BTRFTG

In The Gas' scored column usually.....

When I had to go there every Tuesday during the mid 70's the training pitch was usually unplayable so we either had to use the actual pitch or the sodding great car park that did for us forwards knees and elbows. Behind the old stand was an extension affair that housed the then pretty basic scrum equipment. Although they sold the training pitch they did then retain and turn around the car park such one could argue the original covenant of preserving sport and recreation was maintained. Could be the rugby club argued that without the sake they'd have folded altogether as they never had two halfpennys to rub together.

It's perfectly reasonable for covenants to be removed where they relate to restrictions that are today illegal or where their purpose may no longer be easily discharged. In which case if the land on which The Memorial sits is preserved for 'Sport & Recreation' Wael & Co would have an impossible task in demonstrating that the covenant has been maintained since Bristol Rugby upped sticks and left. Methinks that's been his intention all along.......

Perhaps its the barman who worked in the Beehive at Swindle, if you recall. Got really angry when we kept ordering real ale when he could only serve keg rubbish.

The key difference between us and them is voluntary liquidation arises where there's hope that an element of the enterprise might successfully survive if restructured. Often creditors will, in part, take settlement of future interest in the new business. In their case it's hopeless, there is no future. There is no market in second hand tents or soiled carpets and curtains. Floodplain swamp in Avonmouth is ten a penny and good only for conservationists seeking refuge for reptiles. Somewhat apt methinks....

We weren't declared bankrupt rather we agreed voluntary liquidation, a very different proposition. Our assets ( and debts) were disposed of in a controlled and agreed process. Had we not agreed to the process our prime creditors would have petitioned for bankruptcy, key component change of which were the 8 accepting the Hobsons' they were given. Had we been declared bankrupt we wouldn't now be playing at AG.

In a language he'd understand ??HTTP

Loving the hoarding- join the Rovers Helpline and win a holiday. Sure as hell need one after watching that losing ****......

In case I've missed something these past 50 odd years the first question a fan asks is how did we get on, not how did we play? We won. We kept a clean sheet. We had a few brighter performances, Kelly for the second game running. We've still major problems but tonight, when it mattered, WeeLee reverted to tactics suited to the limited ability players at our disposal. Long may he continue to do so if it brings results. Cardiff finished bottom of the Championship ratings on every single positive passing and possession stat last year. Didn't see their fans complaining too much about their performances though.

Surely Slarti, Wael and his Carry On will soon be portrayed as Randy Lauw, The Khasi of Kalabar....

Rumour has it Wael paid in Bitcoin, them being Bit Part players......

I fear we'll be failing to see the funny side when their new, star striker vaults the barrier in celebration of their opener Saturday ( exclusive preview)

Gormless The Gas may be but a tad harsh on Richard O'Sullivan who sadly is in a pretty poor state of health these days, which neatly brings us back to The Gas....

Absolutely. The drop from the top of the bleachers must be at least 4 foot....

Don't you just adore the logic in his argument? I'm going to cancel my season ticket and opt instead to pay a higher price for individual match tickets even though the stand in which I wish to sit won't be there and when it is there's a chance tickets will no longer be available given they were for season ticket holders.

A Gashead who writes like Eric Morecambe played the piano : the correct words but not necessarily in the right order. I also love the flaw in his argument, what makes him think buying a ticket would enable him observe football being played?

The way their crowds are going could soon be applause is limited to

Yeah I was there and despite our woeful performances it was sad to see him go in the way he did and many of us had great sympathy for him. I think he may have hung around a bit for Smith to be ready to take over, clearly as demonstrated at Forest his heart hadn't been in it for some time.

Wasn’t that John Ward? Shortly before Benny took over? Could be my age but I recall two very similar incidents both arising after heavy losses at Ipswich. Both involved pretty decent human beings with, as you say, Ward being the other. In Glumsden's case I think we lost fairly early in the Season (hence my thoughts about DC post day 1) where he effectively offered his resignation but was cajoled to stay in position for a number of months despite a string of poor performances. I'll never forget one game at the end of his reign when he sat on his own on the far side of the pitch at Forest as we took a battering in the cup, looking like he hadn't a friend in the world and with the weight of his tragic, personal circumstance bearing on his shoulders. Ward did a similar thing half a dozen years later post the 'Clarence Winerack' debacle but in his case and having learned the lesson of Jimmy L he departed almost immediately.

As I wrote, I've no argument about playing out from the back save in our case it takes very little to stop us doing so, given we've few to play through. Cycle through the games and save against poor sides it invariably breaks down and we end up with misplaced long balls. To play from the back we need creative mids and we don't have them so rather negates the point in trying to do so. Moreover, when it doesn't work we've no effective Plan B. Similarly, the point I made about defending narrow makes no sense from those responding. Again yesterday we dropped back in ample time such we've at least 4 in a line and with good shape save they were ultra narrow - there was at least 10 yards or more in which to work the flanks. For their goal Eliasson did exactly what he was supposed to, dropped back, held his man, but with nobody tracking back it's a simple lay off to their overlap in space and guaranteed quality delivery into the box. If you argue that like last year we've no pace amongst the Centre Halfs and we can't afford to have them separated then you might have a point but I'm not sure that's true and seems lesser of two evils to me than uncontested balls into the box, against which we continue to struggle.

Playing Forest before they'd chance to gel and taking a point were positives, as were a few performances of note. We were ultimately undone by a series of basic truths that one could cut and paste from any of my comments last season (particular last half) or from those few brave souls hereabouts who resist the BS3 mentally of everything having to be rose-tinted at risk one is called a traitor. First up to ask the question (again) why does WeeLee set up to defend so narrow? Yesterday, like last season, at times the back 4 were within the width of the 6 yard box. Note to WeeLee, it may limit the direct 'run-through' but doesn't really stop the 'cut-in' and gives savannah space for quality ball into the box (see their goal.) Countering with a more combative and mobile midfield is a far better option. Secondly, playing out from the back is fantastic but only if you've access to creative, mobile midfielders. Pack's our only creative and despite another decent performance yesterday he showed even more how limiting his first 5 yards of pace are at Championship standard. His never say die attitude and the way in which he works to recover the ball is exemplar such we notice the recovery but often neglect it was he who failed to get to the ball in the first place. We can't simply rely on Pack to dictate how well we'll do. We knock it around, take increasingly dangerous levels of risk in doing so only to knock the thing long. Time to stick or bust methinks. If the objective is to play through to feet and pace then it ain't working. If not we need a lump upfront able to stay on the pitch longer than The Gas remain competitive each season. Thirdly, WeeLee's pre and post match press conferences always include reference to what they been working on in training - the 'inches'. So here's a free hint boss - practice the basics like being able to trap the ball or running with it inches, not yards, from one's foot. Stamp out the superfluous 'trickery', particularly when it's in dangerous positions on the park. The number of reckless and unenforced errors yesterday was worrying and we'll get punished big-time if they're not eliminated. Of the performances: I loved the apparent change in attitude from Eliasson who at last looked positive and as though he has the training pitch talent we've heard of but never seen. Webster did just fine at Centre Back and the keeper, in truth, didn't have much to do. I see others are rating his improved distribution but I could have rolled and knocked the short balls he did yesterday. Hunt - like the attitude but he had several shaky touches and I'm not keen on his gung-ho approach in getting so far forward without support. Every time he lost possession we were very exposed to the break. Yesterday he got up frequently and with gusto (good) but was somewhat slower on the return journey (bad.) He needs to learn to pick and choose his moments. Bryan's few positive contributions came from when he was high up the pitch, not surprising given he's always been a defensive liability. Maybe I read too much into his body language but either his motivation was knowing he's out the door this week (if not for the hyped deal he and his agent had hoped,) else he's gone Basso, realised his golden chance has passed and is in a period of sulk. Either way play him high up or not at all. Weimann did OK first half with a very well taken goal, let's hope it doesn't prove to be a 'quarter' given his historic, annual tally. And that leaves the annual who's going to be the Ashton Gate whipping boy (for we always like one?) Good news is this term it's self-selecting, though was strongly hinted at last year. Some say Patterson can't help his body language and that it's not symptomatic of his attitude or ability. They're wrong. From his slouched shoulders, obsession with looking at the turf, pointing at everybody other than himself and wanting the ball less than Dracula wants daylight, he's an utter waste of space. His sole talent is his spatial ability to hide in plain site. The way he tucks himself between the opposition, creates the angles, such not even Messi in a City shirt could find him. If Hide & Seek were a professional sport he'd be World Champion. He ceded possession, uncontested, 6 or more times yesterday mostly in dangerous positions. That he did so being unable to control the ball is scandalous. WeeLee loves him but if he sticks with him much longer it'll end up with the boss paying the price. So in that respect it's same old, same old. I doubt we'll be troubling the top of the table, I hope we won't trouble the bottom.

Listened to DC on the Twentystone phone-in driving home and thought it the most thinly veiled 'resignation speech' since Glumsden at Ipswich. "We work hard all week, prepare, then they go and do that...basic errors,....it's not acceptable....there were no positives...but I select the players and give them the game plan and if they play like that I'm to blame." Short of ' Go on, sack me' sounded to me like he'd had enough.

Loving the thread on their forum about the mysteriously disappeared stands and the heartfelt fan in support of the regime who without a hint of irony states: "would watch them on The Downs." You will, you will......

If Scum is defined as 'foul or offensive matter floating on the surface of a liquid' I'd just like to point out that last season the pitch at 'The House Of Hair' appeared to be flooded on more than one occasion. Just saying....

What, that they've signed Clinton Baptiste?