Holloway staying (for now)

[lookwhaticando]

I just hope Louis Dodds and Max Gradel come back to us.

[S1DDO]

I'm behind Holloway for now, but i think he needs a new assistant, he needs a discaplinarian beside him.

Breaker out, Taggart in.

[Master Fox]

Come on now.

On one hand you refuse to show any leniency for any of our players for their failures but because you cannot find a suitable 'replacement' for Holloway, you'll let him stay?

I know you like to cause a bit of controversy, and I like that, but now you're being daft!

No Ric, it's my honest opinion. And I can't see anyone coming up with a better strategy. I’ve been right about them all along, and I’m right in what I’m saying now.

[LeeCovFox]

Fair enough, the club's ownership / chairmanship(?) has been poorly managed, but Holloway must still take some responsibility. He's a gas hob surely?

I honestly believe that the club has been so poorly managed over the years that this relegattion was inevitable. I would go as far as to say that the seeds of this were sewn when Allen was sacked. Not because I liked him as a mangager, but because it was the catalyst for a season of instability which would lead to our current predicament. No manager can truly be judged without having had a preseason of their own at a club. Of course Holloway has to take some reponsibility. Personally I think the best way to show that he is doing so is to get us back up. I have every confidence that he will do so.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Nah the chef controls the oven wouldnt that be Mandaric.

Good point. The chef does have overall control of the oven. Therefore Mandaric is the chef, he needs to choose the right oven (manager), who in turn needs to "bake" the perfect ingredients (players).

I hope that's right, otherwise we're going nowhere with this cooking metaphor.

[lookwhaticando]

Good point. The chef does have overall control of the oven. Therefore Mandaric is the chef, he needs to choose the right oven (manager), who in turn needs to "bake" the perfect ingredients (players).

I hope that's right, otherwise we're going nowhere with this cooking metaphor.

But surely, that would imply the oven is picking the ingredients. I thought ingredient picking was the Chef's job...

Oh.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I just hope Louis Dodds and Max Gradel come back to us.

[LeeCovFox]

So because the fans like Hume he needs to be replaced by a youth team player. Perhaps the fans sing Hume's name because he is better than the attacking alternatives; Bazza, Elvis, Howard, DJ e.t.c

But because you can't think of a better alternative to Ian Holloway, I'll give you one Mike Newell (has actually won this division), you're willing to ignore all his innadaquecies?

I think the very fact that the fans look upon Hume as some kind of hero is a problem. It is symptomatic of the mediocrity that some fans are used to and so readily accept.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

But surely, that would imply the oven is picking the ingredients. I thought ingredient picking was the Chef's job...

Oh.

Yeah, it does. Crap.

You could argue that the chef is an interfering old Serb who buys random ingredients of his own accord.

[davieG]

I think the very fact that the fans look upon Hume as some kind of hero is a problem. It is symptomatic of the mediocrity that some fans are used to and so readily accept.

I don't think they look upon him as a hero like Fryatt they just happen to have a song for him.

[TrickyTrev]

I think the very fact that the fans look upon Hume as some kind of hero is a problem. It is symptomatic of the mediocrity that some fans are used to and so readily accept.

I think the singing of Matty Fryatt's name may be a far better case in point. Hume has been performing better and tries harder than the rest of our players. If you're not allowed to celebrate that then what's the point in following a football club?

I don't think Ian Hume is a world beater, but he's a top half of the championship player and a bloody good lad. We need to hang on to him if we want to get promoted. Can people please see things in perspective.

[davieG]

Yeah, it does. Crap.

You could argue that the chef is an interfering old Serb who buys random ingredients of his own accord.

One of them must be the Gas to keep the oven cooking. That must be Holloway don't they call Bristol Rovers 'Gas'?

[LeeCovFox]

I don't think they look upon him as a hero like Fryatt they just happen to have a song for him.

I just find it very difficult to come to terms with a player being liked because he appears to try harder than the rest. When I was younger and could afford to go every fortnight, they all tried hard. I don't think it deserves a reward. It should be a given, no matter what the quality of the players amounts to.

[Tilley]

Well, there you go.

Finally, we get an announcement of some sort.

Lets put this shit behind us, build for the future, & begin our push for promotion.

Ollie will lead us back into the Championship.

Hopefully, he learns from his mistakes & can become a better manager by doing so.

I'll be there next season backing the boys, & the 'fans' who won't buy a ticket because Ollie's in charge are pathetic.

Lets go forward now, Ollie's Army

[Chimp]

Nah the chef controls the oven wouldnt that be Mandaric.

Okay, let's nail this cookery analogy shall we?

Milan is the resturant owner - a bit enccentric but commited to investing in the business.

The kitchen (including the bloody oven) are the clubs infrastructure - okay, been a bit shakey recently but overall in good condition.

The players are the ingredients - some of them are fresh, some a few days old and going a bit wiffy, some have fallen under the counter and are slowly rotting away despite the fact that they would have been delicious if used when fresh.

Holloway is the chef - it's his job to use the ingredients to bake a most wonderful cake, he has full use of the kitchen and can go to the owner for new supplies. So far, despite having good references, all his soufles have come out flat, he's burnt the meringue and his fruit cakes taste a bit moldy on account of his persistence in using out-of-date ingredients.

There.

[davieG]

Well, there you go.

Finally, we get an announcement of some sort.

Lets put this shit behind us, build for the future, & begin our push for promotion.

Ollie will lead us back into the Championship.

Hopefully, he learns from his mistakes & can become a better manager by doing so.

I'll be there next season backing the boys, & the 'fans' who won't buy a ticket because Ollie's in charge are pathetic.

Lets go forward now, Ollie's Army

Call me Mr Pathetic then!

[lookwhaticando]

Yeah, it does. Crap.

You could argue that the chef is an interfering old Serb who buys random ingredients of his own accord.

So... in essence...

Mandaric is a rogue chef who buys random ingredients.

Holloway is the oven. Sadly, this particular oven is stained* and covered in those tough, almost impossible to remove burnt on foodstuffs (you know, the kind that only Cillit Bang™ can shift)... so the oven is substandard*, and because of all the residual stains it doesn't cook as well as it otherwise could*.

The ingredients are random... and totally out of proportion (I'm sure the recipe calls for just two tablespoons of right-backs, not five full players worth).

So... when the rogue chef combines all his random, out-of-proportion ingredients and places them in the under-heating substandard oven... what we get is not so much a nice cake, but more a sort of messy pile of undercooked goo, with a hint of last weeks' curry.

* Depending on your point of view, of course.

So all we need is a lot of Cillit Bang™... or perhaps a new oven. And new ingredients. And perhaps a new chef.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I think the very fact that the fans look upon Hume as some kind of hero is a problem. It is symptomatic of the mediocrity that some fans are used to and so readily accept.

One of them must be the Gas to keep the oven cooking. That must be Holloway don't they call Bristol Rovers 'Gas'?

I beleive that Hume being one of our most popular players is because of the overall pattern at the club in recent years. Anyone who stays at the club for more than one season is considered a great nowadays.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with the gas DavieG.

Chef - Manadric

Oven - Club

Gas - Manager

Ingredients - Players.

Dear God I hope that's right.

[backinthebigtime]

Well on the bright side at least it means we wont get stuck with the lying gargoyle featured freak that is Ian Dowie....well for now anyway.

[Chimp]

Chef - Manadric

Oven - Club

Gas - Manager

Ingredients - Players.

Dear God I hope that's right.

I think my analogy is better tbh.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Okay, let's nail this cookery analogy shall we?

Milan is the resturant owner - a bit enccentric but commited to investing in the business.

The kitchen (including the bloody oven) are the clubs infrastructure - okay, been a bit shakey recently but overall in good condition.

The players are the ingredients - some of them are fresh, some a few days old and going a bit wiffy, some have fallen under the counter and are slowly rotting away despite the fact that they would have been delicious if used when fresh.

Holloway is the chef - it's his job to use the ingredients to bake a most wonderful cake, he has full use of the kitchen and can go to the owner for new supplies. So far, despite having good references, all his soufles have come out flat, he's burnt the meringue and his fruit cakes taste a bit moldy on account of his persistence in using out-of-date ingredients.

There.

So... in essence...

Mandaric is a rogue chef who buys random ingredients.

Holloway is the oven. Sadly, this particular oven is stained* and covered in those tough, almost impossible to remove burnt on foodstuffs (you know, the kind that only Cillit Bang™ can shift)... so the oven is substandard*, and because of all the residual stains it doesn't cook as well as it otherwise could*.

The ingredients are random... and totally out of proportion (I'm sure the recipe calls for just two tablespoons of right-backs, not five full players worth).

So... when the rogue chef combines all his random, out-of-proportion ingredients and places them in the under-heating substandard oven... what we get is not so much a nice cake, but more a sort of messy pile of undercooked goo, with a hint of last weeks' curry.

* Depending on your point of view, of course.

Both better than mine.

Good development of the initial idea.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I think my analogy is better tbh.

You started talking about a restaurant.

I can't compete with that.

[LeeCovFox]

I don't think anybody who chooses not to renew their season ticket can be labelled as pathetic. Especially considering that many have been shelling out hundreds of pounds for years and have now come to the conclusion that the level of football, the running of the football club, and that, frankly, they have been shafted by a club who won't even consider dropping prices despite the club being guaranteed its lowest finish in 125 years next season. Some would do well to remember that before football became corporate, these fans were a club's lifeblood. It is no exaggeration to say that without them Milan Mandaric may not have had a club to buy in the first place.

[teblin]

More i read the statement from the chairman the more confused i get, not anywhere does he state holloway is staying.

[breadandcheese]

I just find it very difficult to come to terms with a player being liked because he appears to try harder than the rest. When I was younger and could afford to go every fortnight, they all tried hard. I don't think it deserves a reward. It should be a given, no matter what the quality of the players amounts to.

Why not? There's plenty of examples of limited players who work hard and make it far higher than their raw talent, becoming vital cogs in a team. Flamini, a player of limited talent, but he's at AC Milan. Robbie Savage, in his prime was the engine of a team. Dirk Kuyt, non-stop hard work, keeps Peter Crouch out of the team. Hume, works hard, constant effort and that's why he is our top scorer.

Hume is a good championship player, who will have interest from a higher level than us.