FBC POD: 23/24 End of Season Review ft. Chris Honor & Richard Latham

[Numero Uno]

5 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Don’t think so for a minute.

Before you factor in Conway staying or not, my hunch is we’re looking at a maximum spend of £7m, split exactly on a new striker & a number 10 (whether that’s Twine or not).

Having brought in Bird my guess is that we will only make one other signing, a back up keeper with greater first team experience than Bajic, (probably someone out of contract).

If Conway goes then £2.5m to £3m would be spent to replace him.

If James, King and Williams are released we would be operating with an even smaller squad in that scenario.

[Mr Popodopolous]

9 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

You have to sell the club to decent players, in the face of competition, and to do that you need a coherent plan. They won’t be interested in 30% homegrown minutes, they will want to know what we’re doing to turn ourselves from lower mid table into play off contenders. Otherwise they’ll just go to a club they deem to be a real contender.

Maybe you look to sign multiple strong loanees simultaneously and look to build on the solid base.

The Hull Strategy, is this one to look at. They seemed to sell good players to good players and some argue their style of play and strong coaching but I'm not too convinced on that 2nd point there.

Bird is a decent start IMO, but short of signing world beaters I don't think we have the management or club structure to succeed anyway so it all feels a bit pointless on one level.

Edited March 24 by Mr Popodopolous

[GrahamC]

7 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

If James, King and Williams are released we would be operating with an even smaller squad in that scenario.

As per above in a thread this would be based on the rumour that Williams is staying & Bird joins to effectively replace James.

If we bring in a “10” then this current nonsense of playing Knight there ends & we also see him competing for a central midfielder slot.

King surely can’t be expected to be involved as a player at 36.

Squad would be broadly similar size but with Stokes & Palmer-Houlden as bench options.

[Mr Popodopolous]

13 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

As per above in a thread this would be based on the rumour that Williams is staying & Bird joins to effectively replace James.

If we bring in a “10” then this current nonsense of playing Knight there ends & we also see him competing for a central midfielder slot.

King surely can’t be expected to be involved as a player at 36.

Squad would be broadly similar size but with Stokes & Palmer-Houlden as bench options.

Surely if anything we should be looking to keep James and Williams then make a decision on King from a coaching perspective.

[GrahamC]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

Surely if anything we should be looking to keep James and Williams then make a decision on King from a coaching perspective.

Latham seemed pretty certain in the Podcast that James wanted to leave to spend more time in the week with his family & less time here on his own.

Seemed a very specific answer which suggested he’d heard this from someone who would know.

[Mr Popodopolous]

1 minute ago, GrahamC said:

Latham seemed pretty certain in the Podcast that James wanted to leave to spend more time in the week with his family & less time here on his own.

Seemed a very specific answer which suggested he’d heard this from someone who would know.

Yeah noticed that

Sounds like it maybe out of our hands, is a shame but understandable. There was a rumour about new deal getting triggered if he played a certain number of games, dunno whether that had any credence.

[Sir Geoff]

17 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Surely if anything we should be looking to keep James and Williams then make a decision on King from a coaching perspective.

King already said his goodbyes (well Mrs King did on X a while ago).

Strong rumour circulated on here yesterday that Williams is staying.

As per GrahamC looks like James is off too.

[Mr Popodopolous]

18 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

King already said his goodbyes (well Mrs King did on X a while ago).

Strong rumour circulated on here yesterday that Williams is staying.

As per GrahamC looks like James is off too.

Feels like a bit of a step into the unkmown then. Lot of experience out the door..NP and his team, James and King.

Plus of course Gould and Alexander for varying reasons last 18 months.

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Latham seemed pretty certain in the Podcast that James wanted to leave to spend more time in the week with his family & less time here on his own.

Seemed a very specific answer which suggested he’d heard this from someone who would know.

Jamo’s motivations for staying reduced with Nige et all going.

[TDarwall]

32 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Jamo’s motivations for staying reduced with Nige et all going.

Undoubtedly he had a good connection with Nige. However, I'm sure a regular poster often commented how Jamo looked awfully lonely at the Portishead Costa a lot of the time.

[W-S-M Seagull]

4 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Feels like a bit of a step into the unkmown then. Lot of experience out the door..NP and his team, James and King.

Plus of course Gould and Alexander for varying reasons last 18 months.

Losing all that experience at once on and off the pitch smells of relegation.

[Davefevs]

3 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Losing all that experience at once on and off the pitch smells of relegation.

Not with a new manager in place

[Mr Popodopolous]

12 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Losing all that experience at once on and off the pitch smells of relegation.

A relegation scrap anyway.

Bottom 3rd, bottom 6 kinda thing.

[One Team]

On 23/03/2024 at 11:59, headhunter said:

With no match this weekend DaveP took the opportunity to chew the cud on all matters Bristol City with former player Chris and respected local journalist Richard.

Premature to be having an end of season review? Not really with nothing but pride to play for over the next 5 weeks.

Lots of topics covered with Richard very much in the "be careful what you wish for" camp for those who say SL should move on but tempering that by saying the purse strings need to be relaxed in the summer with a marquee signing.

Neither Richard or Chris feel Liam's position is at risk although there was some agreement with DaveP's suggestion that Liam could do with some help in the dugout  - no disrespect to Hoggy but he doesn't have a playing record of note whilst Manning knowledge is out of a coaching manual!

[Also on Spotify etc.]

 

A really entertaining episode thank you.

As respected as a journalist Latham may be his views on Lansdown and Manning were certainly not aligned with mine. Manning may well be “a lovely guy” but that doesn’t make him a competent Championship manager or coach. 

Whilst he slightly challenged the lack of investment from the Scott sale the lack of any analysis of Lansdown’s failure was a bit jarring. Trying to back Lansdown with a “where would City be without the Lansdowns?” and that we’d be like the Gas was odd. Who knows where we’d be without them, we may well be doing better not necessarily worse. Calling out the “be careful what you wish for” line was also eye rolling; again, it doesn’t mean it will be worse than it is now. The only fact here is we won’t know until it happens. 

His statement that “Brian Tinnion is the most important person at the club” was rather concerning too! 

A lack of reviewing a perspective of Lansdown being a huge part of the problem was really surprising; as was Chris Honour broadly going along with Latham’s statements. 

As a comparison, Piercy did a superb job of giving a balanced assessment on last weeks SOTC. 

The host (David) did a good job of challenging the alternative perceptions though, well done! 

[One Team]

7 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Not with a new manager in place

Latham seemed certain Manning isn’t going anywhere Fevs .

[frenchred]

Never known Chris Honor to have his own opinion when sharing a studio/pod with anyone, he just goes along with what the other says and his failure to criticise anyone (constructive or otherwise) at the club is why he is miles and miles behind Gary Owers. 

[Sir Geoff]

21 minutes ago, frenchred said:

Never known Chris Honor to have his own opinion when sharing a studio/pod with anyone, he just goes along with what the other says and his failure to criticise anyone (constructive or otherwise) at the club is why he is miles and miles behind Gary Owers. 

Thought the SOTC episode with GO and JP was like night and day compared to this pod. Interesting to hear different view points but you're right CH just went along with what was said. Richard Latham should have been challenged a bit mire robustly by Dave or Chris on some of his points, particularly the be careful what you wish for line comparing us to the gas.

[2015]

Where would we be without the Lansdowns?

30 years ago in 1994 we were in pretty much the very same League position as we are now, without their input or money... and we were also a division above the Gas.

[Henry]

2 hours ago, One Team said:

A really entertaining episode thank you.

As respected as a journalist Latham may be his views on Lansdown and Manning were certainly not aligned with mine. Manning may well be “a lovely guy” but that doesn’t make him a competent Championship manager or coach. 

Whilst he slightly challenged the lack of investment from the Scott sale the lack of any analysis of Lansdown’s failure was a bit jarring. Trying to back Lansdown with a “where would City be without the Lansdowns?” and that we’d be like the Gas was odd. Who knows where we’d be without them, we may well be doing better not necessarily worse. Calling out the “be careful what you wish for” line was also eye rolling; again, it doesn’t mean it will be worse than it is now. The only fact here is we won’t know until it happens. 

His statement that “Brian Tinnion is the most important person at the club” was rather concerning too! 

A lack of reviewing a perspective of Lansdown being a huge part of the problem was really surprising; as was Chris Honour broadly going along with Latham’s statements. 

As a comparison, Piercy did a superb job of giving a balanced assessment on last weeks SOTC. 

The host (David) did a good job of challenging the alternative perceptions though, well done! 

They weren’t even aligned with his own views.

Doesnt like having a director of football in post….Tinnion is the most important person at the club.

Doesnt like the sideways/backwards passing, wants 442….would be happy if Manning is here in 3 years.

The bloke is well post it and should have retired a while ago, or at least moved with the times.

[One Team]

20 minutes ago, Henry said:

They weren’t even aligned with his own views.

Doesnt like having a director of football in post….Tinnion is the most important person at the club.

Doesnt like the sideways/backwards passing, wants 442….would be happy if Manning is here in 3 years.

The bloke is well post it and should have retired a while ago, or at least moved with the times.

Well “post” it indeed!

Totally agree, Piercy is leading the way now.

[Davefevs]

4 hours ago, One Team said:

Latham seemed certain Manning isn’t going anywhere Fevs .

Sitting here today, I’m sure he’s right.  But over the coming weeks it appears results may say otherwise.

[GrahamC]

Just now, Davefevs said:

Sitting here today, I’m sure he’s right.  But over the coming weeks it appears results may say otherwise.

Plus you can’t really say “even if he loses the last 8”.

Firstly because on the balance of probability that’s almost certainly not going to happen.

Secondly because if in the unlikely event it did, what would then be 13 defeats in 14 ends anyone’s time in charge, pretty much whoever they are.

I still think he’s under more pressure than Latham believes & needs to show some signs of progress or a plan to continue in the role.

[Davefevs]

Just now, GrahamC said:

I still think he’s under more pressure than Latham believes & needs to show some signs of progress or a plan to continue in the role.

So do I.

[W-S-M Seagull]

5 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

I still think he’s under more pressure than Latham believes & needs to show some signs of progress or a plan to continue in the role.

By the time we next play he'd have had almost 2 weeks of 'on the grass' coaching that he has been banging on and on about so I'm expected us to look like Man City over the coming games. 

[TDarwall]

21 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

 

I still think he’s under more pressure than Latham believes & needs to show some signs of progress or a plan to continue in the role.

Whilst the nature if this league means you can never predict where your points will come from, you can't really argue that after Good Friday, the fixture list is incredibly kind to us & it's pretty inexcusable not to gain some positive results/performances.

[Kid in the Riot]

2 hours ago, 2015 said:

Where would we be without the Lansdowns?

30 years ago in 1994 we were in pretty much the very same League position as we are now, without their input or money... and we were also a division above the Gas.

Steve took over in 2002 when we were in L1 tbf. 

[2015]

4 minutes ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Steve took over in 2002 when we were in L1 tbf. 

My point being that regardless of whether Steve is in charge or not, we're in not too different territory now to what we've always been used to (Bottom half Championship/Upper Half League 1). We've been this way since the late 80s regardless who the Chairman or owner is.

[Davefevs]

 

13 minutes ago, 2015 said:

My point being that regardless of whether Steve is in charge or not, we're in not too different territory now to what we've always been used to (Bottom half Championship/Upper Half League 1). We've been this way since the late 80s regardless who the Chairman or owner is.

But with a much bigger debt!

 

[exAtyeoMax]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Sitting here today, I’m sure he’s right.  But over the coming weeks it appears results may say otherwise.

especially if JL and SL are humiliated because of it

Edited March 25 by exAtyeoMax

[Silvio Dante]

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

Plus you can’t really say “even if he loses the last 8”.

Firstly because on the balance of probability that’s almost certainly not going to happen.

Secondly because if in the unlikely event it did, what would then be 13 defeats in 14 ends anyone’s time in charge, pretty much whoever they are.

I still think he’s under more pressure than Latham believes & needs to show some signs of progress or a plan to continue in the role.

Yup.

It’s notable that we’re one week from season tickets having gone on sale and despite there being two natural marketing points to tweet out - the winner of the free season ticket, and the  fact that telephone sales start today, it’s radio silence.

That says to me ticket sales aren’t where they hoped they’d be at this point.

And that won’t be solely on Manning - but he’ll - or more accurately his football - will be a large factor for many, and the lack of sales will focus minds in the boardroom. And that in turn adds pressure to both results and performance to incentivise people to renew.

To me, the game hasn’t changed despite what Latham may think. We get beaten (with no performance) by Leicester and then don’t beat a woeful Plymouth, I can see P45 next week. I don’t think he gets out of the woods fully absent a miraculous last eight games, but there will be a degree of wanting to do it before ST holders drift away.