DT The Optimist

Opps… he is now on the YouTube Bristol City channel….speaks very well…compares us with Norwich in early days when they did many things right and few things wrong…not getting carried away exactly what we need now

Hopefully an interview will appear with him again in near future, when you consider his lack of 'game time' it seems an exceptional debut. I can only comment from the luxury of my armchair and Gary Owers.. glad we have no game midweek

And to think he could not get into our side at times this season as well being benched ? Fingers crossed he enjoys being here and signs a deal and sees that something special is happening.... or he is sold and reduces that debt by a large amount.. its the nature of the beast.

While it’s not ‘fine dining’ it’s certainly not crap. The three meals I have had since joining have all been ok…it’s about expectations really.

I have recently joined and ok the meal might be deemed tad on the pricy side but as others alluded it’s a good few hours out and a chance to chew the cud with like minded people, as well catching up few old faces…literally. The guest speakers are pretty good and next month it’s Geoff Merrick. Always good. £20 that’s ok for the afternoon. Geoffs attendance coincides with the release of his book

This is what a forums for ! ? I have also read numerous pages on this thread and none the wiser really, all I know after digesting these comments from those ITK are that we are in danger of a points deduction as has been confirmed by RG. Me, I take the view the club will not risk a point's deduction and the threat of a return to league One that would go with that, and will do what is necessary to avoid that outcome.

This is certainly a ‘good feeling’ story and he took that spot kick really well, but from my position in the Dolman I never noticed the applause that has been mentioned. I ask was it a handful of persons directly behind the goal… did many notice it at the time in the South stand ?

The ‘real’ attendance tonight will be interesting….I think we all accept that bums on seats was really low for the Huddersfield game (no way the reported 18k with the usual season tickets counted attend or not)but I wonder if now Xmas is over fans will come out again… hoping for a great atmosphere tonight.

and at the same time write off a £38M debt with the other pocket?

The question I would ask is that can Uncle Steve write these losses off by purchasing more 'worthless shares'. Even on this thread there are those knocking SL for allowing this to happen, but all he has done is leave footballing matters to footballing people in the likes of LJ and MA team. Now bail out time again. And suspect every Championship club is same boat.

Todays really low turn out can most likely be attributed to concerns for Covid infections and not wanting to put Xmas plans at risk ? Who knows, certainly not last minute shoppers staying away. My other half works in retail, very quiet. reported quiet at the Mall and Cabot. move onto the Xmas fixtures. Traditionally big gates as people get out. We have QPR at home between Boxing Day and New Year. Depending on what happens hopefully bigger decent gates. Getting in was a breeze showing your covid status.

Agree with you. Why oh why do we have this nonsense of stating an attendance which includes no shows. If that is the case. Perhaps the 12000 season tickets holders did show and there were no pay on the day? Wonder if that is the same with all clubs doing this. Cannot see what’s gained by doing this

Yes. Announced that attendance 18k and something. Yes, I know they count season tickets holders who do not show, but honestly how many bums on seat in todays match. I thought the concourses were pretty empty, the South stand certainly emptier than normal. Great gaps around me in the Dolman. So quiet I wondered over to the Lansdown second half as that was also no where near line it normally is. Took a seat not far from dug out. Loads room. Bums on seats today. 12k perhaps. Covid impact ? Wish they would tell us how many actually come through the turnstiles today

In the second half I moved from my usual place in the Dolman and took a seat not far behind our dugout, for a different view and take on the game. As soon as they scored the third NP turned and said ‘that’s it, get him off’. Clearly not best please, I was unsure who was going but off trotted Atkinson and on came Pring. my initial thoughts when he made that remark was Belarous was about to be subbed, but what do I know. I am a great supporter of NP and I think he is the guy who will actually achieve things here. I do think it strange that JD or CP were not started on the LHS.

So true. No more little catch phases like ‘pitch personality’ and similar total waffle. I am so confident NP will create something here

Not so sure on that point. I have banged on in the past that his rise to prominence was when on loan at Newport and he had all the pundits drooling when he played against Leicester and Boro. In those games he would get the ball deep and wide, and have more time to get ‘motoring’. He was walking past defenders like they were statutes. I saw those games on the box and never really seen him reach those heights with us ‘yet’. When played further forward not enough time to get the ball, under control and get going. It made me smile mind when I was having this conversation with a guy at the Derby game, and he agreed with me but added the player he turned inside out was none other than Danny Simpson… have not checked but suspect true ?

Top quality defender at this level and could step up to the next. When NP Left him out while back I wondered what was going on but NP has come out quite recently in how he rates TK. We have been here before with getting the spine of the team right and the rest will follow. I would trust TK would be part of the team spine along with Bents, Baker, James, and then….Martin ? Or another. while you suspect professional sports athletes follow the pay packets there has to be something more to attract him to stay and the noises he is making would suggest that is the case. Let’s hope so.

Really enjoyed this thread. Footie fans, key board warriors like me ? experts on the pharmaceutical indiustry, to government conspiracy’s and the like. All I know is I am jabbed up, was mildly Poorly with covid in 2020 and now I can go to the Gate provided provided I have the vaccine passport or negative LFT result. No big deal. Yesterday I was at the NEC BIKE show. Could only gain admittance with the above. Not a hint of anyone bellyaching moaning about it. Guess if you did not have the above you never turned up. your choice. Still heaving with people. As a side issue and as a bit of fun I did not show my vaccine passport stamp at NEC entrance but instead my Tesco club card app which is similar colour and appearance. In I went. Nothing was scanned. Wonder what the stewards will do at AG

I mentioned Festy Ebosele in another post. Yes he was there outlet, and I thought he was by far there best player. came up through the academy and Irish born of Nigerian descent. Seems was, is, a right back but Rooney has seem something in him and pushed him forward and really rates him. Some transfer market web site claims has a value of £225k. Derby reckon he’s got real future in front of him. So, he is right back pushed further forward. If Derby have to sell players would like to see him here.

With the pretty much nailed on certainty of relegation with the points deduction (would take championship winning form to retain status) and a chance of no buyer and the HMRC 'wind up' very real, its a good effort for 1500 to support the team before Xmas in those circumstances. The rights and wrongs of DCFC 'wrong doings'well aired but always the fans... who are there from start to the end... On to today game. I thought there No 36 was really good player. Turns out his name is Festy Ebosele and he have us a hard time most of the game and was there best outlet. Through out he was a really exciting winger. Turns out he not a winger at all, but described as a right back...a defender... And worth £225K from there academy... If it goes belly up at Derby love to see hims down here ?

His playing record (our best friend Wiki) apart from his time here is more than respectable. 38 appearances in a full season for Wigan before he arrived here. I thought last night he was 'not himself' and commented to my mate perhaps his match fitness not quite there yet after such a long lay off to play Saturday midweek etc. Joe is one of the bright spots from the previous regimes....when fit Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Everton 2017–18[5] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2018–19[13] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Barnsley (loan) 2017–18[5] Championship 34 1 1 0 3 0 — 38 1 Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2018–19[13] Championship 29 0 0 0 0 0 — 29 0 Wigan Athletic 2019–20[14] Championship 38 1 1 0 1 0 — 40 1

Now reported Joe felt hamstring in other leg, hence his substitution last night. NP saying not the one which was recent issue. However minor. Let’s hope James back Sunday if that is the case, cannot envisage a scenario where they would risk him 4 days later and make it worse… such a good player and seems blighted with niggles. Let’s home the new sports injuries team sort him

Not sure been mentioned, but listening to Gary Owers on way to game, and general comments here, where is Scott’s best position. while he was rather decent last night at WB where do we see his best position in the longer term .

May well have been done before but interesting coaching career. I wonder what sort of standard Punjab FC are….I have not dared to look. He was head hunter by Ian Hollowhead to be his assistant when he was the manager at QPR. I dread to think how all this is going to pan out if NP fails to return in near future, simply too many what ifs and buts and different scenarios to call this. considering literally only just arrived, cannot see him taking reins to long if NP packs it in and or little chance return near future. Below is from wiki. Personal informationDate of birth8 October 1968 (age 53)Place of birthManchester, EnglandHeight5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)Position(s)Right-backClub information Current team Bristol City (assistant manager)Youth careerBelvedereSenior career*YearsTeamApps(Gls)1987–1989St Patrick's Athletic60(2)1989Swindon Town0(0)1989–1991St Patrick's Athletic62(2)1991–2001Middlesbrough266(3)2001→ Birmingham City (loan)6(0)2001–2004Crystal Palace45(0)2004–2005Darlington27(0)2005Shelbourne10(0)2006–2007Billingham Synthonia26(0)Total411+(5+)National team1989–1990Republic of Ireland U232(0)1989–1990Republic of Ireland U215(0)1996–1998Republic of Ireland10(0)Teams managed2007–2008Livingston (assistant)2012Crystal Palace (assistant)2012Crystal Palace (caretaker)2012–2014Bolton Wanderers (first team coach)2016Hartlepool United (assistant)2016–2018Queens Park Rangers (assistant)2018–2019Middlesbrough (first team coach)2019–2020Punjab FC (reserve)2020–2021Punjab FC2021Bristol City (first team coach)* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

I do recall that NW said himself he rates what he did at Rotherham in keeping them in the Championship was his greatest achievement. He would sort out our shower and give him this coming window to get some loans in….. that said I cannot see it happening, but it would be a good fix.