V v Thursday 8th May 2025 what a nightmare three web browsers later finally got our tickets for the game. Well Well Well who ever thought Bristol City would be playing in the playoff games at the seasons start well anything from now is a bonus in my eyes-three poor games so form has gone out the window it will come down to who wants it most and who have the players that perform on the night. Sheff Utd have six strikers to choose from we have 35 year old Nahki Wells and Armstrong and Bell. Chalk and cheese in that department. City must play three times better than the last three games played to stand a chance. I will be amazed if we can beat sheff utd over two legs. Credit to Liam Manning and Chris Hogg getting this team into the playoffs an amazing achievement with the powderpuff strike force they have at their disposal. If the unthinkable happens then a Wembley final would be a dream come true. That comes down to the day. Let’s just hope he can keep his better players- improve his strikers and goalkeeper for next season.All-ways believe.
I’ve said on another thread that we have the best form (just) over the past 10 games: City: 15 pts Sheff U: 14 pts Cov: 13 pts Sunderland: 8 pts. THEY should be fearing US.
form goes out the window now its all about who handles the pressure and basically whos got the balls for it,
The play-offs are always a lottery and on many occasions the favourites bite the dust in the semi-finals. We have no pressure on us as the overwhelming underdogs and so we have to approach both games with a positive attitude and let the chips fall where they may. We are sadly lacking in a lot of areas, including bench depth and scoring ability, but mental strength can overcome those supposed deficiencies and we will need a lot of that if Sheff Utd play at their usual high tempo. On paper our opponents are light years ahead of us in nearly all areas, but paper doesn't win matches - does it? We will need at least a draw in the first match but of course a win is much more preferable because heading up to Bramall Lane with a deficit might be lights out for us. Give it the big old welly and hope may be the solution.
Over two legs is more difficult imo, if we can get through the first part, I fancy our chances against any of them in a one off game
Does anyone know if Sykes might be back for any stage of the play-offs? Also, any injury news post the PNE game, William took some big knocks, and he is quite injury prone.
We could have beaten PNE if that offside was spotted - then we would have had 18 points. Whatever, our current form has been better than the other 3 teams and we need to capitalise on it.
If we can play without fear I believe we’ll have a really good chance, but it’s a big if. We need to embrace being the underdogs, and just go for it, play Earthy instead of Twine, close them down, and play on the front foot.
Twine has been a massive underachiever and 5.5 million-rather that had been spent on a striker. As for Manning's other two strikers the least said about them 5 million quid down the drain. People were saying on other forums it was Pearson that brought the better players in-i have to agree with them.
The fee for Twine was variousley reported at £3.2m plus add ons and £4m, also listen to the Ross McCrorrie interview post PNE. He says how things improved when LM joined. Nige did a decent job, he has gone, get over it please.
just saying one comment below from a fellow fan don't get me wrong Manning has done brilliant with what he got up front-as said two quality strikers and goalkeeper we can give it a good go again next year. Yes mate def , as most of the core of our quality of this team , Pearson sanctioned and if you take the 4.5 mill waste of twime , the 1.5 mill stretch Armstrong and the 3.5 mill fally o ‘malley , that’s 9.5 mill and he would of bought more wisely like knight , bird , Sykes , macrorie ,, mehmeti and josh stokes ,and for the haters yeah we all know about Harry cornick but we all make the odd mistake , please log in to view this image Manning has done ok but with at least 9.5 mill extra I think big nige would of done somewhat better , …remember without these signings manning wouldn’even be In this position at all , it was mainly nps signings please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Pearson did an amazing job within the constraints he had imposed on him, and no one was more upset than me at how he was got rid of, but constantly comparing the two is pointless. Manning has performed miracles to get us where we are with the squad at his disposal. It is perfectly possible to praise them both, whilst simultaneously criticising both Tinnion and John L for their complete lack of Leadership. Let’s just get fully behind Liam and every single member of the playing and coaching staff for the upcoming playoff matches. COYR
LM and his boys have got my total support and even gratitude for a great ending to our season, no matter what the finale, I too admired Nige but his time has gone, LJ people admired but his time has also gone, we are what we are and that is top six.Up the City..
Bristol City flashback: Carl Shutt causes family rift, Steve McClaren's scars and Blades blunted | Bristol Live Went to both legs and I can't remember much about them. Very feisty off the pitch. The pubs were shut before kick off at Ashton Gate, thousands of City fans drank in the park and it turned into a giant dust cloud when the Cowboys and Indians stuff started.
Went to the home leg when Walshy got the only goal Listened to the return leg on Radio Bristol and we were really hanging on after they equalised and Morrissey hit the bar Shutts diving header was a gem
