cidered abroad

We have a number of very promising young players who will make some mistakes as they go. If you never make mistakes, you never make decisions and if you don't make decisions, you never learn anything or make mistakes. The difficulty of making the right decision is highlighted by the first Millwall goal. Max and Towler had approx 1.5 seconds to judge how fast the ball was travelling, it's exact direction and could they position themselves to stop the goal. So for Pearson to keep the young players as much as he is, shows how he believes in them. Subbing them off is not punishment. It is taking care of them as any good manager will do. He must trust them or he would not play them. At least he is playing them. Not like his predecessor who had a gem in Lloyd Kelly and brought in another left back rather than playing him! We are in a reasonable league position, even with mistakes from the young ones so let them learn and improve to benefit City rather than flogging them off to another club.

Reference the first Millwall goal. Initially I thought that Max should have left the goal line in an effort to stop the cross to the Millwall scorer. But after watching highlights a few times, and seeing the similarity with Massengo's pass for Weimann's second goal, I have to give credit to both passers who hit crosses with real pace and the positioning of the scorers. Neither Max or the Millwall keeper stood much chance to stop either.

Have you considered the possible fact that Atkinson had a dose of Covid and is taking time to recover? I don't have any inside info but just think that a very promising and relatively inexperienced centre back has not lost it completely in a few weeks. Even if it's just a loss of confidence because of the pressure that other teams have hit us with, surely it's temporary?

I agree with every word. And definitely agreee that we do not need a relegation (that some seem to want) Whatever I have thought about City managers, it has never included the dreaded drop. When one has suffered seven "R's" in a lifetime with three in three years, you will never want another!

I'd feel much more comfortable when we get to 45. As I think that's the safety point this season.

No. They don't deserve to stay up for all the financial fiddling they have done in the last four/five years.

From NP we get an honest assessment of the games. He won't throw anyone under a bus in public. But neither will he tolerate those not following his instructions. And with the large number of under 23 young ones in the squad, he will sometimes not get the team selection correct every time. I'm sure that the half time personnel and formation changes were as a reaction to how Millwall had scored twice in twenty minutes, and how they were nullifying our efforts to run the match. And not due to perceived poor performances by those two subbed. IMO, Towler got a couple of things wrong but did some good. He was the least experienced when NP wanted to change to a back 3. Not because of those mistakes. Same for the change from Benarous to HNM. A change of tactics to overcome Millwall. Both Towler and Benarous will soon be back in the side.

Modern football requires all players to have the ability to move quickly. Britton does not come anywhere near so a loan until his contract expires is sensible.

Best wishes to all OTIB members for a safe and healthy New Year

I believe that the club should make an official complaint about the standard of the referee. Inconsistent and incorrect decisions for similar offences and incidents! I accept that it will not bring any change in the match result. It could, however, get rid of someone who is clearly not fit for the job - remember this goes back four years involving Bristol City matches as listed in the post by Olé, and save other clubs from his useless and clearly biased refereeing. And I say again. Is he just useless or is he accepting financial inducements?

Or he is a referee who can be bought? I know it is easy to blame refs when things go against us but that evening's work was the worst display from a referee that I can remember. Add the games that Olé has mentioned and I hope that City make a complaint to EFL and the Referees association.

Very probably but the point is that if we need more income to avoid FFP problems, and there is any revenue from stadium use and match day income, as stadium is owned by City Holding Ltd, it can be used solely for income to reduce losses. SL cannot just shovel cash into BCFC but he can to Bears. If its really a tight situation in a couple of years, a way to help us avoid any FFP penalties.

I don't know if my thoughts are accurate or valid. Ashton Gate stadium is "owned" by Bristol City Holdings. Thus any income from the stadium such as hospitality, sales of refreshments at all matches, City and Bears, and events like concerts belongs to BCFC Holdings. I suspect that, as the only financial restraint on Bears, is a maximum spend on players wages, any losses not covered by gate receipts and match hospitality are legally funded by SL. Apart from a rental payment for the use of concourse for Covid Vaccinations, we have had almost zero income from stadium usage. I vaguely remember a while back, seeing a figure of around £12 million per annum. So that would count as Covid losses in full for City? As BCFC Holdings own the stadium.

@DavefevsWWould be grateful for clarification of above. The profit in 18/19 was what? Why only 50%? And what was the profit? What was loss for FFP in 19/20? Also at 50%? What will be the actual loss used for 20/21? £38 million or a lesser figure because of Covid? Sorry to appear dense. I did get Maths O level but that was 63 years ago! (More a cunning linguist as I speak English, French, Portuguese & German)

There have always been football fans who follow and support Bristol Rugby. And likewise Bristol Rugby fans who follow City and Rovers. In former days, I and City fans went to the Mem to rugby matches. Now Rovers fans come to Ashton Gate for Bristol home games. So what is new? For true supporters it isn't a problem.

Best wishes to all City fans wherever you may be. I know it's hard on occasions to be positive but we will survive our status this season.

Plenty of parking space at Luton airport! Don't forget to duck when you go along the little alley from road to turnstiles!

Wait until you've wasted all your money and spare time for more than seventy years! Enjoy your Christmas. That is until 17.00 on Boxing Day.

He was born in Bristol and lived in a house or flat on Gloucester Road at it's junction with Ashley Road. I knew and grew up with several children with black fathers, US soldiers and airmen. I never took any notice of their skin colour; they were just friends and acquaintances.

Getting a successful football club isn't any different to any other business. Leaders are required at all levels and that is something that our football club has not had since Cotts and players like Wade Elliott and Wilbraham were here. Not one of our back three or back five give me any indication of leadership. Start there, and also get a dominating keeper, central midfield and striker. NP has a hell of a job to turn us into a "team" !

He was a friend of mine when I was about 15 or 16. We used to organize games on Horfield Common ( coats for goals) His mates in Horfield against mine from Filton. I was so pleased when he signed for City.

What is a bully? Many definitions in a dictionary. I cannot believe that Nigel Pearson, a football manager who has the whole spectrum of personnel under his management will be a bully, physically or verbally. There will certainly be very straight to the point conversations with players. And also plenty of arm round the shoulder. A vindictive manager will not last anywhere very long because even those who are not involved will not appreciate that type of mismanagement.

Alec Briggs died quite a long time ago. So I believe but cannot find any date of death on Wikipedia. According to this he is still alive aged 82.

Apart from Gordon Parr, John Watkins and Bobby Williams, I cannot think of any other who goes back to 1950's than Jantzen. Anyone know different.

The club are able to calculate the actual attendance via the turnstile scanners. However, because of VAT, HMRC and probably police, they also know how many bought match day tickets and the total number of season tickets. This is the announced attendance figure as whether a paid for ticket is used or not is irrelevant. I imagine that policing and stewarding numbers are based on anticipated attendance.