Cidre Monita

22 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

A good post but where we are getting 26.5k from? Was under the impression ground held 27k as a starting point and then work backwards from there.

Gould kept us in the loop quite well but people will have different views on this..it all feels a little rudderless on the exec side. A sense of drift.

Upper Lansdown would be nice but the kids area up there..directors Lower Lansdown hmm.

Fair point on the 1k from a financial perspective but to what extent does it give the opposition a major lift? Quite a good one IMO. Playing towards an end of your fairly noisy fans, across 3/4 of a stand, maybe slightly more. Mostly standing as a big group.

(Good luck getting them to sit).

Standing fans are on average I would suggest more likely to sing which in turn lifts their side and the two can feed off each other. If we got say 2 up first half hour, the equation would change drastically and their noise surely dissipates.

26500 is closer to the capacity, it seems to get rounded up.

Bristol Bears , no segregation, sold out with 26399 ( https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/record-crowd-set-bristol-bears-3428274 ) , Man City game sold out, with 800 seats not sold in the Atyeo, 25700 , game vs Preston this season, home area sold out, 1357 Preston tickets (out of 4400 in Atyeo) attendance 23330, suggesting agan 26373 would have been capacity. 

Not something I would comment on normally but it is an interesting topic as it is multilayered

AG capacity 26500, with 1000 for segregation in the Atyeo that becomes 25500 (what is the point of saying it is a 26500 capacity then? That is another story) 

You have to give 2000 to away fans. Will 1000 City fans go in the Atyeo? If not, then with the new rules on financial control the club has to increase revenues. It is essential. So if City does not need those 1000 seats, and the opposition does, it is income clubs should not be turning away today. It could mean the wages of another player over a season. 

Would it be better be for City to return home fans to the Atyeo and position away fans in the upper Dolman, or even upper Lansdown. The issue generally is that stadium design rarely has opposition fans' segregation factored in, which in itself is bizarre, but swathes of the black tarp are a testament to that. 

Returning home fans to the Atyeo would give City fans both areas behind the goal. The new South Stand is poor for support because the fans are in the corner, almost like an away game. They need to be behind a goal. Maybe the Atyeo could be the experiment for safe standing many crave and move the singing section back there. The club could lose matchday non ticket income as facilities are less developed, so it is a balance that needs evaluation. But the issues of away fans and the location of our home fans' singing section keep getting kicked down the road. There is no perfect solution, but a bullet needs biting it seems. 

Finally, why the clamour to have the Chairman or CEO talking? With very few exceptions, maybe MacAnthony (or Ashton) that does not happen at any clubs, bar once or twice a season. More important is a constant dialogue with supporter groups, fans, and customers (sorry but after being a fan, we are customers too) in all areas of the ground, as requirements are varied.  There are some very justified comments and feedback right now. The aforementioned fan locations, safe standing, atmosphere and, based on threads on here, kit quality/design, and the club badge. 

But for now, an extra 1000 away fans is needed for finances, until the City fan demand takes that away from them. Also, as correctly noted, a huge silent away following is one of the best experiences in football as a home fan. Better when they leave early. 

Recruitment, as in any business or sports team, is the most important activity.

Is Bristol City at the forefront of state-of-the-art recruitment? The answer to that is no.

The club were scared to follow Brentford, and more recently Brighton. The idea now, it seems, is to use Luton as the guiding light to our policy. A lot is made of data analytics, but if all you are doing is using the same data any one of us can sign up to and pay for access, how are you going to gain a competitive advantage?  What analysis models have we developed, with machine learning to manipulate data at speed and volume? Have we analysed successful players from other clubs to understand why they were recruited? Or what did the data of such players look like when they were below 20 years of age? Have we adapted to new visa regulations? Do we maximise the southwest network of fans and scouts who may have the club at their heart and can provide early tip-offs? Do we have specialist recruiters defined by playing position? (You do not ask for a player from a geographical or league perspective, you ask for an LB/CB/GK etc). Do we have anyone who has worked for or scouted Prem standard players? How many scouts do we actually have? Why do we recruit so few players from Prem academies compared to other clubs(not by paying £8m and £25k a week btw),Roberts a recent exception Do we have anyone inside BCFC who has worked for a club that has outperformed their relative budget by innovative recruitment? 

Looking from outside we are recruiting better from the puddle we are looking in. Most of that is from having a clearer input as to player requirements. By fast-tracking youth, we are developing and filtering players faster, but those coaches can only work with the players they are given. We are just looking at essentially L1/L2/Ireland and Scotland. But we are doing nothing innovative and groundbreaking or international. 

Whilst not spending the Scott sale to improve the squad is unfathomable, as a minimum some money needs to be spent on a complete overhaul of the scouting set up, and it is not Tins that needs changing.  It is nowhere near the level required, imagine that same set up preparing for a season in the Prem (if ever we got promoted) then it is clearly not fit for purpose when most squads are 20/30% British talent. It would be dramatically inadequate. To return to Brentford and Brighton, both of those success stories started with innovation in recruitment. There was a reason for that. 

Another in the long line of Bristol City self-inflicted mess-ups. The owner spent over £100m trying to justify why he thought LJ was a talent. We now have a decent side where you need some magic to define your credentials for promotion, and yet he pulls in the funding. It is a classic BCFC self-imposed cluster duck. We move from promotion hopefuls to also-rans. It is an idiotic decision, in line with a 25-year run of other idiotic decisions. There are times when you need to hold back, and times when you need to hold firm or expand. In these areas, we have been found continually wanting. There is no understanding of timing. 

So you ask a manager to decimate the wage bill, not spend money, and develop youth, and the one thing he asks is to keep the special talent, so we can get promoted. But no, you cannot spend money and we will sell anyone decent. There is a good reason why BCFC has never threatened the Prem. We expect to now do it by not spending money and selling any decent talent. Oh, and if we sell anyone, we cannot spend the money. 

This was THE season to keep Alex Scott, at least until Jan. There is a good reason why 52 , maybe 53 other clubs have been to the Prem and BCFC not. 

4 hours ago, Tricky Woo said:

Glad to help. I am the author of the Wedlock book. It is a very, very famous tune, called - originally - "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! (The boys are marching)" - from the American Civil War, 1861 - 1865. With the words changed of course.

More modern version - "We're on the march with Ally's army" (Scotland's 1978 World Cup song) and for a more modern version again, (which we could apply to Bristol City at Wembley, 1986, for example) - 

"We're on the march with Terry's army,

We're all going to Wembley -

And we'll really shake em up

When we win the............Cup,

And City are the greatest football team...."

You just apply the words "Play up, play up Bristol City" in place of "We're on the march with Terry's army"

and go on from there. David Woods (club historian) has the full set of 1906 lyrics in one of his books, though I can't remember which one off hand 

Darren Hurley.

Sorry to ruin your thread and misplaced theories, but the kit deal had absolutely nothing to do with the current CEO. 

You will need to blame someone else. 

Surely a change to a club badge/crest should be voted by the supporters? It is an integral element of club identity and history. 

This link details our kit colours, and badge history. How we have toyed with a coat of arms, various robin designs on a football, with or without the suspension bridge. 

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Bristol_City/Bristol_City.htm

30 minutes ago, Not Banksy said:

All I'm saying is.. It was common knowledge that Richard Gould was off to the ECB long before it was officially announced.. meaning we would have been sounding out new CEO's for a while before he left.

Watching the video put in the thread previously regarding Elite sports group (Spencer FC and Hash Tag Utd), this process would have aligned with the time we would have been undergoing finding and appointing a new CEO.

My point is... Is it not a possibility that while these issues were happening with E.S.G and we were searching for a new CEO, this issue would have been brought up in conversation? To me there just seems to be a lot of coincidences for this not to be a possibility.

You are correct.. this could be 'absolute nonsense and false' I was just making a suggestion... but like the last time I mentioned this, does anyone have anything else to disprove my theory other than shutting it down with a one liner with nothing to back it up.

(If so I will happily shut up about it hahah)

How many years did Crystal Palace use O'Neils ? 

Any serious CEO, faced with a change of kit supplier, would have gone through a tender process to determine the most appropriate supplier. Alexander arrived well after the decision was taken. You are talking total nonsense without any foundation or fact. You have no theory, it is not aligned with reality and is pure fiction. The Chairman decided on the supplier.  Ask him. 

1 hour ago, Not Banksy said:

I did back along... deal would have been done before he started.. but.... theres no way when Alexander initially started meeting with JL and co he didn't suggest O'Neills when JL mentioned that they needed someone else after Hummel's supplier were causing issues. To big a coincidence not to have happened.. Literally no other teams in the football league use them and we have a new CEO who worked with them for years. 

Absolute nonsense and false. The Chairman made the decision well before the CEO arrived. Any regular business would have gone through a tender process. 

1 hour ago, Cardy said:

Given his undoubted talent I genuinely believe that Nige & the team must have seen some sort of flaw. Whether that be physical, mental or character we will never know but somewhere along the line Nige has lost all faith in Kane ever making it at a top end Championship club.

Either that or he was just a cheap punt at the time that once seen close up we have then decided he will never possess the required defensive side to his game.

Shame really because we all thought he was one hell of a signing 12 months ago.

He did not meet or had the desire to meet, our new standards. A good move for him, to a very notable club. He now has to deliver or his talent will be wasted. Great to see BCFC is no longer the cosy club. 

1 hour ago, Jimbo123 said:

From what I've seen of him.

Twine scored more in his last season in League One just from free kicks than Alex Scott has in his career.

I think Scott's going to have a great career, but anyone who's watched Scott and Twine will acknowledge Twine currently is a better footballer.

Did you see him play in the Championship last season? I know many who have seen Twine last season and they do not agree with your view he is better than Scott. In fact, far from it. A game of views of course, but your statement anyone will acknowledge Twine is currently a better footballer is incorrect. It might be your view, which is fine. But it is not a fact. 

31 minutes ago, Jimbo123 said:

I don’t blame for asking for £25m but we won’t get it. If that means he stays here then so be it, but I think it’d be beneficial for the club to sell him and invest in other areas.

Yes I agree, but he is currently a better player imo. Scott will have a much better career though.

What do you base your evaulation of Twine on? 

14 hours ago, Bcfcshags said:

1.5million offer on the table from us. Other clubs in for him 

Why on earth would you put in the public domain information that may damage potential recruitment? 

Whoever is feeding you this information will be known at the club, and will put them under severe pressure. 

Everyone likes gossip, some fun, but if true, this is damaging not helpful and just stupid. 

And some called Nige a dinosaur. Keep up everyone, positional flexibility (ask Pep ), and also add physical power, stamina, and pace (the basics today- Kompany explained this at our last match of the season), are the current direction. Back to Total Football. Heck, even Ted Lasso worked that out. 

Of course, losing a player with the attributes and ability of Scott can completely change how we can or will play and the impact of any incoming players. Such is his importance and ability to make a difference in the overall footballing result of a  Championship side. A player such as Scott, at Championship level, can be the difference between success and being an also-ran. The most ambitious transfer (or not) City can make is to keep Scott for 12 more months. City need him . He can leave next summer if we are not promoted. Risk and rewards on both sides. 

Solid signings so far in the context of our budget and general club direction. 

Interesting summer.

2 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

Sorry to have another thing to mention. Someore info on our pitch as installed.

The Desso brand pitch that was installed in Ashton Gate is not in any respect an artificial pitch.

An all grass pitch has one big weak spot in that any time the grass is kicked, it's possible that the grass roots are lifted out. Thus the bare patches that were there for decades since I started watching.

The Desso at Ashton Gate is grass into which, there are 20cm lengths of polypropylene strands, in other words a synthetic piece of string, that are inserted vertically into the grass, 2cms apart in both directions. The purpose is for the grass roots to entwine into. This minimises the "kicking up" of grass w roots which as previously stated, kills the grass. With this Desso type, the roots will grow more grass to replace the damaged tuft. Hence why we had and will have again, what a Bath rugby fan called a billiard table.

I also understand that the undersoil heating is solely to keep the ground temperature high enough in very cold weather, that the grass will continue to grow. Maybe the extreme cold weather in November/December with night temperatures much lower than we've had for a very long time, was a significant factor in the deterioration of the pitch this season.

Just to clarify. Desso brand is a fully synthetic pitch (https://www.dessosports.com) Desso Technologies developed the hybrid system as used at AG (Grassmaster and Playmaster are the brands https://www.grassmastersolutions.com/en).  The owner of the technology is Tarkett who has been making all sorts of flooring and coverings, long before sports pitches.  There are others who supply similar hybrid solutions. 

In any case, the AG pitch started looking worn before the normal lifespan of a Grassmaster pitch. Grounds professionals can best explain why. Usage, recovery time, drainage, light, air, sun etc all good horticultural factors. 

25 minutes ago, TinMan's left peg said:

Desso pitches have a lifespan of 15 years I think? When was ours installed? 

A Desso pitch is a full artificial pitch used for indoor training or outdoor high usage, it is a brand there are others who perform similar (SIS for example). Most top pitches are a hybrid system and indeed ordinarily would give over 10 years of service. Most prem clubs use this. The technology options have changed a little since we installed ours but these pitches are a mix say 5% artificial fibre with 95% grass. When AG was installed, if you could imagine a hair transplant sewing device, a machine inserted each fibre, slowly moving across the pitch area at slow speed, threading in the fibre to a mesh. This is very slow and makes it hard to repair any worn areas, though durability is seen as a prime attibute. AG looked worn out last season. 

Maybe we will move to the alternative technology where you can grow the grass off-site, and then bring it in and roll it out. This is particularly useful for dual use where goalmouths get worn and certain rugby areas from scrummage. This is used more and more by many top clubs. It would reduce the lifespan, but be more flexible (you can repair rapidly) and reduces install time. It is pretty sure the media team will update when work begins.

A considerable expense in any case. Though nothng beats the Spurs pitch cost and design. 

6 hours ago, Nugget said:

Have heard that the loan back for a lower transfer fee is the clubs preferred choice too, it’s just so rare these days & Alex is ready but maybe another season with Tommy and co could sway him if we reinforce early and well

Where have you heard that from then? Who in the club is suggesting this scenario? What does Alex think about this option? 

Some real fantasy football manager on this thread right now. 

A really great guy and an outstanding player. He lost his way recently, but if there is a management team to get him back on song, Nige, Curtis and Jason are it. If he slots in ahead of Pring, then we will have one of the very best, if not the best on the left-side playing option of any team in the Championship.

Would be a great start to recruitment this summer. Joe will not recognise the club he left behind, it is transformed beyond recognition. 

9 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

We continue to talk about it for the reason highlighted. 

We've seen this script before...

Indeed. That was mentioned for a reason. We got promoted from L1 by signing a certain type of player, then when we got some money went feral and lost it. Again. The point is, we cannot keep talking about the past and trying to make people who failed, appear to have been successful. When they were not. They did not create any legacy or platform. Far from it. But equally, it is energy lost to continue talking about it now. We have cleaned the decks, and have got the club in a greater condition to progress. we now understand what a team that might make the Prem looks like, rather than making it up with people who had no idea, there is now a platform. It is time to look forward. Irrespective of who the manager may be, we are in a far better place to attract better professional people on and off the field to become a Prem side. It is what we do next that matters but we must stick to the plan.  There is a reason why 50 plus clubs have been in the Prem and we are not one of them. Many of those weaknesses have been addressed, and it is now time to build and look forward. 

Meliora

Why are we wasting energy still talking about the past, when finally we have a club looking to the future, clear of the nonsense, with a clear philosophy and strategy? At last. The club is finally preparing itself to go to a higher level and the foundations are now in place that will serve us well for many years to come. As long as we stick to the plan. 

Meliora

Geoff has been an excellent broadcaster for local sports, particularly football, and is respected by managers, players and fans alike. He will be greatly missed. Thanks for all the dedication and hard work over the decades Geoff. It just won't be the same. 

An outstanding achievement by Lauren and the team. They have really rocked it this season and deserve their collective success—the start of something extraordinary. 

3 hours ago, spudski said:

It's his distribution I like. If we continue to play on a counter style he looks ideal. Add to the fact he's a good shot stopper, agile, 6' 4" and has presence.

What do you think about the clips with all his errors?