The highly optimistic brigade- where are you?

[Mr Popodopolous]

17 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Financially:

Holden - had two windows, and due to the overspend before him only paid one fee, £1.250m for Joe Williams.  He signed Chris Martin, Chris Brunt on free transfers and loaned Alfie Mawson and Ryan Sessegnon that summer.  He added an OOC Adrian Mariappa in between windows and added Henri Lansbury in January on a free.

The injuries under Holden are well documented, Williams, Walsh, O’Dowda, Martin, Mawson, etc, etc.  some recurrences too.

Pearson - operating under FFP concerns, he trimmed the squad, but brought in:

20/21 - Danny Simpson OOC

===

Summer 2021 - Atkinson £1.600m, Tanner £0.275m, King, James on frees

Winter 2022 - Klose free

===

Summer 2022 - Wilson £0.210m, Naismith free, Sykes free, Bajic free

Winter 2023 - Haikin free, Mehmeti £1.000m, Cornick £0.500m (off of the back of Semenyo sale)

===

Summer 2023 - Knight £1.75m, McCrorie £1.75m, Dickie £0.600m, Roberts free, Gardner-Hickman loan (his only loan), Thomas OOC (Sept) (off of the back of selling Scott)

Total £7.685m / 19 players / 5 windows

injuries continued initially, then muscle injuries reduced hugely.

Manning

Winter 2024 - Gardner Hickman £1.300m, Bird £0.850m, Stokes £0.250m, Murphy £0.220m, Mebude loan

Summer 2024 - Mayulu £1.750m, Armstrong £1.500m, Twine £3.500m, Hirakawa loan, Earthy loan, McNally £2.000m, McGuane £0.250m (off of the back of selling Conway)

Total £11.62m / 12 players / 2 windows

(***No loan fees included)

Muscle injuries increased, but hopefully settling down.

 

I always put in a way TGH down as more of a Club signing given the Loan etc and the Loan out- ut did LM get the final sign-off Dave?

Damn though that is quite the increase in expenditure. I always thought NP gross spend was closer to £9-10m over the piece but I digress slightly..the fees we generated let alone the Wage Savings.

[Davefevs]

6 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I always put in a way TGH down as more of a Club signing given the Loan etc and the Loan out- ut did LM get the final sign-off Dave?

Damn though that is quite the increase in expenditure. I always thought NP gross spend was closer to £9-10m over the piece but I digress slightly..the fees we generated let alone the Wage Savings.

Liam has the final say.  He picked him enough times after his perm signing.

The option to buy him could’ve waited to the summer.  If they wanted to get shot of Weimann (the other moving piece) to avoid him triggering his extension, there were other options, including not playing him.

[Gert Mare]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Financially:

Holden - had two windows, and due to the overspend before him only paid one fee, £1.250m for Joe Williams.  He signed Chris Martin, Chris Brunt on free transfers and loaned Alfie Mawson and Ryan Sessegnon that summer.  He added an OOC Adrian Mariappa in between windows and added Henri Lansbury in January on a free.

The injuries under Holden are well documented, Williams, Walsh, O’Dowda, Martin, Mawson, etc, etc.  some recurrences too.

Pearson - operating under FFP concerns, he trimmed the squad, but brought in:

20/21 - Danny Simpson OOC

===

Summer 2021 - Atkinson £1.600m, Tanner £0.275m, King, James on frees

Winter 2022 - Klose free

===

Summer 2022 - Wilson £0.210m, Naismith free, Sykes free, Bajic free

Winter 2023 - Haikin free, Mehmeti £1.000m, Cornick £0.500m (off of the back of Semenyo sale)

===

Summer 2023 - Knight £1.75m, McCrorie £1.75m, Dickie £0.600m, Roberts free, Gardner-Hickman loan (his only loan), Thomas OOC (Sept) (off of the back of selling Scott)

Total £7.685m / 19 players / 5 windows

injuries continued initially, then muscle injuries reduced hugely.

Manning

Winter 2024 - Gardner Hickman £1.300m, Bird £0.850m, Stokes £0.250m, Murphy £0.220m, Mebude loan

Summer 2024 - Mayulu £1.750m, Armstrong £1.500m, Twine £3.500m, Hirakawa loan, Earthy loan, McNally £2.000m, McGuane £0.250m (off of the back of selling Conway)

Total £11.62m / 12 players / 2 windows

(***No loan fees included)

Muscle injuries increased, but hopefully settling down.

 

Thanks for taking the time to do this @Davefevs

I find myself almost as angry as I was 12 month ago!

Manning has been given the best tools out of all 3 managers and yet we are regressing. Well done Jon. Great move! I called it out at the time as something akin to footballing suicide but my heart still desperately wishes to be proved otherwise. 

Edited December 24, 2024 by Gert Mare

[redsquirrel]

5 minutes ago, Gert Mare said:

 

Manning has been given the best tools out of all 3 managers and yet we are regressing. Well done Jon. Great move!

hes getting what he deserves for listening to his buddy

[Gert Mare]

2 minutes ago, redsquirrel said:

hes getting what he deserves for listening to his buddy

I’m holding him accountable and fully expect him to front up if the project fails. My money is on him not doing this though and this in my opinion is our biggest problem. If you live by the sword you should die by the sword. Get gone Jon.

[Mr Popodopolous]

7 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

I've not listened yet. I'll caveat this by stating that Rob is a really nice guy.

But he is Mr positive and you'll very rarely hear him criticise the club, apart from Pearson of course. He's possibly a little too positive. 

He's exactly the sort of fan BCFC would want on SOTC during difficult times. 

That's fair, he is good value usually, and he seems nice- I don't get why a certain category of fans didn't take to Pearson given the constraints we were under but that's life I guess.

[Sir Geoff]

2 hours ago, redsquirrel said:

hes getting what he deserves for listening to his buddy

I never want us to be relegated, but boy would I like to be a fly on the wall when SL summons Jon boy and the incompetent one following such an occurrence.

[Gert Mare]

1 hour ago, Sir Geoff said:

I never want us to be relegated, but boy would I like to be a fly on the wall when SL summons Jon boy and the incompetent one following such an occurrence.

It’s a football club, not a toy

[Big C]

4 hours ago, Sir Geoff said:

I never want us to be relegated, but boy would I like to be a fly on the wall when SL summons Jon boy and the incompetent one following such an occurrence.

Not going to happen 

[Mr Popodopolous]

I'm not especially concerned about the drop this season but you can never be complacent in football.

We shouldn't even be having the discussion about it, given starting point handed over and money spend and the excellent culture a year back.

[luke_bristol]

5 hours ago, Sir Geoff said:

I never want us to be relegated, but boy would I like to be a fly on the wall when SL summons Jon boy and the incompetent one following such an occurrence.

8 billion people in the world and the best candidate to run the club happens to be your son, what an extraordinary coincidence!

[mozo]

Hopefully get a result today to restore some optimism 

We need a couple of wins to get us back in a happy place.

[Mr Popodopolous]

Hope so...early goal would be a big boost.

[Mendip Broadwalk]

On 24/12/2024 at 10:14, Davefevs said:

Financially:

Holden - had two windows, and due to the overspend before him only paid one fee, £1.250m for Joe Williams.  He signed Chris Martin, Chris Brunt on free transfers and loaned Alfie Mawson and Ryan Sessegnon that summer.  He added an OOC Adrian Mariappa in between windows and added Henri Lansbury in January on a free.

The injuries under Holden are well documented, Williams, Walsh, O’Dowda, Martin, Mawson, etc, etc.  some recurrences too.

Pearson - operating under FFP concerns, he trimmed the squad, but brought in:

20/21 - Danny Simpson OOC

===

Summer 2021 - Atkinson £1.600m, Tanner £0.275m, King, James on frees

Winter 2022 - Klose free

===

Summer 2022 - Wilson £0.210m, Naismith free, Sykes free, Bajic free

Winter 2023 - Haikin free, Mehmeti £1.000m, Cornick £0.500m (off of the back of Semenyo sale)

===

Summer 2023 - Knight £1.75m, McCrorie £1.75m, Dickie £0.600m, Roberts free, Gardner-Hickman loan (his only loan), Thomas OOC (Sept) (off of the back of selling Scott)

Total £7.685m / 19 players / 5 windows

injuries continued initially, then muscle injuries reduced hugely.

Manning

Winter 2024 - Gardner Hickman £1.300m, Bird £0.850m, Stokes £0.250m, Murphy £0.220m, Mebude loan

Summer 2024 - Mayulu £1.750m, Armstrong £1.500m, Twine £3.500m, Hirakawa loan, Earthy loan, McNally £2.000m, McGuane £0.250m (off of the back of selling Conway)

Total £11.62m / 12 players / 2 windows

(***No loan fees included)

Muscle injuries increased, but hopefully settling down.

 

Top posts again Dave!! Punchy way of putting things if Lee Johnson is included its boom spending time then busts and lots of costs down time now its a smaller boom??? The way the clubs is ran is all over the show to be a established championship team. 

[italian dave]

On 23/12/2024 at 07:41, Olé said:

What a horrible thread. It’s one of the reasons I’m on here less and less, it’s one big kangaroo court, everyone clutching their pearls and furiously trying to force their outrage on everyone or demand an argument. Every time we lose it ruins my week and my mood too, but I’ve given up summarising away days on here unless we win because there are already 20 threads lashing out at everything.

As someone who never wanted Pearson to leave and never took to Manning and called out how bad we have been at times, I’m not sure I can ever be considered the highly optimistic brigade but I’ve moved on from NP and trying to follow things with a bit of nuance, so if not going into meltdown puts me in the minority of happy clappers that somehow have to defend themselves I will wear that. 

We were shit at Derby, shit at Blackburn, shit at Portsmouth and now at WBA. But I have a hard time logging into OTIB and seeing how easily and immediately people, presumably many of whom are sat at home, want to force a conclusive position down everyone’s throats. When I put it up against the full away body of work Boro, Stoke, Preston, Norwich, Sunderland there is a conversation to be had.

We’re a brittle (as in mentally weak) mid table side that is utterly dependent on one 34 year old striker and has absolutely no Plan B. Yet despite those limitations we have a Plan A that has been shown to be effective away at any club in this division in a manner that doesn’t just win matches, but can do so in a controlled manner that might be the difference between one off and sustained success.

That we’ve failed to replicate it consistently is down to lots of factors - for example yesterday a nuanced discussion outside the confines of a kangaroo court would cite multiple players out of position, no proven striker, Vyner crap at RB, poor quality and choice of passing/crosses in terrible conditions, etc - but there have been the seeds of something there under Manning that could be effective.

I wouldn’t mind solving the obvious problems and seeing if the combination of that potential without those handicaps, amounts to something more than the rinse and repeat Championship sackathon, and I don’t even like Manning! But that wouldn’t fit with the OTIB pile on, which respectfully for me is these days worse than ever and that’s solely due to Jon and Brian’s ridiculous promises a year ago.

I ‘liked’ this at the time Ole; but a few days later re-reading it I think it might just be my candidate for post of the season.

Not just having had time to reflect on it, but also to see what’s appeared on OTIB since.

How many more threads do we need that are simply an excuse for a further pile on: how many more that just give an opportunity for a bit more name calling and vitriol. It’s just relentless.

And if we’re talking optimism and enjoyment I get far more of both watching City than I get reading here at the moment.

[Northern Red]

Just now, italian dave said:

I ‘liked’ this at the time Ole; but a few days later re-reading it I think it might just be my candidate for post of the season.

Not just having had time to reflect on it, but also to see what’s appeared on OTIB since.

How many more threads do we need that are simply an excuse for a further pile on: how many more that just give an opportunity for a bit more name calling and vitriol. It’s just relentless.

And if we’re talking optimism and enjoyment I get far more of both watching City than I get reading here at the moment.

100%.

It's constant, repetitive and adds absolutely nothing new or constructive.

And if things go badly today you can guarantee that new versions of exactly the same threads, involving exactly the same people, will be appearing later.

[Davefevs]

5 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

100%.

It's constant, repetitive and adds absolutely nothing new or constructive.

And if things go badly today you can guarantee that new versions of exactly the same threads, involving exactly the same people, will be appearing later.

But, it’s generally just reflecting what we are seeing on the pitch in many respects isn’t it.  If you’re results driven,  or even win-driven it’s not what we hoped for, is it?  We seem to always be trying to play catch-up with the target / those teams above us, and are falling further away.

Whether you believe the ridiculous comments from the hierarchy or not about expectations, or formed your own, at this point in time the manager and players are performing below what most of us thought should be a “top-10 season”.  We are pretty much “if we can win the next game…” or “if we can string together a couple of wins…”, rather than reflecting on what we’ve done.  It is fine to have that hope, I do, but it’s not a basis for real objectivity of how the season is going.

Yes, some of the debate is tiring, but it is fuelled by a general feeling of disappointment.

[Sir Geoff]

23 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

100%.

It's constant, repetitive and adds absolutely nothing new or constructive.

And if things go badly today you can guarantee that new versions of exactly the same threads, involving exactly the same people, will be appearing later.

Why not start some positive threads then ?

[Fuber]

On 22/12/2024 at 20:59, mozo said:

Here I am! 

We need wins. Many players, teams, managers have turned around much bigger crises than this one.

Better fixtures coming, and City need to make it count.

How does that work? - Of the next nine league fixtures, we have wins against two of them this season (Plymouth and Oxford).

We lost 3-0 to Portsmouth, Blackburn, and Derby. Drew against Coventry, Swansea, Sheff Wed.

How is that 'Better'? The majority turned us over!

[Numero Uno]

On 23/12/2024 at 07:41, Olé said:

What a horrible thread. It’s one of the reasons I’m on here less and less, it’s one big kangaroo court, everyone clutching their pearls and furiously trying to force their outrage on everyone or demand an argument. Every time we lose it ruins my week and my mood too, but I’ve given up summarising away days on here unless we win because there are already 20 threads lashing out at everything.

As someone who never wanted Pearson to leave and never took to Manning and called out how bad we have been at times, I’m not sure I can ever be considered the highly optimistic brigade but I’ve moved on from NP and trying to follow things with a bit of nuance, so if not going into meltdown puts me in the minority of happy clappers that somehow have to defend themselves I will wear that. 

We were shit at Derby, shit at Blackburn, shit at Portsmouth and now at WBA. But I have a hard time logging into OTIB and seeing how easily and immediately people, presumably many of whom are sat at home, want to force a conclusive position down everyone’s throats. When I put it up against the full away body of work Boro, Stoke, Preston, Norwich, Sunderland there is a conversation to be had.

We’re a brittle (as in mentally weak) mid table side that is utterly dependent on one 34 year old striker and has absolutely no Plan B. Yet despite those limitations we have a Plan A that has been shown to be effective away at any club in this division in a manner that doesn’t just win matches, but can do so in a controlled manner that might be the difference between one off and sustained success.

That we’ve failed to replicate it consistently is down to lots of factors - for example yesterday a nuanced discussion outside the confines of a kangaroo court would cite multiple players out of position, no proven striker, Vyner crap at RB, poor quality and choice of passing/crosses in terrible conditions, etc - but there have been the seeds of something there under Manning that could be effective.

I wouldn’t mind solving the obvious problems and seeing if the combination of that potential without those handicaps, amounts to something more than the rinse and repeat Championship sackathon, and I don’t even like Manning! But that wouldn’t fit with the OTIB pile on, which respectfully for me is these days worse than ever and that’s solely due to Jon and Brian’s ridiculous promises a year ago.

First paragraph spot on. Been like that for weeks with posters who seem to “know the lot” in all things pro football without ever having been involved in it and making it an increasingly depressing read at the moment.

[DT The Optimist]

21 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

First paragraph spot on. Been like that for weeks with posters who seem to “know the lot” in all things pro football without ever having been involved in it and making it an increasingly depressing read at the moment.

so true.... football fans  being football fans are always 'moaners'.... seen it for years and at all clubs.  

Just got to look at any forum with any team in the bottom areas of a league table.

It is a forum and named that for a reason, but if results are 'kind' over the next week or so,  the 'noise' will disappear...

The cycle of moaning continues...and i still enjoy a good read and laugh here on OTIB, and yes I am always optimistic. And proud to be an optimist.  There again I was around watching us in the old Div 1 and bottom of the old Div 4... so sometimes it is not as 'bad' as some posters perceive.. 

[mozo]

I won't be getting giddy after that game, but beat Portsmouth next and we can start building momentum and restoring positive vibes

[Ivorguy]

Until we sign a proper striker our results will not/cannot improve overall. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

5 minutes ago, mozo said:

I won't be getting giddy after that game, but beat Portsmouth next and we can start building momentum and restoring positive vibes

Yes, back to back wins feels pivotal really. We have to back it up and optimism will start to return a bit.

[Mr Popodopolous]

Edit, not helpful ATM..

Edited January 2 by Mr Popodopolous

[Leveller]

On 22/12/2024 at 19:50, Mr Popodopolous said:

On here and beyond, for months we have had forced jollity and optimism, strange convoluted defences of the Club etc.

I shouldn't really slate but bloody annoyed..here and beyond, like a Pied Piper of Hamlin leading us to our midtable mediocrity.

Feels like Play-off tilt over and today barring a scratch team have Wolves found a little mojo?

Leicester 0 v Wolves 3

Season over by January 11th by 2pm or 3pm if we get extra time etc. Explain that one!

Just as a counterbalance, how are those who predicted a miserable relegation battle feeling now? I don’t seem to see them celebrating the fact that, against the odds, we’re in the top half of the table.

[Mr Popodopolous]

Just now, Leveller said:

Just as a counterbalance, how are those who predicted a miserable relegation battle feeling now? I don’t seem to see them celebrating the fact that, against the odds, we’re in the top half of the table.

This is fair..albeit a miserable relegation battle would be a huge and unacceptable failure so to me we are achieving par if not slightly below- sure there are some major pessimists though.

[Capman]

5 hours ago, Leveller said:

Just as a counterbalance, how are those who predicted a miserable relegation battle feeling now? I don’t seem to see them celebrating the fact that, against the odds, we’re in the top half of the table.

I don’t recall many predicting a relegation battle. Why would a ‘top six squad’ which has had millions spent to improve it be struggling to beat relegation? Surely, given we were a top six squad and one of the top net spenders last summer the supporters are entitled to expect a realistic promotion challenge? I also think they should be entitled to comment if it does not materialise? 

[Numero Uno]

12 minutes ago, Capman said:

I don’t recall many predicting a relegation battle. Why would a ‘top six squad’ which has had millions spent to improve it be struggling to beat relegation? Surely, given we were a top six squad and one of the top net spenders last summer the supporters are entitled to expect a realistic promotion challenge? I also think they should be entitled to comment if it does not materialise? 

Did you think we were/are a top 6 squad going into the season? I didn't. If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them? That's my main gripe with the hierarchy and one particular person within it......too often you get anything but the truth.

Edited January 2 by Numero Uno

[Capman]

1 minute ago, Numero Uno said:

Did you think we were/are a top 6 squad going into the season? I didn't. If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them? That's my main gripe with the hierarchy and one particular person within it......too often you get anything but the truth.

I agree. We were lied to and I don’t like liars. That’s my point. But optimism only goes so far. If we want to get out of this league (upwards not downwards) we need a strategy that is going to work. I thought that was to develop players, build a ‘war chest’ to make a promotion push and, when the timing was right, spend it to push for promotion. 
I have no idea what the current regime are trying to do. They seem to have spent the war chest in an attempt to remain mid table and stopped developing new players. 
Into that they have put a vacuum of information with no one from the hierarchy ever seeming to want to talk to the fans about ‘the plan’. 
Given that I am not surprised there is less optimism than pessimism. 

[Numero Uno]

2 minutes ago, Capman said:

I agree. We were lied to and I don’t like liars. That’s my point. But optimism only goes so far. If we want to get out of this league (upwards not downwards) we need a strategy that is going to work. I thought that was to develop players, build a ‘war chest’ to make a promotion push and, when the timing was right, spend it to push for promotion. 
I have no idea what the current regime are trying to do. They seem to have spent the war chest in an attempt to remain mid table and stopped developing new players. 
Into that they have put a vacuum of information with no one from the hierarchy ever seeming to want to talk to the fans about ‘the plan’. 
Given that I am not surprised there is less optimism than pessimism. 

This is a good point. I think the hierarchy genuinely see fans as a "necessary evil".

[Sir Geoff]

6 hours ago, Leveller said:

Just as a counterbalance, how are those who predicted a miserable relegation battle feeling now? I don’t seem to see them celebrating the fact that, against the odds, we’re in the top half of the table.

How is being top half, against the odds ?

According to JL last October we had the best squad he has ever seen at the club "top end."

Since then he has brought in a front foot on the grass progressive coach and spent £10 million improving the top end squad.

Top 8 throughout the season with a genuine stab at the play offs (see Middlesbrough and Sunderland) should be the absolute minimum.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, Sir Geoff said:

How is being top half, against the odds ?

According to JL last October we had the best squad he has ever seen at the club "top end."

Since then he has brought in a front foot on the grass progressive coach and spent £10 million improving the top end squad.

Top 8 throughout the season with a genuine stab at the play offs (see Middlesbrough and Sunderland) should be the absolute minimum.

What if we were 9-12 for most of the season then 7-8 for a couple of weeks going into the last last four and then won our last four and actually reached the play offs? Would that be some sort of failure?

[Sir Geoff]

4 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

What if we were 9-12 for most of the season then 7-8 for a couple of weeks going into the last last four and then won our last four and actually reached the play offs? Would that be some sort of failure?

Who mentioned failure ?

Let's wait and see if your scenario plays out shall we. If that is to be the case then second half of the season we would need several wins against the sides in the top 8, to overtake them.

[Capman]

34 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

What if we were 9-12 for most of the season then 7-8 for a couple of weeks going into the last last four and then won our last four and actually reached the play offs? Would that be some sort of failure?

 

The ‘target’ for this season, given what Manning inherited and what the club has spent, should be play offs. My view is that anything less should be considered as disappointing at best. 
The problem is that given the suggested play off target of 74 points we started the season needing 1.6 points per game, we now need 1.9 points per game. Not saying the target is statistically impossible but we have left ourselves too much to do to make it likely. Particularly given the situation up front and our seemingly less than robust defence. 

[Rudolf Hucker]

2 hours ago, Capman said:

If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them?

Yep. 

[spudski]

On 26/12/2024 at 13:22, italian dave said:

I ‘liked’ this at the time Ole; but a few days later re-reading it I think it might just be my candidate for post of the season.

Not just having had time to reflect on it, but also to see what’s appeared on OTIB since.

How many more threads do we need that are simply an excuse for a further pile on: how many more that just give an opportunity for a bit more name calling and vitriol. It’s just relentless.

And if we’re talking optimism and enjoyment I get far more of both watching City than I get reading here at the moment.

It's interesting Dave in many ways.

Yes, the forum is full of vitriol at the moment. Not much joy.

Look at the politics section of this forum, and see how horrid it can get on there. People thoroughly pissed off with how things are being run in the Country.

It's now filtered down into the football forum. 

The thing that people look forward to, their football, to take them away from the 'real world', has now become a reflection of that ' real world ).

People thoroughly disallusioned with the leadership, the hollow words, the lies, mismanagement etc etc. 

People are sick to death of it.

The underlying feeling imo, is that just like politics, people know we are stuck in an ever revolving system, because of the people in charge. 

They know it's not going to change, (unless they sell up), so we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

It's complete frustration. 

The the dangling carrot of the play offs

It's a cope out for Clubs in many ways. 

Tell the fan base we're aiming for 6th. 

Just for a chance to go into a lottery.

Like it's a big achievement. 

Half way through the season and we are already 18 points adrift of top spot. 

That's the real barometer of where we are as a Club...we shouldn't be judging our progress with 6th place. 

I bet you most look at the league table, and now just focus on who's sitting in 6th place and how many points we need to catch up. 

As if that's the holy grail. 

The leadership has created the vitriol. 

In the same way people turn off and don't believe a word politicians say, they now do the same with the leadership at our club. 

The one thing people are passionate about, something that brought joy, has now become a chore. 

It's very understandable why it is, like it is. 

Bit of a ramble...but hope you get my drift. 

 

 

[Bazooka Joe]

2 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Did you think we were/are a top 6 squad going into the season? I didn't. If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them? That's my main gripe with the hierarchy and one particular person within it......too often you get anything but the truth.

No, but I’d ask them to put it to the vote and call for an immediate erection.

[Numero Uno]

11 minutes ago, spudski said:

Look at the politics section of this forum, and see how horrid it can get on there. People thoroughly pissed off with how things are being run in the Country.

It's now filtered down into the football forum. 

You only needed to write the above to nail it in fairness.

[bcfcredandwhite]

12 points clear of relegation. 5 points off the playoffs. Decent home record. 
I’m more positive than grumpy at the moment. 
Jon Lansdown and the suits can say stuff about ‘top 6’ if they want. I’ve learned to ignore what they say. The table tells the truth. 

[Bazooka Joe]

32 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

2 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Did you think we were/are a top 6 squad going into the season? I didn't. If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them? That's my main gripe with the hierarchy and one particular person within it......too often you get anything but the truth.

32 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said:

Yep. 

Out of likes but from me.

i suppose this explains why you only swing when you’re winning, Rudolf.

And also why you keep singing “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”.

Edited January 2 by Bazooka Joe

[Robbored]

21 games to go with my £20 bet remains in the balance. City just 5 points off the top 6 and 11 above the drop zone - so far so good and I’m cautiously optimistic that my positive enthusiasm at the start of the season will bear fruit.

[mozo]

15 minutes ago, Robbored said:

21 games to go with my £20 bet remains in the balance. City just 5 points off the top 6 and 11 above the drop zone - so far so good and I’m cautiously optimistic that my positive enthusiasm at the start of the season will bear fruit.

So you're cautiously optimistic despite being "fed up with the uninspiring shite that Manning is serving up game after game."

Mixed feelings, I guess!

[Robbored]

11 minutes ago, mozo said:

So you're cautiously optimistic despite being "fed up with the uninspiring shite that Manning is serving up game after game."

Mixed feelings, I guess!

Tbh - I’m genuinely surprised that City are doing reasonably well given the shite Manning has been serving up.

That said recently results have improved since the dismal performances at the Hawthorns and Fratton Pk so my optimism has returned to a degree despite not beating struggling Argyle at Home Pk on NYs Day

 

[BrizzleRed]

39 minutes ago, spudski said:

It's interesting Dave in many ways.

Yes, the forum is full of vitriol at the moment. Not much joy.

Look at the politics section of this forum, and see how horrid it can get on there. People thoroughly pissed off with how things are being run in the Country.

It's now filtered down into the football forum. 

The thing that people look forward to, their football, to take them away from the 'real world', has now become a reflection of that ' real world ).

People thoroughly disallusioned with the leadership, the hollow words, the lies, mismanagement etc etc. 

People are sick to death of it.

The underlying feeling imo, is that just like politics, people know we are stuck in an ever revolving system, because of the people in charge. 

They know it's not going to change, (unless they sell up), so we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

It's complete frustration. 

The the dangling carrot of the play offs

It's a cope out for Clubs in many ways. 

Tell the fan base we're aiming for 6th. 

Just for a chance to go into a lottery.

Like it's a big achievement. 

Half way through the season and we are already 18 points adrift of top spot. 

That's the real barometer of where we are as a Club...we shouldn't be judging our progress with 6th place. 

I bet you most look at the league table, and now just focus on who's sitting in 6th place and how many points we need to catch up. 

As if that's the holy grail. 

The leadership has created the vitriol. 

In the same way people turn off and don't believe a word politicians say, they now do the same with the leadership at our club. 

The one thing people are passionate about, something that brought joy, has now become a chore. 

It's very understandable why it is, like it is. 

Bit of a ramble...but hope you get my drift. 

 

 

Cracking post and nail on head.

Interesting comparing the club with the current state of politics in this country, where bullshit, lies, broken promises and contempt for the electorate is the rule.  No wonder apathy and disillusionment in the system is taking hold.  

Exactly the same with this club and how can you escape the real world at a football match, when your club is behaving in exactly the same way!  And some people still wonder why the fanbase is getting so bitter, critical and disillusioned, when our club is dishing out the same shit as our useless polititians of both colours.

Add the fact that we lack any real ambition or belief.  An ambitious club would be aiming for an automatic spot, with the safety net of the play-off’s if they fall short.  Compare that to us, where even scraping into the PO’s in 6th spot seems like a distant dream.  Whenever we get even relatively close to that elusive 6th place, you can put money on us ballsing up the next match, to slip away yet again.

Even if we did manage to claw ourselves into a PO spot at any point, how many fans have any genuine confidence that we’d stay there?

I think the general subdued atmosphere at the club is due to little hope and low expectation within the fanbase and the club are duly delivering on that.

[Davefevs]

3 hours ago, Capman said:

I agree. We were lied to and I don’t like liars. That’s my point. But optimism only goes so far. If we want to get out of this league (upwards not downwards) we need a strategy that is going to work. I thought that was to develop players, build a ‘war chest’ to make a promotion push and, when the timing was right, spend it to push for promotion. 
I have no idea what the current regime are trying to do. They seem to have spent the war chest in an attempt to remain mid table and stopped developing new players. 
Into that they have put a vacuum of information with no one from the hierarchy ever seeming to want to talk to the fans about ‘the plan’. 
Given that I am not surprised there is less optimism than pessimism. 

Problem is we don’t really know the strategy is…let alone if it’s a good one.

What I’ve underlined above is what SL said on a Guernsey Podcast, when he was in there to talk about his Golf Club development on the island.  I felt it was flippant / crass, because I’m not sure we have sold a player for £20m since have we, nor are we likely to, so I think the “nest egg” is actually a “pipe dream”, and certainly not a strategy.  That was the last time we heard SL talk about Bristol City.

It also contradicts Gavin Marshall, who said that they’d use the Alex Scott money over multiple windows, so not building a nest egg to “go for it” at all.  Gavin talking with his head, not his heart, and a strategy of incremental improvement.  But he also used the well-known strategic plan of “if the stars align”, so again, what is the strategy.

And then you have Boris Tinnion’s equivalent of “Hands, Face, Space”, with “young, hungry, now” At the fans forum.  If you say it enough, get louder and redder in the face each time you say it, then that counts as a strategy too!

[Leveller]

1 hour ago, Robbored said:

21 games to go with my £20 bet remains in the balance. City just 5 points off the top 6 and 11 above the drop zone - so far so good and I’m cautiously optimistic that my positive enthusiasm at the start of the season will bear fruit.

Absolutely unbelievable. Eleven days ago you started a thread entitled “Time for Manning to go”!

Are you having short term memory issues?

 

 

 

[Robbored]

31 minutes ago, Leveller said:

Absolutely unbelievable. Eleven days ago you started a thread entitled “Time for Manning to go”!

Are you having short term memory issues?

That was a knee jerk reaction Leveller - something I thought that I’d grown out of…………

[mozo]

54 minutes ago, Robbored said:

That was a knee jerk reaction Leveller - something I thought that I’d grown out of…………

To be fair, massive kudos to you for being the only one to concede that it may have been knee jerk! 

Supporting a football team is such an emotional experience that we're all guilty of it. Actually. Sometimes it's just nice to vent, irrespective of the rights and wrongs.

That's why this forum is effing nuts!

[Robbored]

11 minutes ago, mozo said:

To be fair, massive kudos to you for being the only one to concede that it may have been knee jerk! 

Supporting a football team is such an emotional experience that we're all guilty of it. Actually. Sometimes it's just nice to vent, irrespective of the rights and wrongs.

 

Absolutely following any club is an emotional and stressful experience and over several decades I’ve experienced more lows than highs following City but it’s impossible to change your allegiance whilst in life in general it’s possible change everything else.

Tbh - I surprised myself by reacting to the Baggies loss in the manner that I did. I’d thought that knee jerk reactions were a thing of the past but obviously not!

[Bazooka Joe]

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

And then you have Boris Tinnion’s equivalent of “Hands, Face, Space”, with “young, hungry, now” At the fans forum.  If you say it enough, get louder and redder in the face each time you say it, then that counts as a strategy too!

Brilliant !

aka Bore us Tinnion or even possibly, Bare Arse Tinnion.

[Oizys]

6 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Did you think we were/are a top 6 squad going into the season? I didn't. If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them? That's my main gripe with the hierarchy and one particular person within it......too often you get anything but the truth.

Well that depends....is it a cold day?

[Numero Uno]

3 hours ago, BrizzleRed said:

Even if we did manage to claw ourselves into a PO spot at any point, how many fans have any genuine confidence that we’d stay there?

Not sure people would be confident if we managed it on the last day of the season.............

[Numero Uno]

14 minutes ago, Oizys said:

Well that depends....is it a cold day?

In that case, you're forgiven for believing the club..............

[Oizys]

21 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

In that case, you're forgiven for believing the club..............

I am most definitely not in that camp!!

I think the thing for me is not believing that we have a top 6 squad, but the disrespect from the club for expecting fans to swallow such outright drivel. 

They want it both ways, they want us to believe their words but not question them when they're proven to be utter bollocks.

Edited January 2 by Oizys

[BrizzleRed]

23 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Not sure people would be confident if we managed it on the last day of the season.............

I for one wouldn’t be, if there was still added on time to be played!!!  

[italian dave]

13 hours ago, spudski said:

It's interesting Dave in many ways.

Yes, the forum is full of vitriol at the moment. Not much joy.

Look at the politics section of this forum, and see how horrid it can get on there. People thoroughly pissed off with how things are being run in the Country.

It's now filtered down into the football forum. 

The thing that people look forward to, their football, to take them away from the 'real world', has now become a reflection of that ' real world ).

People thoroughly disallusioned with the leadership, the hollow words, the lies, mismanagement etc etc. 

People are sick to death of it.

The underlying feeling imo, is that just like politics, people know we are stuck in an ever revolving system, because of the people in charge. 

They know it's not going to change, (unless they sell up), so we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

It's complete frustration. 

The the dangling carrot of the play offs

It's a cope out for Clubs in many ways. 

Tell the fan base we're aiming for 6th. 

Just for a chance to go into a lottery.

Like it's a big achievement. 

Half way through the season and we are already 18 points adrift of top spot. 

That's the real barometer of where we are as a Club...we shouldn't be judging our progress with 6th place. 

I bet you most look at the league table, and now just focus on who's sitting in 6th place and how many points we need to catch up. 

As if that's the holy grail. 

The leadership has created the vitriol. 

In the same way people turn off and don't believe a word politicians say, they now do the same with the leadership at our club. 

The one thing people are passionate about, something that brought joy, has now become a chore. 

It's very understandable why it is, like it is. 

Bit of a ramble...but hope you get my drift. 

 

 

Sorry Spud, meant to reply earlier, but was struggling to get my head round it all

Yes, get your drift: and whilst I don’t agree with it all, great post!

I recognise all that you say, just not sure it’s something to lay entirely at the door of our leaders. It’s just a reflection of wider society, isn’t it? Polarisation, intolerance of other views, not just looking for but expecting easy answers to everything, rights over responsibilities, anger/abuse just because you don’t get your way, stereotyping, scapegoating, and all brought into horribly sharp focus by social media.

And it’s especially dispiriting on here, where we’re all supposed to share at least one major thing in common.

There’s still lots to enjoy: hopefully you like me feel it’s still informative, funny, interesting, and somewhere it’s still possible to have a good discussion even when we don’t always agree. Yes, there are a few posters who make that impossible, but I like to think that you and I, for example, whilst we disagree from time to time (!!) can still hold a respectful debate and explain our positions.

But boy it can be depressing pre and post a match!

But I do still manage to forget it on matchday! And I still enjoy watching and supporting City as much as ever. We’ll always have our ups and downs, but I still look forward to every match and still enjoy watching - that’s certainly not a chore. 

Edited January 2 by italian dave

[spudski]

11 hours ago, italian dave said:

Sorry Spud, meant to reply earlier, but was struggling to get my head round it all

Yes, get your drift: and whilst I don’t agree with it all, great post!

I recognise all that you say, just not sure it’s something to lay entirely at the door of our leaders. It’s just a reflection of wider society, isn’t it? Polarisation, intolerance of other views, not just looking for but expecting easy answers to everything, rights over responsibilities, anger/abuse just because you don’t get your way, stereotyping, scapegoating, and all brought into horribly sharp focus by social media.

And it’s especially dispiriting on here, where we’re all supposed to share at least one major thing in common.

There’s still lots to enjoy: hopefully you like me feel it’s still informative, funny, interesting, and somewhere it’s still possible to have a good discussion even when we don’t always agree. Yes, there are a few posters who make that impossible, but I like to think that you and I, for example, whilst we disagree from time to time (!!) can still hold a respectful debate and explain our positions.

But boy it can be depressing pre and post a match!

But I do still manage to forget it on matchday! And I still enjoy watching and supporting City as much as ever. We’ll always have our ups and downs, but I still look forward to every match and still enjoy watching - that’s certainly not a chore. 

Nicely put Dave. Appreciated

 

[bcfcredandwhite]

On 02/01/2025 at 10:25, Robbored said:

Tbh - I’m genuinely surprised that City are doing reasonably well given the shite Manning has been serving up.

That said recently results have improved since the dismal performances at the Hawthorns and Fratton Pk so my optimism has returned to a degree despite not beating struggling Argyle at Home Pk on NYs Day

 

I’ve actually been enjoying the ‘shite’ that Manning has been serving up - in the most part (with a few exceptions)
I can’t remember seeing a Bristol City side pass and move as quickly or accurately as we have seen of late - again, there have been some dismal exceptions, but in the main I’ve quite enjoyed ‘Manningball’. 
We pass and move quite nicely for a Championship side - and when I’ve watched highlights of other Championship games the other teams have looked like a bunch of donkeys. 
As has been said on many other threads and in many other posts; we need a STRIKER to convert the chances into goals. 

[Oizys]

5 minutes ago, bcfcredandwhite said:

I’ve actually been enjoying the ‘shite’ that Manning has been serving up - in the most part (with a few exceptions)
I can’t remember seeing a Bristol City side pass and move as quickly or accurately as we have seen of late - again, there have been some dismal exceptions, but in the main I’ve quite enjoyed ‘Manningball’. 
We pass and move quite nicely for a Championship side - and when I’ve watched highlights of other Championship games the other teams have looked like a bunch of donkeys. 
As has been said on many other threads and in many other posts; we need a STRIKER to convert the chances into goals. 

Midtable in a league full of teams who are "a bunch of donkeys" is not something I'd be quick to shout from the rooftops about....

[Mr Popodopolous]

8 minutes ago, bcfcredandwhite said:

I’ve actually been enjoying the ‘shite’ that Manning has been serving up - in the most part (with a few exceptions)
I can’t remember seeing a Bristol City side pass and move as quickly or accurately as we have seen of late - again, there have been some dismal exceptions, but in the main I’ve quite enjoyed ‘Manningball’. 
We pass and move quite nicely for a Championship side - and when I’ve watched highlights of other Championship games the other teams have looked like a bunch of donkeys. 
As has been said on many other threads and in many other posts; we need a STRIKER to convert the chances into goals. 

I think 8th-10th when we factor both For and Against, maybe a bit closer wirh a fair wind.

Wouldn't agree on the League as a whole. Sunderland vs us? Leeds play some dominant stuff..Middlesbrough fun bit flawed..Norwich even more. Swansea too Possession top heavy but far from donkeys.

West Brom looked far from donkeys vs us..albeit we play some quite nice stuff but IMO you are overstating the gap between Performance and Results albeit we could be NET another 2-3 better.

[bcfcredandwhite]

22 minutes ago, Oizys said:

Midtable in a league full of teams who are "a bunch of donkeys" is not something I'd be quick to shout from the rooftops about....

That’s because we do the ‘pretty’ stuff without an end result. 
Warnock’s Cardiff got to the Prem with donkeys. Sometimes blunt force works. They didn’t do the pretty’ stuff but could bully a win. 
Just to clarify; of course not all other teams are donkeys, but when I compare footage of our games with MANY (not all) other games we look slick. 

20 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

I think 8th-10th when we factor both For and Against, maybe a bit closer wirh a fair wind.

Wouldn't agree on the League as a whole. Sunderland vs us? Leeds play some dominant stuff..Middlesbrough fun bit flawed..Norwich even more. Swansea too Possession top heavy but far from donkeys.

West Brom looked far from donkeys vs us..albeit we play some quite nice stuff but IMO you are overstating the gap between Performance and Results albeit we could be NET another 2-3 better.

Agreed. Hopefully my post above has clarified my opinion a bit. 

[Charlie BCFC]

On 02/01/2025 at 06:56, Numero Uno said:

If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them? 

Well not to blow my own trumpet…

[Gert Mare]

On 02/01/2025 at 07:42, Sir Geoff said:

How is being top half, against the odds ?

According to JL last October we had the best squad he has ever seen at the club "top end."

Since then he has brought in a front foot on the grass progressive coach and spent £10 million improving the top end squad.

Top 8 throughout the season with a genuine stab at the play offs (see Middlesbrough and Sunderland) should be the absolute minimum.

100% agree with this.

Look, at the end of the day if you make arrogant statements like JL and BT then you need to take accountability for those statements and treat all managers with the same expectations.

Otherwise, just be honest. At least that way if people don't like what you say at least they'll respect you for being honest.

This split in the fanbase has been caused by nobody except the decision makers.

I believed in Nigel Pearson, I don't believe in Liam Manning. I'm happy we're not in a relegation dog fight, but I wouldn't expect us to be having spent a decent sum of money over the summer. I find the haters v happy clappers thing tiresome. I'm disappointed we're not in the top 6, but I didn't expect us to be because I felt we were backing the wrong horse. Is the football dire? Sometimes. Am I entertained? Sometimes. Are we where I expected to be right now? Yes, slightly better than I expected, but in my opinion the fixtures suggest we should be picking up some points, but when that patch runs out I expect us to tail off again.

We canned a progressing project and started all over again. If we bin Manning then expect more of the same. The club really want to build anything really, just sustain and where we are reflects the boards true ambitions. Tick tick, tread water.

[Malago]

Hello 

hello

we are the highly optimistic brigade 

hello 

hello

you'll know us by our noise

and if you are a malcontent

surrender or you’ll die

cus we are the highly optimistic boys.

[Upper Mid Table]

I still think it will be hard to finish too 6, but I’m pretty happy being 8th and 3 points off 6th, been a while since we have entered the 2nd half of the season and think, maybe just maybe…

[Malago]

1 hour ago, Upper Mid Table said:

I still think it will be hard to finish too 6, but I’m pretty happy being 8th and 3 points off 6th, been a while since we have entered the 2nd half of the season and think, maybe just maybe…

That we’re still in the race with 6 games to go.  That’s the first objective for me.

 

[tubba]

On 22/12/2024 at 19:50, Mr Popodopolous said:

On here and beyond, for months we have had forced jollity and optimism, strange convoluted defences of the Club etc.

I shouldn't really slate but bloody annoyed..here and beyond, like a Pied Piper of Hamlin leading us to our midtable mediocrity.

Feels like Play-off tilt over and today barring a scratch team have Wolves found a little mojo?

Leicester 0 v Wolves 3

Season over by January 11th by 2pm or 3pm if we get extra time etc. Explain that one!

 

Thriving on negativity just seems really.... Sad. 

"Season over by January"

Almost every club across the globe aside from the top ends of the top leagues with better cup runs, European fixtures etc have to accept this. It's a very small percentage that have high stakes in the latter stages of the season. 

As it is though, we're 8th and doing fine. What more do you want? A deep run into an FA cup semi final? Carabao cup final next month? 

Let us not forget that a season being over in January would mean another season in the championship. It's not always a bad thing? We've a very young squad outside of Nahki? Max, Dickie and Vyner hitting their peak years, most of the others 25 or younger. Another season together, a few good signings and who knows? I'd much rather look at things in a positive light. 

And hey, the season isn't actually done in January yet anyway. Funny how things can change in a few weeks. 

[downendcity]

On 02/01/2025 at 06:56, Numero Uno said:

 If the club said your cock was 16 inches long would you believe them?

Of course not.

 

 

 

 

 

There's no way it's grown four inches since I last measured it a week ago!

[Mr Popodopolous]

7 hours ago, tubba said:

 

Thriving on negativity just seems really.... Sad. 

"Season over by January"

Almost every club across the globe aside from the top ends of the top leagues with better cup runs, European fixtures etc have to accept this. It's a very small percentage that have high stakes in the latter stages of the season. 

As it is though, we're 8th and doing fine. What more do you want? A deep run into an FA cup semi final? Carabao cup final next month? 

Let us not forget that a season being over in January would mean another season in the championship. It's not always a bad thing? We've a very young squad outside of Nahki? Max, Dickie and Vyner hitting their peak years, most of the others 25 or younger. Another season together, a few good signings and who knows? I'd much rather look at things in a positive light. 

And hey, the season isn't actually done in January yet anyway. Funny how things can change in a few weeks. 

Not exactly no.

When you get 11 Points from 9 and then 1 win in 7, it can be a huge ask to get into the mix properly. This thread was borne of frustration and indeed I thought the high optimism up before Derby Away in mid August was somehow misplaced but that's a side issue.

We are now broadly meeting my hopes and expectations in some ways which is great..the thread was perhaps unnecessary by me but the 12th place again and We've got the ball chants at WBA were hardly conductive. I thought 10 from 4 was a vital run to get back into contention but I didn't have great belief thst we would get it.

The problem with 11 from 9 and then 1 in 7 Post International break is it puts so much pressure, leaves not much Margin for error for keeping it alive. Tbh we have risen to the challenge so far and credit to all for that but we need another 34 Pts minimum to be in contention from the final 20..maybe closer to 40 then 35.

O'Leary, Vyner out of contract in 2026 (so too are Tanner, Atkinson, Pring and Roberts).

McCrorie and Dickie are also on paper but year option in our favour can take to 2027..I expect the Championship could be harder next year.

To say we are a very young squad is debatable..those U25 can be classed as such, others less so. Peak years can vary by position I accept.