Cidre Monita

2 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

We didn't throw much money at it did we. Was more accessible for one, but there is no magic formula. The big time for it was January 2008..Carle and Adebola okay but you really need a bit more, to fast track a few things.

As I remember it the Championship that year was a very poor standard and we should have gone up automatically for sure. I think Stoke invested about £6M in the Jan window which ultimately got them over the line. As you say we only brought in a couple of players for c£800k which wasn’t enough. It was the first indication for me that Lansdown didn’t fancy promotion and we only made the play-offs due to the aforementioned reason and Gary Johnson’s leadership. 

6 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Pre FFP...pre Parachute Payments being more decisive, Blackburn a bigger club historically, Sheffield Wednesday most definitely. 

So what we were doing pre-FFP and  parachute payments? Yo-yoing between league one and the Championship. 

5 minutes ago, Spike said:

I don't think this way because it's where I want us to be but the reality of it.

Every time this discussion is had one person is accepting and one is demanding. The accepting person takes my stance, the demanding one says "If Brighton can do it, why can't we?" which is a fair comment but they seem to ignore the multitude of teams who are all feeling the same way  and have failed to achieve the same. I mean for every Brighton there is a Sheffield Wednesday, QPR, Blackburn and many more. All three of those teams and many others could say "Well if Brighton can do it, why can't we?" but the truth is it's because there is a whole league system and for every "small club, big success" story there are a huge number more of it not working.

For the love of God this why we remain such losers because of fans like you. Do you not know that S Weds, QPR & Blackburn have all been in the premier league and Blackburn actually won the Premier league under Dalglish?!! They have all done a Brighton!!! 

8 minutes ago, pillred said:

Why is it that Leeds seem to beat us (not yet) no matter form or league position? we just don't seem able to get the monkey off our backs.

Because I believe we are psychologically weak. A very soft underbelly when facing the big clubs. 

8 minutes ago, Steve Watts said:

To be honest we don't need Downsy to have a sound system now....switching off the mic would be a massive start!

Yeah......you forgot to switch accounts with this reply....  Which makes your original post even more confusing?  Why set up a second account just to vomit on the keyboard?!?

Yeah my mistake not done intentionally regarding the account. Technical issue with system I was using last night. Not sure why my original post was confusing? As I say just a bit of light hearted fun really. 

11 hours ago, reddoh said:

Not sure what your agenda is but there are more important things in life than writing crap, unless you want to be a politician

But you read it. A bit of tongue in cheek fun my friend. I sincerely apologise my next post will be focused on more important things, as per your guidance. Keep an eye out for my agenda based threads on the Ukraine war, government corruption and child poverty in India. 

On 30/09/2023 at 11:54, chinapig said:

One of the guys from 777 Partners who want to buy Everton said recently that fans want to be monetised. That's the mindset of the game today.

Let’s see if that deal happens . There is a lot of baggage on the 777 side and a lot has to happen before they can complete. Plenty more Everton way too. Huge shame as new ground is wonderful. 

1 minute ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

I struggle to see how we have been a joke club in recent years and unaware that everyone laughed at Bristol City -a club with superb facilities and ground, no relegation and a brilliant record of youth players coming through - yes, also financial problems like about 60-70 other league clubs. Are you confusing us with Reading, Swindon or rovers etc?

Then you really have no clue about how our club has been viewed in professional circles these last decades . How long did it take to get those facilities ? Have you seen what other clubs have also done? How do our facilities , those that arrived just a few years ago , compare with Prem league clubs ? 
 

The icing on your cake is that you quote Swindon and Rovers. Yeah that’s the benchmark for a City like Bristol . Just with these comments you confirm why we have been a joke in professional circles. 
 

Unreal 
 

It really does appear that some posters on here were cheering for joy when Stoke got their winner . Just to be negative on here.  Most bizzare behaviour.

Excellent debate about the subs . Rather looked like a great move , the game was ebbing away from us. Cornick was excellent , yet few can bring themselves to say it. I struggle with the signing, but if he is good , he is good. He was damn good. More of that Harry. Well done that man. 
 

We missed Vyner , hugely . Who would have thought that 18 months ago? 
 

We should not lose games like today, it is frustrating. But we still look like a proper side, missing maybe some quality, but we have many constraints, so we have to develop. We are. If you watch football , live football , to be entertained , we were entertained . There were stories everywhere. We do not look a joke , players work damn hard , and they care . We also play some beautiful football at times . Young players developing , getting better . That’s enjoyable . We are no longer a soft touch , a holiday club . 
 

Oh and TC is coming back. That boy is going places. 
 

We will be in the play off mix , as will 12 other clubs . That is the league we are in. But no longer a joke club that everyone laughed at . 

Only a buffoon and imbecile would not have Nige signed up beyond the summer of 2024. 

The biggest gift the club have had since Alan Dicks. 

777 have spoken to multiple English clubs. 

The lunatics are running the asylum .

The club needs new owners. Fast. 

47 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I think you’ll find you’re wrong!

Lets take a rebounding club like Norwich as a fair comparison - PL turnover £133.9m (£57m in Champ).

ECB - £332m

You have to be a top 6 PL club to beat that!

Data from annual accounts (21/22) summarised below:

Does that change your mind having been presented with the facts.  I think I know which is the bigger job, even if City got to the PL.

Bristol City are currently 1/10th the turnover of the ECB!!!

Again appreciate what you’re saying but football is our national game followed by millions of passionate fans and has a much higher profile than cricket. If City had any serious ambitions I couldn’t see Gould jumping ship when he did. Not sure he would have been too bothered about Barbados with an away game at Old Trafford on the weekend followed by a mid-week away Euro cup tie at Inter Milan (I can dream!). If we were in the prem lots of people would know the name of Richard Gould - I doubt very much anyone will know the name of someone high up within the international cricket administration? I think being in the public eye is important to people of his ilk.
To summarise I think we can all agree that there is currently something fundamentally wrong with our club and the exit of Gould I believe was a by-product of this. If for example he were the CEO of Luton last year I’m not sure he would have left them when he left us? 

On 17/09/2023 at 18:24, Davefevs said:

Probably because he’s ambitious, because it’s a bigger job, and realised to fulfil those ambitions you can’t limit yourself to Bristol or Somerset…ie why he went to Surrey previously.

Appreciate what you’re saying Dave but I think that Gould would have stayed if he thought SL had any serious intentions of getting to the PL. Even at international level cricket is small fry compared to top level football and the money involved. 
Whilst we’re on the topic can you remember a tweet a few years back from Angus Scott (City fan/broadcaster & brother of Steve) saying that he had inside knowledge of what a basket case the club was under the Lansdowns and that we would never make the PL with SL as owner. I think the tweet may have been deleted quite soon afterwards?! 

41 minutes ago, One Team said:

Preferably its own forum! 

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/list/s100.htm 

 

Join the dots. Who owns both clubs and has been slashing the playing squads budgets? 

20 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

When Gould was here there was genuinely a pretty bad financial (FFP) situation. I don't believe the League would have responded well had we been more expansive up until the Semenyo sale. Him and NP did a great job in salvaging matters.

League had more restrictive powers for clubs who wouldn't play ball if there was a potential breach in future numbers, read up if you don't believe me.

Pretty sure I read in Bristol Live that Kieran Maguire the football financial specialist had commented that City had no FFP problems even without the Semenyo sale. I will try and find the article. Although I’m no forensic accountant my instinct at the time told me that a lot of what Gould had to say was spin as directed by his Lord and master. I did find it strange that Gould (a local lad) would up sticks after 18 months from a (seemingly) ambitious football club to take up a cricket position, albeit at international level. 
 

Covid aside the recent financial issues had much to do with Lansdown’s recruitment of LJ and MA. Lansdown failed to do due diligence on Ashton which if he did so would have known what a charlatan he was (courtesy the Watford Gazette). I find it quite galling that SL seems to constantly remind us how lucky we are to have him underwriting the debts which have to a large extent been due to his errors. 

1 minute ago, redkev said:

Just as we seem to be getting somewhere on the field with decentish performances and some progress with lowering wages and good mix of experience and youth and what seems like a good atmosphere / bond between players fans and staff all seems to be going pear shaped behind the scenes 

One man to blame for that. 

5 minutes ago, OddBallJim said:

Yep, I have to admit I’m struggling to see Phil Alexander anywhere at AG. He must be gone.

Struggling to see anyone there! I see the Bears are holding the mighty Ealing Trailfinders 12-12 at HT. Another Lansdown success story…

13 minutes ago, Henry said:

I’d have a lot of respect for him if that’s his reasons.

You don’t stay to tow the party line if you fundamentally disagree with it. 

Richard Gould only lasted 18 months in his most recent spell. It always looked to me like he was reading hostage statements to the media  regarding our (alleged) financial situation. He obviously saw behind the curtain and didn’t like what was going on and his ambitions took him elsewhere. The Lansdown regime is really starting to concern me now. 

1 hour ago, And Its Smith said:

Saw robins uncut golf day video. Lansdown and Pearson couldn’t even look at each other.  Oh my days. The hate 

Well, not sure that is true. After all, Nige, Tins, and the team got Sl out of a £50M plus  black hole of relegation and then added on the creation of traded talent (signed from the academy). SL should be building a statue of these guys. They got him out of jail. Yet he seems to struggle to give any credit. Those who know, know. We have never had such a competent team at the top. Just keep SL/JL well away. The basis of a proper club with genuine Prem credentials is being built, but there are still areas that need revision. It is vital you do not build around yes people, but around people who care, and have the ability and know-how. Let the people who know what they are doing, do their job. 

8 minutes ago, Selred said:

For context was Bears youth vs an almost full strength Exeter. 

Read the article, pal. They had a couple of first teamers playing, that’s all. Any other comments on the shit show that is Bristol Sport under Lansdown? How do you foresee the upcoming season for the 3 teams mentioned? 

Anyone notice that the Bears got battered 75-0 yesterday in a competitive cup game. They have released a lot of players recently and looks like they are now operating under similar financial restrictions as us. Pat Lam mentioned that it’s the smallest squad he’s ever had to operate with. There seems to be a common theme here - I wonder who the benefactor of the Bears is? Can’t quite recall his name?!! Don’t wish to sound negative but it already feels like our season is (barring a miracle) over given the small squad size and we will probably fluctuate between 10/18th place, or thereabouts. The Bears will be in a relegation battle which is amazing given where they were a couple of years back. The ladies I think will be totally outclassed and relegated with a couple of double-digit losses. If the aforementioned does happen let’s hope it puts more pressure on the Lansdowns to sell up. 

On 22/08/2023 at 15:03, Mr Popodopolous said:

Thank you.

That is pretty odd then, suggests to me that the full Atyeo may not be available verbatim?

Dolman holds at least 6k, I thought. Lansdown 11k, South Stand 6k?

https://web.archive.org/web/20230203170226/https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/sky-bet-championship/clubs/bristol-city/

Official EFl Capacity 26459 , which stacks up with the Man City sell-out and 800 seats not sold in the Atyeo. I think you will find the Lansdown is closer to 9000 , Atyeo 4400 , Dolman used to be 6700 , South stand around 6000 . Effective football capacity is 25700 . 

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

I guess there’s a fine balance between probing away and the interview being curtailed / edited.

I think the Lansdown tentacles spread a lot wider and deeper than we thought within the Bristol sporting media. From the interview comments it sounds quite clear that we are now in a managed decline with our 70 year old local billionaire owner having no intentions of ‘going for it’. This regime need to be made aware the fans will no longer accept them holding us back. This club and city are waiting to explode with some success and it’s so frustrating. 

25 minutes ago, Shauntaylor85 said:

Or indeed who are you? Thought this was supposed to be a progressive CEO appointment. How Richard Gould is being missed. Could say the same for Jon Lansdown. You can get a strong indication from the messages Tinnion likes on Twitter that the consensus outside of management and fans seem to be that we have a good squad and a positive window. How naive! Certainly feels the fans have no say or respect being shown especially when we are one of the most expensive clubs to watch at this level. 

I reckon he’s been given the heave-ho.