robinforlife2

No, as said, we need to spend 8-10 years selling at least one prized asset for 10m+ every 18 months to 2 years. In doing this the club will reach a point where it is sustainable and not operating at catastrophic losses. In doing this, we will have built a bank or nest egg, which allow us to have a proper crack at it over a couple of seasons, where other clubs may not be able to do so, as they have gambled and lost. Because the money would also be from being sustainable, it would not have a adverse reaction like it did after LJ and MA's time at the helm. The other alternative, is that the club comes into money via investment and links. Lets look at it this way, It costs £3,500 to sponsor a match at Bristol City, which generates 80K a year for the club. A client of mine sponsored a match at Leeds this season and it cost him £12,000. So there's a huge different in money the club makes from corporate clients, to leading clubs in this league. Brighton a club previously mentioned, had Amex a stadium sponsor at £10m a year for 5 years, and this is a lucrative deal. If we attracted a big investor who represented a big company, we could equally do such deals, which add more money into what we can spend. However, this won't happen whilst Lansdown is our owner, so route one of gradual progression and in a long period of time, be financially positioned to go for it.

Brighton, also have Tony Bloom, a self made Billionaire and the heir of American Express through marriage! Those links have seen a stadium funded by sponsorship, and a big kick into the American Merchandise market. Like I have tried to say before, the wealth of an owner is not the only important thing, but the links they have and bring with it. We have a passionate local Billionaire, but he's brought no friends and links to the party to bring in outside money and help us build better. SL may be wealthier at present than Tony Bloom, but Tony, is far more resourceful and connected, than SL will ever be.

Luton have sold their best players many a times, but have players on next to no money. For years Brentford, Brighton and even Palace were selling clubs until they got to the Premier League and Brighton are still a feeder for top six clubs.

We are already running at 20m loss avg each year, there is no space to expand that, we need sales to comply. A turnover of 36m is one thing, but that includes sales and investment, ticket sales, tv rights, the lot. Remove the big sales every couple of years and we breach FFP.

Where did I say that we shouldn't even try? People are complaining we have to sell our best assets and that we should keep them. The fact is, without a sale every couple of years, we would breach FFP, we can't recruit quality, as we can't justify the wages. It's not about trying, it's about living within our means. We financially can't compete with the teams that have been in the top flight in the last three years and other sides who generate higher income than us. If we sold out 27K every home game charging £40 a ticket, that brings in 25m a year in revenue, but the fans would whinge and say its too expensive. You either want us to use the model we have to, to survive and hope to get lucky, or the club needs to make money to be able to increase the spend. So, do fans want cheap seats for kids, cheap games and members offers, or do they want sky high ticket prices to justify bigger budgets. You can't have everything. We are not an attractive revenue stream sadly. There isn't mass following or mass merchandise sales and our tickets are generally quite reasonable and we look after the younger supporters. We have to sell to survive or to fund the next influx. Maybe if we have 8-10 years of selling a player for 10-15m+ a year, and we don't spend much of the money, then in 10 years there could be a pot to go for it for a couple of seasons without risking financial ruin, but its not about trying, we just aren't financially able to compete.

Can't see it ever happening. If we get there, it will be striking it lucky via the playoffs. We're not set up to be challengers at this level, and we don't have the infrastructure to either.

We are not on the cusp of promotion !

Disagree. Let's put it like this. You are doing a job, you are happy in that job, but another job comes along. That job is going to 3x your salary. Now you come and speak to me, and I tell you don't worry about that fancy new job, within 2-3 years you will be in the same position here and on that money. You are not going to wait. Something could happen in a weeks time, which means that opportunity may disappear forever. Players don't really care who they play for, they just want to be in the top flight and on big money. The likes of Leicester are paying Premier League wages in the Championship and will be back there very soon. For that reason, the majority of players didn't wish or need to leave. We are not even close to knocking on the door, so there is no way we can say to these players, sorry we're not selling you. All you then end up with, is unhappy players, who if you stand in their way, will run a contract down and walk for nothing. If that happens, the fans would be fuming at the owners and manager!

It won't be Westlife. I'm in their main fan club, whilst lead singer for a Westlife Tribute act, and have seen them 53 times. They are touring America this year. Spice Girls, Cher & Rihanna are strongly linked to be headlining Glastonbury with one due to be announced soon, so I think it will be one of them three as a warm up. My monies on the Spice Girls as it's their 30th year, and VB has been seen with the girls lately in studios. So they are definitely touring this year, and an announcement is due soon. The Spice Girls at the Gate would be huge.

I need some love like I never needed love before .......... Warm up for Glastonbury perhaps ......

Games crying out for Nahki.

Although that wouldn't have been huge even if it was, given he only had 8 months left. 250K maybe ?

If looking to move on players so we can fund incoming players, I would consider loaning out Roberts, Bajic, and Bell. They would all benefit from game time and experience, at present we can't offer. Depending on what Manning wishes to do re Andy King, we could consider releasing him early at a cut of his wages, if Manning doesn't see him as part of the squad. I would personally look to sell Cornick. I'm not saying he is a total dud, but it's not working for him here, he is clearly 4th or 5th choice, and he will be taking up one of our bigger wages. I would add a Keeper, Left Winger and experienced striker, the former and latter potentially on loan.

Max is capable at this level. No he is not one of the best keepers in the league, but he does a job. We don't need a replacement for him, we need competition for him. Tanner is solid at this level, we have bigger problems than him. You want to replace a Premier League winning experienced good egg, who is often one of our best players, with a 27 turning 28yo who has never kicked a ball at this level and would cost equally as much on wages. No ta. Tommy isn't getting the service, but can score goals at this level. Again he is not a problem We need a cover keeper, an attacking left winger, and maybe a striker to complement what we have. By removing 4 key team players, you are creating a bigger problem and not solving one we haven't solved! I'll bite, see above

In other news Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden in the presidential election.

In order to sell something, you have to have it in stock in the first place ............................

I wouldn't say he wanted a draw, he wanted a clean sheet! Huge difference. They may have been in a slump, and many people don't rate Rooney, but for all our possession we created little, and they frustrated us. They had chances to nick it as well, and until our flurry in injury time, for the last 15 minutes, they looked the more likely to score. Whilst it was not a good performance, it wasn't a bad result all things considered, and I would hardly say their approach to the game was embarrassing. They had just had three heavy defeats and wanted to stop the rot, which they did, nothing embarrassing about that.

Played okay. Point gained. Birmingham defended very solidly, didn't give us a route through. Nothing wrong with a point away from home.

Surprised Wells subbed for Conway. Wasn't having a bad time. Can only assume it's time management having come back from injury.

Wouldn't hook Mehmeti yet. We're controlling the game, but Birmingham are defending solidly. If we keep at them, they will tire. Mehmeti should have left his second chance for a Nahki tap in, but possibly Nahki didn't shout, although he definitely shouted at him after his header went wide. Pring is doing a good job on that young lad Donovan, who looks a decent player. If we get one, I think we'll get two or three. Just have to stick at it, and it'll come. No need to hit panic buttons yet.

Nope, there are a few on here, who were not sorry to see Pearson leave, and knew the squad was never the issue.

Merry Christmas, hope everyone has a lovely day with loved ones, and if your loved ones are no longer here, be sure to know that they are watching down on you with all their love.

No analytical chart? I'm disappointed.

I'll post on X for Christmas Oh, I can't wait to see those faces I'll post on X for Christmas, Yea Well we've won two back to back And it's been too long But I will say I don't rate Andy King, It's True, I've got ole Nige the Sack But I'm CEO I'll post on X for Christmas

41, knows plenty about our history, never been dropped from a great height. Like I said, I appreciate very few would have wanted Holloway cause he was ex Rovers, apparently hates us and so on. But he played in the 80s and 90s where players often said things to antagonise. I was very fortunate about 6 years ago to spend an evening in Ian's company. I had said to him I was a City fan and we had a bit of banter, but he was genuinely such a nice bloke. It was at a charity event, and he spoke with such passion for the area and even said he would love to see a Bristol team in the premier league. I think he mellowed after his playing days and I actually think he was very decent as a manager with the majority of clubs he was at. I'm not saying he is someone we would have ever hired, or ever would hire, but I don't think it would have ever done us any harm having a pantomime villain at the helm.