Richard Gould

[steviestevieneville]

17 minutes ago, billywedlock said:

You must be joking. The most negative poster on here, no idea what he wants, zero proposals and zero concept of where we are.The worst type of person around the club. People like him are a disgrace . 

Exactly . All we get is . Pearson out , sack him blah blah blah. No recognition of where the the club are on & off the field . The slow & steady decline of the last 4 years & mismanagement of our recruitment system. It’s as black & white as Pearson’s fault according to him. He’s not the only one though. 
If people want Pearson out then fine . But give solutions , not just a name . How we get back on track financially &  recruitment wise. 
 

[Top Robin]

28 minutes ago, SecretSam said:

Amusing to read the responses here, and the speculation about the manager's health - see my separate thread, in which my question about Pearson's long-term health results in getting slaughtered.

What's Gould supposed to say? By law, you can't get rid of someone who's legitimately ill without their consent. And there's a lot of uncertainty and unknowns about long COVID (if that's what it is*). So he's hardly going to announce on air that we're binning an employee. 

 

*Source: I've got it

There must be some clause/sub clause in the contract between Nige and BCFC which covers retirement due to ill health. 

I wonder what the financial implications are for each party if this happens.

[Pezo]

11 minutes ago, Hampshire reds said:

I feel nigel and his family and his agent could put a statement out to let people know how he is and if he is returning anytime soon.(i know its a private matter) Best wishes to nigel and his family.Stay safe

He doesn't strike me as the type to put any effort or especially respond to rumours.

[Galley is our king]

20 minutes ago, TomF said:

Another great article from JP summing the situation up:

 

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-pearson-bristol-city-6179327

Thanks Tom,

I think everyone on here should read this before posting anymore crap, conspiracy theories, or personal agendas.

Thoughtful and well written piece.

 

[GrahamC]

2 hours ago, JonDolman said:

Yep. But when GT said about performances on the pitch he maybe could have used a different example than the Bournemouth game - against the best side in the division. Although it was a shocking performance there are enough other examples against much worse teams he could have used easy answer for Gould to say parachute payments on that one.

All mainly quite pointless though isn't it. One guy trying to ask difficult questions and another who is just trying to say whatever safest thing he can think of.

Some questions a waste of time like asking him about how they can play better on the pitch. That's not his job to find solutions for the current players to play better. The video club interview which surely had all questions planned even asked him questions like that which was odd. 

And GT asking him questions he obviously won't answer like what position we will strengthen and Massengo's contract.

So I think the only thing we can take from the interview which is the main thing people tuned in for is that it sounded like Pearson might not be here in the future. Though he didn't answer that one so that's just a guess.

Oh and I think he said we will be in the transfer market in January which is one positive to come from it because it wasn't obvious that would be the case with people saying we don't have any money.

To be fair to Twentyman he used the Bournemouth game as an example because as he said, it was the last time he had actually seen us play, so was basing it on his observations rather than other people’s.

 I might be too kind but when we get on to our style of play (or lack of it) I’m not sure Gould is the man to be asking, seeing as he doesn’t coach, select or organise the players & as I said previously, he doesn’t want to come across as an excuse maker, so couldn’t say that the current regime (Pearson & him) have been lumbered with awful signings like Palmer & Wells on fortunes in a Covid damaged transfer market.

[johnbytheriver]

20 hours ago, Finley_Smith10 said:

Hopefully GT asks him some decent questions and we get some actual decent answers. I.e future backing, why performances have took a bad turn.

That did'nt work did it!?

[steviestevieneville]

30 minutes ago, VT05763 said:

Ryan Lowe. Playing a system that suits our squad. Intensive work on the training ground, creating a positive culture within the players and giving them confidence, allowing players to dribble.

But just my opinion and if you are happy with the  "poor mans Wimbledon" disorganised shambles that has been on offer then season then that is fine.

Correct, so why do the interview ? serious question.

That’s not a explanation you’ve read it off a Source bottle  

what if the players don’t suit Ryan lowes system . Then what. Get another load of players in that creates a even more unbalanced squad, with more wages being paid. 
you have absolutely no idea on what goes on behind the scenes. We’ve had so much upheaval over the last few years. Pearson’s only just managed to get rid of two coaches that were panic appointments.

Do you genuinely think it’s that easy. Pearson has inherited a complete mess . It’s not a game of fifa . You can’t just click your fingers to turn things around . 
we were told it’ll take 3 years. We were told it’ll get worse before it gets better. We’re 4 months into that 3 year rebuild. FOUR MONTHS. 

If you actually listened to the interview  RG said our wage bill is (paraphrasing) 3 times what it should be. That wage bill was created by MA signed off by SL.so you want to pay off a manager, probably another coach. Then pay a new manager & coaches to come in . You obviously haven’t grasped the financial hole we’re in.  Pearson had to let 12-13 players go, anther MA/SL cock up letting all them go with no resale  . Some he may of wanted keep but couldn’t . He’s had no money to spend compared with other managers , plus we have players it’s obvious he’d like get rid of but can’t.

so, instead of just shouting sack the manager. Why not try to understand the bloke is working with both hands tied behind his back . On top of that having long covid that we don’t know how long he’s been suffering with.

Its a long winded way of saying . Get some perspective . 

[supercidered]

36 minutes ago, VT05763 said:

Ryan Lowe. Playing a system that suits our squad. Intensive work on the training ground, creating a positive culture within the players and giving them confidence, allowing players to dribble.

But just my opinion and if you are happy with the  "poor mans Wimbledon" disorganised shambles that has been on offer then season then that is fine.

Correct, so why do the interview ? serious question.

Ryan Lowe. Here we go yet again.

Did you or any other RL advocate watch Sheff Weds v Plymouth at the weekend? Christ it was sh!te. I'm not basing RL's credentials on one game by the way. I live near Plymouth so have the misfortune of getting to see them in action. Not to mention the fickle Plymouth fans banging on that this is their season. However, even Plymouth fans have doubted him at times. Plymouth are in the League One mix and that is about it. They don't play great football and I'm not sure where anyone gets that impression from. It also conveniently forgotten that RL hasn't been without his struggles with Plymouth in his time there.

Why would anyone think RL would play a system that suits our squad? Do we not have intensive work carried out the training ground? Is NP not trying to strip out all of the dead wood and creating a positive culture etc, etc?

If a change has to be made i.e. I can only see due to NPs health as being the only reason. Then RL would be a gamble of such magnitude that I just can't see being taken. 

[Keepers Ball]

Just listened to the Richard Gould interview.  

Wasn't really inciteful was it?

Told us what we already know and obvious replies every single time.

And regarding Nigel Pearson illness, I'd have sooner Gould told us the club didn't wish to go into detail as to the nature of the illness but instead banged on about the effects of Covid which doesn't really tell us what the real problem is. It just leaves us assuming or guessing. And the problem is how long is this going to keep Nigel away. The knock on effect can be disastrous for us as a club

Waste of an interview to be honest.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Keepers Ball

[Pezo]

8 minutes ago, Keepers Ball said:

Just listened to the Richard Gould interview.  

Wasn't really inciteful was it?

Told us what we already know and obvious replies every single time.

And regarding Nigel Pearson illness, I'd have sooner Gould told us the club didn't wish to go into detail as to the nature of the illness but instead banged on about the effects of Covid which doesn't really tell us what the real problem is. It just leaves us assuming or guessing. And the problem is how long is this going to keep Nigel away. The knock on effect can be disastrous for us as a club

Waste of an interview to be honest.

Watch his YouTube interview.

 

 

 

 

If you want to waste time, it's exactly the same.

[oldstandrobin]

14 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

Sounds like they are fiddling and fretting while Rome burns.

Still if Lansdown worries about how much money he loses on the club now, wait till he sees how many people attend matches and buy merchandise, when the club is in L1.

It sounds like the club admin are in deep denial about how deeply in decline the team is. How likely relegation is. 

Things cannot simply drift on because those in charge don't know what to do.

 

Exactly RR. I think for all the promises we have had over the years, a lot of us will probably start watching our local amateur sides with an eye on results featuring City. I for one will be one of those as football to me is entertainment and I have not seen that in a few years now at AG. Will always be a City fan but it's wearing very thin now. I would think the young and the diehards will still turn up ( as I did in the dark days) and attendances will be around the 10k mark or less.

[oldstandrobin]

1 hour ago, steviestevieneville said:

That’s not a explanation you’ve read it off a Source bottle  

what if the players don’t suit Ryan lowes system . Then what. Get another load of players in that creates a even more unbalanced squad, with more wages being paid. 
you have absolutely no idea on what goes on behind the scenes. We’ve had so much upheaval over the last few years. Pearson’s only just managed to get rid of two coaches that were panic appointments.

Do you genuinely think it’s that easy. Pearson has inherited a complete mess . It’s not a game of fifa . You can’t just click your fingers to turn things around . 
we were told it’ll take 3 years. We were told it’ll get worse before it gets better. We’re 4 months into that 3 year rebuild. FOUR MONTHS. 

If you actually listened to the interview  RG said our wage bill is (paraphrasing) 3 times what it should be. That wage bill was created by MA signed off by SL.so you want to pay off a manager, probably another coach. Then pay a new manager & coaches to come in . You obviously haven’t grasped the financial hole we’re in.  Pearson had to let 12-13 players go, anther MA/SL cock up letting all them go with no resale  . Some he may of wanted keep but couldn’t . He’s had no money to spend compared with other managers , plus we have players it’s obvious he’d like get rid of but can’t.

so, instead of just shouting sack the manager. Why not try to understand the bloke is working with both hands tied behind his back . On top of that having long covid that we don’t know how long he’s been suffering with.

Its a long winded way of saying . Get some perspective . 

Spot on Stevie, it all stems from SL's running of Bristol Sport with BCFC being the ugly sister. Forget it was OUR ground, forget we all go there for the football, forget BRC played at the Mem, it's SL's big vision except for one valuable point.....He's clueless on Football.

[Red-Robbo]

1 hour ago, TomF said:

Another great article from JP summing the situation up:

 

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/nigel-pearson-bristol-city-6179327

 

So, according to that piece, Pearson has been feeling ill for most of the season and certainly for the last 8 matches, but no one from the club hierarchy wants to make a "snap decision" about what to do about it.

I think we can remove the word "snap" from that sentence!

No one wants to make a decision. 

[Alessandro]

Quite surprised to the reaction of these interviews. Yes he's not the best orator, but actually for once, that for me is the interview of someone not lying to me.

It's the same in politics, so many people are desperate for definitive answers and solutions for everything, soundbites, they'll listen and suck up a complete lie if it's packaged right. 

I'd much rather that Gould interview than some Mark Ashton style media packaged nonsense statement or something that will later on down the line be used against him if ends up wrong.

In this case, Gould can't give a definitive answer because he doesn't have one yet and as Peircy writes in his article, that is probably fair enough, in a very unique situation. 

[chinapig]

1 hour ago, supercidered said:

Ryan Lowe. Here we go yet again.

Did you or any other RL advocate watch Sheff Weds v Plymouth at the weekend? Christ it was sh!te. I'm not basing RL's credentials on one game by the way. I live near Plymouth so have the misfortune of getting to see them in action. Not to mention the fickle Plymouth fans banging on that this is their season. However, even Plymouth fans have doubted him at times. Plymouth are in the League One mix and that is about it. They don't play great football and I'm not sure where anyone gets that impression from. It also conveniently forgotten that RL hasn't been without his struggles with Plymouth in his time there.

Why would anyone think RL would play a system that suits our squad? Do we not have intensive work carried out the training ground? Is NP not trying to strip out all of the dead wood and creating a positive culture etc, etc?

If a change has to be made i.e. I can only see due to NPs health as being the only reason. Then RL would be a gamble of such magnitude that I just can't see being taken. 

You may be right and I don't see Lowe as the solution but in response to the highlighted point above I am with Piercy in asking why are we playing hoofball when it doesn't suit our squad?

[Phileas Fogg]

6 minutes ago, Alessandro said:

Quite surprised to the reaction of these interviews. Yes he's not the best orator, but actually for once, that for me is the interview of someone not lying to me.

It's the same in politics, so many people are desperate for definitive answers and solutions for everything, soundbites, they'll listen and suck up a complete lie if it's packaged right. 

I'd much rather that Gould interview than some Mark Ashton style media packaged nonsense statement or something that will later on down the line be used against him if ends up wrong.

In this case, Gould can't give a definitive answer because he doesn't have one yet and as Peircy writes in his article, that is probably fair enough, in a very unique situation. 

Good points. I think it’s clear that he’s a man of integrity, but for me could probably get a bit more familiar with the footballing side of the club so as not to sound a bit uninformed.

I would be lying if I said I was impressed though. 

[stortfordred]

1 hour ago, Galley is our king said:

Thanks Tom,

I think everyone on here should read this before posting anymore crap, conspiracy theories, or personal agendas.

Thoughtful and well written piece.

 

With a clickbait headline starter 'Pearson leaves City....'

[Alessandro]

20 minutes ago, Phileas Fogg said:

Good points. I think it’s clear that he’s a man of integrity, but for me could probably get a bit more familiar with the footballing side of the club so as not to sound a bit uninformed.

I would be lying if I said I was impressed though. 

That's fair enough, I wouldn't say I was impressed. But i'm just realistic about what he can say at the moment.

It's not going well on the pitch, you can't sugar coat that and he didn't, he was honest and generally fair in his assessment IMO - he suggested Jan may see some investment = good.

It's a complex situation off the pitch with NP - he didn't make any promises, which is absolutely fair enough as the club need to give him some time. There was no speculation and he doesn't IMO need to discuss plan a or plan b or even plan c for the fan's sake. They will rightly and respectfully be doing it in house. 

[BrizzleRed]

2 hours ago, Pezo said:

Hmmm we will have to agree to disagree, I think that interview was organised because fans are looking for answers and were asking the SL, JL and RG to answer questions through social media, RG realised he had to fill the chasm of non information flying around so rather than directly respond on social media and set that expectation he went on GT.

If that was the reason, I thought RG was surprisingly lacklustre.  It felt like a PR own goal to me and did nothing to allay fans’ concerns.  

If we didn’t know otherwise, it felt far more like RG had been dragged in reluctantly and was doing hs best polititian impression of giving very little away with his answers, rather than having requested the interview to clear up uncertainty.

That interview left me with the conclusion that we’re in far deeper shit than I’d realised  before and judging by comments on here, I’m certainly not alone in that.  

If the club were trying to reassure fans with this interview, I fear they’ve failed dismally. RG seemed extremely uncomfortable and I saw no reason to think the club have this situation in hand.

Extremely worrying times!

[mozo]

2 hours ago, SecretSam said:

Amusing to read the responses here, and the speculation about the manager's health - see my separate thread, in which my question about Pearson's long-term health results in getting slaughtered.

What's Gould supposed to say? By law, you can't get rid of someone who's legitimately ill without their consent. And there's a lot of uncertainty and unknowns about long COVID (if that's what it is*). So he's hardly going to announce on air that we're binning an employee. 

 

*Source: I've got it

It's not what he said, it's how he said it. 

He kept avoiding giving straight answers. Why not emphatically say that Nige wishes he was back with the team? Why not emphatically confirm that we're desperate for Nige to be our long term manager? Why not emphatically confirm that we are in contract negotiations with Massengo?

If the whole point of the interview is to give reassurance to fans you have to be specific and assertive, not vague and evasive.

It's really in keeping with the bumbling public relations output that Bristol City operate. Always trying to stage manage but always doing so in a clumsy way.

Remember the Diedhiou statements from Ashton, and the radio silence appointing Holden, then the misinformation about Holden's coaches, then Jon L goes missing during the Holden sacking, then Lansdown does a radio appearance and patronises the supporters trust and casually drops a bombshell that we're looking for investment in the club and since then no further detail. Now another clunky attempt at reassuring fans and we come away wondering why Gould was so unsure about everything he said.

[Red Skin]

Strange for RG to come on when he didn't really have anything to say.    Unfortunately for him the timing of the NP announcement left him a bit exposed.   Can't really expect him to answer footballing questions IMHO.

The fact NP has had two doses of Covid - the first of which I understood to be very serious - and is still unwell shouldn't be underestimated in terms of his appetite to resume such a demanding role.   He has been very open that for him there is more to life than football, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he decided he did not want to come back.   He'd get my respect if he did. 

[Pezo]

29 minutes ago, BrizzleRed said:

If that was the reason, I thought RG was surprisingly lacklustre.  It felt like a PR own goal to me and did nothing to allay fans’ concerns.  

If we didn’t know otherwise, it felt far more like RG had been dragged in reluctantly and was doing hs best polititian impression of giving very little away with his answers, rather than having requested the interview to clear up uncertainty.

That interview left me with the conclusion that we’re in far deeper shit than I’d realised  before and judging by comments on here, I’m certainly not alone in that.  

If the club were trying to reassure fans with this interview, I fear they’ve failed dismally. RG seemed extremely uncomfortable and I saw no reason to think the club have this situation in hand.

Extremely worrying times!

Then it has served it's purpose because we are ******.

I don't think he was trying to reassure fans - he was trying to say nothing while at the same time fill the void of rumour and misinformation that is currently going around and lay out some bare truths.

[Red-Robbo]

8 minutes ago, Pezo said:

Then it has served it's purpose because we are ******.

I don't think he was trying to reassure fans - he was trying to say nothing while at the same time fill the void of rumour and misinformation that is currently going around and lay out some bare truths.

 

The basic truths being: the team is in turmoil, the manager is ill and we don't know when he's coming back and we have no plan other than to expose a recently appointed assistant by putting him in sole charge of the situation.  

[Davefevs]

7 hours ago, CiderJar said:

The point is Richard Gould is fulfilling his role as CEO whereas Mark Ashton was trying to be a DoF. Ashton was doing it wrong Gould is doing it right. If he choses to appoint a DoF then that is different, but as CEO he is there to lead the admin side of the operation, not the football.

Great post

 

 

5 hours ago, Pezo said:

Just listened to the first 5 mins states he wants NP back. GT - "And he wants to come back", RG - "I'm sure that's the case".

Not sure where the ambiguity is in that other than he can't speak for Nige, he doesn't know Nige's thought's he just knows what he thinks Nige's thought's are.

the bit that struck me is he said long COVID so I assume that's what it is - he also said "who knows with long COVID"

He is obviously not going to paint himself into a corner and look stupid by saying Nige will be back next week when he doesn't know if it's tomorrow, next week, 3 months or if NP is going to come to the conclusion that his health means he can't do the job.

Anyone watching the Morning Show on Apple….Nige is played by Jennifer Aniston.

[BrizzleRed]

12 minutes ago, Pezo said:

Then it has served it's purpose because we are ******.

I don't think he was trying to reassure fans - he was trying to say nothing while at the same time fill the void of rumour and misinformation that is currently going around and lay out some bare truths.

….. well, if as you say, the purpose of the interview was just to clear up some of the rumours and give the club’s confirmation that we really are fooked, then I’d have to agree ….. he was far more successful on that score!!!

[mozo]

4 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

The basic truths being: the team is in turmoil, the manager is ill and we don't know when he's coming back and we have no plan other than to expose a recently appointed assistant by putting him in sole charge of the situation.  

Don't worry because our physio has loads of experience and will pick the team and Cisse does loads of jobs, so will cover the physiotherapy, and Scotty is a club legend so will do the 1st team training, and Kadji has just signed a deal so he'll head up recruitment...

[Pezo]

7 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

The basic truths being: the team is in turmoil, the manager is ill and we don't know when he's coming back and we have no plan other than to expose a recently appointed assistant by putting him in sole charge of the situation.  

Yep.

[sh1t_ref_again]

25 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

The basic truths being: the team is in turmoil, the manager is ill and we don't know when he's coming back and we have no plan other than to expose a recently appointed assistant by putting him in sole charge of the situation.  

So you expect the CEO of a company to spell out any plans they are considering for various possible scenario's on a radio interview? apart from the fact contract / legally could be difficult negotiations to be had, but we are in a period of short term uncertainty until NP feels well enough to continue or we get to a situation where changes have to be made.

With regards to Shakespeare he said no discussions were being had, does not mean they are not going to be

The person Gt could have asked about coming in and giving support and may be a good short term solution is Tinman

 

[exAtyeoMax]

1 hour ago, mozo said:

It's not what he said, it's how he said it. 

He kept avoiding giving straight answers. Why not emphatically say that Nige wishes he was back with the team? Why not emphatically confirm that we're desperate for Nige to be our long term manager? Why not emphatically confirm that we are in contract negotiations with Massengo?

If the whole point of the interview is to give reassurance to fans you have to be specific and assertive, not vague and evasive.

It's really in keeping with the bumbling public relations output that Bristol City operate. Always trying to stage manage but always doing so in a clumsy way.

Remember the Diedhiou statements from Ashton, and the radio silence appointing Holden, then the misinformation about Holden's coaches, then Jon L goes missing during the Holden sacking, then Lansdown does a radio appearance and patronises the supporters trust and casually drops a bombshell that we're looking for investment in the club and since then no further detail. Now another clunky attempt at reassuring fans and we come away wondering why Gould was so unsure about everything he said.

Is Lisa Knights still at the club? Didn’t she deal with a lot of PR?

[Davefevs]

4 hours ago, VT05763 said:

allowing players to dribble.

Why do you keep repeating this statement?

3 hours ago, Pezo said:

Watch his YouTube interview.

 

 

 

 

If you want to waste time, it's exactly the same.

i watched the YT club interview after I’d listened to the BBCRB one.  The first thing that struck me was the sequence of discussion.

RG’s club video was focused on “performance”, (a proactive international break update) he didn’t touch on Nige until midway through.  I would guess that this was recorded prior to the social media furore….might’ve even been done on Sunday?

I’ve no idea whether the decision to request time with Geoff was in response to knowing that the club video was going out later that afternoon or a result of social media rumours.  Geoff tweeted at 12:01 yesterday, so he must’ve got a call sometime before that.

I didn’t get my DM until 13:22….not sure when BS4 got his info?  I heard a shitty rumour at 8am too, which I dismissed.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Davefevs

[Davefevs]

42 minutes ago, mozo said:

Don't worry because our physio has loads of experience and will pick the team and Cisse does loads of jobs, so will cover the physiotherapy, and Scotty is a club legend so will do the 1st team training, and Kadji has just signed a deal so he'll head up recruitment...

In fairness his response about Cisse was perfectly fine imho.  He’s a coach primarily but does some scouting too.

7 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Is Lisa Knights still at the club? Didn’t she deal with a lot of PR?

I believe so, she’s the Group Head of Comms, Dave Barton is the Football Club Head of Comms.

Guesswork, is that he reports into Lisa from a processes, practices, HR perspective, and into Richard Gould from a day to day football side of things.

[mozo]

14 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Is Lisa Knights still at the club? Didn’t she deal with a lot of PR?

Good question, not sure [edit Fevs has answered].

It's simple stuff:

1. What do we want to say?

2. What is an easy way of saying it?

3. Say it like you mean it.

"Nige is desperate to come back" is good.

"I'm sure he does want to return" [said in uncertain tone] is not so good.

Edited November 9, 2021 by mozo

[Super]

10 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Is Lisa Knights still at the club? Didn’t she deal with a lot of PR?

Probably followed Ashton....

[mozo]

7 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

In fairness his response about Cisse was perfectly fine imho.  He’s a coach primarily but does some scouting too.

I believe so, she’s the Group Head of Comms, Dave Barton is the Football Club Head of Comms.

Guesswork, is that he reports into Lisa from a processes, practices, HR perspective, and into Richard Gould from a day to day football side of things.

Yeah, I didn't take issue with Gould's Cisse comments. 

It was more the Rennie reference, our unconvincing current set up and, mainly, I just wanted a cheap laugh!

 

Edit: also while I'm banging on about this PR appraisal, Gould was well within his rights to sidestep questions about the playing style and any on the pitch specifics. A gentle "I'm not the best man to talk about that" would be fine. The high press comment was ill-advised and he got dragged into justifying the playing style.

Edited November 9, 2021 by mozo

[steviestevieneville]

2 hours ago, oldstandrobin said:

Spot on Stevie, it all stems from SL's running of Bristol Sport with BCFC being the ugly sister. Forget it was OUR ground, forget we all go there for the football, forget BRC played at the Mem, it's SL's big vision except for one valuable point.....He's clueless on Football.

I don’t necessarily agree with that re Bristol sport. I’ve had a pop at Lansdown & rightly so. The reasons  are purely footballing reasons / manager appointments/ mark ashton. I’ve never doubted his financial commitment to the club , but how that’s been spent . All eggs in one basket regarding Ashton (twice) spiralling wage bill (twice) no forward planning in place , no succession planning in place . That’s cost him £m’s & all of us time. 
Now Richard Gould has said the wage bill is treble what it should be. That , with covid has put us in a terrible position . How the hell was Ashton allowed to treble the wage bill, bring in substandard players & also earn a eye watering £500k salary.

For a bloke who’s a self made billionaire , he’s bloody gullible . 

[Red-Robbo]

41 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

So you expect the CEO of a company to spell out any plans they are considering for various possible scenario's on a radio interview? apart from the fact contract / legally could be difficult negotiations to be had, but we are in a period of short term uncertainty until NP feels well enough to continue or we get to a situation where changes have to be made.

With regards to Shakespeare he said no discussions were being had, does not mean they are not going to be

The person Gt could have asked about coming in and giving support and may be a good short term solution is Tinman

 

 

I expect them to spell out that they HAVE a plan.

Not sort of vaguely say "Nigel is still here. We don't know when he'll be back."

Just to remind you, this hasn't suddenly happened. Pearson did not suddenly fall ill before the Coventry match. Reports say he hasn't been well for months and has already had to take time off this season. 

They have had a while to mull over options and though - of course- I don't expect them to reveal details of contracts and negotiations, I do expect them to have done something other than wring their hands.

There was no indication from that interview that they have done anything. 

[Davefevs]

[mozo]

6 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I expect them to spell out that they HAVE a plan.

Not sort of vaguely say "Nigel is still here. We don't know when he'll be back."

Just to remind you, this hasn't suddenly happened. Pearson did not suddenly fall ill before the Coventry match. Reports say he hasn't been well for months and has already had to take time off this season. 

They have had a while to mull over options and though - of course- I don't expect them to reveal details of contracts and negotiations, I do expect them to have done something other than wring their hands.

There was no indication from that interview that they have done anything. 

Totally agree  

The tone of recent statements gives the strong impression that the board are confused about how to proceed.

You can't help but think that the club is scrambling to figure out how to delicately separate from Pearson without giving the game away.

[mozo]

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Cheers Fevs.

Lisa Knights seems like a nice person, but boy there's a lot of amateur comms from this club. 

Edit: I guess I'm talking about exec level comms here. I'm sure they're happy with the general daily Twitter output.

Edited November 9, 2021 by mozo

[Davefevs]

11 minutes ago, mozo said:

Cheers Fevs.

Lisa Knights seems like a nice person, but boy there's a lot of amateur comms from this club. 

Edit: I guess I'm talking about exec level comms here. I'm sure they're happy with the general daily Twitter output.

She doesn’t have a good reputation on here, think it’s because of the Tim Shires / Adam Baker stuff….but I cannot comment on that.  I would say that I think she was the best Robinstv presenter we’ve had.

[REDOXO]

9 hours ago, Simon bristol said:

To be fair thats every pro footballer of the late 70s!

It was 74 And They were on the same team that day!! 

Edited November 9, 2021 by REDOXO

[Henry]

43 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Seeing it on the black and white, the coaching side does seem a bit light, as Cisse is not strictly full time.

[mozo]

29 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

She doesn’t have a good reputation on here, think it’s because of the Tim Shires / Adam Baker stuff….but I cannot comment on that.  I would say that I think she was the best Robinstv presenter we’ve had.

But do Steve L, Jon L and Gould meet with her to discuss their PR messaging on Radio Bristol and the like? 

Let's assume not, because otherwise she's either not helping them at all, or they don't listen.

[CotswoldRed]

15 hours ago, Simon bristol said:

I understand he asked to come on the show, so kudos to him, but you can almost imagine boris coming out with some of those answers, kinda waffling, not able to give an answer but trying to sound clever. 

If I had just about nothing to say, I wouldn't have bothered. 

[Davefevs]

37 minutes ago, mozo said:

But do Steve L, Jon L and Gould meet with her to discuss their PR messaging on Radio Bristol and the like? 

Let's assume not, because otherwise she's either not helping them at all, or they don't listen.

Dunno

[blockbrowt1]

Sorry didn't work for me I'm afraid. Just a load of senior management waffle.

[Sarumred]

17 minutes ago, CotswoldRed said:

If I had just about nothing to say, I wouldn't have bothered. 

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. RG/the club in a no win situation by many on here.

[Davefevs]

52 minutes ago, Henry said:

Seeing it on the black and white, the coaching side does seem a bit light, as Cisse is not strictly full time.

Hasn’t been updated with Alex Ball, for info.

[sh1t_ref_again]

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I expect them to spell out that they HAVE a plan.

Not sort of vaguely say "Nigel is still here. We don't know when he'll be back."

Just to remind you, this hasn't suddenly happened. Pearson did not suddenly fall ill before the Coventry match. Reports say he hasn't been well for months and has already had to take time off this season. 

They have had a while to mull over options and though - of course- I don't expect them to reveal details of contracts and negotiations, I do expect them to have done something other than wring their hands.

There was no indication from that interview that they have done anything. 

Are you really that naive to think a higher paid CEO who is very experienced in the sports industry, knowing that NP has long covid has not started to plan for different eventualities. Just because he did not spell it on radio Bristol dose not mean its not been done. As pointed out elsewhere in words of our past CEO, for once he would have it correct, the situation is "fluid", and whilst its a very difficult position to be in, we have to accept and deal with it and see how NP's health progresses.

But you would rather portray they will be rushing to find the back of a fag packet to work it out on soon as they are not clever enough to think they might need a plan,

[Red-Robbo]

Just now, sh1t_ref_again said:

Are you really that naive to think a higher paid CEO who is very experienced in the sports industry, knowing that NP has long covid has not started to plan for different eventualities. Just because he did not spell it on radio Bristol dose not mean its not been done. As pointed out elsewhere in words of our past CEO, for once he would have it correct, the situation is "fluid", and whilst its a very difficult position to be in, we have to accept and deal with it and see how NP's health progresses.

But you would rather portray they will be rushing to find the back of a fag packet to work it out on soon as they are not clever enough to think they might need a plan,

 

If he has then SAY he has. As I say, we don't need to be privy to everything, but we - the paying punters - have been with the club far longer than he has. Our families have often been for many decades upon decades. It's OUR club, not Lansdown's or the club executives. They are its temporary custodians.  We ask them to just give us a clue that you have some ideas on what to do, rather than just hope NP gets well very soon and is back to 100% health. 

I'd say that you are the naïve one in thinking that this club - the club that took weeks to decide to appoint Dean Holden - has done any planning at all before this point. I'll remind you, this situation has been going on for months. The decline in the team's effectiveness has been going on for months as well.

If they have plans, Gould should have said they have, because this thread and many others are testimony to the fact that all his interviews have done are sow confusion about the future, create doubt, anger fans and look like things are simply drifting out of control at Ashton Gate. 

[phantom]

36 minutes ago, Sarumred said:

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. RG/the club in a no win situation by many on here.

So why did the club request the radio Bristol interview then?

[Sarumred]

Had the club/RG not requested the interview there would have been widespread criticism of the club not communicating with their fan base, given our recent run of bad form and NP's health situation. We now have a situation that RG is being criticised, by some, for giving the said interview. Hence my original comment.

[mozo]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Dunno

I want the TRUTH!!!!

 

[Wait for it...]

 

[Red Exile]

34 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

If he has then SAY he has. As I say, we don't need to be privy to everything, but we - the paying punters - have been with the club far longer than he has. Our families have often been for many decades upon decades. It's OUR club, not Lansdown's or the club executives. They are its temporary custodians.  We ask them to just give us a clue that you have some ideas on what to do, rather than just hope NP gets well very soon and is back to 100% health. 

I'd say that you are the naïve one in thinking that this club - the club that took weeks to decide to appoint Dean Holden - has done any planning at all before this point. I'll remind you, this situation has been going on for months. The decline in the team's effectiveness has been going on for months as well.

If they have plans, Gould should have said they have, because this thread and many others are testimony to the fact that all his interviews have done are sow confusion about the future, create doubt, anger fans and look like things are simply drifting out of control at Ashton Gate. 

Well said! I suspect that we both work in the media. 

As I said immediately after he'd finished speaking I felt the Richard Gould interview with Geoff was a car crash - stumbling and mumbling, drawn into speculation, optimism for the future built on nothing more than wishful thinking. When what was needed was clarity, confidence and reassurance. Geoff Twentyman is inclined to be generous to his interviewees, he doesn't want to burn bridges, but he is very good at his job, has been for a decade or more, Gould needed more preparation and a positive story to tell. 

The club has been in turmoil for several seasons. A shambles for over a year. This has all the hallmarks of previous Lansdown debacles. I note that elsewhere there has been a call for Tinnion...I can recall exactly where I was when it was announced that Brian Tinnion was being appointed manager, my heart sank, seemed as terrible a decision at the time as it does now.

I've broadly given up - but find myself drawn back to the flames as yet again City appear to be crashing and burning.

[Guest whoklldredrobin]

I'd argue this was the most telling quote of them all. 

From BBC Sport:

Gould refused to be drawn on changes that might be made to the squad during the January transfer window, but praised the level of investment the team receives from majority shareholder Steve Lansdown.

"The investment that goes in already is genuinely exceptional. Our salary bills are probably twice the level that what we would otherwise be able to afford if we were relying on media revenues and gate income," Gould said. 

"The amount of investment is not in question, the issue is we need to get as much of that on the pitch as possible at any one time. We need to make every pound count. 

"There are clubs above us in this league currently with much smaller wage bills and they are simply managing to get more of their paying talent on the pitch performing and that's something that we now need to make sure we're doing."

[Phileas Fogg]

42 minutes ago, Red Exile said:

Well said! I suspect that we both work in the media. 

As I said immediately after he'd finished speaking I felt the Richard Gould interview with Geoff was a car crash - stumbling and mumbling, drawn into speculation, optimism for the future built on nothing more than wishful thinking. When what was needed was clarity, confidence and reassurance. Geoff Twentyman is inclined to be generous to his interviewees, he doesn't want to burn bridges, but he is very good at his job, has been for a decade or more, Gould needed more preparation and a positive story to tell. 

The club has been in turmoil for several seasons. A shambles for over a year. This has all the hallmarks of previous Lansdown debacles. I note that elsewhere there has been a call for Tinnion...I can recall exactly where I was when it was announced that Brian Tinnion was being appointed manager, my heart sank, seemed as terrible a decision at the time as it does now.

I've broadly given up - but find myself drawn back to the flames as yet again City appear to be crashing and burning.

Totally agree. I’m usually fairly positive but I was very concerned by that interview. I watched the video today which was equally as poor. 

[Davefevs]

11 minutes ago, whoklldredrobin said:

I'd argue this was the most telling quote of them all. 

From BBC Sport:

Gould refused to be drawn on changes that might be made to the squad during the January transfer window, but praised the level of investment the team receives from majority shareholder Steve Lansdown.

"The investment that goes in already is genuinely exceptional. Our salary bills are probably twice the level that what we would otherwise be able to afford if we were relying on media revenues and gate income," Gould said. 

"The amount of investment is not in question, the issue is we need to get as much of that on the pitch as possible at any one time. We need to make every pound count. 

"There are clubs above us in this league currently with much smaller wage bills and they are simply managing to get more of their paying talent on the pitch performing and that's something that we now need to make sure we're doing."

This is exactly what I’ve been bleating on about for 3-4 years.  That’s not a definition in line with “well-run” is it?

And that’s after Nige has cuts costs significantly.

[sh1t_ref_again]

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

If he has then SAY he has. As I say, we don't need to be privy to everything, but we - the paying punters - have been with the club far longer than he has. Our families have often been for many decades upon decades. It's OUR club, not Lansdown's or the club executives. They are its temporary custodians.  We ask them to just give us a clue that you have some ideas on what to do, rather than just hope NP gets well very soon and is back to 100% health. 

I'd say that you are the naïve one in thinking that this club - the club that took weeks to decide to appoint Dean Holden - has done any planning at all before this point. I'll remind you, this situation has been going on for months. The decline in the team's effectiveness has been going on for months as well.

If they have plans, Gould should have said they have, because this thread and many others are testimony to the fact that all his interviews have done are sow confusion about the future, create doubt, anger fans and look like things are simply drifting out of control at Ashton Gate. 

Its OUR club (nice bit of sabre rattling) so we should be kept informed of ever decision and thought process going- you have got to naive in the extreme that any club, business or anything else does its planning in open forum or says any more than it needs to. Lucky you have nothing to do with running the club

Perhaps if GT had asked "are you making plans if NP is unable to return", he would have said yes of course we have to consider ever eventuality and you would of been happy, although sure would have found something else to be negative about

Instead you try to make out that RG is some sort of village idiot that has not thought I might need to consider what will happy if NP does not recover. There was me mistaken in that he was an experienced CEO, so I had to check and just to confirm teh sort of person SL has now employed:-

SMC, Strategic and Military Leadership 1989–1990 at Sandhurt, JDSC, Military and Strategic Leadership 1996 Cranfireld, AMP, Business/Commerce, General 2006 Harvard, served as a tank commander as well as being a very successful CEO at Somerset & Surrey cricket

Does this sound like someone who had not thought about what if? ohh best wait and panic at the last minute

 

[Davefevs]

1 minute ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Instead you try to make out that RG is some sort of village idiot that has not thought I might need to consider what will happy if NP does not recover. There was me mistaken in that he was an experienced CEO, so I had to check and just to confirm teh sort of person SL has now employed:-

My view is - he could have answered the questions better.  It left listeners really wondering what was going on due to authoritative answers from the club side but vague answers about Nige.  I’m not doubting his skills as a CEO, just thought he was a bit poor with a few answers.  I won’t judge his CEO credentials on some of the football questions he was asked….think he was trying to answer as best he could, and were really questions for a football person.

[sh1t_ref_again]

Just now, Davefevs said:

My view is - he could have answered the questions better.  It left listeners really wondering what was going on due to authoritative answers from the club side but vague answers about Nige.  I’m not doubting his skills as a CEO, just thought he was a bit poor with a few answers.  I won’t judge his CEO credentials on some of the football questions he was asked….think he was trying to answer as best he could, and were really questions for a football person.

Don't disagree that some of the answers could be better, although I think so much is up in the air at the moment and anything you say is taken down and held against you at a later stage. My point was in response to a post criticising that we had no planning, which I find laughable.

Not sure RG was prepared or the right person to ask some of the football questions, think it was a hastily arranged exercise to try and put some of the rumours that NP has left to bed and reach out to supporters with a bit of information, in a time when its difficult to actually say that much

[Red Exile]

16 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Don't disagree that some of the answers could be better, although I think so much is up in the air at the moment and anything you say is taken down and held against you at a later stage. My point was in response to a post criticising that we had no planning, which I find laughable.

Not sure RG was prepared or the right person to ask some of the football questions, think it was a hastily arranged exercise to try and put some of the rumours that NP has left to bed and reach out to supporters with a bit of information, in a time when its difficult to actually say that much

Unfortunately City have form when it comes to failing to plan ahead, or indeed - to use your earlier suggestion - coming up with plans that look as though they've been calculated on the back of fag packet. Dean Holden being a case in point. It's what got the club into this mess.

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Red Exile

[sh1t_ref_again]

10 minutes ago, Red Exile said:

Unfortunately City have form when it comes to failing to plan ahead, or indeed - to use your earlier suggestion - coming upon with plans that look as though they've been calculated on the back of fag packet. Dean Holden being a case in point. It's what got the club into this mess.

 

Don't disagree it can look that way, although I have always been of the opinion their was a lot more to that, will also add that the current CEO we are talking about was not here at that time.

[Red-Robbo]

22 minutes ago, sh1t_ref_again said:

Its OUR club (nice bit of sabre rattling) so we should be kept informed of ever decision and thought process going- you have got to naive in the extreme that any club, business or anything else does its planning in open forum or says any more than it needs to. Lucky you have nothing to do with running the club

Perhaps if GT had asked "are you making plans if NP is unable to return", he would have said yes of course we have to consider ever eventuality and you would of been happy, although sure would have found something else to be negative about

Instead you try to make out that RG is some sort of village idiot that has not thought I might need to consider what will happy if NP does not recover. There was me mistaken in that he was an experienced CEO, so I had to check and just to confirm teh sort of person SL has now employed:-

SMC, Strategic and Military Leadership 1989–1990 at Sandhurt, JDSC, Military and Strategic Leadership 1996 Cranfireld, AMP, Business/Commerce, General 2006 Harvard, served as a tank commander as well as being a very successful CEO at Somerset & Surrey cricket

Does this sound like someone who had not thought about what if? ohh best wait and panic at the last minute

 

 

It isn't just "if Nigel doesn't return", it's now.

Long Covid is just that. Long. It can take months to get back to full fitness. I really pray that NP isn't one of those poor souls that seem never to regain fitness. 

You might think the combination of Curtis Fleming and Alex Ball is an acceptable interim replacement, but I - and many others - do not. Moreover the results are tending to suggest not.

I'd hope that Gould recognises this and is looking at all possible options - from extra coaching help to temporary managers to sounding out possible permanent replacements.

As you say, this is what a competent CEO would do. However since when has Bristol City been run competently? We seem to stagger from one illogical decision to the next and as for long-term planning, we don't take decisions, decisions overtake us.

So, if you wonder why so many people are doubting that anything sensible is being done, it's partly that history of incompetence and partly that nothing appears to have been done to prepare BCFC for where we are now. Despite months of warning bells sounding. Nigel hasn't just developed Long Covid last weekend. It's been ongoing - as has the team's underperformance.

IF the club are and have been making all kinds of preparations then Richard Gould is only guilty of giving an unclear, hesitant and obfuscating interview.

And that's a different sort of incompetence. 

[phantom]

6 hours ago, Sarumred said:

Had the club/RG not requested the interview there would have been widespread criticism of the club not communicating with their fan base, given our recent run of bad form and NP's health situation. We now have a situation that RG is being criticised, by some, for giving the said interview. Hence my original comment.

I would disagree. 

There was no reason to go on the phone in on Monday night, there was nothing new happening and nothing to tell us

[mozo]

5 hours ago, billywedlock said:

The point that has not been picked up much , regarding performance linked to budget was that he said we need to get players on the field that consume the budget . Words to that effect . Meaning the budget is ok but not if you have players like Palmer on x amount and contributing little . 

Agreed. However...making every pound count sounds like a fantastic business philosophy, but football is a strange business. Recruitment in football (the expensive bit) is very high risk due to injury (see Williams) and a variety of influences on form.

Can we get our money worth out of Wells and Palmer? Doubtful. For starters how do you create a system that not only accommodates them both, but also works to their individual strengths?

Could we compensate for the waste spent on those two by getting unexpected value out of young players like Scott and Bell? Hopefully, and perhaps that's what RG was on about; getting equivalent value on the pitch from the squad as a whole to the money spent overall.

[Nugget]

It sounds like he’s either gone or been given the International break to rest & think about what he wants to do. 
Gut feeling is he’s off & a shortlist is probably being prepared to make a swift replacement as the messages seem very much like relegation is not an option.

It’s never dull here is it. 

[Davefevs]

16 minutes ago, mozo said:

Can we get our money worth out of Wells and Palmer? Doubtful. For starters how do you create a system that not only accommodates them both, but also works to their individual strengths?

Huddersfield 16/17

Actually the current output of Martin / Weimann is superior, believe it or not.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Davefevs

[mozo]

11 minutes ago, Nugget said:

It’s never dull here is it. 

It's yet another instalment in our club's grand tradition of finding a way to self-combust!

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Huddersfield 16/17

Ha - yeah, what a great squad Hudds had back then, mind

[RedRock]

6 hours ago, Red Exile said:

Unfortunately City have form when it comes to failing to plan ahead, or indeed - to use your earlier suggestion - coming up with plans that look as though they've been calculated on the back of fag packet. Dean Holden being a case in point. It's what got the club into this mess.

 

… as a QC once said to one of my colleagues … this strategy looks like it’s been drawn up on the back of a fag packet, the pity is, it didn’t even reach that stage. 
 

It seems to me that our CEO was originally going to announce something on a decision that was reversed/postponed late on or was straight-jacketed on what he could say either by Steve and/or legal concerns. Very guarded responses that provided little clarity on what’s happening behind the scenes.

I suspect Richard’s objective with the interview to be ‘seen’ to be communicating with the fans and deal with the immediate rumours of Nige having already left. In that sense, it ticked a couple of boxes.
 

 

Edited November 9, 2021 by RedRock

[mozo]

Unless I've missed it, there seems to be very little chat about the comments from Gould that we're in the market for players in January due to our current emergency. 

I wonder how we make those deals? Seems like a bad market to be in, particularly when you're in a panic.