No public backing from Uncle Steve

[Major Isewater]

We all know that SL is not one for knee jerk reactions and I am grateful for the stability he brings to the good ship BCFC so where do we think he’s at just now ?

He probably doesn’t see the need to back LJ publicly because that is a sure sign that things aren’t right however is he , discreetly, sounding out the possibility of appointing a new coach ?

Is he oblivious to the ground swell of discontent or does he think he knows better than the paying ‘ customer ‘ ? 
 

I think he will not move until the end of the season depending on how we finish. A strong finish would be ideal for him as then he doesn’t have a difficult decision to make . A catastrophic end to the campaign and surely he will have no other option.

What do you think ? 

[CyderInACan]

Given he's publicly set out his expectations for what constitutes "success" he'll no doubt review the season after it's conclusion. Probably the same as every year.

If we continue to have an absolute shocker and finish in the bottom half, quite possible, that cannot by any metric be classed as a successful campaign and he will have been hoisted by his own petard, so to speak, and will have to either justify why LJ remains or replace him. 

[Natchfever]

2 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

We all know that SL is not one for knee jerk reactions and I am grateful for the stability he brings to the good ship BCFC so where do we think he’s at just now ?

He probably doesn’t see the need to back LJ publicly because that is a sure sign that things aren’t right however is he , discreetly, sounding out the possibility of appointing a new coach ?

Is he oblivious to the ground swell of discontent or does he think he knows better than the paying ‘ customer ‘ ? 
 

I think he will not move until the end of the season depending on how we finish. A strong finish would be ideal for him as then he doesn’t have a difficult decision to make . A catastrophic end to the campaign and surely he will have no other option.

What do you think ? 

I think he's not gone public because he doesn't think he needs to back one of the best young coaches in Europe who has clearly been foiled by Covid 19 and a bunch of ungrateful players. 

He doesn't think supporters will vote with their wallets. 

[Pheasant plucker]

Having previously not having a strong view on LJ either way, I now find myself thinking he has lost his way and its time for a fresh approach.

The problem with waiting 'till the end of season this year is there will only be a short "summer" break. 

I'm not sure who's available, or even if SL would recruit from within, but I think he must be questioning his charge now, he's not daft. He is loyal though - to those loyal to him, so who knows!

But I'd be amazed of he's not chatting to MA to guage his view.

[Prinny]

There's just no reason to set everyone talking by coming out now. Win tonight and we're 8th, 3 points off the playoffs. (I don't think that will happen)

He shouldn't say anything until we're completely out of the season, it doesn't help anyone.

They're not blind or stupid, they've given LJ tools to be successful and if he's not they'll look at why not.

[City oz]

15 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

We all know that SL is not one for knee jerk reactions and I am grateful for the stability he brings to the good ship BCFC so where do we think he’s at just now ?

He probably doesn’t see the need to back LJ publicly because that is a sure sign that things aren’t right however is he , discreetly, sounding out the possibility of appointing a new coach ?

Is he oblivious to the ground swell of discontent or does he think he knows better than the paying ‘ customer ‘ ? 
 

I think he will not move until the end of the season depending on how we finish. A strong finish would be ideal for him as then he doesn’t have a difficult decision to make . A catastrophic end to the campaign and surely he will have no other option.

What do you think ? 

Catastrophic ( i needed to check major how you spelt it) will be our discussions in about two months time. 

You must of swallowed a dictionary for breakfast 

[Gazred]

Don't think too many managers would want the dreaded vote of confidence from their owner. It's not a sign things are going well.

It'll be a seasons end review and if we finish top half, i think that will be good enough for SL to stick with him going into next season.

[GrahamC]

18 minutes ago, CyderInACan said:

Given he's publicly set out his expectations for what constitutes "success" he'll no doubt review the season after it's conclusion. Probably the same as every year.

If we continue to have an absolute shocker and finish in the bottom half, quite possible, that cannot by any metric be classed as a successful campaign and he will have been hoisted by his own petard, so to speak, and will have to either justify why LJ remains or replace him. 

Spot on.

Whilst we are still in touching distance there is no way he will say anything & no one sane would actually expect him to.

If, as looks highly likely on current form, we drift to mid table by the season’s end, that will definitely change.

[pillred]

21 minutes ago, Natchfever said:

I think he's not gone public because he doesn't think he needs to back one of the best young coaches in Europe who has clearly been foiled by Covid 19 and a bunch of ungrateful players. 

He doesn't think supporters will vote with their wallets. 

Satire at it's best (at least I hope it is)

[Riaz]

Why would Steve Lansdown say anything?

Even if you think not getting play-offs is a sackable offence - we still have a chance of making it.

If he was to sack him, it would'nt be until the end of the season

[MattyAli]

Yep, I think we will need to finish below mid table and as expected, the playing quality doesn't improve................I also think a list of excuses is already being worked on for the wee man keeping his job regardless of what happens this season. Some of which are below?

Loss of Brownhill and lack of quality replacement in January window.

Pandemic and break in season will get a mention at least twice.

Empty stadiums affected players is almost guaranteed to be used.

Please feel free to add to this list? 

[Major Isewater]

10 minutes ago, pillred said:

Satire at it's best (at least I hope it is)

It’s dangerous doing satire on OTIB, I did it once and I think I got away with it .

[Abraham Romanovich]

1 minute ago, Riaz said:

Why would Steve Lansdown say anything?

Even if you think not getting play-offs is a sackable offence - we still have a chance of making it.

If he was to sack him, it would'nt be until the end of the season

We are in the middle of a global pandemic,an economic crisis not seen in generations and people believe SL's first priority is appointing a new manager.

With no potential income from attendances in the near future SL will not be in a hurry to act and will presumably review the situation at the end of the season.

Until the new normal is clearer there is nothing to be gained by acting now.

[Riaz]

Just now, Abraham Romanovich said:

We are in the middle of a global pandemic,an economic crisis not seen in generations and people believe SL's first priority is appointing a new manager.

With no potential income from attendances in the near future SL will not be in a hurry to act and will presumably review the situation at the end of the season.

Until the new normal is clearer there is nothing to be gained by acting now.

Basically what i said

[Major Isewater]

26 minutes ago, City oz said:

Catastrophic ( i needed to check major how you spelt it) will be our discussions in about two months time. 

You must of swallowed a dictionary for breakfast 

There’s more where that came from.

[LondonBristolian]

I've never bought into this idea that SL is going to back LJ no matter what. He's clearly felt in the past LJ is a manager who can develop the club in the long term and he stuck with him after the dismal run in 2016/2017 (which, in hindsight, he was right to do in any case).

But I don't believe he is a fool and I don't believe his patience and backing is unconditional. There will have been targets this season and, although we sold Brownhill, Webster and Kelly (which is in keeping with the business model), there is no argument LJ has not been backed. We decided to get Wells rather than a significant chunk of what we would otherwise have got for Brownhill and we spent substantial amounts elsewhere including the best part of £15 million on three loan players from last season who have struggled to develop this.

My guess is that, if we lose out on the play-offs by a substantial margin again, questions will be asked and reasons will be sought. LJ has not helped himself here. He talked up how good our preparation work was during the COVID lockdown and has now claimed the signs are there that the team can win at least five from seven. He cannot plausibly turn around and provide an analysis or explanation of what went wrong that suggests that he saw it coming or that the reasons were beyond his control.

I don't necessarily think it a given that he will be out if we do not make the play-offs but I think if our form continues until the end of the season and this week's results see us out of the play-off race with five games to go, I cannot see LJ staying. 

[Loco Rojo]

I think Steve has a very clear plan for his expectations and will review it at the end of the season. We're so close now to the end and more managers may be available come the end. Plus as someone said on another thread, perhaps there's a clause in Lee's contract if we don't make the playoffs.

Whilst I don't think we'll make the playoffs or get anywhere close (I'm struggling to see where our next win will come from), mathmatically it's still possible.

I also don't think Steve feels the need to announce anything yet to the local media on LJs position or support as these are conversations to be had behind closed doors at the right time first (And yes, I think he or his wider team will be well aware of OTIBs views at the moment).

 

[Northern Red]

Even if he did come out and say something now, what would it be other than "Lee has my full support and there have been no discussions about his position"?

Because, let's be honest, the people demanding he speak only want him to say that LJ is a goner. Nothing else will satisfy them. And that isn't going to happen for the reasons already mentioned upthread.

[Red white and red]

List of safest jobs in football: 

1) Lee Johnson 

2) Jurgen Klopp

After winning the ******* prem, he’s still more likely to get the sack than Johnson. 
 

Farce. 

[Lez]

LJ will not be sacked either now or in the summer. What goes on in between is irrelevant.

[southvillekiddy]

I don't blame LJ especially. I blame SL for hiring a succession of safe, unthreatening, mediocre managers throughout his time. We've had one manager in recent times, Steve Cotterill, (who gave us the most exciting season in recent times), who stood up to him and look what happened to him.

He's presiding over the most under-achieving club in English football and he seems happy to let this continue.

I would like him to show that he is prepared to let go, admit he knows little about football and appoint an experienced, successful high quality foreign coach who brings his own specialist coaching team. So unless he has a massive change of mind we will have another mediocre yes-man after LJ.

Such is our pitiful lot as fans.

[milo1111]

2 hours ago, Natchfever said:

I think he's not gone public because he doesn't think he needs to back one of the best young coaches in Europe who has clearly been foiled by Covid 19 and a bunch of ungrateful players. 

He doesn't think supporters will vote with their wallets. 

Don’t insult our intelligence. Just don’t.

We were playing poorly before lockdown and this virus is not specific to Bristol. All clubs are in the same boat.

[Red-Robbo]

I agree with the Major. No action is likely to be taken until the end of the season and then only if the slump continues.

Which will be a bit of a bastard for anyone incoming, with virtually no time to see how the squad fits together (or doesn't  ) before the 20/21 kick-off.

As the song goes "The time is NOW".

[Natchfever]

25 minutes ago, milo1111 said:

Don’t insult our intelligence. Just don’t.

We were playing poorly before lockdown and this virus is not specific to Bristol. All clubs are in the same boat.

Are you whooshing me whooshing you ? 

[pongo88]

Sadly I feel that City will miss the playoffs and sell a couple of players to bring in some income. When LJ and Mark Ashton put on the technogabble speak this will appear to be OK, due to the circumstances, to SL. All we need is one more year (repeat each season) 

['Orns]

2 hours ago, CyderInACan said:

hoisted by his own petard

Can I congratulate you on using this massively underused, and fabulous statement

Wonderful

[CyderInACan]

2 minutes ago, 'Orns said:

Can I congratulate you on using this massively underused, and fabulous statement

Wonderful

It is a corker of a phrase and cropped up in conversation last night - very pleased the opportunity arose to deploy it so soon thereafter 

[awbb]

43 minutes ago, southvillekiddy said:

I don't blame LJ especially. I blame SL for hiring a succession of safe, unthreatening, mediocre managers throughout his time. We've had one manager in recent times, Steve Cotterill, (who gave us the most exciting season in recent times), who stood up to him and look what happened to him.

He's presiding over the most under-achieving club in English football and he seems happy to let this continue.

I would like him to show that he is prepared to let go, admit he knows little about football and appoint an experienced, successful high quality foreign coach who brings his own specialist coaching team. So unless he has a massive change of mind we will have another mediocre yes-man after LJ.

Such is our pitiful lot as fans.

Ultimately, he did accept he knew "little about football" when Mark Ashton was appointed as that was one of the main points City made when he was unveiled.

Ashton was signed with West Brom until he was 18 (albeit as a goalkeeper) and he did some coaching for a couple of years too. OK, this was a long time ago and he's clearly since embraced the administrative side of things but that pretty minimal experience was probably the main reason he got the job with us. Whether this is good enough or not, is open to debate!

I often read about Lansdown getting his fingers burned by the Coppell debacle, and he did. However, with Ashton here as opposed to Colin Sexton and a more progressive attitude in the transfer marker it would make sense to consider another attempt at a more high profile appointment, especially one used to a DoF, which is extremely common across Europe. The thought of another 30 something coach who hasn't proven himself at the sharp end of a proper football league system, wherever that might've been, is extremely depressing.

[Red-Robbo]

1 hour ago, Natchfever said:

Are you whooshing me whooshing you ? 

 Social media hint:  Put a wink emoji after such posts. Clarifies things quicker.

[Red-Robbo]

1 hour ago, CyderInACan said:

It is a corker of a phrase and cropped up in conversation last night - very pleased the opportunity arose to deploy it so soon thereafter 

 

I understand that Lee has a petard but has placed it in the wrong position and consequently it has been unable to hoist. He has other usable petards, but has decided that they won't work so he won't try them.