Offer Pearson a contract extension NOW

[DaveF]

3 minutes ago, headhunter said:

I couldn't give a flying ***k what you think of the podcast Graham. 1000 people per week listen to me, Ian & others spouting our *hit which is a lot more than read your contributions on here!

I doubt it is to be honest...

Why was your response so aggressive? It seemed like Graham was encouraging someone to listen to the podcast to get an answer to their question of why you don't like Pearson. If anything Graham was helping you out!

Edited April 17, 2023 by DaveF

[Davefevs]

4 minutes ago, Simon bristol said:

Cool, unless something drastic happens he will get the chance for several new signings, hopefully! The dates are a little sketchy to me,, but by paying off klose and martin to leave we basically were going to have to rely on kalas staying fit for the rest of season to give us defensive cover… there was clearly a chance something could go wrong with that,, and atkinson got injured, that’s football and thats what happens, every club has them.. thank god vyner stayed fit.

i think hes had the chance to bring in more physical players, but hasnt done it.. we bought in a keeper who never played to replace a keeper we still own who never plays to challenge a keeper who isnt dominant while we can be dominated by anyone with a couple of big strong mobile strikers!

Just my 2p:

- Atkinson is a physical player (signed)

- Tanner is a physical player (signed)

- Cornick is a physical player (signed)

- Naismith is a taller / can put his foot in player (signed)

- Pring is a physical player

he’d hoped to have Kalas and Baker, both physical players available.  He lost Semenyo and Martin.

So in theory he was on the way to getting more physicality (plus power and pace in some cases)…but there are / were huge financial constraints, meaning squad size can’t be one that has “clubs in the bag”.

Let’s see if we are better placed to have a more rounded squad at the end of the summer window.  We’ve recruited the least number of players (total) in the Championship over the 4 windows he’s had.  He’s been hugely hamstrung by going into the market and getting what he wants.

Facetious question back, should we bring in physical players who aren’t good enough for where we are aiming?

[The Coach]

Wouldn’t surprise me after cleaning up all the shit Lansdown goes and gets another young manager and we are back at square one.

I’m happy right now if NP is given another year or two on top. As a city fan, I don’t know how you cannot be. Given the mess we were in and the progress we’ve made. 

[Silvio Dante]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

I believe we are still paying the difference in wages to what he gets at Hibs….and that will finish this summer.

 

Sorry Dave is that def right?

LJ has, subsequent to us, managed at Sunderland before Hibs. I don’t dispute we need to settle his contract over the residual term, as is normal, and I also agree that our liability is the difference between what we paid him and his next contract, but is there not subsequent Sunderland money to come into the equation; i.e if he was on £10k p/w with us, £6k with Sunderland and £3k with Hibs then I’d argue our liability was £4k p/w, Sunderland’s £3k and then Hibs pay current wages.

Digging out the reports from when LJ was appointed at Sunderland his contract there ran until summer 23 so if we’re on the hook I’d imagine they are as well!

Edited April 17, 2023 by Silvio Dante

[Sleepy1968]

1 hour ago, Top Robin said:

Absolutely not. We should wait for the first 5 or 6 games of next season to see if his summer changes have improved us.

At the moment we are not good enough and although he may have stabilized the team, we are still massively inconsistent, don't look like play off potential and he needs to up his game. 

We don't want to be stuck with a 'dud' on a long term contract again....just good business sense.

Ps..I hope he does succeed.

 

The first 5 or 6 games of a season tell you sweet FA about how well you'll do over a season.

It seems reasonable to either do it in the close season or take stock at xmas.

I'm more interested in succession planning if we are going to make a change. I don't want the obvious good work being undone (whilst conceeding that there are things we can always improve on.)

[Coxy27]

2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

If you ever listen to this podcast it would be fairly obvious.

 

Is it worth it? I'll trust your opinion...

[Silvio Dante]

2 minutes ago, Sleepy1968 said:

The first 5 or 6 games of a season tell you sweet FA about how well you'll do over a season.

It seems reasonable to either do it in the close season or take stock at xmas.

I'm more interested in succession planning if we are going to make a change. I don't want the obvious good work being undone (whilst conceeding that there are things we can always improve on.)

And here is proof of this point.

[Fordy62]

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I believe we are still paying the difference in wages to what he gets at Hibs….and that will finish this summer.

Ahhh. This would explain why he agree to accept the square root of **** all when he gets sacked at Hibs. Makes sense. 

[headhunter]

38 minutes ago, Coxy27 said:

Is it worth it? I'll trust your opinion...

All episodes available here: www.foreverbristolcity.podbean.com . Full post match analysis & general debate plus interviews with former managers & players [easy sech facility], i.e. Dicks, Wilson, Royle.

[Davefevs]

59 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Sorry Dave is that def right?

LJ has, subsequent to us, managed at Sunderland before Hibs. I don’t dispute we need to settle his contract over the residual term, as is normal, and I also agree that our liability is the difference between what we paid him and his next contract, but is there not subsequent Sunderland money to come into the equation; i.e if he was on £10k p/w with us, £6k with Sunderland and £3k with Hibs then I’d argue our liability was £4k p/w, Sunderland’s £3k and then Hibs pay current wages.

Digging out the reports from when LJ was appointed at Sunderland his contract there ran until summer 23 so if we’re on the hook I’d imagine they are as well!

It’s what I heard at the weekend.

And as per your example, you are right, we wouldn’t be on the hook for it all.  I’d forgotten Sunderland in between!!!

[GrahamC]

50 minutes ago, Coxy27 said:

Is it worth it? I'll trust your opinion...

Can’t win answering that one.

If I say no then I’ll incur the wrath of the host again, though apparently he “doesn’t give a **** what I think”.

If I say yes, then I’d be endorsing something that I don’t listen to myself.

It’s a free country so I’ll just leave you to choose.

[REDOXO]

Does Pearson want another contract? 

Anyone asked him? 
 

If he is open to a two year extension on the one he has left then I expect conversations, even if they were only in the tea room have already started  

Despite the few who were screaming for his dismissal a while back waiting to pounce again with the slightest excuse, I would say this guy has turned us around from a basket case club to a team that’s only a goal scoring midfielder and a CB that has not got a sick note stamped on his track suit away from being top six material…Which was he’s remit.
 

I fully expect us to be in and around the top six next season as does the manager, the players and the board.
 

Just thinking back at the dross, hangers on and down right wasters he inherited (did anyone go onto do anything when their contracts expired)   Then look at the change in Vyner the bringing through of Scott Bell ConwAy Benerous the purchases of Atkinson Naismith et al, to me Pearson has changed the culture of a weak, limp club that makes awful decisions repeatedly to a club that is only a couple of signings away from being a force. 
 

If he’s open to an extension then negotiate it now and get it done would be my position 

[Gert Mare]

I've always been a strong advocate for NP. 

I'm pleased that those who doubted at times can now see the value and stability that he has brought to the club. What I like above all is that the players know and respect who is running the show and even those who seemed reluctant to buy in at first have come round.

We've gone from a team struggling just to compete in this division to a team which at times can dominate games and we are frustrated when the goals don't come.

We are coming out the other side from a huge disaster which was the LJ/Ashton/Holden (although he never really stood a chance) era. 

We have a manager who manages and has stature. He also talks sense and is straight. I'd rather have a manager who calls it as it is rather than a manager who talks in riddles, tries to bamboozle everyone with theoretical gobbledeguk rather than be accountable and honest about simply not having a clue how to manage, and who gets a tomobola out at 65 minutes. Yes, there are times when mistakes have been made but the whole mindset of the club has shifted and we now have a squad that is hungry.

I'd be over the moon if Nige was offered and accepted a contract extension. We need some sort of continuity more than ever at this moment in time.

 

[steveybadger]

6 hours ago, Coxy27 said:

What is the context you're trying to add?

Looks a decent record to me - given our current squad availability and expectations.

Just simply thought it would help the debate to point out our actual record recently (not context to justify any particular view). I’d think most would say we’ve improved (as I do, for the record and not just in terms of results ; performances on the whole), but there are different views on a possible contract extension.
 

Personally I can see the case for extending as it seems pointless to let NP spend this much time sorting out the finances and rebuilding the squad, without giving him further opportunity. 

Edited April 17, 2023 by steveybadger

[Davefevs]

Nicely summed up @REDOXO.

We aren’t far away, but it’s another level up to be in the group of teams.

[Son of Fred]

1 hour ago, The Coach said:

Wouldn’t surprise me after cleaning up all the shit Lansdown goes and gets another young manager and we are back at square one.

After the Swiss Tony shambles, the Holden appointment & generally being asleep at the wheel I personally wouldn't have any faith that lessons have been taken aboard/learned from.

[cheese]

Not for me - anyone that promotes O'Leary ahead of Bentley doesn't deserve a job 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Simon bristol]

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Just my 2p:

- Atkinson is a physical player (signed)

- Tanner is a physical player (signed)

- Cornick is a physical player (signed)

- Naismith is a taller / can put his foot in player (signed)

- Pring is a physical player

he’d hoped to have Kalas and Baker, both physical players available.  He lost Semenyo and Martin.

So in theory he was on the way to getting more physicality (plus power and pace in some cases)…but there are / were huge financial constraints, meaning squad size can’t be one that has “clubs in the bag”.

Let’s see if we are better placed to have a more rounded squad at the end of the summer window.  We’ve recruited the least number of players (total) in the Championship over the 4 windows he’s had.  He’s been hugely hamstrung by going into the market and getting what he wants.

Facetious question back, should we bring in physical players who aren’t good enough for where we are aiming?

No we shouldnt be looking for players who arent good enough to where we are aiming, assuming thats supposed to be top 6, clearly the 2 aren’t mutually exclusive… obviously you arent suggesting you only have a choice of either a top 6 championship player or you choose a more physical type? last sunmer we signed sykes, wilson, bajic and naismith, along with mehmeti haikin and cornick in the winter, Maybe i forgot one or 2, but none of them are really known or have shown they specialise in a physical battle like adebola or flint have they? So what did we expect to happen when we went to luton, cardiff or birmingham? Semenyo had to be sold, then we paid martin to go and signed cornick.

To be honest, we all know we arent really going to be signing players who are top 6 championship players anyway, but a big bastard centre back in the style of flint would certainly have a place in our squad.

[Marina's Rolls Royce]

9 hours ago, steveybadger said:

Just for a bit of context, since Boxing Day (all comps)

won 8

drawn 9

lost 5

 

9 hours ago, headhunter said:

Over a season would see us finish c9th/10th.

Yet for a further bit of context from Boxing Day to most recent and excluding the Cup the stats change

Won 6

Drawn 8

Lost 5

It's all about how you present the figures. We are 5 points above where we were at this point last season. The season has 4 games left so let's see what SL does in the summer. The OP has said that the Semenyo money is" in the bank". That's gas type talk- we're making a huge loss and we have no idea of what SL will decide in spending to improve the team.

The £25 million for Scott also appears for some to be "in the bank" but until it's done it's not done. The problems at BCFC are still there in that although much has been done to reduce the wage bills , BCFC is still making a thumping loss and are keen for new investment or a sale . FFP issues may well be behind us but , imo, it's more about the owner and his future than the manager's. 

 

[nickolas]

9 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Estupinan at Hull.

Defence has improved massively over the course of the season, both in open play and set-pieces.

See my post above re wage bill correlation.  It’s a factor in amongst lots of other factors, wage bill is not “all-defining”.

Blimey he chose that shitehole instead of us! 

[Sir Geoff]

10 hours ago, Robbored said:

If Ian Gay is taking part then I not interested. The most pessimistic and negative bloke that I know……………

Thought Gary Owers ran him close on this week's 3 peaps pod. Owers made Mr Gay seem rather polite, with his constant interruptions and long winded replies 

[Davefevs]

21 minutes ago, nickolas said:

Blimey he chose that shitehole instead of us! 

£££s

[Robbored]

12 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

Thought Gary Owers ran him close on this week's 3 peaps pod. Owers made Mr Gay seem rather polite, with his constant interruptions and long winded replies 

I don’t listen to anything involving Ian Gay. The guys who I car share with always turn off RB post match when he comes on - fed up with his constant critical comments and negativity……..………

[And Its Smith]

7 hours ago, Top Robin said:

Absolutely not. We should wait for the first 5 or 6 games of next season to see if his summer changes have improved us.

At the moment we are not good enough and although he may have stabilized the team, we are still massively inconsistent, don't look like play off potential and he needs to up his game. 

We don't want to be stuck with a 'dud' on a long term contract again....just good business sense.

Ps..I hope he does succeed.

 

I think this says a lot and not in a good way. We will sign 5-6 players this summer I expect, then giving him 6 games to decide if he’s worthy of a new contract is nuts. Cannot start to judge until at least December 

[David Brent]

Give the bloke whatever contract he wants and let him get on with the superb job he’s doing. 

[Malago]

Perhaps the club have sounded him out and he doesn’t want to stay beyond 3 years?  I’ve no idea, but good luck to anyone who believes they can second guess what Nige is thinking.

 

[BCFCGav]

I see the thread has turned on to some other discussions but on the original point - I think I’d like to see an extension. Partly for the reason mentioned, being able to give security to Pearson’s signings. But another thing for me is; many people have said in the past about how Pearson will come in and clean up the mess (which he has) and it then may be another manager that makes the next step and takes us up, off the back of Nige’s work. And if we’re being honest, the manager who ends our top-flight exile will get far more plaudits and murals than Nige will get for his firefighting job. I think it’d be more poetic if Nige himself saw the job through, and on the football we’re playing and the players he’s signed, I see no reason he can’t. Next two seasons I think we’ll be pushing hard for promotion. I wouldn’t rule us out next year. 
 

So it’s a yes from me!

[Sir Geoff]

12 hours ago, headhunter said:

There's no denying Nigel had an unholy mess to clear up after the damage done through the profligacy of an off the leash Mark Ashton [and you have to blame SL for that] who was working with two, let's be honest, lightweight managers.

Here we are now with the decks cleared of financial mayhem with cash already in the bank from the sale of Semenyo and the coffers likely to be boosted massively by the sale of Scott putting us in a position of financial strength bettered only by those clubs receiving parachute payments.

On the field this season there has been progress and were it not for the autumn collapse after a stunning opening 8 games followed by a dip in the wake of the highly creditable performance  against Man City I believe we would certainly be in contention for a play off place now.

Nigel has one year left on his contract yet in the summer his actions in the transfer market, working alongside Brian Tinnion, are going to determine the on the field shape of the team for the next three years. For me it would make sense to give him another year now perhaps with a two way exercisable option for a second. Manager at Bristol City is probably one of the safest jobs in football and, while some may disagree, if you are a player contemplating a move here in the summer and you know you are one of the current manager's top picks I think you're more likely to sign  knowing he's here for at least 2 years of your typical 3 year contract.

I'm not a fan of Pearson but that contract extension now seems the right thing to do.

In this latest episode of FBC podcast in addition to reviewing the performance at Watford we debate that in 23/24 anything less than match the efforts of Luton & Millwall who look destined for places in the play offs should be considered failure. Here's a link to listen: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2g95c-13e327c

 

 

Amongst the many incorrect facts stated this week, speaking to Ian you said " in your opinion we need a squad of 28 players next season, but the likes of Luton have nowhere near that,"

Please tell us how many are in their first team squad ?

Also you stated several times indirectly that West Brom came down last year with Watford and Norwich. Did they ?

[Mr Popodopolous]

I'm thinking yes. He has earned it, he had a tough remit and we have albeit from a low base improved us significantly. The thrashings on the road seem to have ended, the shot numbers at home for and against have improved markedly.

Some concerns persist around conversion rate at some times, both individually and collectively and injuries. At other times we have converted quite well. If you look at Derby post Lampard although they carried on spending to some extent, this is very similar to their trajectory.

They failed FFP and landed in all sorts of problems while seeking to promote youth. We have bottomed out and are emerging from the other side. In fact they also had the benefit of multiple PL loanees in 2020-21 and some in 2019-20 whereas we have not signed one since summer 2020 something that I am optimistic we can reverse this summer price and player permitting, if a decent fit etc.

[Davefevs]

Players used (all data League only):

City’s 28 includes as follows:

Luton:

 

I don’t know what point was actually being made.

We certainly won’t have a first team squad of 28 players, we might have x bonafide first-teamers (inc Conway, Bell etc) and y academy players providing cover.