Dr Balls

3 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

Who are we playing on Tuesday?

Sorry meant Tuesday week against Barnsley. I had already written off the game against Blackburn!

I do partly blame Pearson. Playing Sam Bell as a right back, irrespective of who was or wasn’t in front of him to provide support, was the wrong selection. Pring can clearly play as a full back as can Dasilva, so why pick a teenager who isn’t a defender against a Man Utd loanee who is going to expose all his deficiencies in that position?

As for Matty James, I would be happy if I never see him in a City shirt again. He was truly woeful today. Massengo might always have a mistake in him, but at least he can run and play a ball forward.

The only players who came out of today with any credit were the ones who set up and scored our goal, I.e. Dasilva  and Scott. Most of the others had game to forget.

Huge game on Tuesday and if Pearson doesn’t get a reaction after that (lack of) performance, then there are big questions to ask about him as much as there are about the players.

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Spoilsport, I was having my tea…you’re too quick.

Marco, Merrick, Terry Lee, Gary Tibbs and yours truly!  Never knew Sir Geoff was a King of the wild frontier!

Louis has been sent to the “Naughty North” of Ireland rather than making it in the “Sexy South” west. Who knows it could be the making of him. Plus it’s clear that Nige “got the mouth”. 

Remember having a friend from Finland, who is an ice hockey agent, come with me once to Ashton Gate to see us play in that 2012 season. He knew nothing about City, but he did quickly spot that our only decent player was Albert!

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

You need to run for the Sun with those puns. If you need any help making your mind up, just trust your intuition and you’ll be fine!

Well the camera never lies @Davefevs.  Unless of course it’s a dodgy VAR penalty decision for or against one of the Premier League big boys…

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I saw a tweet earlier this week where the non-league MOTM was holding a bottle of Bucks Fizz!!!

Implying that the EFL is “The Land of Make Believe”? Seems a better description of the Premier League tbh!

1 hour ago, steviestevieneville said:

 

I know times are tough financially but is that what the Man of the Match award has been reduced to, a can of Thatchers Gold?!

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

I think it was a sensible suggestion last night, but having slept on it, I think your post is the benefit of that sleep.

Had we got him in the summer instead of King for example that would’ve been fine.  But not now.

I agree that this isn’t “we must have Pack back” but if he were available on a free and depending on who else was available within our (not likely to be very big) budget this summer, a midfielder with 7 seasons experience at this level, who rarely seems to get injured, who also lives locally and obviously still likes the club, would at least be worth a look. I also think that his manner and professionalism would suit Pearson’s person requirements but it’s really up to Nige as to who he wants and why.

Yes we should be considering ourselves mid table and looking upwards rather than fearing being caught by those below us. And the home form since Barnsley is pretty impressive if you consider it averages 2 points per game and both losses were to teams on form and in the top 6 (Huddersfield and QPR) plus the latter of those was a gift to the opposition from the referee. We have also found an attacking edge that has been missing for a long time.

The concern is 2-fold but linked. Our away form has fallen off a cliff and we can’t keep a clean sheet. Until we achieve the latter, we are going to struggle to get anything much from away games. Playing 3-5-2 with 3 in central midfield with Semenyo and Weimann starting up front would make us more solid and less likely to concede, plus have pace on the break. The real issue now is do we have 3 fit central midfielders and what happens to 3 at the back if one of Kalas, Pring or Vyner now gets injured? The options are looking very thin.

4 hours ago, swanker said:

And when it went in he started to have a go go at the defenders, trying shift the blame. His fault all day long and a soft goal to concede. 

Maybe Max should have woken up and saved it before he had a “go go”?!

4 hours ago, swanker said:

And when it went in he started to have a go go at the defenders, trying shift the blame. His fault all day long and a soft goal to concede. 

To be fair to Max, it wasn’t great defending, and many goalkeepers like to share the blame for conceding a goal where they can I.e. the opposition player should never have been allowed that shot or header in the first place!

58 minutes ago, Malago said:

You’re all missing the bigger picture.  Bents is probably on twice (at least) the money of Max, but isn’t twice as good.  Makes financial sense moving Bents on, if we can.

As much as there are the questions of who is better with their feet and their distribution, I think that this is the real issue. If Max can do an adequate job, we can afford to sell Bentley and save on wages as well.

Just like the first goal for Millwall was partly because Max was in two minds about coming for a cross, the second Cardiff goal was one that he seemed to realise too late was actually going in. So I think we have to accept he is still learning at this level and looks like he might concede more easily than Bentley. However Bentley as well as making some worldie saves this season that have been as good as scoring a goal, has also dropped the odd clanger from which we have conceded.

I can see the sense in giving Max a run right now because he is either good enough now or in all likelihood he is never going to be good enough for this level. Time will tell but I wouldn’t blame him for conceding 6 against a Fulham side with Mitrovic and Wilson.

There are definitely a few on here with short memories when it comes to Pack. Our midfield struggled from the time he was sold and even this season, I can see how a player like Pack who is willing to cover as a defensive midfielder and bring the ball out from the back would suit how Pearson wants to play.

Given that our current more experienced midfielders (James, King, Williams) all seem particularly injury prone, bringing back Pack when he is out of contract this summer would not be the worst idea ever. And I absolutely think he would meet Nige’s requirements in terms of effort and professionalism. Plus for family reasons, still living locally, it would certainly suit Marlon.

Finally it’s clear that he still has fond memories of his time with us. Anybody else spot that he gave our fans a long clap to the Dolman, South and Lansdown stands, before he gave a much shorter one to the Atyeo , by which time most of them had already left? Says it all really!

3 points from 3 away games is about what you might normally expect, but I sense that despite our injury issues, the team’s confidence is on the up. You only have to look at our attacking intent with Semenyo, Martin and Weimann.

None of these away games are particularly happy hunting grounds for us, but I think we have finally broken the voodoo that Preston had over us for so many years. Luton will be probably the toughest game, and it would be good to right the wrong of that last minute equaliser from Blackpool on the first day of the season.  

So I am going for draws against Luton and Preston, plus a win against Blackpool, so a total of 5 points from 3 games. The really important game is the one after these against Reading at home, which we definitely need to win to put a clear space between ourselves in mid table and the teams in the relegation scrap.

9 minutes ago, Mr X said:

I can never understand why more rugby players don't wear scrum caps, especially given when they're on the floor at rucks with a high chance of other players payers studs hitting them in the head when trying to get the ball. 

Scrum caps are not really for protecting your head (because they don’t do much) but rather preventing the old “cauliflower ear”. It’s a better alternative than what we used to use, which was electrical tape around your head, taping your ears tightly to the side of your head to keep them out of harms way. And this was the era (in the 70s and 80s) when a boot to the head was a lot more common because of the rucking laws, which allowed players to “rake out” the ball with their feet from within a pile of bodies, plus scrums were much more a free-for-all.

8 hours ago, BTRFTG said:

Protective headgear is against cuts and little else. Skulls (multi layered and laminated,) regrow and bond all the time such you shouldn't have weakness from previous fractures. If damage is extensive you'll get a plate but the skull still grows under and around that. Cech's headgear was more for confidence than anything else, he felt more secure playing in it.

As Scott reminds, you cannae change the laws of physics and when one's head rapidly accelerates or decelerates that old brain keeps rattling around inside the skull. That's the major issue with contact sports and headgear doesn't do anything for that.

This is very true. Having seen the same young female rugby player twice in a matter of weeks in ED because of injuries to her head, I told her parents that she may be very good at other elements of the game and “brave” but she needed to stop playing games competitively until she could learn to tackle properly. It’s similar with Baker. There is no amount of headgear that will help if you keep putting your head in the wrong places at the wrong time, “brave” or not. I love his at times “do or die” “take no prisoners” attitude, but it does come with consequences in terms of increased risk of self-injury.

Rugby for all its faults has actually taken on board the risks of head injury a lot more than most other sports, particularly football. And helmets are not the answer as shown from American Football, where it just leads to even more reckless challenges and as many if not more head injuries. But you could say that’s just the American way anyway!

11 hours ago, forbespm said:

I remember when all 3 clubs were in the same division,Cheltenham pipping Gloucester city to promotion to the national league.

All things considering ,Gloucester city have a hardy and loyal following.

Not been the best of times since the floods nearly put them out of business but it's great to see them back at meadow park.

3 games this season they have had more than 2,000 on the gate so the support is there

Just checked which other teams are in National League North with Gloucester and amazed that there are 9 clubs who in one form or another have been in the league, including the likes of York and Chester. By comparison, in National League South it’s only Maidstone who have ever been in the Football League, (and even then it was a brief visit) so you can see how the balance of power in football has shifted over the last few years at these somewhat lower levels. Plus the fact that when dividing the country in two, only the Cornish might consider Gloucester and Hereford as “The North”!

3 hours ago, Eddie Hitler said:

 

On checking I am understating it slightly but it is down in fourth.

Though all these towns have seen huge amounts of house building these last six years or so and this only goes to 2011.  All are much smaller than Weston.

 

# Settlement Population[1]

2001 2011

1 Redruth (including Camborne) 39,937 42,690

2 Falmouth (including Penryn) 28,801 31,988

3 St Austell 22,658 25,447

4 Truro 20,920 23,041

5 Newquay 19,562 20,189

6 Penzance 20,255 19,872

7 Saltash 14,124 15,566

8 Bodmin 12,778 14,614

 

All bigger than Nailsworth…

Must be hard for Gloucester City fans considering all the trouble that their club  has had in recent years with their flooded ground (now all hopefully sorted) to have not just Cheltenham lording it over them but also Forest Green Rovers.

Imagine that - being a “City” fan with a local “Rovers” team above you in the league….

On the other hand don’t bother.  As far as Bristol is concerned, It’s not worth wasting your time on something so ludicrous!

40 minutes ago, petehinton said:

Weston are an absolutely massive club and town for that level. To have 2/3 players of full-time (extremely decent) salaries at that level is unheard of really, and the quality/size of academy that's in place there now is really impressive. 

They're absolutely flying at the moment & look on course to go up. Would be amazed if they aren't in the National League in the next few years.

Weren’t they in the Conference at some point, along with Bath City? My impression was that they had a few bad seasons recently but agree that given the population and catchment, they could be a lot higher up than they are. 
 

As for Yate Town it’s great to see them doing well. And the reality is that with a bit of money and some behind the scene pushing the club forward, you can achieve things at this level of football. Forest Green are absolute proof of that.

8 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

It was Walsall. 
 

Last game of the season I think.

Yes it was. It was the repeat of the JPT Final at Wembley, and Flint scored in both iirc.

The interesting thing is that Dean Smith as Walsall manager has gone on to much more managerial success and profile than Steve Cotterill since May 2015.

Having been involved with Paediatric Major Trauma for a while, I can tell you that knife crime and stabbings are a huge problem in London particularly, and the age of those involved is dropping, such that it’s now not uncommon among 13 and 14 year olds. It is a huge societal issue which feeds into poverty and I also hate to say it, race and ethnicity. Family breakdown is another big problem as are the gangs with their involvement in drugs and other crime.

Anything that highlights this issue and tries to reduce its incidence is good, but unfortunately until many of the wider problems are resolved, then it will be impossible to root out completely.

32 minutes ago, Toffee dog said:

Sorry Dorset most definitely in the West Country/South West /Wessex

Apart from historically Bournemouth wasn’t part of Dorset, unlike Poole. All changed in the 70s reorganisation, when Avon was also created.

2 hours ago, milo1111 said:

Can’t say I share that sentiment. 

plymouth , whilst not a derby on my book are still rivals who we have had our dust ups with down the years. A proper club though so respect for that.

bournemouth however, not even West Country, shit club, cheated their way (ffp didn’t apply to their sandbanks oligarch) to the prem and now basking in parachute payments. Prime example of everything wrong with modern day football for me. 

And agree, Plymouth - fair play to the Janners.

Bournemouth agree - broke the rules on FFP but made back far more than ever paid out in fines. Sums up everything that’s wrong with football in this country. And if we are upset about it, fans of Yeovil (their traditional “local” rivals) must be extremely angry, especially considering the way their fortunes have diverged in the last few seasons.

59 minutes ago, WECANDO said:

Better today definately. As for when Bryan was here? Memorys a bit shite but Bryan did used to get forward at pace. Think Pring has the edge for pace with both but he looks a better defender to me. Prings close control is better aswell. If we had more movement upfront who could drag the opposition out of the way Pring would go through those gaps. He's one I look forward to watching as is young Scott.

Joe was always better going forward than defending, because he was really a midfielder who had been shunted backwards on the pitch, whereas Cam is clearly a very good defender who comes forward well. If he could start scoring goals like Joe has done through his career that would be great.

1 hour ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

I agree with the thrust of your post, but it must be said that both Davies and Baldock were pretty useful.

Just a shame we couldn’t have got at least one good, solid defender to go with them.

A central defence of Liam Fontaine and Lewin Nyatanga was not going to provide much cover at the back even with Tom Heaton in goal. There were decent players in that squad, but it was unbalanced and there were a number of injuries to important players e.g. John Stead. Plus we had another loanee cursed with injury during their first match in George Elokobi from Wolves. And his was a bad one that I think kept him out for the rest of the season. The only 2 regular players who came out of that season with much credit were Heaton and Albert, both of whom were promptly sold when we were relegated.

4 minutes ago, 22A said:

 

Derek McInnes is the new Kilmarnock manager. McInnes knows his one and only goal will be restoring Killie’s Scottish Premiership status, and he obviously fancies himself to get it done as the Ayrshire side lie five behind Arbroath with a game in hand.

Despite it being a while ago, he has previous of winning promotion to the Scottish top-flight. He guided St Johnstone to the First Division title back in 2009 – and he’s since managed Bristol City and the Dons. At Pittodrie he turned Aberdeen from a bottom-six side into a consistent top-six team, regularly competing in Europe and finishing in the top-four.

So City is the only team he's not had success with.

The curse of Ashton Gate strikes again!

To be fair, he was given an impossible job by Steve Lansdown. Cut the wage bill by 50% and keep us in the Championship. It explains why he brought in so many cheap (and fairly useless) Scots. I quite liked him as a bloke (remember the Brum minivan incident) he kept us up in the 2011-12, season, and in better financial circumstances with a bit of patience, he might have been a success.