Kid in the Riot

I'm not basing my top 10 wage budget comment on what Gould said. I'm basing it on evidence, as below. Our wage budget was £33m in 2020/21, putting us into the top 10, and we'll be there again this financial year (season 2021/2022) as most other clubs in the division also cut their cloth accordingly. As for using "median/mean wage of starting 11". Starting to sound like a bit of a desperate argument. It's up to Pearson how he utilises his squad. Yes, hes been unlucky with the likes of Kalas and Baker but equally it's been his choice to freeze out the likes of Massengo and Bentley.

I don't think we could have hired anybody better in terms of experience in the role. As Palace fans note, it's quite an achievement for him to have worked under so many different owners there. Suggests he must have something about him. Interesting that he was at Palace when the Americans took control in 2015 and has most recently been at Wycombe (also American owned) so will have connections/experience with dealing with wealthy sports club owners from that part of the world... Hopefully from his most recent role, he got to find out how much Wycombe want for Anis Mehmeti!

Pearson is the division's fourth longest serving manager and has a top 10 wage budget. I'm afraid my sympathies for the "difficulties" of the job in hand are wearing thin. As i pointed out on Boxing Day, there are plenty of managers in the division in worse financial positions than us who are doing better. Managers with smaller wage budgets and have been in charge for less than a year. More generally, if we're comparing with the LJ era. I'd suggest the division was stronger back then. That season we finished 7th, we missed out on 6th in an end of season defeat to Lampard's overspending Derby County, and Bielsa's Leeds were also in the play offs (and lost). Obviously less money about these last few years and the quality of the division is lower as a result.

We've been over it many times. He's clearly lacked any footballing nouse. I'm just watching Brighton beat Saints on motd. Brighton got promoted to L1 the year Lansdown took charge. Swansea were in the basement division.

He's left the club in a better place, but in terms of value for money, it's absolutely horrific. And that's the point. Yes, we have done a lot worse than similar sized clubs. Most painfully Cardiff and Swansea. Very easy to stick money into property (the stadium), the FC, a very different proposition.

I think he wants to keep Bears but would be willing to sell City and AG. Yep, he would not accept even if offered.

I am on record and happy to repeat that we will not be promoted under SL. I'd like a quick sale and new opportunity thanks I think/hope it's coming in the next 18 months

We were talking about Moyes/Pulis decision today. In fairness, whilst Pulis was shit for us, he went on to manage three Prem clubs, so not sure you can challenge SLs management judgement there. It's City mate, if we'd appointed Moyes, he'd prob have been shite and sacked within six months too ?

Zero faith in Steve's next managerial appointment, for obvious reasons. I'm astonished people haven't woken up to the fact we're for sale. A period of great uncertainty. I'm concerned Steve will hold out for unrealistic money. With so much financial uncertainty, it's a terrible time to sell unfortunately. That said, the pound is weak, so a good time for American investors.

Absolutely positive. Think Lansdown was very keen that time but Cotterill got the nod

Robins is the amazing one. Good mates with Lansdown too. Cov didn't have a pitch to play on first three weeks of the season. That's adversity. Pearson has a much better squad.

Lost today but Ryan Lowe at PNE is doing a better job than NP. Very limited budget and 9th.

Dave, you continue to portray a terrible situation. Pretty much EVERY other club in the division is in a similar situation. Gould claims we have a top 10 wage budget. We have paid fees for a few players. We are close to FFP failure due to covid. Lots of other clubs in the same situation. IMO, and also in the view of Swiss Ramble etc, LJ had a lower wage bill but achieved top half twice. Mark Robins at Coventry. Gary Rowett at Millwall. Blackburn, QPR, Preston... We should be doing better.

We were profitable because the management team brought Kelly into the first team and sold him for over £20m inc add ons? Are you actually trying to portray that as a negative? The wage bill was what the owner sanctioned, and about 14th in the division whilst LJ was here. It's now top 10 according to Richard Gould. Which manager was/is performing? Context.

His resources were tantamount to what was being spent in the division at the time. You cant compare LJ spending with Nige - that would be silly. We spent some big cash, but that was because we received some big cash. Our accounts prove it. We even made a profit one season. If LJ had been appointed in 2021 he'd have not been able to spend millions. Amazing this context is lost on so many.

Was approached by us previously and gave an emphatic "no". Doubt much has changed.

Surprised Bakers of Nailsea haven't had a mention https://www.bakersofnailsea.co.uk/

A good list. I was at Souk Kitchen last night, which was excellent as always. Got me thinking why they've never been Michelin-listed? Easily on a par with others listed.

I made it to Cor for lunch last week and was impressed. Selection of cured meats, oyster, scallop, cannellini beans with a beure blanc, wild sea bass, a "Bristol 75" cocktail and the desserts were all highlights. I had cuttlefish as a main as I'd never had it before, interesting and not unlikeable but I'd probably choose something different next time. Went to The Mint Room for the first time in years too. Still very good, but my god the service was slooooooow. Maybe let them off given the time of year and large parties, but still...

Whilst generally I agree, for balance, Messi was handed a suspended prison sentence for tax fraud, and he has also signed up to be an ambassador for the 2030 Saudi Arabia WC bid, which IMO isn't a great look, not to mention wholly unnecessary on his part given what he earns.

I should've known better.

Superb. What a future he has ahead of him. England surely have to be a little cautious chasing this 166. Talk of them trying to topple this total this evening seems daft.

World Cup winning manager Joachim Low's club management career was hardly impressive either.

Respect Argentina like Millwall. The latter a "proper" football club and Argentina, like England, a football mad nation. Deserved it overall. France a bit passive in too many games. Best thing that happened to Arg was losing that first game. Focused them on knockout football right from the second game.