[theo_luddite]

Brizzle City v Town

 v 

Ashton Gate Stadium

Ashton Road

Bristol

BS3 2EJ

Saturday 30th April 2016

All Ticket

(Brizzle sold out their home tickets ages ago, no away tickets sold on the day so don't bother to travel without one).

The Final Away Game of the Season

Is it just me or was that all over in a flash again?

 
Cheer up chaps – the Euro's will be on soon.

Oh – you lot are not going are you? Never mind, better luck next time. Did someone mention Van Gaal?

As I'm draughting this out some fool has ordered snow again in this part of Middle England. Wtf is going on? I remember wearing t-shirts rather than thermals for the final games of the season and it wasn't that long ago either. Global warming my Aunt Fanny. My golf clubs (not to mention my balls) are itching for some action and some clown at the Weather Centre keeps sending us winter weather just for a laugh.

Carol – get it sorted – you've only got one job to do and it's not funny anymore.
We need much less of this


and far more of this. *


My daffs have already given up and the tulips don't know what the hell to do.

* Other pics of younger celebrities in assorted sun bathing or other clothses and poses are available on the Wendies match freds pages – allegedly - if you like that kind of thing. 

Oi – where you lot going? – I've not finished on here yet!!!

Nowt to do at all with this game but while looking for some piccy's for the fred I came across this one that made me laugh, so I thought I'd share it with you all.

They like to start 'em young in Holland 

Right, what am I supposed to be doing? Oh yeah, the Brizzle fred. Just a minute while I get a drink. :hic: 
Thanks nurse, nice drop of cab sauv that.  Is there beer in the fridge too? Good, sorted.  


Recent History

Right then. Three years ago, almost to t'day, Town headed down to Scrumpy country for our final away game of the season in search of precious points to keep us in the Championship and hopefully send others down instead of us. We won 3-1 thanks to a hat trick from the then on loan James Vaughan, the first goal going in after just 2 minutes. Party time in a little corner of Brizzle. 

Jon Stead came on for a cameo appearance in the second half for Brizzle, who were already down with a final tally of just 41 points (sorry, not trying to rub it in Brizzle fans, just setting a scene, painting a sort of Banksy kind of thing in words), before rejoining us over the Summer for a few more cameo appearances until he went to Bradford on loan and destroyed Chelski in the FA Cup. He was player of the season on at least 2 occasions I seem to recall for Brizzle before they went down.

The following weekend, of course, we were playing out a nervy, very squeeky-bum-time 2-2 draw with Barnsalee, until news of scores elsewhere meant we were both safe and Wolves and Posh went down with 51 and 54 points. Cue the infamous Yorkshire love-in for the last 10 minutes of the game when the Barnsalee keeper was encouraged by the same James Vaughan and others from Barnsalee to run around his 18 yard box with the ball and pass it to nobody. Tears of joy trickled down many a Town fans legs that day when The Posh went down. Oh how we laughed in the pubs that afternoon and evening  

Wolves, to nobodies surprise given they were still on parachute payments from the Prima Donna League and still had a sprinkling or failed Prima Donna's in ther ranks, came straight back up and restarted their tradition of nicking players off us. Brizzle took a season longer to come back up as deserved Champions and as for Posh, good ol' Posh eh?, well they have just sacked yet another manager. 

Sean Scannell is the only player still playing for Town from the squad that were on duty that warm sunny afternoon in Brizzle. You can argue Vaughan is still technically on our books but he won't be in Brizzle on Saturday or back in Huddersfield anytime soon.

Read all about it here should you wish - Bristol City v Town 2013

As for Brizzle, they of course have had a complete clear out since then (probably several - can someone from Brizzle help me out?) so Scanz is the only one (if he gets picked) to survive the cull of players that both clubs have carried out and could be on the pitch come Saturday. (Unless I missed someone else).

Zoom forward three years and we have exactly the same fixture on the same weekend, though this time we are both already safe on 51 (Town) and 49 (Brizzle) points. Who programs that bloody computer down at the Football League? We've both had a change of manager/head coach this season along with many of the teams in the Championship to ensure that we didn't fall through the trap door.

14 Championship clubs have hit the panic button since the end of last season to differing degrees of success. MK Dons should maybe be applauded for sticking with Karl Robinson for nigh on 6 years (10th May 2010 he was appointed). It's about the only thing I'll applaud Mr. Winklepicker for especially if he sticks by him for next season. Losing players that scored over 60 goals and spending diddley squat of the money you got for Dele Alli to replace them means you get what you sow you tight wad. Another rant for another day if and when we meet again perhaps.

Special mention to Rotherham for changing their manager seemingly every other month this season in a futile attempt to take the spotlight off the Fun Factory that is L666s. L666s have managed to keep at least one of them longer than you lot (well the current one anyway). It worked eventually when you hit promotion form to stay up for another season. Collectively we have to find a way as a Division to beat Colin into submission next season. Lumping it forra'd and kicking owt that moves belongs in the lower divisions of about 20 years ago.

The Championship Managerial Roundabout 2015-2016


(Oi! – Leave the stats to the end of the fred – get on with the other stuff – Ed).

The chaps in charge this weekend.

Lee Johnson v David Wagner

 V

Wagner
For me, the appointment of Wagner has brought about a massive improvement in player fitness, a big improvement in goals scored and the style of our play. Our points total may end up less than some seasons, but he wasn't responsible for the first 16 matches when we only picked up 15 points and only scored 16 goals while leaking 23. We might only be 3 places above where we were back in November, but where we were heading with that record and the fitness of the team rapidly going downhill at a rate of knots was the bottom 3 and League 1 without a doubt as far as I'm concerned. Argue all you like Mr. Powell from your comfy chair on Sky Sports and other FL72 shows but we could see it coming and more importantly Deano could see it and got it sorted before the rot set in too deep. (For other stats, see the end of the fred).

Johnson
Brizzle were 22nd on 25 points when they appointed former player Lee Johnson from Barnsalee – (they keep popping up in this fred don't they?) - in February 2016. Son of former Brizzle manager Gary, who has just guided Cheltenham Town back into League 2 from the National League (hmmm, they remind me of Pawel Abbott for some reason), he replaced Steve Cotterill who had brought them from the foot of League 1 back up into the Championship a season and a half later as Champions. Along with winning the Johnstones Paint pot at Wemberlee what he did for them lately wasn't good enough and the Chairman hit the panic button when they were still in the relegation places after the transfer window had closed.

His appointment on the morning of 6th February 2016 saw 3 welcome points come from a victory at Charlton that afternoon that lifted them out of the bottom 3 and they have not returned to the bottom 3 since. That they have now virtually doubled their points tally in just 15 more games is testament to the work he has put in, the goal scoring of main danger man Kojia (18) and no doubt the influence of a certain Mr. Lee Tomlin in midfield, a chap we are only too familiar with from previous encounters with The Posh. (They keep popping up too). Prior to joining the club as manager, Johnson played 199 games for Bristol City as a midfielder between 2006 and 2012, scoring 11 goals (mostly when his dad was in charge but let's have no talk of nepotism on this fred).

The M62/M6/M5 is a well worn corridor of talent making it's way between the City of Bristol and the Town of Huddersfield over the years. However, I can't be bovvered to look up the long list of players that have made the trip in either direction so I'll pass on that bit.

The Chap that owns them  (or most of them anyway) - 

Stephen Philip Lansdown (born 30 August 1952) is co-founder with Peter Hargreaves of UK financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown and majority shareholder of Bristol Rugby, Bristol Flyers, and Bristol City Football Club. (Wiki)

He's worth a bob or two – probably way more than a bob or two more than Deano to be honest. He sold 4.7% of his shares in Hargreaves Lansdown in 2009 for a sum of £47.2 million to put towards the redevelopment of Ashton Gate and he sold a further £58 million of his shares in 2010. Why it's taken 5-6 years for it to actually happen is anyone's guess but it probably has something to do with the Council. He and his family live in Guernsey, which probably helps a bit with the tax bill. (Bit of politics there but don't let that worry you, on with the fred).

He apparently isn't too shy about wanting to stick his hand in his pocket to try and bring better players to the club. Lee Tomlin (Bournemouth) and Peter Odemwingie (Stoke) are two loan players who probably didn't really come on the cheap and they reportedly agreed a £7-£8 million fee for Andre Gray from Brentford before Burnalee snapped him up. There were also reported bids for Darren Bent (whoever he's playing for these days, Derby I think) and Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) earlier this season. I can see why a certain young Mr. Johnson is getting excited about the Summer transfer window opening up. He's going to be like a kid in a sweet shop if Mr. Lansdown lets him anywhere near his cheque book. BBC - Johnson

As for Town this Summer, well we've already made a bit of  a start with Van the Man and a couple of defenders coming over from Germany, but in the spirit of The Bard, who seems to be all over the news at the moment, especially down here in Middle England;

To buy, or not to buy - that is the question for Deano and Wagbo.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in The Prima Donna League
Or to continue the fight against a sea of troubles in The Championship and by beating opposing teams so we can send them down instead of us is up to them really.

(with no apologies what so ever to Shakey Bill and other plagiariser's of his work everywhere and as also read by Charlie, Her Maj's eldest at the RSC earlier this week).


Ashton Gate Redevelopment.

On a clear day in Brizzle you can see the stadium and the nearby Clifton Suspension Bridge at the same time.
An old pic of the Stadium and the Suspension Bridge


The main reason why Brizzle sold out their home allocation ages ago has nowt to do with the excitement of playing Town. They've got 

Bob the Builder in and the ground is only open on 3 sides at the moment. They originally wanted to build a new stadium elsewhere in Brizzle, but after being turned down several times by the Council Planning Department they decided to turn Ashton Gate into a bit of a fixer-upper.

The former Wedlock Stand (South Stand) where Town's supporters were stood in 2013, on one of the last bits of terracing surviving at the time at a Championship club, was demolished in 2014 and became famous on social media as the One Man Shed End while it was being redeveloped.



There's more here with the chap behind the goal in top form chasing a ball down (well nearly).
http://babb.telegraph.co.uk/2014/12/rest...-shed-end/

This stand is now complete and used exclusively for home fans. Away fans are now housed in the North East corner of the Atyeo Stand at the other end of the ground which will probably be turned over completely to away fans when the rest of Bob the Builder's work is finished. The Dolman Stand (on the right above) has been extended to join up with the new South Stand. The old West Stand (on the left above) has been demolished and the finishing touches are being added to a new 11,000 seat stand to replace it.

If you've 7 minutes to waste, you can look at the imagineered video of the whole thing here
http://www.bristol-sport.co.uk/stadium/t...tual-tour/

If you haven't - just check out the webcams
http://www.bristol-sport.co.uk/stadium/the-plan/webcam/

Currently restricted to around 16,500, Ashton Gate should hold around 27,000 when all the work is completed.

Not to be outdone – Brizzle Rovers have announced plans for a 20,000 seat stadium. Let's hope that this one gets built somewhere near Brizzle and not somewhere else like Bath or Plymouth or Executter or wherever else they wander off to on occasions.



Things to do – places to go as well as drinking Scrumpy in places like this:
http://applecider.co.uk/ though this particular one might have to be after the match this weekend.
(Go steady on it folks – it can turn you into a reet barmpot).

A little chap from Pompey with a black suit, top hat and a big fat cigar left his mark in these parts in a big way. Mainly responsible for the construction of the Great Western Railway, he also built a few ships, bridges, tunnels, housing estates, hospitals and (what was there down here that he did not have a go at?) did all that without ruining all the fancy Roman stuff just down the road in Bath, sorry, Barth. Regarded as "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history" in a BBC public poll of the 100 Greatest Britons in 2002 he was placed second behind Winston Churchill.


Isambard Kingdom Brunel's The SS Great Britain is but a short detour off the treck to the ground from the Bristol Temple Meads railway station (which always reminds me somewhat of York Station). It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk from station to ground, this is about half-way there and you might want to allow an hour or so extra if you are going to view the ship. You will be rewarded later with a view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge as you approach the ground.



Website - prices etc.

The topmast of another of his ships the SS Great Eastern is used as a flagpole at the entrance to Anfield, Liverpool Football Club's ground.

There's also a Zoo and for those that like those things a big (almost) out-of-town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway out by the M4/M5 as well as a big city centre shopping area. For other idea's have a butchers at this. Things to do in Bristol. Make a weekend of it if sometime if you can.

If you want more info on what else to do, where to drink, how to get there, where to park etc, etc,  these nice chaps do it so much better than me.
The Football Ground Guide



If you ain't got your train tickets yet – get a chuffin' move on. 

From round these parts where I am, splitting your ticket at Cheltenham Spa will save you a bob or two. Other potential money saving splits from further afield can often be found on here – https://www.splitticketing.com/. Work out what you need then buy them on a rail company website that doesn't charge a fee or want to split the saving with you.

Notable celebrity fans of Bristol City include:

John (THIS IS AN EX PARROT) Cleese
Tony (Baldrick) Robinson
Jenson (my car this season is still not quite on the) Button
Banksy (the famous doodler)
Jonathan (the screaming footy commentator on the BBC) Pearce

Stats for Statto.com lovers

When Town were still trying to get the hang of Wagner's brave new world, Brizzle, on the crest of a slump came north and scared the pants off us in Wagner's 4th game in charge. Having won at Brum the week before we were all probably expecting a first home win under the new fussball meister's coaching. Although Town eventually got 1 back in the second half, Brizzle went in at half-time leading 2-0 which could easily have been 4-0 had they grown their toe nails and boot studs a couple of inches longer.

More than capable of the odd surprise result, Brizzle have done the double over Boro this season, stuck 6 up Bolton and 4 up Wendies the weekend after Wendies stole the points off us. I doubt either side will be allowed to put the towels out on the sun beds around the hotel pool just yet for this game. Town are averaging 2 points per game against teams around us in the bottom 3rd of the table and Brizzle are the only one to beat us. Our current form is pretty much identical over the last 6 games.

Town and Brizzle are pretty much poster boys for showing that if you get off to a bad start in this division, it's hard to get away from the trap door for the rest of the season.

Recent Results
 
League Positions by Game
Town

Brizzle







Head-2-Head Results







Score?
2-2 with Wells and Kojia scoring them all so they both get 20 goals apiece this season
I don't do predictions me so won't be losing any money on it.

Who's gonna play?
Ask Wagbo whose going to play or get an alert off the BBC phone app. I ain't getting involved in that one anymore it's too complicated trying to work out how Wagbo's mind works. What was that about German's being predictable?

Have fun if you are going. Have fun listening on the radio or whichever TV station you watch if you ain't.

Brizzle? Proper club, proper fans – good to have you around for another season.

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Just had a scroll back up  - I went on a bit didn't I? 
Oh wtf, it will give you something to read before the Euro's start. 

You'll be pleased to know it's stopped snowing in Middle England and the sun is now shining. Now just turn the wick up a bit please Carol. CAAAAARRRRROOOOOLLLLL!?!?!?

Another glass please nurse to wash my tea down with. Ta.

See you all again next season hopefully. 

(Cheers to all at WIKI, Statto.com the BBC and others linked above for the use of their stuff without which all this would just be a bit of a rant). 

[Amelia Chaffinch]

And continued to laugh at Peterborough, theo. The sacking of Darren Ferguson has been a particular highlight. Just need Darragh McWhastsit to fall on hard times so that we can throw him a believe T-shirt and revenge will be sweet.

---

I like your form tables.

[Lord Snooty]

Excellent thread, Mr Luddite.

We were going to go to this match but now we're not.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Isambard Kingdom Brunel has been my nephew's hero right back to pre-gcse days or whatever they call them now. I'm sure that's not the reason why he's dating a woman from Bristol.

[MNTerrier]

town are due to hand out another hiding . fancy RVLP to open his town account ( going to keep saying that until it happens)

[Lord Snooty]

Don't think it'll be this match MNT. Can't understand why they're so low down this season. Fancy them to be pushing us for a play off place next year.

[HighlandTerrier58]

Match Threads on this board are always excellent and I think Theo has raised the bar still higher. A great, enjoyable read.

[Amelia Chaffinch]

That's why they deserve more comments. I wish the observers would sign up and join in.

[SHEP_HTAFC]

Brilliant thread theo.....one of the best i've seen.

If that owner continues to put money in 2 things will happen. One, they'll be pushing for the playoffs next year....and two they will be hit with breaking FFP rules.

I can see them doing us over on Sat. Hoping for the best but expecting for the worst.

[EastLondonTerrier]

Cracking thread Theo! Took me a good while to read all of it, thoroughly insightful. I'm expecting at least a point on Saturday, Last time we played them they played horribly negative football and I hope now MK Dons are relegated it gives the players a bit of licence to enjoy themselves and try a few different things on the pitch. Prediction: 2-1 with dat boy Nakhi to get both of course.