In the Net

That's a hell of a thing for a teenager to do - very brave, although it shouldn't matter a jot in this day and age, I'm sure we all know that he will get some adverse comments.  Best of luck Jake. 

On 15/05/2022 at 07:45, redrum said:

Morning all, 

Just wanted to share this little video I made to help promote Talk Club, the talking and listening club for men to keep us mentally fit.

Luckily it was filmed before last weekend!!

Here's the Talk Club website if you want to find out more. There are quite a few clubs now running weekly in and around Bristol.

Wetalkclub.com  

COYR 

That was an interesting watch - thanks for posting.  Shows that beneath our colours, we all need a bit of help sometimes to get through life. Keep up the good work.

54 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

I did a bit of digging as I was intrigued and the list you posted for away followings in league two was from the ‘Bristol World’ website - not one of the ‘big’ ones I’d suggest - and that same website reported that the Rovers vs Scunthorpe match “sold out in one minute” - did it even sell out at all?! May not be the most reliable source of info ...

Ah, bugger - that'll teach me for not doing my own research!  Thanks for letting me know, I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for something more reliable! 

6 hours ago, Bar BS3 said:

I'm not what you are talking about - you are always of significance, because as our city rivals I detest everything about your club. 

I have, however, posted that it's fair play to you for turning the season around and clinching promotion in the most dramatic of ways. 

I don't like that you've had success, but credit where its due. 

Now I'm just consoling myself with the fact that at least it's done & out of the way now, rather than it dragging on though the playoffs & you getting a big day out at Wembley.. 

I don't think that any lower league club can over celebrate the little bits of success that come our way. 

 

Thank you for citing that our two clubs do have something in common!   

1 minute ago, slartibartfast said:

Yes, naughty girl !

I'm typing this from the naughty step! 

6 hours ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

I simply pointed out that quoting a list of numbers without any mention of a source renders the list pretty meaningless and leaves you open to suggestions that you could have easily made up the numbers. If you found the info on a ‘big’ website you could have just provided a link to save having to type out the list yourself ...

I didn't re-type it myself, copied it from somebody else, and they named the site they got it from.  You're quite right, I should have cited the source for authenticity.

1 hour ago, Gert Mare said:

Yep, and literally overheard a Gashead yesterday saying that Rovers get 10,000 at home and take 2,000 away.

Home attendance over-exaggerated by 2,500

Away attendance over-exaggerated by 1,000

#gaslogic 

Oh well, it wasn't me!   You'll always get some folk who live in cloud cuckoo land, and believe everthing they read, or what their mate tells them down the pub. 

6 hours ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

What is the source of these numbers? Apologies, but nothing to say that you could have simply made them up ... thanks

They're from one of the big websites, Transfer Market or something like that.

You are somewhat grasping at straws to suggest that I may have made them up.  You respond to quite a lot of my posts, so, obviously read what I write.  I would have hoped you may have realised that I am a person of integrity, who always tries to take a balanced view of situations. 

5 hours ago, slartibartfast said:

Can't have been worse than the mob that got you out of the league ?

Close call, but I'd say the more recent mob have just shaded it in the wasters category.  Barton also sussed out the CEO and Director of Football pretty quickly too, and standards are actually improving on that side of the club too - at long last.

4 hours ago, Bar BS3 said:

Still less than our average then, in a promotion season for you and an utterly dire season for us. 

Thanks for pointing that out. 

I didn't point anything out in my post - I just provided information on a topic which is frequently discussed on here.

I am under no illusions about the differences in the attendance between the two clubs - same as I can remember that your attendances were low when you were in the basement division.  Those are the realities of football, and always will be, unless you're a Liverpool or Man Utd etc. 

Have to say, you seem rather salty this week, strange as we are of no significance to you. 

4 hours ago, NcnsBcfc said:

@In the Net many thanks for coming on the forum. I might not agree with all of your points, but it's good to have other rivals views on them anyhow.

I have a question for you though. Do you think that Rovers getting promoted back to the league they were relegated from a year earlier is a "Massive Achievement"?

For me, you were always one of the 3 biggest clubs in the division with probably a budget to match.

With 4 Teams going up (still have no idea why) from L2, it is in essence one of the easier divisions to get out of.

Isn't the "Massive Achievement", the fact that you were able to get promoted from the division after such a catastrophic 4 months that saw you at once stage 23rd in the bottom league of EFL, only 18 months or so, after being 3rd or 4th in the division above?

So in essence you are back now where you were 2 seasons ago?

For me, the "Massive Achievement" is how Barton has managed to transform the club and squad, from what it was when he got here.  Yes, we are only back to where we were a couple of seasons ago, but he has changed the ethos and culture at the club, he's brought in some excellent backroom staff, changed a lot of the medical staff.  Everything is so much more professional, and the players appreciate that, and have responded to it. The training methods are obviously working, once the effects of Covid had gone (some players were affected for quite a long period), you could see that the players energy levels were there for the whole 90 minutes - not something we've had before, and it was noticeable than most other teams were flagging in that last 10/15 minutes, which often gave us scoring opportunities.  He's obviously got good contacts within the game for loans, so hopefully we'll get a couple of decent youngsters in to add to the squad.  His man management appears to be good, which I know will surprise some people because of his reputation.

I wouldn't expect people on here to listen to his interviews, but he did say in August/September that we probably wouldn't see the best of this squad until around Christmas, as it takes time for a whole re-build to gel, and get to know each other's games.  He also said that he would get us promoted, and he instilled that belief in the players too.

Apologies if this is a longer answer than you wanted! 

4 hours ago, alexukhc said:

Didn’t realise Aaron Collins was ex city, he’s one of our own

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35384148

Ooops, BBC Wales need a new researcher too!  Collins spent his youth career with Rovers, before moving to Newport. 

6 hours ago, Wealwayseatcheese said:

Yes , especially the loyal and true few, who according to sky get 10k every week when in truth their average crowds including away fans would fit in the Dolman and section 82. Tinpot. Awaiting  In the Net to find a bigger stone to throw

Yes, according to Sky - they need to employ better researchers.

I certainly was not "throwing a stone".  Some people on here like to discuss the attendances, so I posted the info - without any comment added.  I see that somebody has now posted the home attendances, which, likewise has started a discussion.

Apologies if you found my post offensive in some way.

21 minutes ago, archie andrews said:

Oooohh i could crush a grape...... 

Yeah - a sour one no doubt. 

12 minutes ago, BCFC11 said:

Ohhh how great, you've came top of the away following table, you still came third in the actual table behind a village club though.

I didn't make any comment about it - just put it on here as some of you seem to like discussing attendances.

Some of you on here seem to love attendance stats, so here you go:-

Averages of Away Support in League Two

1. GAS - 1,040
2. Bradford - 921
3. Tranmere - 853
4. Swindon - 845
5. Mansfield - 845
6. Port Vale - 832
7. Oldham - 785
8. Northampton - 611
9. Exeter - 605
10. Walsall - 531
11. Carlisle - 514
12. Hartlepool - 504
13. Leyton Orient - 492
14. Newport - 490
15. Rochdale - 480
16. Barrow - 291
17. Colchester - 290
18. Sutton - 242
19. Forest Green - 227
20. Scunthorpe - 226
21. Salford - 173
22. Harrogate - 168
23. Crawley - 159
24. Stevenage - 155

I think Rovers were 3rd in the home attendance stats, Swindon were 2nd @Shaun Taylor

2 hours ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

 

... yep and even Everton FC was wearing blue and white quarters 46 years before da gas thought they’d invented a world renowned, unique kit ...

My Dad used to play for a team called Bath Rovers in the 1940's, they also wore quarters, I'm sure that other teams did too, as it was a popular style of shirt back then.  

48 minutes ago, Wanderingred said:

Interesting analysis considering they finished 24th and bottom with the same manager just 12 months ago. They may not go back down, but they WILL be in a relegation fight, of that I am very sure. 

The majority of the squad JB inherited were the biggest bunch of wasters to wear the quarters.  He was able to get the majority of them shipped out, kept the few decent ones, and built his own squad.  He'll obviously have to get some replacements in for next season, whether he is successful remains to be seen, however, I don't think that the previous relegation will have any bearing on what happens.

5 hours ago, Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan said:

…and doing it before the Gas.

Their colours are sh*t though! 

6 hours ago, NcnsBcfc said:

So just to clarify you've  signed Coutts from that list, only because like Martin he triggered a new contract extension by way of appearances.

Other than that, no-one else is signed on from that list; and Finlayson & Evans haven't agreed the contracts that have been on offer all season (albeit when you didn't know what league you would be in).

I stand by my assertion that JB will have to redo it all again in a higher division.

He may be able to pull it out if the hat again, or you may have a Garner moment around changing your squad.

Whatever happens you will at least have lost some inertia from last weekend by the 30th July.

Indeed, JB will have to re-do it again in a higher division, I just think it won't quite be to the extent indicated in your post.

I would have expected Coutts to have been offered another contract, if the appearance clause hadn't triggered the option - which he didn't have to take up.  I can't imagine that the players who followed JB from Fleetwood would have done so for one season, only to clear off after helping the club to gain promotion.

Who is this Finlayson that you speak of?  Evans only had a one year contract as he was returning from playing in Germany, and had a history of injuries - he's proved to be a very good signing, if a Championship club came in for him, I wouldn't blame him for going.  It's quite normal for players to leave contract negotiations until there's a clear picture of where the club will be playing the following season, and, also to compare with other offers they may receive.  Not sure what level any approach to Nicholson would come from, he;s got a young family and may want to return to Scotland.

We've got a good nucleaus of players who are still under contract, which JB can build around.  It will be interesting to see what he comes up with this time.

49 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

Nope, the thunderstorm thing was at a different time - it had nothing to do with the legal action - that was about an entirely different issue at an entirely different time ... unlike you to get your facts completely wrong ...

We've had a few run-ins with Wycombe - the brain fog kicked in! 

18 minutes ago, Rich said:

But as I remember, it was only Johnson talking about his desire to get there, not a projection or promise. It was not the entire fanbase projecting fanciful dreams. Everybody needs to have aspirations but, usually they are tempered with reality. There is every chance that in a few years City will be in the premiership, challenging for the title, winning the F A cup and becoming champions of Europe. Shit, sorry, I was getting carried away and comparing My clubs ambitions using Rovers fans logic. 

When asked where he sees the club in five year's time, Johnson said: "I'm going to stick my neck on the line a little bit and say Europa League."

Agreed it wasn't the fan base, and I do remember some being embarrassed by his comment.  We've all been there. 

42 minutes ago, Bazooka Joe said:

Yeh, if you consider relegation "interesting".

You have to take what comes along in life, and make the best of it!  

18 minutes ago, Jim Davey said:

Can you imagine if it was the other way around and you missed out on promotion ,did'nt one of your chairman start legal proceedings against wycombe .

Yes, there were certainly rumblings of action being taken.  Their safety officer called the game off because of a thunder storm, by the time fans were walking back to their cars, the sun was shining.  Rovers were 0-3 up at the time - I'm not sure that City would have accepted it meekly either, as there was no history of any previous danger at the ground during thunder storms.  There is so much at stake financially in football these days, that people tend to use what they can to the advantage of their team - do I like that - not really, but the world has changed.

I've already said that I don't  blame Northampton, that's the way things are these days, I'm sure that a lot of clubs would do the same, including ourselves.

21 minutes ago, Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan said:

There was a list of names on here earlier  that could’ve been the All Blacks World Cup Squad for all I know? 

Likewise with your squad, apart from the French lad and Scotty Murray the kit man.  Why would it be any different for either of us? At my age, it hard enough keeping up with who our own players are! 

37 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

So, if Watford fielded a team full of players from their youth and U18 teams tonight in their game against Everton - do you think the premier league would act upon the inevitable complaints from Burnley and Leeds? I think they would - especially if Everton stuck 7 goals or more past a group of inexperienced kids ...

Scunthorpe should be ashamed of themselves for their total lack of integrity and professionalism - they owed Northampton Town, and other clubs, a proper performance but they basically accepted they’d lose the game heavily with the line up they sent out. If it were down to me, Scunny would receive a huge fine, roverzzz would be docked six points for allowing their fans to invade the pitch during a game and then roverzzz vs Scunny should be replayed.

No way you’d score 7 against a proper Scunthorpe line up (the previous time you scored 7 was 1964 wasnt it?!)  - and even if you did, the six point deduction would render it pretty much meaningless - but it will all be swept under the carpet anyway as it’s not high profile enough to warrant any interest or investigation.

I’d love Watford to do the same thing tonight - just to see the reaction of the media, premier league clubs and premier league officials when it ended Hornets 0 Everton 8 - it would be sooo much different to the apparent indifference and apathy surrounding the Scunthorpe debacle ...

Scunthorpe do not owe anything to another team - football is a professional business, you look after number one.  Their manager did what many other managers have done in the past, took the opportunity to have a look at how some of the younger players performed in the first team environment, once their fate was decided.  There was only one change in the back 4 from the previous game, which they drew 1-1, Lobley, who was substituted after about 25 minutes.  The 17 year old goalkeeper had also played in the previous match - conceding 1 goal.

Let's replay all the Cup games where the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd fielded virtually their 2nd string of players, this was so unfair on the clubs which had to face full strength Premiership sides in the competition.  Once again - clubs look after number one - themselves.

Average age of the Rovers team =21    Average age of the Scunthorpe team = 20.6   Take 38 year old Glen Whelan out of the equation, and there probably would have been no difference at all.

Mansfield and Sutton recently put 4 past Scunthorpe, and Salford put 5 past them - these teams were all involved in the fight for play-off position - we'd better investigate how they managed an above average number of goals.

Promotion isn't based on one game, apart from the play-off final.  It's decided on how teams perform from August to May.  This season a lot of teams had weakened squads to chose from as some point, due to Covid, I'm sure other teams near the top of the table will have played some of these - that's the roll of the dice.