bristol_wanderer

Fact is we only have a fanbase of about 25000 unless its a cup final so its hardly surprising that there was only about 18500 home fans when you had to pay and it was a night match. Its a pisser and it rams home that we aren't yet a bit club. But we just gotta hope that the young uns will support us over the next few years and we'll gain back a lot of lost support over previous years. Better to be successful with a small and hopefully growing fanbase than going the other way such as Forest, Derby, Leicester etc. etc.

I agree that the atmosphere was poor last night, although the crowd, much to my relief, wasn't too bad (for us). But given the fact that we are all passionate BWFC supporters, surely we should be thinking along the lines of 'what can be done to improve the situation?' Hire a fleet of minibuses so people can have a few bevvies? Pipe chanting in to the stadium using the tannoy system? (surely not) Could the club do anything to help the atmosphere at the Reebok? The people on this website are the hardcore of BWFC, so saying you're not going to go to games anymore/not renewing season ticket ain't going to help matters is it? If nothing else it's an insult to Sam and the lads. I think our support needs time to grow. We lost thousands in the 80's and early 90's when we had 4 to 5 thousand each week in some of the worst atmospheres you could imagine. If we win a trophy, with all the glory that brings, that would galvanise the support to the next level. As long as Sam stays for the next 3/4 years then that will surely happen.

There is the positive person's viewpoint: We are making more money from our top six league finishes, UEFA/FA cup runs, commercial opportunities etc. Therefore we have more money to spend on the team as PG has alluded to. Given we spent say ??5m this season on Diouf, Borgetti and Faye then we should have say ??8m?? plus Okocha's, Campo's wages (??50k per week??) if they go. Given that this squad is of good quality then ??8m plus room for wages plus our ability to find transfer market gems (together with the odd Jardel)would mean an even better squad next year, so more money, success and hopefully trophies to enahance the squad and so the spiral goes on. Oh and Sam doesn't get the England job and stays here for at least 4 more years. :D/

Didn't Farnworth White state in a previous thread that we'd sold 11000 by Friday for Marseille? I agree that anything less than 20000 will indeed piss Sam off big time.

If anybody's got any spares for Marseille away Posted application on Friday (first class) didn't arrive till Tuesday morning - gutted!

Suprising amount of negativity and resignation on here. Factors in favour of him going to Newcastle: 1.) Bigger club/fanbase Factors against: 1.) Newcastle ??70m in debt 2.) Growing wage bill, reducing earnings 3.) They face a relegation battle 4.) They are badly run from top to bottom 5.) He has a genuine feeling for BWFC, we are the club he wants to have success at. 6.) He has got exactly the role he wants here having built the club up his way. 7.) A good team with realistic expectations of Europe in the next 1/2 years plus possible silverware this year. 8.) Our financial position can only improve with the success we are having. 9.) He gets on with the chairman. 10.) He would have to rule himself out of the England job. HE WILL NOT GO TO NEWCASTLE That is unless we get such a poor crowd at home to Marseille that Sam gets completely pissed off, or we have an immediate downturn in form, in which case he will blame that on lack of backing in the January transfer window, and could feel disillusioned enough to leave.

Also giving it some thought. 125 mile drive, finish work at 5, definite maybe. Any other Brizzle boys on here thinking of going??

First of all, hello fellow Wanderers fanatics. This is my first post on here, have posted on rivals site previously. I agree we shouldn't be blaming he ticket office, they appear to be doing their best. However, I think the level of interest of BWFC fans for the UEFA cup is being underestimated here. With the trips from here, St Andrews Travel, and the club alone there are 10 flights going, most of which are sold out. Add to that the ones who are making their own way there and you have about 3000 already. I for one am quite shocked by this level of interest, I imagined that we'd have 100-200 at away games when we qualified last season. As it is this competition is rapidly making our club into something bigger and more reputable than it has ever been. Our fantastic support is being seen and respected by fans of football across the land. I am sure anyone who went to Bulgaria will testify that if it is possible to get to an European away game, then you have do it. Happy days