City oz

54 minutes ago, TammyAB said:

From recent times:

 

Depends on your age and when you first attended Ashton gate as the 11 will change depending on what era you are from. At the end of the day, we will always have our favorite players and ideal team. We are lucky to be part of a great club on the up after many ups and downs over the fifty years I have been a city supporter.

18 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

My main point really, to avoid getting bogged down about "legacy", is that Pearson has invested considerable time and expertise (imo) in building a culture and values in a way that none of the others either did or were capable of. 

A culture and values that will sustain our club, this group of players, very well into the future - or at least for as long as we care to sustain that culture and those values.

Many years have gone by now, but Alan Dicks also reminds me of a was a solid manager with great ethics and a fantastic football brain with it. Pearson though is one of the greats and you never know by the end of this season he will have the status of some great success. 

19 minutes ago, One Team said:

Before my time but surely has to be this? League away win at Arsenal in the top division surely trumps everything else? 

Probably not the best 11 to go down in history but the team that won the Freight Rover Trophy at Wembley will always be cherished. I remember it was my first time at the stadium and we won 3-0 against Bolton. 

Any team we had with the great Norman Hunter, Terry Cooper and Joe Jordan will also be a great starting credible 11.

For me the 76/77 first division away match at the Gunners where the mighty cheese scored in front of 40 K Plus will also be part of a great team.

The teams in the late70s with the likes of Gow, Royle, Collier, whitehead (one of the best right wingers ever) Emmanuel (great player to come out of Wales) and Tom the sticks Ritchie (one of the best commanding center half's to ever play for us) will also have to be included in an overall best 11. 

1 minute ago, Ciderhead433 said:

We have an Anthem "Drink up thy Cider" Always been our song. Still, remember the Sunderland game first home win in the 1st div. the whole ground sang it.

4-1 on that day. That was our fourth match of that season. "Drink up thy Cider" will aways be synonymous with Bristol City.

2 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

Sam Bell is a bit short of syllable, and for me, names this brief are made for Wire's "Dot Dash." Only about 2 grizzly old blokes on here will know the song, only about 7 the band, but it fits.

The chorus is easy to grasp:

"Dot dash, dot dash, dot dash;

Dot dash, dot dash, dot dash" and then

"Dip flash, dip flash" etc.

So,

"Sam Bell, Sam Bell, Sam Bell;

Sam Bell, Sam Bell ... "

This will work for Cam Pring, too. And if they should get a few passes going between them down the left:

" Cam Pring, Cam Pring;

Sam Bell, Sam Bell, Sam Bell;

Cam Pring, Cam Pring"

And for a bit of one touch, tiki takkerr between them:

"Cam Pring Sam Bell; Cam Pring Sam Bell, Cam Pring ..."   

 

And if Mark Sykes wanders over to the left:

"Cam Pring, Sam Bell, Mark Sykes;

Cam Pring, Mark Sykes, Sam Bell;

"

 

But probably best go with his dad's song ....

Your lyric writing course paid off then. 

The first three lies are great. However "And he will be off to join with Alex Scott" how does that rhyme. 

What have I missed

31 minutes ago, Olé said:

A collective siege mentality is something that both Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho used to great effect to galvanise their teams and after a quiet transfer deadline week where their own supporters wrote them off, followed by 45 minutes where malicious and very deliberate refereeing from Oliver Langford did everything to give struggling hosts Swansea the advantage, City showed their resilience to dig deep and let their quality count, dominating for 90 minutes and scoring the goals that counted in front of their massed away fans.

With the UK heading into a late summer heatwave, Swansea Bay was bathed in sun - azure blue skies shimmering around the white expanse of the Swansea City stadium heading up the valley from the centre of the Welsh town with a capacity travelling support. All the talk had been of City’s failure to strengthen after selling superstar Andy Scott, but that talk quickly turned to referee Langford. Bad officials are normally chaotic, but the Blackpool based official was much more measured in very obviously treating City differently to their hosts.

A calculated lack of consistency between whistling every time the Swans felt minimal contact and tumbled cheaply, while waving away fouls every time City players were chopped down on the break, had already drawn cries of “cheat” from the away end. Three first half goals disallowed, a clear last-man red card call bottled, and even a simple back pass overlooked, had only added to the sense that even the officials were against City, but Nigel Pearson’s side kept their composure for Mark Sykes to setup a comfortable second half win.

The early kick off had not deterred the travelling support who started the match with the sweltering midday sun angling down into their packed end. Struggling Swansea opened with purpose and referee Langford - a Wolves fan with previous history of giving all his decisions against City - indulged a series of minor shoulder to shoulder brushes for soft free kicks, only to ignore an identical infringement as Joe Williams was barged off the ball in midfield and Charlie Patino threaded Liam Cullen clear to finish easily under keeper Max O’Leary.

In truth Pearson’s men had started a little shakily - Cam Pring giving it away around his own box just before the opener and Kal Naismith having to cut out the threat brilliantly. But the feature of the hall was Langford, who continued to indulge a limited Swansea side, including awarding them yet another curious midfield free kick when their own player appeared to have swatted the ball away with their own arm. By this point all action midfielder Jason Knight had headed just wide - as he had at Hull - from a Taylor Gardner-Hickman corner.

But before even the quarter hour mark the pattern of the game was set - and it was literally all City. The relentless Nahki Wells stole the ball off a defender before laying off for Knight whose long range dipping shot flashed just over the top corner. Mounting pressure from a throw in saw Sykes cut inside and drill a low shot that keeper Carl Rushworth had to hold. Sam Bell seized on a back pass and forced a corner, while a collision outside the City box gave Wells room to break Bell clear down left but the Bermudan couldn’t turn in the return.

Knight and an Williams both had shots blocked from another Bell break, but Langford was now comically one-eyed, City twice clearly fouled on halfway with nothing given, players showing their frustrations on sun-bathed turf where minutes earlier Swansea had been awarded a series of soft free kicks. Wells curled over wildly from range, before the visitors had their first goal disallowed, Naismith combatively winning the ball at the second attempt and driving the ball into the box to where Bell fired home but was adjudged to be offside.

Langford’s best attempts to thwart City’s dominance included more wildly inconsistent fouls awarded for the stuttering hosts despite having ignored similar when committed against City, a clear passback not given - even the keeper initially feigned to kick it - and then most conspicuously last man Kyle Naughton getting away with a yellow card after sending Wells tumbling to the ground as the striker roared clear on goal. For good measure City twice more in quick succession had goals ruled out including Knight for the softest of contact.

So at half time in the baking hot South Wales stadium all the talk was of a massive injustice being administered by referee Langford, so it was refreshing that City - already bruised by all the talk of a lack of deadline reinforcements - simply showed the pre-existing class and composure in their side by returning to the field with the same relentless attacking threat they started away at Hull a week ago, but this time making it count - racing quickly from 1-0 down into a 2-1 lead, the first coming barely as fans had time to return to their seats.

Williams did brilliantly to latch onto a loose ball in midfield before sweeping it out to Sykes in the right channel who raced into the box and executed a delightful drop of the shoulder and turn inside his marker before stroking the ball neatly into the far corner - away fans racing down to the front of the stand to celebrate with him. It was literally all City, Sykes clean through again after more good work by Williams but bundled over with Langford still disinterested, while Pring’s lung-busting run to the byline and last-gasp cross saw Wells’ finish deflected over.

Sykes was again pushed over on the run in the box and again Langford invoked his “but it’s Bristol City” rule to wave away the type of contact he loved to indulge for the hosts - the Irishman throwing his arms in the air in palpable frustration at the now endless stream of injustice - but the goalscorer would make amends almost immediately, a sensational spin taking him away from four midfielders and into the space between the lines through the right channel, before squaring past Wells to Bell far post who finished bottom corner. Pandemonium.

An injustice righted, a comprehensive performance rewarded, and one of our own completing the turn around, and all in front of the massed away fans, Bell standing arms aloft to lap up the adulation. A day after signing his new contract, Zak Vyner nearly put the icing on the cake as his looping header went just over from a Gardner-Hickman corner. Despite being hugely one sided City were almost caught ball watching from a corner as Harry Darling headed back at the far post and Ben Cabango nodded down past O’Leary and onto the post.

Pearson decided to dig in, George Tanner on for debutant Gardner-Hickman, then energetic Harry Cornick on for Wells. This allowed City to maintain their control and pressure although by now with little end product. With 10 minutes left former City man Jamie Paterson - off the bench - spun but fired well wide, while at the other end it opened up for Cornick on the edge of the box whose feet got in a tangle but he knocked it wide for the onrushing Pring who lasered an absolute barnstormer towards the top corner which flashed narrowly over.

O’Leary saved down low from a Darling far post header as the game headed into time added on, but in truth this was one of the poorest Swansea sides that City have faced in a long time and the visitors finished the game in total control, moving the ball as they wanted and winning free kicks from a chastened Langford as time ran out. Temperatures were now reaching 23 degrees as the final whistle went, but Pearson’s side - supposedly weaker after the transfer window  - had easily overcome the heat, their opponents, and the match official.

Max O’Leary 7

Gardner-Hickman 7

Cam Pring 7

Zak Vyner 7

Kal Naismith 8

Matty James 7

Joe Williams 9

Jason Knight 8

Mark Sykes 9

Sam Bell 8

Nahki Wells 7

 

George Tanner 6

Harry Cornick 7

Rob Dicke 6

Great match report Ole. 

Your last paragraph sums it up.

O’Leary saved down low from a Darling far post header as the game headed into time added on, but in truth this was one of the poorest Swansea sides that City have faced in a long time and the visitors finished the game in total control, moving the ball as they wanted and winning free kicks from a chastened Langford as time ran out. Temperatures were now reaching 23 degrees as the final whistle went, but Pearson’s side - supposedly weaker after the transfer window  - had easily overcome the heat, their opponents, and the match official.

10 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

The front three ran them ragged, what a performance from them to, very very hard working, 

Pearson, interview he commented "the ability within the squad" gave us an opportunity to score more. He could not have said a better comment.

14 hours ago, cityexile said:

Preston top, Bham 4th, Hull 6th. Maybe not that easy a start for us...

So true. Just goes to show we are at a good level in this league.

16 hours ago, Malago said:

Difficult to pick a MotM.  Sykes, Knight, Bell, Pring, Williams, James all contenders.

I have watched multiple highlights and the goals today. What a great win and what a team we have. Sykes played like a man possessed. Definitely MOM for me. The match must have been a joy to watch for those that travelled. 

6 hours ago, DJI said:

In the 70s in the East end we used to sing you'll never walk alone and that got everyone going. It is not Liverpool's to own. Of course we were standing then which also helped.I

But for me a good old fashioned one to the tune of tiperarry .

It's a long way to Bristol city, it's a long way to go, it's a long way to Bristol City to the greatest team I know. Goodbye Bristol rovers, farewell Cardiff too, it's a long long way to Bristol City but out hearts with you.

 

I remember those year well. My first home match was around 1970 with my dad right behind the goal in the center of the east end. After a few seasons we usually located in the corner of the east end adjacent to the Dolman. The atmosphere in those days was absolutely brilliant.

2 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I haven't seen confirmation that he started to feel his hamstring mid-game, but if the poster who said so is correct, it could explain his rather flat-footedness after 10 minutes or so on field. One of Tom's great strengths is that he is big AND fast. It didn't seem to me that he could run onto balls as well as usual on Saturday, not that anyone saw that much of the ball outside our final third, of course....

I still see him netting 20 this season. If the team plays well, he will play well.

13 hours ago, Son of Fred said:

The mind boggles .....

OMG I just googled tranny. I have definitely lived a very sheltered life.

Just now, Wanderingred said:

I think it’s pretty much a given isn’t it, that a young City team will struggle tonight against a strong looking league 1 side. I’ve still got nightmares of Lincoln last year. Surely we’ve got to do better than that?

It will be a good test and indicator of where we are really at. Depends though on what NP decides on who takes the pitch of the great young talent we have on hand.

11 hours ago, CodeRed said:

From the footie scan

Paraguay .cheesy bread at Club Olimpia. 20p each (2000 Guarani)

Not sure if he's the vendor or just very peckish after 3 hours in the club bar!

 

This is the best, Typical fish and chips in OZ

On 08/08/2023 at 15:46, Jerseybean said:

Round one of the Carabao Cup and we welcome Oxford United to BS3, the former club of Mark Sykes, Rob Dickie and Rob Atkinson, on  Wednesday, August 9th at 7.45pm. Tickets are available to purchase in the South Stand, Dolman Stand and Lansdown Stand from just £10 for adults and as little as £5 for Under-19s. Matty Taylor also played for both them and us and if I recall correctly somebody else!

Our recent pre-season friendly against them ended with us running out 4-1 winners, although they had something of a make-shift team having beaten Swansea 1-0 the day before. They also beat QPR 5-0 in their final pre-season friendly, their line up then was: Beadle, Long (Stevens 46), Brown, Thorniley, Moore, McEachran (McGuane 67), Brannagan, Harris (O'Donkor 77), Browne (Mills 67), Goodrham. Rodrigues (Bodin 77) Subs not used Eastwood, Henry, Negru,

Our record against them is not good, we’ve won 11, drawn 13 and lost 19, our last two games against them, in 2002 and 2014, both in the League Cup, ended with us losing, in fact we have only won once (in 2000 a 1-0 win with Scott Murray scoring) in our last thirteen encounters!

Their history: https://www.oufc.co.uk/club/history/#:~:text=

In March 2023 they appointed Liam Manning as Head Coach. The 37 year old, first came to prominence as coach of the West Ham under-23 side before joining City Football Group and becoming first Director of Coaching at New York City FC and then Head Coach at Lommel FC in Belgium. He then enjoyed a successful spell at MK Dons where he guided the club to the play-off semi-final in his first season. Here is his first interview: https://youtu.be/segtq6fdboI

They finished last season in nineteenth place in league one, enduring a campaign marred by a fling with relegation and a 17-game winless run.

Like us they acted early in the transfer window to snap up the services of Ruben Rodrigues, Jordan Thorniley and Josh McEachran – all on free transfers due to their contracts expiring.

They also signed Everton winger Stanley Mills on a season-long-loan deal. The 19-year-old made 21 appearances and scored 24 goals for the Toffees' under 21-side last season. He also made regular appearances in the first-team squad.

Last week they added Liverpool forward Max Woltman for an undisclosed fee. The 19-year-old had been on trial with the U's and spent the first half of last season on loan with Doncaster in League Two where he made 14 appearances.

On Saturday they lost 2-0 away at fellow university rivals Cambridge, highlights:

https://youtu.be/TNNgsUBQI2

Here’s the BBC’s analysis:

Promotion is firmly in Oxford’s sights following a near disastrous 2022-2023 campaign, which saw Liam Manning replace long-serving manager Karl Robinson and guide the team to League One safety.

In contrast to previous summer transfer windows the U’s did their business early, with key permanent additions Jordan Thorniley, Ruben Rodrigues and Mark Harris arriving from Blackpool, Notts County and Cardiff respectively. The trio, together with Brighton loanee goalkeeper James Beadle (who adds to a defensively strong squad), are expected to form the spine of any promotion push.

Goalscoring will likely define Oxford’s success – with Rodrigues challenged to step up from the National League and Harris expected to improve his output after dropping down from the Championship.

If the duo can fire, if Manning can nurture a breakout season from youngster Tyler Goodrham, and if there are improved campaigns from influential duo Elliott Moore and Cameron Brannagan, there is no reason why the team cannot compete at the top of the table again.

They have a number of celebrity supporters, including Richard Branson, Timmy Mallett, Tim Henman and Jim Rosenthal.

Oxford oddities

• Oxford University was established in or around the 11th century, making it the second-oldest known university in the world behind the University of Bologna.
• The University had one of the first police forces in the UK. Formed in 1829, the bowler hatted constables (known as Bulldogs or Bullers) could act as police within the University and locally up to a limit of 4 miles. They weren’t abolished until 2003!
• A striking fact is that 30 British Prime Ministers have been educated at the University of Oxford. Recent prime ministers include Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
• The town was named around AD 900, as a river crossing (or “ford”) for oxen. It was later damaged during the 1066 invasion, in which William the Conqueror took over England.
• Oxford was largely spared during the bombings of World War II, making it an especially fun city for lovers of old architecture. 
• The buildings will likely be familiar to fans of the Harry Potter movies, which used Oxford as filming locations for many scenes.
• For a short time Oxford was the capital of England! Royalist Oxford became the capital in October 1642 during the English Civil War. It remained the capital for 3 ½ years until the city surrendered to the Parliamentarian forces (Roundheads). 
• The Inspector Morse detective novels are set in Oxford, and the TV series was filmed there too. If you’d like to have a pint in his local, head for the tiny White Horse pub on Broad Street.
• The bookstore chain Blackwell’s Bookstore began in Oxford, where its flagship store still stands. The store has the world’s largest room devoted to book sales, with three miles of shelving.
• The University Museum of Natural History has the most complete specimens of the dodo, a flightless bird that went extinct in the 17th century. The museum has the bird’s mummified skull, and bones from the foot and leg.

Referee: Ollie Yates. Assistants: Hugh Gilroy and Michael Webb. Fourth official: Aji Ajibola

The last time I went to a city away at Oxford was season 75/76 when the mighty cheese scored, and it finished up 1-1. 

Thank you for a great post, JB and keep up the great work.

2 hours ago, Garland-sweden said:

Looking forward to the game! 2-0 City! Fingers crossed, COYR 

Yes COYRedsssssssssssss, 3-1 CITY. 

20 hours ago, phantom said:

A couple of the quality merchandise that will be available 

How can I get one of those bucket hats sent over to me in OZ. If anyone can help me, it would be very much appreciated.

On 29/06/2023 at 20:43, Magger1 said:

Our first game on aug 5 is also flag day at 3 lions , it’s a great start to the season and enjoyable pre match get together for us all young and old it also builds the atmosphere for the day .so early bedminster brekkie , few beers at lions and the the 3 o clock kick off COYR 

I just wish I was lucky enough to be there. I hope everyone that attends will have a great day. Be proud and be red.

5 minutes ago, lenred said:

Top 12 this year will be an expected finishing position for me, with playoffs still dream land for this season and top 2 a miracle. Miracles do happen though!   

I suppose you are not a season ticket holder this season. Top 12 why would you be. 

Why are there still so many negative comments on OTIB that predict we will only be mid table. Jesus Christ why are they on OTIB.

1 hour ago, Stockwood gate said:

I reckon 16/17 with Pearson gone by Christmas. 

Whatever pulls your pud mate. Too many bad beers in the Concorde pub maybe have affected your brain.

12 hours ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Ok, he's not my idea of a midfielder. He's a forward. 

Hi MM, best comment of the week. If we lose him the team would not be complete. He is an out and out goal scorer if given the chance to play. NP still trusts him. The recent players just taken on board will accommodate one of our best purchases in many years to come.

Wiemann will net 20 this coming season and Conway not that far behind him.

Time for someone now to start a new thread on who will net the most goals next season.

COYedssssssssss

2 minutes ago, Alan Dicks said:

Such a sad day in the football world today, another one gone, and young at only 49

So young and so sad. Played for Sheffield Wednesday and Forest and also for England when he was a youngster. 

1 minute ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

From what little I saw yesterday the pitch is still good and the moisture inevitably got into the ball. This makes it impossible to shine one side and the backup plan of reverse swing in later overs relies on keeping it dry which is impossible too.

The players know it hence no buzz in the field.

Whilst the seamers have been fantastic, even though the umpires pushed England into using spinners it was probably a good move anyway. Keep Wood fresh for what time we may have today.

Another wicket and the Aus team will start to sweat. Tail enders like to play their shots, not usually very good at defending to grind out a draw.

living in OZ we all still go for the pomms in cricket.