handsofclay

1 minute ago, Countryfile said:

Buse, Idehen, Clarke and Yeboah, quite a number of City or ex City players.

I guess helping Bath get into the National league would be very useful for us in getting some serious game time for our younger players, think Bryan and possibly Reid played for Bath at that level before pushing on.

Was that a synthetic pitch?

Yes it was. Increasing numbers of non league clubs opting for that now.

Next season Mangotsfield United will be playing on a plastic pitch for home games.

That was a far better watch than the England v Brazil tepid crap. 

1 hour ago, ralphindevon said:

That sounds nuts. Was there an area where you were expected to go in the ground as an away fan or did you just go anywhere?

I can remember going to a Brentford v Exeter game in the 70’s where fans just swapped ends at half time and even that dog without a few scuffles .

In the top flight days I watched mainly from the East End, occasionally from the Enclosure and several times in the Open End. The away fans mainly congregated in The Open End and there wasn't any restriction on me going in there with my mates all decked in City scarves. 

Also, there were several times away fans got together in the East End to attack it before being escorted to the Open End.

I think when there were big away turnouts the police formed a line down the Open End to form a barrier to keep fans of both clubs apart if it got a bit feisty. Iirc there was also fencing to separate rival fans if needed in the Open End. Although that might've come slightly later.

If we shouldn't be so concerned about the ENGLAND flag being changed on the shirts worn by ENGLAND players in Euro 2024, what is the point of getting behind ENGLAND playing in a tournament against other countries. In fact, why not change all the notes in the National Anthem. We could take the lead and by the 2026 World Cup no team will play under their flag or their anthem and by Euro 2028 the first fixture will be One Team against Another Team as by then the names of the countries will be irrelevant too. 

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

No need to apologise to me.

FWIW. Here’s what I posted yesterday:

I did read that one and think I gave it a like. It was reading that that prompted me to look at the possession stats for all LM's matches and plainly saw that Manningball, in terms of dominating possession, clearly produces very little. 

7 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Thanks but you could have saved yourself time. Davefevs posted those stats yesterday. 

We are better without the ball and Mannings best performances have come by playing 'Nigeball.'

I was away for most of yesterday and caught up with a fair few (but not all) posts in the early hours, but obviously that's one I missed. Apologies to DaveFevs. 

It was mentioned a few times how teams have caught us up and then overtaken us on the way to the Premier League. (Thankfully, it being SotC no Gasheads were listening to give them ideas.) It was pondered why is this so.

I'd venture it's because those clubs gear themselves up to become successful. If they get a manager who brings kudos and success they stick by him and cling to his coattails on the upper trajectory. Here, if any manager does well or becomes popular it seems to signal his demise because the owner doesn't like it. The manager is dispensed with and we return to this Head Coach title with the next appointment, the man in charge of training and selecting the sides firmly knowing his place. 

1 minute ago, steviestevieneville said:

Owers taking the piss about emotions 

It was brilliant he said about imagine Roy Keane with his steely stare about to lead the Manchester United players onto the pitch against Liverpool and Fergie approaching him and telling him to cut out the emotion today.

Or before a City v Rovers match at Ashton Gate it being announced over the tannoy 'Could the City fans please cut out the emotion, thank you'. 

Ross: Hey, Tommy are you also going to get a programme for the boss?

Tommy: Nah, he came pre-programmed unfortunately.

They agreed to lift the ban if he mentioned Southampton.

1 hour ago, Oh Louie louie said:

Am I right in thinking the last player to appear against us, while on loan, is Carl Hutchings? 

I don't remember that exactly. All I recall is that he played against us several times while in our starting XI

A friend of mine used to obtain seasonal work as a Santa Claus in a store in Norwich in the early 1990s. He remembers Liam Manning very well.

He said that he was the only 7 year old he's ever encountered who when asked if he was looking forward to Christmas replied that he was looking forward to it as much as any other day of the year, for to raise his spirits over that period would inevitably result in a feeling of depression once the euphoria had been exhausted and consequently would impact negatively on his ability to learn how to read and comprehend the tactical jargon and nuances contained within the six thick coaching manuals, without pictures, his Uncle had given him last Christmas.

When asked if he had enjoyed meeting Santa, Liam said that he had found the encounter far from pleasurable, indeed, rather alarming as nothing he had read in the manuals provided any indication as to how to stop anyone in a red and white kit giving away so many presents.

Basically he has admitted that we would love to be playing front foot football but it's difficult because we are up against tough opposition in the Championship. 

We are in a very tough league. Sunderland have lost six on the bounce. That's how tough it is. Strange why they sacked Pearson then he was nowhere near losing six on the bounce.

1 hour ago, ashton_fan said:

The indisputable evidence was that it IS Mother's Day today and the match took place at lunchtime when most families are out together, but I should have known that only negative comments are allowed on the forum these days!

Obviously Bristolians must love their mothers much more than Brummies. The Aston Villa v Spurs match kicked off just 30 minutes later and from pictorial evidence the stadium looked fairly packed. 

I was gutted when Cardiff didn't buy him in the January transfer window. Mainly, in fact exclusively, because when Cardiff had their first corner last week against us Ng would have totally wasted his journey into the box.

I was very relieved we got the win today. That was the most important thing. But it's so obvious things aren't working with the new manager and are unlikely to do so and that win most probably secures LM the post for next season. That is very worrying on what we have seen so far.

I recall under Holden we took a quick two nil lead v Huddersfield and were then battered for the remainder of the game. How we came out 2-1 winners instead of losing 2-6 was baffling.

Fortunately, lots of posters on here pointed out how fortunate we were and articulated their concerns, despite some flak from those who rejoiced at the win and thought that was all that mattered. We soon entered the losing streak that cost Holden his job, but it was so evident in that win. The same applies today, unfortunately.

I fear Manning will be given funds to bring in his type of player in the summer and we will become like Swansea were today. Lots of possession, but precious few chances created that aren't executed and the fans at home especially will be bored senseless. 

If you are reading this I hope you do succeed, Mr Manning. I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong. But presently I have little confidence in that happening.

2 minutes ago, Ian M said:

Steve, please go down to the dressing room and put Kingy in charge. At least we'll see a reaction from the players

I thought the very same thing. 

2 minutes ago, robinforlife2 said:

The commentator on Swansea TV has said Liam Manning should be pleased!!!!! Pleased!!!!! What the F is there to be pleased about. We've not had a shot in 40 minutes, we are passing it backwards and sideways, we look absolutely useless and it's a rudderless ship. I had been willing to give him time, even up until Ipswich, but this is dire, really really dire! 

Right now I would take Warnock on a 15 month contract! Yes the football may not be exciting, but it'll be a darn sight better than this!!!!

I think he meant Manning will be pleased City are still at nil nil after being so poor.

He also said that Bristol City haven't had a single shot in the first half and that the Bristol City players don't seem interested!

If we continue like this nil nil will be the best we can hope for. Nearly a third of the game gone and we have done diddly squat as an attacking force. 

3 minutes ago, DownendRed said:

This is truly awful…

You're being kind

1 minute ago, RedM said:

Empty here

Will be interesting to see the official attendance. The stadium looks half empty at best. 

15 minutes ago, Big C said:

Gone on loan to Aldershot. 10 pages on Yeboah going to Bath, not a mention of this one 

There was one mention, Nogbad told us yesterday on the transfer forum.