Leveller

Didn’t realise he was there. Which was a bonus.

7 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Yep for the 1st game of the season it was a shocking atmosphere. 

But it's always the case these days for the opening game. I think flag day being on the opening day spoils the atmosphere. By the time people get to the ground they've already been on the piss all day and are done in. Used up all their energy at flag day.

Atmosphere feeds off good football though. If you’re not even slightly excited by what the team is doing, you will naturally get quieter. A “singing section” can make noise, but to me that isn’t the atmosphere you get from an exciting match.

2 minutes ago, weepywall said:

There are 3 season ticket holders next to me in the South stand that were there for 5 games at the most last season, 2 adults and a child. Expensive way to watch 5 games but nice for me.

Well at least if they’re adults they’re paying a decent whack. What niggles is if people are paying a pittance for kids tickets and not using the seats.

I dont see why it’s odd. He lives nearby and identifies with the club and the city. He was probably keen to re-sign but BCFC allegedly only offered 40-50% of his previous salary. He was bound to look elsewhere. If he can get more somewhere else, you can hardly blame him.

3 minutes ago, Taunton_BCFC said:

People maybe on holiday 

But all in one stand?

Home seats sold out but there were lots of empty seats in the South stand, from where I was sitting. Not so in the Dolman. Which tends to confirm that people are buying season tickets in the cheapest stand and not using them - kids prices presumably.

12 minutes ago, FNQ said:

Wow.. I only watched the game on Robins TV, but to me I thought that the Preston players looked to be pulling up across the pitch with cramp towards the end.. I was even mildly optimistic that we might capitalise on it too.

 

Exactly. Bell made the point in his interview that Preston players cramped up and ours didn’t, reflecting our improved fitness. Ours just couldn’t kick a football very well!

Just now, johnbytheriver said:

If he changes his name to Bob,he will be worth 3 times more than what he is worth now!

To be pedantic, twice.

2 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

You are expecting us to sell our best players and improve?  If we have to sell our best players because of financial fair play that is a big restriction that cannot just be ignored.  I’m not exactly sure what you are expecting we do without ignoring FFP

Basically Grey Fox does want us to ignore FFP. 

Can we stop this American “donut” thing please? They’re doughnuts ffs.

A pretty terrible performance. We seemed to be on the back foot almost throughout and unable to string a few passes together. Perhaps that was deliberate- we seemed to bypass the midfield and hit long balls a lot of the time. 
 

Preston’s first touch and passing was better than us all afternoon.

We clapped the tribute before the game, we stood and clapped with the players during the minute before kick off. I was completely unaware there would be a third session on the ninth minute - didn’t hear it announced.

Tbh the third one was unnecessary and was sporadic because we were watching the play. Frankly I think having these during the match is a bit silly. 

Shocking so far. Preston are so much better than us but haven’t created anything, fortunately.

42 minutes ago, Fat Cigar said:

Exactly. It's one thing to have the skill and ability to beat your man or two. But, to be a really good player, it's the what next part. He didn't really cross much when we saw him and no evidence of finishing well. The biggest thing he needs to do is know when to stop, look up and pass. He was great in his first few games, but then went off the ball a bit. The jump up from League 1 to Championship is huge so at least he's had some experience. I'd love to see him go past a defender and then cut in and shoot. 

This “getting used to the Championship” argument keeps coming up, and each time we are reminded that he has played a season in the Championship already for Wycombe. He’s not a newbie.

46 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Anyone know if the Lower Lansdown is wholly undercover or am I going to get drenched tomorrow?

I’ve never got rained on in there, though I am well back in Row 19!

3 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

Just received an email telling me that because I have downloaded the ST onto my phone that I cannot have a plastic ticket.

My very cheap smartphone will not allow me to download the piece of equipment to carry the ST.

So how the hell do I get into the game?

Totally hacked off that after 73 years supporting, I might not be able to get in.

You first told us all on July 6 (main thread on the issue) that you had an old phone which would not let you use a digital ST.

So I’m puzzled why you then downloaded the ST onto a phone you knew did not have NFC, so would not work.

Or did you do it back on July 6, before you found out?

35 minutes ago, Betty Swallocks said:

I think it’s anything that stops a goal scoring opportunity, being the last man comes under that. 

But trying to stop the last man by a fair tackle that turns out to be late, would not be a professional foul in my eyes. Cynical is probably the best word, and that basically involves stopping the player instead of the ball.

17 hours ago, Betty Swallocks said:

That’s only in the penalty area though isn’t it. Professional foul outside the box is still a red whether there is a genuine attempt or not. 

I don’t know what the definition of a professional foul is, but I’d have thought it involved not making a genuine attempt at getting the ball?

20 minutes ago, elhombrecito said:

I do find the difference between our two sets of fans to be quite fascinating. The smallest thing happens at City and you'll get people on here claiming that the club are an absolute shambles and that somebody needs to be held accountable.

However, up north, the 15ers have managed to sell season tickets for a stand that doesn't exist, and if it ever will exist, will not be ready for several months at best, but there's barely any criticism of the club at all.

Brainwashing is the word that springs to mind. Or maybe Stockholm Syndrome is more accurate... 

I think that’s unfair. Plenty of people on Gaschat are being critical. I’m one of them.

1 hour ago, Red Skin said:

For me, you cannot underestimate the impact Pearson has.  Just as developing academy players and having a pathway becomes self-fulfilling as the better young players want to come here, the same is true for the first team.   

Pearson and his team are selecting players to fit a style of play and within that framework he is confident enough in himself to give players the responsibility and licence to perform without micromanaging them.  (We had a thread about Sean O'Driscoll recently, and this was Sean's philosophy too, although he wasn't able to bring in the same level of talent).   Young up and coming players know they will be given the best chance to develop and succeed here, and if we can't deliver promotion they will be able to improve to the point that they have a very good springboard to greater success elsewhere.   This in turns means we are able to attract the most up and coming talent here.  The cycle continues.

My guess is we will see the same virtuous circle for decent loan players from the Prem in the near future, and this may ultimately see us gain promotion.   

Hmmm … I hope you mean either

”you cannot overestimate the impact Pearson has”

or

”you should not underestimate the impact Pearson has”.

What you wrote implies Pearson has no impact …

8 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Who says? 

Those who pointed out his partner is from Bristol and they are building a house locally.

3 minutes ago, RedorDead BCFC said:

We arrived last Saturday at the tail end of the heatwave. I like the sun (my skin doesn’t it looks like I’ve a city home shirt on) but the first few days was uncomfortably hot. 
I suspect you had that in Portugal as well.

How did you manage the pinstripes?

9 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Hmm……strange that I hardly remember him at all. To me he was anonymous. The players that I do remember clearly from that era are Marv, Noble, Hartley and the ever consistent Cole Skuse. Four excellent midfielders.

To me LJ wasn’t near any of them.

Very strange, since in the playoff season in question he made 40 appearances- far more than Skuse. And as has been pointed out, Hartley wasn’t even at BCFC then. 

20 minutes ago, MC RISK77 said:

Spot on post Dave and reflects my thoughts on LJ as a player, the role he played in that team that got to the play off final meant he was never a regular 8 or 9 out of ten stand out performer, but he kept possession very well and was extremely busy and hard working in the space between the final thirds

In my memory he tended to sit deep in the midfield, picking the ball up off the CBs and spreading it simply to get us moving. Not unlike, indeed, Skuse  and later, Pack. The occasional Hollywood diagonal went astray, but not that often.

At the time he got dogs abuse from many around me, which I didn’t understand. He wasn’t a star but he was a very dependable cog in the machine.

Just now, Robbored said:

It’s getting boring now Gazred…………..

Let’s be honest, it was boring when you started.