Hamdon Mart

I was told four or five years ago that there was a plan to move it down further, maybe to where the press box area is now, but nothing came of it. 

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

They were in a bad place when Cooper took over, he got them solid, lots of draws, the odd won…and got them out of trouble.  But they are on a bad run now, troubles behind the scenes, etc.

"Troubles behind the scenes" are that bad, it threatens the existence of the club. Be under no illusion, Seb and Josh have gone to a club on the brink, genuinely feel sorry for them.

Owner (Scott Priestnall, failed businessman) took over in 2019 and hasn't put a penny of his own money into the club, borrowing against the club and running up debt. COVID came, we borrowed a million quid off Sport England who said it was only a loan but Priestnall says it was a grant, ie not to be repaid. During COVID, Priestnall set up a Crowdfunder with things like pictures with players, free tickets etc for those that donated but hardly anyone has got their rewards. So by now, without a pot to p*** in, just before Christmas, signed a deal with the council who then paid £2.8 million for the ground. Council still say now that (a) they bought club from holding company and not Priestnall (but its the same thing!) and (b) anyone can buy the club back at asking price (but has to go through Priestnall).

So now, with an unscrupulous owner that's in bed with Jed McCrory (read all about him, makes you weep!) and has set up a development company with him, we don't own our ground and planning has gone in for 250 houses on the immediate environs of the club. When I say "immediate", literally 50 feet from the front door. There will be barely any parking and the smart money is on Priestnall eventually getting permission to build on the pitch. Well, that will end up well.

Oh and in May, we'll have to pay rent to the council for our ground. Just the £196,000 a year then. And first three months rent payments will be due when no games are being played and taking away most of our season ticket funds. 

Back on topic, I wish them both well and Tins will have done his homework with the lads best interests at heart, I'm sure. 

The referee for Tuesday night's tie is Andre Marriner with his assistants being Adam Nunn and Sam Lewis. Fourthie is James Linington. 

"Hey, Ken, when's the question about Pickles finding the World Cup?"....

15 hours ago, normanhillred said:

Two handed push no brainier straight red. Red on yellow it is back pocket. 

It really wasn't. It's been said twice in the thread already; refs will issue a yellow for a shove from chest down whereas neck, throat & head area will be a red card. 

ETA: Casemiro's red last week was for grabbing Will Hughes around the throat, another correct decision!

I'd say that Kavanagh had a good first half, poor second half but let's not criticise the decisions he was spot on with. 

3 minutes ago, CanaryCouple said:

You're probably aware that Mehmeti came through the Norwich academy. Saw him play a couple of times for our reserves and he didn't look like much of a player... really pleased for him that he's forged a career for himself.

On the plus side, Matt, it was nice to see Adam Idah back in the fold today, thought he looked lively when he came on.

Watched him as a 17-year-old in your u23's at Reading where he was one of the most impressive strikers at that level I'd seen. Career seemed to take off meteorically then fall flat equally quickly (think he had off-field issues!) but now he seems to be on the mend again. Wish the lad luck, hundreds of others have done what he's done and not come back.

2 minutes ago, Coombsy said:

Should have been a red for that push

Think he got that one right. Neck and above is usually a straight red, chest and below is a yellow.

His inconsistency on the high boot was clear to be seen as was his eagerness to give burly centre half Grant Hanley a free kick every time he fell over. 

13 hours ago, Erithacus said:

Buzzing! First up: it'a a win, and that's the important thing. Puts us level with the Lionesses but a game in hand, and now means we have control over the rest of the season. A long way to go, yes, but it's ours to win, providing we keep it up.

Great result, based on a great team performance. The visitors were all over us for the first 10-15 minutes with their high tempo and high press - just what we would have been expecting. Having weathered the opening storm well, we didn't really have much impact on the game for most of the first half. As mentioned above, we had difficulty in getting the ball forwards with any consistency and were rather on the back foot. However, goals change games and Shania Hayles proved what a talent she is with a beautifully taken goal just before the break - in truth perhaps against the run of play. I was impressed by London City. They had a solid gameplan and were well prepared; their players were certainly talented but were a cohesive team first and foremost. If they do end up topping the Championship come the end then I fully expect them to survive for the season.

Second half saw a better formation and application of the gameplan; that, combined with City girls putting in a harder shift than London City brought a more positive emphasis. I feel our fitness shows more as the game goes on and gives us an edge when the clock runs down. But tonight we showed a toughness and determination that proves how the club has progressed in recent years. This is a good side and has plenty of talent and reslience. Things that will be needed at the top level.

There wasn't a City player who didn't have a good game, from top to bottom. Loads of really solid defending, especially from Layzell (who I think has improved immensely this season); Fran Bentley had few shots to worry about once the back line had blocked most attempts, but was in top form to prevent any comeback. Midfield was a little congested and there was precious little time to stroll about; Aimee Palmer showed she has all-round talent with her powerful runs forward as well as some crunching tackles (I bet she really enjoyed the game). Syme was a bit outnumbered initially but came on strong in the second half, once the distribution changed.

Front play was difficult in the first half and chances few. The visitors had clearly done their homework and closed Hayles and Harrison down, but moreover suffocating the midfield quickly. They had to create some width themselves at times. But Harrison's crosses in the second half proved key, with City taking control of the game.

Rachel Furness came on as a late sub but showed some nice touches and vision - a real feather in our cap. She bolstered the middle and stopped much opposition creativity.

All in all I think it was the best game I've seen at the HPC. There was loads of effort, passion and a strength of character that I hope will define the rest of the season. Two top teams giving everything, it had just about everything and was what I call a credential game - to be the best, etc...

But it's all to play for. Tonight we've got the upper hand. Let's keep it, because I believe we have shown what it takes to return to the WSL.

An excellent summary if I may so, E.  I'd add a few of my own thoughts...

Think there was a tweak in formation last night with Grace Clinton playing deeper rather than alongside Abi Harrison and Shania Hayles which in itself made the midfield area more congested with a five in there rather than the usual four. Any tweak will take a little while to get used to but eventually we got there last night.

Emily Syme was superb last night, she stepped up. Aimee Palmer is usually consistently very good but Em raised her level last night a notch or two.

Rachel Furness is a great signing. Her record speaks for itself and is exactly the sort of player City needed as the right time. In her 20-25 minutes last night, she could have scored twice; against less organised teams, she could be a real attacking force.

As have been Gracie Pearse and Grace Clinton, Lauren has been impressive in the transfer market and at last, I feel City have strength in depth. 

Finally, the tired old cliche of the best teams winning when they aren't playing at their usual level? I'll happily use that here... against Coventry, the girls were dead and buried and struck twice in stoppage time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Against London last night, they thwacked them with two goals in five minutes after half time and had scored the first against the run of play, as Erithacus states correctly. This team are finding the habit of winning when they maybe shouldn't; make no mistake, last season they would have lost that game for sure.

COYR.

Just now, shahanshahan said:

Looking forward to watching it back on the FA Player to see how loud we were!

Don't think the actual attendance was announced in the end. I'd expect it was smaller than when the game was meant to be played, due to it being midweek for example...

It was 726, Shahan.

I saw Kane play several times last season for FGR and he is an incredibly exciting player to watch, so attacking. Feel for him right now as his injury has meant City fans haven't seen the best of him  but he will come good, given time. 

3 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

This was the last 16

Yep, couldn't edit my post quick enough. 

18 minutes ago, Taunton_BCFC said:

When is the Q final and who we got?

This was the fourth game in the last sixteen, four more to play then quarter finals will be later this month, I think. 

With her scoring record, she must be more of an attacking midfielder than a defensive one so maybe Lauren is going to play a CAM off Harrison/Hayles rather than three up top. 

The side certainly has better strength in depth this season, that's for sure. 

17 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

Will be interesting to see how this has come to be, especially as the window closed on Tuesday...

Presumably either..

1. The deal was done ahead of the transfer window closing and they've just managed to keep it quiet for a few days.
2. The transfer window for Championship clubs is different, or maybe even doesn't exist.
3. She and Liverpool have mutually terminated her contract, making her a free agent and avaliable to sign for City. 

Wow, as signings go, this would be a big one! Rachel Furness to sign before the weekend; 85 caps for Northern Ireland and has played at the highest level for Sunderland, Reading, Tottenham & Liverpool.

Would just hope that this is in addition to what we have and not replacing someone that is leaving. 

https://twitter.com/TomJGarry/status/1621228721028964353

39 minutes ago, harrys said:

Makes a change to having Blackburn live on Sky practically every week

Talking of which, they have not one, not two but THREE games live in March! 

3 minutes ago, One Team said:

Surely it’s fixtures like this we live for? 

No one ever really remembers league games against mediocrity. 

Even now we still talk about the key Cup ties and play off games of the last 40 years and this could be another. 

Spot on. Absolutely nothing wrong with getting giddy with excitement over playing one of the best sides in Europe.

I'm a YTFC fan and although we've obviously spent almost all our history miles from the Prem (so the gap is bigger!), the days I look back on are the days where we had little or no chance of winning against the giants. Arsenal x 2, Liverpool, Man United x 2 and even some of the Championship sides we didn't have a prayer against. Once queueing out all night in the drizzle to get tickets for Liverpool at home.... these days literally don't come around very often so don't let anyone rain on your parade and say it's anything but fantastically exciting. 

2 minutes ago, Cov 77 said:

March 1st says the official site 

Probably the website's default setting for midweek games. Won't have been decided yet.

3 minutes ago, Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan said:

27th February is a Monday? 

It's week commencing the 27th. Guess the website has to pin the date somewhere so it does it on the first possible day. 

2 minutes ago, cityexile said:

I foresee season ticket holders are going to be contacted by lots of long lost ‘friends’.

Scotty Murray's phone has already blown up!! 

1 hour ago, Engvall’s Splinter said:

Appreciate women’s football is different but having been battered 6 nil, could you imagine the stick the blokes would get if they came over to the stands after the game smiling for photos

Part of the reason that the attendances have gone up and you can now attract a decent crowd to the Gate is that the players are incredibly accessible to the fans. Last night's crowd contained the usual high amount of youngsters and women and the players still came over to see the fans despite the thumping. At the HPC, quite often the most popular players are still out with the fans half an hour after the game having selfies, signing merchandise etc... it's brilliant to see but then the crowd is a slightly different demographic for the Women's games.

Point taken though. 

9 minutes ago, shahanshahan said:

Exactly. First half was the much better. Second half saw a drastic change following the City substitutions made. Coventry's goalkeeper also got subbed after a collision, and I think that had an impact too. Happy for the win, but I don't think it was deserved. As for the Germans, they were stood near us - one us found out that they are from Dortmund and are here for the weekend (apparently were at Ashton Gate too yesterday)

Great summary. Didn't see you today @Hamdon Mart, must have missed you! At least you spotted Max, Tommy & Andy!

Was inside the restaurant today @shahanshahan (not the first time I've said that!) as was a few from Coventry's media team there in my usual place. Saw you walk past and later met one of your friends handing out the newsletters...

Great to see Paul Wheeler today, one of the Championship's biggest advocates of women's football too. 

Just got back....

Wow, as games go, wasn't expecting that finish. Last time I saw Coventry was the most sensational ending I've seen at a football match; they scored an absolute worldie on 90+7 to retain their Championship status last season and relegate their opposition that day, Watford. And although they are bottom of the league without a point, they've brought in four or five players this week and they made a difference today for sure. If they play like that for the rest of the campaign, they will pick up points and wins!

City started well but spurned chances and, well, we've all been at games where you're one up and worried because you need a second to kill the game off. Coventry have an awful habit of conceding early goals - a stat I've read says that they have been a goal behind after ten minutes in more than two thirds of their matches this season. City added to that stat but couldn't get the second or third to kill them off.

Cov equalised then that goal boosted their confidence and they went 2-1 up on 82 minutes. They then made four subs (one of which must have been a concussion sub as they made six in total) and that allowed City to regroup for one final push. Clinton, who was superb when she came on the field on 63, grabbed the equaliser before Abi Harrison scored a fantastic winner deep into stoppage time. We even had the spectacle of a false final whistle too, not sure what happened there, ref? But the scenes of joy at the end,  haven't seen at a City Women's game for a while and who better to score the winner than Abi who has never stopped working hard for the team despite not reaching the prolific heights of last season.

Other highlights for me was seeing Max, Tommy and Andy King there watching; Elyssia Boddy looked lively coming on, the two teenage wing backs show the academy is working on this side of the club too and it's clear that the club IMO are going for it this season, the signings of Clinton and Pearce suggest that.

Can they do it? They can, but will they?

Messaged someone a few minutes ago that played for him and with him, said he was a top, top fella. Lovely guy, generous with his time and a genuinely decent human being. 

RIP Luca. 58 is way too young. 

3 minutes ago, Robbored said:

If you think this is bad - wait until Wayne Mardle is commentating…….………

I watch it every year and it’s always the same.. the crowd get really into it, fancy dress, a few pints and it looks great fun. John Part is by far the best of the commentators

Thanks for the warning, Robbo, will be sure to turn off when that happens (if it's on!). 

From what I've seen in the post-match stuff, Part is head and shoulders above Mardle who seems a bit excitable for his role.