INCRED

On 27/04/2024 at 18:41, Bris Red said:

Obviously purely speculation on my part but i have a feeling Manning will be backed fairly heavily this window, we have seen it before with LJ and i wouldn't at all be surprised if we did sign him for £5m or close to that the powers that be would still find plenty left in the infamous 'nest egg' to give Manning and Tinnion the other targets they want..

We will sign him but it will be an undisclosed fee 

We will also spend big on a striker and if TC is sold then that nett’s off some of the outlay

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

It’s funny, because when LM said that, I was indeed buzzing from the result, but I also said that it didn’t take Albert Einstein to work out that a specific approach to 1) a high possession Championship team like Saints or 2) a PL team like West Ham, wasn’t gonna be the model for most “bread and butter” games.  So to say we were happy, was more a case of happy for those couple / few games, and not happy at all at some of the other games around that period.

I might be a million miles off target, but I still think the players went “rogue” in that last 30 mins v Swansea in reaction to boos aimed at LM inadvertently seem like they were aimed at the players.  Rogue is a shit word, perhaps more they decided their way of problem solving was better.  You know what I mean.

I’m getting the impression (with absolutely nothing to back it up ) that the no9, although being brought in to add a presence may not be a “big signing”, ie we will try to keep Conway and the new no9 is more of an “option”, as TC remains key.

If TC goes, we will replace TC appropriately.

So the bulk of the “money” will be on Twine.

I can’t see us spending more that £3-5m in total (assuming no sales).

See above reply to Cov77 re my latest thoughts on the no9.

Nothing to back it up just your opinion then 

On 28/04/2024 at 14:42, DeParis said:

You overestimate 1) the tactical track record of Warne 2) Derby ability to recruit. A Paul Warne side has never played attractive football, he didn’t do it with Rotherham a small fish in a big pond, or Derby a big fish in a small pond…..as for recruitment, this Derby side in terms of quality is far inferior to any of his Rotherham sides - they also have no money so if you genuinely think that Derby in the champ are going to suddenly play decent football you will be VERY disappointed.

On paper, with their inability to spend, they are going to really struggle next season, especially with their aging squad and losing a number of players. Good luck to them, absolutely no surprise that Bird wanted to jump ship though - relegation battle for them next season. 

Ditto

Quality of their football is poor and they will struggle next season and do well to stay up

If they have a financial challenge around transfer budgets then it will likely be loans & frees to build a squad 

2 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Depends if depth and succession planning or similar. You can't rely on one striker, Conway has had two medium term injuries already after all.

Still selling Conway seems foolish IMO. He should only get better really injuries permitting 

 

It’s Conway who is stalling, not the club 

TC needs to knuckle down and continue his development rather than go somewhere that he is just another young player as opposed to a club who have developed and nurtured him from a young age 

I wouldn’t be surprised if his heads been turned after Antoine & Alex move to Bournemouth and his agent is touting him around as the next big thing out of Bristol City 

3 hours ago, DeParis said:

Well if signing a number 9 is as nailed on as being made out will TC even be a regular for us next season? Unless im mistaken hasn’t LM made it clear that 1 up top is here to stay.

Totally agree, TC probably thinks he’s going to play second fiddle to whoever they bring in and is looking at options. The club will sell him if he doesn’t sign a new contract and I agree it would be a shame if he left but he isn’t by any means the finished article and still has a lot to learn and also hasn’t fully developed physically. Stay and do another 3 years and prove your good enough 

3 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Unless Conway leaves I doubt we’ll spent even half of £12m.

If you listened to Tinnion in a recent podcast he as much as said this.

Wells is going nowhere, he has one year left on his deal & is very happy in this part of the world.

The clubs senior management have stated numerous times and even during the January window that a striker was a priority in the summer as would be a No10 

Conway probably knows he would be playing second fiddle to whoever they bring in which means Wells would be 3rd choice. Add in Stokes who appears to be impressing everyone at the HPC then do you think we will go with 4 forwards vying for 1 maybe 2 spots on a match day?

Just now, Mike Stone said:

10-12 spend, that won't be happening

 

Why?

You don’t think we are in a position to spend what is a reasonable amount on 2 players that come at a premium especially as the board intimated after NP was sacked that they held back funds or is it that structured payments from Bournemouth enable us to use in the next transfer window?

26 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

That really is no surprise to anyone who has been watching closely.

We signed Bird for the first team & Stokes for the squad in January, but they don’t arrive until now.

Manning has been pretty clear that Twine is his main target & if he gets him then that’s the vast majority of the summer transfer budget used up, unless Conway goes.

If Conway stays we already have our main striker & any further additions (back up keeper & possibly a striker) are going to be low cost ones.

How can you state that our complete transfer budget will be used up on Twine?

It will probably cost us the £4m Burnley paid for him. I would be surprised if Wells is still with us at start of season and Conway looks 80% out of the door 

Regardless of what we pay for Twine or an alternative, the priority has always been a striker that has more physical presence but a bit of pace also and they don’t come cheap 

There is almost certainly funds held back from the sale of Scott and what was spent in January was minimal

I would not be surprised if we spent £10m - £12m on the two key positions and hope the business is done early 

What we need to be mindful of is if anyone comes in for any of our players!! 

4 hours ago, cidercity1987 said:

Hope he comes in with a positive happy to be here attitude. Not sure.

Seems a good player of our level but I was a little concerned when Knight said in the week that Bird is a very similar player to him

With both of them pressing opposition then I’m more than happy if they are similar as long as we have Twine around to unlock defences 

I liked JD as an attacking wing back but defensively he was targeted due to his height. Roberts can play in a number of positions, is technically as good and more importantly has the physical build to defend 

Money well spent and a player who will only improve us going forward 

Hopefully Atkinson will be fit for the new season as I think we have some excellent young defensive players with the experience of Dickie & Naismith 

Our midfield next season is going to look pretty impressive with Bird coming in

If Twine is our target for No10 and we get a striker in who provides that pace & physicality then I’m fairly happy with what we could have in the squad for the new season 

52 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

Credit where it’s due, decent end of season run and some good performances in there to match. A real shame we lost those Cardiff, QPR and Sheff Wed games now.

I don’t think momentum into a new season is really a thing though, it’s a new start in August and that’s where we can really judge protest.

In some respects it is, LM will have the majority of players still at the club and has now worked with them for 5 months and the last 7 games has shown some consistency and patterns of play that has yielded a decent return of points 

If you then look at the games prior that we lost or Drew and the majority of defeats were by a single goal then you can look to the summer and pre season with some confidence that the addition of 3-4 players in positions that we all know we need to challenge next season will build on the end of season unbeaten run (Stoke TBC)

certainly should feel an air of optimism that we shouldn’t be looking down but up towards the top of the league 

Just watching Derby v Carlisle and Max has just launched a screamer into the net for what is likely to be his last game for Derby 

Look forward to seeing him in our team next season 

6 minutes ago, MrRedRobin said:

I have been blown away recently with his performances. He has settled so well into the back 3 and him Dickie and Tanner were a really solid back 3 today. This kid is something special, he has got potential to have a really top career and picking him up on a minimal fee (I think it was a bit of compensation to Brighton) was incredible business just like Dickie. I remember right at the start of the season there was glimpses of what he could do before he picked up that injury and I remember reading a month ago about how he asked Manning to go out on loan in January. Our upturn in form has come with Haydon Roberts has been playing in this back 3. What a brilliant defence and goalkeeper we have, dare I say next season I am really excited to see what could happen if we do some good summer transfers on the other end of the pitch!

He is a very good technical player who reads the game extremely well. He’s had to bide his time and know he was frustrated a few months ago but he’s taken his chance and looks a very good signing 

Of the 3 clubs in the mix, I really can’t see Leeds messing up today!

2 hours ago, Alessandro said:

Yes it’s nice win but you’re absolutely right.

I don’t think you can understate how poor Blackburn were tonight.

If a team wins 5-0 either you’re meeting a hugely talented attacking team or the losing team have capitulated.

Given the fact we’ve only won a game by more than 2 goals 3 times all season and only 8 teams in the league have scored less goals than us…

Add in Blackburn’s current bottom 6 form and the fact they have the 2nd leakiest defence in the league.

Suggests more of the latter.

A nice win yes, credit for that - but IMo people probably shouldn’t get too carried away though on the back of tonight…

 

Totally agree and whilst it’s nice to put 5 past the opposition I would reference the last 3 games as a better marker of where we are under LM. 
 

Huddersfield & Norwich will provide a stern test as they are desperate for points for different reasons. If we can dispatch them then perhaps LM has cracked the formula 

Maybe next season could bring something better?

8 minutes ago, Sweeneys Penalties said:

so "Promotion Chasing Bristol Rovers" are 9 points above the drop zone. Anyone know when this promotion push begins?

Now more commonly listed on the video printer from now on as Bristol Rovers nil

16 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

I think calling Barton a bully is probably an understatement.

In reality he displays all the behaviours of an abuser. 

That means everyone around him that he doesn't perceive as bigger and stronger than he is, is a victim of his behaviour. Sadly, that means his family and friends, particularly women and specifically female partners, and almost certainly his children, unfortunately.

Unless he gets the help he clearly needs then he'll continue on a path of self-destruction, and destruction and misery for those around him. 

I can’t believe there are people out there who actually employed him in a management & leadership role. It’s pretty well documented that the bloke is a complete liability and a psycho 

I wonder if the owners fancy a change of head coach for the new season?

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

We have a solid base on which to build. That has been bequeathed. A squad with a good mindset too.

We should not, I repeat not unless we can get great players for great value be looking at an overhaul IMO.

Hard work has been done pretty much between Summer 2021 and January 2023 to stabilise the FFP position- maybe Scott sale the final element.

Build on the base, lose as few key players as possible and look to retain James and Williams.

If Cornick and Wells are as poor as people say, will we find takers? Albeit I appreciate age isn't on the side of Wells.

Wouldn't be averse to us spending relatively big to build on the solid base.

I see no point in Cornick being in the squad, he adds nothing of any worth 

Conway, he can go and club need to get best possible deal as I don’t think he is they type of player that fits LMs plans and the way he wants to play

with Bird coming in and a likely starter with Knight in midfield then I think it’s a fine balance as to whether both James & Williams are given new deals but cover will be needed and I wonder if Brannigan will be prised away from Oxford 

where we have struggled and continue to is in attack, if Conway is sold then 2 forwards & a No10 are a must.

Certainly physically we have been lacking and need forwards who can compete and create more problems for defences. If we go for Twine as the 10 then I can see us spending a decent wedge in the summer 

2 hours ago, redkev said:

Couple of things ,

looks like some big teams coming up from league 1 next year 

Pompey ( that will be lively ) Derby & Bolton  . 
another point firstly why is Max Bird coming to us surely Derby are a bigger club , also is he injured already I have looked at the team sheets for the last month or so and he not in line ups or on bench 

What makes them big?

Just because they spent a few seasons in the Prem doesn’t constitute being a big club. 
 

Traditional old club maybe?

If you want to be a big club these days then look at the top 6 in the Premier league 

2 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

What a fantastic performance .  That was spot on today, fingers crossed that’s the future. 

Frustrating that we know they have it in them to beat these teams but the inconsistency is the issue 

Playing well in one in 5 games isn’t good enough. LM now has to get these players to go and win the next 3-4 games and show that the plan & coaching is working and we can do something next season 

Vyner absolute rubbish today, passing, marking, panics when the ball comes anywhere’s near him 

a few others giving Leicester too much respect 

On 24/01/2024 at 17:49, Clevedon Red said:

Bristol trains: Possibility of new stations to be explored

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-68080364

 

I was party to a conversation with the largest medical insurance company in the US last week who I’m told are in advanced stages for building a large office site near Long Ashton. This company already has a large presence in Bristol and money is no object to get the development they require - I dont want to name the company but part of their development is to have their own rail line & station/platform by the site. This will have a rail link to Bristol Airport also. 
 

obviously funding will not be an issue for this company but it will be interesting to see how planners receive this in the planning stages, how many dog walkers are against it and where AG and the whole expansion of the area is integrated with so much private investment 

I wonder if this US company fancy buying a football club as well

The office development is planned for completion by 2028/29 

The only thing missing is consistency of performance 

This squad can produce moments of excellence countered by moments of mediocrity 

On their day they can beat anyone as well as lose to anyone 

We know we are missing a goal scoring No9 as what we have at the club currently isn’t good enough

We also lack that creativity to unlock low block defences which needs addressing 

Has BT and the board got a solution in place for the summer as they appear to be saying that is the priority?

Is Manning & his assistant able to coach us into a style and winning team that will challenge next season - who knows but throwing him under the bus so soon is not going to happen with this board & owner until Manning has had a pre season with new players and next season to put into practice what they saw in him 

If he fails miserably and we are fighting for our lives near the lower end of the league then someone will open the trap door and wave LM goodbye