RoystonFoote'snephew

10 hours ago, Robbored said:

Peter Crouch got the same treatment from referees, especially foreign ones.

Some players lucky (or favoured?), some not. For example, Kevin Davies and Lee Peacock were always penalised by refs whereas despite liberal use of elbows Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer were free to do what they liked. 

3 hours ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

What is it that makes Anthony so completely dislikeable?

I don't worry about Anthony. His step overs look pretty but his record for goals and assists clearly indicate that during his performances no banjos were damaged and no cows asses were harmed in any way. 

I don't believe in such things but I do know that for those who believe in such things it cant be Max. Having played every game we'd be top if it was him. 

Good on the kid but many a footballer has proven, in domestic competition and at international level, you don't need to be a genius to play the game. 

Been a decent tournament so far and some real shocks, not the least Cabo Verde topping a group including Egypt and Ghana and today's 4-0 thrashing of hosts Cote D'Ivoire by Equatorial Guinea. One of the great joys though has been the colourful commentary reminiscent of the likes of Sid Waddell and Murray Walker at their best. One of my favourites from today has to be 'when all the gods were around and the pyramids were being built I don't think they had drama like this' 

47 minutes ago, Galley is our king said:

You are right, stats don't lie....

Unfortunately, the 2 people now running our club do.....

Not just those two. Almost everyone who interprets them does. Depending on which side of a fence people are sat on stats are used to illustrate their argument and it is often quite possible to use the same set of statistics to illustrate opposing arguments. Unless you are a total purist who puts the aesthetics of performance over results then the only statistic that matters for advancement through the league is points and you can stick xg and all other indicators where the sun don't shine. We can't keep regurgitating arguments that seemingly indicate it was wrong to dismiss Pearson (which it was in my view) and employ Manning. It's moot, it's happened and we need to concentrate our efforts on supporting the management and team instead of decrying it. As someone who prefers to look at a glass as half full rather than half empty I see us as moving forward, and I believe we'll finish just inside the top 10. As a tortoise rather than a hare with slow and steady progress we will get there. 

10 hours ago, downendcity said:

I think the argument has been (probably by their agents) that it is the players that fans and viewers pay to see, so those players deserve to be rewarded accordingly.

The problem is that it seems that with every new massive tv deal agents are immediately lining up meetings with owners/chief execs to extract all of the increase into improved contracts for their clients. ( I know I'm oversimplifying, but you get the drift). In general, no business outside football would operate with such a high percentage of income going on wages - not without going bust they wouldn't!

I've said many times before that the whole issue of players wages is like the emperor's new clothes - pretty well everyone on the outside can see that it's ridiculous, but it seems that no one inside football is prepared to say so. 

Added to the problem is that some clubs now are effectively owned by nation states, with bottomless pockets. They will be prepared to pay whatever it takes to achieve buy success. The problem this creates is that other teams, who don't have the same limitless finances, have to offer similar wages if they are to attract or retain players they need to compete. 

We said something similar when Derby were on the brink, but I think it does need a big club to go to the wall before football might come to it's senses. Either that or the formation of a super league so the Saudis and Qataris can take their play things and the state wealth, pay stupid wages, get their own tv deals and appeal to the far east audience and leave the rest of the football world to adjust to a more realistic model.

While the wage problem has been exacerbated by nation states common sense went out the window years ago. The debts incurred by clubs due to wages are solely of club owners/boards making as it is they that sanctioned payments to teenagers of sums equivalent to the GDP of a small nation. There has always been a gap in income of players at the top in football and the fan base but it's now long been the case that few season ticket holders have an annual salary that is commensurate with a few months wages of the average EFL player. 

So far so good. A few misplaced passes but that's to be expected first up. So an encouraging start and now to keep it going. 

That was a predictable result. The number of times we draw with Watford, especially at the Gate, is almost of biblical proportions. 

2 hours ago, 1960maaan said:

I've thought about that, I think it could possibly work if they really want it too.
Separate the concourse with a semi permanent wall , have movable segregation top to bottom in the Dolman and have the turnstyles "away fans only" . Obviously there would be more to it than that , but if Steve and Jon were convinced and maybe wanted to redo the Atyeo , they could make it work. 

Not sure the upgrade to the Atyeo would be financially worth the cost. 

semi permanent wall - what does this mean? Not that it will happen or indeed necessary. The only reason to put City fans behind both goals and create a more intimidating atmosphere (supposedly) is to aid Ashton Gate becoming a 'fortress', and I'm not convinced that would be the case. As it is the segregated Atyeo stand aids security and safety which the Club may, and the police would certainly, argue trumps atmosphere.

1 minute ago, Numero Uno said:

Let hope Delia is guest summariser on Radio Bristol tomorrow night…….

Or Stephen Fry

14 minutes ago, TomThumb84 said:

An amazing display of non-stop verbalisation of Bristol City history.

Used the entire 94 minutes to offer the nation an insight into our past, current and future in a documentary/infomercial-esque fashion.

I think if you have made more then 20 appearances for us post-war, you got a mention, and if you didn’t then you would have done in extra-time.

A one man crusade to educate the country in a whirlwind attempt to get them up to speed as we have gone through middle two division anonymity for 40 odd years. 

God Bless you JP, and C’mon you Reds.

But he's slipping as he failed to mention our 2-1 win at the Boleyn Ground in February 78 with goals from Jimmy Mann and Joe Royle (Pop Robson for them). 

On 14/01/2024 at 20:07, Markthehorn said:

Do 2 or 3 go through per group now as that probably puts Egypt in a tricky position if it's the former which would please Liverpool fans! 

Top 2 from each group plus the 4 next best placed teams to make it to the last 16.

2 hours ago, fgrsimon said:

What about if he's the signing to stop us sleepwalking or even nosediving towards the relegation zone? 

The gap to the bottom 3/4 is a healthy one right now but last 3 league games have been poor and the next 5 are very tough. There's usually one team that sinks like a stone after Christmas.

And often one who goes on an incredible run to the play offs. (well we can dream can't we) 

I'm very much in the minority (possibly of one) but I remain sceptical about this signing of Twine, not being a fan of the loan system, particularly in January. I don't doubt he has abilities but I am concerned where he fits into the team, who he ousts to do so, and wonder about the long term strategy. As it currently stands this is not a loan to buy so what is his standing with Burnley and hence his mindset. He might feel he's playing for his future career, play wonderfully well,  be the revelation we're waiting for and we do end up buying him, which is fine provided he doesn't morph into Tony Dinning. He could also have a devil may care attitude and be a major disappointment like so many before. Time will tell. 

Good business. Andi has been great for us and I hope we give him a big send off when he officially leaves but TGH is a real blossoming talent that strengthens us going forward. 

22 minutes ago, Henry said:

I hope we give him bit more of a send off than that when he ‘officially’ leaves.

I'd echo that. It feels a bit flat at the moment. 

£5M for a player who had one outstanding season in L1. I'll pass. 

25 minutes ago, firstdivision said:

I thought ref got both decisions just about right. (Could have been red for Cov defender.) Lee Hendrie’s analysis shows he doesn’t understand the laws as they are. Amateurish summariser.

Even Nige thought ref was right on both - and he doesn’t tolerate refs easily.

When did any summarise know the laws of the game? Of for that matter half of our referees. 

Don't care about who the Gas may or may not get. As for us, if we win the replay (and it's a big if given our home form) it is what it is. 

14 minutes ago, Gazred said:

Having a kick about with Bobby and Pele now.

RIP Legend

What a triumvirate! Where the word Legend is used correctly. Beckenbauer encompassed everything in football, a class player, a brave player (playing in a sling in the 1970 WC semifinal, a true captain both on and off the field and a superb football administrator. Not many of his like. RIP Franz. 

3 hours ago, Major Isewater said:

Nice of Massengo to turn up to support us . 

Brilliant! Another precocious cockney kid. Love the line at the end that (from their support) there was more atmosphere in a bottle of sprite that's been open for 2 days. 

I was at that Orient game where we borrowed their away kit and played in blue. We scored first and then got stuffed. 

I've never liked us playing in blue or any kit with hints of blue, not because of the fewers up the road but because our results in blue have been disastrous. I'm not personally superstitious but it appears to be an unlucky colour for City. 

5 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Well well well. 

Chatter that Nottingham Forest could be charged with breaching FFP!

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/sport/football/nottingham-forest-could-face-ffp-financial-charge-everton-risk-second-penalty-premier-league-h0zqv8vft

But still nothing further on Manchester City dodgy finances. 

Do I care? All I want from a referee is that he's fully competent to do the job and on the day does so to the best of his ability.