13 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Have you tried any of Spoons wine?

Try this one. It is about 18 quid in your money. I managed to get it from a few wine shops when last in the UK.

Bin 8 Cabernet - Shiraz 2019

28 minutes ago, BigTone said:

Mmmm parsnip

Not sure how this relates to the original post but when you start to talk about food Big Tone this leads to no end of possibilities. The below is a nice one as well. The only problem is the dish cooks off the booze so you have to make sure you have plenty of coldies on hand while you cook the Roo. You can also wash this dish down with a nice Penfolds Bin 8 Shiraz Cab.

8 hours ago, pongo88 said:

Blackburn has either won or lost every match this season. This means one thing -  tomorrow will be a draw 

We are on a bit of a run lately so hoping for a home win. Looking at some betting sites the most common predicted score is a 2-2 draw.

11 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

We are looking to continue our unbeaten start to 2023.

We faced them away back in September when the scoreline flattered them!

Dolan came off the bench for them and scored one and made one.

Tomas Kalas is available for selection.

NP pre-match:

 

 

Mark Sykes pre-match:

 

 

Head to head record we’ve won 22, drawn 13 and lost 16.

They have won three and lost three of their last six games, have lost every time this season when conceding first and haven’t drawn a game this season.

Nottingham Forest are reportedly looking into the possibility of bringing Ben Brereton Diaz back to the City Ground.The Reds are in the market for a new striker this month and appear to have identified the Forest academy graduate. Blackburn are in a perilous position with their main talisman. He’s out of contract during the summer and are valuing him at £15 million, despite the fact he’s got just six months remaining on his deal.

They have made an offer for Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous as they look to bolster their Premier League promotion hopes. A 4-0 defeat last weekend away to Rotherham is a clear sign they need to improve their quality at the back if they are to cement their play-off position.

Their manager Jon Dahl Tomasson said, "We have made an offer, yes. We’re still waiting for the situation to resolve itself. Ryan has played one game for Scotland, and is a leader as well." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64302265

Dominic Hyam is ruled out of action for four weeks meaning he will miss this game: https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/january/19/hyam-out-of-bristol-city-battle/

John Buckley is available after serving a suspension. Scott Wharton is also back available after a period out with concussion. Midfielder Sam Szmodics has also returned to training after a quad muscle injury, but will not be part of the squad to travel to Ashton Gate.

Blackburn Rovers ended 11 consecutive seasons of Premier League football with the ignominy of relegation in 2012. The Lancashire-based club, in a tumultuous campaign under Steve Kean, could only manage eight wins across 38 matches.

Their manager is Jon Dahl Tomasson. The former Denmark international previously managed Malmo in Sweden.

Referee is Tim Robinson, a former PE teacher, he started officiating at Football League level during the 2011/12 season, having progressed through the Sussex leagues, before moving on to the different national leagues. In December 2019 he officiated his first Primer League Game, a 1-0 for Burnley over Newcastle United. However, Robinson is mainly an EFL Championship referee.

He will be assisted by Craig Taylor and Andrew Fox. The fourth official is Robert Lewis.

Blackburn Rovers banter

• Blackburn Rovers was established in 1875, becoming a founding member of The Football League in 1888. Blackburn is one of only three clubs to have been both a founder member of the Football League and the Premier League (Aston Villa and Everton are the others).
• Derek Fazackerley holds the record for the most League appearances for the club, with 596 between 1970 and 1987.
• The all time record goalscorer for the club was Simon Garner, who scored 194 goals between 1978 and 1992.
• Ex-Foreign Secretary Jack Straw or Jack John Whitaker Straw to give him his full name is a massive Blackburn Rovers fan. Other famous fans include former Doctor Who star Matt Smith, who played the Doctor between 2009 and 2013, comedian Lee Mack, Bill Beaumont former captain of the England rugby union team and Stephen Hendry, MBE, who in 1990 was the youngest ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. Celeb fans also include Lee Gordon McKillop stand up comedian and actor, Jim Bowen comedian and TV personality and Carl George Fogarty, known as Foggy, who is the most successful World Superbike racer of all time in terms of the number of championships and number of race wins.
• The blue and white jersey of Blackburn Rovers was adopted from the quartered shirts of Malvern College.
• The motto of Blackburn Rovers is 'Arte et Labore' which means 'By skill and hard work' in Latin.

Finally, and personally, it’s a bitter-sweet weekend for me. I’ll be at Ashton Gate for the game with my three lifetime best friends, we all met at Long Ashton primary school and are pensioners now!

I came across from Jersey for the funeral on Friday (at Long Ashton All Saints Church) of the last surviving parent of the four of us (Mrs C died aged 98 on Christmas Day.) I suggested that we all went to the game, for one of us I’m pretty sure it will be the first football match he has ever been to! The other two are City fans, although not regularly making it to games these days. 

Have a great day with your mates JB. Great post as always, I enjoy looking out for them and having a read.

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

It is well written (you’d expect nothing less with Winter) & Barton tries to make a case for his behaviour (he’s had plenty of practice) but it’s weird he comes from a “broken home” but that it was his Dad coming round when he had suicidal thoughts..

The stuff with Wael & Gorringe is nauseating shit, anyone who thinks South Bristol isn’t the working class part of the city isn’t from here (neither of them are).

The people’s club, family club, huge away support stuff is their myth they love to cling to.

Barton isn’t so “working class” that he won’t employ extortionately paid lawyers to keep him out of jail, either.

No mention here either of a Chief Scout once charged with the murder of a policeman or an assistant manager currently charged with making homophobic comments to the opposition & with a previous offence of betting on matches he played in.

Proper “family club” behaviour.

Agree on all points GC, However they are winning and on a bit of a high at the moment. I hope it is short lived 

5 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

What would change if we lose or draw today?

Possibly dropping into the bottom 3 is something beyond belief. Bottom 3 positions are hard to get out of. City supporters that turn up week in and week out at BS3 and the ones that continually travel away deserve more than a team in the bottom 3.

It will always be a COYRedssssss from me and I will be listening in from OZ tonight at 10.00pm for kick off.

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

Even if we lose and Blackpool win we are very unlikely to drop into the bottom 3 today given our goal difference. Even if we did drop in it would be on goal difference only and there remain 19 games to get out.

We do not need to win today.

"we do not need to win today" Hmmmmm

What does Tom know. Was he not the Women,s team director at Brighton. He also has some administration history with our not so good friends across the bridge many years ago as the Blue Birds Food and Beverage Manager.

7 hours ago, london_Cider_red said:

First time posting a city piece, normally just do it as a hobby and delete it. Thanks so much if you read and hope you guys enjoy it or it at least starts a good debate!

Feedback is welcome  

 

No wins in five or unbeaten in three? The reign of Pearson shows there is spin to everything. His hands have been tied financially, he knew this going in. The squad to work with was known and has been changed over three windows. With two years under his belt has Pearson given city any reason to believe better times are ahead?

It looks increasingly likely the upcoming second anniversary celebrations for Nigel will be in the shadows of the black cloud above his head. His tenure of City has been rocky from the get go. Fans generally afforded him the first six months due to inheriting an expensive and dreadfully underperforming squad. Happy with staying up the previous go round, minds focused nervously forward and a feel of optimism began to grow for the 21/22 season.

Now midway through the 22/23 season, one and a half years  into Pearson’s 5 year plan, city are sitting in the same position,19^th, as after Pearson’s first six months in charge. With a relegation fight looming it is hard to find many areas of improvement since he first took the helm. A case can be made for the football being better, it would have been a challenge to get worse. The few bright sparks over Pearson’s tenure are no doubt the emergence of youth breaking down the first team door. Conway, Semenyo and ‘star boy’ Scott have given City fans joy the past two years and earned Pearson commendation for showing faith in them. An argument can be made that he didn’t have much choice in the matter however, they have repaid the trust tenfold.

A second area of improvement, a mixture of on and off field effects, is the shedding of the wage bill and along with it players considered dead wood. How much praise can be heaped on Pearson for this is debatable, it was well-known before Pearson took charge the wage bill was too high and players would need to leave or sign drastically reduced wages. An argument can be made the financial side has largely been down to the level headed stewardship of Gould (congratulations are in order sir) with Pearson left to determine and inform the board of who he does and does not want in the squad.

The previous point leads us to another question, Persons roll within the club. He has made it very clear he is not a coach, stating multiple times that he does not get to involved with the training side, as shown by the near army of coaching staff he has brought on board. So what does he do? Pearson is open about not being involved in coaching and being as limited as possible in transfers and negotiations. His track record of being more than willing to throw players under the bus and making fallings out obvious to even the most oblivious suggests he is not a fan of man management either, often forcing him to play players out of position. This leads us to believe tactically (you would hope this would be true at least), he has final say however, in loosing situations the lack of a credible plan B has often frustrated fans. Long balls upfront are often the preferred method of attack, despite not having a target man or even a striker over 6 foot on the pitch. Formation changes tend to happen as much as a unicorn sighting, one such sighting in the last game against Swansea worked beautifully and many are hoping to see this more often… time will tell. Ultimately city’s tactics seem very ridged and predictable, two things you can get away with if you are winning games but to sit 19^th doesn’t cover them in glory… sorry Nige.

Bringing in 9 players so far Persons transfer activity has caused debate. Some say he has done the best with what he has and others question the money spent on wages. Bringing in Simpson and now Klose and Martins contract extensions, to sit and watch the matches from home surely isn’t the best use of strapped funds. Of all of his business only James and Atkinson play regular first team football, with Naismith regularly injured and tanner on the fringes of the first team. Injuries and player fallings out has further caused debate about lack of willingness to dip into the loan market. It is generally accepted city are unlikely to be able to afford anyone better than we have, but with mounting injuries, likely January exits and players being used as speed bumps for Pearson’s bus, loans would seem like a logical solution to a temporary problem. Taking the impeccable job Tinnion has done for city, working with the equivalent of pennies in football terms, imagine what he could find in premiership academies. Alas it seems this will not come to fruition as the word of Pearson is still firmly in the no loans box. This ideology made sense at the start of the season with a fully fit squad and nearly every place in the team being fought for but the decision to stick with it in the current situation screams of stubbornness more than sense.

It seems a point aggravating city fans the most, this is definitely mine, is the lack of accountability shown. Pre and Post-match press conferences have become almost predictable. Players not performing? I’m not in charge of training them. Players not on the pitch or even in the team? They need to work harder. Players playing out of position? I have to work with what I’ve got. Lack of fight shown on the pitch and players looking defeated? The mentality hasn’t changed since I got here. Poor performances and falling down the table? We are where we are. All said with a wry chuckle and almost half a smile on his face,  nothing, it seems, is ever down to Pearson. This brings us to the question if none of this is down to Pearson what is he actually doing?

All in all there is little evidence of the improvement needed, less belief every game of city being a promotion contender or even just a solid mid table team in the near future. In fact with the recent run of form many fans have both eyes firmly fixed over their shoulders, preparing for an ugly fight to the end of the season.

 

         

Very good post London cider red. Your opinion of NP may bring some shells and missiles your way but I do respect the frustrations you are feeling.

Looking back at the Bristol City bible memories have come flooding back of the home matches at Ashton Gate in the late 70s against the blues. I remember attending at all these matches from what was called the Enclosure just in front of the then Grand Stand as we now know is the great Lansdown stand.

Season 76/77 and the exact same results for 77/78 the blues had the doble over us. At home we went down 1-0 nil at home and even worse away of which was 3-0.

Season 78/79 we drew 1-1 at home with a goal from Kevin Mabbutt and away we won 2-1 with Chris Garland scoring one of them with Meijer scoring one of the only two goals he ever scored with us during the short time he was with us.

Interesting the attendances at St Andrews and at Ashton Gate in these 1st division days were quite low and they averaged out at 22K respectively which will be similar too today.

I know this might be some boring info to some but I still look back to those 1st division days and I will never forget them. Some of you on this forum will also remember these great years of 1st division football at the gate but most will also be able to recall many others over the past seasons.

With the blues slipping of late we now have the opportunity of moving ahead of our 17th placed opponents.

COYRedsssssssssss today and a home win for us 2-1 is my prediction.

13 hours ago, Son of Fred said:

Sounds great...

Can't beat a spag bol

Enjoy!

A bit of garlic bread on the side 

18 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

Brum at the Gate and it’s a big game given both teams league position. The Blues have picked up just four points out of their last 15 available, whereas we have have earned five.

They will be backed by 2,503 fans and there will be 20,000 + in attendance.

NP pre-match:

 

 

 

 

ZV pre-match:

 

 

Our match preview: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/match-preview-birmingham-city-h-1/

Their match preview: https://bluesfocus.co.uk/2023/01/11/match-preview-blues-vs-bristol-city/

They have a good recent record against us, having only lost one of the previous eight encounters and doing the double over us last season. Our overall record isn’t encouraging. Over the years we’ve won 18, drawn 17 and lost 37.

In early October we just didn’t turn up at St Andrew’s as they scored three goals, all from set pieces, without reply. It was a very, very, poor performance from us in which we managed no shots on target. NP was blunt in his post-match reflections, saying:  “It was awful – there is no defence for that performance today. It’s not acceptable. There’s no defence for us to give three points away in that fashion” here’s his post-match interview:

Here are the ‘highlights’:

 

 

In July they appointed John Eustace as their Head Coach, he signed a three year contract. Prior to this he was assistant manager at Queens Park Rangers, helping the Hoops to achieve two top-half finishes and install a distinct football philosophy across four years in West London.

Last Saturday their game away to FGR in the FA cup was called off due to a water-logged pitch.

This window, so far, they have added defender Kevin Long on a short-term deal from Championship leaders Burnley. They also secured Germany Under-21 forward Reda Khadraloan on a loan deal https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64221502 on Tuesday and the footballing gods will certainly ensure he scores against us, as we’d been interested in signing him!

We will be without Tommy and Andi….. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-weimann-conway-injuries-8018324?utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter&utm_campaign=bcfc_newsletter2&utm_medium=email

They are close to welcoming back Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Dion Sanderson the centre-back has nearly recovered from a hamstring problem. Manager John Eustace confirmed that the injury was nothing more than a ‘slight strain’, though Sanderson does remain a doubt ahead of the game.

Top scorer Scott Hogan is finally fit after a fairly lengthy spell on the sidelines but midfielder George Hall has hit a setback. The youngster was nearly back from a calf issue but he will spend a while longer recovering.

Match officials - referee John Busby. Lino’s Mark Pottage and Nigel Lugg, fourth official James Linington.

Brum banter

• The FA cup was made in Birmingham.
• They were actually formed by a group of cricketers in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham, back in 1875. The lads were looking to play competitive football and just two years later, the club moved into its first ground, Muntz Street. The rent was £5-a-year!
• They were the first side to sell a player for £1 million.  The man in question being Trevor Francis, who is arguably one of the best players in the club’s long history. He scored 133 goals in 328 appearances but in 1970 he moved to Nottingham Forest for £1 million.
• In February 2011 the Blues lifted their first major silverware for over 55 years when the overcame Arsenal in the League Cup final. Goals from Nikola Zigic and Obafemi Martins gave Birmingham a place in the modern-day history books but it was a season that ended in disappointment. They were relegated on the last day of the season following a 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane which meant in two seasons, Birmingham had won major silverware, been relegated, competed in the Europa League and lost a two-legged play-off semi final the season later. Pretty hectic stuff!
• Iconic brands Birds Custard, Cadbury Chocolate, Bournville Drinking Chocolate, HP Source and Typhoo Tea all started in Birmingham.
• Famous fans include: Jasper Carrot - Comedian, Colin Buchanan - Dalziel and Pascoe star, Roy Wood - Christmas-loving frontman of Wizzard, David Harewood - Actor (Homeland), Mike Skinner - Singer from The Streets and Jeff Lynne - ELO legend.

It is probably not what you would call a six- point game but we have to win this one today. A win will keep our faith in NP but more importantly this will emphasize a significant point in supporter hope and some confidence and feeling of belief.

Just now, City oz said:

well it is reported he is on 18K per week. His book value is only 2.5M. I think he is worth more and 5M would be good. My thoughts he is a good player but NP with hands tied needs funds.

47 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

People say all sorts of nonsense on forums but anyone who seriously thinks the club would sell a striker who was 23 yesterday, so has his best years ahead of him & just featured at the World Cup, for £3m is absolutely deluded.

We are home so I predict we will win 3-2. Our attack is getting better each week.

Semenyo signed a four- year contract in September 2020 so if he did go how what impact if any would there be contractually ? If the club gets 5M for him then best let him go. He is good but not consistent. 5M could bring in a player that would fit NP.s long term plan. I do not think we will get relegated this season if NP has some leverage and some money to spend.

23 hours ago, Mendip City said:

Given a 3 year contract just over 2 weeks ago but they’ve dropped into the bottom 3. 
 

Shows how Championship clubs think. The threat of relegation is too big a risk for them. 
 

We desperately need a win at the weekend to look like a lower-mid table club rather than a relegation threatened club. 
 

I can’t see JL/SL not taking the same action as Wigan should we lose. Relegation is just too costly. Especially with their newly appointed and trusted Tech Director to help recruit a new manager and oversee the month long break/mini-pre-season.  
 

Ideally we could do without the disruption so let’s hope we win on Saturday. 

I can’t see JL/SL not taking the same action as Wigan should we lose. Relegation is just too costly. Especially with their newly appointed and trusted Tech Director to help recruit a new manager and oversee the month long break/mini-pre-season.  

Relegation is too costly. If we lose and lose badly I see JL/SL having no choice.

32 minutes ago, lenred said:

I agree.   A battering would be completely unacceptable. What I don’t agree with is that plenty are expecting it.  Seem to be quite a few on here who are hoping for it mind.  

Sad to say but getting battered might speed up the departure of NP.

23 hours ago, Coin-op said:

Not a great deal of options for Sat!  If 3 at the back, I wonder if Sykes will play RWB or if we revert to last season and play Scott there?  Who plays in defense?  I thought Vyner looked much more assured as the central defender than right sided in the last few league games but am sure will play RCB as no other options.

It's not an easy pick and am glad I don't have to pick this team! 

if 3/5 at the back, I would go with....                       

                             O'Leary

Sykes        Vyner     Klose     Atkinson   Pring       (Not my 1st choice defensive unit but who else?)

                     James      Scott

                          Weimann                                   (Possiby play AW or Scott at RWB and bring Williams or HNM in?)

                 Conway           Wells                           (Semenyo just not doing it for me lately.)

 

Jeez that was hard!  Have I missed anyone?  Any of these injured?  What team would you like to see?

Does it really matter who plays. What does matter is that who ever plays we put up a good performance. If we play like s%$t again the important topic is what time does NP drop his lease car off on Monday morning

8 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

From my perspective the deeper issues (accepting that some are not unique to us) include:

The previous manager and CE - who IMO were given far too much authority to bring in loads of average/poor players. NP takes a very different position preferring (and partly having to) manage with a small squad.

Our wage structure - NP has sought to create a more equitable wage structure as apparently he inherited a very diverse range of salaries, including some excessive earners.

Our lack of identity and style of play - under LJ it was a lotto week in week out in terms of team selection, again NP has a very different approach e.g. play well and you keep your place.

As you mention our FFP dilemma and the general state of the financial side of Championship clubs which has been compounded by Covid and has required us to sell our best players and grow our own.

The Club culture which has been remarked upon +++ just recently NP spoke about ‘what a nice Club’ we have been. I believe NP has worked hard to turn this around, however, lasting  culture change takes years and years to become embedded.

The Board and major shareholder - who have demonstrated the ability to repeat mistakes and despite building an impressive infrastructure haven’t been able to create a consistent/ successful first team squad.

Our location and history - both of which I believe are barriers to attracting players. 

Realistically turning around a Club like ours takes years - something NP and many fans appreciate. Part of the problem, of course, is that we all want to watch great football and follow a winning team!  

All great points but we did have a manager in 76/77 that did it for us

1 hour ago, kiwicolin said:

But only 3 players Bajic, Low ,and Kadji are not regular first team players . The others were , so it was still a very strong side. 

Unfortunately it looks like they did not play like they were part of a dedicated, well managed and strong side.

7 minutes ago, Out of his pie crust said:

A nice turn of phrase to be sure

Just googled "cuntleroy" and realised we had one of these as a player from around 2006 to 2012. Then again as a manager from 2016 to 2020. 

5 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Promotion, but if it isn't achieved in the next two seasons then it just isn't possible to predict. 

 

Season 23/24 or 24/25 promotion. If not then I agree to hard to predict. I still think that if we do not get promoted over the next two seasons then we will settle in this league for some time. Relegation I do not think will be a discussion point.

11 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Relegation is always easier. For example, we could ditch Nige and appoint Mr Joseph Anthony Barton. Job done.  

However, I don't think that we historically have rarely been a top flight club is an issue. Times change. Brentford look quite comfortable there. Then there are Brighton and Bournemouth. Historically, teams like Bolton and Wednesday would be up the top. Shit, there are non-league clubs that have been in the old First Division. 

We have a good manager. We have some good players. Money issues have hampered us from becoming the club the manager exactly wants, but we have momentum. I think our future under Pearson is Championship or Premiership. Post Pearson, that's another issue. Too many what-ifs to ponder at this stage. 

I would be interested to know what you voted, sounds like you are sitting on the fence.

11 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

Me too, obviously it’s what I want - just answering the question realistically

'realistically" accurate and true to life and most probable. The reality is that we are currently playing great football that is now positive and great to watch. We are now getting respect as a solid club in the championship with potential and capable of success.