Forever Bristol City Podcast

In conversation with ...... former City manager Alan Dicks

If you are over 60 you are of an age when you’ll be able to recall most of what former manager Alan Dicks has to say in this fascinating insight into his time at Ashton Gate. If you are younger then it offers the chance to hear tales from a man who took City to the top flight 46 years ago.

When he became manager at City in October 1967 he was only 33 – that’s younger than LJ was and he’d not even had a no.1 role!

In this interview you’ll hear Alan recount stories involving Jimmy Hill, Tommy Docherty, & Bryan Robson to name just a few. Also how Norman Hunter was never going to stay, Gary Collier leaving on freedom of contract and how, when his time at City came to an end, he wasn’t actually fired but instead rejected the chance to move upstairs and be finance director!

This season can’t disappear down the drain soon enough!

Ian, Mark & DaveP are joined on this podcast for the first time by Nigel Whittle whose erudite contribution is a pleasant antidote to the usual trip spouted by the rest of us.

Quite honestly City were shocking tonight with the game as good as over after 20 minutes after the home side scored 2 goals, both from corners.

No positives can be drawn from the night's performance which saw Joe Williams break down again 15 minutes after coming on as a sub for Scott.

 

At last a win on the road!

A much needed 3 points, an end to the dreadful away run and a clean sheet to boot.

Ian & Mark go through the game with DaveP who was at Old Trafford yesterday to see a Renaldo hat-trick.

Big question for Nige is does he recall Kalas for the trip to Oakwell on Tuesday?

Credit to Weimann who looks on course to secure a 20 goal season for the first time in his career.

Another match saving display from Bentley; I feared the worst as local hero Bradley Dack stepped up for his pen.

 

Shout out for JDS who’s arguably our most improved player of late and on Cundy, maybe Ian has been right all along?

”We were crap....that’s life”

A fourth defeat in 5 games – we seem to be ending 21/22 in similar fashion to last season’s behind closed doors debacle.

 

Ian, Mark and DaveP state the obvious in their analysis of the game, namely the side was set up wrong from the off with forward Sam Bell in a defensive role and being 0-2 down inside 15 minutes as a result.

 

Scott’s goal at the start of the 2^nd half offered hope but at no time did City really take the game to Birmingham after that.

 

JDS had a good game but Williams & James were poor with Martin looking like he needs to find a larger pair of shorts.

 

Whilst not accepting responsibility for the defeat Pearson pulled not punches with his “we were crap” assessment but his “that’s life” comment regarding Simpson continuing unavailable for selection deserves further scrutiny

 

SORRY FOR LATE AVAILABILITY OF THIS EPISODE - PROBLEM WITH MAIN PODBEAN SITE

City felled by the Trees!

2 points from the past 33 available on the road - it isn't great is it?

City were back to their sad, bad old ways against Steve Cooper's side.

Goal's either side of half-time secured victory for Forest who would have had a hatful were it not for Dan Bentley's heroics between the sticks.

Do we have ANY right to expect more? Ian, Mark & DaveP discuss this and more including trying to fathom Nigel's abhorrence for the loan system - Spence, Davies & Garner are all loanees and were highly influential in Forest's win.

Who are the Trees - a Derby County friend informed me long ago that this is the affectionate name they've given their neighbours!

”Excellent” despite the ending of a good home run

"Excellent" was the word used by Nigel to describe City's overall performance in the loss to the Sky Blues on Tuesday night.

Perhaps it wasn't THAT good but most of the 19k crowd would have come away for the 2nd time in four days with the view that they'd seen a decent game of football.

Despite another late goal it was an individual mistake that created it rather than the "collective anxiety", as Nigel put it [and we agree] in the defence as a whole.

DaveFevs, Neil, Ian & DaveP review the match action and agree that the upswing, albeit erratic, in form is continuing, that HNM should have "taken one for the team" and maybe Kalas could have done more to prevent the winning goal.

 

 

Perfect Day

Ian, Neil & DaveP reflect on a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes against a pretty good Boro side and how the tribute to the Ashton Gate 8 was staged immaculately to honour the 40th anniversary.

You have to be over 40 to have a true understanding of what the AG8 did but the actions of Scott Davidson & Neil Palmer in particular has brought into focus what these guys did for a whole new generation of fans - we suggest what more can be done so the masses can say a true thank you.

 

Easy to blame Stroud on that pen. but that covers up the defensive frailties that define us

Weimann's 15th goal of the season was worthy of winning any match but once again poor, poor defending cost City dear.

Never mind getting rid of players [not feasible as no-one would have the wastrels] how about making the ones we have operate better as a cohesive unit?

 

Ian, Mark, Neil & DaveP have another Groundhog day discussion on City's pointless trip across the bridge

Reading [H] reviewed ....

Three points on the board, probably just 10 more needed from 15 games to secure Championship status, this was not a great performance but no less than we deserved.

DaveP is joined by Neil, Mark, DaveFevs & Ian in an hour of intelligent debate on the game and more!!

After one step forward it appears two steps back

Neil, Mark, Ian & DaveP discuss a disappointing afternoon in wind & rain swept Blackpool as City's atrocious away record of 4 months continues.

After quite a bright start City trailed by two goals at half time, both "avoidable" according to NP and creating a conceding record that hadn't been beaten since 1962!!

The third goal on 48 minutes killed off any chance of a fightback with Nahki Wells strike merely a consolation.

Is Reading a must win game?

We also talk more on the Ashton Gate 8 and reflect on the contribution made by the new board of directors back then led by Deryn Coller and the late Ken Sage