PFree

Apparently Liam now has much needed time on the training game to help train a Plan B. When we win, it’s because he’s changed things for the better, when we lose, it’s because he hasn’t had time to change things

It’s all about money I’m afraid, appreciate FFP, but whilst we continue to shop at Aldi, avoid spending decent wages on quality players, and “build youngsters to sell once better”, this strategy will never allow us to compete with the bigger boys. Mediocrity will continue but we will hopefully not be relegated anytime soon.

Thought Sunderland were a good side yesterday, just lacking a proven striker. Feel for Sunderland, well supported but you’re a bit like Bristol Rovers, always living in the shadow of a much bigger and better neighbour. Finally, I look forward to our trip up in April, just hope you don’t have that striker by then, as if you do, we might well be in trouble!

20th out of 24 - form in the last six games!

Felt like an unpopular appointment and his results never really took off.

Sincerely hope I am wrong but this feels like a Dean Holden experience all over again..

I just want to see a football team on the pitch who create excitement and where I look forward to going back to the gate again. The more strings to Bristol Sport, the harder it becomes to sell...

...I should add Tins to that title too! In the same way a Manager can lose the dressing room, your Sir have royally cocked up and entirely lost the fans and their support. You cleared out a very popular Manager (who the vast majority felt had done a really good job in difficult circumstances), where previously the connection between the Manager, players and fans had been rebuilt, and it felt as though we had turned an important corner. You not only made poor managerial decisions, the communication and PR linked to the whole situation was abysmal, and you made a laughing stock of OUR club. Not only that, you have created a poison chalice of a coach role - setting Ill thought out public expectancy, a top, progressive squad, top six expectancy etc. In some ways, I really feel for Liam Manning, he is on a hiding to nothing as he has inherited a horrible situation. As so many are disillusioned by your actions, you have killed morale, and this for me is why Ashton Gate has such a poor atmosphere since NP left. Well done to the fans who have tried to at least given Liam a go though. Importantly, after such unpopular change, if you were to restore any semblance of confidence in you or your decision making process, it was so important to get the “new manager bounce”, but we have ended up with relegation form, boring football and some interesting team tactics - I was bored today, the football was boring, slow and predictable - there’s no tempo and how many times today did any player at least try to get a single fan off their seat? And we took off (arguably) our two, most creative players, how strange. I’ll continue to support and try and find the positives, but right now I continue to feel OUR club is absolutely in the hands of very amateur owners, and speaking personally, I never thought I would ever say this, but I can’t wait until your family have left OUR club.

Being honest, I felt completely underwhelmed by the NP sacking and that feeling hasn’t changed. Despite watching City for over 30 years, I have absolutely no enthusiasm towards City right now and it was even hard work having to come to the Sheff Wed’s game. I sincerely hope this feeling changes but can’t help feel at the moment that the relationship between the club, and most of its fans, is totally broken, and sadly the trust has gone with that breakage too. I just live in hope that a buyer comes in soon, as after NP stabilised matters very well and cleared a lot of toxicity, this latest episode feels like we have taken a couple of steps back, again - it has been proved that the Lansdown’s have absolutely no idea how to run a football club..!

I’m sure I am not alone in feeling a little lost this week and frustrated with how our club is run, but, whilst these are difficult times, there have been worse times in my several decades as a fan and ST holder. I will still always feel though that NP was treated badly. I am however at that point where the new Head Coach appointment will help me decide what, as a fan, I do next. It’s been a shambles at City for a long time, and this whole latest episode has cut far deeper than anybody at the club seems to understand. So, we are about to find out who they appoint: A non-proven, low cost, yes man, or an appointment that speaks volumes with somebody who has been there in promotion to the Premier, and actually worn that t-shirt. With a nobody, I am sorry, but that means several more years of low spend, cost cutting, mediocre performances and possible relegation - why therefore renew, as as much as I love the club, it’s expensive to follow, particularly when going away. Until SL is gone, after such a decision, you know things will never change - it’s the definition of madness to keep doing the same things whilst expecting a different outcome. BUT, if they made an appointment that suggested they have learned from their mistakes and where they publicly vow to support financially, what a difference that would make?

No, do go, and tell them what you think - “Lansdown’s, get out of OUR club”..

Sad day, you’ll be missed Nige - thanks for your efforts in a very difficult situation. You didn’t let us down, the idiots at the top let you down, never forget that. Time to concentrate on your health now, and if you don’t come back to the game, enjoy every moment with those who matter most. Take care.

But we are struggling due to a lack of investment? And I keep reading about SL has lost interest, but who knows until he eventually speaks and it comes from the horses mouth..!

Nobody knows what is going on, this is so unfair to both Nigel and the fans, so put some form of statement or interview out ASAP please. For whatever reason, this whole situation is toxic, and will continue to get worse if the silence continues. I’ve been a ST holder for over 30 years, and believe me there have been many lows, but at the moment, I feel completely disillusioned.

Two points here: 1) Didn’t JL recently say in an interview he felt we had underachieved? Backs up they aren’t behind Nige? 2) The massive hole that exists, and has for some time, is the lack of communication from anybody of importance or status within our club - they could end all this discomfort with some form of statement? It is absolutely clear the majority of fans are behind Nige, why? Because he has earned that respect!

For me, I can’t help but feel us supporters have been kept in the dark of late, for far too long - it’s a really poor way to run a business, and I believe we, the fans, deserve better. That said I feel the supporters have also been very understanding, perhaps more than could be expected. My point is, when the next announcement (Or interview with SL) does arrive, what question would you want answering? Mine - in very difficult circumstances, Nige has clearly done a really good job in trimming the squad numbers, taking outgoings to an acceptable level, and producing a team that can challenge in a difficult division, so, what is happening regarding a new contract and why has nothing been mentioned with this regard? Other questions - sale progress etc? Thoughts, what question would you ask? On the back of this, can we not collate some form of communication to the club asking for answers to the top five questions or similar? At the end of the day, the fans have continued to back the club with ST numbers increasing year on year, but I am sure I am not alone in feeling the good will is being stretched!?

Overall, pleased. Concerned that we don’t have much muscle or size in our team, and that we always struggle against those type of teams. Feel Max needs strong competition for his place. Feel we need a big number 9, not for continual use but for use when needed, a Moore type for me. Finally, keep hearing the Championship is mega-strong this year, but I’m not sure it is, perhaps Leicester aside. That said the quality gulf between us is absolutely massive and ever widening.

I’ve been reading with interest the comments about SL, as I am guessing like most fans, that I am full of admiration around the foundations he has set for our club - financially covering us during some really tough times, the stadium, training ground etc., all provided at great expense to him. That said yesterday was a good example where our lack of quality in depth shone through. I feel for NP as he has to sell the family jewels and replace those players by shopping at Aldi, nothing wrong with that as there are some bargains to be had, but IF NP had a greater wage budget, we would, and could, be pushing towards the top six - Nige has built a decent squad, has removed the dead wood and has installed a decent work ethic and set of standards. Not sure about the subs yesterday, but ultimately, and as an example, the players that came on weren’t of the same quality as those that left the field. Take Sykes and Yeboah, promising young lad, but nowhere near ready for this level yet, looks busy, but no end product. What concerns me more though is if, and when, Nige walks away. We are left with an owner who refuses to invest anymore, and how will that attract an ambitious replacement? What is sad is that this club offers a massive opportunity if it can step up to the Premier League, no competition in a massive geographical area, and where with a decent team, you could undoubtedly fill a much bigger stadium week after week. Sadly, whilst I appreciated everything SL has done for our club, I just hope his recent actions are to boost the balance sheet in order to make the club more attractive to any buyer. Finally, I really hope Nige stays on, under his management and the local knowledge and experience of Tins, we are mostly certainly doing as well as can be expected..

I always try my best to be positive arias, but the sad reflection is I now fully expect us to be in a relegation fight this season, but I sincerely hope I am wrong.. Riaz...

Home sickness..?

I said the other day we could with Moore from Bournemuff, at least we stand some chance of holding a ball up front - not always but a player who offers a different option as and when needed..

Just a thought, but given we as fans are looking for some form of entertainment, what players, if any, offer the chance for you to get excited and get off you seats...? Might seem a strange question, but I feel the bad atmosphere / low morale is down to negative football and nobody “having a go” - my feeling is largely down to the answer is actually, nobody? Anis perhaps, but with Antoine and Scott now gone, was NP not after some form of maverick / exciting / unpredictable type? Who else, offers this..?

He applauded our end at the start of the second and was well received, one of our fans kept giving him stick, so when they scored, he turned to that fan to celebrate and more words were exchanged. Some dick down in the front row or two decided to thrown a coin at him which he picked up and brought back behind the goal very clever ? Two sides to every story hey ?

When I look at the recent signings and Saturday’s team sheet, perhaps with the exception of a keeper, we seem to have more competition across several positions - I don’t feel we have had players challenging for positions over the last couple of seasons..

Okay, we are all disappointed Alex is gone, but: 1) Every player wants to play at their highest possible level, you can forgive Alex and any other player for that. 2) Alex will get a massive pay rise on what generally is a short career, why wouldn’t he snap their hand off. 3) Perhaps with the exception now of Man City and Newcastle all other clubs are selling clubs. 4) We lose loads of money every year and have no option but it regularly sell to help stay afloat. 5) This is a sign our policy of bringing youngsters through and selling them on is working. 6) The only time this will change is when we reach the promised land...and even then we will still be a selling club, it is part of being a footy fan sadly! BUT, we have a much stronger squad, and some of this money will be used to strengthen us further. COYR