The Constant Rabbit

He's a good player, gives effort - but I always think he could be more

If he bought his international form - he should be in the Prem.  Such an enigma - it's like he needs more motivation to be the best he can be.

Hope we keep him, but I think he will look back on his career and think - if I gave the extra 10% I was capable of - what could I have been.

Seems like Mr 90% - too good for the Championship, but  can't find the extra 10% consistently to be a Prem player. An enigma.

23 hours ago, NcnsBcfc said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59547255

Enough said

I read somewhere UK has the lowest numbers of Police per 100,000 people in Western Europe - something like 211 - unarmed.

Australia is not much better - 215 per 100,000, but that was 2017, and I know Policing has had a boost with Police Community Officers added - they are manning all Train Stations from open to close, and public buildings - in a 40% increase in general police numbers in the last 3 years. We are probably at 280 per 100,000 now - all armed.

Interesting stats - and shows why UK Police have completely lost the streets.  @Fordy62

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_number_of_police_officers

Just heard about this. Didn't see it on news here.

No words really. As a parent, I cannot fathom how anyone could do this.

Put them in Gen Pop.

Job Done.

21 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Ahhhhhhhh, got you!  Oh dear.  Now that would seriously annoy the manager and players.

Owner Dave?

Another one who doesn't get it.

Wally didn't 'write-off' £18 million - he converted it to a charge against the Mem.

When it's sold - and in terms Gasheads understand - Wally gets all his money back, owns the 'value' of all the players, and a nice new developable 'training quarters'

Bristol Rovers FC own NOTHING.

Bit like us.

1 hour ago, View from the Dolman said:

The Pula is the currency of Botswana so I'd assume the name comes from there.

Very astute.

Have a sniff around the Lansdown 'philanthropic' works in Africa.

Funnily, whilst working to promote better water to locals (and very needed) there happened to be a find of oil / gas / gemstone deposits/insert as you dig around.

Luckily the Govt involved included mining rights along with the licence to dig for water. And grants to aid the infrastructure. Including mining projects.

Start with Noka Farms and the African renewable energy fund.  You will see the same names if you look carefully. Then check those people, and see what they do........

What, you think City went to Botswana to sell shirts?

Goodness, this seems familiar.

If only someone had posted this exact same stuff, ooh, say 2 weeks ago... 

12 hours ago, ScottishRed said:

Absolutely correct, the weather at the time of year the tournament is taking place will be like a good summers day in Southern Europe.

As for all of the other factors, totally agree, I would not be interested in going.

I have been to the UAE a number of times and there is a certain air of unwelcoming animosity, it is subtle, but it is there.

I think it will be a tournament like no other with a real risk of clashes with the authorities for the fans.

Spot on

While they have no 'religious' Police in Qatar - which means a slightly looser policing of any religious slights (intentional or otherwise)- there is zero tolerance on public drinking, or being drunk in public.

Designated areas only for drinking - stray from there, and a very unpleasant stay in the local lock-up awaits.

You will go to prison.

Make no mistake, being pissed up and wandering around Doha with your mates and chanting and singing gets you a one-way ticket to a red hot cell with 30 locals and a hole in the floor to shit in.

Drink if you must in the designated areas - get a cab or hotel bus back to your hotel

I can see some serious problems in Doha, with the locals, and Police. The embassy will not be able to get you out of there quickly - it's a Muslim country and alcohol is tightly controlled - and is seen as insulting the prophet by many.

Lot of people are going to have a very unpleasant experience if they act as if its just 'another away game'

If you can't stay off the beer - don't go. You can find yourself getting sent down for a few years - and middle-eastern prisons are not the place Westerners want to be in.

1 hour ago, Leveller said:

I didn’t need the package explaining to me thanks. But you missed out the bit about an owner who still has the well-being of the club/city/region at heart. Do you want a Chinese or American owner who is just after the bucks? Because I’m sure a lot of us don’t. Maybe that’s all the Lansdowns  ever wanted too; I don’t know that bit.

I did say 'respectfully' and 'not aimed at you'.

Sorry for any offence.

35 minutes ago, Wiltshire robin said:

Just out of interest how wealthy are those supposed investors ?.

Very.

Less than SL - he is 1205 on Forbes wealthiest on the planet, but they are still in worldwide business.

SL is only involved in 'philanthropic' business in Africa as far as I know. With benefits of course. Why do you think City went on a tour there not so long ago 

The exposure of prem TV advertising, in a base that provides so many income streams, with scenarios that I decribed above makes the whole thing a great deal.

Think of another 'prem club in waiting' in an affluent area with so much land to develop.

Plus the pull with the council should the new owners decide to base some parts of their businesses in bristol.

That all I'm going to say, and I expect a phone call giving me a bollocking within the next day or two.

Its east to work out, if you see the big picture.

18 minutes ago, lenred said:

With no offence meant to the originators of today’s rumours - but sources, however good, are not always reliable as today has very amply proved.  
It’s a nice story and no doubt there is interest out there, but there is a massive difference between parties showing an interest and them actually putting pen to paper and investing / buying out. I’d be amazed to see anything happen in 12/24 months.  Longer term yes, no doubt.  

It's been going on for longer.

The tour to USA was only part of it.

It's just been the timing - brexit etc etc

26 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Great post and will defer to you on this stuff TCR.

All of those revenue streams- tapped and still to be tapped-who do we think would be benefit? The club or a hypothetical new ownership.

Looking at CH a while ago, I don't know whether to be assured or worried by loans from SL or Pula, can't remember entirely without checking tbh secured against fixed assets. One was/is IIRC secured against Ashton Gate.

Both - current will get a great price

New - increased income when all streams of potential profit come online.

500 million people worldwide watching BCFC v Man Utd with the new owners name plastered everywhere is such a coup.

The new guys should have the sports arm self-sufficient - with prem Football, but the business side is the real deal.

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

@The Constant Rabbit exactly.  Football is a bit of cash cow for the other riches.  It’s why SL himself has happily dumped £150m into the football club, because it’s all the other bigger things that come with it.

Out of interest, do you think SL wants to sell the whole bloody lot, and leave Jon with the proceeds and everything else….or do you think he only wants to sell some of it, leaving a non-cash inheritance for Jon and something to stop him getting bored?

My understanding is all - save for a stake in the Bears for SL.

Jon in Bermuda is managing to sub-divide property.

Having lived in Bermuda - that takes serious 'influence' - people have to live there 20 yrs to qualify to apply to become 'citizens'.

To get PP - Jon must have some serious clout - Houses are extorbitant, more than enough to make a living, a great living, if he can sub-divide on a regular basis. Jon's no Mug, despite what some people think.

3 hours ago, Leveller said:

Good luck finding a new owner who can afford to buy the clubs/Bristol Sport, can afford the ongoing financing, has the best interests of the city/region at heart, and has the good faith not to treat the whole shooting match as an asset stripping exercise.

Respectfully - Bristol Sport isn't the selling point.

It's the already constructed homes, those with PP approval, and the land awaiting PP approval.

Bears are break even - the Flyers are an irrelevancy - they were the 'excuse' for a 5000 seater , much bigger 'walk around' indoor venue. The money there is for presentations, shows, conventions, concerts etc. It can be used 300 days a year minimum.

The football in the championship isn't an attraction - but to a new owner - think USA and Chinese interest here, the carrot of a team ready made for the prem, with a stadium easy to expand to 35,000 is a part of it too.

The hotels, bars, boxes, shops etc will see income sky rocket - and with prem TV money.

I struggle to comprehend (not aimed at you) how people constantly fail to separate the Football from the package as a whole.

People aren't buying BCFC - they are buying a package of land, houses, offices, venues, hotels - with a brand new stadium om the middle which can host 3 games a week across 2 codes, hold multiple concerts, functions in 2 venues 300 days a week, and hold business meetings in boxes watching City v Arsenal or Bristol Bears v Bath. Plus Failand, and other holdings that the Lansdown family has.

The new owners want to do a deal with company 'x' - so they invite the chairman / ceo, a well known Chelsea fan to Bristol via private jet. 

Limo to the penthouse suite on the top floor of the new hotel overlooking the Suspension Bridge. Dinner in the CBD - working lunch to talk business on Saturday morning - retire to luxury box to watch City v Chelsea.

All the deals can be tied up by the accountants and lawyers who lease suites in the new office tower (pp pending).

A one-stop shop.

Meanwhile - a 5000 concert in the Flyers arena, bars open, take-aways doing business (all in the pending plans) - quick clean up - Bears on Sunday, another concert Sun night.

During the week - there will be literally hundreds of spaces to rent for meetings, presentations, weddings - anything really in the stadium, offices, hotels, and stadium.

Thats what is for sale - not Bristol City.

And the attraction with City is only in the Prem.

To be sold for max gain for SL - BCFC must be in a solid, realistic position to go up to the Prem. The new owners will happily splash out, as TV money, sponsorship from multinational companies and interest in their own countries vis TV rights etc will be huge - plus quite simply, the exposure for the new owners will be enormous.

The big prem owners didn't buy the clubs for the football. They bought it for the business the exposure gets them, the non-match revenue, and as a place to do business.

And in the Prem - the TV and sponsorship covers most of the cost.

I hope that explains things much better.

It's not about BCFC - it's the whole package.

Buyers are waiting - relegation is not an option.

I know for a fact 2 other people know the names of 2 of the interested parties - they can step up if they want.  1 Chinese with a growing international presence in their field, 1 from USA, also known in their field but not one of the big players. Both looking to change that.

12 - 24 month time frame. All to be sold - though I believe the current owner wishes to retain a minority stake in the Bears. Source is impeccable, and is in the correct circles to know, been around since Harry and Marina's time - close friends with both and  attended Marinas birthday in July.

My take from that:

1) NP has been unwell - and much worse than admitted - for a while.

2) The club will give him time to decide his future, but before the Jan window so a new guy can do his own dealings re: players - so maybe 6 weeks time for a decision

3) The 'press conference' was to find a leak.  The leak has been found.

As far as SL is concerned - relegation is NOT  an option, any replacement will be of the highest calibre available - if they want to come. If NP is able to come back - he will be given as much backing as possible in the Jan window to stay up and push on next year. If NP is up for it, he will be given as much backing as LJ was.

Relegation this season is not an option for so many reasons.

I'm sure either way - we all wish NP the best moving forward

Those wishing ill of him, or suggesting it is all made up regarding his illness - give your bloody head a wobble.

2 hours ago, Wiltshire robin said:

Care to elaborate?

Not without exposing someone - so no.

Some of you might be surprised by what's on the way.

A few of you know.

The next 24 months will be huge - one way or another.

6 hours ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

No way pen

I have a horrible feeling HNM will be sold in January to fund a Striker, Mid x 2 and Defender from the lower leagues.

We'd have to take unders for Han - £7 mil perhaps - and then sit sadly and watch him have a wonderful career in the Prem.

Which he will.

Is he worth more - hell yeah (hopefully good add-ons will be written in) but buyers will know we are in big, big trouble and have to sell to buy.

I honestly have no idea on who we could sign - I don't watch enough lower league games.

But I would hope we can add £3 mil from the kitty @Davefevs - can we with FFP?

Then 10mil to buy us 4 players to keep us up and develop as they get older.

They would have to be 'up and coming' - I'd be furious to lose HNM to sign 4 x 29 / 30 yr old journeymen.

What a state to be in. The neglect shown to the footballing side of Bristol Sport borders on the criminal.  People say SL took his eye off the ball when the Bears started to do well.

No, for me, it was when he finally got his PP for the houses, apartments and hotels which was his goal all along. 

£150 million SL has spent - pocket change to the money flowing in from all those lovely new homes, offices and entertainment facilities. Apartments are what - £500,000 min each at the AG site while 2 beds appts at AV are selling for £275 - 300,000 each.

Do the maths - sell 300 homes / apartments and that's his cash back.  PP is for waaaay more than that. Plus the ongoing rental income from offices etc

Plus the freehold at AG - once our home. 

Not bad for £150 million.

But then again, as SL once said to my old man - it's all about the land, the football is my hobby, the land is my goal.

And so we find ourselves with an owner who has fufilled his financial aims, getting older, living away, and losing interest in BCFC.  And why wouldn't he. 

He's a businessman - job done - even retired from LH he is currently the 1205th richest person on THE PLANET - let that sink in - ON THE PLANET - with  $2.6 BILLION USD in the kitty 

Just for a laugh I looked up his interests / businesses - he made £4,000,000 YESTERDAY ALONE in investments. 

£4,000,000 in a day. My goodness.

https://www.forbes.com/profile/stephen-lansdown/?sh=20e936eb50b0

The Bears are winning with little hassle, the Flyers are just an excuse to build a multi-purpose indoor venue (PP made easy), and the employment he creates means the council eventually gives him what he wants to develop to rest of AG and AV.

Why would he then have much interest in a club that has been, frankly a failure all it's existence?

He's almost done with City. Nige is his last shot at giving a go with our club. 

Jan is crucial - this will be the last time SL will dip into his enormous wealth to fund players - and I'm afraid (to tie all this up) that HNM will have to be sold off if NP wants and extra £3-4 mil on top of HNM price.

Stay up and improve performances - SL will go again and will have one last huzzah at the Prem.

Go down, or struggle badly and NP walks - then SL is done with BCFC.

And there are buyers waiting.

I'd bite anyones hand off for a point and a committed showing.

4-4-1-1

Solid back 4 as possible

Massengo hopefully fit for this. Defensive midfield 4. Williams a chance to return. James unlikely.

Palmer as the 1

Wells central as solo forward to latch onto through balls.

I'd drop Martin and Weimann

OPTIMAL

Bentley

Tanner  Kalas Baker  Pring

Massengo Williams James  Dasilva

Palmer

Wells

Subs: O'Leary, Vyner, Bakinson  Pearson  Martin,  Conway, Simpson

LIKELY

Bentley

Tanner Kalas Atkinson Pring

Massengo Bakinson Pearson DaSilva

Palmer

Wells

Subs: O'Leary, Vyner,  Martin, Scott, Conway, Simpson, Benarous 

This is where we are as a club. People slating Nige should just look at the squad we have. Staying up would be a great achievement.

Did everyone forget Tanya?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanya_Oxtoby

8 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/08/almost-all-australian-lgbtq-high-school-students-hear-homophobic-language-at-school-study-finds
 

From that, it seems that there is a lot of hang up In Oz on sexuality

 

That's a sample of children. By Uni under-grads. In The Guardian.

Kids say things they don't understand.

Australia is incredibly gay-friendly. 

My son is gay and has had zero issues socially or at work.

I live here.   Sydney Red does too.

I can assure you that you would be pleasantly surprised should you ever venture to Australia.

I'll give you 10/10 for spending the time to go searching for an argument though. 

Off-Topic

I see one of their mods Gregsgas has passed away.

All Joshing aside, he seemed a decent chap, and the Rovers fans are clearly devastated - which tells you all you need to know I guess.  Too young, way too young.

RIP Gregsgas.

Times like these, the football comes second.

2 hours ago, CyderInACan said:

Top story! How is it now lockdown is over?

reached 70% total pop vaccinated - so now all over.

80% by next week.