So as is normal I am starting my report 24 hours early and straight away I bring you very EXCLUSIVE disturbing news regarding tomorrows “crucial” game???  One of City’s most important (HA) players is extremely doubtful for the game through injury??? Yes, yours truly is truly struggling some 24 hours pre kick off?  I would love to say it was a “football related” injury but, unfortunately not.  Its actually a canine related injury!!!  Alright those of you who just “may” know my Good Lady – behave!!!!  In preparation for such a “big match” yours truly decided to take a couple of days off “pre match” to try and ensure that pre match nerves are kept to an absolute minimum.  Well during this leisure time I took my three Jack Russell’s for a long deserved walk and it was whilst out on this walk that my eldest dog went in one direction whilst the younger two went in another direction whilst my inside left knee ligaments went I don’t know where!!!  So im now sat here typing this stinking of “Deep Heat” with said knee tightly strapped.  Where’s Glen S. when you need him?  Now as most of you will realize this season thus far I have only missed one home game against Birmingham.  I have mysteriously forgotten just WHY I missed that game Chris / Jen ……………………… but I will be doing my best to drag myself to the Gate tomorrow rest assured.

After Tuesday nights game v West Ham can anyone answer just what these two have in common????

Well if anyone watched the goals from the Gate on Sky News at 10:00 BST on Tuesday night  the presenter who was talking over the goals actually referred to Cole as KOLO SKUSY – Absolutely honest!!!!

So after Tuesday nights result we need TWO points to guarantee Championship football at the Gate next season.  So the fans of both Portsmouth and Coventry will change their allegiances to Barnsley for 90 minutes tomorrow as it is now only the Yorkshire side who can save them?  Just “who”  (certainly not me) would have believed that it was just 21 days ago that Calamity James wearing his red nose decided to punch the ball into his own net thus helping to “gift” Watford all three points and leaving us in the bottom three with a look of relegation written all over the team?  I would almost certainly guarantee that anyone of the 12,017 fans who were down at the Gate on that night in March who allegiances were with BCFC would not have put a single penny on us going on a six match unbeaten run.

So this leads me on to wonder just “what” has changed in the month since we were so woeful at home to Watford?  Well I am going to suggest that it just might be two things?  Firstly Del Boy managed to secure the services of Andre Amougou AKA Mr.T from Burnley on loan.  Suddenly defensively we look a lot more solid and after all would YOU argue with Mr.T!!!!  But the one single change that has brought about us getting to the brink of Championship safety is and I make absolutely NO excuse whatsoever here for appearing to be extremely controversial but I give to you the dropping of Calamity as being massive.  Since the ego was demoted to a new role warming his arse on the bench we have not lost a single game and Deano has only conceded a total of  six goals in six games – Coincidence?  Me thinks not???

So the last home game of the season see’s us up against our old pals from Barnsley who ensured their own safety this week.  For some strange bizarre reason Barnsley has always been the one team that we appear to be “closest” to in whatever division we are both playing in.  Just look at either our forum or theirs and there is always good banter but total respect between the two sets of supporters of each team.  In these days it is great to see and I for one always look out for Barnsleys results.

Am I confident about tomorrow?  No.  Barnsley have nothing to play for so just “might” come down like the likes of Watford and Derby have done recently and played with little care and thus making them possibly difficult opponents.  In football its always good to score an early goal and I honestly feel that we really need an early goal tomorrow?  Despite everything that Del Boy and the likes are saying publically the players AND the fans WILL be nervous tomorrow and the best way to quell those nerves is to score an early goal?  The early goal will calm nerves END OF.

Now a few PLUS pointers already?  Firstly tomorrows referee is a certain Darren Deadman.  The last time Mr.Deadman refereed the City?  30^th December, 2011, St.Marys Stadium, Southampton 0 BCFC 1.  Secondly one of my many superstitions about BCFC is that when I take my dogs out one of the walks is very adjacent to a local golf course and I always try and make sure that the dogs locate an EVEN number of stray golf balls?  Well after plenty of searching this morning I can report that today’s find was SIX.  Finally I can also now report that the lucky sky blue boxers which were the main reason for us beating Cov!!!! HA were also being worn on Tuesday night for the visit of the Hammers (Obviously washed and had to be sky blue as I don’t possess any claret ones!!!).  Now tomorrow I am presently in a bit of a quandary?  Barnsley normally play in red, the same colour as…………………… But if my memory serves me well their away kit is purple???  Im off to search my underwear drawer and rest this fing knee???  Speak to you tomorrow?

So its now first thing matchday morning.  Good news to report all round.  On the weather front after overnight rain we now have a sunny day (Just hopes it stays that way?), more importantly on the “injury” front a combination of a knee support and that perennial favourite Deep Heat appears to have worked its magic whereby it’s a lot better than it was yesterday so every indication is that come hell or high water I WILL be on duty at the Gate today?  On the lucky boxer short front well, this was a massive decision taking into account Barnsleys penchant for purple???  It was either “borrow” a similar coloured pair of knickers (she doesn’t wear boxers) owned by the other half but are we THAT desperate???  No I think not, and what “if” as I was making my to my seat in the Williams suddenly this bloody knee gave out altogether and I was carted off to the BRI? How could I explain that I was wearing a pair of my missus’s knickers?  Well its like this doctor.  Where my beloved Bristol City are concerned I am extremely superstitious and for good luck I always wear undergarments of the same colour to match the shirt colours of the opposing team?  Honest.  Me thinks the response from medicals finest would be something along the lines of “Hhhhhmmm, that’s the first time that we have heard THAT particular excuse!!!!” So I have gone as close as possible with my very own purple(ish) pair with a bear on them????

So am I nervous?  YOU better believe it.  After the season we have endured it would be just like the City to right royally F it up when at the point of writing our fate is VERY MUCH in our own hands???  COYR.

After the early morning bright sunshine the weather had changed its mood and walking down to the ground I was just hoping that the dark clouds above the Gate were not going to be an ominous sign???

Whilst walking down I bumped into a Dad with his young son who was enjoying his first ever away game – Barnsley fans.  The Dad told me that he had decided to bring his son to THIS game out of all the other away games that the Tykes have played this season as from his previous experience he knew that BCFC fans were the friendliest in the Championship and there would not be a hint of trouble and despite traveling all the way down from Yorkshire they genuinely hoped that we would stay up.  Top fans.  Presumably as it was their last away hike of the season some of the Barnsley couple of hundred decided to don fancy dress with a gang of Flintstones lovers being very much to the fore. They only brought a couple of hundred and they were “squeezed” into the bottom corner of the East End.

On getting into the ground I soon met up with (Name dropping or what?) Steve L and our matriarch and club president Marina Dolman.  I explained pleasantries and shook hands and Marina admitted “That she was extremely nervous” Bless her.

Please note Little Lord Faunteroy walking next to her (Cheif Executive Guy Price’s son).  Cant see him being FIRST to invade the pitch at the end with a can of Natch in his hand “if” we get the result!!!!!

Marina was on her way round to the tunnel to present the supporters Player of the year and the supporters young player of the year.  Now not being clever “after” the event but I can honestly admit that both players who got my vote, won the respective awards?  John Stead won the Player of the year and Yannick Bolasie the Young player of the year – Well done lads.

Now its at this point that I will take time out to make the FIRST nomination for the Glen Schmidt Golden Moment Award.  Sitting where I do in the second row of the Williams and in the interests of journalism!!! I always make a point of getting into the ground early I constantly witness the youngsters trying to get any of their heroes over to sign autographs during the warm up and in some instances even DURING the game – Yannick!!!!  I can understand from the players point of view that the warm up is part of their working day and their thoughts “should” be focused on the coming game but just taking a few moments out to sign a few autographs or have a picture taken means so VERY MUCH to our younger fans and surely helps the fans and players “bond” together even more?  Now it is at this point that I must TOTALLY COMMEND a young steward who was working in front of us yesterday.  For obvious reasons I do not know him by name but he was wearing a fluorescent with number 41 on.  Well unlike some of the other miserable sods (Weeble) this guy was top notch.  He tried his hardest to get as many of the players over.  He even “tried” to get Calamity over, without success, but then again with this pompous “up his own arse” person (And I am being very politically correct as I know a lot of the club actually read this column, but, I can assure them that I really would like to use stronger terms to describe him) even the Almighty God would have trouble getting him to condescend to mix with the mere “riff raff” who supplement his considerable income.

GIVE ME THAT PEN FOO!!!!!

Also said steward helped out with a tribute to a fellow City fan named Dave Maber who sadly recently passed away after suffering from cancer aged just 41. RIP fellow red.

This guy was a total credit to his fluorescent jacket from start to finish yesterday and even at the end when it was clear that despite impassioned pleas from David Lloyd for fans to stay off the pitch at the final whistle a lot of our younger element were going on the pitch come what may he used total and utter common sense and made no effort to try and piss on the celebrations.  Top man and I have emailed David Lloyd same.

So with the theme tune to the “Great Escape” being blasted out over the speakers at Ashton (Great touch) the stage was set.

City made one change from Tuesday nights game against West Ham.  Cisse presumably being injured so Del Boy brought “teachers pet” the hairband in.  For the second game on the trot Citry lost the toss and attacked the Atyeo in the first half.  Within the first 30 seconds todays referee Darren Deadman got his yellow out and showed it to Barnsley’s Perkins as he had the temerity to take a free kick before the referee had blown his whistle???  Oh I hope this is not going to set the tone for the next 90 minutes?  For the first 10 minutes City hardly saw the ball as Barnsley knocked it around quite unchallenged and worryingly for City they looked like a team who were obviously now safe and could just go on and play their normal game.  But in our first real attack on 11 minutes Wood and Stead exchanged passes and put in Kolo Skusey!!! and bingo, one nil!!!  We got that early goal.

A couple of minutes later whilst attempting to chase down a lost cause Chris Wood almost totally wiped out the Barnsley manager Keith Hill and most of the away bench!!!  Happy days.  Despite us going a goal up Barnsley were having much more of the ball and this was clearly reflected in their 5 corners in the first 25 minutes, in fact at times it looked like city were deliberately playing like an “away” team and hoping to draw Barnsley on to us?  It was also worth noting that “when” we actually got a corner straight away two Barnsley players would head towards to the halfway line flags (If such things still existed) thus ensuring that at least three, sometimes four of our players had to remain back to cover.  Now I find this a very interesting tactic as Del Boy insists that when we are defending a corner ALL of our players must go back into the penalty area as its his belief that “Pro zone” (Thought it was some sort of sleeping tablet actually!!!) proves that less goals are scored by teams when the opposition has all eleven back???  Now who am I to argue with an “A” licensed coach, but, I personally prefer that at least we should have some sort of outlet when the ball gets cleared???

On 23 minutes Albert made a long mazy run but shot straight at the keeper.  At least one young lady??? in the Williams was trying her very best to get the crowd going at this stage and she kept standing up and giving it “Come on you reds” whilst urging others to join her crusade???  David Lloyd would certainly have been proud of her but me has a slight suspicion she had taken on board a few “apple juices” pre match!!!  But for her efforts she gets my second nomination for todays GSGM.

On 38 minutes City had a very “half hearted” appeal for a penalty when a Barnsley player “may” have handled in the area but from my view it would have been extremely harsh.  City were clearly missing Cisse to protect our defence and for most of the first half it seemed like we were intent on making Barnsley look like Barcelona the amount of space we gave them.  It was just lucky Skusy scored when he did to calm the nerves.  Talking of Skusy unfortunately he picked up an injury on the half hour and two minutes before half time he had to be replaced?  Now most people would have thought that Kilkenny would have been the natural replacement but to most peoples surprise Del Boy brought on Louis Carey – “Possibly” for his last ever competitive appearance at the Gate as he is one of many out of contract in the Summer.  Mr.Know All here loudly informed all around that Carey would go into the back four with Foster moving forward into midfield?  But again Del Boy showed that he thinks totally different to me, by moving Mr.T that more advanced role?  Tin hats on in the Wedlock in the second half I would strongly recommend!!!! Just joking Mr.T.

So we got through to half time still holding a one nil lead but to be quite frank whether it was nerves or whether Barnsley could afford to knock the ball about from an attacking sense it was probably one of our poorest (and there has been plenty to choose from this season) first halves at the Gate all season.  There was little ball retention and apart from the goal, the barnsley keeper could really have been “catching some rays.”

At half time City welcomed back (yet another) all time legend in Bobby Kellard.  Now those of us of a certain “vintage” will remember Bobby has a non stop, tough tackling, Gerry Gow type who actually played in the first game that I ever saw in 1967.  Top man.

It was also at half time that as there was no sign of Vicinity (Or whatever they are called) Chris’s mate Tom spotted that Del Boy’s piece in TODAYS match programme began with “Welcome back to Ashton Gate for this evening’s!!! npower Championship with West Ham United!!!” DOH.Unbelievable schoolboy error?  Doesnt anyone proof read the programme before it goes off to the printers?  Schoolboy error and it just about sums up the piss poor quality of this seasons match programme?  Never worth £3 and we can only hope that just like the playing squad at the Gate, the programme also gets a total “overhaul” in the close season and so todays third nomination for the GSGM goes to the programme editor.

SCHOOLBOY ERROR FOO!!!

So to guarantee our Championship membership for another season all Deano has to do is keep a clean sheet for the next forty five minutes – “If” it was just THAT easy?

City made another change at the start of the second half bringing on Kilkenny for Chris Wood.  Not certain whether this was a “tactical” switch or Wood had picked up an injury but fair shout to him, he certainly put in a lot of hard running in the first forty five minutes.  So City now appeared to be playing 4-1-4-1 with Mr.T in front of the back four and Steady up front on his lonesome.  A couple of minutes in and Albert went on a long run down the right and was crudely chopped down by a Barnsley defender.  Hairband swung the cross in and the next thing that I saw was the other “blonde bombshell” McGivern heading horizontally across the area?  Next look was to see the ref pointing to the spot!!!!  HAPPY DAYS.  Now recently Brett Pitman has been City’s regular penalty taker but as he was sat up in the stand serving the last of a three match ban after he tried to cause serious damage to the Cov full back who would step up to the plate???  Mr.T???  No Steady confidently picked up the ball and it is at this point that I have to let you rely on your own imaginations as for the first time ever at the Gate I could not bear to watch the pen and deliberately looked in the opposite direction and waited for the roar

…………………………… of relief???  It soon came.  OH HAPPY DAY.  Albert was by now tormenting the Barnsley defence and City were looking a lot more confident now that we were two goals to the good.  On 58 minutes Albert set up John Stead but Barnsley’s keeper Button made a fine save.  But Barnsley still remained a threat and on 67 minutes McGiven almost volleyed a spectacular OWN goal when defending another dangerous cross.  City appealed for another corner on 71 minutes but Mr.Deadman was hardly going to be “that” generous?  On 76 minutes Del Boy replaced the impressive Adomah with the ever smiling Bolasie.  On 78 minutes McGivern tried to redeem his earlier attempt at putting the ball past Deano by scuffing a shot narrowly wide at the correct end.  With ten minutes left Barnsley made a double substitution but by now most of the crowd were aware that both Cov and Pompey were losing at home so with about three minutes left a lot of City fans started making their way towards the pitch side to obviously invade the pitch when Mr.Deadman finally signalled the completion of “The Great Escape”.

Now when the fourth officials board went up to signify the amount of added time at the end of the game the number was clearly shown as a MINIMUM of four!!!  I will now let you “share” those final minutes (Less than THREE actually – time it yourself) in the countdown to survival:-

20120421 164811

Now I hereby give you todays fourth nomination for the GSGM award.  This really was the first time that I have ever seen a referee blow the final whistle from ACTUALLY down the players tunnel!!!  Whilst it is a slight exaggeration to state that Mr.Deadman was already safe in the confines of the referees room before the game actually ended, I can assure you the last shrills of his whistle were blown whilst he was entering the tunnel?  This guy should be considered for the 100 metres in the Olympics.

So the ground was invaded and the sense of relief was massive.

A large pre prepared banner high up in the Doman summed it up perectly it read quite simply “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”

City (Marks out of 10)

Gherken – 6 – Kept a clean sheet.  Could not ask for anymore on a day like today and just hope that his form in the last 7 games has persuaded Del Boy to show Calamity the door?

Foster – 5 – Never going to be Championship standard in my opinion.

McGivern – 5 – Same as Foster.  Hopefully last ever appearance in a red shirt at the Gate.

Fontaine – 7.5 – Solid and dependable and just got my MOM nomination.

Mr.T – 6 – Guy has certainly become a cult (Thats spelt c u L t) in the short period with us and even though his skill levels are not always the best he seems to do a job – Foo!!!!

Pearson – 5.5 – Lots of running and often gets into promising positions but his final delivery is not the best?  I wonder if he will get another contract???

Hairband – 5 – On todays performance a lot like Pearson?  Personally just cannot see why Del Boy rates him so highly???

Skuse – 6.5 – Only lasted 43 minutes but did not do a lot wrong.

Albert – 7 – Looked more dangerous and caused the Barnsley full backs plenty of problems.

Stead – 7 – Just pipped for (yet another) MOM award by Fonts but lots of effort and had the balls to grab the ball for the pen then knock it away.  Deserved Player of the season.

Wood – 7 – Only 45 minutes but did a lot of hard running with minimal service.

SUBS

Carey (For Skuse) – 6 – If this was to be the last hurrah at Ashton for Louis.  Thanks.

Kilkenny (For Wood) – 5.5 – Still cant see how he is worth reasonably high wages???

Bolasie (For Albert) 6 – Didnt produce the magic that he gave us against Cov but he just appears to love every minute of pulling on a red shirt!!!

And now for the final prestigious Glen Schmidt Golden Moment Award for this season:-

Todays nominations are as follows:-

Firstly I HAVE to nominate yours truly???  If you are still awake and read this far you will remember that 48 hours ago I was actually considering “borrowing” some of my missus’s knickers to ensure that I was ACTUALLY wearing the same colours as the opposition?  Well when Barnsley came out yesterday, instead of wearing the purple change strip that I thought was their away strip they in fact were wearing white shirts???  Well that would have been NO problem “if” I had bothered to do my homework!!!!  Schoolboy error to MYSELF Foo!!!

Secondly there is the young steward who proved that not ALL stewards are miserable gits.

Thirdly there is City’s very own answer to Delia Smith.  ”Come on you reds” has never been sung so loud by a lone female!!!

Fourthly is the City programme editor.  Del Boys comments were “copy and pasted” from Tuesday nights West Ham programme.  Schoolboy error Foo!!!

Finally there is yesterdays match referee Darren Deadman.  Fastest referee I have ever seen?  Most people wait for a gun to start the 100 metres dash – This guy started it with his OWN whistle!!!!

And the winner is…………………………………………

Drum roll from the combined drummers of Blackpool, Coventry, Pompey and Donny (Interesting that we may not possibly see “any” of these boys at the Gate next season!!!)

Steward No.41.

On a day when just SO much could have gone wrong at the Gate, he did so much SO right and Glen would have been proud of him.

So another (home) season is over.  Just how time has flown (Talking of flying just WHY did I not complete my 100% attendance record of all home games at the Gate this season young Master Christopher???) since I walked into the Gate on Saturday, 6^th August last year when we entertained The Tractor Boys.  Full of optimism, full of hope.  Well both of those views were soon crushed under the Tractor Boys wheels as they soundly thumped us 3 zip and in hindsight this really set the standard for the rest of the season.  Millie soon departed along soon after with the TOTAL LEGEND who is Alan Walsh and the Scottish “Mafiaoso” were Easyjetted in to save the day.  Its been a hard season with it must be said plenty of down and just a few rare ups.

Before I finish, this the last home report of the 2011/12 season I must provide all my readers with a MASSIVE AND VERY HEARTFELT APOLOGY.

I unreservedly apologise for wasting so much of your short lives in (hopefully) reading my lengthy disertations about the continuing saga of events at BS3.

When I started to write these reports I never planned that they would ever be so long but in a strange way in a season that has been fraught with concern the writing of said reports for moi has been quite therapeautic.  Its strange how you suddenly look at the game at the events surrounding the game in a slightly different light / context when you know that you have to write about it later and it has always been my aim that I have always considered attending a Bristol City home game as an “event” to be enjoyed which is not just the actual 90 minutes played out on the pitch (Good job most would say about this season as their has been very little to enjoy about most of what has occurred on the Ashton pitch this season) but also all the peripharal “happenings” such as players cars with posy personalized number plates, dodgy dancing girls, taking the piss out of most who take the “dreaded” walk round the running track past block K in the Williams.  All of this is part of the day “matchday experience” to me and hopefully I have tried to convey a flavour of not just what has happened ON the pitch but the other small observations from down at the Gate as well and it’s the total package (As the BCFC merchandising department would call it) that I have tried to give to all of my friends, Stevie A., Stevie B. and all of the rest of my friends in the Worlds Greatest Country and the Worlds Greatest City, NY (Ah yes THAT’S why I missed my only home game this season!!!).  If I have managed in just a very small part then I will approach the close season a happier man.

You will be pleased to know that I am considering continuing producing my match day reports next season but as a result of a “potential” move (Cannot say anything more at this stage as I am still working in close conjunction with “my agent” i.e. My missus about this move) you will be over the moon to learn that it is my intention that next seasons reports will NOT require you to read them in separate readings spread across the week?  I am planning to condense.

Hopefully I will (Oh no, I hear most of you groan) be bringing out ONE more report on this season when I will be reviewing ALL of those men (and the hairband!!!) who have worn a red BCFC shirt this season and as is tradition at the end of the season handing out my own personal end of season awards on behalf of BCFCinNYC.

This season has brought of  personal memories, some good,  some bad.  The good being Chris and Jen’s wedding (You ARE forgiven – Honest!!!), the bad being the news that my sister Sally passed away on January, 14^th the day we lost away at Brighton.  RIP Big Sis – You are ALWAYS with me.

So finally I would like to say a MASSIVE thank you to all who have given me plenty of laughs and provided me with the material for these reports.  The likes of David Lloyd our brilliant matchday announcer, Viscocity minus the fat one, All of my fellow City fans who sit around my vicinity (Oh perhaps THAT’S what those girls are called??) in particular Big Tim (A TRUE GENTLEMAN) and his good lady, the lovely people who sit behind Tim who actually fell asleep during one home game (Yes it was THAT bad), the people in front who have slowly realized that the hairband is not the Championships answer to a certain D.Beckham.

Also a VERY SPECIAL PERSONAL  thanks to my great mates Dill and Andy  and all in the Williams family, TRUE life long friends who’s sadly departed Dad I have so much to owe to for ensuring that I was brought up the correct way the RED way i.e. He first took me down to Ashton and got me hooked almost fifty years ago.  RIP Keith – Gone but NEVER forgotten,

The girls always texting sat behind the turnstiles, my lucky programme seller who despite having his pitch on Ashton Road which is totally the other end of the ground to the one I enter in, I always get my match day prog from him, the fantastic catering of The Lucky House fish and chip shop in Ashton Drive who has provided me with sustenance for most night home games,  my son BIG Chris and his mate Tom who have developed a totally uncanny knack of managing to get into the ground JUST as the two teams emerge from the tunnel.  Chris, despite making me miss my ONLY home game this season due to your absolute piss poor planning in deciding to get married to the delightful Jen in Central Park in October – Oh have I mentioned that particular point previously in this report!!!) – As the great comedy genius Mr.Al Murray has often said “Did your Dad ever tell you how proud he is of you?” Well Chris I AM VERY proud of you.  Then theres the LEGEND who is Glen Schmidt who has kindly let me use his name to put to my weekly award – Schmidty you are Top Man.  So many great people – A MASSIVE THANKS TO YOU ALL, I COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

So I will leave you with both a musical AND a personal finish.

Firstly on a day like yesterday there was only ever going to be ONE theme tune:-

THE GREAT ESCAPE THEME SONG

So it just remains for me to remind you all just WHY I missed that one game!!!! I think that it is very appropriate that the picture was taken in Central Park, NY as after all “if” there was not the interest in BCFC from all our friends across the pond then I would never have recorded the ongoing soap opera that is BRistol City Football Club.

THANKS AND BYE FROM THE BOYS.  Speak soon.  COYR.

So an evening that will have Southampton and Reading fans in particular suddenly become massive followers of BCFC and the fans of the likes of Cov and Pompey most certainly hoping that The Hammers “do the business” on us at Ashton tonight.  To put it at its bluntest we “could” both promote Reading tonight (As long as they do better at home to Florest than the Hammers do against us) and we could also relegate both Pompey and Coventry if we win and they don’t.  But for us to gain the much needed three points we have to take into account the following:-

• West Ham are by far the best away team in the Championship this season.  Thus far they have won 12 games and drawn another five on their travels away from Upton Park this season.
• They have won their last three away.
• In fact they have won DOUBLE the away fixtures as we have won home ones!!!!!  In fact they have scored in total TEN more goals away from home than we have in total at Ashton?
• Of the thirty competitive games between the two teams we have only been triumphant on FOUR occasions.

So the size of the task is massive.

A couple of “potential” positives are that firstly it’s a night game and “generally” there is a better atmosphere for games under the floodlights down at the Gate, but, secondly (and hopefully) more importantly tonight see’s the return of one Nicholas David Maynard, once of this manor.  Now whilst Maynard is very unlikely to get a place in the starting 11 it is almost a certainty that “Big Sam” will give him a place warming his backside on the bench?  Now if this is the case then I would forecast that there is a very strong chance that at some stage he will be warming up right in front of “yours truly” and so it will be interesting to observe just what “type” of welcome he receives?

Personally I cannot stand the little “cry baby.”  Unfortunately as much as I would like to “expand” on my reasons for my loathing for him, there are very good “personal and professional” reasons for not going public, but, all I can say is that at the age of 25 he really ought to be capable of making his own decisions and not relying on his Mum to guide him in the right direction????  There is no doubt that after he suffered his “mysterious” pre season injury before the start of last season (If you have not tried dry slope skiing at either Congresbury or Warm Well then its well recommended!!!!) the club supported him unbelievably in his attempts to get back to full fitness.  In fact I know that our old mate Glen S. spent many a long hour in trying to get Maynard fit, but, as with football in general these days how did he thank us – His thanks was by waiting until the last possible moment to indicate that he wouldn’t be signing a new contract and thus he would sign for the first Premiership team who offered him the highest wage?  Now as it appears no Premiership team were prepared to take a risk on Maynard he had to resort to Plan B. which was signing for “The Happy Hammers” in the hope (At the time of signing) that next season he would be plying his trade with the Man U’s, Arsenals and Chelsea’s of this world anyway?  Well that confidence is not so high now that West Ham find themselves three points off of the second automatic place presently held by The Saints.  Also it must be remembered that when Maynard left he actually had the audacity to blame the City fans for finally making him seek his wages elsewhere????  He “claimed” that his family had been abused at games and that generally he had been given stick both home and away?

Well Nicky my old son, I can honestly say “that the only stick you got was when it was quite clear you were not doing the square route of jack shit, in some of the last games that you appeared (I cannot say “played”) for us.”

I FOR ONE WILL NOT BE WELCOMING YOU BACK TONIGHT.

 But let us not be totally negative.  We come into tonights game on the back of a five game unbeaten run ourselves.  Crucial wins over Florest and Coventry over the Easter period was then strengthened by a well deserved point away at St.Andrews on Saturday.  This point was probably even more remarkable when you remember that Del Boy once again “recalled” the hairband for his normal run out in a game away from Ashton????  In our last seven games hairband has featured in three of them but strangely ALL have been away from BS3?  Can only presume that Del Boy must think that for some perverse reason Woolford is better employed in games where we are more likely to “counter attack.”

The term “unchanged team” does not seem to figure in the Scottish language???  The last time that Del Boy actually named such a thing was on Tuesday, 29^th, November LAST YEAR when we played away at Watford?  Since then Del has changed at least one player every game.  But “if” he manages to achieve what I considered highly unlikely a few weeks ago and manage to keep us in the Championship then I for one will not criticize.

So on an evening where the weather can be best described as being “changeable” here in BS3 we face what is potentially our hardest home game of the season thus far.  COYR.

Now on arriving down at BS3 the outlook for the evening took a positive step in the right direction straight from the start when I found that my normal supplier of pre match sustenance for evening games (The Chinese chippie in Ashton Vale) had mysteriously reopened after appearing to be closed down for the last night home game v Watford.  So after a triple battered sausage (Hope my missus aint reading this) and chips I walked down to the ground.  Well on arriving via my normal Winterstoke Road entrance I honestly thought id got the wrong night and tonight Ashton Gate was holding the annual police federation conference!!!!  There were coppers everywhere.

I was even asked to produce my match ticket before I had walked under the above sign!!!  I dont think the copper who asked me took to happily my accompanying comment of “Its getting worse than Baghdad down here?” Unbelievable.

So after managing to get past the first security line what a refreshing change to mix with the massed numbers of Hammers fans and I even managed to purchase a copy of their excellent fanzine “Over land and sea”  Interesting to note in chatting to the West Ham fan selling them and having some cheerful banter about NOT wanting Maynard back, he reckons that they would gladly drive him back!!!!!  Lifes a shit, eh Nicky and it was about to get a whole load worse for the greedy little bastard I can assure you.

Another FIRST this season was that on going through the turnstiles the girl in her booth was actually NOT texting her mates – Must have forgot her phone!!!!!  HA

So apart from Maynard returning with the Hammers I had almost forgotten that another ex City favourite was making his return to Ashton tonight in the shape of our ex and very much under used whilst he was with us keeper Stephen Henderson?  Unlike Maynard a warm welcome back Stephen.

Also with Robert Green (More of later) playing in goal for West Ham and Calamity warming his arse on the City bench on view at the Gate tonight were both of Englands first choice keepers from last years World Cup in South Africa.  Oh how the mighty???? have fallen.

West Ham came out to warm up and immediately the tone for Maynards return was set with boo’s from all four sides of the ground from those early arrivals.  When DL announced the teams it was a bit of a surprise when we found out that “Big Sam” had actually opted with the little shit up front – Oh well just more chance for him to receive whats coming!!!!  Whilst waiting for the game to start DL announced the return of certain members (Not mine) of the Williams favourites Viscocity (Or whatever they are called) and when they trooped out there numbers which at the start of the season were well into double figures including the fat one were now down to a five-a-side team!!!!

Also now being a renowned???? (eh) journalist of International expose (Well I do write largely for an American audience) we journo types get to make some very famous contacts / friends and I had the pleasure to renew old acquaintances with the multi millionaire chairman of WHU Mr.David Gold as he walked up to his seat.  David if you didnt know owns the Ann Summers chain plus and is reputed to be worth a mere 360 million large ones but I must say that on both occasions I have met him and shook hands he is a PERFECT gentleman.

The teams walked out to massive chants of “One greedy bastard” all aimed at West Hams number eight!!!

So City started the game attacking the Atyeo which is unusual and one obviously planned by West Ham “if” they won the toss.  For the first five minutes it was all West Ham who were knocking the ball around with gay abandon.  Maynards first “contribution” was on 11 minutes when his shot on the turn went deep into the massed ranks of West Ham fans in the East End.  Cue “What a wanker, what a wanker” from all City fans!!!!  But then on 24 minutes West Ham took the lead and it has to be reported it had been coming.  City gave away a soft free kick out on the left and when the ball was crossed in West Ham’s young centre half James Tompkins was left all alone on the back post to head back across Deano.  Cock.  But four minutes later we were level.  Skusy who was having a great game pushed forward from midfield and he appeared to mishit a long range effort but it somehow bounced and bobbled past Green for the equaliser.  Cue mass celebrations.

Still West Ham had most of the ball but at least City were starting to come out a bit more and even Mr.T tried one of his long range “specials” from a good 40 yards but it went harmlessly wide.  With a minute to half time West Ham could have gone back in front but after a frantic goal mouth scramble the referee decided to award us a free kick for a foul on Deano and the half closed with us all level and most reds at this point would have happily taken a point.  West Ham had certainly had more of the ball in the first half but it must be noted that they had employed a lot of “Big Lewin” type hoofs from the back – Not something normally associated with the Hammers – perhaps the theory about Allardyce’s preferred style of football is true?

City started the second hald attacking the Eadt End and clearly upped the tempo and three minutes in West Hams Reid was shown the first yellow of the night for cynically bringing down Bolasie.  But on 50 minutes City had a lucky escape when West Ham broke quickly and Lansbury’s shot glanced off of the top of the cross bar when Deano seemed to get a touch but the referee Craig Pawson awarded a goal kick.   On 55 minutes Skusy saw yellow for atotally innocuous challenge.  Overall it must be said that the ref tonight was no where near the standard of the excellent Scott Mathieson who we had for the Cov game.  Three minutes later West Hams Collins also saw yellow for again cynically hauling down Bolasie and he was quickly replaced by the “giant” John Carew – He even made Mr.T look small!!! Talking of Mr.T he got his customary yellow on 65 minutes and I thought he was going to physically cause the referee some damage the way he reacted!!! On 68 minutes City made a double substitution of our own bringing on the hairband and Albert A. for Bolasie and Cisse.  At this point I wonder if Del Boy had heard that Cov were losing and by making attacking substitutions give us the chance to get all threew points which would secure our Championship status?  On 72 minutes Chris Wood had the best chance of the half thus far but fired weakly at Green when well placed but West Ham quickly went straight up the field and they should have also scored but Carew’s effort went narrowly over.

On 73 minutes “Big Sam” finally decided that perhaps the vast majority of City fans had been right in their assessment after all and the red number eight was held up on the fourth officials board indicating that Maynards contributionfor the night was coming to an end.  As you can imagine this raised probably a louder cheer as when we actually scored and Maynard left the pitch to a chorus of “Your sons a Bristolian, your son’s a Bristolian”  HA

On 80 minutes John Stead picked up a yellow.  Again for absolutely nothing and by now we were closely looking at the clock as we were aware Cov were losing so a point would be a great return on the evening.  On 83 minutes Stead had another good chance to make our one point three but he also shot straight at Green.  West Ham in the shape of Carew had another reasonable chances which caused more than a few sharp intakes of breath but with two minutes of normal time left on the watch Del Boy clearly recognised that a point was good enough and replaced Stead with Louis Carey.

Four minutes of additional time were added on but with most of us setting our stop watches on our phones the four minutes soon passed without many more scares and we gained the much needed point.

Overall I thought West Ham played the better football but City battled and overall a point each was probably a fair result and sets up Saturday at home to Barnsley perfectly.

City (Marks out of 10)

Deano – 6 – Couple of very brave saves but can look a tad nervous on hard low crosses.

McGivern – 5 – Better than some I have seen him but not one I hope we recruit in the Summer.

Foster – 5 – Someone compared him to the LEGEND who is Bradders – How dare they!!!!

Fontaine – 6 – According to the fans “poll” on leaving the ground, the fans MOM?  Obviously Fonts missus was busy making numerous texts!!!

Mr.T – 7 – Now this guy is starting to grow on me and just “might” become a cult (Thats C U L T) figure???

Skusy – 7.5 – Narrowly pips Mr.T for my MOM.  Was awesome in the first half, faded a tad in the second but when you remember he was up against the likes of Nolan and Noble?

Cisse – 5.5 – Normal reliable shift.

Pearson – 5 – Lots of running but not much in final product killer balls?

Bolasie – 6 – Did not a lot wrong and always looked to take on his defender.

Stead – 6 – Normal hard working 100% shift.

Wood – 6 – Same as Steady in all fairness.  Worked tirelessly for the cause.

SUBS

Hairband (For Bolasie) – 5.5 – At least he did not appear to give the ball away so much as normal???

Albert (For Cisse) – 6 – Tracked back better when required.

Carey – 6 – One important interception right at the end.

And finally the prestigious Glen Schmidt Golden Moment Award.

Now on a night when for “obvious” reasons humour was always going to be at a premium there really was only ever one nomination therefore one winner so I will straight away “cut to the chase” and with the help of the combined drummers from Donny, Cov, Pompey and Blackpool, tonights winner of the prestigious GSGM is ONE GREEDY BASTARD

He took and deserved “Dogs abuse” from start to finish and unlike other legends such as Adriano Basso who returned to the Gate earlier in the season to a hero’s welcome this particular LEG END will certainly remember his return to the Gate for all the wrong reasons!!!!

LETS JUST HOPE WE HAVE THE “PLEASURE” OF DOING THE SAME NEXT SEASON AS WE STAY UP AND HE STAYS DOWN!!!!

COYR

Take Care,

Best regards,

Si

Onto Barnsley, we win we’re up – Simple as that, without having to rely on other scores. Thank you Millwall. If we do beat Barnsley, Barnsley themselves could be in trouble. Lets just BEAT Barnsley – “PLEASE”. Trouble is, after our fantastic six game unbeaten run, we’re just as likely to blow what we all think is the EASY one ! I for one will have a squeaky bum until we get those two points.

Right now I’m a very happy camper. COYR. Two more unbeaten games and we’re up !

Keep the Faith,

Steve B

Then of course it’s Barnsley at home, another huge game, if things go right this could see us leap frog them, and they could actually be the third relegated team ! I guess we’ll have to wait til 5 o’clock, or in our case, 12 o’clock on saturday to find out. Hopefully we don’t have to “sweat the load” at Burnley on the last day of the season.

All the best,

Steve B, keeping the faith across the pond.

COYR –  Steve B

As I was writing the introduction to todays match report I have just read the very sad news that the Aston Villa captain Stylian Petrov has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia. So for the second time in two successive reports a game of football actually pales into mere insignificance when compared to the battle that the Aston Villa captain will surely face over the coming weeks / months.  Im sure that on behalf of all BCFC supporters, wherever in the world we may be we send our very best wishes to Stylian, his family and friends and hope that just like Fabrice Muamba the outcome is positive.

Now continuing in a less than cheerful manner.

REASONS NOT TO BE CHEERFUL OR EVEN HOPEFUL.

QUESTION – What have Birmingham City, Blackpool, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crapdiff City, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Reading, Southampton and West Ham United all got in common?  ANSWER – They are all certain to finish above BCFC in this seasons Championship as already with seven games left to play they have all accumulated more points than we could get EVEN if we win all of our remaining fixtures (Some hope and no I haven’t been on the Thatchers).

Starting with the home game with Derby we are entering probably the three most crucial games of this (and quite a few before) season.  Maximum points from all three “should” see us safe.  Now this target is probably remote as previously this season we have only achieved three wins in a row (Burnley H, Millwall A and Southampton H).  Two wins and a draw would not be the end of the world as two of the games are against fellow “mini league” relegation candidates, Florest and Cov.  Anything less than 6 points ie Two wins just may prove to be fatal.  At the start of February I identified a potential six teams who in reality would be competing in their own little “mini league” with the three teams gaining the most points being those who escaped the dreaded trap door down into the 1^st division with its reward of visits to and from the likes of Swindle Town, Crawley and Torquay???  Now of the original six teams it looks like Florest and Millwall just “may” be at least in the strongest of positions as going into the last seven games they are both four points in front of ourselves and just as importantly both have a far superior goal difference.  So that leaves Donny, Cov, Portsmouth and ourselves all competing to become top of a four team “mini league” in a winner takes all showdown.

Now to win this “four horse race” the two most important areas in my experience to try and guarantee winning will be “current form” and keeping clean sheets so prior to this weekends games this is the stats:-

Millwall                  6 points out of 18 last available                     Average goals conceded per game 1.385

Florest                     8 points out of 18 last available                     Average goals conceded per game 1.513

Donny                     5 points out of 18 last available                     Average goals conceded per game 1.641

Cov                         7 points out of 18 last available                     Average goals conceded per game 1.333

Pompey                   7 points out of 18 last available                     Average goals conceded per game 1.103

BCFC                     5 points out of 18 last available                   Average goals conceded per game 1.590

For info. Same stats on todays opponents Derby

Derby                    13 points out of 18 last available                     Average goals conceded per game 1.333

Now none of the above stats give me any great hope that we will survive as we can see that on current form only rock bottom Doncaster are as bad as we presently are and on goals conceded which equates to clean sheets again only Donny are worse than us.

So I am afraid at present the “Omens are not good.”

Presently no club in the Championship has lost more games than ourselves (21).  Every other team in the Championship have scored more goals than our meagre total of 33 and our current total of 36 points from 39 games is our lowest for the last 13 seasons.

Also just to add to our  woes Middlesbrough have suffered a central defensive injury crisis over the last couple of games and as a result have recalled with immediate notice Stephen McManus back up to the Riverside.  This understandable decision has taken away from us a certain amount of “steel and desire” from our central defence which will now have to be replaced by our deadline day last minute loan signings Andre Amougou and Dekel Keinan.

Now on the subject of said loan signings, it is interesting to report the reactions of their “parent” clubs supporters on their own forums on them learning that their “heroes” were heading towards the Gate:-

Amougou – Burnley – “Bristol City are a shite football team, so he will fit in well there?”

Ephraim – QPR – “We are playing crap and he cant even get into our reserves!!!!”

Keinan – Crapdiff – “He paid his own way out of the Israeli Army to try and prove his way as a professional footballer – He should have kept his money and his gun in his pocket!!!”

Again not positive recommendations, but, then again, at this crucial  time in the season  in all honesty would most teams actually let any player out on loan (especially to a RIVAL Championship team) who was half decent?  Only time will tell?

So this Saturday was a a very grey day weather wise after an absolute glorious week in the West Country weather wise.

On walking into Ashton its nice to see that the club have erected a new sign directly outside the main entrance:-

Presumably the signwriters are coming back early next week to finish off the message which when completed will read “Welcome to Ashton Gate – Please feel free to leave with all three points”

On going through the turnstiles, as per totally 100% normal the girl behind the gate was merrily texting her mates and presumably arranging where she was going with her mates tonight.  One of the first things that became apparent was that Del Boy had stuck to using “The Hairband” in his best position:-

Sat in the stand!!!!  Perhaps there will soon become a seat available for the likes of Foster as well????

Before the players emerged the referee’s assessor!!!! kindly informed me that Calamity would for the second game on the trot be warming the bench with Gherken keeping his place between the sticks.  When the players came out to warm up Calamity had obviously decided to change his hairstyle (again) presumably to try and get his place back (OH SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THAT LATER IN THIS REPORT!!!!).  Good to see Skusy run out with the boys after a lengthy absence with his broken / dislocated toe but whether he is fit enough to start remains to be seen???  Clearly Del Boy thought so – Me im not so sure but……

When the teams were announced Skusy DID start replacing the suspended McGiven in the only change from the team that got a point at Middlesbrough.  City kicked off as is now tradition attacking the East End backed by our very own drummer in the Atyeo!!!

After only 2 minutes Amiogou (from now on to be referred to as Mr.T seeing as he is both built like him and looks like him) played a superb 40 yard cross field pass out to Foster on the left.  Unfortunately for Mr.T things went very much in a downward direction for the next 88 minutes to the point where you could understand where the Burnley fans were coming from!!!!  The City fans were aquietly amusing themselves with a GIANT (And I mean GIANT) beach ball in the East End.  After quarter of an hour City were awarded a free kick in a half decent position which was taken by last weeks goal hero Ephraim but his shot was blocked by a Derby defender for a corner.  4 minutes later with their first real attack a good through ball from Derby’s midfield was played into acres of space down our right and unfortunately the Derby player picked out exactly the correct ball to his on rushing team mate who had a reasonably simple job of beating Gherken and putting the visitors 1 up.  COCK. On 23 minutes City as a whole had a massive appeal for a penalty but the “Baby faced Assassin” Gavin Ward waved their appeals away.  5 minutes later it was Derby’s turn to appeal for a penalty of their own when Carey clearly pushed over Derby’s Robinson in the area but presumably to “even” things up, once again, Mr.Ward waved away said appeals much to the dismay of an irate Nigel Clough.  After half an hour a Derby free kick was met by one of three unmarked Derby players whose header went between Deano’s legs and into the net but luckily for Gherken he narrowly averted a Calamity moment thanks to the linesmans flag signalling off side – but it was very debatable – Once again to Nigel Clough’s annoyance.  10 minutes before half time Mr.T decided to show his “door” skills by totally upending a Derby player and not for the first time in his professional career I am absolutely certain was shown a yellow card.  For the rest of the half Stead fought for scraps but worryingly our midfield did not appear to be able to make any telling passes and the hald finished with the Derby keeper not having had to make one save.

City left the pitch to some sporadic boo’s but it has to be once again noted that the opposition made one decisive, fluent attacking move and YET AGAIN we are losing at home without putting up much opposition.

The second half started with no changes (Bit surprisingly for ourselves it has to be admitted) to either team.  City appeared to start the second half with a tad more attacking intent, but, then again, with no shots on target in the first forty five minutes that was not difficult and after 47 minutes Adomah appeared to take a good cross off of Cisse’s head and put the chance over.  But after that early chance the second half developed into City appearing to be quite happy to let Derby quietly play the ball across their back four and the lack of urgency was very worrying especially with the news that both Cov and Florest were winning away?  On the hour Pearson (Not for the first time this afternoon) gave the ball away in midfield and from the resulting attack Derby slammed the ball against the post from a narrow angle.  Me honestly thinks that “if” that shot had of gone in there would have been no way back.  Two minutes later Del Boy brought on Jamie McAllister for Cisse with the rubbish Foster switching to right back and Skusy going into midfield.  Fair play to the City faithful they were certainly trying to raise the team by their vocal support.  With 20 minutes to go Del boy replaced Ephraim with Pitman and surprise, surprise, within four minutes City had their one and only shot on target in 94 minutes and guess who?  Yes Super Brett 1-1.  In all fairness he also made the goal after exchanging passes with Albert Adomah.  With 12 minutes left Derby brought on that “pond life” Nathan Tyson who I for one had not forgotten his dreadful challenge on Gherken a few years ago when he played for Florest – a challenge I personally reminded the c*** about as he warmed up.  With eight minutes of normal time left on the clock Pitman “theatrically” threw himself to the ground in a vain attempt to get a penalty but once again the “baby faced assassin” was not impressed.  A minute later Del Boy made his last throw of the dice when he replaced the clearly tiring Skusy with Bolasie.  With five minutes left Deano made a good save from a rare Derby attack and with Citys last meaningful attack of the game Mr.T headed over from a free kick for us.  The referee added on four minutes of added time but then spent most of the four minutes worrying about exactly “which” piece of grass he wanted free / goal kicks taken from.  So when he finally blew his final whistle we had at least avoided our ELEVENTH league home defeat of the season but with both Florest and Cov gaining impressive away wins this point gained may well turn into (ANOTHER) two home points lost as we dropped into the bottom three.

I started by saying we needed at least seven points from Derby home, Florest away and Cov home, so todays draw means we must win the next two for relegation to probably remain in our own hands – After todays performance, I for one, would certainly not put my hard earned on it???

CITY PLAYERS (Marks out of 10)

Gherken – 5 – Could not do a lot about the goal, one impressive save but one moment dedicated to the memory of Calamity – Thanks lino!!!

Foster – 2 – Awful.  Aberdeen fans offered to drive him down when we signed him.  Like to know when they are coming back to pick him up????

Skuse – 4 – Clearly not fit.  Cannot blame the player.

Mr.T – 4 – Big old unit and after opening pass thoughts of a black Steve Caulker but overall I will stick to the Mr.T comparison!!!

Carey – 5 – Amazingly was “allegedly” the fans text vote MOM – Can only think he had a lot of his relatives at todays game!!!!

Kilkenny – 4 – Still cannot see that he is any better or any different to Lee Johnson and look where he is now?  Kilmarnock?

Cisse – 4 – Not one of C’iss’s better games.

Adomah – 5 – Set up the goal but nothing like the player of last season.

Pearson – 3 – Starting to really bug me.  In isolated games this season has shown he can be really good but these games fade into insignificance with the number of totally ineffective games just like todays?

Ephraim – 5 – A few early nice touches / tricks but then faded into total obscurity for the second half and was no surprise when Del Boy replaced him.

Stead – 6 – Again ran his bollocks off but with very little support.  Probably sums up our performance when I give Stead MY MOM with just six points.

SUBS

McAllister (For Cisse) – 5 – Gave us a little more attacking threat down the left, but, again he is NOT a left winger!!!

Pitman – (For Ephraim) – 5.5 – Did what he is paid to do – Scored.  Total enigma.  Against Pompey away and Watford home was total shite.  Today plays for 20 minutes and scores?

Bolasie – (For Skuse) – 5 – Looked lively and always wanted the ball but does get over excited when he gets in good positions.

So yet another two home points dropped and we now have the prospect of a visit to Florest which is on Sky followed less than 48 hours later by Cov at the Gate.  Its now almost certain that the results of those two ABSOLUTELY VITAL games will determine just which division we are playing in next season.  Fingers crossed.  But with all our troubles worrying about our Championship status let me finish where I began – Our worries fade into total insignificance when compared to the battle that Stylian Petrov will be starting next week.  Lets all wish him and all his family and friends and all those helping with his treatment the very best.

Now those “Eagle eyed” regular readers will have noticed that thus far in todays match report I have failed to make “any” mention of any nominations for the hugely prestigious Glen Schmidt Golden Moment Award for today and the reason is quite simple.  Some days / nights, especially in a season like this season, yours truly struggles to find “any” humorous happening to include but unlike todays game today overall has provided me with three absolute moments of Glen Gold to hopefully bring smiles to all your faces.

So the three nominations for todays Glen Schmidt Golden Moment Award are as follows:-

First nomination goes to my old mate our matchday announcer, David Lloyd.  I think the following picture which I have entitled “Girls, girls, please wait for me, oh come on girls, please dont run away” tells it all.

Who needs Viagra, eh Dave?

Second nomination which I feel is so fitting as it features Derby’s equivalent of the role that Schmidty used to do at the City?  So todays second nomination for the GSGM goes to the Derby fitness coach:-

Good lad.  Glen WOULD be proud of you and also notice he even brought his own bog roll with him.

But the third nomination and winner despite very intense competition from both Dave LLoyd AND Derby’s very own “Mr.Motivator” goes to…………………………………………………………………………

Drum roll from our very own Atyeo drummer please………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

CALAMITY

Yes our very own Calamity after his absolute piece of “comedy gold” is the first person to actually succeed in winning two “back to back” GSGM awards in successive home games????  Congratulations David.  Well, im hearing you all say just “how” when he was sat on his arse on the bench today did he beat such mighty competition as a rampant David Lloyd and a Derby fitness coach who obviously trains on Ginsters?  Well my friends I think, just like myself you will be TOTALLY GOBSMACKED when you see just what lengths that our ex England custodian appears to be going to in trying to use all skills at his disposal to persuade “Big Nige” to bend Del Boys ear to give him, his place back?

There is a time when words are just not needed.  Take care and keep it red.

]]> http://bcfcnyc.info/2012/03/one-point-gained-but-more-worryingly-one-place-dropped/feed/ 0 http://bcfcnyc.info/2012/03/city-v-forest-live-at-football-factory-legends-bar-nyc/ http://bcfcnyc.info/2012/03/city-v-forest-live-at-football-factory-legends-bar-nyc/#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:25:15 +0000 Steve A http://bcfcnyc.info/?p=1356 Come and join us for the crucial game away to Forest which is live on TV at 12:20PM EST. Major team changes following the mid-week disappointment of the loss to Watford after a flurry of loan signings on transfer deadline day saw the lads return with a vital point away at Boro. Our fate could be decided in the six pointers against Forest and then Coventry the following week. It’s time for every city player and supporter to stand up and fight for survival in the Championship. We will be a Legends in the basement bar for the game if you can make it please come.

Football Factory at Legends bar
6 W 33rd St # 1
New York,
NY 10001

Tel (212) 967-7792

It didn’t take long to get my optimism back, lol. COYR.

Til next time, Steve B