Jerseybean

What follows is not about anything other than what I feel is in the best interests of Bristol City Football Club.  Having supported my team for 60+ years I’m not about to waste any energy on blaming, finger-pointing or bad mouthing anybody.

I acknowledge and respect that as the major shareholder and the individual who has invested millions in our club, Mr. Lansdown is the key decision-maker. In reality the views of us fans count for very little, nevertheless this is a fans forum, so here goes.

On the evidence of the last 27 games LM is not the person to take Bristol City forward. Having watched each of these games I have seen a team and individuals regress and observed a very rigid and repetitive approach from the Head Coach, in terms of his in-game management, general demeanor and public statements.

When he was appointed, I was prepared to give him until the end of the season in the hope that he was the man to take us forward. I have now changed my mind.

I see absolutely no benefit in retaining his services. In fact, I would hope the hierarchy are seriously considering relieving him of his duties in this international break.

There would, in my opinion, be a few real positives if they did so.

• they would regain some respect from the fan base, many of whom were disaffected by the sacking of Pearson
• a new manager or Head Coach would have the rest of this season to assess the squad and plan for the future. Although the hierarchy clearly stated that we had a squad capable of competing at the top end of the Championship at the time of Manning’s appointment, that is not what has happened
• With eight games to go, we effectively have nothing to play for this season, however, the next eight games could be vitally important in terms of informing our approach to next season. I would certainly hope that is with somebody new at the helm.

Had we not sneaked a narrow win against Swansea City (with another poor home performance) the pressure on LM would be even greater.

Now is the time to act.

 

OK, let’s  have your predictions for our final eight games, my (optimistic thoughts) are below. If I’m right we will pick up eight more points and finish with 55 points (four less than last season.)

Home

Leicester L

Blackburn D

Huddersfield W

Rotherham W

Away

Plymouth D

Sunderland L

Norwich L

Stoke L

‘We’ve  got the ball, we’ve lost the ball’ reminded me of the half time stat shown on WBA TV which was we won 57% of our tackles, while they won 100% of their tackles.

Todays post match interview: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/manning-on-baggies-defeat/

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Andy Johnsom on West Brom comms if you're detecting a Bristolian twang.  From Talbot Hill area, but a gashead unfortunately!!!  He's a decent lad in fairness, although I reckon some bias might come out today!!

@JP Hampton

He was certainly not very flattering about us! 

2 hours ago, 22A said:

OK folks; looks like we are in! http://www.fawanews.com/West Bromwich Albion vs Bristol City.html

Thanks 22A tell you what the WBA commentary was pretty unflattering about us, including ‘terrible’, and  ‘fortunate to have stayed in the Championship so long’.

Anyone know why WBA TV could show the game while Robins TV couldn’t?  

Just now, EstoniaTallinnRed said:

Already on.

Sorry to ask but how do you get the match to play on this site please ETR? 

Anybody found a reliable stream please?

Anybody found a reliable stream please? 

Having suffered years of failing to understand lots of what LJ said I’m now trying to come to terms with Manning speak.

Here’s my best effort at an interpretation / translation of recent LM comments.

LM I’m not on social media, so I genuinely don’t hear it but I’m not stupid, I get the industry, I signed up for it, right?” Manning said. “Unfortunately with football it’s changed where three/four games and it’s where the world is at, short-term and everything straight away.”

= Football is a results based business. Our poor recent results, understandably, are a cause for concern to everybody. I have now presided over 26 games as Head Coach of Bristol City and everybody including the fans rightly expect that our results and performances should have been better and there should be more evidence of progress.

LM "For me, of course I want to win. It hurts me. I don’t want to go home having losses but I don’t see the point of wasting energy getting down about it. I’ve had to scrap, I’ve had to fight, I’ve had to graft to get where I’m at and they’re the behaviours: treat people properly, that doesn’t change, come in, drive a standard every day, deliver the work we deliver.”

= Umm….I don’t like losing and whatever happens I will keep doing the same things, I believe it’s important to treat people properly. Genuinely hard to know what ‘they’re the behaviours’ ‘drive a standard every day’ and ‘deliver the work we deliver’ actually mean.

LM “I’m fortunate in that I’ve got a lot of good people around me, the staff have been great: Hoggy’s been terrific, Krausey, Brian, Pat, Ciss (Khalifa Cisse) - there are loads of good people who see the good work that’s happening every day and that’s the only way that you change it.”

= I work with good staff, things change when you constantly and consistently do good work.

LM “Am I emotionally fully all in? You only have to ask the people around here with the way we work and the hours we put in. My energy has to go into the players, they’re the most important people.”

= I can’t answer that question, please ask others. If it’s about hard work and long hours then we are OK.

Top chip shops….https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/bristol-chippy-named-one-uks-9167763?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bristol+Live+-+Daily+Newsletter_newsletter&utm_content=&utm_term=&ruid=eda3a0ce-34ec-4a85-96cd-ae68727a6b80

Interesting……https://brummieroadender.com/baggies-preview/baggies-play-at-3pm-shocker/

 

The International break after this.

Back at our place in September it finished goalless, in a game of two halves!  We won the first half. They won the second half and a draw was probably the right outcome. Both teams hit the woodwork and Vyner and Naismith made crucial last-minute challenges: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/home-top-featured/highlights-bristol-city-0-0-west-brom/

 Andi Weimann joined them on loan in January, as did Northern Ireland striker Callum Marshall from West Ham United.

 In February they signed former Sunderland and Inter Milan midfielder Yann M'Vila on a short-term deal.  The 33-year-old France international was a free agent after leaving Greek Superleague side Olympiacos in July, https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-sign-experienced-midfielder-yann-mvila-short-term-deal

More significantly and arguably the best transfer business done by the Baggies was the acquisition of Mikey Johnstone on loan from Celtic. Johnstone has scored six goals in his first nine games for the Baggies – most of them spectacular! Mikey Johnston: Celtic winger relishing West Bromwich Albion promotion challenge - BBC Sport

The Baggies are also celebrating new ownership after a tumultuous number of years in Chinese ownership, with the acquisition in February by American businessman Shilen Patel, who became their chairman after a deal to purchase an 87.8% stake was agreed. The takeover by Bilkul Football WBA, owned by Florida-based Patel and his father Kiran Patel, was approved by the English Football League, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/meeting-shilen-patel-new-west-28779411

 Last season they just missed out on a playoff place, finishing 9th on 66 points, goals from Wells and Williams secured all three points for us when we last played at the Hawthorns, https://youtu.be/Y1E4mjbM9fA

It will be a tough ask playing at the Hawthorns with West Brom boasting one of the best home records in the league and also one of the highest number of clean sheets with the young Palmer in goal proving difficult to beat alongside the giant defensive pairing of Cedric Kipre and Kyle Bartley.

 Our allocation of 2,009 tickets have all sold and they are expecting a full house.

Their match review: https://www.wba.co.uk/news/matchday-38-albion-v-bristol-city-preview

LM’s presser (health warning, the usual, ‘yeah, no, to be fair’ cliches, are all delivered in a robotic, vanilla, sterile, uninspiring, personality-void manner): https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/maning-on-baggies-trip/

Scott Twine is expected to be in the squad, George Tanner perhaps too.

Head-to-head record

Won: 17

Lost: 24

Drawn:17

They are 6th in the form table with 3 wins, 2 draws and a defeat in the last six games last Sunday they won 4-1 away at Huddersfield, while we are 19th in the form table with 2 wins and 4 defeats. They are looking good for the play offs with 63 points at present.

 Officials

 Referee: Tom Nield

Assistants: Matthew Smith and Blake Antrobus

Fourth official: Adam Herczeg

The Hawthorns is the highest ground above sea level at an altitude of 551 feet (168 m).

Those who have worn both shirts include Bob Taylor, Chris Brunt, Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Andi Weimann.

Here’s TG-H pre-match: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/gardner-hickmans-previews-hawthorns-return/

Pubs and pies

 Good Pub Guide link: https://thegoodpubguide.co.uk/?s=&gpg=West bromwich

 The Royal Oak,171 Holyhead Road, Birmingham, B21 0BD, https://www.theroyaloakbham.co.uk

The Vine, 152 Roebuck Street, West Bromwich, B70 6RD, https://www.thevine.co.uk their food is particularly recommended

 Park Inn by Radisson, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6RS

 The Cook House and pub, Congregation Way, West Bromwich B70 7PU, https://www.cookhouseandpub.co.uk/en-gb/locations/west-bromwich?cid=GLBC_40537840 about a five minute drive from the ground

 Back in 2017 West Brom boasted the Premier League’s finest match-day pie experience. 

 Try one of these for a good pie:

 Robinson's Bakery, 117 Hill Top, West Bromwich B70 0RU, https://robinsonsbakery.com

 Greggs, Birmingham Rd, West Bromwich B71 4JZ, https://www.greggs.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local

Poundbakery, 196 High St, Sandwell Centre, West Bromwich B70 7QS, https://www.poundbakery.co.uk

Hawthorns guide: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/premier-league/the-hawthorns-west-bromwich-albion.html

Baggies banter

• There are various explanations for why they are called the Baggies. One theory is that, after settling at The Hawthorns in 1900, their stadium initially only had two entrances – one behind each goal – so gatekeepers would collect spectators' money in large bags. The crowd would shout 'here comes the bag man', which later spawned the 'Baggies title'. Another suggestion is that the name was bestowed on Albion supporters by their rivals at Aston Villa, because of the large baggy trousers that many Albion fans wore at work to protect themselves from molten iron in the factories and foundries of the Black Country. Other possible explanations include that supporters took large bags round to pubs to help save the club from extinction in 1905, and that the club almost going bankrupt at this time saw many of their large players replaced by smaller players, who made the same kits look far more baggy in their skins than in the predecessors!
• The highest number of points that West Brom have garnered during a single season is 91, a total which they achieved in 2009 under the guidance of Tony Mowbray. Remarkably, this haul was only good enough for second in the Championship as Newcastle United stormed to the title.
• Their total of five FA Cup triumphs is only bettered by nine teams in English football. The Baggies most recent title in the world’s oldest cup competition occurred in 1968 as Jeff Astle scored the winning goal at Wembley Stadium against Everton.
• Albion boast a significant number of famous fans among their ranks of supporters including: Adrian Chiles, Frank Skinner, Lenny Henry and Liam Payne of One Direction. Continuing the music theme, rock legend Eric Clapton sported an Albion scarf on the cover of his album 'Backless' to show his love for the club. Clapton also sponsored Albion's UEFA Cup tie against Galatasaray in 1978.
• The most goals West Brom have scored in a season is 105 (in the 1929/30 season.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out his FB page Professor of Bristolian

Bristolian Jokes

Yer, ize 'ad a lot of fun translatin' classic jokes into Bristolian over the lass couple o' years, and theym always gert pop'lar when I puts 'em on me Professor of Bristolian Facebook page. Yer's a selection thass guaranteed to make thee awl laugh! 

Takin' the Doggie Out for a Walk Out Embray

Yer, thur wuz a little girl, like, wot lived in Ellsworth Road out Embray, an' she said to 'er muh, "yer, muh, can I take the dog for a walk, like?" 

Er muh replies, "no, cuz sheeze on 'eat?" 

"Wot do that mean, muh?" asked the lit lun. 

"Ask thy awd man," says 'er muh. "Eeze out in the garage." 

So the lit lun goes out to the garage an' says to 'er dad, "yer, dad, can I take Ninawl, arr lil doggie, out for a walk round the block? I asked arr muh but she says Ninawl's on 'eat!" So 'er dad took a rag, soaked it in petraw, an' scrubbed the dog's little arse to disguise the scent, like. 

Er dad says, "ok, thees can go now bu' keep the dog on a leash, mind!" So the little girl takes the doggie out, along Crow Lane, up Monsdale Drive, along Keinton Walk an' back 'ome, bu' she arrives back 'ome wivout Ninawl, the doggie! 

"Wur's Ninawl to?" asks 'er dad. 

"She ran out o' petraw in Keinton Walk, an' now thur's another dog pushin' 'er 'ome!" says the lit lun.

 

Tony from 'Engrove an' the Attractive Mature Lady

Yer, Tony from Engrove ooze 30 years awd, met this woman in a bar down town. She wuz bout 60 but gert well-dressed an' still very attractive, mind. Anyway, she starts chattin' 'e up an eeze finkin', well, don't wanna grab a grannie bu' if she've got a daughter, she've gotta be the gert lushest bird in Bristol, bound to be a stunner, mind! Suddenly the gert mature lady goes to 'e, "thees ever 'ad a sportsman's double me luvlay?" 

"Woss one o' they?" says Tony. 

"Iss a threesome wiv a mother an' daughter." 

Bleed nell, finks Tony, me lucks in yer! Anyway, they gets back to the lady's 'ouse in Ashton an' as they walks through the door she shouts out, "yer muh, you still awake?"

Ken's Missus an' the Pet Parrot

 Yer, my mate Ken's missus bought a pet parrrot in one o' they pet shops down town, mind, Only cost 'er a fiver. She asked they at the pet shop, "why's e so cheap? Eeze a gert luvlay parrot, mind!" 

They goes, "well, 'e used to live in a brothel dinnee an' 'e picked up lots of gert dirtay words an' expressions, mind." 

She fawt bout it for a minute but decided to buy the parrott anyway. When she got back to 'er ome in Annum she 'ung the bird's cage up in the livin'-room, like, an' waited for e to say summat. After a few seconds the bird goes, "New 'ouse, new madam." Me mate's missus fawt it gert strange but it weren't nuffink too bad, mind. 

Anyway, when 'er two teenage daughters got back from scaw the parrot goes, "new 'ouse, new madam, new girls!" They fawt it a bit offensive but gert funnay comin' from a parrot, mind. 

Not long after, Ken got 'ome from work dinnee. "Awl right, Ken?" goes the parrott! 

Kev an' 'is Posh Bird from Clifton

Yer, I met me awd mate Kev, from the Mead, up the Maul in Cribbs yesserday. 'E drove into the car park in a gert massive Mercedes dinnee, mind. I goes to 'e, "Wur's get a car like that to ?"

 'E goes, "Member that posh bird from Clifton I bin seein'?" 

"Oh ah," I goes. 

"Well, she took I out for a spin in this Mercedes smornen, out Norf Zummerset, an' she found this dirt track in these woods wur there weren't no one 'bout, mind!" 

"Oh ah," I goes. 

"Yeah, so she gets out the car, takes off all 'er clothes an' says to I 'You can have anything you want!'" says arr Kev. "So I goes, "fanks, I'll 'av the mercedes me luvlay, an' I drove off in it!" 

"Wise man," I goes. "'Er clothes 'ud never 'ave fit thee anyway, speshly wiv the size of thy man boobs!"

Gloshire Farmer an' 'is Rooster 

Yer, a Gloshire farmer come into Bristol to watch a film dinnee. When 'e tried to buy a ticket at the cinemawl, the bloke at the desk said, "yer, mate woss that on thy shoulder?"
"Iss me pet rooster, Chuck, innit," said the farmer. "'Chuck goes wherever I goes."
"Sorry me babber," said the bloke at the desk. "We cassen't 'av no animals in yer!"
So the Gloshire farmer goes round the corner and stuffs Chuck down 'is trousers, dunnee. Then 'e buys a ticket and gets in to watch the film, no probs. Inside 'e sits down by two awd ladies, Marj an' Cath.

The film starts, like, an' the rooster starts to squirm dunnee. So the farmer open 'is flies so Chuck can stick 'is ead out, mind, an watch the film.
"Yer Marj," says Cath. "I fink I got a gert perv sittin' next to I!"
"Why's fink that?" asks Marj.
"Eeze undone 'is trousers an' let 'is fing out!" says Cath.
"Don't worry bout that!" says Marj. "At arr age we seen 'em all annus?!"
"I fawt that an awl," says Cath, "bu' this un's eatin' me pop corn!"

Bloke from Bishopstun wiv the Unforgivin' Missus

Thur wuz this bloke, right, wot lived up Bishopstun, in Bishop Road. Yeah, 'e wuz sittin' quietly at 'ome one day, watchin' the telly, when 'is missus whacked 'e gert 'ard wiv a magazine.

"Bleed nell!" 'e goes. "Woss that for?"

"Thass for that piece of paper in thy trouser pocket wiv the name Laurawl Loo writ on it!" says 'is missus.

"Oh no," 'e goes. "Laurawl Loo wuz the the name of the 'orse wot I bet on lass weekend. I bought thee flowers wiv the winnin's, mind!"

"Ize so sorry me luvlay," says 'is missus. "Shudda known thur wuz a gert good explanation."

The day after 'e wuz sittin' quietly watchin' the telly again when 'is missus whacked 'e gert 'ard wiv a fryin' pan this time, mind! Gert dazed, an' wiv a massive bump on 'is 'ead, 'e goes, "Ow! That gert 'urt summat rotten! Wot wuz that for?"

"Thy 'orse juss phoned!"

 

Burglar an' the Parrot

Yer, thur wuz this burglar wot broke into a gert big 'ouse out Embray, near Blaise. Once inside, like, 'e keeps on 'earin' this voice dunnee, sayin' "Jesus is watching you!" Muss be the stereo, 'e finks, so 'e yanks the plug out the wall. Bu' 'e ears the voice again, "Jesus is watching you!" Then 'e sees a parrot in the next room. 

"Bleed nell," goes the burglar, "woss thy name then?" 

"Moses," says the parrot. 

"Moses," laffs the burglar, "what kinda peepaw cawls a parrot Moses?" 

"Kinda peepaw wot cawls thur rottweiler Jesus!" goes the parrot.

 

Why Barry Run Away from the Army 

Yer, 30 years ago arr Barry, a Bristolian from Bemmie, joined the army dinnee. On 'is first day o' trainin' the army give 'e a comb. The next day, mind, the army barber shaved off awl 'is 'air! Then the army give arr Barry a toofbrush dinnum. The next day the army dentist yanked out seven of 'is teef, mind! The day after that, the army give arr Barry a jock strap! Now arr Barr ain't bin seen for 30 years. The army's still lookin' for 'e!

 

Me Mistake at San Carlawl's Restaurant

Wuz juss finkin', like, bout when I wuz at that restaurant San Carlawl's down town in Corn Street, mind. Awl evenin' I 'ad this gert irrepressible urge to fart. Strangely, the music that night wuz gert loud, so loud that I fawt "I can fart yer, no problem, no one's gonna notice." After fartin' to the rhythm of the music for two songs I wuz feelin' so much better but I cudden't unnerstand why awl the other customers wuz starin' at I. Then I noticed that I wuz lisnin' to the music on me Ipod wonneye!

Age of Chivalry is Dead 

Dunno woss 'appenin' nowadays. The age of gert chivawlry is dead innit, mind? Wuz chattin' to a mate on the phone udder night when thur wuz that gert 'orrible storm. 

"Terrible storm, innit," 'e goes. "Me missus as bin stood starin' through the window for bout an hour, mind! If the storm gets much worse ize gonna 'av to let ''er in!"

Weird Conversashun Out Embray Fish Bar

Yer, I 'members 'earin' a gert weird conversashun in Embray Fish Bar down Crow Lane once upon a time, mind. Yeah, wuz betwen a girl an' 'er dad. 

The girl goes: "Me boyfriend's said summat to I that I cassen't unnerstand, arr dad. Yeah, 'e said I got a beautiful chassis, gert luvlay airbags an' a gert fantasticawl bumper!" 

Then 'er dad says: "Tell thy boyfriend that if 'e opens thy bonnet, an' tries to check thine oil wiv 'is dipstick, ize gonna tighten 'is nuts so bleedin' 'ard that 'is eadlights is gonna pop out an' e'll start leaking from 'is gert exhaust pipe!"

 

Two Ladies From Wales 

I remembers, bout a year ago, I wuz in a pub down town an I 'eard these two non Bristolian ladies chattin'. 

I goes, "yer, I likes thy accent. You two ladies, yoom from Liverpawl?" 

They goes, "it's Wales, you idiot!" 

So I goes, "aw rite then, you two whales, yoom from Liverpawl?" 

Cassen't remember much after that!

 

The Nawtay Kidday Out Merrywood Scaw 

Yer, wuz watchin' a vid yesserday bout this kiddie 'oo wen' a scaw at Merrywood in the 60s, like, an 'e went down in istree dinnee! Then they said 'e done naughties wiv a girl in geography an awl!

 

A Couple Doin' Nawtays up Blaise Woods

Yer, I juss 'eard a story 'bout a couple wot wuz doin' nawtays in Blaise woods after dark, mind! 

After 'bout 15 minutes the bloke gets up an' goes: "Bleed nell! Cassen't see nuffink. Wish I 'ad a gert powerful torch!" 

"Me an' awl," goes the woman. "Thees bin eatin' grass for the lass 10 minutes!"

 

Sandrawl and Tinawl at the Gawden Lion in Gloucester Road

Yer, some ladies don't 'alf say some gert strange fings, mind, dunnem?! I remembers one evenin' when I wuz down one o' they pubs in Gloucester Road, mighta bin The Gawden Lion, an' I wuz 'avin' a beer on me own. Yeah, I over'eard this conversation between two ladies, like. 

One of 'em goes: "Yer Sandrawl, 'ow dost thee spell 'scrotum'?" 

So Sandrawl goes: "Aw Tinawl, thess shuddda asked I lass night. Wuz on the tip o' me tongue!" 

Still cassen't work out wot she meant by that, mind!

 

Buyin' Some Kiddies Stuff From the Coop in Crow Lane Out Embray

Yer, seen a group of teenagers outside the Coop in Crow Lane, Embray earlier today. They asked I if I could go in an' get 'em 20 Richmonds. No probs I fawt. So I goes in, buys 'em, then comes out an' gives the packet to they teenagers. Bleed nell! I got gbh of the ear'ole wiv awl the abuse they give I! They cawd I a ****, a tosser an' much much worse. 

So I goes: "Listen! Me bess mate's a karate black belt, me missus' cousin is a mafiawl boss, so next time thees can buy thy own bloody sausages!"

The Meader an' the Priest on the Number Two Bus

Yer, thur wuz a young kiddie got on the Number 2 bus out Soufmead, to go into town, like, an sat next to a bloke wot wuz readin' a book, mind. The young kiddie noticed the bloke 'ad his collar on backwards an' asked 'e why. The bloke, oo wuz a priest, goes, "I am a Father."

The young kiddie goes "arr dad's a father too, mate, bu' 'e don't wear 'is collar like that, mind!"

The priest goes, "I am the Father of many."

The young kiddie replies, "arr dad's a father of 7 kiddies by arr muh an 6 by 'is first wife, bu' 'e still don't wear 'is collar like that, mind!"

The priest wuz gettin' impatient by now an said, "I am the Father of hundreds!" an' tried to ge' on wiv readin' 'is book.

The young kiddie sat thur quietly finkin' for a few seconds, mind, then tawd the priest, "Maybe thees shud wear a condom, mate, an' put thy pants on backwards instead of thy collar!"

 

Lit Lun's Fear Of Cockroaches

Yer, when I wuz a lit lun I used to be afraid of earwigs, mind, cuz I fawt they lived in me ear. I cassen't even start to tawk 'bout me fear of cockroaches!

 

Me Nightmare Wiv Bog Paper Out Asdawl

Yer, in Asdawl today I wuz gert 'orrified to find that there weren't no bog paper. Reluctantly, like, I went over to the checkout to ask if they 'ad any. Bleed nell! Gert firm 'NO' wuz the answer.

Walkin' back to the bog wiv me pants an' trousers round me ankawls wuz a walk o' shame, mind, speshly wiv The Sun newspaper in me 'and!

 

Sexist Doctor in a Bristol 'Ospitawl

Yer, me mate's missus wuz most insulted an' complained the doctor wuz sexist when she went for a gert medical examination yesserday. Yeah, 'e goes to she:

"Thy 'eart, lungs, pulse an' blood pressure is awl gert fine. Now I wants a see that part o' thee that gets thee ladies into a gert loada trouble."

So me mate's missus starts takin' off 'er bra an' panties don't she, bu' the doctor stopped 'er 'fore she dooze the full monty an' 'e says to she:

"No, don't wanna see none o' that, mind! Juss stick out thy tongue me luvlay!"

 

Two Nuns Down King Street

Yer, I wuz down town in King Street yesserday when I seen two nuns ridin' thur bicycles. Funny wot they said, mind! One goes: "I never cum this way before!" 

An' the udder un goes: "Yeah, is cuz o' the cobblestones, innit, mind!"

 

The Barman an' the Gorillawl

Yer, I wuz in the pub lass night gettin' zidered up when this gorillawl walks in dunnee! Yeah, an' 'e says to the barman, "thees got any bananawls?"

The barman goes, "no we ain't got no bananawls." 

Then the gorillawl asks 'e again, "thees got any bananawls?" 

"No, we ain't got no bananawls," says the barman again. 

Then the gorillawl asks the barman a third time, "thees got any bananawls?" 

The barman's gettin' angry innee an' 'e says, "yer, if thees asks I again if we got any bananawls ize gonna nail thee to that wall over thur?" 

So the gorillawl asks 'e, "thees got any nails?" 

"No, we ain't got no nails!" says the barman. 

"Thees got any bananawls?" asks the gorillawl.

3 minutes ago, Jose said:

Ten points better off…………******* clown. 

Q “Where do you want to be in 12 months time?"

A "10 points better off"

in other words as of right now that equates to being 8th in the Championship 

32 as suggested by Four Four Two: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/the-30-best-football-films-and-documentaries-ever/ss-BB1i9AkP?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ASTS&cvid=b6c15d24ee224cb5a3d2056867806fb7&ei=7#image=1

 

As we know what fans think counts for nothing.

The actual decision-makers do have a difficulty though as their man certainly has not started well and a narrow home win, coupled with a very underwhelming performance, against a team below us in the table is hardly going to change that.

So do they stick or twist? 

Can’t see any decision other than them sticking for this season.

His short-term future, at least for me, depends on the next nine games, however, as per my opening line that counts for nothing. 

Timing, should they twist, will be critical, if as some suggest we start next season with him and give it ten games and it goes badly we are then trying to recover a mess. Alternatively, if the next nine games are in keeping with our form over the last six games they, hopefully, will get rid at the end of this season. Which at least would enable a successor to pick up the pieces and have a pre-season.

Given our hierarchy I suspect they will stick with him for far too long! 

 

Great to see front foot football from a top end championship team. Comes to something when the highlight of the game is a sprinkler.

 

A few quick halftime thoughts, before I go and paint a piece of wood.

Wow, even by our recent pathetic standards that was utterly abysmal. I really don’t know what the players have been told or what the game plan might be.

45 minutes of atrocious football, where we have stood off their players throughout, allowing them plenty of time and space and on the rare occasion that we’ve had the ball we have given it away almost immediately.

Max’s distribution has been shocking, I don’t think we have put a decent tackle in during the first half and we have so few options we are forced to go sideways or backwards, which sadly in itself is not unusual.

I know recently in a training session we tried walking football and it looks like that approach has been adopted throughout the first half.

Trying to find positives is difficult, the only one I can see is a couple of decent through balls from Rob Dickie.

As poor as Swansea are, if this carries on and they continue to be given the time and space that we are giving them, surely even they will score.

Right, I’m off to watch some paint dry, it will be far more entertaining

Finally, my heart goes out to whoever has the job of piecing together some ‘highlights’ from this game, it could be the shortest highlight reel in the history of football.

 

Their squad 

Other than NW they all looked deeply worried!

https://t.co/mgvLer4zNi

The Robins take on the Swans with KO 1230 on Sunday. They are immediately below us in the table with 43 points.

At their place we produced a very positive display to come away with three points, NP post match: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/pearson-delighted-with-swansea-win/

Highlights: https://youtu.be/LclMHjGlcPE?si=roVxzaoQilhip0eV

Last time out it finished 1-1, https://youtu.be/de1bFLjA0cI

They lost their manager to Southampton in the closed season, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65652047 and replaced him with Michael Duff, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65985775 who was at Barnsley. Duff played at every level from the eighth tier to the Championship before reaching the Premier League at 31.

They signed Heart of Midlothian forward Josh Ginnelly on a three-year deal. Ginnelly, 26, was a free agent having turned down a new contract with Scottish Premiership Hearts.

They also signed of out-of-contract Exeter City defender Josh Key. Right-back or wing-back Key, 23, was a target for Swansea last season.

They also added Excelsior left-back Nathan Tjoe-A-On on a three-year deal for a fee thought to be close to £300,000.

They signed Josh Tymon, Kristian Pedersen, Bashir Humphreys and Jamal Lowe on a frantic deadline day.

In January they signed Brazilian winger Ronald for what was understood to be a seven-figure fee.

Head-to-head record

Won: 31

Lost: 24

Drawn: 23

LM presser: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/manning-talks-swansea-at-home/

Luke Williams presser: https://youtu.be/0hlUF1iBqiQ

They are 10th in the form league with three wins, two defeats and a draw in their last six games (10 points), we are 17th with two wins and four defeats (6 points).

In fact Swansea are on their best run since early October having taken seven points from their last three Championship games. On Wednesday they drew 1-1 away at Watford.

Keith Stroud is the referee. He will be assisted by Sam Lewis and Jonathan Hunt, while Joshua Smith will be the fourth official.

In early December they sacked head coach Michael Duff after less than six months in charge. He departed after a run of one win in eight matches and with Swansea sitting 18th in the table. The 45-year-old had endured a difficult spell as Swansea boss, with the club struggling to find consistency. In January they appointed Notts County boss Luke Williams as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He managed our under 23s between 2017-19.

From one of their fans, https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/news/62090/bristol-city-the-rivalry-and-that-game-in-1980

Fun facts

In 1823 the first ever human fossil was discovered near Swansea in the Gower Peninsula. The Red Lady of Paviland (who is actually a man) dates back over 33,000 years and was dyed by the red ochre in the surrounding rocks.

The phrase ‘Swansea Jack’ comes from a dog called Jack who saved 27 people from drowning the River Tawe during the 7 years of his life (1930-1937).

Famous people from the city include poet Dylan Thomas, entertainer Sir Harry Secombe, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, politician Michael Heseltine, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, footballers John Charles, Ivor Allchurch and John Hartson, actress Joanna Page, 18th-century dandy Beau Nash, broadcaster Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, artist Vernon Watkins, writers Russell T Davies and Iris Gower, and rock musician Spencer Davis.

Swansea City became the first team from Wales to win promotion to the English Premier League when they beat Reading 4-2 in the Championship Play-off Final at Wembley in 2011.

In 2000, Swansea City’s Jamaican striker Walter Boyd hit the headlines for receiving a red card before play restarted, after he came on as a substitute, for striking a Darlington player.

Kevin Cullis holds the record for Swansea City’s shortest-lived manager. His spell in charge lasted just seven days in February 1996. He took charge of just one-and-a-half-games, after it was reported senior players took control of a half-time team talk in just his second game.

There are two possible origins of Swansea’s ‘Jacks’ nickname. One is the reputation of local “Jack Tars” in the early 19th century, while the other is the black retriever dog called Swansea Jack who rescued no fewer than 27 people from drowning in the River Taw and Swansea Docks during the 1930s.

Famous fans include:

Catherine Zera-Jones

Michael Douglas

Brett Johns - MMA fighter

Enzo Maccarinelli - Former boxer

Michael Sheen - Actor

Jay Harris - Boxer

Players who have represented both clubs include Yannick Bolasie, Jamie Paterson, Liam Walsh, Lee Trundle, Korey Smith, Tammy Abraham and Ashley Williams.

Dhamaka 

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/try-bristol-indian-restaurant-thats-9132369?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bristol+Live+-+Daily+Newsletter_newsletter&utm_content=&utm_term=&ruid=eda3a0ce-34ec-4a85-96cd-ae68727a6b80