Numero Uno

3 minutes ago, cidered abroad said:

I completely agree that what he has spent on all the clubs is trivial for him over 25 years and amounts to approx £10 million per year. That is or was approximately 2/5ths of his income from his H&L shares. So no breaking into the £2 billion lump.

The only time he spent significantly was when his son's idol was the City manager and an aptly named CEO, was probably fiddling a small fortune into his own personal bank account. Just like he did later at the Tractor company until one of their owners put a stop to it.

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!!

1 hour ago, The Bard said:

Don't you think Steve Lansdown hasn't been drawing profit/income from other parts of the whole Bristol Sport arrangement?

 

Pula doesn't publish accounts and owns everything....

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.

3 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

It wasn’t their brief at all.  That was just Jon Lansdown talking shit 

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

42 minutes ago, Malago said:

Our attendances are upper mid table, the playing budget is upper mid table and lo and behold are league position is upper mid table.

The holy grail is to find a manager who can get the club to over perform by 10 to 15%.  I believed Nige was on the way to doing that, the Lansdowns didn’t.

Whether under Manning the sum will be greater than the sum of the parts, only time will tell.  Personally I don’t think judging him over the next 6 games is particularly helpful.  Let him have a full preseason and see how we go between the start of the season and the 2nd international break.  Then I believe we can  come to some more meaningful conclusions.

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.

22 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Although the loss making bits of Bristol Rugby and Flyers in Cash terms aren't that high. 

Harder especially for Rugby, if debt repayment part of a Purchase Price to justify for Rugby. Debt was £45-55m in 2022, curiously not listed in 2023 unless I missed it. SL hasn't put any money in since 2021, it may change this year.

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.

6 minutes ago, glynriley said:

Moaning on match day threads? Not at tha actual games then. He sounds like a true supporter...

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.

5 minutes ago, redkev said:

Reading through the posts I really don’t enjoy our fan base being this divided , I think we all want the best for our team and personally think if we had the same points as we do now had the same cup results and Pearson was in charge alot more people would be happy , 

Dont get me wrong I didnt want Nige ousted at the time he was and the board royally xxxxxx up .

Mannings football so far has been very hit & miss , tbf when it’s been good it has been very good in my opinion I won’t  mention the performances because I will have to say that dreaded would Soxxxxxxxn , I also agree when we been poor it’s been very poor , 

I l don’t get the clamber to slate Manning for his press conferences either,  I couldn’t give too shits about how he says it or what he says if I want to watch something that entertains me or lights up my evening I will watch an after dinner speaker or a comedian , I really do think Manning is getting more stick than perhaps he deserves because of those above him on saying that we have had two pretty good performances over the weekend and he really does have to build on that and get some consistency in our performances especially against the shut up shop teams who we struggle to break down , rather our season Peter out I feel he needs to get some decent results / performances from now until the end of the season to TRY and get some supporters back onside , easier said than done . 
 

 

 

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.

1 minute ago, Sir Geoff said:

In a nutshell. Who wants to buy 3 loss making teams In one hit.

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.

3 hours ago, Top Robin said:

I don't think you are a true City fan.

Many of us have supported the team through all the divisions with various qualities of manager and players.

Yes it's been horrible at times but personally, I still loved watching the team home and away and with same degree of passion and enthusiasm wherever we are.

That's what real supporters do.

 

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.

16 hours ago, Topper 123 said:

It would be great now if fans could come along to the gate in their thousands and support and enjoy the rest of season now the pressure is off , I’d also like to see the players enjoy it and play with a smile on their faces and interact with the fans more , come on let’s all enjoy it and get behind the lads 

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.

40 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I know that.  That’s exactly my point.  When can we see results / performances from coaching an identity, rather than it (all) being about a game by game tactical plan?

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.

12 hours ago, BrizzleRed said:

Funny isn’t it.  For all the accusations of some supporters being ‘Nige fanboys’, it’s ironic that those making those accusations are a very vociferous group who are in a distinctly ‘anti Nige’ cult, who refuse to admit to it.  

They have refused to give him any credit or understanding of the size of the task he had to deal with and the restrictions he was working under.  They have been crying out for his sacking at every possible opportunity, then pathetically claiming it’s the whole fanbase who wanted him out, not just their cult group.

In spite of their selective myopia, we are now supposed to cut LM a load of slack and ignore some really shite performances with a solid squad, unlike their treatment of Nigel Pearson with a makeshift squad of crocks and Academy rookies.

******* priceless!!!

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".

30 minutes ago, Street red said:

My love for this club was lost when Lansdown decided Bristol sport was the way to go... 

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.

Just now, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

It'll probably have a star over the badge, due to beating Southampton.

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

1 minute ago, glastored said:

It won’t be too long before we will be wondering what next year’s kit will look like. Personally, I don’t like this season’s shirt, not being a fan of stripes. I really liked the kit worn by City when we celebrated our win over Leeds back in 1974. I liked the simplicity of it, and especially liked the deep red colour of the shirt, with no frills.

 Hope City go back to the simple designs of yesteryear, or maybe I’m too nostalgic for the old days! What say you?

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.

Just now, TV Tom said:

So you've picked four games from Pearson's reign this season, i think you're really clutching at straws when quoting Plymouth reserves, losing a two goal league to a poor Stoke team and a 94th minute winner with our first shot on target at Millwall,

Are you honestly saying that the home games against Brum & PNE weren't poor ? and don't even get me started on some of the performances from last season (i still break into a cold sweat thinking about one of the worse City performances i've ever seen at Reading)  

I'm not saying that all things are rosy in the garden but i certainly don't think things are any worse.

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.

4 minutes ago, Sleepy1968 said:

I've set a diary note for the 22nd.

I'll never understand why LM persisted with playing Knight out of position. It's no surprise that part of the very recent improvement is due to playing him in a more natural role.

Unlike a few, I'm looking for reasons to renew. If LM continues to make positive decisions with the team set up and in game management then I'll renew, whilst appreciating why others won't be.

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.

21 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Yes, not 2.5 seasons to build at all, 2.5 seasons to compromise at best, 2.5 seasons of part-demolition might be a better description.  2.5 years of scrimping and saving, making do.

 I can in part accept some didn’t like his football style / the way his team played, but the continued ignorance over the situation he inherited is staggering.

Do people think people like you and I just made it up?

Argghhhhh

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.

1 minute ago, JP Hampton said:

I care how he does, as I do for most, if not all of our ex players. Given our recent history, I wouldn’t pin any hopes of any funds coming to the club through him, being spent on future players though. 

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!!

Just now, exAtyeoMax said:

I felt that this would be the season to kick on with Nige and co. 

*We also lost Nathan Baker during his reign. 

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!!

1 minute ago, TV Tom said:

Do you honestly believe that the football wasn’t poor before Manning came

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.

26 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Thought the Sunderland game wasn't too bad. While we absorbed a lot never thought we were much danger of conceding. At that time they were decently placed, not so much entertaining but enjoyable in a tough it out way.

Swansea, Cardiff, Millwall these 3 especially were all soporific, parts of the Norwich game too IMO.

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

1 hour ago, cellist said:

Has 2 wins in 2 changed anyone's mind and led to early renewal? What are you hoping to see in the last 6 games?

(Not trying to start a fight - genuinely interested! I'm not an ST holder, don't live in Bristol so try and go away more than home. Respect the decision to delay renewal to make a point - a point that needs making!)

Not for me. I will renew but it will be in a couple of weeks time (as I said previously it won't be on the last day because you just know the system will go down!!). It's nothing to do with what Liam has produced in the last two games or whether he produces it over the next three or four more (which is what we all hope for), it's a tiny protest at the three people running it above him.

16 minutes ago, richwwtk said:

A couple of games aside I really don't agree with this.

I have been more entertained at Ashton gate under Manning than I ever was under the last couple of years under Lee Johnson, all of Dean Holden and a large part of Nigel Pearson's time with us.

Couldn’t agree less. I won’t bother but I could list more games than not which have been utterly boring or poor to watch. That said the last two games have been more like the performance levels I would want to watch.