BigAl&Toby

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

In City’s case, I agree, it looks a bit high….but useful as a consistent method for ballpark comparison across the division at least.

I usually err on the low side for wages in my xls, but with things like appearance and win bonuses, who knows what they might earn.  Ok, we aren’t paying out much in win bonuses, but perhaps our players are / were on a bit more than we think.  The average champ salary was £720k p.a. Last season and I bet we weren’t too far off that.  Your 0.6 might be closer to the truth for us.  Will be interesting to see next years accounts.

Basically, we’ve wiped £4-5m off of our amortisation costs because we let loads of players go OOC in the summer.  The likes of Diedhiou was costing us £1.325m p.a. In amortisation, let alone wages.  Baker was £0.875m (re-signed on a free, so £0 amortisation).  Add in your Jack Hunt, Haks Adelakun, Liam Walsh etc, and it starts to mount up.  Then add on top the wages we are no longer paying.  Nige was quoted as say 30% cut in wages.

Its obviously not an exact science because I’m not party to the exact numbers….but my current xls has assets at £36.150m.  The accounts have £36.167m….I’ll take being £0.017m out!

As per reply to Ole above, wages is always a bit more difficult to estimate.

If we can get Kalas to sign a new contract, we can spread his amortisation out over a longer period.  He’s costing us £2.0m p.a at the mo plus £1.25m in wages!

Are you saying I could become a billionaire

Anyone with a non-contributory final salary pension will have done ok

I’m dipping in shortly. 

Thing is I’m not letting Steve anywhere near it thank you very much. He already gets £60 too much of my hard earned pennies…..

10 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I'm not as down on SL as you, there have been ups and downs and I doubt he'll see us slide into administration or insolvency but certainly a good point about that fixed charge.

That £70m loan, indeed secured against the ground and everything else. Have a few concerns about that loan. First noticed it last season.

I’ve had the “privilege” of spending time with holders of fixed charges, and of enforcing them.

If you have one then you’re in a relatively secure position. And in the Messiah’s position?

He’s the lender. He’s created the mirage of a football/rugby/basketball club alongside a venue that hosts anything and everything from Covid vaccinations to the Killers.

He seems to have willingly overseen a loss making business lurch from loss to loss. He oversaw the appointment of people who were frankly inept, and out of their depth.

Compare that to the way he must’ve seemingly developed HL. From getting excited over spreadsheets and investments in his bedroom to a shiny glass office where there were once railway sidings.

Chalk and cheese. 

And why? Does he want to be the modern day equivalent of the philanthropic John James? Or is his more Merchant Venturers? Or is he hell bent on making us proud.

One thing is for certain. Whatever he’s done, doing or will do Steve, Mrs Steve and Steve Jnr won’t be stood amongst the faithful at the next away game.

Neither will they be out of pocket. Wonder how the value of Ashton Vale is doing these days…….

12 hours ago, Fordy62 said:

Glad to have Lansdown, but these figures are by and large his fault. 

We had a really trim quality squad that needed two or three additions. Then he let Johnson and Ashton take him to the cleaners and treble the wage bill. This was always coming. 

I’m not reading page after page of this.

Twas always going to be so. And for the avoidance of doubt I’m not so sure I’m as glad as some are to have the Messiah. Oh **** me, here he goes again…..

He might have deep pockets. He might have a stand named after him. He might be loved by the many.

But he’s the reason we’re in this ******* mess. He’s the monkey at the top of the tree. He’s the Ultimate Beneficial Owner who carries the can and the one who makes the decisions.

How can someone who’s clearly so successful elsewhere make such a **** up of our football club.

But Steve, Mrs Steve and Steve Jnr are ok. They have ultimate control. And a fixed charge over the whole shooting match. And everything else in BS3……

In Steve we trust?

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I think you’re failing to take into account the timeline and contract situation that evolved in the latter period of Holden / early period of Pearson.  It had a massive bearing.

And it depends what the person posting things like “work dodging” and “uncoachable” is really trying to imply, whether they are aiming at the players themselves or faults of the manager and his coaching staff.  Same with the use of “bullying” too!

I think it’s fair to say that Holden didn’t have to experience the full reality of a final 3 month period of the season where a CEO had promised the earth publicly and then pulled the rug from under the feet.  The downturn did start under Holden around the time / after the bollox spouted by Ashton v Norwich.

I’m being selective here, not for an agenda because I posted exactly this last January, that the contract situations needing sorting were drifting on and on and you could see it on the pitch.  We saw Ashton talk to Gregor, Geoff and the commentator Gary Weaver, and basically undermine everything.  Look at the results as the window approached, then the Huddersfield win (as the window was ending) we got absolutely battered.  The performances against Cardiff and Watford were abject…those were tell-tale signs the players were not putting effort in….under Holden.  But NOT Holden’s fault, just like the following 3 month’s of results WEREN’T Nige’s fault either. The rot was set by the CEO and Owner.  They stuffed up.  Fam laughed at accusations he’d been offered £30k p.w. by Ashton.  That tells you something for a player to go public.

Nige got a small bounce, that all bar mathematically ensured survival, but then the reality of players not getting contracts (coupled with injuries that Holden had to deal with too) meant we limped over the (safety) line.  It’s been a huge repair job.  I think that is underestimated on here.

The reason you didn’t hear uncoachable / downed tools comments under Holden was because many arent  perceptive enough to understand the external impacts that were going on.  Most were happy to blame “inexperienced Holden” rather than the players or understand why the players weren’t quite “at it” anymore….that’s why you didn’t hear it.  Ashton made Holden the scapegoat for his own incompetence.

I don’t blame the players, players like Tommy Rowe being rushed back from injury with the knowledge he isn’t gonna get a new contract.  Lansbury, signed on the cheap to try and get himself a new, better deal in the summer, suddenly finds there’s no money to match his expectations now the bullshitting CEO is gone and the reality of City’s financial position is honestly relayed to him.  Hey, Henri, come here on £8k p.w*** with your pay-off from Villa, play well and we will double that in the summer.  Promises, promises!  Lies, lies!!

There are so many different dynamics going on, timing is everything, and very good reasons why different parties get flak at different times.

I fully expect Holden would’ve ended up with exactly the same issues as Nige had last season.  Would Dean be the right man for a post-Ashton re-build, I’m not so sure!

 

*** for example purposes only.

And some on here question why I bleat on and on and on about the Buffoon that is Lansdown…..

Accountability stops with him. He appointed Ashton and either accepted him for what he was, actually wanted him for what he was or couldn’t see him for what he was.

But hey. We’ve got a lovely shiny stadium. And top notch training facilities…

He must know what he’s doing. After all he’s a successful businessman…….

12 minutes ago, BS3_RED said:

I'm sure some of here will defend it as boys being boys. Not acceptable 

Not just boys being boys.

Boys being boys wearing Stone Island. Or those ******* hoodies with Mille Miglia driving googles built in.

My Christ. Their parents and grandparents will be so proud when they’re pulling their crackers on Christmas Day.

What’s it all become….

I had a wander round the docks yesterday. I was in a date.

And noticed this monstrosity.

A quick Google took me to the much maligned Bristol Post and having waded through ad after ad it told me Donald used to have his tea on board when the Miss Conduct was over in the good old U S of A….. 

Then I read on. Bought by two Bristol businessmen who want to remain anonymous. Hmmmmmmm…..

Berthed up not far from Lansdown Towers……. Two Bristol businessmen……. Miss Conduct…….

Wonder if this is Steve’s Christmas present for Jon?

Where there was once the Flying Fox. The Mathew. The SS Great Britain. The Balmoral……

We now have this. And it comes with its own helicopter. But it’s ok. Apparently it’s green. It’ll run on chip fat….

And there was a big clue that the Messiah was behind it. You could tell that as a young ship’s lad was ever so carefully painting over Miss Conduct.
 

He’d left the M and was carefully painting A G G I E in its place.

Merry Christmas.

On 12/12/2021 at 07:50, Major Isewater said:

It looks like he used the material from my Nan’s sofa for the suit.

( A sort of three piece suite suit) 

Oh you’re wasted on here!

Three piece suite suit

I thought that when we had Tammy on loan and then signed three Chelsea players we were going places.

Then we ****** it up. We’ve got KP wearing a suit the likes of which no other ****** would be seen dead in whilst he models some kit at Ashton Court.

We’ve got an international who drives around in an ugly, ostentatious 4x4 and who’s best contribution recently has been to dry the match ball with a towel.

We’ve got a left back who’s got a lovely song from the 1980s but play with the ball over his head and we’re ******.

And there was me thinking that Steve, Jon and Ashton knew what they were doing……..

39 minutes ago, Murraysrightplum said:

Buying and selling players is like buying houses, you can sell a house and think you’ve made money but you’ve got to live somewhere and by the time you’ve replaced it you’ve not made money. Unless you sell a mansion and buy a one bed studio, which is what we seem to have done recently…

Far worse than that.

The man in the Channel Islands with extraordinary deep pockets who keeps appearing on my Instagram feed offering me pension advice - I think I’ll pass - didn’t buy a one bedroom studio.

He’s acquired the whole of BS3 for his investment…..

But to use your analogy it’s not a studio flat we’ve got. It’s a ******* mobile home. 

What a shambles……

28 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

Thanks for that, and it was, indeed, Bob Hamer.

He refereed quite a few matches in which I played, firstly as a schoolboy/youth and then in senior football, although, unfortunately, his standard of refereeing was obviously better than my ability as a footballer, as he progressed to FIFA/World Cup levels, whereas my pinnacle was the Gloucestershire County League .

It was quite clear, however, that he would go on to bigger and better things, as he always seemed to be in complete control, earning the respect of most players; strict without ever, as far as I can recall, needing to raise his voice: very similar, in fact, to Len Fricker, who more senior readers of this forum may remember.

I mentioned in my previous post that I seemed to recall he retired early as he was disillusioned with football violence, and this incident back in 1993 may have been instrumental in his decision: 

A STORMY end to a match of vital consequence to both sides produced extraordinary scenes at St James' Park last night when the referee, Bob Hamer, was knocked to the ground after angry fans had invaded the pitch.

Security staff had to pull supporters off the Bristol official, who had caused uproar by awarding Port Vale a controversial last-minute penalty. Exeter would have been assured of Second Division safety if they had held on to win, while Vale's point gives the Potteries club a better chance of beating Bolton Wanderers to an automatic promotion place.

Exeter seem sure to be in serious trouble with the authorities as will their manager, Alan Ball, who raced on to the pitch on the final whistle seemingly intent on remonstrating with Hamer before he was shepherded away by his coaching staff.

The referee was helped off by police looking shocked. Officials of the West Country club said he had been hit three times and that one of his linesman had also been assaulted.

'All I remember is getting shoved to the ground and then being quickly surrounded by people,' said Hamer, who will make a statement to Exeter police today before sending his report to the Football Association.

Ball later criticised the referee. 'Of course I regret running on to the pitch but this is my life, my club's future as is it is Bolton's future. People's lives hinge on these 90 minutes and again it's been shown that amateurs have an enormous say in this lovely game of ours.

'I was as bad as those fans and I'm probably in enough trouble already. We have worked hard all season, I thought we were safe, and then to have it taken away from you like that makes you really, really mad. Imagine if we go down and Bolton don't go up because of that decision. It's far too important not to get annoyed about.'

Interestingly, and I have only just discovered this - quite fitting for a Sunday - Bob is no longer a newsagent, but is now a committed Christian; not that Christians can't be football referees or newsagents, of course, but you understand my point....

 

What a coincidence.

I was aware Steve Dunn was from Bristol, but not that he was a newsagent.

By the time he started refereeing, however, I had already left Bristol, so he never had the pleasure of officiating me . 

Steve Dunn also previously worked for Bendix in Kingswood I think. Folklore said that he was due to officiate somewhere nice and didn’t tell whoever he was supposed to.

Ended up running the newsagents in Temple Way as well as the line! Mind you he was bloody good - line and in the middle. One of, if not, the best.

12 hours ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Pearson has decided on a certain style of play, one he thinks will get the most out of our limited resources.

This style of play requires a physical presence up front. Martin is the only who can provide it.

It ain't pretty. And it doesn't get the best out of Martin either. But he's been asked to play a certain way and he gives it 100%, even though he knows, and Pearson knows, it's not playing to his strengths. 

Picking Weimann and Wells together, or one of them up front on their own, would require us to play inch perfect pass and move attacking football. How do you think that would turn out???

90 minutes on the back foot, that's how. 

Our style of play will improve in time, probably with very few of the current squad still here. 

Spot on.

Until we have a group of footballers who can consistently play the standard of football that’s needed in the Championship we'll have to put up with Capn Dan waving his hands together and then taking a long punt.

Like the post about Vyner my guess is that Capn Dan and Vyner et al have orders to lump it forward for Martin to wrestle the opponents central defenders.

Are those the tactics of a Championship winning side? Or how Nige has operated before? Probably not but if we haven’t got footballing footballers on the pitch what options are there?

5 hours ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

You have mentioned before that you were originally from Bromley Heath, so perhaps you could remind of the name of the former referee who used to run Quakers Road Post Office.

He was a really nice, friendly chap and, in addition, a good referee - I had him a few times and I seem to recall he was often available to help out for local children’s matches.

Unfortunately, I seem to also recall that he retired early as he was so disillusioned with crowd violence.

I can’t remember. Someone else asked me that some time ago. Was it Bob Hamer?

I also don’t remember/didn’t know he did - run the post office. I was in BH from early 70s through to late 80s.

Don’t get me going on Monty though….

I’m trying to find the pic I took of the pair of them at Griffin Park a few seasons back.

They got off the bus together, suited and booted - yes, wearing identical team suits and brown ******* brogues - and embraced and grinned like long lost brothers.

All teeth and no ******* clue.

They’d be welcome to each other. That’ll be another club and group of fans had over by a smooth operator…..

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

After a win, there’s no Hampshire Red/s posts to reply to, so rather than watch The Wheel, my popcorn is reserved for old-smarmy bollox tonight.

What’s wrong with The Wheel?

1 hour ago, bris red said:

The forum will be predictably quiet tonight as per usual after a win…!

For me Pearson is doing a good enough job with the very limited shower of shite that he has it his disposal. He needs at LEAST 3 or 4 transfer windows to really put his stamp on the squad and only then will we see the true Nigel Pearson’s Bristol City. 
 

I honestly think given time and funds he will have us challenging at this level in a season or two.

I agree. With all of this. It’s going to be bumpy but I’ve every faith in NP.

My reservations are more to do with if he’ll be given time and funds, or if the Channel Island Trio will simply **** it up.

Who knows? Nice to win mind.

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

2+2=5

What are you suggesting?

Little Lee reunited with his mate? They’ll be able to wear brown brogues together.

Brown in town…..

Good luck to them. The dream team

I had a lot of time for JW.

Many years ago I used to officiate. Was on the line at a pre-season friendly at Keynsham when JW put out a full strength side.

Mildly controversial incident and JW says to me “this’ll be interesting….”

We chatted about it and he said “fair enough, I’m inclined to agree with you but thought I’d ask”.

Compare that to the arrogance of Russell Don’t you know who I am Osman. A complete and utter buffoon….

Anyway @Alan Dicks I’d love to have it. For the boy’s collection. Up there with the framed Umbro shirts from 77.

And the wooden seats and turnstile from The Williams.

He’s a lucky lad is Toby

Messaged you!

7 minutes ago, Maltshoveller said:

MY FAVOURITE

Bloody superb isn’t it?

What about Live it up by Dusty? Another classic.

As Big Nige says Keep the faith…..

Here you go.

One of Frankie’s finest.

Beware of his promise.

He always keeps you dreaming.

Christ alive. I reckon Frankie might - just might - be signing about Steve…..

3 hours ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

It's now over 8 months since Nige took on the "project" . According to many, the problem is entirely with the squad and not the coaching. I disagree.  Nigel has made it very clear what he wants from the players and has very publicly stated that he'll get rid of those who dont buy into what he's trying to do .... which seems like just about everyone. 

Thoughts anyone? 

Didn’t watch or listen to it although yesterday I was contemplating another trip to Sheffield.

Instead I planted some tulips, checked in on my autumn sown broad beans, onions and garlic, walked the dogs and made a trip to Thornbury to get a double glazed unit for the bespoke potting shed I’m planning. All in all a ******* good day.

Nigel needs to stay. We’re now reaping what we’ve sown over the past 20 years. When we had some potential and impetus we ****** up and went backwards.

Then as a statement of intent and off the back of Tammy and some profit on player sales Big Steve got the chequebook out. And spunked millions up the wall.

We have KP who can shag anyone’s wife he’s loved so much. And **** me he looked good in that suit at Ashton Court.

We have little Jay who has a song about him that everyone loves to sing along to. Even when the ball sails over his head… 

And we have Captain Kallas and his ugly 4x4 Lamborghini. A rough, tough looking machine that must have cost a pretty penny. Kallas that is not his 4x4…..

Meanwhile Steve, Maggie and Jon are watching freehold values in BS3 increase daily. The Bears lose. The Robins lose. Like he gives a Flying Fox….

We need an ugly, uncompromising bastard to get us out of this Pula of shit.

I wonder though if the Lansdown Clan want that. Or if they’ll be content to let Nige wither on the vine.

So ship out the shit Nigel, play those like Scott, Benayrous, HNM and Williams who want to play and put the likes of Palmer et al to shame.

If we go down then we go down. Fighting. And the rest can leave and we go again. To quote Little Lee…..

10 years.

In a blink of an eye.

Puts so much into perspective.

RIP.

35 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

Since Kalas has been taking his long throws I have been saying that nearly everyone has been a foul throw. This is because he often has one foot over the line as he throws, I noticed tonight that Stoke fans seemed to be complaining about it too.

But it is so often done right under the noses of the Assistant Referees, I am beginning to wonder if I misunderstand the rules.

Does anyone have any insight?

Always used to be at least part of the foot on the line. Heel would be fine so if he’s got big feet he could have his toes in the penalty area! 

Best foul throw was that buffoon on Saturday. Christ alive. He seemed to just drop it off the top of his head…..

 

Hello all
Before I send my email to the club, I was just wondering if anyone else also has trouble watching the game because of the bright illuminated advertising boards around the pitch, or if it is just me?
On Saturday, it felt worse than ever, probably because it was grey and gloomy. When the floodlights aren't as bright as the perimeter ad boards, then it's hard to watch. This is especially a problem when the action is at the Atyeo end (I sit in the South Stand). It's like squinting at silhouettes, or the equivalent of going to the cinema trying to watch a film and having someone shine a torch in your eyes while you try to watch a film.
 

In my previous life I had a customer who was - he said - behind the development of this advertising medium.

Went to see him with one of the Merchant Venturers who we were about to appoint and we got chatting.

Yes he said. We’re marketing experts. They’re going to be massive and very lucrative.

Not sat in boxes in your car park said I. Lo and behold the business failed…..

Related to that though me and the boy loved it when the red Dinder Dunder signs were flashing up. They/the club used an image of he and me from an away game at Hull.

My Christ we were paid a fortune in royalties for that image!

 

It won’t have been down to money… I seem to recall that we’re in quite a lucky position owing to the hard work (&connections) of @TomF  

You ever seen the cost of the foot at the good food show?! Now that’s bad!

No. But I’ve seen the cost of chips, coffee, cake and a pitcher of Pimms at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Chips £4. Pimms £38.

I swear Mr L is missing a trick….

 

It won’t have been down to money… I seem to recall that we’re in quite a lucky position owing to the hard work (&connections) of @TomF  

You ever seen the cost of the foot at the good food show?! Now that’s bad!

No. But I’ve seen the cost of chips, coffee, cake and a pitcher of Pimms at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Chips £4. Pimms £38.

I swear Mr L is missing a trick….

 

It won’t have been down to money… I seem to recall that we’re in quite a lucky position owing to the hard work (&connections) of @TomF  

You ever seen the cost of the foot at the good food show?! Now that’s bad!

No. But I’ve seen the cost of chips, coffee, cake and a pitcher of Pimms at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Chips £4. Pimms £38.

I swear Mr L is missing a trick….

 

It won’t have been down to money… I seem to recall that we’re in quite a lucky position owing to the hard work (&connections) of @TomF  

You ever seen the cost of the foot at the good food show?! Now that’s bad!

No. But I’ve seen the cost of chips, coffee, cake and a pitcher of Pimms at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Chips £4. Pimms £38.

I swear Mr L is missing a trick….