Nogbad the Bad

18 hours ago, Ghost Rider said:

That’s not how I remember it, sorry. The reaction was really negative about SC. Maybe  time has clouded my memory. I wonder if anyone could pull up the thread? 

Fair enough, on the pre appointment threads that have been resurrected you've got a point!

It seems I was one of only a few making the argument for Cott's, notably along with @GrahamC's imo very measured and sensible input.

While accepting those threads were largely negative I had in mind more the reaction on threads when he had just been appointed, and fans had a chance to judge his character and intent in his first interview on the OS.

My memory is many surprised themselves and quickly got on board after watching that interview although there was a core of regular posters who simply didn't like him and wouldn't hear a word in his favour.

But, yes, you're right - initial reaction to SC being in the frame were clearly mostly negative and in many cases the comments were plain nasty.

19 hours ago, red panda said:

While we're at it, why is the official site bcfc.co.uk rather than npbcfc.co.uk?  Why do we play at Ashton Gate rather Ashton Gate where Nigel Pearson works.

Or are we being a bit sensitive and looking for snubs for NP in every little thing the club does?

I didn't say it was a snub, but I see it as at the very least remiss not to mention NP at that stage when he'd moved on from talking about leadership behind the scenes.

Particularly from a Chairman who surfaces so seldom and says so little.

I'm not in favour of any change to the title of the official site btw, but should there be one slbcfc.co.uk is the most likely imo.

After all he's told us it's his club, and he can do what he likes, so why not make it official?

1 hour ago, glynriley said:

This is the best one

 

Yep, overwhelmingly negative and some quite nasty comments but it was pre appointment rather after than the die is cast, the dust is settled, and a case of what do we think now.

Anyway, quite happy with my major contribution to that thread:

'Like so many others I've got real problems with some of the names on the list - huge problems with one or two - but I don't have a particular problem with Cotterill.

Certainly see no reason to lambast him so viciously as some on here, or write him off completely like others.

What the hell are people expecting? We're near the bottom of div. 3., with a real scrap ahead to stay up.

Cotterill seems to have a reputation as a good man manager, who quickly builds a spine to his side and gets them playing with spirit.

He will HAVE to fit in with the club's philosophy, so if he turns out to be the choice after interview, that much is understood.

He'll show some refreshing passion for the relegation fight ahead - unlike SO'D last season - and this passion we've been so sadly lacking will rub off on the fans..

We shall see, but he'll get my support if appointed, and imo in time could well prove to be a good fit for AG, and a popular figure.'

1 hour ago, NickJ said:

 

The OP on this one was being ironic:

 

 

Majority against his appointment, majority got it wrong.

 

 

 

Strangely tiny threads, but yes, very negative.

I was more thinking of the day he was appointed, and particularly after fans had had the chance to see him and hear him speak in his first interview on the official site.

I remember that being far more positive.

45 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

The appointment of SC was generally greeted with disappointment yet he gave us a season that will stay forever with anyone who was there to witness it.

Bringing in an LJ "type" may prove to be what is needed next time there is a vacancy depending on what you define as type. The bottom line is that nothing is fact until it happens and NP is , for the immediate future, still the man in charge.

 

Not how I remember it.

About half a dozen prominent posters (at the time) posted extensively and very negatively simply because they didn't like SC personally, but generally it was a positive reaction.

All the more so after seeing his initial interview when many more were won over by his positivity, enthusiasm and determination and quickly saw him as exactly the right man for the job.

1 hour ago, Hartleysbeard said:

It’s an update on the senior leadership team, i.e. the board. No reason to mention Pearson in that statement. 

The last line deviates from simply behind the scenes leadership though.

JL says, 'We are excited about this season and believe this is the right approach for us to be successful.'

Why not ' We are excited about this season with manager Nigel Pearson at the helm and believe this is the right approach for us to be successful.'

Or

'We are excited by this season and believe this is the right approach for us 'to make further progress under manager Nigel Pearson.'

Or even, 'We are excited about this season and believe we now have a great team in the background to help further enhance the very encouraging improvements we have seen on the pitch under Nigel Pearson.'

Something? Anything? NP is a part of the leadership after all and really not hard to include him with a supportive mention at the end.

If he's going to mention being 'excited about the season' at all - which he didn't have to - it is a very obvious omission to make no reference at all to NP.

13 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Injuries for us are again a big concern but we'll have to make do. Think I've made it pretty clear in other posts that I feel this and Saturday are huge games for Nige.

Simply cannot afford to lose games at the moment. 

Ipswich are on the crest of a wave, as are Cardiff, to a lesser extent, after a 4-0 away win last night.

Both teams have bigger squads, fewer injuries, and will be more rested when they face City.

We'll need to battle as against Coventry to get much tonight. I've every faith these players, under Nige, will give absolutely everything, but it may not be enough to avoid defeat.

Pick up a couple more injuries tonight (who'd bet against it?) and we go to Cardiff under the threat of the sort of tanking SL would feel gave him every excuse.

While delighted with the manner of the Coventry win, if NP's future depends on immediate results, I can't be anything but pessimistic atm; however stoic Nige appears about the injury situation it's getting towards being insurmountable and we're 1 or 2 more unavailable in key positions from a potentially disastrous result however hard the patched team up are trying.

Fingers crossed tonight then for at least a point, and no more bloody injuries!

1 minute ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Last season 15 Managers were sacked in the Championship with Wigan,Watford and Huddersfield sacking two. Nige is the second longest serving . Football clubs constantly have to reinvent themselves and it's an ongoing challenge.

The churn of managers in the Championship is not a route we should seek to follow if it's not necessary, such actions not only shows a lack of patience and understanding by boards and fans, but how seldom clubs clubs make the right choice in the first place, or think long term.

To SL's great good fortune exactly the right man was available and willing to take on the City challenge, NP being a very experienced successful manager who found Bristol City FC fascinating, and was excited and invigorated by the prospect of using his final years in football management to not only turn the club round but, I'm sure in his view, take City to promotion.

He's done everything that could be expected of him, is probably more than half way through executing that plan, and under him we are set on a course to not only be a consistently competitive Championship club but an improving one challenging for the play offs.

It's a fantastic turnaround and we, and particularly SL, are very lucky to have him.

For SL to risk throwing all this away is plain madness, and when lifelong fans say they will take a break from City if he is forced out,, or even give up altogether, they really are not just saying it = this would be the final straw for many who've sat through numerous nonsensical, deflating and damaging decisions by SL and are not about to be uncomplainingly taken for fools yet again.

.

54 minutes ago, Galley is our king said:

Looks really thin availability doesn't it?

Without McCorie, Tanner, Vyner, Atkinson, Benerous, Williams, Scott replacement, Wells.....

But some on here will be wetting themselves if we lose!!

Andy(some numbers), will be the first......

9 out injured then (including Knight & Naismith) from our small squad and at least 5, probably 6, would be starting today and the others either replacing any injured players or on the bench.

Under the circumstances we'll do well to get a point today, and a win would be a great achievement.

15 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I know lots of you are not interested in former players, but good luck to Alex on his Prem debut. Amazed he didn't have a few sub appearances first.

Thanks for posting this on the main forum.

Like many others I suspect I don't read the new offshoot forum, so wouldn't know about it otherwise. 

Who cares if a couple of posters say 'he's gone who cares'?

Surely these are posters to be ignored, and we just carry on as we are.

I knew the name but little else about Gordon, so really interesting to read the memories and appreciative views of a City player from just before my time following the club.

RIP.

23 hours ago, REDOXO said:

@Nogbad the Bad and I are having one of our semi regular discussions on  a subject that anyone under 60 need not apply with our memories varying (it’s a thing kids). In order not to clog up the QPR thread I’ve started this one! 

 

Not a bad idea to have a dedicated Spiring thread but a pity the comments on the QPR away thread are not included.

@phantom is it possible to remove the string of Spiring comments from the QPR away thread and add them to this one instead?

14 hours ago, REDOXO said:

I don’t agree, but we can agree to disagree again Nogbad. 
 

The bloke never got back to what he was before he went to Liverpool. 
 

Loads of players pass Medicals after major injury problems but are never quite the same again,  as we know 

That's true but I can't see any evidence of 'major' injury problems for Spiring at Liverpool or elsewhere which would have such a detrimental effect on him and his career.

If you watched Spiring play for City you were probably as surprised as I was that Liverpool came in for him, and not surprised that he didn't thrive there.

While major injury problems obviously can thwart a career there's no sign of that in Spiring's case, and of course there are equally occasions when the buying club gets a closer look at the player in training, in Spiring's case compares him with players like Keegan and Heighway, realises he'll never be in the same league, and accepts the signing was a mistake.

I think that's almost certainly the case here, but agree to disagree of course!

9 hours ago, City oz said:

Jersey Bean will have all this covered but looking at the great away travel numbers already posted it should be a great day out and an emphatic away win for us. 

I remember as a young lad it was the first London away match my dad took me too and we drew 1-1and Jerry Spring scored. Great memories from that season and those early years in the 70s.

This is where the Peter Spiring/Gerry Sharpe confusion in this thread originated.

At least we didn't end up talking about daytime TV presenters!

58 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

Nope Peter Spiring. 
 

Ref from Luton Town FC as above and Harry Haslam taking a chance after the injuries at Liverpool! 
 

I remember talking to my old man about it one night while MOTD was on.  I was about 10 :laugh:! Long time ago. 

Not so sure Haslam took a chance on him Oxo, the word used is 'rescued' , i.e. Spiring was rescued from an unsuccessful and injury hit time at Anfield - perhaps an unhappy time too - with Liverpool delighted to get an offer from relegation threatened (desperate) Luton which was more than they paid - thus saving face.

Sounds like injuries may have hampered him at Liverpool, however looks to me that he simply didn't live up to expectations because he was fit to pass the medical to Luton, so doubts regarding his fitness wouldn't have been a consideration for Liverpool and they could have persevered with him had they still rated him.

Bad luck with the toe injury at Luton that allowed Futcher to make his mark, but not a serious long term injury and again had Luton really rated him they would have kept him for div.2 rather than unloading him down the divisions to Hereford.

Nobody higher than Hereford interested at that point (even a cut price return to AG perhaps?) suggests to me he was vastly over rated by Liverpool after maybe an eye catching month or 2 at AG, signed in desperation by Luton, and actually found his true level with Hereford.

That's my take on it half a century on, and I imagine City couldn't believe their luck when the 60k Liverpool offer came in.

4 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

Posted explanation as you posted this..

Yep, I can see there's been a Spiring/Sharpe mix up somewhere along the way!

Real shame about Gerry Sharpe - I remember a big crowd turning up at AG for a reserve match when he attempted a comeback, but sadly his injury wasn't up to it.

10 minutes ago, bcfc01 said:

Memory may be bad, but I don't think he payed again after the injury.

Went to USA and died over there a few years ago.

He played League football with Hereford until he was 33, and Wiki has him down as still alive.

12 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

He broke his leg if I remember and was never the same player afterward 

I don't remember hearing that before. 

He was at Liverpool for about a year, on the bench twice but no appearances, before he was moved on.

I doubt he broke his leg (or certainly not badly in a Gerry Sharpe way) while at Liverpool or presumably Luton wouldn't have paid even more for him (70k) than Liverpool did to us.

Also had 8 seasons at Hereford after Luton.

1 hour ago, bcfc01 said:

His scoring rate was good for a winger.

He was rapid, but his technical ability was nowhere near good enough for Liverpool which was a strange signing by them - up there with Ralph Milne to Man.Utd.

I thought he first became a regular after being brought in as Garland's direct replacement up front, but maybe he was thought of as a winger before that and then moved wide again after Gould was signed?

Either way, somehow Liverpool were prepared to pay almost twice as much for Spiring as they had for Keegan some 18 months earlier.

1 hour ago, bcfc01 said:

Season 72/73 so Peter Spiring.

 

Spiring must go down as one of City's best ever sales, the 60k we received from Liverpool was a fairly substantial fee in '73.

Garland's replacement iirc and a career scoring rate of about a goal every 4 games for City.

Can't imagine what Liverpool saw in him but he never played a first team game for them and was quickly moved on to Luton.

If it's still possible for him to represent England then Southgate should be on the case.

Nope, but I hope they all do well individually, and more importantly come out of the games unscathed.

2 hours ago, CrackingCheeseGromit said:

Going back to the 70s I remember Geert Meijer, Gertie from Amsterdam doing it at Ashton Gate.

Don't think that's likely as Meijer only scored twice in total for City. One of those I remember being early on in a home match (Brum?) when he somehow scored from what appeared from my spot in the EE to be an impossible angle near the corner flag between the Enclosure and the open End.

So unless he came on as a sub. in the first few minutes in that game, scored immediately, and then scored again later in the game, I'm afraid it can't have happened.

28 minutes ago, WesM said:

I thought TC was done until the new year…..must have read that wrong somewhere?

Always going to be October, bar any setbacks, so he's a bit early but not much.

McCrory's the only one we've been told definitely won't be back this side of Christmas.