BigAl&Toby

19 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

My question is - would he have got the land and the planning permission without doing the sports stuff?  If I was completely cynical one might argue the sports stuff could be seen as a “back-hander” to the council?

Spot on. Developers do it all the time to get the permissions they really want.

They know what they can get, and what to do to get it.

Steve. Look Marv. I’ve got this plan…

Marv. What’s that Steve?

Steve. Let’s work together. Let’s make Bristol Proud.

Marv. How Steve? How?

Steve. I’m buying some land. Ashton Vale. Forget that village green nonsense. I’ll say I’m going to build an all signing, all dancing stadium.

Marv. **** me Steve. You’ve got no chance.

Steve. I know Marv. But what I really want, what i really really want - nice Spice Girls reference - is a fat resi consent….

Marv. Oh I see Steve. I’ll see what I can do……..

Eventually.

Meanwhile the sun is shining. I predict a defeat. Relegation zone we’m coming….

17 hours ago, BTRFTG said:

The more deluded the funnier this gets.

Do you know how to read accounts?

In case not let's keep it simple.

If you took EVERYTHING OWNED by (OR DUE) the various enterprises wrapped up in the holding company (that's nothing in respect of Ashton Vale,) and SUBTRACTED ALL LIABILITIES OWED, including shareholder capital and loans at base, issue price, then.....

Ta Da .....

You be IN DEBT to the tune of £170m & counting.

If that's a cash cow, who'd want to be a farmer?

Morning @BTRFTG

In a word? Yes. I spent many years reading, reviewing and analysing accounts. Far too many years.

I know from those years that accounts show - and hide - a multitude of things. Remember Enron?

Multi-layered is multi-layered for several reasons. As is being registered offshore. Neither necessarily untoward or illegal, but done for a reason.

And losses. Ah yes. Losses. I’m quite happy if my business shows a loss. Why? Well like Steve I don’t need to demonstrate a profit to a lender. I don’t need to borrow.

And making a loss? Well that’s deductible and offset elsewhere…….

But it boils down to this. 

If Steve is as successful as he undoubtedly is, and if he’s as intelligent as he undoubtedly is, why oh ******* why would he be happy or prepared to keep burning those fivers?

Now common sense - well my deluded and cider fuelled version of it - according to some on here - is that he’s got a plan. An exit plan. Call it a non-philanthropic motive.

Freehold acquisition. One of only a few things that if bought and sold right will guarantee a return on investment.

Maybe, just maybe, Pula Holdings - in itself an interesting name for a company - reckon the Lansdowns used to go on a Yugotours coach from St Mary Redcliffe back in the day - was his vehicle. To acquire swathes of South Bristol…….

Bit like a Trojan Horse……

Deluded. Delirious. Disrespectful. Yep. All of them.

But anyway. I might be wrong. I might be right. We’ll both be dead and buried before Steve, Junior or Junior’s Junior cash in they chips……..

Score prediction for Watford? Wouldn’t be so brash. But **** me let’s hope we win.

If we don’t I guess you’ll still be happy. Happy that when you went to the loo at half-time you didn’t have to stand in such dreadful toilets, happy you could enjoy an amateur performance - not on the green stuff but on that stage out the back - and could have a nice pulled pork sandwich……

Oh yes. Ashton Gate Stadium. Once the home of simply a long established and at times a reasonably successful football club. Now? A multi-faceted income generating cash machine.

Good old Steve.

31 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Partly yes, partly no IMO.

Some of this was on infrastructure for a start and beyond that, while he did pay for his mistakes on the pitch, indeed still is the truth is that the Championship is also a horribly expensive business if you have ambitions to be up the top end.

Not even talking wage bill but the amount of cash needed just to sustain in a lot of cases. A lot of Championship clubs truly burn through cash.

(There is also a belief among some that the infrastructure investment is for his ultimate profit but that's another debate).

Then again there are clubs who do a lot more with less so it's a tough one.

@Mr Popodopolous it’s not another debate. It’s tied in intrinsically with this one.

He’s the banker. He invests. He secures that investment - as his absolute right to do.

But it’s an investment - a shrewd one - nevertheless. He, or companies where he’s the beneficial owner, hold all the cards. Or chips.

He might not cash them in. But at some point they’ll be cashed in. Perhaps when Ashton Vale is ready…..

27 minutes ago, elhombrecito said:

If anyone actually believes that Steve Lansdown has made a profit from his ownership of Bristol City, or will in the future, they are deluded. A cash cow it is certainly not.

 

Bollocks.

Why do it then? Cash cow it is. His hands are on her teats squeezing away.

If not Steve then Junior. Or Junior’s Junior.

Steve’s legacy.  You really think he’d squander his hard earned cash? 

Funds invested by the ultimate beneficial owner. All fully secured.

And then there’s Ashton Vale……

31 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Non-falsifible, nugatory statement so expand and explain as to how you think City might have been run, with or without SL?

@BTRFTG in one word?

Better.

But hey if you’re happy with where we are, the Lansdown’s involvement and what he now has and BCFC doesn’t then ok.

I’m not. Never have been. He’s little if any interest in BCFC or sport generally. Apart from how it will further his ambitions and how he’s viewed by his adoring “support”.

And of course how much more he’ll eventually gain. From his investment. I suspect he’s been well advised by his Merchant Venturers……

How much do you think his freeholds in BS3 are worth now…….

21 minutes ago, phantom said:

This sort of comment always intrigues me

Of course the value of investment from SL can never be called out

But what would you say if SL has invested 10% of the money available to him, but a supporter has invested 90% of their money available -who has made the bigger commitment?

@phantom that’s a flawed argument.

Flawed in so much as it doesn’t suit the argument. The one that The Ls are there only to be thanked.

They’ve made us proud. Not of course in football or dare I say it, sporting, terms.

Just proud that “the city” can attract the likes of Muse, Elton ******* John, the Killers et Al.

So much better these days than when the non-football highlights were Billy Graham and the Rolling Stones.

In Steve the blind believe. Onwards to the promised land…..

Hold on. This is drifting off topic. It’s not meant to be about Nige. It’s all about the Lansdowns.

You remember them. They who can’t do a thing wrong. They who dig deep and put their own funds in. All out of an altruistic value.

Or they who’ve invested big time in an asset. A cash cow. They who’ve deliberately identified an under performing asset and who now own - lock, stock and barrel - some very valuable freeholds in BS3.

Ashton Vale anyone? How many acres did Steve ride his Trojan Horse into there?

Might seem extreme and provocative - and it is and it’s meant to be - but I don’t buy the vision. I don’t see it.

How can anyone be so successful in part of their life and make, what seems  to be, an almighty **** up in another.

Discuss….

Oh and twasn’t cider. Twas Elvis Juice and Hazy Jane….

Oops. Wrong thread…

Imagine this.

Last or “lastish” game of the season.

We’re away to Crewe. One of only a few teams that have an X in their name.

It’s a sunny, balmy night. We need to win. We have a big forward up front - let’s say it’s Antoine - it wasn’t then…..

Where would Steve be? In the away end with the faithful?

Would he ****. He’d be in his tax haven. Thinking his next step. Mrs L might even be “licking his wounds”…

In the name of his love child - Little Lee - we’ll come again…

Lundy Island? Love Island? Denny ******* island…..

8 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

Why bother answering that drivel? 

 

Ok Dave I’ll bite. To what are you referring?

Aha. @REDOXO

Another disciple of the Lansdown is the Messiah.

Tell me. You happy with where we are?

Where once as a club we had supporters who had a financial interest in “our club”. Where generations had supported “our club” through thick and thin. Where once - as a club - we owned our our own ground.

But hey. If you’re happy with where we are now under Mr, Mrs and Junior then who am I to question it.

**** me. The bloke’s doing a great job……

If we’re really lucky we might - just might - still be out of the relegation zone come Saturday

18 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Steve Lansdown has personally committed over £214m of his own money to ensure Bristol City FC remain trading such we may occasionally have an afternoon of fun at AG.

And you, what have you contributed to keep City trading?

@BTRFTG I guess you’re in the “there’s none so blind camp”…..

Me? Season ticket payments for more years than I can remember. For several of us.

Oh and shares. From 1982. When Steve and his mate Pete were planning how they’d make billions in their bedrooms….. When Steve didn’t see the merits of putting his money in…..

Ha I hear you say. **** all then….

As a proportion of wealth and income? Don’t know…..

But hey. If you’re happy with the decisions that The Messiah has made and the week in, week out inconsistent shit show then carry on.

I expect more. Steve’s only interest is Steve.

How do you see his “investment”? A success?

11 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

Not a fan then? 

@Major Isewaternope. Never have been. 

As you’d know if you paid attention! I’ve always had that view. And expressed it.

There’s none so blind and all that. If he’d run HL in the same way he’s run BCFC - sorry, Bristol Sport - sorry Pula - then he’d not be living it up on Guernsey.

He’d be living in Lundy……

He’s only got one interest at the forefront of his mind. Self interest….

But hey. It’s lovely to have a shiny stadium…… and shit football…….

We drive from Frome. Farrington Gurney, Chew Valley, A38, Limekiln Roundabout, into industrial estate and park there or in Ashton Vale.

15/20 minute walk. 

Always works for us.

We needs ‘ee Tomas. Badly.

If we don’t get our most versatile and flexible solution back soon then we be doomed. ******* doomed….

Then again when they below us have played their game in hand then it might be too late……

Then again I guess we could be West Brom……

14 hours ago, Harry said:

As I came out of the Lansdown and toward the park, there were loads of police. Obviously Robbored is a blind man. 
Anyway, as I walked along the wall by the park, I was laughing to myself as I saw about 200 of what I thought was 12-14 year olds. I laughed to myself thinking “ha ha, what’s this bunch of kids gonna do when Swansea come out”. 
Anyway, about 30 Swansea entered the park outside the away end and started singing something anti English. 
These couple of hundred teens descended, en masse, over the wall and toward the Swansea fans. Fair play to ‘em I thought. 
Obviously nothing actually happened as the park was already swamped with police, who kept it under control, but these young’s uns all went for it as one. 
 

This mass of young uns ended up at the top end of the park where there’s the pedestrian crossing, where there were 3 riot vans blocking the road to separate the swans who’d been escorted the other way. 
Nothing happened here either apart from an exchange of songs. And then everyone departed. 
 

I must say though, this was a bloody good sized mob of teens. 
In the hoolie world, the academy is flourishing. 

Did any of them have those odd hoodies on? The ones with those bizarre goggles in the hood.

I can’t work out if they’re on a welding course or want to take part in the Mille Miglie.

Hang on. I’ve realised the mystery of @Robboredblindness. I reckon the ****** was wearing his when he left his seat in the Dolman, couldn’t see any visible police and thought the Swansea fans were being held back.

Come on Robbo. Surprise us. 3 little words. I was ………

4 minutes ago, glynriley said:

Yeah, that’s what I said.!! Perhaps you should let Toby manage your account. 
 

He must be the brains of the outfit. 

He is.

Then again I’m not sure .!! makes you look that bright

Let’s hope Naismith is the answer. What’s the question.??

11 minutes ago, glynriley said:

Not stalking you, no. Just trying to educate pork. 

Is that the best you can do?

Oh dear. You think Naismith - on his own - is the answer? **** me…

3 minutes ago, glynriley said:

You can’t see that Naismith improves the team?

We’ll never agree on on anything will we. Decent ref

 

You aren’t stalking me are you?

Naismith on his own won’t. He’s lost us more points than he’s gained. He’d be first on my team sheet if he had a Kalas or Klose in behind him.

He’s great at bringing the ball out but defensively he needs someone in behind him.

Ask yourself this. If he’s that good or as good as he thinks he is why’s he here?

#iloveandre

Chris of course.

Posted something the other week about why he’s first down the tunnel at the end of the game and doesn’t lap up the exuberant applause from the faithful following.

Today he did. Perhaps he’d read my bollocks.

Thing is why, at half time, didn’t he come out for a kick about and stretch his quads? It’s not as though he was being briefed about an immediate second half start…..

And why at the start of the second half is he the first to sit down at the back and not acknowledge those around him?

Is he upset?

1 hour ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

Zak for me but he was a close second.

Pring.

Vyner.

O’Leary.

Men of the match. The three of them.

Walking back through Ashton Vale we quietly scoffed at two buffoons who thought that it would be good when Naismith is back.

**** me. I nearly choked on me post-match Subway…..

4 minutes ago, CrackingCheeseGromit said:

Plus they may get offended. While on the subject of S82 can we please stop this embarrassing thing where they scream and shout the ball is out the line at a corner. It's cringeworthy and they forget that most refs have officiated here at least twice since they started it, so in the main totally ignore the shouts.

Better than that. Refs have the use of modern day medial.

There’s a WhatsApp group. Guess what? Every ****** on it knows about the shouting and pointing and have been told to ignore it.

How much does a few inches really matter? Unless we’re talking goal line or phallic prowess….

But good old Andre. He did check. Once….

20 minutes ago, Supersonic Robin said:

On the topic of S82, it was pretty weird for them to give Paterson a round of applause before he took a corner in the second half.

Of course it then looked especially embarassing when Swansea scored from said corner. 

Not sure why you'd clap any opposition player before taking an attacking set piece against us.......

Simples.

Paterson played them at their own game.

He trots across to take the corner. manual manipulator, manual manipulator, manual manipulator rings out loud and clear.

How does Mr P respond? 

Keeps his head down. Avoids contact with the musical throng. And claps.

1 minute ago, Bar BS3 said:

It's OK, he's admitted that he was wrong above..... 

 

... If still trying to say that they were held back, despite the fact that they weren't - is admitting that he was wrong...! 

Has he bollocks!

He’s an educated man is @Robbored

Christ he worked for the NHS for years. Mental health if my failing memory serves me right. Thank **** he didn’t prescribe my Fluoxetine…

He plays bowls.

He lives in Nailsea.

I’ve never ever seen him write the words “I am wrong “.

Come on Robbo. Surprise us. Stop polishing your bowls man. Spit it out….

3 minutes ago, Robbored said:

All of the Swansea fans were still in the Atyeo in the several mins that it took me to exit AG.

One thing that did surprise me was the lack of visible police. The only time I saw any activity was when a squad car with blue was racing down the Winterstoke Rd on the opposite side heading toward AG.

**** me. Did you leave at half time?