SydneyCity

I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad move. Hibs are a good size and well supported. They’ve also been absolutely terrible this year, currently in 8th. It would be almost impossible to do worse. If he can get them above Hearts, he’ll be a hero. If he can get them to third, he’s in Europe. If he messes it up though, I’d say it’s game over.

Anyone else think Cam Pring looks like fuzzy little man peach, Howard Moon?

Did a quick Google and it seems like a late July release date is standard for all main manufacturers. Can’t find a reason for that date but it’s safe to say that the Nike and Adidas marketing departments rarely miss a trick so there has to be some financial method to the madness. Edit: It appears to be a combination of manufacturer's deals starting/stopping, sponsor deals starting/stopping and optimising the transfer window ie: shirts with star player names and numbers printed on them sell very well.

I haven’t heard the interview but I’ve always had a suspicion that, at some stage, Pearson has said something to Wells along the line of: “I really rate you but I just can’t play you in this team/system… I plan to fix those reasons and when I do, you’ll be given your opportunity and you will shine” and Nakhi as an experienced pro has accepted it because he can see it too. I’m literally in fantasy land with this one but I do believe it.

I couldn’t handle the LJ interviews and press conferences again. I’ve since realised that, for me, his time in charge was like being caught in a rip. You ignore the warning signs, think everything’s fine, then suddenly realise you’re miles away from where you should be and are absolutely f**ked.

My guess would be standard pre-season with maintenance and additional shape work over the break. Nothing too revolutionary as rest is probably more beneficial than any minimal gains that could be made in a few weeks of physical exertion. Maybe a couple of friendlies in the break for fringe players to shine.

He’ll be removing the horse from the badge next. The horse’s role has changed over the last year and he doesn’t need to be so hoofs on with footballing matters.

With the Lansdown family in charge (and I am an overall supporter of what they’ve done), I can imagine a “this is a family club” mantra permeating through Bristol City - and the definition and application of this is “nice and friendly”. In reality, the best, and most entertaining, families are defined by a collection of characters and personalities who may not always get on - they may even argue and fight non-stop - but ultimately would do anything for each other when push comes to shove. You need Uncle Nige chucking truth bombs at the Christmas dinner table.

I’d like to think Nige wouldn’t have made the same decisions if there were no points deductions. I was supportive of the “LJ is here so long as we’re improving in the league” stance that the club took - despite not liking his personality and having zero connection with the clubs in the bag that he was assembling. Hindsight shows that just focussing on the league position was a bit stupid of me. Despite our position, I have seen some of the most entertaining football I’ve seen in years this season (yes there have been some shockers too) and I’m genuinely invested and interested in our crop of young players coming through and the resurgent Andi Weimann. I’m even going to go as far as saying the whole WSM strike force. Roll on next year under Nige. It’s not perfect, sometimes it’s not even good, but it is Bristol City.

One of my best mates over here is an Ipswich fan, so I don’t mind them as a club. It’s also Friday and I’ve been working in Melbourne all week, having recently discovered that the pub next to the office has Thatcher’s on tap… History is repeating itself with Ashton. Spunking a lot of cash on a lot of players for a small amount of progress. It seems exciting, it seems like something’s happening but ultimately, it doesn’t. I really hated Ashton and LJ for their Brent-esque personalities… but I was definitely a supporter of LJ, at least, because there was incremental improvement in the league. Unfortunately, with each small step forward bigger problems were appearing behind the scenes and I now feel like an idiot for being happy about slowly inching towards the playoffs, while dispensing cash faster than a truck stop ATM. I hope Ashton can guide you to the levels of success that cover the costs of getting there but I genuinely don’t think he will as his ego and greed means he’ll keep going until you’re all f**ked, then keep going a bit more. Nothing new, revelatory or insightful there but as I said, I recently discovered the local has Thatcher’s on tap and I needed to vent.

Hummel have done a great job so far. I’ve bought and proudly worn some of the casual gear and my kid loves his kits. For me Hummel have given me a tangible connection with home (I’m too old for kits and I’ve not liked other recent manufacturer’s casual gear enough to buy or wear) and the black away kit my kid wears to daycare has led to a number of his friends - with backgrounds from all over the world - asking their parents for Bristol City tops. I don’t think that would have happened with more generic template.

Weimann and Semenyo Completely random women’s team picks Doors or wheels for champagne moment Andy King for supporter of the year for his help developing the young standout players this season

I’m not going to be koi about this… I’m glad I decided to trout myself to this thread. It’s gold! Betta than any fin I’ve read in a while. The only disappointment is salmon else came up with it, not me. Sorry. It’s been a quiet day at work.

Es un buen humano

Hopefully Everton do go down. My lasting memory of them is our 1-0 FA cup loss in 95. I was at the Ashton/Winterstoke Road bus stop after the game and a group of Everton “hooligans” were at the bottom of those big steps that lead down to near the Mercedes garage. One in particular was a stereotypical, comically aggressive scouser; challenging anyone and everyone to come and have a go. A City fan accepted the challenge and proceeded to run down the steps from the flyover, performing what can be best described as a two-fisted, flying Superman punch from about ten steps up. It connected beautifully with the aggro scousers big, mouthy head and sent him crashing to the floor. The unexpectedly spectacular act of aerial combat performed by said City fan took the wind out of the scousers sails and they all buggered off, while the City fan got a rousing cheer that he duly accepted. Great times.

But could you fabricate steel on a cold wet Tuesday night in Stoke?

I genuinely hope not. While always wanting City to succeed, VAR is probably the biggest thing that makes me dislike the thought of joining the PL one day.

I think this is all a storm in a teacup. In my opinion, JL often drifts between wanting to be seen as a chairman, fan or footy lad. In this instance I think he was being interviewed as a chairman but in this particular instance, answering as a fan/footy lad - a throw away, stereotypical line about “we should be doing better” that most fans roll out regularly about their team. Very tone-deaf in this scenario - and unprofessional as a chairman - but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. The press has picked this up, Nige has bitten and here we are. I’d like to think a phone call could sort it all out. If I’m wrong, and he is outwardly criticising the improvements we’ve made under Nige with the intention of getting rid, then I too will have lost a lot of faith in the board.

From my understanding there are two conflicting opinions among Hearts fans… and a unifying one. Opinion 1: He’s terrible Opinion 2: Give him a break, he’s being played in every position imaginable and he’s done ok at all of them. Opinion 3: Everyone agrees that he’s not worth his wages of $7500 per week (their figure, not mine)

Frustratingly they can all be super or mare each game.

I did like the locally themed Robins TV acronym: W-S-M for Weiman, Semenyo, Martin.

Chucking it out there… is there a proportion of this that could be linked to his reported "Covid rant"?

Heavy emphasis on “seems” - and certainly not ITK - but at the time Nige said something along the lines of “the rules of the club have to apply to all players”.

Regardless of who, what I do like is “it’s your spot until you lose it”. It seems like Bents lost it for discipline reasons rather than sporting but the fact that the club captain isn’t above expectations is also reassuring. I would, and have, called dropping Bentley madness but I’ve been proven wrong and have enjoyed watching Max play. I’m not sure he’s done anything droppable yet but if/when he is, we should in theory see Bents emulating and improving on Max’s strengths while bringing his own. It’s then up to Max to improve on that.

Amazing! I loved that website as a teenager.