The Constant Rabbit

That seems an .......excessive fee.

It genuinely scary how stupid they are.

The chairman has literally just told them that they will NOT own a ground anywhere for the rest of their existence (which won't be very long after this)....... Gasheads - when your Chairman is telling you that your club will be LEASING a ground - it means you will not own it.

The carnival barker will sell the Mem (are you listening you thick Pikeys) PRIOR to 'leasing' the 'new stadium' - and guess what Gasheads?

That means you are homeless the SECOND that lease runs out - why?

** Drum roll** - because your dodgy owner DOES NOT HAVE ANY MONEY!!!

The FM will 'fall over' - probably in less than 1 year after you sell the Mem to developers.

Wael (he's such a nice man) - will then announce that in the rush 'to get Rovers to the Prem' he overlooked the fact that the initial lease on the Mem was 24 months - or had a clause that it was 'for sale to any buyer with an offer over XYZ'

Then Gasheads - THIS will happen.........

1) Sell ground to developers.

2) Keep sale proceeds in his own bank account

3) Terminate lease

4) Announce (from the safety of the Middle-East) that he still has 'outstanding debts' which weren't covered by his lien on the Stadium, so any players of value have to be sold.

5) Rovers grovel for a ground-share, with a threadbare squad and no assets (even the 'club shop' has been flogged!)

6) Rovers get relegated

7) Rovers get relegated again out the League

 Bristol Rovers FC are liquidated, and sold to Joey Barton for a quid.

8 ) Rover are relocated to Tranmere and called 'Tranmere Rovers' 

9) Wally sits back in the ME, cashed up,sipping a pimms with Joeybag, and toasts to 'A job Well Done'

1 - 7 are inevitable, 8 + 9 are wishful thinking.

Make no mistake Gasheads - your club will fold within 5 years if this goes ahead.

Lived and worked in Bermuda.

They still love The Goat, suspect Wells will never buy a beer there again either.

Absolute shit-hole though - ii's not called the 'worlds biggest prison' for nothing. Dump of a place - all the nice bits have been bought by the rich - no access for locals.

5 hours ago, CiderJar said:

Talking of old slapper, if this one doesn't convince you to buy a season ticket I'm not sure anyone will...

 

 

Thought that was pretty good TBH.

Not sure the personal comments about the lady are justified either. maybe that's just me though.

Just now, Port Said Red said:

I think you have completely misread the situation to be honest.

I usually do.

As he has seemingly got his confidence back - would NP give him a second look?

Very unlikely I know - but if his form did stay vastly improved upon his return - who knows?

There's a player in there for sure - and NP is all about redemption - as long as you do what's asked of you.

Of course Massengo would WANT to change - and there probably lies the nub of the whole question.

On 24/01/2023 at 20:20, BigTone said:

Wife saw Dr on Friday only to be told her cancer is back and has possibly taken up in her liver also. She had a fall at home yesterday and has ended up in hospital so waiting to hear what the outcome is. Spoke to my Sister in Oz this morning as it is the anniversary of Mums passing and was told that Dad is failing rapidly.  Am due to fly over this weekend to see him but now is a quandry as to what I should do, go or stay here.  Life really can be shit sometimes.  

How are you doing Tone?

Make sure you look after yourself - the carer is often the forgotten one.

If it's any consolation - my wife of over 30 yrs was given 6 months to live with advanced cancer and a stroke (aged 42) 18 yrs ago.

She's still here, cancer free and managing to work a little bit when she wants to + do all the social stuff that's important. The stroke caused permanent disabilities, but 18 yrs remission from Stage 4 cancer just shows there is always an outlier.

Wishing you all the best in this awful time.

Seeing Massengo in there kinda show how far his career has slumped since that 10m euro bid in France.

Can't believe we can't move him on tbh.

8 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

The most well-meaning, but horribly backfiring, children's TV idea ever. 

Hopefully not made during your tenure RR 

1 hour ago, spudski said:

How embarrassing...

 

Obviously amphetamines are still the scousers #1 drug 

7 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

It was probably me that clipped those videos in the first place.  Far too easy to clip saves, I prefer a warts n all view!  Like Hong Kong Phooey coming out wasn’t he?  He’s got good reflexes and agility, but a lot still to hone / mature.

I saw a lovely highlights reel of Atkinson before he signed.  I watched the nit so good stuff too.  Gives you a better balance of his Ability.  I’ve seen how he has cut out those errors he was making at Oxford.  He’s improving.

I saw a lovely highlights reel of Tanner too.  I watched the not so good stuff too, there was loads of it…some of it quite harrowing .  He has really improved.  Further forward than I’d thought he would be after a injury hampered first season.

More like Desperate Dan mate

Right it's hit 40c (104f)

I'm pulling up stumps and quitting ebay stuff in my man-cave and off to recline with a good book. It's too damn hot, even with air-con to keep listing stuff online.

Later Dave, I'm sure there will be plenty to talk about after today - not least the Tolpuddle Martyrs heading down from the Three Lions!

29 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Yes, for where we are at the mo’…a bottom half (or worse) team.  When we come out of cost-cutting mode and start to move into improving the squad mode, I’m sure if his game hasn’t improved from being a regular, then we might need to replace.  It’s a bit of a compromise I’m afraid.  There’s always room to improve the squad though.

Boy would I like to go and get Iverson from Leicester, that’s a keeper to go 5-8 years with, but we aren’t in that game at the mo’.

Walton (currently at Ipswich) would’ve been a good recruit at the time we signed Bentley.

I really like Cooper at Plymouth, but he’s out of our price range.

I’d like to see Max with a couple of dominant CBs in front of him too.  I honestly think we are seeing a more decisive Max this season than we’ve ever seen before.  I used to worry when he played, now I’m comfy.

 

You see much more of him than me Dave - I respect your opinion on that. However in the 8 or 9 complete games I have seen - there is always a calamity lurking IMHO.

Oh well.

I'm sure we both agree Bajic is not ready - and won't be until he calms down a bit. Those clips from France - HooBoy!

I'm probably writing too fast to check I get my point across, whilst adding stock to my ebay store...but it's already 33c at 12.30pm - heading for a top of 39c

The aircon is getting a workout!

3 hours ago, The Constant Rabbit said:

Max isn't championship standard, he continues to flap away at a cross per game and has let in some absolute howlers.

However - if we don't play Bentley there is no competition.

 

Bajic is reckless.

 

Some of his 'highlights' from France were a train wreck - his 'coming out for a cross' often resembled a demolition derby - and that's if he got anywhere near the ball.

But (as always) - his instincts were spot on. He just needs to 'grow up' a bit - as in mature and keep calmer.

 

The ability is there - it's just covered in 'puppy dog' excitement - see ball - get ball.

 

In time - he will be one hell of a keeper.

 

But not here, not now.

 

We need a proven goalkeeper - a 3rd choice from the Prem maybe - for the remainder of this season and next, with Max as #2 if he wants to stay and fight again.

 

Bajic out on loan to Div 3 where he WILL play - and assess next season.

 

He's got something about him Bajic - I reckon he will come good.

 

If we can find the money for a new keeper - well that's the question - I'm guessing that's what NP is alluding to.

How is this hard to follow?

Max on exposed form isn't a reliable champ keeper. Too many blunders. Not convinced about holding crosses.

Bajic ain't ready - go look up his clips of French football.

Bentley seems to be off elsewhere.

We need a stopgap until Max or Bajic  is reliable enough to be a genuine #1 Championship quality keeper.

Do you guys think Max is a genuine Championship #1?

Genuine question.

Max isn't championship standard, he continues to flap away at a cross per game and has let in some absolute howlers.

However - if we don't play Bentley there is no competition.

Bajic is reckless.

Some of his 'highlights' from France were a train wreck - his 'coming out for a cross' often resembled a demolition derby - and that's if he got anywhere near the ball.

But (as always) - his instincts were spot on. He just needs to 'grow up' a bit - as in mature and keep calmer.

The ability is there - it's just covered in 'puppy dog' excitement - see ball - get ball.

In time - he will be one hell of a keeper.

But not here, not now.

We need a proven goalkeeper - a 3rd choice from the Prem maybe - for the remainder of this season and next, with Max as #2 if he wants to stay and fight again.

Bajic out on loan to Div 3 where he WILL play - and assess next season.

He's got something about him Bajic - I reckon he will come good.

If we can find the money for a new keeper - well that's the question - I'm guessing that's what NP is alluding to.

How LJ managed to get Djuric and Magnússon to city - and then proceed to get them to regress was beyond me.

The same guys have gone on to have really decent solid careers. 

Baffling.

I have a hobby buying and selling comics etc

Found these in a pile of indy comics - never heard of this before - anyone else besides me seen one?

Yup the cover story is about a football team in Div 3

Weird or what?

Well, my source on Baker tells me that Kalas has been 'available' for a while.

He's not match-fitness available, but injury wise, he is. I have no idea why his level of fitness is where it currently is.

The sentiment expressed to me was that he was fed up with things that happened  'behind closed doors' and was very happy to go.

Make of that what you will.

1 hour ago, BTRFTG said:

As publicised at the time City went pre-season to Botswana because, er, SL had business links there. No secret.

What's the next revelation? City went to Portugal because SL has a villa there; Latvia because it has a strong financial services industry?

If you seriously think City playing a couple of meaningless knock-abouts opens doors in high places in corrupt regimes you're miles off the mark. I can, from bitter experience, inform the majority of those in power in African regimes don't want CoD et al. They want piles of greenback dollar bills, something SL does have in surplus.

Seretse Khama Ian Khama - look him up - was kinda a big guy in Botswana (may well be again)...

If he gets off the charges that see him hiding in South Africa, I'm sure he will be a fine business partner again.  And loves Football.

Hey, if you are going to cosy up with dodgy dictators, may as well make it tax deductible with a football tour.

Nothing to see here. Move along....

3 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Putting FFP to one side I'm actually a little concerned about the loan arrangements.

They sound a bit onerous while we remain a Championship side. Of course IF SL keeps converting debt to equity or is happy and willing to keep us going then the Lion sleeps tonight to some extent.

@BigAl&Toby @NickJ @The Constant Rabbit

All posters who are sceptical to varying degrees in respect of Lansdown, interested in your take as 3 sceptics. Should we be concerned?

Print screens are a bit of a mess, will try and align a bit better.

No

Lansdown will keep the mill turning until the indoor concert / convention / basketball area is done, and then the feelers will go out again.

If we manage to become a top six side again, and show consistency then that's when SL is likely to pull the trigger IMHO

@Mr Popodopolous

If you want some fun - go check out SL and Botswana - ask why we went on tour - ask why the land that the Game reserve(s) sit on was specifically chosen. Start here: Mashatu Investment

Then ask - who in Botswana gained from it - and what role did they play in Botswanan Govt. Then, if you are really bored, cross over the heads of depts, to people on boards of various Pula / SL shelf companies involved with 'clean water' - you may find some names match.....

Lastly - mining in Botswana is easy - getting an exploration permit is not. Imagine if you were doing a humanitarian gesture by looking for drinking water and you just happened to find a vein of gemstones. Imagine.

Why all you'd need then is a sympathetic minister willing to change your exploration license. Who is football mad. Who also has some land going attached to a failing business. Imagine the odds on that ever happening. It's like saying the same fellow would get the contract to provide all the tourism / mining infrastructure too.

Nah, too crazy right? BCFC went to Botswana because..., umm, well....

Knock yourself out Pops, it will take a deepish dive, but you will find the answers.

Again, the amount of posters who cannot separate the losses of the 'football club' against the massive profits gained in RE holdings, non-sport events, and hundreds and hundreds of newly made freehold's on property is astounding.

No doubt the same people who think the Flyers stadium is for basketball.

£210,000,000 over 20+ years - incredible amount.

What's the interest made on £1,000,000,000,000 over the last 20+ years?

Because that's what Stephen Lansdown is worth - £1,000,000,000,000 - he is the 996th richest person ON THE PLANET (Forbes 2022) - let that sink in - ON THE PLANET.

£210,000,000 is 2/3 years interest on his assets - chump change, coins down the back of the sofa.

Look, it's his money, he earned it.

No lack of respect for that.

Wether he spent it well is a debate that will go on for ages.

BUT - we used to own this club, this land, and a bit around it. Now BCFC own nothing.

Yes Lansdown funds the club - but to say he won't make a huge profit on freehold sales, and the Ashton Vale entertainment / business complex when it's finished is naive at best, duplicitous at worst.

Potential buyers pre-covid weren't interested in BCFC - they were interested in buying a Prem-ready ground, with massive non-matchday revenues. 

Separate the football from the RE - and then you will see where SL profits.

For fun - ask yourself 'why Botswana'.....

3 matches on Foxtel in Australia (not City) - strange way of doing things.

I doubt many Australians have much interest in the Carabao Cup!

12 hours ago, Selred said:

About time in my opinion. 

 

A few years back and half the squad would have got a ban!

BTW - it's speed, not cocaine that causes the most problems with aggression.

After a good nights sleep......

That foul by Norwood ranks up there with one of the worst fouls I have ever seen not given.

Potentially leg breaking, career ending with deliberate intent - disgraceful.

I'm not one for retrospective action from the FA normally (except to overturn incorrect Red Cards) - but my god, if Norwood doesn't get some form of sanction against him, then there is no justice left in football.

An apology to Williams would be a good start.

I have no idea what goes through a blokes mind to make them want to break an opponents leg in front of 17,000 people, live on TV.

At the very least City should be asking for a 'please explain' from the FA regarding the refereeing over that 'tackle'.