BigAl&Toby

Like in Zulu there must have been fousands of em sat by us. Squawking away, stood at the front at every opportunity. Swarming about with their dads in tow. Sitting is seats that clearly weren’t theirs. How ******* dare they? I blame the bloody bring a mate initiative. Who’s idea was that? To try and encourage new fans into the ground. Sack ‘em I say. I blame that Sam Bell…. And JD must have been out of Downsy’s ear shot. Didn’t he ignore team orders and give his shirt away…..

Quite right. Thing is though those ******* idiots won’t be able to wear their Stone Island youth clothing. Or those equally ridiculous black Mille Miglia inspired goggle topped tops. Dear oh dear….

We sit in front of Ron. Last saw him - well heard him first - in Bath bus station. He was talking to passengers. About football. And Bristol City. 54 is no age.

@Mr Popodopolous Answers; 1. No idea. 2. No idea. 3. No idea. My old employer - with whom I had the opportunity to meet one of the Exiles on more than one occasion - once said to me “you’re not a details man are you”…. I took that as a compliment. Little did I know that was a coded message ? The thing is I’m not. A details man. Or one who’s vaguely interested in such detail. I’m more bigger picture. Not bound by constraints. An ideas man……. Needless to say I’m now self-employed! But enough of me. Three clubs. Brighton. Brentford. Burnley. Jesus Christ. Where were they then? Where were we then? Where are they now? Where are we now? Why? And what a waste. Kelly. Webster. Brownhill. Wasted opportunities. Story of BCFC. And if when the window opens the breeze blows and we kiss goodbye to these 3 then that’ll be 3 more names to add to that potentially ever growing list. Meanwhile the likes of O’Dowda, Wells and Palmer will remain……

I found it emotional too. I’ll be honest I also think that not enough was done to truly recognise the selfless sacrifice that the 8 made. I get that loads lost money when the club failed. I get the argument that there’s no legal obligation to make things right. I get the argument that some might have since been declared bankrupt and that support might not have been easily possible. I get that some had testimonials - I met George Best and Chris Garland in what was then George’s Bookshop on Park Street. Someone once said to me that a pat on the back and the Pope’s bollocks shared something in common. Both were worthless. Yesterday’s “celebration” felt a bit like that to me……

@Davefevs I’ll be totally upfront. I was being naughty. If we go down the Kelly/Webster/Brownhill route with any of them then that, for me, will again demonstrate the true commitment that the Exiles have to our club. I purposely only mentioned these 3 as these are the chips that could most easily be cashed in for maximum cash. There are several “Tyreeqs” who I’d expect to be gone - and could go for nothing as far as I’m concerned. If we’re ever to get to the Promised Land then we need to do everything we can to recruit, attract and retain quality. And yes. At whatever it takes. None of this HPC, development and sell on clause nonsense. Steve. Are you listening to The Sage? ?

Roll forward a few months. The window is open. Wide open….. The value of these 3 could be stellar. They could be sold to balance the FFP books. They who live in exile could have a draw. Or we could see some real intent. We don’t waste another opportunity for future glory. We do all we can to keep these 3. We clear out those who really should be up on The Downs. No ifs not buts no coconuts but if we’d invested on the green stuff when there was real opportunity and players with potential where might we have been now? I know what I’d do. What would you do?

I’m not certain it works like that anymore. With £2k worth of communication kit strapped to their heads I think you’ll find the use of the flag is now no longer as important as it once was…..

As an ex-bastard in black and who was sat along a current bastard in black we both thought he was pretty good. First half better than second but he seemed to have a good rapport with the players. Didn’t he congratulate AS when he scored. The linesman with an Adolfesque slicked down haircut on the dugout side mind was shit. Funny how we all see things differently. Bit like all officials I guess….. ?

@Red Cloudthank you for posting. Well remember the season and the YouTube montage. Brought tears to my eyes then, as it does now. The best season for me in over 40 years. The boy was born 2 years previously and things in BS3 were looking good. If only that momentum had continued. Where would we be now?

Common sense should tell you that. Why else would anyone buy up such a swathe of land? He didn’t want to farm it. He didn’t want it necessarily for a new stadium. He, like all professional investors and developers hedge their bets. Shame good old Marv didn’t follow Steve’s approach when he started dabbling with gas supplies. If he could’ve got planning for a stadium he might’ve been content. Reckon he’s more content though with a resi consent. And as for affordable housing or any other 106 contribution when you’re in the know and know you’re in the know you’ll know how to work it. Merchant Venturers anyone? Hold on. That’s bollocks. Good old Steve. He’s one of us. He’s a good old self made Bristolian. Everything he does, he does out of the goodness of his heart. He’s a philanthropic man. He’s not having us over. Is he……

@Davefevs bugger off. 55 if you must know. And the good old Black Horse is giving me a nice birthday present. I might even get the boy to message Downsy…… ?

I do. I’ll pm you. 22/2/22 is my birthday! ?

@Kid in the Riothow dare you hijack such a thread about what the great philanthropist is doing for this wonderful city. Don’t ever question the great man’s motives in wanting to acquire large swathes of land in Ashton Vale. How dare you talk about residential planning consents. He only ever wanted the land to create a sporting stadium that we’d all be proud of…… No. You’re right. Did he bollocks. All Steve does is what makes Steve feel proud. Or more money. I didn’t attend the Lansdown PR lunch and I’m sure the Foundation do good. But Steve? He’s in it for Steve. And Jr. And Jr’s Jr…..

Not me. I saw a much diluted SLF - well Jake Burns - as a support act a few years later. My was he good…..

@richwwtk at last. Someone else. I was thinking it was a pre-pubescent dream….. In what was then the Williams Stand?

Sadly won’t be there today. Been chipping Christmas trees for a Frome based charity. The boy will be revising for his impending Criminology A level exam next week - or at least so he says. Have to make do with the memory of away fixture instead…..

I’d like to welcome @Robboredback to the bosom of OTIB. How I’ve missed his passion. His ever so articulate posts. His somewhat personal take on the nuances of the beautiful game. And of course that wonderful avatar of his. That he says reminds him of a one time boss….. Anyway back to his thoughts on the how Danny Wilson was a better man than Steve Cotterill. And whoever used the analogy of lobbing the wood at the Jack…. I almost choked on my oat milk flat white. Robbored. I’ve missed you ?

@Davefevs cheeky! He’s been catching up your analysis ? I’m drawing my pension next month. I’m not giving it to Mr L to spunk up the Wedlock Wall though! But I think I now qualify to become a Senior Red. Oh hang on though….. ?

Spot on. For me it begs some questions: 1. Who’s tactic was it to hoof the ball forward at every ******* opportunity? 2. Why persist with it when it simply kept coming back? Captain Dan or Big Nige? Only a ******* lunatic sticks with something that doesn’t work. Thank The Lord for Max O’Leary….

No need for an apology as far as we’re concerned. Might have had an impact on the game. Might not. Let’s face it though Stevie ******* Wonder would have done a better job than that bloody clown……. Showed me that Andy King had passion. And felt that Stevie was absolutely ******* useless. More of that from others and we might not be in this bloody mess. Then again Jay and his lovely song and Tyreeq were mixing it up. How we laughed when they put those post it’s on their foreheads…. Keep on keeping on Andy.

Morning @Mr Popodopolous. Enjoy last night?! We did! ? I’ve not got an issue with the costs of being in this league. I don’t like it but it is what it is. Not sure about how the effect of the debenture would work at BS3. I can’t recall now who holds it but given how we’ve been set up I believe it will be Steve as the UBO of his investment empire. And I suspect that whatever clauses exist will enable him to do whatever he’s able to legally do. Whether he can increase rents would I’d guess be part of that - but I’d imagine that other creditors might have a view of the ultimate happened for the UBO - they could argue they’ve been preferred over Steve. Then again I suspect one of the professionals within the Merchant Venturers would be able to provide Steve with a justification for him doing what he does - auditors, valuers ……. Uncle Steve is in a unique position. He has us by the short and curlies…… I wonder if “his” £40m loss is all part of his financial planning? I’m buying an Ifor Williams trailer today from a chap in the Forest of Dean. Tax deductible it is. Wonder if Steve can deduct his £40m from his tax bill? Makes you wonder……. ?

Good to see them play such a vital part in the game last night. Wondered where we’d be without them…… I think they’ve found their role. Anyone else see them on Robins TV playing “Sticky Heads”? My Christ we nearly choked on our Haze! Has it really come to this. One of the Chelsea Trio now employed as pre-match entertainment by putting post its on his head? And the other walking around Ashton Court modelling a shirt….. Is it any wonder Uncle Steve has to dig deep to cover his self-made losses? I’d love to know how much is wasted - sorry invested - in bringing such talent to the club. And the ratio of playing staff against non-playing staff. Anyway it’s not long until the window opens - Christ I feel a draught…..

Funny how you see the game through your Mille Miglia goggles that are presumably stitched into your hoodie. I thought the starting line up showed intent and on the whole it delivered. Thing is Nakhi Wells could/should/would have played from the start but didn’t. And why’s that? Because like so many of them he’s not good enough. Anyway young man I’m guessing it’s a day of Football Manager for you…..

Ouch. Nothing keyboard warrior from me. I just do not accept that he can be so successful in one aspect of his life and so utterly ******* clueless in another. Maybe he doesn’t have an ulterior motive. Maybe he is a modest philanthropist. Maybe he genuinely thinks he’s doing a great job. Maybe he thinks he’s leaving a legacy that everyone will remember him by. I happen not to think that. How can he **** it up so massively? And for what it’s worth I’ve met him and others who have met him professionally. He’s no fool. How can he be? He’s worth a fortune. But then if you know different and think he’s doing a great job then we’ll have to happily disagree. ?