SecretSam

According to NP's latest press conference, he is going along nicely.

It's a media derby, nothing more. Sure, there's needle, but compared to a Bristol derby, it's a village fête 

I actually think he's pretty good. A million times better than Wright, for example.

9 hours ago, ralphindevon said:

 

After what we’d been through the thought of us playing at Wembley was unreal. Bearing in mind having the final there was a very new thing and before that it was just the FA and league cup that got you there, so not that many clubs from the lower leagues had ever played there.

Bear in mind that I don't think the pray-offs existed then, either.

15 hours ago, Sleepy1968 said:

If we were all in the enclosure, who was in the East End?

15 minutes ago, SecretSam said:

Ditto, went utterly nuts when we scored the winner, lost my keys!

Anyone who was in the Enclosure (West End), did you find my keys?

20 hours ago, Silvio Dante said:

Well, I never saw that coming

Mebbe they'll take a look at events leading up to it, including Sykes getting stood on

16 hours ago, Alan Dicks said:

 

Mind you, that pitch...and I recall the game being in better definition when I was there. 

16 hours ago, glynriley said:

Yep, in the enclosure that night. Great night, love that team. 

Ditto, went utterly nuts when we scored the winner, lost my keys!

13 hours ago, Show Me The Money! said:

I’ve never liked Forest for some reason as they always seem to be one of these clubs that the media seem to kiss the ass off because of Brian Clough and have fans that think they belong in the prem because they won the European cup a couple of times 40 years ago. I’m basically wanting them to get thrashed every week and will be peeved if they stay up because they are basically over spending beyond there means.

+1

On another note, what if you're coming from the East of Bristol (seriously, that's where my family are)? Or the M32? I used to just park by the river, but that's hopeless now. 

5 minutes ago, WarksRobin said:

Not the slow Amersham single track line! You want the Banbury line so High Wycombe, Beaconsfield or Gerard’s Cross.  High Wycombe has the biggest station and most train options, and there are reasonable budget hotels there too.

Yeah, true, Amersham is mebbe 30 mins to Marylebone...dunno about Wycombe (don't use that line) but the advantage it has is that it's on the same line as Wembley. Mind you, Wycombe's a dump, whereas Amersham's quite nice.

PS Amersham also on the tube, although it takes about 3 years to get there.

20 hours ago, Super said:

Ex-Bristol City striker receives vile death threats after playing against former club - Bristol Live (bristolpost.co.uk)

The comments underneath the article are pretty unpleasant, too

7 hours ago, WarksRobin said:

High Wycombe. You can get a direct train to Wembley and the return journey is easier than going into central London

This. Anywhere on the Chiltern Line, from Wycombe or Amersham down, get a hotel there and a short trip into the smoke. Wycombe branch linked to Wembley.

8 hours ago, BasSavage88 said:

Was brilliant seeing him give a shit. Hopefully it wasn't to put himself in the shop window 

Every time I've seen him play, he's given 100%. And by all accounts, his attitude in training is excellent, and he's mentored the likes of TC.

I think he's been unlucky and now deserves his chance. A really, really fine goal last night, movement and finish excellent.

9 hours ago, BCFC11 said:

Never a red in a million years.

It was a red all day. Sykes clearly lost his head and went full red mist. No argument from me. Imagine if it had been the other way round? AG would have gone mental.

From the replays, looks like Freeman has a nibble at him when they're in the sandwich. No excuse, tho', Sykes clearly lost his head. Definite red, silly lad. Luckily it didn't matter.

12 hours ago, Elruliri said:

If you could of mixed Walshy and Smith that would be one world class player

 

OMG Walsh's left peg with Smith's speed - wow

3 hours ago, pongo88 said:

The original Billy Whizz

Smith was quicker than that. Like Roadrunner on amphetamines. Replaced the legendary Alan "Shuffle" Walsh on the left, similar build but totally different player. Possibly the quickest City player I've ever seen - although Keith Curle pre-injury was seriously rapid - but his all round game was nothing like Walsh's. Half of Smith's crosses ended up catching a bus over the back of the stand. Mind you, on his day he was unplayable.

2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Alexander was definitely sent off at least twice against us at AG.

Handball on the line, Tinnion scored the penalty (his first ever goal for us) the year they went down.

He was also sent off for stamping on Smith when he was on the floor.

Probably was a third, Alexander’s whole game was based on kicking his opponent, terrible, dirty player.

Deffo two, that I remember seeing: the Tinman penalty one (I'd just yelled at Alexander that he should hurry up and get sent off...I kid you not). The other was after about 15 mins, first he cleaned out Smith a couple of times - literally put him into orbit - got booked, clattered him again, ref gave a FK and Alexander picked up the ball and literally hoofed it 60 yards down the pitch. The ref looked at him like he was taking the p155...and sent him off.

9 minutes ago, Never to the dark side said:

https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/jones-not-worried-if-he-never-speaks-to-ex-hatter-naismith-again-as-long-as-the-hatters-win-at-bristol-city-3807155

[Irish accent] Oh, get over yourself, or go home to your Mammy. [/Irish accent]

13 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Teamwork, anticipation, concentration, etc. Since being back in the champ, apart from a 3 month period under LJ, we’ve rarely looked like a team. That outfield 10 of Wright, Flint, Baker, Magnússon, Brownhill, Smith, Pack, Paterson and Reid knew it’s own strengths and weaknesses and worked tirelessly for each other….but also works efficiently for each other.

Most of the rest of the time we’ve looked like a bunch of individuals in the main.

Why LJ couldn’t take that team system as the blueprint god only knows.

But I don’t want this to be another LJ thread.

What we need in 2022 onwards is more power and / or pace to compliment the technical players.  When we’ve been more compact back to front this season, we’ve played sone good stuff. When we’ve done the same out of possession we’ve got the ball back quickly.

We need to do more of that. Players need to have self accountability and also be able to tell their teammates when they aren’t doing it. Rarely see an on-pitch finger pointing these days. 

My sense is there's more 'cohesion' around the team and squad just now, although maybe the actual players aren't as good as they used to be. An important note is that there's a lot of very good youngsters and home produced players now, which we simply didn't have before - Scott, Semenyo, Conway - and there's a clear path to the first team for our young players. 

We are also adapting to a new financial climate, both inside the club and globally in football.

It's a very challenging and dynamic time, and frankly any expectations other than staying in the Championship need to be put on hold. The contract situation for the remaining high earners (Wells, Bentley, Kalas) will be resolved one way or another by the end of the season. Then we go again. 

Look at how long it took other teams without Parachute money to rebuild - the Florists, for example, took years.

15 minutes ago, Colombo Robin said:

Not playing either Wilson and Tanner makes me think even NP himself isn't entirely clear on the plan 

Wilson's getting used to the Championship level (and may still be getting over injury) and Tanner was bought as one for the future, and is also coming back from long-term injury.

Plus, Sykes has done really well at RWB.

I can remember Rodwell being talked about as a certainty for a long England career. But like so many others, he just couldn't stay fit - but still, I'm sure £70k a week for 4 years was some compensation. Certainly more than was earned by many similarly injury-plagued players, such as the likes of Christian Ribeiro (ex-City, retired at 28 IIRC).

Grauniad article about Jack Rodwell

£12m? Assuming there's a sell-on, take it.

No-one is going to buy Kalas when he's on huge wages when they can get him for nothing (and no doubt a lower wage) in less than 12 months; anyway, he's injured. 

Same could be said for HNM and Bents, to some extent.