Fuber

Adam El-Abd at LB?

Think that sentence just gave me an aneurysm. Going to go lie down now.

Others off the top of my head - Connor Lemoneigh-Evans, Aaron Amadi-Holloway.

55 minutes ago, BCFCGav said:

Wow - I thought tomorrow absolute earliest. Either it’s moved very very fast today or it’s been in the works for a couple days but only got leaked today.

Regardless - I like this move. Welcome TGH ️

Bold gives me hope.

If we get Murphy in, if we can get one more midfielder and a forward in a similar manner. Could be (cautious) cause for optimism we may yet see more incomings.

48 minutes ago, Lrrr said:

Anyone still think Pearson is anti loan?

Its more purchase with a trial period. Much prefer loans with options than just loans.

1 minute ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Gould was good though. He was just what we needed and I expect better might have followed had he remained.

Alexander feels a bit underwhelming to date.

Gould knew the area, club, culture, and fans. All that good work is slowly being undone.

2 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Just a hunch tbh but I've long assumed and feel free to correct if me wrong, that Gould and NP a much better match, relationship.

New CEO I don't have a huge amount if faith in, he just feels..uninspiring. 

No faith in SL appointing anyone to CEO after Ashton - that simple really.

15 minutes ago, Loosey Boy said:

In Nige’s words, it was “the club” that sold Scott - I sense it was for less than £25m which is why Nige has sounded so fed-up since the sale went through…..add to it that we are unlikely to add any real quality before the window shuts next Friday, there’s no wonder he’s disgruntled…..

In my opinion, not hearing from our CEO in months and a lack of backing by SL in the transfer market, suggests that this is only going one way……another change of manager

Suggest a struggling season battling relegation. This could get toxic quickly. If they expect fans to turn on NP faster than them they'll be in for a nasty surprise - at least in my opinion, especially in lieu of the sale of Scott and Semenyo with next to bare minimal reinvestment.

21 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Well that's OTIB for you, 1 bad result and out trot the same old load of nonsense given out as fact or interpretations on comments to suite view point / agenda

It's all SL's fault, let get rid of this cretin and get some new owners, as there are billionaires queing up to gamble some money on getting to the prem, oh but we can't sell because we have a successful Rugby club as part of the deal or SL owns the stadium. SL has said he is looking for new investors and I trust him to not just sell to anyone who could not be trusted to take the club forward, Bristol Sport and the stadium will easily be factored into the right deal,

But we sold our best players, I am glad alex is gone now we know about the seriousness of the injury, maybe BCFC knew this as well and why we sold him? but it is prudent to make out that you will not be spending the Alex money as other will try to take advantage of the 25 million you just got. The issues around wages appears to have been imposed by NP, to get the players on a level footing, but may need to re-visit overall wages budget if more players are coming in, but don't see this as an issue as we are fine with FFP

As for SL not liking NP, to be fair SL could have sacked NP at numerous times and had the backing of a good percentage of the fans, 

But SL wants to put the money in his back pocket ready to sell up, lets be fair he is short of a few quid so maybe needs it, or just ridiculous comments, SL has always backed the manager with funds, and as many of the wise posters with hindsight have said he has wasted his money. Lessons were learnt following the LJ / MA failure where he loosen the reigns and spent a lot of money, it proved that what he always said about being sustainable was the right path and what is now again being followed, other FFP penalties or worse follows if we do not. Why will he now not back NP with any funds he needs? afterall relegation would be a total disaster and de-value the club.

But we have not got to the Prem when clubs like Luton and Brentford have, true but so have lots of other clubs not got to the prem. I remember back to when we the gas and Swindon were in the same division, we have moved miles away from other similar clubs and many have gone in the opposite direction, so whilst the plans have not worked I dont believe its not been for the lack of trying and honest endeavour whilst at the same time not putting the club at risk of going out of business.

SL is not above criticism and mistakes have been made, but some of the comments are just OTT, particularly as the transfer window is not even closed yet and no one on here as a clue about what is being planned or discussed

My view on SL is based on his 20-odd year stewardship of fixing his own **** ups. End of Story. The only proper progressive years after 2009 were under Keith Dawe. Coincidence?

Bold is case in point - over spending then austerity wasn't just MA/LJ being the first rodeo was it? - the exact same happened with GJ. Hence the McInnes and O'Driscoll cost cutting measures.

He. Does. Not. Learn.

2 hours ago, Bristol Rob said:

I have read this several times on here, the term 'proper football owners', but I'm not really sure I know what it means.

Can someone list half a dozen clubs who have proper football owners just so I can understand the term.

Doesn't necassarily need to be owners - although I could name some examples such as Tony Stewart (Rotherham), Tony Bloom (Brighton), Matthew Benham (Brentford), Darragh MacAnthony (Peterborough), Steve Gibson (Middlesbrough), and the recently passed MIllwall Chairman John Berylson.

Other solid owners include the likes of Simon Hallett (Plymouth), Doug King (Coventry - but possibly too early to judge), Andy Holt (Accrington), among others.

All either had philosophies (see Benham, Bloom, Jenkins (former Swansea), MacAnthony, Holt) or were hands off, and accepted consultants or appointed experience CEO/Chairman (See our period under Dawe, Steve Kavanagh under Berylson at MIllwall, our current CEO Alexander under Parish).

Case in point, the previously referenced example of Dawe here - viewed it as stewardship and job - wasnt emotional over involved like how SL tends to act (see Tinnion and LJ Appointmentsa as Manager).

'Proper' owners can be quite a wide and vague term, but its either owners who act as guardians of the club and appoint under themselves and advisors (Millwall), or stratagem and cultural figure heads such as Benham, Bloom, and MacAnthony. SL doesnt have the knowledge or nouse to seemingly appoint under him - see MA for reference who had no controls over him like he now does at Ipswich under O'Leary. Namely because his son is our utterly useless crayon-wielding chairman. Emotions and nepotism never work well in football.

2 hours ago, Lakeside Red said:

I can’t see us getting new owners anytime soon . Now we’re part of Bristol sport no one will want to invest in us they won’t  be interested in the rugby or basket ball that’s going to be the problem

Disagree. The club have all the facilities required. Would depend on whether Ashton Gate Limited(?) Would be included as part of the sale.

3 hours ago, phantom said:

I do agree with your full post but worth recognising the above line in that this spending took years off the club progressing and we are only now just coming out the other side of it

Agreed - however if we by the fact the club were in line with FFP after the Semenyo sale (and willing to try keeping Scott) - surely that leaves some headroom to help out NP with more reinvestment than has occurred and has been rumoured (£1m for Thomason) thus far. Added to the further wage reductions from Baker, Kalas, Bentley, Kose, Martin, Moore and Massengo also fairly outweighing the wages in from Dickie, McCrorie, Roberts, and Knight.

3 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

We drop Naismith? Think he is or can be excellent at distribution, Naismith and Scott as part of a midfield 3 could have been excellent this year but we won't see that now.

Forgot about Naismith to be honest.

On 19/08/2023 at 17:54, Simon bristol said:

Ffp is surely no longer a problem, within reason?

To be fair - think it's less FFP and more SL.

That interview and the Luton references, NP aside, is still giving the the shivers.

9 minutes ago, Markthehorn said:

They’d probably waste it after 2 goes !

Trouble is so many decisions are subjective so not clear cut but agree there have been some shockers .

TBF Liverpool got the worse decision against them but agree penalty wasn’t one .

It was Liverpool fan and ex player Danny Murphy who called the dive brave .

 

Bold is key - they need to be as certain as possible to use the appeal, thereby cutting wastage. As any review should be for a clear and obvious error.

No use, for example, wasting it on a subjective throw in.

13 hours ago, Top Robin said:

Do you think it may be the quality of players rather than the formation which is failing us? 

100%.

My (and this is an opinion) view on it, is that 4-3-3 is predominantly a wing play or counter attacked system.

None of our midfielders bar Knight are mobile enough, especially in the transition nor off the ball. We need a Scott replacement ASAP. We need McCrorie fit with Tanners woeful forward play so far this season.

I'm significantly worried about the lack of links or rumors for signings, if Murphy comes in and that's it that's tantamount to basically asking NP to be sacked.

Need a GK, DM, CM, ST, minimum. Hypothetically, examples of which could include the following from my post in the Scott money thread - Southwood (Cheltenham), Iroegbaunam (Villa), Styles (Barnsley), Zeqiri (Brighton, Loan).

Lead to the team looking something akin to:

Southwood, McCrorie, Vyner, Dickie, Roberts, Iroegbaunam, Knight, Styles, Sykes, Mehmeti, Zeqiri; with bench of - O'Leary, Araoye, Pring, Tanner, James, Williams, Yeboah, Wells, Bell.

Good cover and still space for rotating a couple youth players, brings the age of the midfield down from, adds more strength and mobility and covers us for James, King, and Williams contracts ending end of season.

But then I'm not the manager nor head of recruitment.

18 hours ago, Mendip City said:

Agree. Do we have scouts in Europe I wonder? 

Lost all our scouts when MA left and still recovering aren't we?

He headed his own 'agency' which he took with him to Ipswich, in effect.

VAR should be an appeal system where the captain of each side, if they feel aggrieved, they can appeal said decision and it go for review - similar to the rugby.

2 appeals per team, so have to be used wisely.

9 hours ago, Rob k said:

The club must have known it was highly likely that Scott was going to be leaving this summer. The replacement should have been lined up and already here. 
Im at the point where I’d welcome new owners, i think they would shake the whole place up including the way we recruit. 

I was at that point after the Holden debacle, and have been since.

4 hours ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Dangerous game though, because can see a club in a relegation dogfight being a rather unattractive proposition and wipe out a fair bit of value. 

SLs done stupider things before.

Like hiring LJ.

2 hours ago, Better Red said:

If he would sign a 1 year contract it’s a no brainer.

No fee, no loan fee and reduced wages sounds perfect.

And we all know as long as stays fit would be a starter. 
 

Kalas and Dickie would be a pretty strong and experienced back 2.

Would allow the full backs to bomb on something I have not seen yet.

Not really Tanners game.

Think we're desperate for McCrorie to get fit.

2 hours ago, Rob k said:

No different to any other manager we have ever had to be fair

Had a quick 15 minute crack at some basic figures from some older spreadsheets I have, gave them a quick update.

Long story short - LJ got back 75% retained funds of transfers as money to spend - currently, Nige has had 25%.

15 hours ago, formerly known as ivan said:

… to get:

Goalkeeper - MOL is a liability. Gets an easy ride as he came through the youth team. In reality he is not good enough to start championship football week in week out. Distribution is shocking, put us in trouble a number of times today. A myth that be commands his box. We need an upgrade asap

Scott replacement - We all knew he would leave for big money. Plans for his replacement surely must have been under discussion months ago. Knight was not Scott’s replacement. If anything he was HNM. We cannot create anything and have three identical midfielders starting.

Striker - Bell is not a striker as shown today. Wells is three years past being anywhere near the standard needed. An option off the bench but should not be starting. Conway’s injury was bad luck but he will be out for a while.

We have a squad barely capable of competing. Pinching 1-0 wins here and there will cover over cracks, not fix them.

If paying fees are out the question then NP needs to swallow his pride and look at the loan market for quality.

Judging the comments in regards to wage bill as Nige has mentioned - think you need to look upstairs as for why they aren't happening.

That with SLs comments (Luton comparisons) have me greatly concerned we may not bring anyone in, or if we do it'll only be one, likely to replace Scott.

13 hours ago, Rob k said:

Interesting that a few of you saw Williams as having a good game - i thought he was poor today and we look much better when Naismith was on the pitch.
I’m not a big fan of Memheti, didn’t think he offered anything, wouldn’t get a start for me. At half time I’d have shoved Pring forward with Robert’s behind or moved Cornick inside and Bell there for Mehmeti, Tanner was poor all game. 

I'm of a similar opinion - don't know if it's just me but I feel the injuries have guttered what little pace he had left. Playing him and James in the pivot at the moment is suicide.

For someone who isn't the strongest he looks slower than Matty much of the time now - way too slow on the ball. And as you say the difference when Naismith came on was telling.

Latter starts for me next game.

1 hour ago, tin said:

Read my post again: I clearly referred to transfer fees only (not signing-on fees etc) and in the calendar year (2023), as that is when Semenyo and Scott were sold.

@Fubermade the point originally, so you might want to check where he got his figures, but by my reckoning he ain’t far wrong — Mehmeti (£1m), Cornick (£300k), McCrorie (£2m), Dickie (£600k), Roberts (free), Knight (£2m) — so an estimated total £5.9m. 

Whether it’s £5m or £6m spent is neither here nor there; my point was it’s still bugger all of the transfer fees we’ve received this year and more funds (either wages or transfer fees) should be available after Scott’s sale IMO.

Literally off the top of my head. But my estimate was indeed between £5.5-6m.

Just now, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

He's spent a total £2m ? 

Let's not let the facts get in the way of the populist narrative.

In my head I was thinking off the top of my head since January - so sorry, allow me to amend that to £5.5m (forgot McCrorie) - for all the difference that makes. 

Fees in during the same period are £36m.

£30m up.

And 35% lower wage budget (circa £23m p/annum, down from £34m).