Red Skin

I'd completely forgotten about him. Yes, he did look good in some games and was amazing in some of the younger teams. Hope he regains his fitness and it hasn't affected him.

Without an obvious midfielder like Alex Scott that can carry the ball and break the lines, it seem to me that plan at home is for the full backs to press high and attack. Pring's failure to do this, which he has acknowledged himself, has cost him game time. Williams' performances alongside Knight are encouraging. Hopefully, as their confidence grows they will be braver on the ball. Always good to have Naismith there to find a pass, and if there is space opening up I've been very impressed with Dickie's forward passing. Setting myself up for some pelters, but if we can execute the plan I feel confident things with improve especially against more forward thinking teams. ?

Wow! All delivered and tied up with a fancy bow before I've finished my breakfast!! ??

Always hard to know who the decent teams are this early in the season. What's the xG league table look like? (That'll give you a bit more to occupy yourself @Davefevs)

It's a definite no from me.

It isn't US though, is it? Like it or not we have a singing section that have taken on the mantle of creating atmosphere, so Section 32 are leading things. I have no idea whether it was the club's initiative alone or it was in response to a clamour from fans to create a 'singing' section, but as things are personally I am not a fan. To my mind those fans sprinkled around the whole ground would be more likely to get others join in. I guess we are where we are, so it isn't gonna change any time soon. My gripe is that from all these self-appointed singers we have no one that can craft an original song that everyone feels they can join with. Also, at times they seem to be lost in their own songs rather than responding to what's happening on the pitch. For example, why don't we sing 'C'mon you reds' at every corner like we used before that section, rather than carrying on some endless durge started 2 minutes before? Also, songs like the one that is punctuated with 'see you next tuesday' aren't ones that every fan (especially those taking their kids to the game) will want to join in with. It alienates fans from that section. No problem with swearing, it's just really lame. Maybe some songs are just away songs? Personally, I do sing at games and always join in, but having some unique songs that everyone feels they can join in with, drop the embarrassing sh1te songs, and being more in tune with what happening on the pitch would help enormously. P s. And before anyone suggested getting there and influencing that section, I have a son with disability so that's not an option.

To the chorus of Black Velvet Band, sung by the legendary Luke Kelly. "You can keep Ronaldo and Messi, MBappe does nothing for me. Give me Mark Sykes, the Belfast Boy. The pride of Bristol City". Probably just one for the Irish City fans. But a rousing song for Sykes that mentions Belfast would probably get his approval rather than generic tunes that get constantly recycled.

Unfortunately, we have zero talent in S32 to create unique and original songs. They don't even seem to copy good ones. Really monotone dull ones that have no passion. Clubs like Liverpool and Man Utd have some great songsmith and a way to get these songs known by supporters. Appreciate they have many many more fans to draw on, but surely S32 could come up with one decent effort?

You can't catch Sam Bell, Sam Bell, can't catch Sam Bell, Too slow, he's long gone, long gone. Ditto...

That really doesn't make any sense. He will only become established by getting experience and playing week in week out, which is exactly what he is getting. He needs experience at this level, so loaning out to a lower league club won't give him the experience he needs. Experience will not all be good, but he will need adversity to grow and mature. Max is good enough.

Sh1te crosses are, but good ones produce goals don't they? I really lament the inability of wingers to get to the bye line and cut back for incoming attackers.

Great lad. So gutted for him he got his injury.

Thanks for some well needed balance @Davefevs. I agree with your analysis. It's wasn't great, but the overreaction on OTIB seems to be getting worse. Is this the influence of social media algorithms on the group psyche, in that only extreme opinions are worthy of getting attention? It's very frustrating though. Individual errors aside we have struggled for years to break down sides that can defend. We are still lacking players that are brave on the ball and can beat a man. Maybe these should be attributes we should look for in potential signings, and things we should develop and ingender in the academy?

Must have been some movement to put his knee out. I usually just pop a pile! ? Gutted for Tommy. Was really looking forward to seeing him push on this year.

It was spared because Hitler wanted to make the City the nation's capital after invasion. https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18436445.bombers-avoided-oxford-hitler-eyes/

He was obviously disappointed he didn't score but I don't think he did much wrong with his first chance. He shot on target and placed the ball back toward the far corner, meaning a parry would (potentially) bring the ball back out into play. Perhaps you could criticise the height of the shot. Good height for the keeper. What worried me more was the lack of chances we created, and our failure to move the ball quickly. It was almost as if that for some players the challenge was to make the starting eleven, rather than performing in the game. It's great we are a very fit team, but given the relatively poor quality of the team we played preseason, I wonder to what extent fitness won these games. We have always struggled against team that sit back and that we need to open up. I think preseason needs to test our guile as well as our fitness. As others have said, Vyner, Dickie, Bell, and Williams were good. Also thought things improved when Sykes and Conway came on. Oxford is a great chance for others in the squad to press for a start.

Ah, shit. Always enjoy a cider in the sun on the first game of the season. ?

Thank for the update. Good to hear the digital ticketing went well.

Very pleased you guys are producing a match day programme. My son loves a programme and he has really missed not having one. Especially pleased you are accepting payment by card. Thank you.

Yeah, never quite get that right. Basically, Pearson's Bristol City smashing it. ?

For me, you cannot underestimate the impact Pearson has. Just as developing academy players and having a pathway becomes self-fulfilling as the better young players want to come here, the same is true for the first team. Pearson and his team are selecting players to fit a style of play and within that framework he is confident enough in himself to give players the responsibility and licence to perform without micromanaging them. (We had a thread about Sean O'Driscoll recently, and this was Sean's philosophy too, although he wasn't able to bring in the same level of talent). Young up and coming players know they will be given the best chance to develop and succeed here, and if we can't deliver promotion they will be able to improve to the point that they have a very good springboard to greater success elsewhere. This in turns means we are able to attract the most up and coming talent here. The cycle continues. My guess is we will see the same virtuous circle for decent loan players from the Prem in the near future, and this may ultimately see us gain promotion.

We obviously differ. Match day threads are fine if you want to follow the play as it unfolds, but it's usually full of emotional and reactionary post after the final whistle. Having a more considered thread a couple hours after then of the match makes for better reading for me, once everyone has calmed down.

I think the live option is different forum ?

@22A I am enjoying your NTTDS level of nerdiness and detail. ??

I feel I need to make a meaningless and non insightful contribution to this thread. As you were...