downendcity

Can't think why they are going up the leagues then?

On that basis, there must have been loads of references to being called a "speccy ginger ( or other hair colour) ****" in our refs match reports over recent seasons!

We purchased players through a mail order catalogue. When we realised they weren't up to scratch, we used the catalogue's returns procedure to get the transfer fee refunded. Think that's a fair summary!

Not sure what their returns policy was for players.

It seems to me that the mitigation comprises "but we are Everton", and "it's unfair". There's also an element of Everton having thought they'd got away with it as a result of their financial jiggery pokery and that the premier League would probably do next to nothing about it. At the time of Derby being called to account and when they were in danger of going out if business, many said that it needed a big club to go bust for the football world to realise that financially it had to change. Unfortunately, it could well be that a 10 point deduction will be insufficient to relegate Everton this season (the irony being that had the penalty been applied when it should have been, it would!). However, the Man City case is far more interesting. If they are found guilty ( at this stage still a big if, as I suspect their lawyers will, at the least, try to keep kicking the van down the road) then if punished proportionally, they must surely be relegated at least one division. That level of fallout could well lead to a realty check, as far as football finances are concerned, and particularly for clubs that are effectively state owned.

......but will they be as strong in dealing with Man City and Chelsea?

A bit like FFP VAR!

It's not what you said, it's what you failed to say. You didn't mention that SL is the devil incarnate, that Brian Tinnion is SL's High Priest of Darkness and the real power behind the throne, that Jon Lansdown is having a crayoning by numbers kit for Christmas ( with the numbers in extra large print,) that Nigel Pearson is a saint and should have Ashton Gate stadium named after him and be given the Freedom of the City of Bristol, that Liam Manning will be deemed a failure whatever he achieves ( because he's not Nigel Pearson, who should still be in the job) and that you don't like the look of Chris Hogg. Oh, and you failed to mention that SL will dip into his nest egg in January! I think that covers what you should have said! These comments were made with my tongue firmly in my cheek, but it does seem that there is a danger of a cancel culture developing, whereby anyone whose views/opinions don't align with those who are determined to see SL out of the club then you are branded an agent of Bristol Sport and therefore an outcast and not a true City fan.

Well I'm going to cancel my Reader's Digest subscription. That'll show 'em!

The way OTIB is going...........

According to many recent OTIB posts, it's to do what Tinnion says!

Our passing out from the back is like watching a prem team in a slo mo replay.

That's because the vast majority of those that watch across the world are "fans" of Man City, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool. They are not Bristol City fans and couldn't care less about the inequality that parachute payments cause in the championship. Unfortunately the revenue generated by those worldwide Premier league fans/viewers only further exacerbates the financial divide.

I suspect that had NP stayed until the end of his contract and then been replaced it would have been much different.i.e. thanking NP for a good job in difficult circumstances. As it was, for whatever reasons NP backed the club into a corner re offer of a new contract. My suspicion is that his belligerent personality became a problem, causing the quite obvious fallout we have witnessed. We (fans)need to draw a line under this, otherwise LM won't be able to do right for doing wrong ( see GJ vs RR) as fans continue to look for evidence that Manning was a bad appointment because Pearson should still be here.

Equivalent to Zoopla then.

Very Big Mac then! Correct re LM ( ex military iirc). Plenty of others without prominent playing careers - Mourinho and Wenger perhaps the most obvious.

Following his appointment I read a post asking whether he'd actually played professionally ( in response to his 20 or so years coaching). When I was in financial services it was often said that the best salespeople invariably don't make the best sales managers. Different qualities and skills are required for each roll. Many top players are expected to succeed in management or coaching because of their experience of being coached/managed by top coaches and managers. Despite this, many fail. I'd like to think that Manning's coaching experience and knowledge,despite his age, is of greater value in his roll than would be having played at the top of the game.

Only after being "battered", "fried" and " roasted" by us!

They have cliche classes from a young age.

Footballers learn that at academies.

A sleeper then!

Just noticed @Street red posted the same previously. Note to self: read the thread before posting!

When Steve asked if he wanted the job Manning replied "yes". Q.E.D.

He looks nothing like Julie Andrews!