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I’ve been down to Home Park twice on a Tuesday before and both times we sold out our (smaller) allocations.

Excellent post. Rather than leaving a legacy, I’ve long suspected SL prefers the idea of being the richest man in the graveyard.

Sean definitely went to Gordano; I played in the same Sunday team as him about 15 years ago. I think JL went to QEH or BGS.

A lot of truth in that. And to add, the only executive he did give freedom to recklessly racked up costs without a care in the world. We share the same opinion on him!

Not from me, Rob. I was under no illusions as to the job NP faced. Like my opinion or not, I’ve been consistent in wanting the Lansdowns out for many years now. While grateful for the infrastructure, we will never achieve anything with them at the helm. And by anything, my aspiration is to see us in the PL before I die. 31, nearly 32, years of support and waiting.

Pisses me right off that finally things are moving in right direction on the pitch, but off the pitch it’s a complete and utter shambles. Lansdowns out.

I didn’t warm to PA but I suspect this is another damning indictment of SL’s reign. The sooner he goes, the better

Two Bears players (Luatua and Vui) played for Samoa yesterday

Class challenge, definitely; certain goal? I’m not so sure. Thomas-Asante is hardly prolific or proven at this level..

Two things from me: 1) He worked the keeper into a reaction save, so it was a decent save IMO. Had he failed to test the keeper, he’d be more deserving of the pelters he’s getting now. 2) And this is the bigger point, the game should’ve been sewn up by half-time had we taken any of the previous chances we passed up.

Definite technicalities, but we were chasing Bryan in May and he would’ve commanded top dollar so the budget - supposedly set in March - was obviously there for him and Roberts. My question is why weren’t those funds used to add one or two more before deadline day, especially if the cash was there for Bryan (and to a lesser extent Thomason and Murphy). That says to me the goal posts were moved and this strict March budget is a load of retrospective shite made up to fit the narrative IMO.

Well, I didn’t know the deal for Roberts was all done and dusted as soon as the window opened as I thought we were chasing Bryan at that time and Roberts was Plan B. Clearly the budget was there to sign both of them, which flies in the face of this strict March budget.

I saw the peloton three times that day after riding down to Cheddar and seeing them go up the Gorge, then over to LA and watching fly past opposite the Miners’, then I dashed over to the Downs to see them roll in. A really enjoyable, and much colder, day. Alaphillipe won the stage that day after breaking away on Providence.

And surely if SL had a manager who achieved those goals, he’d be keen to praise those achievements and secure his long-term future… ?

He’s hardly speaking with clarity, is he? It’s a massive contradiction or move of the goalposts; call it what you will.

I can’t see Howe leaving Newcastle any time soon, and can Potter command the respect of the very best players? He’s got a lot to prove and I’m not so sure.

I’m in the “we will win nothing with Southgate” camp as he’s tactically naive and too loyal to certain players. I don’t know who would do a better job, mind.

Nepotism, just like Tinnion, Millen and LJ before Holden. More jobs for the boys or those he can manipulate without them speaking up. I think it all stems from that trip to FCB, personally. SL has tried to copy that model as much as he can, but the major difference is that FCB’s players who go on to manage them have experience at the very top level and know what it takes to win. The same can’t be said by our internal apportionments.

And it’d be easier for you to have got to Nevil Road from Thornbury back in the day - but I won’t go there! ?

I definitely fee your pain. I used to love the Jessop Tavern, singing about the chicken in the glory days of the late ‘90s or early ‘00s. I lament what we’ve become post-pandemic. During the lockdown season, under Harvey and Alleyne, we had identity and momentum. All of that was undone with the decision to dispose of them for Benkenstein. And there are parallels with City and Nige IMO. I don’t understand how people who’ve grown up in Bristol can support a county 40+ miles away. I support my local teams - City, Glos, Bears. Simple as that. @And Its Smith Awful news, cherish those memories and I hope you pass on the love of cricket (Tests in particular!) to your boy.

Fair point; I don’t disagree. What’s he got to do for a genuine promotion push? Be backed by an ambitious board. By backed, I mean give him enough of the Scott cash to get one or two players of real quality in and try to keep your best players for a little while longer. Nothing wild like the spending sprees under LJ. Nige has signed enough players who have improved us to warrant that IMO. My early season optimism of a top-10 finish was based on the increasing likelihood of Scott staying until January or there being funds to replace him, borne out of “what football makes, football can spend”. I definitely think Nige would’ve spend the vast sums afforded to LJ a heck of a lot better, but we will never know.

Who’s the non-established player you refer to? LJ’s two most successful signings were Brownhill (free) and Webster (£3.5m). There was a LOT of dross among that. The point @Kid in the Riot makes about a pre-COVID market is a valid one, as Nige has had nowhere near the resources (transfer fees, wages etc) available to LJ. But part of that was the pandemic, part of that was profligacy. I actually think the pandemic exacerbated the mistakes of LJ/MA.

Beat me to it. LJ was shopping at M&S, Nige is shopping at Aldi. And LJ was able to tap in to the European market pre-Brexit, so a comparison is pointless.

They have similar at Schalke as well. Their retractable pitch goes under one of the main stands and sits outside, though, so it’s open to the elements.

Excellent post. For me, Nige has been as straight as a dye with us whenever he’s been interviewed and I have no doubt Tinnion has the club’s best interests at heart. The fact both of them were singing off the same hymn sheet speaks volumes. Reading between the lines, I think it’s pretty clear the goalposts have been moved since March and there were not two separate budgets set in March (one with Scott, one without). What I also found interesting is that PA insisted it was a risk for SL to bring in four players before we received the Scott cash, completely ignoring the £10m we brought in from Semenyo. PA also made is very clear IMO that SL is responsible for every decision, right down to the details of the Scott deal. SL is misleading people and cowardly dodging explaining his rationale. Either that or he’s losing his marbles. If he no longer wants to invest, he can’t sell up soon enough IMO.