much better than Bents.  

Because he is confident in that part of his game it does mean he attempts more ambitious passes which don't always come off.  

I'd argue it is the difference between the midfielder with 100% pass accuracy who always passes back or sideways, and one with 85% that plays more adventurous forward passes that don't always come off.

I'd wager we are much quicker converting defence into attack with Max in goal, albeit he does attempt an overambitious pass more frequently that can be intercepted.  Memorably bad sometime, which leaves some with the impression that his distribution is poorer than it actually is.

It's a bit like making Naismith in defence.  He may give the ball away on occasion, but on balance we are a better team with him playing. 

Really glad to have both men at our club.  Nige, open, honest, considered, and always steps back from the spotlight to emphasise the others have played in his successes.  Very selfless and generous.  Much be very motivating to everyone working with him.

Well done to the press asking the questions.  More open questions, and Nige seems to enjoy the opportunity to be more expansive in his replies. 

When we were in there, everyone was blaming the acoustics of the stand for making us seem quiet to away fans in the East End.   Apparently, now it's a great stand for acoustics!! 

23 hours ago, spudski said:

In the first couple sentences, he says...' We have a way of playing now'.

How ridiculous as a Championship side, that we didn't in the past. 

At least we now recruit accordingly to how we play. 

So frustrating that in the past we had a CEO and manager that recruited with a philosophy of having a ' club in the bag' for every scenario.

Even more frustrating is that we have an owner that didn't pick up on this at the time. It's a basic football principle.

 

Exactly.  It's been clear for years we needed a Director of Football/Technical Director.  Who better than someone who loves the club, has been a great servant, and was a fantastic player to take on that mantle.   Manager wasn't right for him, and it took a sabbatical in Spain for him to find his way back, but he has landed a pivotal role at our club and I'm very thankful we have him (and NP) influencing recruitment and directing how we play.  

On 12/09/2023 at 10:11, Lorenzos Only Goal said:

I still think Ayman Benarous assuming he's not a different player, assuming he's fit and strong certainty showed up well in the games he played.  I am hoping that he's not a different player now as he for me is a good potential answer to the creative problem.

I hope he's well and on his way to recovery.

I'd completely forgotten about him. Yes, he did look good in some games and was amazing in some of the younger teams. Hope he regains his fitness and it hasn't affected him. 

8 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

@Red Skin now if you’d asked?

@ExiledAjax ideally, a combo of both tables would be good!  The big questions with all of the xG / over / under stuff is which way does a team “regress to its mean”?

Does City’s attack stop being cold, or do we create less xG, etc.

Thats the fun!

Without an obvious midfielder like Alex Scott that can carry the ball and break the lines, it seem to me that plan at home is for the full backs to press high and attack.  Pring's failure to do this, which he has acknowledged himself, has cost him game time.   

Williams' performances alongside Knight are encouraging.  Hopefully, as their confidence grows they will be braver on the ball.  Always good to have Naismith there to find a pass, and if there is space opening up I've been very impressed with Dickie's forward passing.  

Setting myself up for some pelters, but if we can execute the plan I feel confident things with improve especially against more forward thinking teams.

24 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

under-performers v xG:

Middlesbrough

Watford

over-performing v xG:

Preston (but best defence)

Hull C

Plymouth A

Wow!  All delivered and tied up with a fancy bow before I've finished my breakfast!!

Always hard to know who the decent teams are this early in the season.  What's the xG league table look like? 

(That'll give you a bit more to occupy yourself @Davefevs)

It's a definite no from me. 

23 hours ago, BUTOR said:

These conversations have been happening on repeat since the rebuild and there’s one common denominator throughout that time - us!
 

We are perfectly capable of creating a good atmosphere. But we need to organise and put a bit of effort in on match days. A Block seemed to be the turning point and for the first few games the atmosphere was really improved. This also proved the club are willing to, if not work with us, turn a blind eye to such movements. But it fizzled out fast, there was even some (understandable) backlash to it from within our own fan base and this all leaves me wondering whether there’s actually enough appetite to turn it around, or whether we’re the type of fan base who puts atmosphere down as a priority anymore. Perhaps we are just used to comfortable, modern, sleepy Ashton Gate and aren’t that bothered about getting embarrassed by away support every week. 

It isn't US though, is it?  Like it or not we have a singing section that have taken on the mantle of creating atmosphere, so Section 32 are leading things.  I have no idea whether it was the club's initiative alone or it was in response to a clamour from fans to create a 'singing' section, but as things are personally I am not a fan. To my mind those fans sprinkled around the whole ground would be more likely to get others join in.  I guess we are where we are, so it isn't gonna change any time soon.

My gripe is that from all these self-appointed singers we have no one that can craft an original song that everyone feels they can join with.  Also, at times they seem to be lost in their own songs rather than responding to what's happening on the pitch.  For example, why don't we sing 'C'mon you reds' at every corner like we used before that section, rather than carrying on some endless durge started 2 minutes before?  Also, songs like the one that is punctuated with 'see you next tuesday' aren't ones that every fan (especially those taking their kids to the game) will want to join in with.  It alienates fans from that section.  No problem with swearing, it's just really lame.  Maybe some songs are just away songs?  

Personally, I do sing at games and always join in, but having some unique songs that everyone feels they can join in with, drop the embarrassing sh1te songs, and being more in tune with what happening on the pitch would help enormously. 

P s. And before anyone suggested getting there and influencing that section, I have a son with disability so that's not an option.   

To the chorus of Black Velvet Band, sung by the legendary Luke Kelly.  

"You can keep Ronaldo and Messi,

MBappe does nothing for me.

Give me Mark Sykes, the Belfast Boy.

The pride of Bristol City". 

Probably just one for the Irish City fans.  But a rousing song for Sykes that mentions Belfast would probably get his approval rather than generic tunes that get constantly recycled. 

Unfortunately, we have zero talent in S32 to create unique and original songs.  They don't even seem to copy good ones.  Really monotone dull ones that have no passion. 

Clubs like Liverpool and Man Utd have some great songsmith and a way to get these songs known by supporters.  Appreciate they have many many more fans to draw on, but surely S32 could come up with one decent effort?  

42 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

No. Its got to be Anita Ward, Ring My Bell

You can sing Sam Bell

Sing Sam Bell

Sam Bell, sing...

You can't catch Sam Bell,

Sam Bell, can't catch Sam Bell,

Too slow, he's long gone, long gone. 

Ditto... 

38 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Max isn’t a “younger player” any more - he’s at an age where he should be established if he’s going to be. 

That really doesn't make any sense.  

He will only become established by getting experience and playing week in week out, which is exactly what he is getting.  He needs experience at this level, so loaning out to a lower league club won't give him the experience he needs.  Experience will not all be good, but he will need adversity to grow and mature.  

Max is good enough. 

37 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

My only gripe with Nige is that he likes us to cross the ball. I think crosses are a huge waste of possession. 

Sh1te crosses are, but good ones produce goals don't they?  I really lament the inability of wingers to get to the bye line and cut back for incoming attackers. 

Great lad.  So gutted for him he got his injury.  

Thanks for some well needed balance @Davefevs.   I agree with your analysis.   It's wasn't great, but the overreaction on OTIB seems to be getting worse.  Is this the influence of social media algorithms on the group psyche, in that only extreme opinions are worthy of getting attention?

It's very frustrating though.  Individual errors aside we have struggled for years to break down sides that can defend.  We are still lacking players that are brave on the ball and can beat a man.  Maybe these should be  attributes we should look for in potential signings, and things we should develop and ingender in the academy?