DT The Optimist

Come on guys and ladies ! Does anyone really think that an announcement about the future of staff would be made live on Radio Bristol... before anything appeared on the OS. Nah, just a general update where we are...not a lot more. And I cannot envisage any scenario where the health off a worker would be broadcast to us without the express permission of that person, I heard the Chief Exec at the Senior Robins a few weeks back, and i suspect more of the same re parachute payments, unlevelled playing fields and similar fare, basically the truth....

Quite enjoyed it for my first U23 game. Great you park pretty close and amble in. Was certainly a very young side and for us best player I thought was the keeper Harvey Wiles Richards. Made some good stops, but expected ones. QPR had decent midfielder George Thomas who in my view was better than anyone else on the pitch. Had hoped to see some fringe first team players. Sadly not today.

Many thanks…my new found retirement means I can view some of these games now ? not used to parking at the ground.

I note it’s at Ashton gate and I am planning to pop down and have a look. Advice from those seem similar games at the Gate, can I rock up at 12:45 and get a space in the car park, or is it normally filled before then ?

I hate this comment often hear bandied around ‘not playing for manager anymore’. It’s nonsense. It’s a perceived fans image that is trotted out across the country at many football clubs when the results have slipped. There was 110% commitment against Forest ? And Fulham and so on. Just accept Bournemouth and WBA are simply streets ahead of us, better players, better wealth, better salaries, parachute payments and all that. That’s why they looked better, because they were. NP called it right in his interviews after both games.

Great report from Ole, he tells it as he sees it. Always enjoy the read. We can all see the same game and take a different view. Not there so i could not comment but on radio Brizzle Gary Owers view was we deserved the win. At odds with Ole. On another thread I commented how Darren Ferguson, after the game, stated CM gave them problems with his quality throughout... Ole gives him a pretty average mark. Either way, he reported as he saw it.

It’s interesting that Darren Ferguson also thought he was good. He stated he was a handful throughout, and he had that quality and caused them problems. (His comments on the equivalent of our Bristol live) when someone of his pedigree says that you have to suspect it’s right. (Not going off topic but always surprised he has not done more as a manager) However with Saturday, midweek, Saturday there’s no way he could last a full season, bound to come out at some stage..

My goodness me, moved on leaps and bounds. The dross and 'crab' football seems to have vanished. I think the majority of the fan base clearly massively behind NP, but we are all fickle. Nature of football.

He signed a contract extension of three years in Sept 2019 with an option another 12 months. Heres what he said then from the main web site in 2019... “I’m really happy to have signed a long-term deal with Bristol City,” O’Dowda told the club website. “I know it took a long time but I’ve always wanted to stay here and I just needed to make sure it was right for both myself and the football club I can recall the club wanted him to sign for a long time and it dragged on and on. He himself says it took a long time, and the fans view, right or wrong, was he was seeing his options..and it appeared there were not any ? No issues with that. Fact is he did sign an extension in the end. I am unsure when his contract does run out but as others have said perhaps he can now step up and become the player we would all like to see. Well done today COD

If I am right he wanted to go elsewhere, and no suitors hence still here & signed that new contract a while back. Let's hope he ends up with that 'end product'.

Good to hear, positive, perhaps another under previous regime being a jack of all trades, master of none.. need a set role being a wide player...

Thoughts please from anyone who watched the game... On radio Brizzle he seemed to have a good game, and did really well, That was Owers view and that of the assistant. Came off as hamstrings got tight and not wanted to be risked... Your views, seemed to play properly wide and seemed to gave the posh full back a had time ? True ?

Ask the question..how many times you left a stadium and said or thought COD was good today…one comes to mind few seasons back when we lost 3 2 at Norwich…anyone else please…but today will be the day….be positive ?

wow ! What a difference of opinions on this thread. from did well...to poor.... everyone sees it different. The main man is NP, and in his opinion, in his interview, TANNER, did well...I will go with that one. ? But respect to those who were there and can give an opinion. The beauty of the game a !

top top top moment. Listening on radio Brizzle everyone lost the plot ! Talk about a 'smash & grab'. An NP interview was again class.

I am in Dolman Midway between half way line and pen area. I had a cracking view of the RHS of the pitch first half. Wish I had not? I said to the guy I go with halfway through first half that it simply was not working and nothing from Zak & Scott. Then 5 minutes later Scotts off. Then as we saw, Zak does not reappear second half. We just seemed balanced gain after the break. The old saying square pegs in round holes. I understand the need for big guys against Cardiff, and Bates at LB, but that should not be the norm... I will say it quietly but we are missing Jack Hunt !

Agree with Fevs on most things but not this. The RHS first half was shocking with no link up play between Scott & Zak and zero threat. Not surprised it was changed. Would love to hear where the staff actually see Zak’s best position? NP stated at start of season he knew Zak’s best position…I would take Simpson in front of Zak any day of the week, and we have not spent £300k on Tanner for him to develop in 18 months time…we will see him sooner rather than later. If Zak going to do anything for us central defender..but he is down that pecking order as well

Agree 100% For those who like the 'bounce around' and the 'give us a wave' that is not his style. It's about the players. And allowing them to have the moment. So many former pros of his say he builds a great team spirit...you can see how.

I think the overall vibe from the forum is that at £4M then thats about right and will give NP more room elsewhere... Thing is with Sem have we really seen him reproduce that form from a year so back when playing for Newport in front of match day cameras and the pundits were drooling over him then... and i recall watching him those televised cup games when he terrorised M'boro and was it Leicester ? Martin Keown the pundit was drooling over how good he was.. But he was being used wider and deeper, getting the ball deep and then motoring...the thing stuck to him. He walked past players like they weren't there... Perhaps I feel he is still not being played to his strengths here. I for one hope he stays as he has another 2 years to run on his deal. Let him have a great season next year and that value might rocket still.

He came to attention when at Newport on that cup run few years back playing in a wide position, getting the ball in space, and advancing on defenders and walking past them like they were static tree trunks. He has shown glimpses of that form this season, but playing in the centre, or more central, he dos not seem to get the chance to get that head of steam up. SEM can be an absolute star with the ability he has. I would play him in a PATO or COD role every day.

That just shows how we all see things differently. Yep, he lost Moore once who should have buried a header, but he is getting better and better. Deserves his place is n side as it stands.

Opps ?

As I look forward to today’s game it seems odds on another National lock down is imminent. While I appreciate football on the scale of things is unimportant when you consider livelihoods and all, what do you reckon will happen? Suspension of season or will it continue.

It's a 'forum' Everyone is entitled to a view, whether you agree or not. (I actually agree with you ! FWIW) Everyone will see things differently.

Blimey. Something new to all of us. It took the Chinese some 3 months to get a handle on it with now only a handful new infections. December. Started for real. Then Jan, Feb and March. So can we expect similar time frames. I think so. But..... some clubs lower leagues might vanish for ever with this