Mr Popodopolous

Bit of a historic day today.

A full round- that is all 18 sides, the 8 in the First Division, 10 in the 2nd. So 9 games.

All starting at 2pm...day/night County Championship. First time ever.

Afghanistan with that great young spinner, in typical subcontinental conditions... Wouldn't understimate the challenge that could pose.

Ireland- well conditions are more like ours, their players may not have the same x-Factor as Afghanistan (wouldn't surprise me if Afghanistan have flair like Pakistan tbh) but a lot of players with County experience, maybe Morgan, Rankin would go back. Yeah they could pose a challenge, could see with the right combo a tough batting line up.

Is great to see- well deserved for both of these. Good to expand the game.

Afghanistan's rise in particular has been phenomenal. In a sense though, being located where they are- in and around Pakistan- there should be no shortage of raw talent. Still it's astonishing.

Ring fencing was always a bit of a pipe dream this year tbh, never saw it as likely or on the cards.

Looks like a London Irish-Yorkshire final this season? I think they are both eligible for promotion.

In terms of winning the Championship next season? Promotion by February? Reckon it maybe sometime in March if Yorkshire put up another strong challenge. That's assuming that London Irish don't blow it in the final then it would be a 2 horse race deep into the season IMO.

On 4/17/2017 at 18:46, Beni71 said:

Interestingly we are 7th in the table for shots on target per game and 3rd per shots in a game. We have missed some chances this season.

That's true. Also worth looking at shots on target 'allowed' per game, conceded in a game.

I think we are midtable all said and done, our numbers have been on balance.

Was just too much to do in the end.

In hindsight, losing every game for the first 2 months was it in all competitions, and just two losing bonus points in that time was just too big to overcome. Maybe had we replaced Robinson last summer- we rallied well absolutely well for a time, but Worcester dispatching Bath, and earlier in season beating Saracens and getting 2 losing bonus points at Wasps was unexpected!

As soon as we were hammered by Harlequins at home- who had lost every away game in the season- I deep down thought we were doomed.

40 minutes ago, Engvall's Splinter said:

In a season full of negativity (dished out from me), I'll take that despite the missed chances. 

 

Is a good point yeah but we missed some golden chances at 1-0 today...

Dunno whether to be happy or a bit disappointed. I was looking up to overtake QPR and even push Ipswich and Wolves maybe earlier in day but a point seems okay overall.

We should have been out of sight tbh. Goals change games though.

Typical. Isn't it.

2-0, 3-0 it could have been anything and yet. I would have taken a point pre game but not when we are so dominant!

Ref isn't giving us much either.

That was a good day. 

A good win. Pretty good atmosphere. Birmingham dropping points was a bonus I didn't anticipate, we played well, restricted them and 14 pts 8 games is pretty good eh?? We should have beat Burton as well.

I will admit maybe I was wrong about LJ, still time will tell. 

Burton Ipswich as a draw would have been even better probably same with Forest Blackburn in a way. More sides in the scrap the better.

50 minutes ago, chipdawg said:

Perhaps. I mean with the squad they're putting together and the league winner now going up automatically, promotion shouldn't be an issue and they'll be able to plan for the Premiership much earlier. Just seems odd that so many players should be buying in. With regard Luatua, I guess NZ aren't exactly short of back row options and perhaps they've told him their going a different direction. He's not the most 'subtle' of players, but I would think he'll be a good player over here

I've watched a fair bit of Super 15 rugby (not so much since the little one figured out how to ask for cartoons!) and Morahan is dynamic in broken play from when I've seen him. Always difficult to tell how players will translate coming from Southern Hemisphere though as it's such a different style. He has ability though

Would be surprised if ring-fencing is on the cards this season.

That sounds about right. A long term plan, a medium-long term project. Go straight back up with no issues next year (assuming we go down- we probably will but survival isn't impossible). Then come back significantly stronger, augment it as soon as we know automatic promotion is assured- so next Feb or so? Build from there.

6 hours ago, Up The City! said:

How can it be financially viable to having them playing in a stadium with 20k spare seats? 

They really need their own smaller stadium (share with BCFC women etc) and then come to AG when they are likely to attract a big crowd.

Dunno about salary cap rules in that League, if any exist. Presumably will look to get rid of the dross players, rebuild on a smaller quality side and milk hospitality and the like for all it's worth.

Perhaps a smaller stadium maybe an idea but would SL want to bear the cost? 5-6 k or so is a good indicator though, is exactly what happened last time they were at that level and of course clubs at that level have so few fans they bring even less away!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015–16_RFU_Championship

Just look at the average and highest attendances- we will win the Championship by a street if we go down. By a street (unless London Irish could somehow screw it up in which case we might  have some competition).

I would suggest attendances of 5-6k next season IF they go down. Still one of the best in the Championship as that League is tiny but 5-6k probably a likely marker for most games.

On 2/25/2017 at 18:01, Barrs Court Red said:

The standing point is interesting, it was promised as part of the move over yet seems increasingly unlikely. It would certainly encourage some sort of atmosphere, as at the moment it's flat. You don't get as annoyed by the steady procession of people heading the the bar either!

Personally I thought that they raised prices too soon, and never really gave it time to get people coming more often than not, a habit I guess.  

 

Yeah I think a standing area would be decent, dunno how that would fit with football regs at Championship, possible not being able to be used for football, loss of that area for a ground is the problem- in the top 2 divisions it is anyway, lower down perhaps not. It absolutely helps enhance the atmosphere- in both football and rugby!

Wouldn't necessarily disagree with that, a season of lower prices may have put a couple of thousand more on the gate in general. Or even half a season and then rise steadily- aggressive pricing definitely something to look at next year regardless of division.

I am pretty happy with the result. Listened on the radio first half we were terrific. Good point, and one more than most expected I am sure.

Brave selection by Johnson that- recalling Vyner and Wilbraham in particular- Vyner as he has barely played in the last year, Wilbraham as nobody expected it really. he made a good selection.

The substitutions...hmm. Too late with them again. I think the turning point was when Cotterill almost scored his 2nd just after Newcastle scored- had he done so we would have been home and dry.

Still a good result though, one we now must build on.

As for the next 2 games...Burton is obviously must win, nailed on must win. I would take a point at Villa, a little run like that would be steady solid.

7 hours ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Your missing out the fact that Bristol have the unenviable task of raising the average crowd from 6k to seemingly above 16k. 

Given the fact that matches seem pretty evenly split between Fridays and Sundays, they're not attractive as an option to anyone that can't make fixtures on those days, which leaves forking out for the match day prices. 

It seems SL has realised this, but seems to think the Championship is attractive enough to launch "aggressive pricing". He's wrong. 

 

 

That is a good point, a fair point- all of it. I would personally reduce prices by say £5 per stand immediately and see how it looks.

If we had a terrace like some other rugby stadia we could reduce it further. Friday and Sunday doesn't help- Sunday is more convenient as most people are off, should if at all possible get a greater balance split for a Sunday games.

Agreed. I went to a few games last year and I was shocked at just how small a League the Rugby Championship was. I absolutely was, saw an article on it a few momths back and was surprised- part time players, lots of sides happy with attendances of 1,000- 2nd tier of English rugby, wow.

As for the growth- 6k last year yup, read we get 13.5k this season so we're on our way. Wasn't aware of the 16k target truth be told but IF we can somehow survive this year, 16k next year with the right tweaks- and maybe a greater balance of games on Sunday from Friday would surely help a fair bit. For Championship well such a tiny League attendances would plummet.

I sure hope we win- more Bath than Bristol fans where I work :laugh:.

Realistically a losing bonus point is the best we can hope for.

18 hours ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Which is dreadful. At a minimum this fixture should attract 20k, but between the abysmal rugby produced by the club and the ticket prices set by BS it just ain't gonna happen.

I just can't wait for the season to end now,  a complete and utter shambles.

The thing is I had a quick browse of other clubs and their ticket prices PL rugby (Bath, Harlequins and the like). Not too different really...

Leicester Tigers for example- lowest adult price £28!! That is if you book on a terrace in advance. Lowest. £18 in fact another one says but still...that's the lowest category of game with an advance booking.

I assumed a few weeks ago- between us, Worcester and Sale as the 3. Also maybe one or both of Gloucester and Newcastle.

Now that loss  Harlequins!  Not just loss but hammering changed everything..Doomed.

The Rugby Championship is a tiny tiny League, quite a lot of teams get about 1,000 fans- we should certainly romp it, maybe a 100% record. Well that should be the aim anyway- while showing it respect, 100% record should be a viable aim.

We're done. I see no way we can survive now, all that good work of the late Autumn and the first bit of winter, the spirit, the steady improvement and most importantly the upturn of results- all undone on a terrible evening. 

2 hours ago, Charliesboots said:

So is there a 6pm press release?

Yes, whatever happened to that?

I believe Quins have lost every away game so a win is obviously essential.

Would go as far as to say it's relegation if we don't win.