Merrick's Marvels

Yep agree with all of that fella. We'd run through brick walls for Pearson - as would his players. Replace the word Pearson with the word Jordan or Cotterill and you end up with the same result - an army on the march. Not often that happens in BS3 and we always fock it up.

Dont necessarily disagree but - out of interest - why? Genuine question. Because he doesn't measure the grass?

I think Port just wants to move on, mate - what's happened has happened so let's just try to be positive about the future. A trifle difficult after the last 2 results imo, that's for sure. Especially if, like you and I, and UNLIKE the Lansdowns or Tinnion, you have enough history to understand that a manager like Nigel Pearson is EXACTLY what Bristol City needs to move upwards and onwards from this level. It is absolutely the tragedy of Bristol City (tragedy too strong a word but anyway) that serial incompetence off the pitch contrives to let down talented teams and long suffering supporters. Rinse and fucjing repeat.

I've run out of flame emojis. Have 10. Thousand.

One of the best posts in many a year. Hats off!

This is becoming increasingly difficult to believe, I'm afraid.

Yes quite possibly, if this continues. Bare minimum, we need to do brilliant transfer business in the summer.

Top sledging!

Boom!

Massively agree with this. The Cup games were great fun - and we've had precious little of that for years - but I never let Cup form muddy the waters. And take this season's Cup games away and what positives are we left with when trying to weigh up Liam Manning? Very little. In 1974 our cup win at Leeds was so astonishing it had media outlets shouting "Hold the front page!". We were rubbish in the league, Dolman wanting Dicks sacked. And I always think of 88-89 when we reached the League Cup semifinal - an exhilarating cup run full of amazing, memorable games (remember them?). Yet we were rubbish in the league. Of course, we got our recruitment spot on the following summer and were promoted the following season. I wonder what the odds are on history repeating? I'm a betting man but won't be taking those odds, whatever they are.

Too clever for him. Her. It.

Aye, I can He's your mate's Da, tho. Irn Brus all round!

Tell them the story about Geoff Twentyman Snr!

Geoff's Dad and some scotch bloke.

I don't disagree at all. But he needs better players for his style to succeed at this level. Certainly in attacking areas, if not all over quite frankly. Imo. Which means the summer. My worry is that our current recruitment policy - mostly low cost young players - won't provide him with the quality his possession style requires. We certainly need a damn sight more than a no.9 and a no.10 in the summer.

No need to apologise - the man deserves a thread of his own. An absolute titan and my absolute cricketing hero. Many great memories. An exhilarating, thunderous, player. Raising a glass of Pinotage to him tonight. Thanks big man, rest in peace. Proctershire la-la-la.

They've gone all in on this 1974 thing haven't they. Gillies to score the winner today then.

Get well soon Roy.

Just you wait until we get promoted mate.

I agree the victories over Liverpool and Man Utd shouldn't be commemorated. For loads of reasons. Certainly nowhere near the giant killing that Leeds was. The rest of your post just proves you don't get it, though. Which is fine. No worries.

Not when it's set in context, ie if you explain Britain in the 1970s, how football was regarded then, how good Leeds were, what sort of news made it on to the front pages of the newspapers (what newspapers are) etc etc Football was strictly for the back pages. It was played almost exclusively on Saturdays at 3pm. Footballers were not celebrities. In other words, the good old days. Leeds hadn't lost a single game all season and were one of the best sides in Europe. The FA Cup was a proper competition. There was massive political, economic and social unrest at that time - yet serious people, running serious media organisations decided news of Bristol City's victory trumped all that - and lo, there was Donnie, on the front page. That's how big a news story it was. Inevitably, all that gets lost over the passage of time.

I think you've identified the "footballing" reason behind his likely release - running. Imo, they want all our midfielders to be athletic, hard runners. And that is James' only weakness - if he was mobile and athletic he wouldn't be playing for us as the rest of his game is top notch. Factor in the "non-footballing" reason - a saving on wages can be made - and there you have it. Cheerio to a top, top player. To be replaced by one 9 years younger, cheaper and who's played a lot of football. That will be the reasoning, whether we agree with it or not. The proof will be in the pudding I guess.

Here you go: Date was 7 April 73. City scorers - OG (14 mins), Rodgers (20), Gow (27, penalty), Gould (81) Carlisle scorers - Laidlaw (5) Attendance - 10,588 City team was Cashley - Sweeney - Drysdale - Emmanuel - Rodgers - Merrick - Fear - Ritchie - Gillies - Gow - Gould (Tainton unused)

" He's here, He's there, He's every*******where, Jason Knight, Jason Knight"

Aye. Dickie was shattered at the end. We could really do with Naismith getting fit and staying in one piece for a bit, if only to give Dickie a well earned rest. Vyner is just a supreme athlete.