Nigel Pearson on Sounds of the City

[Never to the dark side]

Monday evening 15th May 2023 at 6pm on Radio Bristol.

[Northern Red]

Suggests that the released/retained list will be out today. That's what happened last year.

Edited May 15, 2023 by Northern Red

[iamalagerdrinker]

Is this Geoffs last show or have I already missed that?

[Cityboy1954]

26 minutes ago, iamalagerdrinker said:

Is this Geoffs last show or have I already missed that?

End of may ive heard.

[Davefevs]

30 minutes ago, iamalagerdrinker said:

Is this Geoffs last show or have I already missed that?

Got one more next Monday, then he’s no longer my guest, your guest.

[Bristol Rob]

31 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Got one more next Monday, then he’s no longer my guest, your guest.

I hope he retires in the ascendancy.

[CodeRed]

46 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Got one more next Monday, then he’s no longer my guest, your guest.

"But before I go let's have one last look at what's happening on your roads"

[Bristol Rob]

Just now, CodeRed said:

"But before I go let's have one last look at what's happening on your roads"

Or tweet me, on Twitter 

Thank for that Geoff, without that advice I'd have tried tweeting you using a car.

[Son of Fred]

49 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

my guest, your guest.

[Top Robin]

Let's hope he gives an honest, waffle free assesment of the season just gone plus a strategy as to how he will improve things for next season. 

[Red Skin]

1 hour ago, Bristol Rob said:

Or tweet me, on Twitter 

Thank for that Geoff, without that advice I'd have tried tweeting you using a car.

It's actually worse than that.  He says 'Tweet me via Twitter' 

Not call me via telephone or email me via computer though. 

He's been fantastic and I will miss his shows, but someone should have told me about the twitter thing.

[Red Skin]

4 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

Let's hope he gives an honest, waffle free assesment of the season just gone plus a strategy as to how he will improve things for next season. 

One thing NP is is waffle free.  He can be quite circumspect at times and cautious with his language, but he does tell it as it is. 

[Davefevs]

26 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

Let's hope he gives an honest, waffle free assesment of the season just gone plus a strategy as to how he will improve things for next season. 

I’m not sure he’s gonna change his approach for this interview.  He is exactly what you are hoping for…honest, waffle-free.

[Bristol Oil Services]

1 hour ago, CodeRed said:

"But before I go let's have one last look at what's happening on your roads"

Love the bloke on there, proper Bristol accent, does the traffic gert proper: "Free mile 'awld up on the A Firty Eigh' and there's un accident on the A Free o Free .... "

[David Brent]

1 hour ago, Top Robin said:

Let's hope he gives an honest, waffle free assesment of the season just gone plus a strategy as to how he will improve things for next season. 

I think we ALL know it will be waffle free and honest 

[lenred]

3 hours ago, Top Robin said:

Let's hope he gives an honest, waffle free assesment of the season just gone plus a strategy as to how he will improve things for next season. 

What an odd comment.  Why wouldn’t it be honest and why wouldn’t it be waffle free.   Not as though he has a track record of either.   We know you don’t like the bloke but this is clutching a bit! 

[Malago]

“Any truth in the rumour that Joe Bryan is coming back to Ashton Gate” is the question I hope gets asked by GT.

[Dredd]

Nige normally drops a few interesting tidbits during these interviews, I reckon we will get some news on outgoings at least

[Red Skin]

22 minutes ago, Dredd said:

Nige normally drops a few interesting tidbits during these interviews, I reckon we will get some news on outgoings at least

Yes, he does.  GT is a great sports journalist and it helps that he's played the game which I think he has NP's respect and gives him a bit more.  

[Flamin Groovy]

5 hours ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

Love the bloke on there, proper Bristol accent, does the traffic gert proper: "Free mile 'awld up on the A Firty Eigh' and there's un accident on the A Free o Free .... "

…”slow movin in bofe erections” is my favourite.

[Selred]

Retained list was announced at 3pm last year, weird it's not out today with Nige on the show.

[Northern Red]

On now.

[The Coach]

Have missed. If someone could provide a full summary at the end that would be appreciated.

 

@BigTone then please provide your condensed version

[Rocky]

DaSilva offered a deal in January and Kalas recently, waiting on responses. 

Nige thinks play offs possible next season, otherwise he wouldn’t bother being here. 

[Red Army 75]

Another good listen. Looking forward to next season already.

[Robbored]

Asked about Kalas and Dasilva. Both offered contracts but on reduced wages that we already knew.

Asked about how to improve refereeing standards - goes off on one! Referees should give what they see rather than being reluctant to get it wrong. Says that in his time at City we’ve had just had two penalties. Inconsistency is a real problem. Interpretation of the games rules seems different at different levels.

Twentyman is an excellent broadcaster - asking all the right questions.

Nige thinks the club is in a good place and ready to push for promotion/top six. Sees the need to strengthen the team, not enough goals from midfield especially the 10 position but the pace in the team frightens opposing teams. Says the players have been frustrated this season inconsistency and are really motivated to do better next season.

Loans - tried to bring in a PL loan in January but was prohibitively expensive.

Congratulated Geoff on his journalistic career and wishes him all the best with his family in the future.

As usual Nige was excellent.

 

 

 

 

[MrRedRobin]

Enjoyed that interview, Giving me optimism for next year. In Nige we trust.

[handsofclay]

Interesting as well that he also said that the player outgoings in the January transfer window were just as important to the atmosphere etc being created at the club as those they brought in.

[Spoonbed]

Love listening to Twentyman making Mark Ashton squirm

[CodeRed]

6 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Asked about Kalas and Dasilva. Both offered contracts but on reduced wages that we already knew.

Asked about how to improve refereeing standards - goes off on one! Referees should give what they see rather than being reluctant to get it wrong. Says that in his time at City we’ve had just had two penalties. Inconsistency is a real problem. Interpretation of the games rules seems different at different levels.

Twentyman is an excellent broadcaster - asking all the right questions.

Nige thinks the club is in a good place and ready to push for promotion/top six. Sees the need to strengthen the team, not enough goals from midfield especially the 10 position but the pace in the team frightens opposing teams. Says the players have been frustrated this season inconsistency and are really motivated to do better next season.

Loans - tried to bring in a PL loan in January but was prohibitively expensive.

Congratulated Geoff on his journalistic career and wishes him all the best with his family in the future.

As usual Nige was excellent.

 

 

 

 

He was,  he also said 2 deals very close and after that we'll look at the market and see what we can do on our budget....  But if someone goes out ( Scott presumably) the situation will change.

Nothing we didn't know but he did seem confident that we're going to have a real go next season. 

[Red Army 75]

Just now, Spoonbed said:

Love listening to Twentyman making Mark Ashton squirm

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

[spudski]

1 minute ago, Red Army 75 said:

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

Listening to Ashton makes me feel so angry now. How the hell did SL not see through that bullshitter. 

[Spoonbed]

1 minute ago, Red Army 75 said:

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

The epitome of a smarmy barsteward!

[CodeRed]

2 minutes ago, Spoonbed said:

Love listening to Twentyman making Mark Ashton squirm

Geoff really didn't like him,  he knew he was a tosser and bullshitter from the off.

[Red Army 75]

Going to miss GT on the wireless. Going be hard to replace 

[pongo88]

Nigel didn’t say anything unexpected but it was as an interesting listen. I liked the interview with Con Sullivan and the Ashton Gate Eight segment but not impressed with having to listen to Mark Ashton again. It reminded me of how awful he was 

[GrahamC]

22 minutes ago, Rocky said:

DaSilva offered a deal in January and Kalas recently, waiting on responses. 

Nige thinks play offs possible next season, otherwise he wouldn’t bother being here. 

GT is very good, I wish he’d asked for a timeframe for a decision back from them both though. 

I assume it is the end of the month but would have been good to try & find out.
 

 

[The Humble Realist]

9 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

Why is ashton talking about holden now ? Would think he would rather pretend it didnt happen 

[Kid in the Riot]

9 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

In fairness I think on that occasion he was having to justify a decision (made by SL) that he didn't agree with. 

[BigTone]

40 minutes ago, The Coach said:

Have missed. If someone could provide a full summary at the end that would be appreciated.

 

@BigTone then please provide your condensed version

Would love to but unable to pick up RB here in France.

Condensed Version

**** knows

Sorry Coach

[Northern Red]

The playing highlights from SOTC down the years might well be purely because Geoff is leaving, but I wonder also if it signifies that it won't continue next season, at least not in its current format?

[Davefevs]

10 minutes ago, spudski said:

Listening to Ashton makes me feel so angry now. How the hell did SL not see through that bullshitter. 

Because it exposed his son’s awful Chairmanship.

12 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

I like to think it’s Geoff just making sure everyone knows what a snake Ashton is / was.

[Super]

Why is Ashton on there?

[Davefevs]

1 minute ago, Super said:

Why is Ashton on there?

Geoff is replaying some of the great moments of SOTC.  It’s a recording of him interviewing Ashton and making him squirm…it was top radio.

[petehinton]

What really stood out to me at the time of that MA interview that sounds even worse now…

”we had a really open mind” - well you shouldn’t. What an odd thing to admit as a CEO. At that stage of the clubs journey and also the state of the world at the time, you absolutely needed to have a clear idea on what you wanted

”interviewed 4 people on a number of occasions” - why would you need to interview a manager ‘a number of times’? You’d know their style of play at the very least, so if you needed a number of times you’re probably outing yourself that you know nothing about them, and probably making them lose interest in the job themselves. 

[Super]

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Geoff is replaying some of the great moments of SOTC.  It’s a recording of him interviewing Ashton and making him squirm…it was top radio.

Thank you that makes sense I thought they had got him back on!

[Dr Balls]

13 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

The playing highlights from SOTC down the years might well be purely because Geoff is leaving, but I wonder also if it signifies that it won't continue next season, at least not in its current format?

Big changes in BBC “local” radio, i.e. it’s not going to be local anymore past 2pm weekdays or on weekends. Regional at best. So how that works with local sport I have no idea. All part of shifting resources from radio to digital apparently, but really just about saving money, even though local radio is “cheap as chips” compared to pretty much everything else they produce.

Edited May 15, 2023 by Dr Balls

[George Rs]

Love so see nige confident in our ability to try challenge for top 6 next year and from what it sounds like the players want to as well. 
 

Even if we got it in and didn’t win it or missed it by a few points that progression is brilliant with the situation he was initially handed.

[sglosbcfc]

1 minute ago, George Rs said:

Love so see nige confident in our ability to try challenge for top 6 next year and from what it sounds like the players want to as well. 
 

Even if we got it in and didn’t win it or missed it by a few points that progression is brilliant with the situation he was initially handed.

Pop back on here after we've been beaten 3-0 at home by Rotherham on the opening day!

In all seriousness though, I feel the club is very United now, with a good squad that will get better and a very good manager. I fully expect us to be in and around 6th spot next season.

[Sleepy1968]

13 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

So glad he’s left our club. Listening to him justify Dean Holdens appointment currently, is frustrating the shit out of me

MA: Geoff, we conducted an extensive search for the biggest knob on the planet. We ran a really rigorous process, and decided that I was that knob.

Geoff: What happened with John Holmes?

MA: I'm not going to discuss individuals, but we short (long?) listed 10 knobs, and whittled it down to 4. We measured those knobs up and down, and round the middle. Ultimately, me and Jon decided that my reflection reflected the biggest knob on the planet.

Geoff: Something we can all agree on. Mark, thanks for your time tonight.

MA: Thanks Geoff. It's been a pleasure.

Geoff: You're listening to the Sound of the City. Lets go over to Roger for a final travel report ...

[spudski]

Listening to the interview, a few things crossed my mind. 

Negotiations are on going with a couple players right now. 

Kalas and DaSilva both been offered contracts. Kalas recently and DaSilva back in January. 

If neither have given answers yet, then I'm guessing the two players we are negotiating with aren't in the same positions as Kakas and DaSilva...or using money from their wages or sales. 

NP also gave a hint that he would still like Scott here and a glimmer that he might still be, if a massive amount of ££££s weren't offered and it wasn't good for all parties. 

In planning for next season...it leaves a bit of a conundrum. 

Planning a team with Scott...or planning a team without Scott. 

The longer it goes on not knowing, the harder it will become to plan around his departure or him staying. 

A last minute say £35 million bid at the end of the transfer window. What good would that money be then? No time to plan for a replacement...unless those concerns have been covered and replacements pin pointed to go for last minute. 

That's my only concern...that if Scott goes, it's too late in the transfer window to get an adequate replacement deal done in time for the new season. 

 

 

 

[Red-Robbo]

19 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

Big changes in BBC “local” radio, i.e. it’s not going to be local anymore past 2pm weekdays or on weekends. Regional at best. So how that works with local sport I have no idea. All part of shifting resources from radio to digital apparently, but really just about saving money, even though local radio is “cheap as chips” compared to pretty much everything else they produce.

 

It annoys me that the cash-eating monolith that is BBC One rarely gets touched, yet local radio and TV that has yearly costs a fraction of it, gets routinely f-ed over.

These are old costs, but the proportions are roughly the same:

[Lorenzos Only Goal]

9 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

It annoys me that the cash-eating monolith that is BBC One rarely gets touched, yet local radio and TV that has yearly costs a fraction of it, gets routinely f-ed over.

These are old costs, but the proportions are roughly the same:

I don't understand what BBC 1 makes most of its daytime content is repeats, bargain hunt, homes under the hammer, news, and a load of other crap.  Then in the evening it's crime dramas and news.  The amount of sport is tiny and it's spend is excruciating compared to comparative budgets.  

Very little original content.

[archie andrews]

41 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

Big changes in BBC “local” radio, i.e. it’s not going to be local anymore past 2pm weekdays or on weekends. Regional at best. So how that works with local sport I have no idea. All part of shifting resources from radio to digital apparently, but really just about saving money, even though local radio is “cheap as chips” compared to pretty much everything else they produce.

if its going to be regional at best on saturdays then you can guarantee tinpot yeovil will be the favourite as usual.......

[Jerseybean]

9 hours ago, Red Skin said:

One thing NP is is waffle free.  He can be quite circumspect at times and cautious with his language, but he does tell it as it is. 

As for example this: ‘I just think, at times, the club has had too many players, too many players on loan and what we’re trying to do now is create an atmosphere which is quite tight and we want our players to enjoy success with us.’

[archie andrews]

6 minutes ago, Lorenzos Only Goal said:

I don't understand what BBC 1 makes most of its daytime content is repeats, bargain hunt, homes under the hammer, news, and a load of other crap.  Then in the evening it's crime dramas and news.  The amount of sport is tiny and it's spend is excruciating compared to comparative budgets.  

Very little original content.

you not seen the price of biscuits these days....

[luke_bristol]

Anyone got a link to the thread from when Holden was announced as the new manager? 

[Red-Robbo]

9 minutes ago, Lorenzos Only Goal said:

I don't understand what BBC 1 makes most of its daytime content is repeats, bargain hunt, homes under the hammer, news, and a load of other crap.  Then in the evening it's crime dramas and news.  The amount of sport is tiny and it's spend is excruciating compared to comparative budgets.  

Very little original content.

 

And what there is, could easily be provided in the commercial sector. Commercial radio is never going to give lower league football the prominence it gets on BBC local radio at present. 

[cidercity1987]

31 minutes ago, Searles said:

You can hear the wobble in MAs voice

'Jon and I VIGOROUSLY interviewed four candidates'

Don't forget whilst he VIGOROUSLY massaged Jon and Steve's ego he was VIGOROUSLY talking with the Arizona Fire Fighters Pension Fund

VIGOROUS *****

 

[Bris Red]

1 hour ago, Kid in the Riot said:

In fairness I think on that occasion he was having to justify a decision (made by SL) that he didn't agree with. 

I think you are right kid, one thing is for sure SL would have had a big say on Holdens appointment. We also need to remember that Tinnion and Millen were appointed managers here long before Mark Ashton was ever involved in the club, Steve has past history of these horrendous appointments.
 

Edited May 15, 2023 by Bris Red

[Davefevs]

40 minutes ago, petehinton said:

”interviewed 4 people on a number of occasions” - why would you need to interview a manager ‘a number of times’? You’d know their style of play at the very least, so if you needed a number of times you’re probably outing yourself that you know nothing about them, and probably making them lose interest in the job themselves. 

That was the bit that never made sense Pete, especially when we 99.99% confident Hughton was one of them.  If he gave you the right answers when you first talked, what changed?

I’m pretty sure it was down to Hughton wanting to replace the squad with players he wanted…so how come it took 2 or 3 chats to realise that?

Amateurs!

I had no problem with Holden, I’ll get behind anyone as City manager, but there’s no way he was the best person for the job unless the qualifications were are you called Dean, have you worked at this club and do you wear chinos.

I think Dean was given a marvellous opportunity but he wasn’t backed.  Bullshit around backing him with recruitment.

If the stories are true about one of the others being Paul Cook and I’ve no reason to believe they aren’t, he basically saw through their amateur hour too.

Never did work out who the fourth was.

14 minutes ago, spudski said:

Listening to the interview, a few things crossed my mind. 

Negotiations are on going with a couple players right now. 

Kalas and DaSilva both been offered contracts. Kalas recently and DaSilva back in January. 

If neither have given answers yet, then I'm guessing the two players we are negotiating with aren't in the same positions as Kakas and DaSilva...or using money from their wages or sales. 

NP also gave a hint that he would still like Scott here and a glimmer that he might still be, if a massive amount of ££££s weren't offered and it wasn't good for all parties. 

In planning for next season...it leaves a bit of a conundrum. 

Planning a team with Scott...or planning a team without Scott. 

The longer it goes on not knowing, the harder it will become to plan around his departure or him staying. 

A last minute say £35 million bid at the end of the transfer window. What good would that money be then? No time to plan for a replacement...unless those concerns have been covered and replacements pin pointed to go for last minute. 

That's my only concern...that if Scott goes, it's too late in the transfer window to get an adequate replacement deal done in time for the new season. 

 

 

 

My reading of it Spud is that:

- Kalas: Nige wants to keep, but only on much reduced terms, he’s proved he can play again, albeit less minutes than he’d hoped.  Will take TK to come down to club’s level for him to resign, much as Nige wants him.

- Dasilva: offer of contract in January…factual…but also shows club hasn’t budged, and Dasilva will try his luck elsewhere, because he can get something better as a free agent.  That’s life.

Re the Alex Scott situation, I like that Nige hasn’t given up on him staying, and I think most of the planning will be for him staying.  With Weimann and Mehmeti capable of playing no10 I don’t think it’s too pressured on getting like for like.  Still think recruitment is based on 2 CBs, a CM and a LB.

Might be miles off.

[cidercity1987]

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

 

Never did work out who the fourth was.

The current Stoke manager, I imagine?

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

The current Stoke manager, I imagine?

Was the odd rumour wasn’t there.  Ryan Lowe was the other plausible one.

[GrahamC]

10 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

 

My reading of it Spud is that:

- Kalas: Nige wants to keep, but only on much reduced terms, he’s proved he can play again, albeit less minutes than he’d hoped.  Will take TK to come down to club’s level for him to resign, much as Nige wants him.

- Dasilva: offer of contract in January…factual…but also shows club hasn’t budged, and Dasilva will try his luck elsewhere, because he can get something better as a free agent.  That’s life.

Re the Alex Scott situation, I like that Nige hasn’t given up on him staying, and I think most of the planning will be for him staying.  With Weimann and Mehmeti capable of playing no10 I don’t think it’s too pressured on getting like for like.  Still think recruitment is based on 2 CBs, a CM and a LB.

Might be miles off.

Mine too, think we’re after a central defender whether Kalas stays or not.

Can’t see Dasilva staying, either.

McCrorie & O’Brien are the likeliest two deals nearing completion.

[Nogbad the Bad]

21 minutes ago, luke_bristol said:

Anyone got a link to the thread from when Holden was announced as the new manager? 

https://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/208140-dean-holden-merged/

 

[W-S-M Seagull]

40 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Was the odd rumour wasn’t there.  Ryan Lowe was the other plausible one.

I know for an absolute fact Mark Robins once again applied. 

[Davefevs]

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

I know for an absolute fact Mark Robins once again applied. 

And SL didn’t get him…wow, the chuckle brothers went for Holden.

[ScottishRed]

1 hour ago, spudski said:

Listening to the interview, a few things crossed my mind. 

Negotiations are on going with a couple players right now. 

Kalas and DaSilva both been offered contracts. Kalas recently and DaSilva back in January. 

If neither have given answers yet, then I'm guessing the two players we are negotiating with aren't in the same positions as Kakas and DaSilva...or using money from their wages or sales. 

NP also gave a hint that he would still like Scott here and a glimmer that he might still be, if a massive amount of ££££s weren't offered and it wasn't good for all parties. 

In planning for next season...it leaves a bit of a conundrum. 

Planning a team with Scott...or planning a team without Scott. 

The longer it goes on not knowing, the harder it will become to plan around his departure or him staying. 

A last minute say £35 million bid at the end of the transfer window. What good would that money be then? No time to plan for a replacement...unless those concerns have been covered and replacements pin pointed to go for last minute. 

That's my only concern...that if Scott goes, it's too late in the transfer window to get an adequate replacement deal done in time for the new season. 

 

 

 

Re a very late bid for Alex Scott, it could happen and that could be because club X would not pay what we asked for and moved to other targets, they fall through and they come back in with a premium offer albeit very late.

In that scenario my guess is that we would take the money. If the whole thing drags on other the summer we may have a discontented player to re-motivate.

Best scenario is that he does well in the U20 WC, which triggers a bidding war that is resolved by mid- July at latest.

I really don’t see him here for next season sadly, but the upside is of course we can massively cash in.

[BCFCGav]

41 minutes ago, Nogbad the Bad said:

https://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/208140-dean-holden-merged/

 

Strange seeing Havanatopia’s comments now. It’s also nice in a way - a permanent record of our support of this Club, through the good, bad and really really bad. Rest easy Hav.

[Northern Red]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

And SL didn’t get him…wow, the chuckle brothers went for Holden.

Didn't want to pay compo presumably?