Marina's Rolls Royce

Actually a very good question about quality. I think you missed a few players such as Wells,HNM and James with the possibility that Scott might be in or around another Champ team possibly Williams if he ever gets fit. Weimann also. I really dont have the in depth knowledge or stats to know if those clubs who are going to be fighting relegation have individual quality players better than ours. It doesn't help that for whatever reason, some players are being played out of their natural position. When it comes to it- you are exactly right that even with quality, if the players aren't giving their all and showing the will to fight for every ball then quality counts for little. So it's down to the coaching staff and that is precisely the point of the OP about having a tinge of doubt.

Top bloke - I'll now check their results and wish him every success.

How fascinating- not an option I had even considered but possibly a very good way forward which would play to NP's strengths. It might be a bit too revolutionary and forward thinking for the board though.

I guess because it's another 10 Championship games. If we are then fighting relegation and performances are not vastly improved then I doubt very much indeed he'll be given until Xmas 2022 by anyone- particularly not the fans. I think we have got the quality- at least enough to stay up but we currently dont seem have either the confidence or nouse to stay in a game. That has to be the job of the coaching staff.

@Kid in the Riot started this thread shortly after the terrible result v Forest (so I dont need to start another). I was quite surprised at the OP but the substance of what he said is undeniable. There are a number of posters who dont get carried away when we're doing well or doing badly and Kid is one of them. I enjoy reading Matt Withers reports purely for the same reason- usually a realistic and grounded opinion ( like @Olé) quite factual but with a slice of opinion. Matt said on Bristol Live: "What I witnessed on Saturday was no better than I watched under the final games of Lee Johnson and under Dean Holden. I just can’t see the progress. Players appear lacking in confidence and just don’t take on the responsibility. Pearson openly admits to not coaching, which seems very odd and with Paul Simpson having departed likely to be followed by Keith Downing who does that leave the coaching responsibilities to?" Unlike LJ who seemed to inspire very strong and deeply personal reactions often based on his height, NP has pretty much been a very popular appointment. I cant help but think of the fairy story " The Emperor's new clothes" and wonder if @Kid in the Riot is actually the kid in the crowd who notices the reality? My own "tinge of doubt" is increasing but I also have little doubt that we can and will beat Barnsley. I was disappointed that some idiots chose the WBA match to have a go at Pearson but that's football. By Christmas , I think we'll know if Pearson still has it in him to reshape BCFC into a club with the potential to challenge at the top of this division at some point in future seasons. If he continues with similar performances ( and results) between now and then we'll be looking elsewhere. If that's the case then I suggest putting all Manager candidates names in a hat and getting Marina Dolman to pick out the lucky winner because our general recruitment strategy doesnt seem to be any better.

Yes- you're right although that was a weird one as he didnt leave to further his career, he left to give up football management......again. He eventually came back into football then left again.

Genuine question- If a serving manager promotes an academy/ youth player to the senior squad and starts playing them in the first team - is it his player? It seems to me that if the player does well then it is ( providing the fans like the Manager) and but not his player if he does badly depending on whether the manager is popular. i.e. fans seem to make it up as we go . I cannot think of many reasons beyond financial why anyone would want such a poison chalice of a job. NP will almost certainly be sacked sooner or later as will most managers- who was the last one who left BS3 of their own accord to further their career elsewhere? - I think it was Pulis albeit a reason for celebration at the time.

Haha- yes- now edited! Yes- NP has had an incredibly hard job but we are not a basket case club compared to so many. I think we were hoping for a bit better and maybe a home win? As for several matches of late, the only thing preventing us from conceding record breaking score lines has been the posts, abysmal finishing when clear through and DB.

Great post Joe. I wasnt there today but was at the previous two games this week and am really worried where this is all going. I'd really like NP to succeed. His record is fast becoming what would untenable at any club in the EFL. I'm also getting pretty bored of the "it's Lee Johnson/Ashton who should be blamed for how our team is". I genuinely think we've got enough good players to just about hold our own yet they cant seem to and I dont believe this is the fault of anyone outside the current coaching set-up... whatever that is now

I suspect that our inability to win at home will not have gone unnoticed by these travelling fans.

They didnt make us look poor. We were worse than poor and I suspect that if we played at the same tempo, with the same imagination and cohesion then we'd have made any team look good. It's a funny old game- we are so used to abject performances at BS3, the crowd were resigned to another bad day. 16 and counting- what brilliant fans that so may still turn up to swallow a bitter pill. I was happy just to leave the ground.

the chief- generally athletic.

His tummy?

He'll be back at BS3 scoring goals before too long

neither can most on otib

Nigel was missing for ONE match and we get four 'injuries'- two of which are recurring NB & JD, Wells in the warm up and Williams withdrawn because he's not yet completely 90 minute match fit and his strong committed performance caught up with him. I really dont see how NP's presence would have prevented this situation.

The only good thing about tonight is you mentioning The Harry Brown- I truly loved that ship usually moored up in the Cumberland Basin. It did its job very well for many many years so I'm not quite sure of the Chris Martin reference.

We still haven't bloody replaced him.

Only two hours. My tummy has butterflies.

Personally-after all the hell everyone's been through in the past year ,if I were you Id be a bit more sod it- YIpeeeeeeeeeeeee! I feel fantastic.

the subsequent legal bills will kill you.

Personally, I'm not sure that advertising "Students Only £1.00" is wise. The game lasts 90 minutes and paying students £1.00 to watch is clearly in breach of the minimum wage. At the very least if that's all they're paying then let them in the away end for a better match day experience.

You also get a big ol'whoooooooooosssssshhhhhh.

No- just somebody who's ordinarily pretty sharp!!

That's just the easiest and quickest whooooooosssshhhhh that I've ever managed to get and coming from you - it's glorious. Thank you.