TomThumb84

We have had a fortnight to invent a new formation that includes no full-backs, and no wing-backs. This is going to be interesting.

….. available as has left Villa with Smith.

In some dressing rooms I was in, I would have had to face the manager, then the captain, then the senior players, then the supporters, then after that, and worst of all, my old man, then look at myself in the mirror when all said and done. Makes you wonder what this lot actually care about.

What I find mad about all this (well put by the way), is all of the players in and around our club and our rivals know each other. Imagine being one of out lot, flicking through the TV with your family knowing that your peers think you are powder-puff. It would do my head in. I suppose £10-15k a week and a brainwashing from the club that you are a good player helps mind. Culturally weak, we have been for ages.

Pub league.

Nice ground, funny social media, good lads blah blah blah. We have forgotten what being a football club is actually all about. Worst thing is, we are actually now renowned for being soft. Rowett said it required a simple game plan to do us, Lyle Taylor grabbed the ball at 1-1 AWAY FROM HOME, in the last minute cause he sensed we were rocking, and now Coventry turn us over with a player less. I thought Pearson would be the grit through this club but I worry that his recurring illness has taken his drive and edge away, and we are left in no mans land as a shell of a club sleep-walking into league one. Lets hope there is another TC (god rest his soul) out there somewhere as unless this club finds its spite and character again we are going to need him. Properly fatigued with all this I am.

Numb at this one. Had rage previously. I cannot get my head around a team that loses three goals and a game to 10 men. Embarrassing and shameful from all of them.

Just edited my post to say exactly that!!

For me…… Probably been all said elsewhere but today is one of the biggest lows that our club has produced in recent years. I cannot for one second begin to imagine how those players can sleep tonight or call themselves professional footballers without cringing. I played at an alright standard, and if I had been part of a side that was out-tried, out-ran, and out-thought by 10 men whilst holding a one goal advantage - TWICE - I am not sure how I could have looked anyone in the eye, and this lot do it for a living. Said it before and I will say it again, there is something very wrong culturally throughout this club. This may get a lot worse before it gets better. No pride for the badge, profession, or themselves. Who do we think was pinning people against walls in that changing room, or throwing tables around? - none of them. Bristol City, the cosy club with a lovely ground where mediocre footballers assembled by mediocre management can earn loads and live well and underperformance is accepted. Soft touches, pumped up has beens or never quite good enoughs, doing their best to appear interested.

Has a side ever conceded 3 goals when 11v10 before? This is danger-zone time for our club.

Hope I am wrong of course but looking at that team makes my eyes itch and my stomach turn.

Yeah did it for a while and a lovely thing. No doubt spurred him on for his double against us as our endlessly uninformed element wound him up.

Its a 4G pitch and horrible to play on. Fair play to the Sudbury lads who dug in there. Mad to say but that Jasper for Colchester looked a handful and what we need. More tricks than all our lot.

Firstly I wish him well. Secondly, I posted elsewhere, I had a nagging feeling he may walk away. I am starting to wonder that the size of the job + recurring health issues are starting to take its toll.

I think after 82 mins v Blackpool we were 2nd, so may be doing him a dis-service actually. My point was not really based around specifics to be honest.

The 2015 side beats this current one if they played tomorrow. Wade, Alby and Little may struggle to last the 90, but should have enough to maybe do us 3-1. Our lack of any width would mean Little could just have a freebie, Tyreeq Bakinson will give Wade/Marlon all the mis-placed passes they need, and Alby will just stay in the space that whoever our centre-halves are continually seem to create for opposition forwards. JET for the last 15 to finish us off. Smith would be able to control midfield, and Luke Freeman would cause us problems in the lines. Flint and Del Williams would cope with Martin easily, and Ayling would have a dreamy time getting at Dasilva whilst helping out Little. Pretty sure Tanner would have his hands full with Joe Bryan. Yeah 3-1 I think. Worryingly, I am only half-joking.

A few from me that stand out: Bob Taylor Shaun Goater Tony Thorpe Andrew Cole Kodjia potentially, and an honourable mention for Wilbraham who was the focal point in our finest side in the last decade. To answer the question, its probably Kodjia who was the last one that opposition teams genuinely feared.

32,500 capacity at the CBS Arena. They may fill it if they carry on this way. Shows you that a period of change and transition is sometimes a good thing no matter how hard things seem eh?

As for thanking him for all he has done, there is an argument to say the investment has been ploughed into the wrong things and has ended up stifling us as the likes of Bournemouth, Brentford, Swansea, et al just stream by us. I actually do not like Ashton Gate that much anymore. I do for a corporate or a business event, but not as a football ground. Lost all its edge. I would, in a heartbeat, swap a night on the old East End, staring down across pitch into a rainy abyss of the open end, with no sports-bar, club shop, heineken lounges etc… just to have a team and a club that entertained and connected with the fans. Actually jealous of Coventry, Blackpool and Luton at the moment. Shows how much we have stagnated.

Could say the same about Lansdown. Lovely ground that we cannot win in, and a High Performance Centre for mediocre performers. Just forgot to appoint managers or CEO’s who could get a team on the pitch or keep valuable assets at the club.

On what basis do you think they are “decent players”? We paid £10m for a centre-half and a left back who got bullied and toyed with today. The “promising youngsters” thing is interesting too. As none of them look remotely good enough for the Championship (Scott aside) right now. Coincidentally the noise around the youngsters has increased as the transfer funds have dried up.

It is though. The problem is not Pearson, who is clearly currently underperforming. It is a series of decisions from the top leading to this, including personnel appointments, transfer madness and general mis-management.

Course NP may walk. Cannot imagine even he imagined or realised the culture of absolute mediocrity and comfort that has soaked through this club since about 1998. Must be exhausting.

Holden lost 0-6 at Watford, and Pearson had us 4th in August. Picking out random points in time to make a non-point is easy.

See that you are still the worst, and most try-hard, wind-up irritant on here.