Silvio Dante

Was planning to watch Yate Town go for a fifth win on the bounce (they’ve doubled their points tally over the last four games) tonight but stinking cold so flying to Amsterdam to watch City instead

It’s a bit difficult see us getting much out of this one considering Coventrys form, our current inability to create clear cut chances and as has been said, the come down post cup game which saw in part a poor Preston performance. This is one of a batch of four games we could really struggle in, and although not season defining (we’re safe and not going up), will define LMs start to his City tenure. I stand by that 4 points from the next 4 isn’t a bad haul (dependant on how they’re earnt stylistically in part) but that would be 20 points from 17 games, and coming in at around a goal a game currently. With season ticket sales likely around the corner I’m not sure that would convince waverers. It feels we’re coming to enough of a sample size to start judging where we are with LM being in charge for over 1/3 of the season after the next batch. Hoping for positive signs on a consistent basis, while noting it is in no way going to be easy.

Apparently they employed a special consultant on the rebrand:

And this is why I didn’t let you ref on Sunday.

Just had a bit of a look on the BS3live website. There is a heck of a lot of availability….

What is interesting on the O’Neills site is they have a few items that our store doesn’t seem to - don’t recall having seen this in stock for example…

Sorry! Done some work in commercial property previously so can’t help myself whenever this subject comes up!

Trouble looking for and badge I have in.

No. Because it’s the ****ing Sun and partaking in anything that drives revenue to that shitrag should be beyond the pale to any football fan or decent human being.

Alright Yoda calm down.

Just on your anecdote - Villa closed their club shop in Birmingham city centre a few years ago. I don’t disagree Broadmead is not what it was but here’s an example of a unit to let - not in prime location, and between rent and rates you’re north of £100k before you even get to staff costs. If you assume minimum 3 staff at fully loaded cost of 50k each then you need to make 1/4m net before you break even (and that’s excluding heating, lighting etc). It is, regrettably, a total non starter. https://m.search-prop.com/83-broadmead-bristol

This gets suggested on a semi regular basis but is a total non starter. The rental for even a secondary, small unit in Broadmead means that the amount of sales you’d have to make would be unrealistic to make it profitable. Ultimately we’re Bristol City, not Liverpool or Man City, and as such won’t be selling loads of shirts to floating fans. A Broadmead shop may up sales by 10% overall but most sales will be cannibalisation of what would be sold anyway. The trick is to get the ground shop right. I’m just back from Copenhagen and visited both their ground and Malmö’s while there. Great stock levels, wide choice and in each store there was also museum type memorabilia dotted around - meant you looked around more, and gave the places an identity. The club mooted a museum in the past - that can’t be chargeable (wouldn’t make enough) so making it part of a revamped shop in the sporting quarter would be a great step forward.

For the first time under LM, I didn’t watch the game last night (travelling), so it’s been interesting to read the threads and the various viewpoints. Whats noticeable from that is that there seems to have been a consensus from LM “doubters” that last night was a step up - but not maybe as much as a step up as the pro-LM group are stating. It is possible that Forest weren’t up for it - but you can only beat or draw what’s in front of you. I’m seeing a lot of encouraging comments but if we didn’t have a shot on target, that isn’t necessarily cause for hyperbole. Summary - seems like it was better but lacking penetration?

Quite often, when transfers are announced the selling club say publicly how the buying club have acted professionally throughout. Some, however, are just belters with no class:

I’ve been reliably informed the real reason he’s quitting as he realised how close he came to having to play the gas. As Jurgen said “I respect the pyramid but to have been one game from playing those inbreds - wow!”

Not sure about that, they’re in total disarray and have been losing games left right and centre. Flick has already had his reputation tarnished, Klopp only gets the job if Nagelsmann fails, and if he does, the team is in such a state that he doesn’t want it. (Bear in mind Nagelsmann has only been in job a year) Id go as far as saying there’s no hope and England, with the resources, likely availability and Klopp being an Anglophile is far more likely.

It’s a Klopp out.

Vince Harper.

Still at least the “stand” behind the goal is 75% full…oh….

Chris Martin not in their squad tonight, indicating he may have told them where to go…

I think the broader question is not what we’ll get but the impact of any haul (and perhaps equally, the performances). Theres a thread on the page about 16 points in 13 games. If that becomes 16 points in 17 games things don’t look smart and the wolves may be at the door. The fact is, that all four sides are probably better than us, notwithstanding the wins against Cov and Boro. (fwiw historic record as it always does here means nothing, it’s really this season and more appropriately current form that matters). So it is in a lot of ways a free hit - most rationale observers don’t see us in the playoff mix so 4 points looks a decent haul. But that again, perceptionally, becomes 20 points in 17 games (or 20 in 37% of a season), which is flirting with relegation form. So, I’d argue that absent a markedly above expectations haul, the questions will continue. If we had 20 points from 17 games at season start people would be questioning the manager. So the expectation has to be the same here considering the start point. I’ll reiterate at this point LMs position shouldn’t be in question, and I’d take 4 points from these games encompassed with a consistent improvement in performance. But when you look at the numbers - if 37% of a season gives you borderline relegation form when LM was appointed after 32% of a season on promotion form, it’s hard not to ask those questions!

Frank Farian - who has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever and pretend it was someone else that died: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/jan/23/frank-farian-creator-of-boney-m-and-milli-vanilli-dies-aged-82?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Well. It’s possible we keep Tommy then. As long as man is still alive, and as long as woman can survive.

No chance of seeing them then.