Mr Chappers

1 hour ago, ChippenhamRed said:

I’m so tired of this football club.

We’ve done “young up and coming manager” and it failed.

We’ve done “complete novice” and it failed.

We’ve done “club legend” and it failed.

We’ve done “journeyman coach” and it failed (in the championship).

We’ve done “bloke who did well at a club down the road” and it failed (in the championship).

We’ve done “proven manager who’s been promoted out of the Championship” and even that appears to be failing.

…and yet the answer is always another new manager. I’m not saying Pearson should stay. But neither am I convinced anyone else would do any better. I’m just sick to death of constant mediocrity and disappointment from a club that has the potential to be so much more.

Maybe the issue is this constant change of strategy, rather than seeking continuity. We also have to accept that we will always be a smaller Championship side, and don’t have the resources to try and buy promotion. It’s a pity we tried that a few years ago, de-stabilising finances, and meaning the quality youngsters are coming through at a bad time.

Doubt NP will be around long now, let’s see if we look for a sensible, long term strategy, or just go for another ‘usual suspect’, as demanded by this Forum.

Minority of one probably, but I’d like a young, up and coming manager, with fresh ideas, who can work within our limitations. Time to be bold, rather than just going for whichever ‘usual suspect’ has fallen off the merry go round of mediocrity.

Happy days, same faces at away games every other week, no problem with crowded terraces. I went to Rochdale by train, as I recall it was a standard away day, beer very good, football disappointing. 

Bullocks to FIFA. Class today from Bath City and Billericay. Minutes applause in the 7th minute.

Good to see no financial penalties. Finances and first team in harmony!

Excellent ground, excellent training facilities, good youth set up, committed chairman… So we moan. Some fans demanded we spend money to get promoted, so we did. Guess what, if it doesn’t work (As many of us warned), you struggle. Things could be a lot worse. 

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3 hours ago, firstdivision said:

‘ City ruthless on the counter attack and solid at the back in a dominant first half…’

You can’t be serious, Ole. We were shambolic at the back in the first half and lucky not to be 4-1 down at the break. We were ruthless once on the break - a class goal - but Wells missed a great chance. Apart from that, I don’t remember us threatening.

I actually thought we defended better in the second half but we did just about give up as an attacking force. 

All in all a pretty ordinary performance. Boro made us look like a relegation team. 

Agree, a bit of a stretch to suggest that we were solid, lack of wing backs exposed on a few occasions, and quite a few dodgy moments. Overall, happy with the point.

If they are experiencing problems, not selling alcohol in away areas might be a better starting point. Sure most people can manage about 3 hours without some over-priced tasteless beer.

On 28/10/2022 at 21:57, Bris Red said:

With all due respect how anyone can say they thought Holden was the ‘right’ appointment really is a baffling one.

As has been said on this thread he has reverted back to type as an assistant at Stoke and has applied and failed to get jobs at clubs much smaller than ours. 
He seemed a nice enough guy but he was another woeful appointment by the Lansdown family.

Sorry that our opinions clash. I liked the idea of a young management team with fresh ideas, coupled with the continuity aspect, and didn’t go along with the ‘Experienced Manager’ bandwagon. As I recall, it was Hughton being demanded… Dodged a bullet there. 
All opinions

I thought he was the right appointment, but ultimately came to grief with injuries, Ashton, financial reality and fans obsessed with ‘experienced manager’. There is no magic formula with managers, just right man, right time. 

Something like 7 games in 22 days, for a squad of limited quality and with little depth in defence or midfield. Not really surprising that form is patchy, or that the high energy efforts at WBA could not be repeated.

12 hours ago, Harry said:

As you know mate, I’m still looking over our shoulders and happy to finish 20th this season. I don’t think we’ll be denied promotion by Qpr 

My thoughts exactly. A serious lack of depth in both defence and midfield

18 hours ago, Oh Louie louie said:

The midfield is improving week by week. Reckon ive been to wolves ground about 8 times since 1985 never saw us win!

Doubt anyone has seen us win at Wolves, not happened in proper competitions since 1931

Don’t suppose that the EFL could consider the fans and just make a decision, rather than dithering until the last minute.

1 minute ago, robin for life said:

Providing people followed protocol.

By reading this thread and the levels of anti monarchy, it's no wonder the FA did not trust the fans.

You can be a Republican and also know how to show respect. You can also want a modern constitution without being anti-monarchy

36 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

if true it confirms what many of us suspected and IMO why it’s right for football fans to be up in arms. Regardless of how realistic you think those predictions are it shows the contempt held for football fans across this country. Many of us follow the team across the country and see this mistreatment of fans first hand.

 

So why was Non League and amateur football also cancelled? Makes no sense

51 minutes ago, Offside said:

It seems ridiculous to me that football at all levels, including kids’ football, has been cancelled this weekend when other sports are going ahead. At times like this people often feel the need to come together and football is ideal for that. Surely a fitting tribute to the Queen in the days after her death is the a minute’s applause/silence followed by the national anthem thinking around grounds across the country just before 3pm. And kids should be able to play football, marking what has happened in their own way, like they do by having a minute’s silence on Remembrance Sunday. 

Vague logic to PL and EFL, but stopping non league and amateur football is just ridiculous. Another midweek game under lights, just what clubs need right now!

Last time a monarch died, there was a full league programme 3 days later.

Against Paulton, Idehen looked decidedly ordinary, his error for the Paulton goal. 
Against Chippenham, Tommy Blackwell was the outstanding player and very pleased to see him and Zac go on loan to Bath. 

3 hours ago, Tafkarmlf said:

Agreed largely, we've been lucky for the first time in ages, we've also had barring a crazy half, an inspirational number of excellent saves from Bents that have kept scores against down and some woeful finishing has also helped. We've also been clinical in front of goal, which has helped massively 

Yes, we have had wins and they're great, however some of the play such as vs 10 men or the mid section of the Derby game has been utter rubbish and wins or decent results against end of season teams in the main can flatter to decieve. 

I like what we're trying to do, and has been that way since Preston. It doesn't always click though and I'm not filled with the optimism that others are, though I am enjoying watching football again. 

Totally agree, our finances are not good, we won’t be able to compete for top players, and sales money will mostly go on debt reduction. Reality check needed, it will just be a case of hoping we can offload a few, then looking for a few low budget signings and letting the kids develop.

I think ‘contenders’ is a bit of a stretch. I’ll be happy if we are still in the Championship and in a better financial position at the end of next season.

Let’s not go overboard, our wins were against an ordinary Stoke side thank to a fluke goal, and against a young Derby team. See what the summer brings, particularly sorting out the huge losses and FFP.

1 hour ago, Denbury Red said:

And not just seats at the front where the view is crap. 
 

Bring back the two locations for away fans - behind the goal for those who want to stand and more expensive seats at the side for those who wish to sit!

I would happily pay slightly more to go away and know I was going to be able to sit and get a good view without the verbal abuse experienced at many away grounds this season!

Going away used to be fun - not anymore!!!

I’ve stopped enjoying the shorter trips, and next season, will stick to the games where less people travel. It’s never been this bad, and the club just seem to promote ‘limbs’ rather than having any concern for us oldies. Limbs are good, but flying uncontrollably in a crowded space can cause injury. 
I would stress that I don’t want to spoil anyone else’s fun, just want to be able to enjoy watching City away in a safe environment. Not asking a lot really.

Over 40 years of watching City away, and it’s never been this bad. I’ve been sent flying by ‘Limbs’ and seen a few older people bowled into the aisle/ over seats. Hard to find a safe spot any more, and safety just seems to be ignored. 
Away areas desperately needs a mix of safe standing, and seats where standing not permitted. Then everybody is happy, and safe. 

8 hours ago, AshtonRobin21 said:

Adam El-Abd 

I’d managed to erase him from my memory. Just been re-installed, hard to decide between him and Watts.

No way Forbes, he was an absolute legend in Div 4, and made a massive difference when he signed. And let’s not forget, in those days we had a very limited budget. And once, the People gave both Phillipson and Masters a mark of 7. Clearly not paying attention.