Bristol Oil Services

"I can't read, I can't right, It's blood-ee embarrassing With our front three and your back four Your in for some harr-assing .... " There's a song in there (somewhere), mate

Only six sleeps, Col

It’s the feel of the nylon, mate, and the stretchiness of the fabric (fitting nicely over the pot belly), and also the opportunity, for us blokes, in this day and age to express our/their inner and largely sub-conscious Grayson Perry, to go big on colour and/or pattern. Specially the goalie tops.

It's just sprung to mind, mate, think that was 'WellRed'

Any stuff taking the p*** out of Rovers?

They were clowns, mate, not comedians.

That's not bad, Kid. But Leicester had a Baby Squad in the 80s, and they never ran from no-one (except Millwall).

He hasn't had Warne bowling one end and McGraaaa the other.

They're strict on that - noncery - the 675, most football lads, tbf. Kicking each other to **** in front of kids, not so much

Stoke would be improved had it a sea front?

There is that. But it's a game with no "buzz" if we win, winning a game away from home in Div 4 in 1984 was a "buzz" that no-one will feel today, should we win.

We are a peculiar lot, us Bristolians/City fans. Portsmouth (a shit-hole down south) is 117 miles away, and a journey of 2 hours 9 minutes (via M4). And we take 1800 to a pre-season friendly. Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent (a shit-hole up north) is 126.9 miles away, and will take us 2 hours and 24 minutes to get there. We will take just under 900 there, for a Championship league fixture.

Don't bother, we lost 1:3. Dicks out

And quite fruity in the 80s

Leeds v Man City now, 1977. What occurs to me, watching this, is that Elland Road, in 1977 - home to Britain's most numerous and prominent angry/violent supporters; scene of multiple televised outbreaks of disorder - is still to be fenced in, while much tamer grounds, like Ashton Gate, are already caged both ends.

You're right, 11.30 it is. Gerry still at Qprs by looks of it, Jim Cannon getting stuck in. Palace player just stretchered off, Brian Moore informing us " he broke his leg two months ago," ?!? "Only came out of plaster a month ago" !?! 1970s....

10.30. It's on now (that's today, this morning, right now)

If it's the 77/78 season, good crowd in AG that day, about 32,000. But we get a pasting on the pitch, sadly.

There will be, for Burnley's midfielders, this coming season.

The clutche can do one, Nev. In fact, we gotta get rid of the clutche

Don’t tell GrahamC that, Never

Cos .... Otib says so. I read it on here. It's going to be a tough Championship this time, remember, cos you got yer Leeds's, yer Leicesters, yer Southampton, and you got yer Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday. And Plymouth! All massive clubs. Millwall ain't getting in the squeaky-bum stuff, right in the thick of it, not this time mate. And I reckons Joe will not be too unhappy about that.

Joe can be fairly anonymous at Millwall, living in London. Jolly good money at a club that do not have to be promoted. Finish top ten, top eight, no great drama. In fact, they are pretty unlikely to get in the play offs or finish bottom third, so no drama, no angst, no must-win pressure. Just very good money, doing something he can easily do, and living pretty anonymously in one of the great cities of the world, with no-one bending his ear every time he steps out of his "manor" (getting a taxi being the only exception). No home-town goldfish bowl, no PP club must achieve this. No big crowd. No real bother. And great money. Plus libraries, and books. Just need to put yer foot in, Joe, every now and again; and when the opposition are breaking 4 against your 3, probably want to at least look like you are trying to get back and help. Otherwise, no bother. And good money. Plus small crowd, and few "musts."

You are? He's scratched that itch, hasn’t he?

It would be wonderful, yes, if we showed that ambition/indifference to modern day football realities. It would be wonderful if football was as we wished it would be, and Bristol City were able to move about and operate within it, as if we were Manchester City. It would be wonderful if by merely showing ambition, everything would fall in to place for Bristol City. It would be wonderful if FFP was just a figment of Mr Popodopolous's festive fiscal imagination. I wish it could be Christmas every day. I wish we could just do what we did in 75/6 with Merrick and Ritchie in 2023 and the rest of the Championship took a year off and we got promoted. Wouldn't that be wonderful?