Nogbad the Bad

All LM posts here? With any luck they can soon be moved to the new forum you did so much to instigate RO - All things ex-players and managers!

Me too, about 76-78. And Saturday lunchtimes too, when they trialed it for a bit, in the summer I think so didn't interfere with going down the Gate. Remember Stairway to Heaven and the massive queues for the Ladies just before the slow spot so they wouldn't get asked to dance Plus they always played Hi Ho Silver Lining near the end, so we had to outshout any Rovers fans, and there were a few football scraps afterwards walking up the hill.

They did. I was late renewing one year and received a phone call from the club saying they were sorry I hadn't renewed, was there any particular reason, and it would be very much appreciated it if I did. If they don't still do this they should, it makes a big difference as a fan to know that they actually care whether you're there or not, and many will be persuaded by a personal touch. I can't find the link but I think it was Forest a few years ago who contacted lapsed STH's, a very large number at the time, offering them a free match ticket. They were very much talking about reinvigorating a love affair iirc, saying really wanted them back and the free ticket was an opportunity for these fans to get back in the ground and, hopefully, get that love for their club back.

Don't see how that would work in practice. I doubt the club have any record of my attendance from 1970 to at least 1997 when I first got a ST because I wouldn't have dreamt of getting one even though I barely missed a home game. My discount next season will be 85 quid or 17.5 %. I actually think it should be more.

Don't mistake your wealthy customers in a well off area to the average Bristol City fan. Many pensioners are not only not well off, in fact far from it, and in the case of City fans will probably have been paying into the club man and boy for 50-60 years. Do you think City get many new fans aged 65+? Whatever way you look at it, pensionable age or discount for long service following the club they damn well deserve a discount.

I don't think it will be the fans who spend half the game getting pissed in the concourse who won't renew, many of them seem to be having a great laugh no matter the result or performance. More like those who've identified themselves as City fanatics for decades but now find themselves bored stiff and morose at what used to be a highlight of their week. The football is (or was) everything to them, pints on board or not, and will never be just a part of the day or a secondary consideration. As you said earlier it will be interesting to see what happens but I do think it's different this time and the club are in for a really big shock.

A lot less imo - I think you're hugely underestimating the mutiny we're about to see. It's been rubbish entertainment down there for many years (average 8 home wins per season in the last 9 seasons?) and I think with the diabolical treatment of NP and a less than inspiring replacement this is the year fans finally follow through on their threats not to renew by actually doing it. So many fans are pissed off with Bristol City FC and the continuing dreadful decisions that drain all hope and I wouldn't be at all surprised at a mass desertion by several thousand.

If, as described by the OP, they were '2 little boys who couldn't have been more than 11 years old', they may not even have reached the age of criminal responsibility. Give them a good telling off, but to manhandle and ban children seems concerning and OTT to me.

If Manning is still here next season sparse crowds like today will be the norm. He's a crashing bore, his football is excruciatingly tedious, the atmosphere around the club is dead, and there's absolutely nothing for fans to be excited about.

Thanks SJ, but I prefer being an ordinary supporter and can't think of anything worse than getting involved behind the scenes with the hierarchy at your favourite club. Put you off for life I should think. Too old and knackered now anyway - to think I was relatively young when I started posting on OTIB! From those on here I reckon @GrahamC would fit the bill as a straight talker, and I imagine @CliftonCliff might shake things up a bit too. A fan representative - isn't that what the Supporters Trust was originally all about? ?

Surprising amount of confidence on the forum. I can't share it - unless Ipswich suddenly feel the pressure and play unexpectedly poorly I can see us conceding at least 3.

Only time I've been there was April '78, Ipswich's last home game before their (winning) appearance in the F.A. Cup Final. Pretty well a full house with Wembley flags prepared and waving, not many City fans. City lost 1-0 and Bobby Robson was on the pitch at the end - unusual in those days - as the Ipswich fans gave their team and manager a noisy and colourful Wembley send off.

Please keep politics off our football forum chaps. It ruins threads and no one's interested in your political views anyway. Cheers.

I wouldn't say that, many very much liked the look of Szmodics, couldn't understand why LJ had never given him a proper chance, and thought the club would regret letting him go. Others just said he was an Eisa/Adelukan type punt which hadn't worked out and well done the club and MA for making a profit. There was a general acceptance that we had too many midfielders, DH wasn't going to play him (either), so better for all parties if he moved on ... but make sure there was a good sell on. That's my take anyway from what became his departure thread from Aug/Sept 2020:

My disenchantment with the club goes back a long way now to the day they sacked Steve Cotterill. I was reinvigorated by the unexpected and excellent appointment of another great character and leader in NP, then just as the heavy lifting has been done to correct their horrendous errors of the past, and we could look forward with some degree of optimism and excitement, they boot him out too. If the aim was to completely deflate and piss off fans like me they could hardly have done a better job.

In a managerial career spanning 26 years Cotts has never overseen a relegation and no doubt in my mind he'd have kept City up that season. A disgraceful decision to boot him out of AG, on a par with getting rid of NP, 2 managers far more capable than their successors. A hell of as job to take on at FGR but if anyone can keep them up Cotts can.

As Bristol Boy he was miles ahead at the top of the leaderboard when he stopped posting and iirc remained there for a number of years before being overtaken.

Leicester & Leeds promoted. Ipswich, Southampton, West Brom & Hull play offs. City 12th on 57 pts. Sheff. Weds, QPR & Rotherham down, though Wednesday & Stoke both on 44 pts.

Sorry, I know you're just articulating your thoughts but if you think, 'Manning in the main has served up a one dimensional turgid crap brand of football.' and 'I think he is out of his depth and one dimensional and taking us backwards' why would you give him the pre season and a number of new signings when he - his uninspiring personality, and, as you say, his turgid style of football - seem to be at the root of the problem? These things seem very much ingrained and unlikely to change and, if we allow LM to shape next season's squad we'll have lumbered the next coach/manager with new signings he may not want with little or no more money to make further changes, and it's another frustrating and wasted season ahead. I cannot see things improving significantly, some managers fit AG, some very much don't, and the board need to be decisive and ruthless for once, whether it's soon or at the end of the season. Oh, I forgot, they were pretty ruthless with Cotts and NP.

Manning may have lost the team but it's more JL & BT who have lost the fans, and I expect the club to get a big shock when it comes to ST renewal.

Never heard NTTDS sound so utterly pissed off on RB, things must be bad.

He's on one hell of a new contract, he needs to earn it now, not regress.

I think many of them were upset by Nige getting booted out and are missing him just as much as the majority of fans.

As supporters we can't do much about which division City are in. What we remember are great games, outstanding goals, players who got us off our seats, and in that respect the division we're in is of secondary importance.

And Living for the City at no.19 too!