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59 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

If we basically did nothing about our costs then we’d fail ffp next season (not this). But we have 15 months and 2 transfer windows to address the gap which I don’t believe is that big!

@oldeastender

This.

I get the impression that third party observers are rather misinterpreting are openness and willingness for a candid conversation (Derby take note).

There is a chance that by the summer of 2023 we could be in breach of FFP rules. However if we reduce our wage bill, sell some players etc. there is no problem.

Richard Gould and Steve Lansdown are doing a fantastic preemptive job on the wider issue whilst also presenting the club in a positive light.  

Its absolutely right that we are planning for the future and all eventualities, but lots of observers creaming their pants over nothing.

1 hour ago, Rich said:

1 League cup Semi Final in those years?

 

Forest……so close!

8 minutes ago, DingleRed said:

For all the criticism of SL and his family, reflect on the fact that, under their ownership, 13 of the past 15 seasons have been spent in the Championship. In the previous 15 years it was 4. I don't believe we have seen that level of consistency at this level in my 60 years following the club. I guess we could all make better decisions, mostly with hindsight. This consistency has come at a cost but not out of step with many other clubs. If running a club was that easy......

Absolutely. Completely fair to point out that since 2002 we’ve spent more time in Div 2 than Div 3. Probably something like 70-75%. As opposed to maybe 30-50%.

I’ve done lots of reflecting though and don’t see the two as that different.

2 minutes ago, Red Exile said:

To be fair to @Ivorguy he has indeed been saying it for ages!

My take is this. Steve Lansdown, whatever we may think of him as an individual (met him a few times, decent enough chap), can surely, after 20+ years of running Bristol City, be judged on his record? That record suggests that SL is not in the least a 'football man'. He relies on deep pockets and a big ego to sustain him. The club is arguably no nearer returning to the top flight of English football than it was when he first showed up, when the challenge was considerably easier than it is today. After 20+ years in which many clubs with far greater challenges have made the step up, that's a pretty damning indictment. The rest is tittle tattle really, managers will come and go and at best we'll yo-yo between tiers 2 and 3 forever more under the Lansdowns. Maybe that's fine, it's better than going bust...but it's a future, like most of the recent past, devoid of glory and rather uninspiring. 

Whether it's a storm in a teacup or something more fundamental that James Piercy article is a massive improvement on comment on the club in recent years. Actually poses some difficult questions.

A league cup semi final, 2 promotions from division 3, a couple of football league trophies and time spent flitting between division 2 and 3.

1985 - 2002.

Absolutely we have a lovely redeveloped stadium and and training facilities. Genuine and sincere thanks for those

8 minutes ago, S_C said:

So, Jon Lansdown has made a throwaway comment regarding how we could be performing better in the league, something that Pearson has alluded to himself in regard to results, Pearson then feels the need to comment on the situation and suddenly it’s a feeding frenzy for how the heroic and visionary manager is biting back against the clueless owners.

Uh huh.

Good piece by James Piercy on BristolLive

@VT05763 read this and thought of you

“But in the context of that red meat in the water, Pearson may soon need a bigger boat because 12 wins from 48 games isn’t the mightiest of vessels, irrespective of all the context and nuance he so understandably raises in assessing his time at the club.”

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-pearson-jon-lansdown-bristol-6678947

21 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Yep, everyone & his dog is also saying we are losing £412k a week (very old news, we’ve reduced our wage bill by a third since then & of course actually have income this season, unlike back then) plus are saying we’ll get a points deduction, when Gould actually said it was “possible” in future, not definite.

Not going to waste time arguing with them as it would take the rest of my life.

Agreed. 

We’ve been upfront and honest and merely said things might be difficult at the of 22/23.

We published all accounts in a timely fashion and haven’t tried to mis represent or hide anything (ahem…Mel Morris).

Lots can happen over the next 18/24 months.

Lets see where we are then.

we won’t be alone.

Just now, Bristol Rob said:

I have no idea if this is good or bad news Reg, I thought we lost a lot more due to the 'vids.

That’s what I thought, but it does say ‘up to’ so not just a case that clubs can allow a flat 5m for Covid losses.

Despite suffering some slings and arrows, I actually think the club have done the right thing in being upfront and open with our accounts.

50 minutes ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

It's hard to see how the financial mess will pan out. If FFP rules stay in place without some Covid exemptions then we are in really difficult territory. If we sell our best players/up and coming youth then we are destined for L1 with or without a points deduction. To try and ditch players who are with the benefit of hindsight overpaid and underwhelming is going to be vv difficult. Who on earth would take Palmer with his wages?

If we start paying up contracts then we just add more debt. If FFP rules are relaxed then SL , however reluctant, will have to bail the club out but as he was partly responsible for our current mess- I think he'll have little option. To rely on Webster/Kelly/Brownhill as some have suggested is fanciful, imo.

Meanwhile, Np has got to mend and make do. I dont expect miracles but the squad we currently have, even with the injuries, is capable of better and its his job to sort out the increasingly desperate defensive frailties. We have 14 games in which to guarantee our survival for a second season which shouldn't be too difficult but I'd really like to see a 0-0 or 1-0 or anything nil really soon. I'd love us to score and to think it matters again as opposed to ok- so how many are going to be coming in reply? 

The defensive mistakes are what I’m struggling with. 

Surely Zak Vyner (as an example) is being sat down and made to review games to see how he loses people then being coached on how to improve this.

There is always the possibility that he is useless and is just crap at reading the game, no matter how intense the coaching.

Absolutely agree there are frustrating elements of our game. I also know that nobody can 100% say nobody could do better or indeed somebody would be worse.

I just think we have to give until the start of next season.

Just now, GrahamC said:

Surely that depends what it is?

The women’s team have had Yeo Valley yoghurt on their’s, I’m not sure I’m too fussed about kids wearing shirts advertising that?

It’s not a definite and it’s not a massive issue.

Ive just really enjoyed the kids shirts being sponsor free. Almost like a throwback of just a plain and simple red kit.

1 hour ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I think we will survive in the Championship this year but what about next.

I think we said the same last year and yet here we are.

I think not withstanding standing big changes in the summer, season ticket sakes are going to drop.

4 hours ago, Marina's Rolls Royce said:

Another very interesting albeit highly uncomfortable read from James Piercy.

He is , as usual, balanced in what he says and feels NP should take significant credit for developing play in the final third. He also points to our rapidly deteriorating defensive ability and suggests that we are potentially on target to have the worst defensive record in 10 years since DM/SOD when we finished rock bottom with 84 goals against- we are in danger of shipping 83. this season.

James is not suggesting that Nige should go or even hinting this should be the case. He does question that if Nige cant turn it around ("make definitive improvements") in the remaining 14 games then this will give reason for doubt about whether he can do it over the medium/long term.

Painful reading but definitely worth a look and written with careful thought backed with facts not guess or emotion.

The defensive frailties have been hugely frustrating.

I think this has been covered many times but I don’t think people are particularly ‘pro Pearson’ just more the fact we were left with a stinking on and off the field mess that would need time to sort.

To that end, myself included, the majority are happy to let him have a crack at sorting it all out over a period of time.

If by October this year we are still suffering with the same problems and generating a similar portfolio of results, I’d agree that something is potentially wrong with the management and we would need to address it.

Solving it with our financial constraints would not be an easy task.

1 hour ago, ChippenhamRed said:

One downside is I guess the kids shirts will start including the sponsor again, they looked great without one! But overall, really good news that the club have moved away from gambling sponsorship.

Shame that can’t continue.

Something a little more pure about kids shirts being free of advertising.

2 hours ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/bristol-city-announces-historic-principal-partnership-with-huboo/

 

 

I cannot believe you didn’t name this thread

“I Will Huboo”

On 14/02/2022 at 11:45, VT05763 said:

I think this could well be a very pivotal moment in NPs 3 year plan. 

Whilst I disagree with how he openly criticises players in a public forum and would argue that in no way helps his cause I can totally understand his frustration and anger as as it seems the players are not reacting to instructions. he really did seem disheartened and at a loss of what to do next.

Hopefully this latest public slating will prove fruitful but maybe it is just time to except that this group of players are never going to buy into his methods, just see out the season without him having a nervous breakdown and hope to encouraged the ones he can't work with out and replace them.

The is no expectations on results, so accept it is what it is and wait for the next transfer window.

He may well have had enough all together though.

 

 

This is my favourite one so far

3 minutes ago, An Outstanding Human said:

Why did we let Mark Ashton build the High Precipitation Centre? Another total waste, this seems to happen every week 

Come on, it looks well lush

1 minute ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

 

If the money gained from sell-on clauses recoups the money wasted on the likes of Engvall, Gilmartin,  Hegeler, Giefer, De Girolamo, Diony, Rodri, Plavotic, Leko, Ekstrand and a host more, then I'll rethink my position.  

Me and @VT05763 as well

9 hours ago, VT05763 said:

Hate that Ashton guy.

Me too.

No real long term plan. Poor Uncle Steve had the wool well and truly pulled over his eyes.

I’ll miss Nigel when he goes.

Back to Johnson like characters, sigh.

Amazing how much influence a referee can have on a game.

If we’re neither in threat of relegation nor pushing for promotion, I can’t see why you’d bother with loans. It’s just dead money to further someone else’s cause.

Just to confirm Ian’s comment about this being the kids forum (in jest!), anyone else hear the massive trump at 45:30?

17 hours ago, headhunter said:

Thanks for the positive comment. You are right about numbers but doing it on Zoom rather than live on the Podbean platform meant we could see each other. I'm guessing the sound quality was better too?

 

Really enjoyed the his episode.

Sound quality much better, Dave had better control of his questions and have gave better directions to the guests.

Ian wasn’t as rude  

To be fair I don’t mind Ian at all, some of his options seem way off, some are actually on point. Probably like most of us.

The challenge is when he’s in a mood or something and just rude to other people.

Anyhoo, good pod

Anyway………….

Hopefully the club can amend the oversights before Boro.

For what it’s worth I don’t think any heroics were involved. 

But I am grateful that the club didn’t fold, which would have seen all players and staff without jobs.

None of it makes sense.

Wrong years, wrong division. Promotion to Div 3 in 83-84. Promotion to Div 2 89-90.