The chief

3 minutes ago, wendyredredrobin said:

To score 5 goals we would probably need to create between 50 and 75 chances.  What is the likelihood of that in 90 minutes of football?

Achievable if playing Swansea.  We scored 5 (if including the 3 disallowed) … ! 

See also, Oxford (h).  

Not suggesting we’ll get 5 tonight tho. 

I’m optimistic for tonight . Can see knight getting on the scoresheet.  

We’ll zip it about on a wet pitch like sat (first half)- as long as Naismith starts, as he’s key to us playing progressively . Let’s hope he’s recovered well as he was slowing thoughout the second half on Sats…  

On 31/08/2023 at 23:36, James54De said:

With potentially the strongest selection of players we’ve ever had. He has by no means been ‘successful’. 

Why do you think this is the strongest set of players we’ve ever had? I could name about 10 stronger tournament squads starting with 82 Spain WC onwards . That certainly includes Euro 96 team and venables seems to be more appreciated than Southgate even tho GS actually got us to a final. 

Dont get why people dislike Southgate - we’ve had some utterly desperate periods over my 40plus years watching the team . In the last 5 years a semi amd a final . It’s strange this weird entitlement that we should be winning every tournament. It’s like a big premier league club fan type attitude.

I’m surprised fellow long suffering city fans seem to think England have underachieved with Southgate given the relative succes. I guess it stems from us throwing away a golden chance vs Italy in the final? 
 

Knight was at the heart of our best moves…. Also think we look miles better with Naismith on the pitch . His positive forward passing adds an extra dimension to our play . Not sure if that should be at CB or Midfield as he can be done for pace back at the back. 

9 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

First off - definitely deserved the point (at least)

General thoughts:

Naismith - excellent in distribution at the back. Adds so much and without Scott and the lack of creativity he either needs to be in the 3 in midfield or the two at the back. I’m tempted to consider the 3-5-2 again because I think Dickie and Vyner add so much and I think we lack quality up top

Knight - Again, excellent, best league game I’ve seen him have. Pressed, distributed, played very well and not bullied

Sykes - Another one who was very good - work rate superb, good quality. One of the three picks for me but Wells runs close

Overall a very good day. I still feel Bell isn’t showing enough to be in the side, but as an away performance overall, I think that was excellent.

Spot on. Also, Pring excellent too. And garder-Haskins with a few classy touches on his debut . . One lovely pass to break the lines. Promising. 
Really enjoyable performance, played very well and unlucky not to get 3 points. 

13 hours ago, liammiles said:

I think it was O'Donkor, 2 in 30 is not great but at 18 years old he has a lot of time to develop.

I thought he looked a handful. Rolled his marker a few times. Shades of Semenyo perhaps .
Given how our coaching team have developed Bell, Conway and Semenyo, a punt on lower league attacking talent is well worth it .
Can’t be scattergun about it or fill up the squad with too many numbers (lessons have been learnt and we have our own academy prospects like Yeboah) but worth a pop for the right talent. 

Looks to have something. Wasn’t just about using his obvious pace and energy but also played some nicely weighted passes. That’s a very good sign. Was the perfect time to blood a youngster . 

Ridiculous. Took about 5 mins to announce our subs tonight. What’s the point in him? Get rid.
Doesn’t announce their subs either. 

As debuts go, didn’t put a foot wrong. Tenacious, always looking forward and showed defensive grit when needed . Was running the game at times and linked up very well with Mehmeti. Clearly the opposition a factor,  especially 2nd half. 

Has certainly given Nige a decision to make ahead of sat . Personally I’d stick him in as Pring was so unusually off the pace vs Preston. 

5 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

We could always try the Championship's third top goalscorer of only 15 months ago up front?

Often the simplest solutions are the best! Seems like he’s hardly played up front since the WSM days and his prolific season. 

looking on the positive side , injuries happen, and it’s good at least that we have plenty of championship quality cover up top.

Any other injuries in centre midfield, CB or GK and we’d be really panicking!!  

6 minutes ago, Wedontplayinblue said:

You rarely find home fans better than away fans though, there is hardly any grounds in the championship I’d say we’re noisy, would you?

Take Coventry, their away fans were amazing the last few years yet at home the atmosphere is dreadful. 
 

I don’t think our away support noise wise is anything special, it’s just standard with other teams. 
 

Exactly what I tried to post but in a much better way. 

Yep- most home grounds are sterile/quiet. I just think we can do more.

The idea of a singing section is tinpot - like goal music or clappers. We’re better than that .
what we have is a standing section and fair play to those there that make a noise.

Agee with Len about the whole ground needs to participate, hence why I think the E34 folk did help for a few games. As I’ve said, having louder fans right next to away fans so they can feed off each other a bit would help IMO.

don’t think it’ll be very loud tomorrow mind! 

cheers. 

1 minute ago, Wedontplayinblue said:

Social media, forums etc give people a much easier platform for talking about things. A  lot of what is said on forums and social media you’d never say face to face in a pub for example. 

Surely if you (generic you, not you personally) do not like songs that are being sung, you can simply start your own? It’s not like it’s some sort of racket and only certain songs allowed. 
 

It’s all about personal taste aswell, older people wanting older songs, younger lads wanting more generic “ultra” songs. 

The people who sing the songs might really like them but posting on a forum saying how bad they are, atmosphere is dreadful etc without any solution to that is pretty pointless isn’t it? 

Yeah true . Serial moaners would have been confined to the corner of a pub up until social media gave everyone a platform  . 
 

as for songs and atmosphere- we do get called out for being a noisy away support, so there’s not a lot wrong with songs etc for half our games…

45 minutes ago, Wedontplayinblue said:

The people above complaining about the atmosphere, and the songs being sung etc.

Is it possible to know what contribution you are giving to improve it? Or is it a case of I’ll moan that others are not doing it right?

There seems to be a lot of this in all parts of modern society, complain you don’t like something without providing any other solutions. 

Disagree there- I think there’s quite a few practical suggestions on this thread on steps that could be taken, certainly in terms of where to stand etc .

No idea to what extent all posters are contributing as there’s not really a way of collecting stats on individual fan participation . I have a really loud clap and join in on most songs if that helps?
 

With regards to your final point I’d counter that there seems to be  an increasing number of people complaining that more people are moaning these days . Twas ever thus? 

33 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

There is a degree here though of where it ends.  We’ve already been down the route of the “ultras” having their dedicated section in the South Stand, then being given safe standing. Now some (not all) want block A. What happens if that’s not to the liking and they want to try somewhere else to improve the atmosphere - do we then kick those out of the lower Lansdown for example?

If fans want to go in S82 they do so with the knowledge that it’s loud, there’s singing and they buy into that. Those in Dolman A (I’m not one - but I also don’t go for the singing/cajoling away fans) have in many cases been there for years, so why should they move because someone else “fancies” that area? I’d hate to move from my current seat now, and I’d imagine the residents of A feel the same.
 

Total clarity - I don’t think the club should not sell tickets for there on the fear some may move there. But when there, they should abide by ground rules - that means no persistent standing etc (there’s an area designated for that) and it certainly doesn’t mean we should move existing fans in preference.

Yep- all very good points. Agree we can’t be too whimsical about moving loyal fans around the ground but, this is more a case of fine tuning than ongoing wholesale changes . 
A much better outcome would be to give us a few blocks of the Ayteo like we did for the Utd cup game .  Needs more stewards but it would give us a noisy section right next to away fans as well as fans behind both goals .
Could even extend the safe standing in south stand by a block to help give more room for standers/singers.

13 minutes ago, Steve Watts said:

Both things are not possible.  One or the other.

If we’re talking absolutes, then I’d be in favour of steps to improve home atmosphere. Albeit my ST is elsewhere.

 Those impacted should be offered a decent seat elsewhere and maybe some of that cracking training gear with the flattened robin and massive collars. That would tempt any fan. 

Personally I thought the Dolman A block lads  helped lift the home atmosphere . Was more raucous at times, our performances in the pitch were better too , so could be a case of both factors helping out.

I guess the E34 block was also noticeable when we were expecting a big /sold out  away following - this is where it really helped crank up the noise. Didn’t have that on Saturday.

Hopefully the lads can get back there to have a go at the away fans, without annoying those who are regular ST holders In that block ..

3 minutes ago, Ska Junkie said:

Extremely disappointing performance.

What annoys me, and supports those that were concerned about the level of our pre season opponents, is that we didn't do any of the things we did in pre-season, no pace, no high press apart from Cornick and no intricate sharp passing.

It felt as we were undercooked tbh. Happy to take a point from that in all honesty. 

Yes - it was lethargic. All the talk of fittest group ever yet it felt like we were really off the pace . Passing, movement and options in possession were poor too. Primg was symptomatic of the malaise - seemed to need too much time on the ball and was missing his usual burgeoning style. 
On the plus side Vyner was decent and we didn’t lose!

First season ticket for 10 years. Can’t wait. Fancy a win but it’ll be tight I reckon. Late winner . 2-1.

COYR. 

7 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

Perhaps, but he had a very strong Yorkshire accent .

Hahaha - oh yeah.  you’re right. . Let’s chalk that up to memory/age.

Back to topic… Reckon we’ll be singing TC’s name tomorrow - fancy him to score . 

11 minutes ago, Betty Swallocks said:

I'd say anyone who wasn't born within the distance where a ball would end up after a Junior Bent wayward shot when through on goal, shouldn't be included as one of our own, So anyone from around the Nailsea are up to Bradley Stoke are fine. 

That would exclude junior himself then right- wasn’t he a Yater?

Born down the road in Taunton, so is Tommy outside or inside the exclusion zone for ‘one of our own’.

Was great watching Antoine go from raw prospect to one of the most dynamic attackers (on his day) in the league .  We don’t get to see many players in that mould. Loved watching him . Last 18 months or so , soon as he had the ball we had that anticipation he make could  something happen .

It’s probably been said in one of the previous 87 pages (!), but huge huge credit to Tins, the academy, Nige and coaches for taking a raw prospect college kid into a premier league footballer in 6 or so years . That’s a massive achievement and shows how good out academy is right now .  Hope they keep em coming….

Big Nige praised the atmosphere again tonight in his post matcher… reckon the combo of S82 and the block formerly known as ‘A’ is defo helping. As are the performances . Things are looking up….

22 minutes ago, Gimme Shelton said:

There were a couple of mistakes Saturday but there were also a couple of moments when I thought - yes there's a player gaining confidence and showing what he can do.

Yeah he had a really promising run late in the game vs Brum didn’t get the finish right on that occasion, but he showed belief and threat and carried that into yesterdays with a cracking goal and assist. Another attacking option emerging. Love it .

37 minutes ago, archie andrews said:

Were city fans in atyeo that night? 

Yeah not loads of seats-we had about 2 blocks maybe. Dolman end.