The Bard

Ashton Gate Stadium Ltd.

There's a lot implied with his comment isn't there. 1. Football most certainly hasn't made any money before - we know that. 2. He isn't happy for that to continue. 3. Other sports don't cost as much. 4. He has separated both in reality and in his mind money made from direct football activities (tickets, shirt sales etc) from what the Stadium makes. What I deduce from that is he probably wants to keep the Stadium as his. He will continue to benefit from conferencing, food, drink etc. Willing to sell the football club, but not the whole operation. It all seems too complicated to me..

All makes sense Dave. Arguably we don't need to sign anyone else really. People's opinions about the GK situation are just guesses. Max is clearly good enough despite what some think. Pat Mountain might be eulogising about Harvey Wiles-Richards for all we know. Telling Nige he's going to be a EPL player no doubt. Just needs his chance and he'll supplant Max. If not then we get a keeper in who is proven and not too expensive. Look logically at the outfield squad without Scott and we have 2 proven CBs fit plus 5 others who can cover the position. 2 LBs with emergency in Naismith. 2 RBs with emergency in Sykes, and Knight (he played there last season for Derby). That is plenty of cover and when Atkinson is fit we have 3 bona fide championship CBs not including Naismith. CM is plentiful even without Scott. James, Knight, Williams, Naismith, King plus OTC. Then there are 7 attacking players covering 4 positions. plus Benarous. Given Nige has held his nerve when we were in a far worse position previously, I don't see us buying anyone unless they've been lined up for some time. If we sign someone, it will be because we've given up on Vyner or Pring not signing new deals and they will soon be sold.

Good question. Scott is by far the more intelligent and skillful player with far more nous. Chumbawumba is a bit of a beast though. Can carry the ball forward at ease, in a similar way to Yaya Toure. He doesn't have the intelligence though and loses it a lot. More of a rough diamond but with better raw materials.

Hopefully we are now approaching a situation where he can be left out for the odd game to ensure he stays fresh. We should see more proactive rotation next season. That's a sign of progression as a squad. I think we need another CB, and there is the concern about Max' back up but that can be solved pretty quickly.

Always thought 1st woman manager would be internal through Academy. Familiarity to the club and staffs' familiarity with her will allow all concerned to deal with the inevitable outside noise as best they can. Also helps that the club isn't in London or Manchester where she'd get far more of the national spotlight. Suspect she'll do well

You mean a big house?

The game was moved 8 days after the fixture release. Hardly messed up people's long planned schedules has it?

Ironic thing is if the game has been moved because of a Bears game there will be a post on the rugby forum moaning about the game being on a Saturday. Because of the football

WSL games are moved because of TV as well

There are 14 left...

WSL game on Saturday maybe?

Or WSL game....

Suspect it's because we're playing on Wednesday before.

Pring is a much better lb than Bryan ever was. Bryan's pluses being his goal threat and heading ability. Bryan nowhere near as good defensively or as athletic. I'd imagine a side like Brighton would be quietly tracking Pring. Estupinan will be the next big fee Brighton get so a replacement will be lined up this season...

So a team can be O Leary Mcrorie Dickie Atkinson Sykes James Naismith Pring Weimann Bell Conway Or it can be O'Leary Mcrorie Dickie Atkinson Pring James Naismith Sykes Weimann Bell Conway

£22 mill plus add ons. £3 to £8 million

£22 million is in the ball park.. West Ham or Brighton is where I think he'll go. European football means they need more players and he'll get games

Arteta, Kompany and loads of others did their licences in Newport

This is why it's been moved clearly.

Yeah. Was a proper cider house in the 80s . Now an overpriced gastropub

He used to 'drink' in the Lion Cliftonwood next door to my Grandparents. There's an area of Bristol that has completely changed over the last 40 years...

The article mentions 6 keepers. My take is that Pearson will only recruit if none of the 5 apart from Max show they're of the requisite standard pre-season. He is rightly giving Max his backing. I'm amazed at some of the criticism he gets. He's an excellent keeper.

I always think randomly remove 4 or 5 players from the squad. Can we put out a good 11 from what's left?

It's got nothing to do with that though does it?