headhunter

I can't recall anyone of us saying for Wells to "drop out" other than in the context of it allowing the offensive part of our game to revert to the proven W-S-M of last season. Weimann is a shadow of the player he was last campaign and his reverted to his career norm of being good in patches. On current form he's the one to be left out in my opinion to put an extra pair of legs in midfield.

God only knows what we'll be like then after the longer break for the World Cup. If its anything like when they came back after the season was suspended in March 2020 then it ain't looking good - 4 straight defeats IIRC which led to LJ's axing. Would be good to hear from the club on their plans for the players during this enforced break - are they giving them ALL a couple of weeks off or will ALL except those on intl. duty be training full pelt with behind closed doors practice games against other clubs?

Dave, really appreciate your forensic critique of the episode. The content represents our views and we make no claims to justify accuracy. Recording just an hour after the final whistle probably doesn't see us take a more reflective view like for home or any evening games when we do it the day after. You say yourself Dave that City were "crap". Your tolerance levels are higher than most and I suggest if you haven't done already that you listen to the post Norwich episode where we were philosophical in defeat and in no way knee jerk at our unbeaten run coming to an end. One statement that I will stand by is that over the past 4 years we've have seen far too many abject performances like that at Birmingham on Saturday. Its not losing, its the way we lose. I'd like someone to give me a few examples such that even in victory we could say our opponents were abject for an entire 90 minutes. Our style is more Sun than Daily Telegraph and in Ian we have someone who is particularly pugnacious in style which certainly will rub some up the wrong way, like Piers Morgan. I would like you to provide forum viewers a similar critique of an OSIB or 3 Peaps podcast after a game like Saturday's not a thrilling win liked we seemed capable of on a consistent basis a little over a month ago. Based on followings on Twitter we [788] are a long way behind OSIB [6.3K] & 3Peaps [2.3k]. It would be interesting to know numbers for their match review episodes [we're the only one to feature them on the hosting platform]. Our club is well served by podcasts and using those Twitter numbers as a guide then, based on our audience numbers, collectively over half the season ticket base is listening to at least one!

Here's a link to what we recorded live @ 6 yesterday: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/birmingham-a-review-city-at-their-inept-worse/ [also on Google, Spotify & Apple] We thought the days of performances like yesterday's were long gone. Which City player does Mark think shouldn't pull on shirt ever again? Does selling one or more of our stars in January make sense and if performances like yesterday are repeated their value will rapidly fall? We also talk about speculation linking Richard Gould with the No.1 job in cricket and look forward to the upcoming game vs. PNE

We consciously didn't want to say "Pearson out" outright as we know on FBC we are seen as knee jerk. That said, by implication, the lack of support would suggest this line of thinking. Will your view change if we are in the bottom 3 after the next run of 4 games? 5 points or more and the pressure is off. Any less and ....

We did not say that. You're quite happy with the regression that seems to be facing us?

and you? C'mon we were full of praise during our good run but can you defend that today!

Thanks to our loyal band of listeners. You won't be disappointed if you join us for a live recording at 6.00 PM of today's match review episode: https://www.podbean.com/lsw/voj3TKjf6G?lsid=783V5TL1Hyj

Loose talk from a headhunter or speculative journalism based on number of viable candidates to go after. I doubt he's applied but someone will have called him to moot the idea of returning to cricket. CEO of Premier League or FA is football's equivalent post. Would never get either as his skill sets are operational rather than commercial.

100% agree with that. Cov were pulled up for offside c90 mins and Bentley showed all the urgency of an away keeper running the clock down rather than get the ball upfield.

https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/qpr-h-review-bad-day-at-the-office-no-cause-for-concern/ [also on Spotify, Google & Apple] Ian, Neil & DaveP review Saturday's match action. Was anyone bothered by yesterday's pretty dismal performance when 2 more sloppy goals gave us a mountain to climb with barely a quarter of the game gone? We started well enough and after 15 minutes I was purring with delight as we seemed set for a repeat of the recent good home form; if only Vyner's header had gone in? We get mauled on here for our usually cup half empty approach but give the lad a break and this is directed at those who felt he should have done better with his effort. Nahki scored a typically Nahki goal from close range but we really didn't raise our game after that due in no small way to substitutions which added nothing to our game. Martin looks even slower than he did at the start of the season and Semenyo's threat is reduced when he plays out wide and the same for Nahki as that's where they ended up to accommodate the "big man". Was this a game too far for Sykes, what's wrong with Weimann who's seems as if he's been off his game for a few weeks. These points are debated which includes the obvious remark that 21/22 was the champagne season of Andi's career and appears unlikely to be repeated. What's the general view of Joe Williams? Many [?] saw him as some sort of messiah who would sort our midfield problems as we waited patiently for him to regain a level of fitness that would allow him to play a succession of games. Who, like me, is disappointed that he is looking well short of expectation? Kane Wilson - we debate an apparent lack of fitness commented on by many on here following his 20 minute sub appearance. Is the step up from League 2 to the intensity of the Championship too much but then again his cause is not helped by not getting any minutes on the pitch in the U21s unless I'm mistaken. Why are we so poor after international breaks? Its been a feature of ours ever since we've been back in the Championship. QPR looked fitter, had a game plan and were generally more on it than us. Why? They haven't got a pot to *iss in when it comes to £ yet a rookie coach [good pedigree though under Gerrard] had fashioned a side that looked good on the eye. The final topic discussed in this episode is what criteria lets a former player be classified as a legend. Number of appearances clearly has its place but on a weekend which saw praise heaped on Dziekanowski on his 60th birthday I posed the question why is not Andy Cole revered in similar fashion? Both featured in a City side that was struggling in the Championship during their time here. Cole scored 21 in 40 appearances, Jackie 7 in 43. Cole left us and had a stellar career in the top flight over a number of seasons, Jackie's better days were behind him and after leaving us he barely managed another 50 top flight games and he was only 30. Jackie was a character [listen to us recount the true tale of his clash with Robbie Turner] but save for that FA Cup game at Leicester with Motson's "he's on another planet" comment plus a handful of other games when he starred I can't afford him legend status and I've been watching City for 55 years.

Reads like the tone I see tomorrow's FBC Podcast will be taking when we record live at 10 tomorrow - why not join us; listen here: https://www.podbean.com/lsw/voj3TKjf6G?lsid=JnKgdT2gI3G&invite_id=ic-JnKgdT2gI3G&invite_signature=d4e85b9c8bc4ebfd73bbd5b27c296ea7

https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/norwich-a-review-if-not-for-you-kal-we-d-have-won-that/ [Also on Google, Spotify & Apple] Ian, Mark, Neil and DaveP review a game which, although City lost, saw a performance that bodes well for the rest of the season and at the very least a top half finish. Kal Naismith was guilty of two fundamental errors in the first 20 minutes which meant City were left with a mountain to climb. They were not shocked into submission by the early setbacks and played with a purpose fully deserving of another Conway goal which reduced the deficit before the break. City dominated the early stages of the 2nd half but totally against the run of play a poorly defended goal just past the hour put the home side two goals clear. But City came back again with a goal from super-sub Semenyo which had it not gone in would surely have seen referee Webb give City a penalty after Williams had been scythed down in the box. Couple of other points - we should have had a pen in the first half when Hanley bundled Sykes to the ground plus Andi of the bleached hair, he's been a bit quiet of late.... must be due a goal soon. PS for those who say we love being negative for the sake of it give this a listen to see how wrong you are and I think we've finally sorted the sound out!

Well done Tommy - keep knocking them in. Our quartet of youngsters - what order do we rate them in? Antoine > Tommy > Alex > HNM

You mean like when the Cheltenham Festival was allowed to go ahead 10 days before were put into lockdown?

I'm thinking we might not play again until October 1 unless one of the next 3 games is rearranged for Tuesday 20th or Wed 23rd. I make this assumpton as the country is in mourning until 19th

Who remembers this game on a Sunday afternoon 30 years ago: 4th game of season and City remained unbeaten. Lost the next 3. Paul Simpson, yes once of our recent coaching team, scored a hat trick Manager : Denis Smith Team: Welch, Mitchell [not very good], Scott [good player], Thompson [same as Mitchell], Bryant [goodish local lad], Osman, Mellon, Harrison [not very good, Gerry?], Jackie, Shelton [one of my midfield favs after Gow], Bent. Allison came off the bench

Here's an interview I did with Danny Wilson last year in an Episode of FBC Podcast: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/in-conversation-with-danny-wilson-manager-2000-04/ Worth a listen if you missed it.

We don't know how much HNM has been offered by us but I would say 100% it's less than what he's on at present. How much would we accept for HNM in January when the period left on his contract has been further reduced? HNM will know from his agent what other potential offers he has on the table and I would suggest they are better than any revised terms with us otherwise why not sign as he loves being here [?]. I hazard a guess and say HNM is happy to run down his contract here with the potential buying club saying something along the lines of "we're happy to give you a £500k signing on fee spread over your new contract with us rather than pay that sum to your club". Feasible?

https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/blackburn-a-review-sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this/ [Also on Google, Spotify, Apple] Eight games into the season, 6 undefeated in the league and City find themselves nestled in the play off zone after this convincing win against Blackburn Rovers - the one goal margin of victory not reflective of City's overall superiority throughout the game. Nige kept the same team and was rewarded when Wells & Conway gave City a two goal cushion with goals either side of half time. Blackburn hit back with the first of their two goals which highlighted City's underlying frailties but within a minute Wells had got his 2nd to restore the advantage with technology rewarding him rather than Naismith whose finish was emphatic. DaveP hosts Ian, Mark and Lezz who are in buoyant mood recalling the action and conversation switches to whether this start can be maintained and what decisions might have to be made if we occupy a similar position at the turn of the year

Sounds the sort of criticism that's usually levelled at FBC Podcast !!!

The best manager the club has had in over 100 years if you measure that on achieving promotion to the top flight and staying there for 4 seasons. Was appointed within months of my first watching City back in autumn 1967. I had the privilege of interviewing him for an episode of FBC Podcast earlier this year: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/in-conversation-with-former-city-manager-alan-dicks/ Thanks for the good times Alan

If we said this on FBC our usual critics would say this is our latest target for scapegoating! Loved Lezz's comment on Saturday's episode when he said "take away the wig, I mean hair, and he reminded me of Neil Kilkenny!" Made me laugh and, in fairness, HNM runs around a lot more.

Listen link: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/blackpool-a-review-on-balance-you-have-to-take-a-cup-half-full-view/ [also on Apple, Google & Spotify] To twice come from behind and take the lead with 20 minutes remaining has to be seen as a creditable achievement on a ground that is hardly amongst City's favourites but then mistakes by King & Naismith to leave Vyner as the patsy in the last minute meant that the points were shared in this 6 goal thriller. The closing 20 minutes was a disaster and undid the good work in a match where City could have been two up before the home side's 7th minute opener. If sending Semenyo on with half an hour remaining was an inspired substitution [he scored with his first touch] then you have to look at the composition of the bench to ask why Wilson or Naismith didn't come on to replace Scott and where were Pring & Klose? The consensus seems to be that our problems lie in midfield where surely Scott must be a starter but alongside who? HNM put in a 45 minute performance that has characterised so much of his time here and explains why he hasn't kicked on nor, to the best of our knowledge, why no one has made a bid as transfer deadline day approaches. James is good to have in the matchday18 but not King as well but how does everyone rate Joe Williams now we've seen him in a run of games? For me it's Scott plus a.n.other which won't happen unless we sell one of our assets. Tommy Conway has been a revelation with 5 goals & two assists - no one saw that coming [so soon] and I would like to see him and Antoine start up front in the next game. Ian, Mark, Lezz & DaveP talk through the match and look forward to the upcoming game against Huddersfield.

Sorry to disappoint you Graham but unbridled positivity as you can hear if you listen to our latest episode: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/and-so-the-improvement-continues/ We even gave you a name check!!