headhunter

Says he's a "doubt" in the press conference. Let's assume he does miss the game and we keep a clean sheet for the first time in ages - would you bring him straight back into the team against Barnsley on Tuesday? Again, say he misses that one too and we come away undefeated from our sortie up north, would you recall him against WBA? Asking for a friend!

4-5-1 for me, Kalas in the RWB position he played in on numerous occasions for Boro & Fulham Bentley Kalas - Atkinson - Klose - Pring Weimann - HNM - Scott - Williams - JD Semenyo

Same place we found it to pay off the remaining 4 years of LJs contract in 2020. That said, rather than a lump sum it seems these days the salary is paid to the exited manager up to the end of his contract or when he finds another job, whichever is earlier.

What is our agenda in your opinion?

https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/we-were-crapthat-s-life/ [also on Google etc.] A fourth defeat in 5 games – we seem to be ending 21/22 in similar fashion to last season’s behind closed doors debacle. Ian, Mark and DaveP state the obvious in their analysis of the game, namely the side was, in our ill informed opinion, set up wrong from the off with forward Sam Bell in a defensive role and being 0-2 down inside 15 minutes as a result. Scott’s goal at the start of the 2nd half offered hope but at no time did City really take the game to Birmingham after that. JD had a good game but Williams & James were poor with Martin looking like he needs to find a larger pair of shorts. Whilst not accepting responsibility for the defeat Pearson pulled not punches with his “we were crap” assessment but his “that’s life” comment regarding Simpson continuing unavailable for selection deserves further scrutiny. OUR VIEWS ARE OUR OWN AND NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE MAJORITY SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HAVE A MOAN AT US WITH ANY COUNTER ARGUMENTS

Perhaps I should say, using the Afobe example, "I think he's 30 but I may be wrong"!!! or for the forgotten name of the Rotherham striker, "do you know for the life of me I can't remember the name of that striker we're supposed to be after but I do know for a fact that he plays for Rotherham"

I just love it that we provoke so much debate! Ages & other facts - sorry listeners, can't get it right all the time! As I have written before, i always welcome new contributors and as @NcnsBcfc has shown since his introduction to our panel its not just about Ian's views and for those that say we are hypercritical I'd refer to @Curr Avon comments earlier in this thread. It's not compulsory listening but I guess for some it is becoming a guilty pleasure. PS - sound better quality now?

Job for Big Sam until end of season

I've been pilloried on FBC Podcast for BOTH these suggestions! It may not have been you but @billywedlock latest utterances about the junk we put out on our broadcasts might not agree with you. Playing without Martin calls for a Plan B which we don't seem to have. 4-5-1 would make us solid and we could have Wells, Semenyo or Weimann in the lone striker role

Thank you for your support!!!

At home I'll give you that but away - 2 points from 33 ffs

OK, same applies for hiring has beens who are good for the dressing room

Minor detail but its 3/4 into his first full season

Same applies to 33 year old Chris Martin; if he's our only option then change the system perhaps and make better use of what you have, i.e. £20k/week Nahki Wells or 4-5-1 with Weimann or Semenyo sole striker

With his insistence in playing a big man up front and flogging said player to death, i.e. Martin would it not have made sense to get someone like Davies to ease the burden. The alternative is to have a plan B that utilises the players you do have in different formation - we've never tried Weimann, Wells and a resurgent Semenyo. What's so wrong with that - make the fans feel a bit better; we were never going to keep Abraham but we all enjoyed his time here and his goals kept us up when in different circumstances they might have put us in the play offs

Ian, Mark & DaveP review the matchday action & more in our latest episode: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/city-felled-by-the-trees/ [also on Spotify, Google & Apple Podcasts] 2 points from the past 33 available on the road - it isn't great is it? City were back to their sad, bad old ways against Steve Cooper's side. Goal's either side of half-time secured victory for Forest who would have had a hatful were it not for Dan Bentley's heroics between the sticks. Do we have ANY right to expect more? we discuss this including trying to fathom Nigel's abhorrence for the loan system - Spence, Davies & Garner are all loanees and were highly influential in Forest's win. Assume we sell HNM & Scott for a combined £20M in the summer - we debate our confidence in Nigel to spend wisely say half that sum in the transfer window to fashion a side in his playing style image [whatever that is?!] We remain supportive of Nigel but more performances like that and it will wear a bit thin despite the "excuses" which seem to be accepted by the majority of the supporter base. Ian continues his more mellow style and if you disagree with him shout out on this thread!! Btw, who are the Trees? - a Derby County friend informed me long ago that this is the affectionate name they've given their near neighbours hence the title of this episode; also who's that on the trumpet in the opening music?!!!

Yes, or keep the remaining post match review pods to 40 minutes!

wtf is Kalas doing!!! Last but one picture - no need for him to move left

Latest episode now available: https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/excellent-despite-the-ending-of-a-good-home-run/ [also on Apple, Spotify & Google] "Excellent" was the word used by Nigel to describe City's overall performance in the loss to the Sky Blues on Tuesday night. Perhaps it wasn't THAT good but most of the 19k crowd would have come away for the 2nd time in four days with the view that they'd seen a decent game of football. Despite another late goal it was an individual mistake that created it rather than the "collective anxiety", as Nigel put it [and we agree] in the defence as a whole. DaveFevs, Neil, Ian & DaveP review the match action and agree that the upswing, albeit erratic, in form is continuing, that HNM should have "taken one for the team" and maybe Kalas could have done more to prevent the winning goal.

Thanks for that. If there is something positive to say we'll always say it. Notwithstanding picking Ian up on facts like, for example, the number of bookings Joe Williams has [he was right on that one!], but its not what he says but how he says it and that latter aspect is what I think irks most people about him.

https://foreverbristolcity.podbean.com/e/perfect-day/ [also on Spotify etc.] DaveP reviews the match action with the intelligent Neil Sutton and a more mellow Ian Gay! It really was a perfect day yesterday - a cracking game against a decent team, two expertly taken goals, Bentley between the sticks and back to his best. The AG8 celebrations were superbly stage managed by all involved and it was touching to hear Sir Geoff say "the past 3 days have been amongst the best of my life". I was at the dinner the previous evening and from various comments there I think the players can see that with the stadium and HPC their sacrifice coupled with Steve's money meant it was worth it. The past two months have created an awareness of what the AG8 were about to a whole new generation of fans [under 45's] and wouldn't it be a fitting tribute if a pre-season friendly against a top flight UK or European team was arranged with all proceeds going to them? This was done in March 82 barely two months after they'd ripped up their contracts and a paltry 6000 turned up to watch Ipswich vs Southampton play out a 2-2 draw. I reckon against decent opposition we could double that attendance and with a pricing structure of £5 for kids and £15 for adults [club keep all commercial revenue on the day] - I calculate that could raise £120k which is £15k each. These are not rich men and with most in their 70s whilst it isn't a life changing sum it is a few cruises or however else they choose to spend it on themselves or families.

Will be uploaded by 1.00 PM.

Very good article. Forgets to mention that Gerry Sharpe took over for the last 6 games - w3,d2,l1

Hard hitting article that applies a degree of pressure on NP between now and end of season. We are safe and will get at least the 2 wins that probably guarantee that but how will the fanbase feel if the last 14 games give something like this return : 3-3-8 [49 points] ? This summer will be very interesting. Sell ons from Webster, Kelly & Brownhill [assuming they exist] could yield, say, £7M which reduces FFP pressure. Will we hang on to our star trio [HNM, Semenyo, Scott]? If 2 go for £15M [LOW] how much will NP spend - would we still have confidence in his judgement in doing so with no recognised recruitment lead in the club and a playing record that will be open to question even by those cutting him slack for the *hit storm he inherited?

Just shows this is all about opinions. Would someone enlighten me as to what you think Ian's agenda is please then I can chastise him accordingly.