RedRock

Cracking game this. Quite outstanding goalkeeping at both ends. 1-1.
 

Do you know what? I hope Steve listened to that and thought, at last, I’ve appointed a really intelligent, savvy manager capable of realising my dream. 

I then hope he decides, I’ll give this Club until I’m 75 to realise my/our dream. I’ll support Nige, not by throwing stupid money at the ‘project’ but enough to get us there. No ownership/control sell-ups, no major interference, just let this guy get on with the job in a calm, measured way.

Daft after spending all that money, that now, with most of the pieces of the jigsaw getting into place Steve decides he wants to walk away.

A real, real shame, in part as I don’t trust either US or Arab money, but also because the story of a Bristolian made good and investing in his local club has a romance to it and needs a proper ending. 

Cracking press conference … some excellent questions and superb, informative answers from Nige. 

We are lucky to have Nige.

So….this Gavin Marshall chappy, never heard of him previously ….but, if I understand this new structure correctly, is now CEO of all Bristol Sports Clubs and Bristol Sport assets.

Struth, quite a remit. Possibly manageable for someone with vast experience in the sporting and property sphere, but from a quick check doesn’t look like he has that breadth or depth of experience.  Maybe, though he’s an absolute genius and we’re lucky to have uncovered such a star of the business/sporting realms. 

Assume he’ll be introducing himself to us all and explaining just what’s going on with our Club and delivery of Steve’s vision for Bristol Sport, including progression the arena et al.

Hopefully, he will be a breath of fresh air. Could it be he’s a super talent at communication and sorting out sporting clubs commercial/retail operations, let’s hope so. Maybe we will have a CEO that wants to engage with his ‘Customers’, be informative and be there in the bad, as well as good times. 

Looking forward to the ‘big reveal’ sometime soon …on the other hand pigs might fly. 

A bit baffled, as it’s pretty clear we need more business experience at the top, not less. Think it is also highly desirable to have a ‘buffer’ between the football/business side and the ownership, a function that the CEO performs. Can’t imagine that Steve would want to devote more time to the Club as this new structure would seem to demand. 

Can only speculate, as others have done, that someone is very close to taking control of the Club. 
 

Got to say that Nige is being very diplomatic and compliant over the last few weeks. Impressive from someone who has demonstrated short fuse behaviour in the past. Hats off to him.

Hopefully, those at the top of this new structure will quickly adopt a new communications strategy, as well as encouraging Nige to sign a new contract. 

1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Agreed.

It's so frustrating following this club tbh. Thinking about this the other day.

There are times when we have 2/4 elements in place and the other sides flawed or chaotic.

In the past we were willing to throw money and lots but at a manager who wasn't suitable. The academy was definitely on an upward trajectory but not as productive as now but we did produce. (The Johnson and Ashton era). Then a number of players here in that time we didn't get the best of etc..whereas a more experienced manager may have.

Now we have a Manager and Technical Director but especially NP who has a strong track record and we switch the taps off. Mad! Precisely the wrong time.

We lost one excellent CEO in Gould, can't be helped- Alexander a bit meh IMO but who knows whether he had stronger views behind the scenes but was thwarted.

It's infuriating. We have a number of boxes ticked and yet..some needless uncertainty over manager, overspending in the past That could have cost us dear and now a major overcorrection when we have a manager who can make the most of resources.

We just have this unerring ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

It’s a Bristol thing. It’s what we do. 

All very bizarre. 

Just don’t understand what’s going on. That ‘dead bat’ interview of Radio Bristol, an ultra-low profile, the parting statement referencing solely Nige and Brian - it’s all very suspect. 

Think with the Lansdown’s you have to tread a very delicate path. Gould got it just right. Ashton played a blinder and treated them like royalty - but just for his own interests. Alexander, I suspect, was too strong-willed. 

Quite where this leaves Nige I’ve no idea. If the Lansdown’s wanted him out, they had the opportunity after that West Brom match around Xmas. They stood by him though. If Nige wanted out he could just walk. 
 

Let’s just hope there is a plan and that Nige and Brian are signed to it.  Need some clarity soon before the Club becomes unsettled. 
 

6 minutes ago, Street red said:

Exactly right that statement was rushed and to me made up crap. Why wasn't anything sent out in the media yesterday and it beats me that no media knew anything? 

Suspect they didn’t want any distractions on match day and were hoping the story wouldn’t break over the weekend. Probably would have targeted Monday for the press release.

Not sure he ever seemed a particularly good ‘fit’ with us. Whether that was because he was being tightly controlled from above or it was his own modus operandi, I suspect, we will never know.

Anyhows, can only hope Gould has had second thoughts about his dream cricket job  and wants to come back. If not, Gould set the bar and we need to match, preferably, exceed his qualities/abilities.

There is a lot to be optimistic and excited about Club and Bristol Sport-wise at present. So like us to cock it up, just as we’re on the verge of something special though! 

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Indeed.  That’s is definitely a possible rationale, isn’t it?

 

What could’ve been better?

Maybe a simple Comms along the lines of - we’ve (Club / O’Neils) have had to work together at pace to get the kits ready.  To deliver quickly we’ve had to use an in-stock shade of yellow on the socks, but this will match the shirts when production settles down.

We (the club) are either mute or reactive.  Why not be proactive?  You cut a lot of noise that way.

Agree. I’m not in their trade … but would have thought if you have 24 shirts of one colour you would have 24 socks of the same colour. Basic stock control. Lummydaze, you could have walked into any branch of Sports Direct and managed to get some matching kit in those numbers at the time.

As you say, a little communication goes a long way. Struggling to understand why they don’t communicate as constant criticism damages the brand name.
 

I think the evidence points to O’Neills being an issue, as well as our own designers.

The mis-match between the piss coloured shirt and mustard coloured socks was just unforgivable for a professional outfit. I just can’t believe the designers could have looked at a colour chart and ordered two different yellows. So that error/supply issue has to be on O’Neills. A supplier of kit to a Downs League side would have been embarrassed by that tbh.

4 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

 

This all feels a little Lee Johnson and his formations. Lots of ideas, but no focus. Just feels messy.

 

Yep, ‘rhythm and flow’ a key element of good design. Does make me think the kit designers have been on very elementary design courses.

May be it’s just a Bristol thing. Always thought it bizarre that Bristol Design Guides for key sites were prepared without reference to their context. Consequence, you end up with a hotchpotch of buildings cheek by jowl, leading to a confused townscape lacking identity, with individual buildings competing with each other for attention. 
 

Same principle applies to our shirt range. Just a very random collection of designs  some ok, others not.  

18 minutes ago, Mendip City said:

Glad someone else feels this way. They are just wrong. 

Not keen myself and think they make it more difficult to pick out players.

That said, the ‘All Blacks’ clearly find there to be no disadvantage in wearing a solid black kit. 
 

Always thought our white shirt/black shorts away kit looked smart.

25 minutes ago, lenred said:

Lansdown Junior has moved onto charcoals then.   Big step up. 

I think someone was given a John Bull Printing Set for Xmas.

It’s ok, pretty safe with, yet again, a retro design element which has been used in quite a novel, subtle, yet interesting way. So an overall ‘pass’.

Could have been better, could have been worse. After the third shirt saga, I suppose ‘relieved’ is the over-riding emotion. Could look better in the flesh though.

This is a consequence of taking all of Jon ‘s crayons away. 

1 hour ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

Good interview. Just a shame that JL has been allowed to doodle on the walls of the interview room.

Yep, you can trace the evolution of the updated Club badge from those original cave paintings.

Clear that much effort went into the design of the Robin used in the ‘official’ badge, you can perhaps understand why he just traced ‘splat’ off a computer screen for the third shirt.

Good interview with BT. Would still like to know the set up of our scouting network though. 

3 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

A slightly misleading title.

Bristol City are the first club to achieve the accreditation since EFL Green Clubs launched, while Forest Green Rovers, widely acknowledged as the greenest club in football, have also held the standard since the launch of the scheme.   

So FGR were accredited at launch, but we're the first club to earn it since then.

Anyway, it's all good stuff. We bash the Club for enough that we should all recognise something positive and well done as well.

I just wish some of this innovative thinking of and leadership could be allowed to affect other areas.

Well, maybe they are already involved in the retail side. Decided that souvenirs are likely throwaway and shirts are just one-season wonders, neither of which reflect sound green policy. So instruction was don’t stock the former and design and construct the shirts so badly no one wants to buy them.

This stroke of genius set us apart from ‘the field’ and the fact we’ve now decided not to have an away shirt and will play in ‘skins’ clinched the award for us. Brilliant, utterly brilliant. 

Sloppy and cocky in this second-half.  
 

Poor stuff. Time for a few to step up.

55 minutes ago, Sarumred said:

Aren't BCC setting a president here?

My understanding is that if you want to build an extension to your property you can't go ahead until planning has been approved. This seems to contradict that. 

You can proceed with ‘unauthorised development’, but ‘it’s entirely at your own risk’. One risk is that if the case goes to Committee the politicians see the act of commencing/completing the development to which the application relates as undermining their authority and that pisses them off - so a refusal is more likely. This is particularly the case if there are some sound planning reasons around to back a refusal. 

An enforcement, followed by a stop notice, can be served though. If memory serves me right the Council can then apply to Court should then building continue in order to stop it. Should the magistrate/judge support the Council’s application an injunction will be served on the offending party resulting in mega ££££s/jail if breached.

If they are not building in accordance with the details in the submitted plan, this will - from my experience - really piss the Councillors off. 
 

Anybody quickly read the title and thought it was going to be about a ‘bit’ of a woman’s anatomy? 
 

Just me then. 

13 minutes ago, Erithacus said:

The Roy 'Chubby' Brown version was gleefully picked up by the Germans fans of what was the World League/NFL Europe in the years gone past. Always a treat to hear the whole crowd singing over the commentary. Different times.

Seriously!?! So it’s been tried and succeeded in the sporting arena. Jobs a good ‘un then. 

All we need to do is convince ‘Red Skin’ of the merits of the song, get the Chubby Brown version on the jukebox at the Three Lions and everyone put their 20p in to play on repeat all night, download on phones to play on the trains up to Leicester so we can practice and ‘Bob’s your Uncle’ or, more appropriately, ‘Alice is your Aunt’ …… we’ve a new Club anthem. 
 

Now, on to the away shirt …. taking the Bears theme, pixelated image of partially-clad Prof Alice anyone?
 

Nurse……..

18 minutes ago, Red_Alligator said:

Isn't this a reference as to how they power the lights at the Mem??I

Oh, and by the way, I thought the OP was referring to Prof Alice Roberts, and got quite flustered for a moment.

Well, Prof Alice did go to the school next door to mine…and did once ‘like’ a Twitter comment of mine referencing ‘The Gate’ with her shown photographed on the Suspension Bridge looking in our direction, so she could well be a closet ‘red’. Further justification for adopting this song then! 

Having just re-read the above, it does make me sound a bit like a sad, desperate individual, borderline stalker, so just keep that ‘Dr Alice’ information between you and me if you could please.

1 hour ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Don't the Wurzels have a song about a woman?

Marvellous Mavis from Malmsbury or something

Yeah but …….. belting out  ‘Mavis,  Mavis … who the **** is Mavis’ I don’t think would be so catchy somehow. Maybe just me though. 

A thread most likely to disappear down/off the front page quicker than Water Company shares dropping after Labour winning the next election …but bear with me. 
 

Was out with my ex-Bristol childhood neighbour who stayed down here for the weekend, someone who choose the wrong path and became a Gashead. It’s ok, I don’t need sympathy, as I claim it as a ‘care in the community’ duty for tax purposes. As usual, took him down to the bright lights of Teignmouth/Shaldon for a couple of evening drinking sessions. This is equivalent of going to Las Vegas for our Village neighbours.

Always end up in T’mouth at The New Quay when they have live music. Quite possibly the ‘best’ music venue in the World with the right band on the right night. This small, edgy, tatty, mostly locals venue absolutely bounces on a calm, sultry summers eve, spilling out on to the quay and back beach. Indeed, it’s not unknown for the barmaids to start dancing on the bar when things reach ‘fever pitch’. Jon! Put those ******* crayons down will you!! Highly recommended - but not the place to take liberties.

Anyhows, to the crux of the matter. The band was working the crowd into a frenzy with a well-structured playlist but suddenly go from ‘Zombie’ to Smokies (remember them?), ‘Living Next Door to Alice’. I thought wtf is going on, but everyone around was still buzzing. Then realised this was a right crowd-engager with the chorus line supplemented by mass audience participation of ‘Alice, Alice who the **** is Alice’. Nearly took the roof off and windows out every time. 

So got me thinking, while my Gashead mate was slumped in the corner of the pub, dribbling and muttering something about needing ‘Irene’, …..

The Gas have got ‘Irene’, Stoke have ‘Delilah’ … how about City having ‘Alice’? 

Written under instruction by my therapist after suffering recent Visitor Trauma.

FAO D. Dublin

If you haven’t got anything worthwhile to say shut the **** up.