Numero Uno

Binary Boy has got this very wrong so far.

That’s the point for me. Liam is here to bring about positive change otherwise why sack people and pay settlements? If the last two games are an indicator that he’s getting his act together then fantastic otherwise we’ve spent money to go either nowhere or even backwards and pissed a lot of fans off in the process.

It’s not about being ungrateful either. Everyone pretty much is grateful for the investment but at the same time most individuals on this board, if they had Steve’s nous to become a billionaire in the first place, would be willing to pump a couple of hundred million over twenty plus years into something they care deeply about. The argument if there is one is that we might go about it differently. Unfortunately, if it was me, the rugby and basketball would be sold to others to invest in!!

If you are correct that would make his exposure less than the worst case I paint above on a simple investment v recovery? Not to mention there will likely be intangible benefits to his various interests that you can’t put a direct value on. Regardless, if I was a billionaire losing £5m per year net (it’s obviously a lot more until you sell) on my football club I wouldn’t be losing much sleep over that. You would have to live a long time before it became a concern. It’s an expensive hobby at that level.

Can't dispute that.................

We can judge him all we like but Easter has seen that Liam is here next season whether we all like it or not. Anyone who calls for him to be sacked now is wasting energy typing!! What I'm looking for is a run of improved performances (as per the last two matches), not two good ones followed by five defeats (been there) and evidence that the likes of Huddersfield and Rotherham can be put to bed under this manager. Plymouth was a good start in that regard. We won AND were the better side after the first 25 minutes. Do that and I think many fans go into next season with more CONFIDENCE in him which is crucial to avoid some people getting on his back from Day 1 if we don't pick up a result.

If I had enough cash to buy a football club and the Owner tells me I also have to purchase a Rugby Club and a Basketball Club that loses "a bit of money but not too much" I wouldn't be interested in buying it. It might only be double or even one and a half times the work/investment rather than triple but if I'm not interested in Rugby and Basketball then I'm not buying it unless it's a "no brainer" investment opportunity (and as Rugby Union is a mess right now with no signs of recovery on the horizon I'm out!!). @Ian M made a great point that there isn't a queue around the block of Billionaires looking to buy a Football Club let alone a Bristol Sport Football/ Rugby/Basketball Empire. That said, there must be an exit strategy for Steve in any event, surely? I presume, just looking at West Brom going for £80m, his absolute worst case is that he splits Bristol Sport up for quick sale (£100m tops maybe?) and loses a shed load of money on his overall investment albeit that loss would be circa £5-£6m per year for a billionaire? You no doubt know a lot more on that score than I do.

Presumably attends home, not much away or was texting in the ground and not watching the game? Plenty go away who would fail the true supporter test on his/her definition!! Was a noticeable critic of NP though on those threads.

Manning is a (significant) side show to the real source of resentment on one side of the divided fanbase. The heat on him will subside if he continues to produce. That won’t eradicate the division imo. Three people responsible for that.

Exactly. Buy one and your exposure is limited. Steve takes on the exposure because he’s emotionally invested in it. A hard nosed investor who just wants to buy a football club and is also looking to pay bottom dollar regardless of the Owner’s perceived value isn’t dealing in emotions.

So when you were running Nige down on every MDT and you clearly weren’t enjoying it (your prerogative) was that you taking a sabbatical from being a true fan? Or is it a case of being able to criticise as long as you do it enthusiastically? The club cannot AFFORD to lose supporters whether they meet your criteria of true or otherwise. The “we’ll be better off without them” sounds great when you’re ranting but in practice it really isn’t unless you want to head to League 1 with 10k true supporters in the ground.

In isolation this is a decent post. If Liam delivers enjoyment I’ll enjoy it, that you can be assured of. Such as last Friday. The last two games is a good start. Unfortunately you then revealed your real intent behind the post in your following efforts which is to berate other posters that don’t share your opinion of how things have been going and to get “reactions”. Well done. The poster who said the hierarchy’s dealing of the Pearson sacking primarily succeeded in dividing the fan base was spot on. Unfortunately whilst Liam can control to a large extent the divide against him personally by continuing the improvement the clear divide on the hierarchy will be a far tougher nut to crack.

It wouldn’t be so bad if we had two identities that work to match the limitations of the squad. Using a successful weekend one for teams like Leicester and one for the likes of Plymouth. If he can make that work longer term many would accept that.

The highlighted bit is why I am so anti-hierarchy and would still want Tinnion's arse kicked out of it if we won the Championship with 108 points and reached the FA Cup Final next season. It was the hierarchy who allowed the bollocks being spouted by the "Anti-Nige" mob to gain traction because they put their careers above the truth and barely gave him any credit when relieving him of his duties, in fact it was the opposite with the Snake and Crayon Boy actively looking to shout every negative from the rooftops in order to defend their position (one they had to defend once they quickly realised they had royally ****** up with the majority of fans). A sensible statement along the lines of that released by Plymouth Argyle the other day would have been better but instead they went on the attack. They have peddled this narrative that Nige had all the time anyone could want to build a squad........and a small number of idiots have gone along with it because Liam hasn't given them enough so far to say "see, told you I was right".

This is an interesting one. I wonder how much money Steve will have saved in "efficiencies" through running the Bristol Sport stable in comparison to the price he ultimately gets for the football club (if he can untie it) or the whole lot (if he can't) versus the price he wants/investment he has made? Nobody is really interested in investing in Rugby or Basketball at a huge level (in fact Rugby Union is a basket case of a sport right now below international level) and not many people who might be looking to buy a football club want a Rugby Club and a Basketball Club and their associated running costs "chucked in" as part of the deal. I think Bristol Sport is the heaviest of millstones around the clubs neck.....would be interested if anyone thinks the opposite.

Two, you missed Leicester..............

A bit like you, I think the less crayons we allow the shirt designer to have the better. Wouldn't mind seeing the Purple and Lime away strip return next season.

They shouldn't be any worse (albeit prior to the Bank Holiday weekend that was certainly arguable). Liam is ultimately here to do better to be fair, otherwise you don't sack people and waste money on settlements, and due to the Bank Holiday results will definitely get his chance to show us what better looks like.

I think Manning will do all he can to continue this upturn over the next few weeks and will be sending his sides out to compete, dead rubbers or not. The fact that a large enough number haven't renewed so far, and it hasn't all been hot air spouted on a forum for once, may have woken somebody up above Liam...........and whilst they might think "ahh, it's just a silly little protest, they'll renew" that isn't a given until it actually happens. They will be desperate now to avoid giving fans who haven't renewed yet, but intend to, reasons NOT to renew over the next three weeks.

He was literally appointed by Steve to fight the fires he must have known were on the horizon. His CV literally advertises that he's the man to work on a budget and that's what he did. Had the Board said "we appreciate the fantastic job Nigel did in maintaining our Championship status during a period of extremely tough and challenging circumstances but we feel a modern, progressive, younger manager is what the club needs to increase it's chances of success moving forwards" many will still have disagreed but it wouldn't have been the ham fisted effort around "deconditioning, should be top end, promotion this season, front foot etc. etc." that we were fed and which has led to much criticism of the people who "run" this football club. That is literally the issue for me.

You might be right. The main argument put forward for keeping Manning is "let him build a side then judge" so it would be bloody ironic if the Lansdown's didn't give him the resources to do so!!

Same, I thought it would kick on this season and the hierarchy felt different. My gripes are the way the hierarchy handled it, the messaging behind it that Nige had all this "time" to build a side and their generally poor communications and behaviours (sorry Liam) since. If you don't rate Nige then fine but don't literally make stuff up to pad out your argument!!

Can't agree with that bit in particular. He wasn't able to build anything for two and a bit seasons because our FFFP position was savage. Nige and Richard Gould not only ensured our wage bill was drastically slashed (it had to be to avoid points deductions) but also ensured we stayed in the Championship too. If you believe the last 12 months or so of his appointment didn't see fast enough progression for your liking that's a different argument altogether, and a valid one (that I disagree with!!) but to say he had 3 years to build a side is a plain misrepresentation of what actually happened, not opinion at all.

The football was uninspiring/poor at times, call it what you like but the intent (i.e. play on the counter) suited the players we had available. Manning's BEST performances have proven that was correct too as it goes. I appreciate you are replying to a poster who cites the football as a major reason for not renewing but for most who either aren't renewing or delaying renewing it goes ABOVE Liam Manning. The message isn't aimed at Liam or even Steve (because he's never around) but at Tinnion, Lansdown Junior and Gavin "we are looking to get promoted THIS season" Marshall.

Soporific.......you are far more generous than me Mr P!!