BCFC11

Remember how the sags were boasting how great their loan star was from Chelsea and how he was just as good as Tammy? Well, Chelsea have recalled him because he's not playing enough games...... 

55 minutes ago, Hello said:

He may be full of shite for all us know, but the one thing he has always said is he wont be flashing the cash around. So on that front pretty honest and truthful wouldnt you agree?

There is a reason why he isn't 'flashing the cash around.'

He hasn't got any.

13 minutes ago, Hello said:

If you go back over the thread, you will find I have never believed all the press hype about him being a Billionaire which some fans bought into and got carried away with.

 

As for positive changes (and bear in mind it may not seem a great deal to you or other Bristol City fans, but given what we had before they are tangible, positive steps for us and groundwork for the future)

 

The whole back room staff has been overhauled including a football analyst, expanding the medical department, new U21 manager/coach, meals after training etc. Even just spending a few quid on tarting up the bars and making them more welcoming is a positive step.

 

In this first of a series of articles looking at the new recruits to the medical and management teams, we begin with Head of Medical Services, Keith Graham.

 

 After a long and chequered career, he has finally been persuaded to work for a football club in a full time capacity, something he vowed never to do!

 

“I’m not sure about a chequered career,” he said when I caught up with him at the training ground this week, “but it’s certainly been a varied one!

 

“I’ve spent a great deal of time working in the NHS and I’ve also worked in private hospitals and in universities. I have undertaken a great deal of work in sport along the way, much of it on a part time basis and one of my earliest positions in sport was with the Crewe Alexandra U-17 team.

 

“I’ve also worked in a number of different sports, including a full time position in rugby. More recently I was the lead medical practitioner for the wheelchair basketball for Team GB Men’s team, and was supposed to be in Rio in September, not Rovers at The Mem!”

 

He’s actually been associated with the club since the end of last season; “The club needed someone at the time to help our push towards promotion and, because I have a private practice in Bristol, I had the flexibility to be available for what they needed so I came in to help out and the gaffer asked me to stay on.

 

“I had to think about it…briefly! However it was too good an opportunity to turn down, though there were a few conditions I need meeting before deciding to come on board.”

 

It should be said that those conditions didn’t include money, they were all about building a medical team to help the club cope with the demands of League One football. As a result of that, we now have a medical team of four people, with a fifth on the way!

 

“I think it’s fair to say that, historically, the physio/medical department here has been a little bit of a one man band with people helping out as and when.

 

“I’ve worked in a lot of different sports, some of which are medically intensive and I know that many sports have a great many staff lot of staff and when you are working in elite sport and professional sport these days, you come to realise that it’s such a specialist area.

 

“Sports specialists, for example, didn’t exist until about 20 years ago and the physio from the local hospital would invariably look after the team.

 

“It’s recognised now, of course, that one person cannot really do everything that’s required, in the medical sense, for a League One club.

 

“Thankfully the manager and the chairman recognise that and when I explained that I didn’t want to accept the position if I had to do everything, they were fully supportive and have allowed me to appoint a strength and conditioning coach and two sports therapists as well as brining in an intern in a voluntary capacity.

 

“That means that, as a group, we can now cover all aspects of the work we need to, from nutrition, to strength and conditioning and sports therapy, and new equipment has also been purchased.

 

“As long as I have been able to show that everything we do is in the best interests of the players, then the club has been extremely supportive and bought into everything we are doing, and attempting to do.”

 

One of the first things a physio, or medical team, is to win the players over and prove to them you know what you’re doing!

 

“If I’m honest, I feel that fell that’s the easy part of the job because I have been physio a long time and I really hope it comes across that I know my stuff and that it sits right with them. It’s all about knowing how to handle certain situations and, having worked in a hospital A & E in my time and dealing with hostile parents, then this job is relatively straightforward!”

Whilst it’s difficult to describe a typical working day, the morning always kicks off with a meeting with the manager and his coaching staff.

 

“The manager made a decision, early on, that my desk should be in with him and his staff so my first task of the day is to meet with him and the other staff to update everyone on injuries and rehabilitation programmes. In effect, it’s a daily update on the current welfare of the players and who is available to train, who is still undertaking rehab and who needs to be at the gym.

 

“In other words there is a new assessment of all players every day. The management team will let me know of their plans for the day so we try to manage the players as best we can and, for example, if we know that certain players aren’t going to be involved in a match two days down the line, we can increase their workload while those who are going to be involved will ease off a little bit.

 

“I will give the manager and his staff as much information as I possibly can, but he makes all decisions.

 

“The injured players arrive before those who will be training and they need a review of where they are at in terms of recovery. Work is done by sports therapists, mainly, while the strength and conditioning coach will start to prep them for activating muscle groups and begin a pre warm up.

 

“Then, when training begins the injured players, or those on rehab programmes, will spend more time with the sports therapists, the strength and conditioning coach, or myself.”

 

These days, of course, players are monitored almost all of the time and the recent introduction of the Global Positioning System (GPS), has given the medical team access to even more data on which they can assess if a player is ready to resume training following injury.

 

“GPS measures everything, from what the players are doing, how fast or slow they are moving, acceleration/deceleration. You name it, we can monitor it!

 

“At the end of a training session, for example, we can tell how many metres a player has moved, what speed they have moved at, how fast they have gone and the system also monitors their heart rate and whether some players are struggling, or haven’t worked hard enough. Not every player will get the same benefit from the same session; some will find it easy, others will find it hard, so we can change/adapt individual programmes in order make a difference

 

“We are still in early stages of using the system, but it will eventually really help what we do in terms of coaching and rehab work. For example, if a player has been out for six weeks and is covering the same amount of distance that is required in a match, then that will assist the manager in making an informed decision as to whether he should return to play.

 

“Injured players are also monitored. When they are following a rehab programme we watch their statistics and if that player is a full back, for example, we can compare him to other full backs in the same training session and what they would be expected to do in a game to make sure that they have undertaken a rehab load that matches a match load.

 

“If the statistics show that a player on a rehab programme has covered more distance than in a game and is quicker and has made more contacts and is, technically, ready for a game then I will sign him off on his fitness and say that he is medically ready to train.

 

“The strength and conditioning coach will sign him off to say that he has undertaken the rehab protocols with them and the coaches take them for the final phase. It’s one thing to say that you are fit, but another to say that you can play and so it is a group decision as to whether or not a player can resume training.

 

“Essentially, an injured player starts with me and as I do less with them they do more strength and conditioning work, though we make sure that the are having an input. There are players who are fit to play, but the coaches might not feel that they are ready to play and, ultimately, it’s the manager who determines if a player will play.

 

“Obviously, the fixture list has an impact on the speed of process and we also have to beware that rest is as important as hard work. The first priority for any player is that he has to be able to play and perform and be fit and ready to play. The second priority is that players have to be able to recover from playing. The old school of thinking, whereby a player was expected to be in every day and work hard every day is not the model anyone adheres to nowadays.

 

“If I’m honest, football is a bit behind the times when compared to many other sports and I have been on courses where some physios believe GPS to be a waste of time and say they can tell if someone is fit just by looking at him. That’s fine, but we will continue to work in the best way we see fit for Bristol Rovers and that will involve using GPS.”

 

The team off the pitch, therefore, is just as important as the team on the pitch; “We have to work together and I believe that communication is the key. I tend to lead the flow of information into the management team, but the medical team often works in different places at different times and coordinating what one player is doing on three sites is not always straightforward.

 

“Players sometimes have to be cajoled through system a little bit but communication is everything and we have a method of communicating that we will use three or four times a day which means that everyone always has the same information. Nothing is hidden from the staff. It’s really important that there is no division within the medical team and a lot that is down to having the right staff around you.

 

“I was fortunate in that I inherited some of staff who were here last season, so they knew the players and I were well liked and we brought them on board in a more formal capacity, which was an easy decision.”

 

In spite of some initial hesitancy about accepting the job, you get the impression that he’s happy in his role; “For 20 years said I would never work in football, yet here I am working for a football club!

 

“My plan was to finish my involvement in sport in Rio, something I told my wife before accepting this job. However the offer to come here was a good one, with the brief of building a team to be part a of a new set up in terms of a new stadium and training ground.

 

“Manager Darrell Clarke impressed me with his outlook and whilst I’m sure that there are many managers in football I might not be able to work with, Darrell isn’t one of them and part of my decision to accept this position was based on the manager’s personality and the way he conducted himself.

 

“There is so much to look forward to here; I’m thoroughly enjoying my job and believe there are exciting times ahead.”

You seem to have a new Physio, well done.

10 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

It's a valid point actually. It should count. 

I belive they didn't quite sell out for Swindon but it was about 2,800

Not sure why it should count? The result didn't stand so the attendance shouldn't either.

59 minutes ago, Griffin said:

Why are we even trying to 'debate' with these people? You know there's no hope when this is considered 'professional' to them.

 

 

The only thing 'professional' about that lot is, their fanbase are professional bullshitters.

55 minutes ago, harrys said:

He's actually yours for how many more months? Is it true he only signed a 12 contract?

No one actually knows, was 'undisclosed'

Enjoy Scunny away they said.....

16 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

This is on BBC One tonight for those interested: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37322993

 

I'd rather wipe my ass with 40 grit sand paper... after a case of the runs and inflamed hemorrhoids.

I seem to remember not so long ago a Sag came on here saying Matty Taylor was on par with Kodjia, couple of months later nobody wanted Taylor even for F'all and Kodjia goes for £15m  

2 hours ago, Super said:

Another big name signing.......

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristol-rovers-complete-deal-to-sign-derby-county-goalkeeper-kelle-roos-on-season-long-loan/story-29650243-detail/story.html

Another City reject........

27 minutes ago, Philgas said:

Yep we were absolutely shit from the start and won 2-1 

TBF you've been absolutley shit since 1883.

3 hours ago, Andy082005 said:

You got to laugh. A mate of mine posted on facebook a photo from Lee Brown's Instagram, of a 'handshake' goal celebration yesterday with Matty Taylor when he scored the winner.

The caption reads "when you shake on a deal then do a U Turn. Then 3 weeks later score the winner against them"

My mate and his Rovers mates are loving it!

Personally I think it sums up the type of person Matty Taylor is...and the Gas heads are to thick to see it

Isn't Taylor supposedly an Oxford fan?

6 minutes ago, CardiffCityFan said:

Added Trollope factor to this cup tie. I guess I will never understand the 2 teams in the same City situation must be a bit strange

Gasheads are very strange indeed.

5 minutes ago, Philgas said:

 

 

 I'm happy and if easily pleased is being promoted twice in a row then that's weird. . It's amazing what we've achieved. .. 

Remind us what Leagues you were promoted from...

Just now, Red Army 75 said:

WTF is that . Is that Cadbury heaths stand . It can't be sorry there's is bigger 

I believe Cadbury Heath's stand is permanent, not a shitty tent.

1 minute ago, Philgas said:

I agree with Danny ... Progress is progress .. I still can't believe we went up twice in a row !! .. Our new owner sasaid from the start evolution not revolution as regards the club .. if he'd had spent absolutely crazy money you lot would've took the piss .. and just because he's trying to build gradually you still take it anyways! ! .. And I won't ever criticise our club when they are trying their hardest to make life better for their fans no matter how small the improvements. . Onwards We Go !!

You lot believe everything you are told, that's your problem right there.

5 minutes ago, DancinDannyD said:

Why so bitter?  I didn't post anything about a FB war?  Yes, that stand is very far removed from the new Lansdown Stand (which is very impressive I accept).  But it adds necessary additional seating at a time when all other seats are sold out for the season so I welcome it.  Do I want to see a brand new stadium in the next few years?  Yes.  Will it happen overnight?  No.  So in the meantime do what you can to add facilities to the sub-standard stadium we have.  Which is what has happened - a spruce-up / refurbishment of bars etc, much higher quality ladies sanitary facilities, a new scoreboard (yes, I know its no big screen job), additional seating, a tidy up of the tent end.  All things that I'm quite sure wouldn't have happened under Higgs. 

The Tent End - The one with the new garden shed for company? Is this also the one that H&S won't sign off or is that a different tent?

2 minutes ago, DancinDannyD said:

Did you miss me? :-)   Long time lurker - but negative ramblings of Mr Tann brought me temporarily out from my cover.  If the guy genuinely is a Rovers fan he must have a huge chip on his shoulder or serious issues with the club about something to be so constantly critical.  Back to back promotions, Wonga loan cleared, improvements (albeit small) to the Memorial Stadium to improve the matchday experience for everyday fans (cleaner, sanitary toilets, sprucing up the bars etc) - yet not one word in SUPPORT of 'his' (or her) team.  Ever.    Anyway, I'm off again now.. hope everyone is well and having an enjoyable Summer!  Toodleoo all!

Or maybe he doesn't want to lie down and take it up the backside and believe everthing that come out of your shitty poxy little club like the rest of you?

8 minutes ago, Tall King Blox said:

Mods ffs delete this thread, it's a ***** magnet of gigantic proportions

Suggest you live up to your username 

12 hours ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

Literally, right? 

Literally yes.

11 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

... or is he really 90 years old and simply stating fact?

I'm not quite 90 yet... Only 60 odd years to go.

50 minutes ago, Rich said:

ITV were at it again tonight.

They re-ran an interview with Wael, carried out over a week ago. They described him as the  "BILLIONAIRE" owner of BRFC and how the football season was about to start with great expectations, non more so than at Rovers. Again he stated that "they will make announcements" when there is any news about the new stadium. Meaning his henchmen, deployed to break the bad news.

I can hear it now. "Unfortunately the original contract with UWE was not as first imagined and would have left the club with insurmountable debts. We tried to renegotiate the deal but, UWE were not willing to negotiate. Our owner is very sad at the outcome but can't comment as he is away on business. I and my team have worked tirelessly for the club but feel it's future now lies in the hands of others to achieve it's potential". 

I would literally piss my pants if that were to happen especially after hearing them sing 'we got our new stadium' at AG

The new Villa owner has Hollowhead sussed already....

Dr. Tony XiaVerified account ‏@Dr_TonyXia 18m

9 minutes ago, Big Brother said:

Never underestimate the power of denial.

Tried explaining but wasn't having none of it, even said even though lansdown is minted he doesn't spend no money on City  I know they are full of shit but my word he's taken the biscuit.

Had a gashead come in work today, saying about Mr Arab and that he's worth £10b on his own let alone his family! 

#brainwashed

8 hours ago, Philgas said:

That's the photo I put up on our Facebook Rovers Appreciation Page .. and he's keeping it real .. he said he was never gonna throw money at our club .. so what it's easy jet .. better than nothing and the lads look happy .. I got the stewardess to get me all their autographs which she did .. she's one of my students who works for Easy Jet ..

Why on earth would you want autographs from that lot?