Points ultimatum? - SL to LJ

[Sniper]

I know we've had the SL and Tomlin interviews with LJ having the backing of SL and the players allegedly?

But.............. has SL behind closed doors given LJ a points total (Shef Wed & Rotherham) to save his job?

I want 4 points?

I want 6 points? (If so lose to Wednesday and it's game over!)

or is he just going to go with the flow and see what happens?

[Super]

I think a bad defeat Tuesday along with fan protests will be the end.

[oldstandrobin]

1 minute ago, Super said:

I think a bad defeat Tuesday along with fan protests will be the end.

Super, I think you may well be right......taking my red and white tin helmet in case 

[Swede]

I think if we don't see a coaching improvement on the pitch i.e. better player performances over these three games I'm afraid he will be gone.

That may sound harsh but one can argue that the facilities at his disposal & backroom staff has improved along with better players, but has the coach?

We will find out soon. I hope he can turn it around

[Natchfever]

Doubtful. SL is backing LJ and I think having referred to our relegation fight as possibly "going to the wire" he will give him at least until the end of the season.

He wouldn't want to heap pressure on him.

[Bar BS3]

I think he'll accept a "respectable defeat" if you know what I mean, Vs Wednesday but then HAVE to beat Rotherham. 

A stuffing Vs Wednesday might be too much to stand by. 

A shock win or creditable draw will certainly help, but only if we follow it up with a result V Rotherham. 

IF SL has a points target in mind, then I'd think it's 3 points with an at least level on aggregate goal difference, over the next 2 league games. 

Result tomorrow doesn't matter but a heavy defeat would not do anyone any good. 

[downendcity]

11 minutes ago, Sniper said:

I know we've had the SL and Tomlin interviews with LJ having the backing of SL and the players allegedly?

But.............. has SL behind closed doors given LJ a points total (Shef Wed & Rotherham) to save his job?

I want 4 points?

I want 6 points? (If so lose to Wednesday and it's game over!)

or is he just going to go with the flow and see what happens?

I think if SL has demanded 7 points from the next 2 league games then LJ might realise the writing is on the wall.

[Bar BS3]

4 minutes ago, Loon plage said:

Doubtful. SL is backing LJ and I think having referred to our relegation fight as possibly "going to the wire" he will give him at least until the end of the season.

He wouldn't want to heap pressure on him.

He also said very clearly that he wouldn't want to see the improvements wasted. 

LJ will be here until we are in the relegation zone and looking like we can't get out of it under his management, I'd imagine. 

[ScottishRed]

Bar a heavy defeat and lackluster performance,tomorrow is irrelevant.

Tuesday is hugely different, the result won't mean everything but the performance will be crucial.

Another bad one and a toxic crowd and that will probably do it.

i really hope LJ turns it around however the clock is truly ticking and despite what the owner said on Monday the end must be close unless there is a quick improvement in league position and performance.

i don't believe for one second that Div 1 football is on SL's agenda.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

10 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

I think he'll accept a "respectable defeat" if you know what I mean, Vs Wednesday but then HAVE to beat Rotherham. 

A stuffing Vs Wednesday might be too much to stand by. 

A shock win or creditable draw will certainly help, but only if we follow it up with a result V Rotherham. 

IF SL has a points target in mind, then I'd think it's 3 points with an at least level on aggregate goal difference, over the next 2 league games. 

Result tomorrow doesn't matter but a heavy defeat would not do anyone any good. 

Well he has for almost 4 months.

 

[pillred]

talking of respectable defeats, do you think any team ever has lost so many games at this stage by just 1 goal, I would be very surprised if they have

[marmite]

I think the sequence of losing by one goal will end on Tuesday with a two goal winning margin  backed up by a comfortable  win v Rotherham. But I still have little faith in LJ long term.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jack Dawe]

38 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

I think he'll accept a "respectable defeat" if you know what I mean, Vs Wednesday 

If this is in any way true or indicative of the mindset inside Bristol City then no wonder we struggle above L1, no wonder we are where we are this season, and God help us.

I know there was a "but" and some more thoughts, but....

[Monkeh]

49 minutes ago, Sniper said:

I know we've had the SL and Tomlin interviews with LJ having the backing of SL and the players?

But.............. has SL behind closed doors given LJ a points total (Shef Wed & Rotherham) to save his job?

I want 4 points?

I want 6 points? (If so lose to Wednesday and it's game over!)

or is he just going to go with the flow and see what happens?

what we heard in the media and what has been said behind closed doors are two different things,

Johnson is on borrowed time, failure the next two league games and he is gone, 4 points may see him get a little breathing space,

Ether-way he's had the good old fashioned vote of confidence, he's on borrowed time 

[Bar BS3]

31 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

Well he has for almost 4 months.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Jack Dawe said:

If this is in any way true or indicative of the mindset inside Bristol City then no wonder we struggle above L1, no wonder we are where we are this season, and God help us.

I know there was a "but" and some more thoughts, but....

I don't mean SL will be "happy or content" with a "respectable defeat. I was answering the OP's question of minimum targets. 

It would be harsh to base LJ's future on the result of one game V an in form team who are flying high. He'd have already got rid if that was the case. 

What we must NOT do is get any worse! 

[Monkeh]

1 minute ago, Bar BS3 said:

 

I don't mean SL will be "happy or content" with a "respectable defeat. I was answering the OP's question of minimum targets. 

It would be harsh to base LJ's future on the result of one game V an in form team who are flying high. He'd have already got rid if that was the case. 

What we must NOT do is get any worse! 

it wouldn't, it would be based on the 8 prior league defeats against teams in and around us, if it happens to be against wednesday it wouldn't be because of a spirited defeat,

[BobBobSuperBob]

 

3 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

 

I don't mean SL will be "happy or content" with a "respectable defeat. I was answering the OP's question of minimum targets. 

It would be harsh to base LJ's future on the result of one game V an in form team who are flying high. He'd have already got rid if that was the case. 

What we must NOT do is get any worse! 

Not get any worse ???? 

Blimey  

[downendcity]

35 minutes ago, pillred said:

talking of respectable defeats, do you think any team ever has lost so many games at this stage by just 1 goal, I would be very surprised if they have

This is the one thing that Ive found strange about our current run. Normally, a team on the sort of run we have been on for the last few months would suffer a few tonkings along the way, but we have been competing in games ( not saying we've played well) and, as you say losing by just 1 goal , although the manner of our last 2 home defeats felt worse than losing 4/5 nil.

 

[Up The City!]

In just over a week we could have 3 wins under our belts.

[Natchfever]

1 minute ago, Up The City! said:

In just over a week we could have 3 wins under our belts.

This time next year Rodney..

Well it happened for them didn't it.

[Up The City!]

Just now, Loon plage said:

This time next year Rodney..

Well it happened for them didn't it.

There we go then, such a good way to look at our current situation. 

[Fat Cigar]

As some have mentioned, it is bizarre how (bar the Brighton defeat), every other has only been by one goal. This tells me two things: 1. we're losing to teams who aren't that great themselves. And I'd put most of the division in that category. Competitive league, yes, high quality football, no. 2. Many fans and the board have swallowed the hype that we're competing, that we're not far off winning some of these games. Which is totally incorrect. Forget the narrow defeats, we've been poor/dire in most of these matches. Maybe a few 4-0s like last season would have knocked some sense in to them. 

And not being in the relegation zone has also cushioned the blow. We lose our next 2 league games, pretty sure we'll be in that bottom 3. And I really can't see us getting out of it.

4 points should be the absolute minimum. 

[Ivorguy]

Sadly our fate is in LJ's hands.

He will survive this season and next

Hope he does it but I have severe worries

 

[Honiton Tony]

16 minutes ago, Up The City! said:

In just over a week we could have 3 wins under our belts.

Based on what ?

[Curr Avon]

25 minutes ago, Ivorguy said:

Sadly our fate is in LJ's hands.

He will survive this season and next

Hope he does it but I have severe worries

 

If Lee survives and City are relegated, at least with the stadium upgrade we can all be miserable in comfort.

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

1 hour ago, Up The City! said:

In just over a week we could have 3 wins under our belts.

I might have shagged all the birds in the Playboy Mansion.

[Son of Fred]

2 hours ago, Loon plage said:

Doubtful. SL is backing LJ and I think having referred to our relegation fight as possibly "going to the wire" he will give him at least until the end of the season.

He wouldn't want to heap pressure on him.

Regardless of what SL has said,three defeats from the next four league games will see Lee gone..

Part of me still hoping he will pull a rabbit from the hat but my gut says no.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Loon plage said:

Doubtful. SL is backing LJ and I think having referred to our relegation fight as possibly "going to the wire" he will give him at least until the end of the season.

He wouldn't want to heap pressure on him.

Agree, too late now for any newbie to come in, and in any case the chances of SL picking a decent manager is nil.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Up The City! said:

In just over a week we could have 3 wins under our belts.

and also in just over a month we could have zero wins; unless of course LJ gets lucky and picks the right players and formation. Remember we could be winning 2-0 and still give it away.

[Cornacix the Druid]

2 hours ago, Up The City! said:

There we go then, such a good way to look at our current situation. 

Perhaps SL has the script writers of Fools & Horses lined up to take over from LJ.

[Natchfever]

7 minutes ago, Marty said:

Perhaps SL has the script writers of Fools & Horses lined up to take over from LJ.

Definite winners and know their way around BS3 too...

[Ivorguy]

If we continue losing for the rest of the season under LJ, the repercussions on attendances and advance season ticket sales will be catastrophic

[Natchfever]

1 minute ago, Ivorguy said:

If we continue losing for the rest of the season under LJ, the repercussions in attendances and advance season ticket sales will be catastrophic

The club may feel that season card sales will drop anyway in view of what has happened this season, and also the shiny new ground not being as shiny, plus if we did get relegated perhaps they bank on the team being top of league 1 and the crowd then being made up of POTD's so receipts balancing out.

Certainly I think it would be catastrophic, but then again, SL was shocked at how few rugby cards were sold despite the fact that to anyone who knew the game the squad was s hite and certain to go down as things stood at the time. Maybe he thinks everyone will continue to shell out and come regardless of where we are and perhaps he will be right.

[Monkeh]

6 minutes ago, Ivorguy said:

If we continue losing for the rest of the season under LJ, the repercussions on attendances and advance season ticket sales will be catastrophic

Yea really? Didn't effect us with sod and his run without wins

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, Bar BS3 said:

 

I don't mean SL will be "happy or content" with a "respectable defeat. I was answering the OP's question of minimum targets. 

It would be harsh to base LJ's future on the result of one game V an in form team who are flying high. He'd have already got rid if that was the case. 

What we must NOT do is get any worse! 

I'm not sure any type of defeat can be classed as 'respectable' in our current situation.  

If we lose to Wednesday, then we've either;

- been spanked by a superior team = not respectable

- lost to the better side on the night = not respectable (either Wed are better than us or we didn't play well0

- lost, but deserved something in the balance of play = not respectable (you can do that a couple if times in between better results but not whilst you're 8 on the spin)

- lost, but it was individual errors either at the back or not taking chances = not respectable (same as above)

So I don't think any positives can be taken on Tuesday if we don't win or draw.  That's quite a bit of pressure if you consider relative league pisitions.

A while back (pre-Brighton I think) I said that as long as our home firm was decent, we'd be fine.  Mmmmm, that was the death knell wasn't it?

[Natchfever]

10 minutes ago, Monkeh said:

Yea really? Didn't effect us with sod and his run without wins

I think they dropped a fair bit when we were relegated, and expectations were pretty low by the time SOD took over at xmas we were bottom, so maybe it was felt he inherited a crock of shite and there was still some goodwill towards him otherwise they may have dropped more.

We are averaging about 18-19,000 aren't we? I doubt we would get more than our all conquering season 2 years back when I think we averaged about 13,000 so that's a lot of lost revenue.

 

[Monkeh]

2 minutes ago, Loon plage said:

I think they dropped a fair bit when we were relegated, and expectations were pretty low by the time SOD took over at xmas we were bottom, so maybe it was felt he inherited a crock of shite and there was still some goodwill towards him otherwise they may have dropped more.

We are averaging about 18-19,000 aren't we? I doubt we would get more than our all conquering season 2 years back when I think we averaged about 13,000 so that's a lot of lost revenue.

 

We haven't avaeaged 18 - 19k before this season for about 60 years,

we avaraged about 14.5k before and 13.5k after x

[Bar BS3]

52 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I'm not sure any type of defeat can be classed as 'respectable' in our current situation.  

If we lose to Wednesday, then we've either;

- been spanked by a superior team = not respectable

- lost to the better side on the night = not respectable (either Wed are better than us or we didn't play well0

- lost, but deserved something in the balance of play = not respectable (you can do that a couple if times in between better results but not whilst you're 8 on the spin)

- lost, but it was individual errors either at the back or not taking chances = not respectable (same as above)

So I don't think any positives can be taken on Tuesday if we don't win or draw.  That's quite a bit of pressure if you consider relative league pisitions.

A while back (pre-Brighton I think) I said that as long as our home firm was decent, we'd be fine.  Mmmmm, that was the death knell wasn't it?

I'd disagree. 

Whats gone is gone. We can't change that now. 

IF we gave Wednesday a good game but lost by the odd goal, then I don't think that would be breaking point for SL. 

Yes, of course you can't pretend the last 8 games haven't happened, but they have. LJ is still the manager, we have to re-group, work hard and go again. From now. That can't be derailed by a narrow defeat to a team up the top of the table. 

What we can't do is cave in. Then it's on to Rotherham, were it will be final straw time, I'd guess. Especially with the other fixtures coming up. 

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

I'd disagree. 

Whats gone is gone. We can't change that now. 

IF we gave Wednesday a good game but lost by the odd goal, then I don't think that would be breaking point for SL. 

Yes, of course you can't pretend the last 8 games haven't happened, but they have. LJ is still the manager, we have to re-group, work hard and go again. From now. That can't be derailed by a narrow defeat to a team up the top of the table. 

What we can't do is cave in. Then it's on to Rotherham, were it will be final straw time, I'd guess. Especially with the other fixtures coming up. 

Yeah, fair enough.  I wasn't suggesting 'not respectable' means breaking point, just that I can't see how any defeat can be seen as respectable at this point.

Assuming LJ makes it Rotherham, then any management replacement from that point will be working with the tools left for him.

For what it's worth, this run will end either Tuesday or Saturday....I just can't see us losing both and making it 10.  I'd love one 3 pointer in that, but we'll have to wait and see.

[downendcity]

2 hours ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

I might have shagged all the birds in the Playboy Mansion.

Rudolph has already been there!

[Natchfever]

34 minutes ago, Monkeh said:

We haven't avaeaged 18 - 19k before this season for about 60 years,

we avaraged about 14.5k before and 13.5k after x

Yep my point being that if we went down we would be highly unlikely to get anywhere near our current average simply based upon what we got during our all conquering .league 1 season in 2015.

We did average better than 18,000 during our top flight days which was 40 years ago and I always thought they shaved the numbers back then !

[downendcity]

1 hour ago, Ivorguy said:

If we continue losing for the rest of the season under LJ, the repercussions on attendances and advance season ticket sales will be catastrophic

If we continue losing for the rest of the season, so many fans will commit suicide there will be no one left to buy season tickets for next season.

 

[Phantom]

Saw this online, wasn't sure which thread to put it in.... 

[Ivorguy]

14 minutes ago, phantom said:

Saw this online, wasn't sure which thread to put it in.... 

Says it all really

Will need a massive change in fortune and neither the coach, owner, Board  or team captain (sorry delete that because no one knows who that might be tomorrow) seem to know what the problem is.

All we are left with is blind hope and little expectation

[INCRED]

I am going to think positive and say we will pull a rabbit out the hat tomorrow and surprise everyone and beat Burnley albeit Burnley play a weakened team. This will inject much needed confidence to go on and beat Wednesday and Rotherham to cause a sea change in everyone's mentality and outlook on the rest of the season. Remember anything is possible in this strange game 

[KeepUpLino]

7 minutes ago, INCRED said:

I am going to think positive and say we will pull a rabbit out the hat tomorrow and surprise everyone and beat Burnley albeit Burnley play a weakened team. This will inject much needed confidence to go on and beat Wednesday and Rotherham to cause a sea change in everyone's mentality and outlook on the rest of the season. Remember anything is possible in this strange game 

I might do the lottery tomorrow for the first time in 8 years!!

[INCRED]

38 minutes ago, 'keepuplino' said:

I might do the lottery tomorrow for the first time in 8 years!!

Good luck mate I think you may well wake a multi millionaire on Sunday morning :laugh:

[KeepUpLino]

1 minute ago, INCRED said:

Good luck mate I think you may well wake a multi millionaire on Sunday morning

Gotta get up the shop first, ill let you know Sunday

[Dr Balls]

4 hours ago, Loon plage said:

Yep my point being that if we went down we would be highly unlikely to get anywhere near our current average simply based upon what we got during our all conquering .league 1 season in 2015.

We did average better than 18,000 during our top flight days which was 40 years ago and I always thought they shaved the numbers back then !

We used to average mid to high 20s in the late 70s in the First Division. I still remember being stood so tight for the 38k against Liverpool when we had to win to stay up.

If we go down, crowds will drop significantly by 5000 or so I would suggest, unless season ticket prices also drop by a fair amount.

[ukneil]

Clutching with both hands at the biggest bunch of straws ever - didn't GJ end his own horrendous run with a win at home in mid-week against a Huddersfield team who were at that point flying high, even winning performance of the week from a panel that included Sir Alex?

[A Horse With No Name]

10 hours ago, Super said:

I think a bad defeat Tuesday along with fan protests will be the end.

Will they make the announcement at 4pm ?

[WarksRobin]

SL: Points mean prizes

LJ: Points? Where we're going we don't need points.