Steve Lansdown……..

[Superjack]

53 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

So I was googling. I was trying to find the interview where the "football can spend what football earns" quote as I wanted to read that in context.

I didn't find what I was looking for, but what I did find was interesting. An article from July 2013, just after our last Championship > League 1 relegation. In this piece Lansdown is quoted as follows:

"I'm embarrassed by how much I've spent, I daren't add it up, and although I have no regrets in doing it, it's probably over £50m.

"We started paying out bigger wages because we felt we needed that extra class, and it hasn't worked for us.

"I look back and it was a mistake."

"We must now work within our means, we are going to support the academy and get the right recruitment.

"The mission statement is there: we will develop and grow and won't spend excessive money on wages going forward."

Big words. Words that could have been spoken and written just last week. If he was embarrassed then, then how embarrassed must he have been 3 years ago after allowing the wage budget we had under Ashton. I can see why Lansdown might have decided to actually enforce and implement the above sentiment. Wage austerity is not some new-fangled idea of his that he came up with in the aftermath of Scott's sale. It's a long-harboured belief of his. He's not doing it because he hates Pearson, he's doing it because he's embarrassed and, maybe, hates himself.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23501929

 

So if he was embarrassed by it in 2013, why did he open his war chest for Johnson junior?

This logic doesn't add up. 

The fact is, he supports rookies financially. Managers with bigger reputations in the game and more popularity than himself, he shuts the purse for.

[JAWS]

4 hours ago, Glen hump said:

Personally think what you’ve just posted is garbage 

Think REDOXO is very close to the truth.

An obscenely wealthy bloke who is massaging his ego & can't let go. I think he's made any invites for bids so unattractive (though doubt he can see it) that no one has come forward.

He probably wants to either maintain overall control or insert a clause that he still has a major say.

[JAWS]

I think the most telling (& worrying) factor for me is his overwhelming belief that a championship club can be self-sustaining. 

[Superjack]

5 minutes ago, JAWS said:

Think REDOXO is very close to the truth.

An obscenely wealthy bloke who is massaging his ego & can't let go. I think he's made any invites for bids so unattractive (though doubt he can see it) that no one has come forward.

He probably wants to either maintain overall control or insert a clause that he still has a major say.

Yes. Massaging his ego. 

And your last paragraph is probably spot on too. 

And people say that he loves the club. 

He loves himself. 

There. I've said it.

[ExiledAjax]

25 minutes ago, Superjack said:

So if he was embarrassed by it in 2013, why did he open his war chest for Johnson junior?

This logic doesn't add up. 

The fact is, he supports rookies financially. Managers with bigger reputations in the game and more popularity than himself, he shuts the purse for.

That's the question I have as well.

Personally my suspicion is that what Steve would say is that what the market demanded of a championship club in the late 2010s was the kind of wages we paid out under Johnson/Ashton. Whether that's true, and whether that's truly his conviction, and whether those are his own words or the echoes of what Ashton told him, I don't know, but it was a more expensive market pre-Covid than it is now...just...it is coming back.

It's possible that it's a correlation of timing rather than causation that makes it appear the way you describe. I'm not saying that's my personal view, but I think you have to be open to that possibility. It's what I think he should explain as well.

Edited September 10, 2023 by ExiledAjax

[Bristol Rob]

10 minutes ago, JAWS said:

Think REDOXO is very close to the truth.

An obscenely wealthy bloke who is massaging his ego & can't let go. I think he's made any invites for bids so unattractive (though doubt he can see it) that no one has come forward.

He probably wants to either maintain overall control or insert a clause that he still has a major say.

If we assume your ego massaging statement is correct (and I doubt it, I honestly think Steve would love Bristol Sport, the Sporting Quarter to be his legacy, but he hasn't found another member of the family he trusts to continue it), he would need to find someone of similar wealth who has 'a similar ego' to want to buy it.

Not exactly an easy pitch is it, 'wanna buy a load of clubs, the all lose money every year, but the potential is huge... what do you mean 'no'?

[Superjack]

8 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Personally my suspicion is that what Steve would say is that what the market demanded of a championship club in the late 2010s was the kind of wages we paid out under Johnson/Ashton. Whether that's true, and whether that's truly his conviction, and whether those are his own words or the echoes of what Ashton told him, I don't know, but it was a more expensive market pre-Covid than it is now...just...it is coming back.

It's possible that it's a correlation of timing rather than causation that makes it appear the way you describe. I'm not saying that's my personal view, but I think you have to be open to that possibility.

And in that more expensive pre-covid market, he failed to back (and strong rumour has it, undermined) the most successful manager in his tenure in the summer of 2015. 

Coincidentally, a manager of experience that wouldn't cowtow to him.

I respect your reasoned argument, but for the above reason, I am not open to said possibility.

[GrahamC]

12 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

If we assume your ego massaging statement is correct (and I doubt it, I honestly think Steve would love Bristol Sport, the Sporting Quarter to be his legacy, but he hasn't found another member of the family he trusts to continue it), he would need to find someone of similar wealth who has 'a similar ego' to want to buy it.

Not exactly an easy pitch is it, 'wanna buy a load of clubs, the all lose money every year, but the potential is huge... what do you mean 'no'?

Weird then that new owners have been found by the likes of Coventry, Derby, Huddersfield, Ipswich & Sheffield United in very recent times.

Sort of understand the latter with Prem money but hard to avoid the conclusion SL is either asking too high a price or doesn’t want to relinquish control because we are no less attractive than the other 4, arguably more so than a couple of these.

 

[HitchinRed]

1 hour ago, ExiledAjax said:

Thanks.

I guess the question to ask Steve then is how do you reconcile or marry up the two statements? Albeit they're made ten years apart, and people are allowed to tweak and change their thoughts and opinions over a decade.

The answer would be illuminating.

I must admit that I don’t find these statements contradictory at all. SL said “What football makes, football can spend.” The problem is that football hasn’t made any money in decades. He didn’t say that football can spend all the income it receives and can ignore any expenses. Indeed, he specifically said “But it’s got to make it and obviously going back to Covid, football couldn’t make anything.”

My take on SL is that we have no right to insist that he spends tens of millions of pounds each year on the club, regardless of how many millions he has or because he owns the club. 

The only thing we can insist on is that he does not prevent anyone else who does wish to invest in the club from doing so. From my perspective is doesn’t appear to have done that (in fact he’s actively encouraging it). On this basis we could end up in a much worse position should he be encouraged to simply walk any. A little look at our neigbours illustrates that nicely.

Edited September 10, 2023 by HitchinRed

[Superjack]

12 minutes ago, HitchinRed said:

I must admit that I don’t find these statements contradictory at all. SL said “What football makes, football can spend.” The problem is that football hasn’t made any money in decades. He didn’t say that football can spend all the income it receives and can ignore any expenses. Indeed, he specifically said “But it’s got to make it and obviously going back to Covid, football couldn’t make anything.”

My take on SL is that we have no right to insist that he spends tens of millions of pounds each year on the club, regardless of how many millions he has or because he owns the club. 

The only thing we can insist on is that he does not prevent anyone else who does wish to invest in the club from doing so. From my perspective is doesn’t appear to have done that (in fact he’s actively encouraging it). On this basis we could end up in a much worse position should he be encouraged to simply walk any. A little look at our neigbours illustrates that nicely.

My take is that nobody is asking him to do that. 

All we are asking him to do is release a little leeway for a manager that has carried out his brief admirably without any apparent appreciation or praise. 

Not a fortune. Just a little fraction of what this manager has enabled him to recoup.

Edited September 10, 2023 by Superjack

[Show Me The Money!]

I'd just like SL to have not left the country to avoid paying the tax he should pay on his crazy wealth.

Not just a dig at SL but all British born multi million and billionaires who pay hardly any tax in this country.

 

[JAWS]

32 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

If we assume your ego massaging statement is correct (and I doubt it, I honestly think Steve would love Bristol Sport, the Sporting Quarter to be his legacy, but he hasn't found another member of the family he trusts to continue it), he would need to find someone of similar wealth who has 'a similar ego' to want to buy it.

Not exactly an easy pitch is it, 'wanna buy a load of clubs, the all lose money every year, but the potential is huge... what do you mean 'no'?

The difference being that AN Other would hopefully be ambitious & inteterested in success. Lansdown is clearly not prepared to speculate. He just wants to be a public figure which he has achieved but is finding it hard to let go.

Let's be honest, owning a football club isn't sustainable, unless you make it to the promised land. For most owners it is a 'trophy' for their ego cabinet but they see it as that & accept they could & probabaly will lose money along the way & are prepared to speculate. Lansclown appears begrudging of his investment & is no doubt intent on recovering it. Others just want to spend money on something that is a welcome distraction to their business life & are not obessessed about sustainability so they go for it. In short, you can't tread water in the championship & be sustainable & you shouldn't use Luton, & similar clubs that Have gone before them, as a yardstick.

 

[Superjack]

1 minute ago, Show Me The Money! said:

I'd just like SL to have not left the country to avoid paying the tax he should pay on his crazy wealth.

Not just a dig at SL but all British born multi million and billionaires who pay hardly any tax in this country.

 

But we give him our money after tax. 

I know that statements like this are often spouted on this forum...

...but if NP is let go, I swear that that I will never give him another penny of my money. 

[bpexile]

On 03/09/2023 at 18:35, Davefevs said:

Imho SL has made in unnecessarily hard for Nige

Yes that's the bottom line isn't it ?

I just hope it's not just Nige that has the balls to point that out to SL, considering the amount of money blown in the past it wouldn't have taken a huge amount to have helped Nige continue with his building & I really hope we can keep NP at the club after all this..................but I am concerned that he'll walk.

[BS15_RED]

Something tells me that when Nige does leave us, he won’t be quiet  like his predecessors have. I think he’ll have plenty to say about the way the club is run. 

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, tin said:

And surely if SL had a manager who achieved those goals, he’d be keen to praise those achievements and secure his long-term future…

You’d have thought so wouldn’t you.

1 hour ago, HitchinRed said:

My take on SL is that we have no right to insist that he spends tens of millions of pounds each year on the club, regardless of how many millions he has or because he owns the club. 

I agree.  But he has in the past, the very recent past, but why now, of all times, to pull up the drawbridge?  And in fairness, it’s not really “why now”, it’s the lack of communication regarding the seismic change of funding strategy.

Is it because he’s close to selling?

Is it because of his lack of Cashflow?  I know that sounds stupid, but he’s pumping money into all manner of projects.  It’s not just a case of nipping to the ATM.

[Leveller]

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

You’d have thought so wouldn’t you.

I agree.  But he has in the past, the very recent past, but why now, of all times, to pull up the drawbridge?  And in fairness, it’s not really “why now”, it’s the lack of communication regarding the seismic change of funding strategy.

Is it because he’s close to selling?

Is it because of his lack of Cashflow?  I know that sounds stupid, but he’s pumping money into all manner of projects.  It’s not just a case of nipping to the ATM.

I think the quotes in this thread show that he’s always wanted to try and operate sustainably, but has relented and been tempted to another throw of the dice. Probably by people like MA persuading him that this time will be different and player trading will save the day and be consistently profitable. It may be illogical but it’s not unlike the temptation of gambling, is it?

[Davefevs]

16 minutes ago, Leveller said:

but it’s not unlike the temptation of gambling, is it?

I’m “Mr 10p Accumulator”, so  I dunno!!!  I created a SkyBet account with £10 over 20 years ago.  I’ve only topped it up a couple of times in all these years.

[exAtyeoMax]

6 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I’m “Mr 10p Accumulator”, so  I dunno!!!  I created a SkyBet account with £10 over 20 years ago.  I’ve only topped it up a couple of times in all these years.

I’ve only ever played for matches or pre decimal coins.

I wouldn’t say it was like gambling in SL’s case, more like an investor or speculator. A more measured kind of gambling on an unknown outcome but with a greater measure of planning, even if it’s spontaneous in some ways. It’s a bit more Del Boy to me…

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

I’ve only ever played for matches or pre decimal coins.

I wouldn’t say it was like gambling in SL’s case, more like an investor or speculator. A more measured kind of gambling on an unknown outcome but with a greater measure of planning, even if it’s spontaneous in some ways. It’s a bit more Del Boy to me…

Delboy - This time next year Rodney (Jon) we’ll be millionaires

Rodney - But Del (Steve) we used to billionaires

Uncle Albert Adomah - you pair of plonkers, back in the war….

[Major Isewater]

2 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

I’ve only ever played for matches or pre decimal coins.

I wouldn’t say it was like gambling in SL’s case, more like an investor or speculator. A more measured kind of gambling on an unknown outcome but with a greater measure of planning, even if it’s spontaneous in some ways. It’s a bit more Del Boy to me…

Without knowing Pearson’s real thoughts on this matter I believe that Uncle Steve is sailing very close to the wind with the spirit of the club ,that the manager has worked so hard to instill , and risks to put it in jeopardy . 
The positivity surrounding our potential assault on the top six is looking a bit hollow at the moment because of lack of  reinvestment in one or two areas of the squad.
Confidence is a fragile thing and one or two bad results and I fear for a nosedive. Nigel has been brilliant at getting results when necessary but can he keep doing it when he appears to be undermined. 
We’ve been over this a thousand times but I want NP to be given the tools to make a genuine push for the top six and at present, despite all the good work, we are looking just a bit short when SL could have authorised one or two key signings to boost everybody.

 

[exAtyeoMax]

12 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

Without knowing Pearson’s real thoughts on this matter I believe that Uncle Steve is sailing very close to the wind with the spirit of the club ,that the manager has worked so hard to instill , and risks to put it in jeopardy . 
The positivity surrounding our potential assault on the top six is looking a bit hollow at the moment because of lack of  reinvestment in one or two areas of the squad.
Confidence is a fragile thing and one or two bad results and I fear for a nosedive. Nigel has been brilliant at getting results when necessary but can he keep doing it when he appears to be undermined. 
We’ve been over this a thousand times but I want NP to be given the tools to make a genuine push for the top six and at present, despite all the good work, we are looking just a bit short when SL could have authorised one or two key signings to boost everybody.

 

Yes, totally. Plus it could unsettle the players, coaches etc.

That spirit you mention is so very important…it has a 2015 back in the championship vibe about it. That loss of momentum then was catastrophic, and could happen again now…

[Son of Fred]

31 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

Without knowing Pearson’s real thoughts on this matter I believe that Uncle Steve is sailing very close to the wind with the spirit of the club ,that the manager has worked so hard to instill , and risks to put it in jeopardy . 
The positivity surrounding our potential assault on the top six is looking a bit hollow at the moment because of lack of  reinvestment in one or two areas of the squad.
Confidence is a fragile thing and one or two bad results and I fear for a nosedive. Nigel has been brilliant at getting results when necessary but can he keep doing it when he appears to be undermined. 
We’ve been over this a thousand times but I want NP to be given the tools to make a genuine push for the top six and at present, despite all the good work, we are looking just a bit short when SL could have authorised one or two key signings to boost everybody.

 

Nigel is a very aware fella & I'm sure will be working somthing of a seige mentality -

Sadly that still doesn't bring in that xtra little bit of quality,that shot in the arm to edge us on.

Mr Lansdown is pushing his luck!

[fisherrich]

13 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

Nigel is a very aware fella & I'm sure will be working somthing of a seige mentality -

Sadly that still doesn't bring in that xtra little bit of quality,that shot in the arm to edge us on.

Mr Lansdown is pushing his luck!

This is Lansdown all over, no man management skills. A weakness/misunderstanding (to be kind) of managing human beings. Good football managers are brilliant at it. Pep, Sir Alex, Sir Bobby, Jurgen to name a few are/were masters.
Lansdown should read Sir Alex’s autobiography. He might learn a thing or two about football teams etc.

[Abraham Romanovich]

52 minutes ago, fisherrich said:

This is Lansdown all over, no man management skills. A weakness/misunderstanding (to be kind) of managing human beings. Good football managers are brilliant at it. Pep, Sir Alex, Sir Bobby, Jurgen to name a few are/were masters.
Lansdown should read Sir Alex’s autobiography. He might learn a thing or two about football teams etc.

Self made billionaire, frightening to think what he could have become with man management skills.

 

[fisherrich]

3 minutes ago, Abraham Romanovich said:

Self made billionaire, frightening to think what he could have become with man management skills.

 

Who has failed on the pitch at Bristol City FC.

[Major Isewater]

8 minutes ago, fisherrich said:

Who has failed on the pitch at Bristol City FC.

It’s my ball and I’m going home - Uncle Steve . 

[Cidre Monita]

Anyone notice that the Bears got battered 75-0 yesterday in a competitive cup game. They have released a lot of players recently and looks like they are now operating under similar financial restrictions as us. Pat Lam mentioned that it’s the smallest squad he’s ever had to operate with. There seems to be a common theme here - I wonder who the benefactor of the Bears is? Can’t quite recall his name?!! Don’t wish to sound negative but it already feels like our season is (barring a miracle) over given the small squad size and we will probably fluctuate between 10/18th place, or thereabouts. The Bears will be in a relegation battle which is amazing given where they were a couple of years back. The ladies I think will be totally outclassed and relegated with a couple of double-digit losses. If the aforementioned does happen let’s hope it puts more pressure on the Lansdowns to sell up. 

[Selred]

3 minutes ago, Cidre Monita said:

Anyone notice that the Bears got battered 75-0 yesterday in a competitive cup game. They have released a lot of players recently and looks like they are now operating under similar financial restrictions as us. Pat Lam mentioned that it’s the smallest squad he’s ever had to operate with. There seems to be a common theme here - I wonder who the benefactor of the Bears is? Can’t quite recall his name?!! Don’t wish to sound negative but it already feels like our season is (barring a miracle) over given the small squad size and we will probably fluctuate between 10/18th place, or thereabouts. The Bears will be in a relegation battle which is amazing given where they were a couple of years back. The ladies I think will be totally outclassed and relegated with a couple of double-digit losses. If the aforementioned does happen let’s hope it puts more pressure on the Lansdowns to sell up. 

For context was Bears youth vs an almost full strength Exeter. 

[Cidre Monita]

8 minutes ago, Selred said:

For context was Bears youth vs an almost full strength Exeter. 

Read the article, pal. They had a couple of first teamers playing, that’s all. Any other comments on the shit show that is Bristol Sport under Lansdown? How do you foresee the upcoming season for the 3 teams mentioned? 

[Kid in the Riot]

5 minutes ago, Cidre Monita said:

Read the article, pal. They had a couple of first teamers playing, that’s all. Any other comments on the shit show that is Bristol Sport under Lansdown? How do you foresee the upcoming season for the 3 teams mentioned? 

Given the clubs they are up against in the WSL, it's hardly surprising the ladies will struggle. Frankly, it's a pretty good achievement they are there; at least they're in the top flight! What we would give to have the mens team up there...

Salary cap has reduced in rugby so SL will be putting less in, and hence why the top earners have had to leave. I assume he'll still be funding the maximum he can within the salary cap though. Bears are struggling though and the wisdom in giving Lam a lengthy contract until 2028 maybe wasn't the best decision in hindsight. 

[jj77]

I did enjoy the basketball yesterday though!

[Ian M]

15 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Weird then that new owners have been found by the likes of Coventry, Derby, Huddersfield, Ipswich & Sheffield United in very recent times.

Sort of understand the latter with Prem money but hard to avoid the conclusion SL is either asking too high a price or doesn’t want to relinquish control because we are no less attractive than the other 4, arguably more so than a couple of these.

 

How many of those clubs wanted the new owners to come up with the funds for loss-making rugby & basketball teams and a couple of construction projects though?

 

15 hours ago, Superjack said:

My take is that nobody is asking him to do that. 

All we are asking him to do is release a little leeway for a manager that has carried out his brief admirably without any apparent appreciation or praise. 

Not a fortune. Just a little fraction of what this manager has enabled him to recoup.

I just wanted us to sign a couple more to match how many we had in what was described as a "small squad" last season.

 

3 hours ago, Son of Fred said:

Nigel is a very aware fella & I'm sure will be working somthing of a seige mentality -

Sadly that still doesn't bring in that xtra little bit of quality,that shot in the arm to edge us on.

Mr Lansdown is pushing his luck!

How successful will that be when the siege mentality is directed against the players' employer though? Come on lads, let's really show him and get him the riches of promotion on the cheap.

[REDOXO]

15 hours ago, JAWS said:

Think REDOXO is very close to the truth.

An obscenely wealthy bloke who is massaging his ego & can't let go. I think he's made any invites for bids so unattractive (though doubt he can see it) that no one has come forward.

He probably wants to either maintain overall control or insert a clause that he still has a major say.

I think that SL wants the best for all his teams (on his own terms) and the best for the City and area where he made his fortune. 

But the one obvious thing for me is the title. I think few would begrudge him Sir Steve for what he’s done in Bristol and his current work in Botswana, a commonwealth country, I suspect a title is becoming quite a factor in his life and I see it as inevitable!!
 

Mistakes at City in the last twenty years have been made, of that there is no doubt, but we have always been that club. Over 60 years it took for 4 lousy years in the top division now another 43 years with nothing. 
 

I agree entirely he may have terms that keeps the connection and puts buyers off, for now. Something that may alter slightly based upon an honours list one day. 
 

 

[Selred]

1 hour ago, Cidre Monita said:

Read the article, pal. They had a couple of first teamers playing, that’s all. Any other comments on the shit show that is Bristol Sport under Lansdown? How do you foresee the upcoming season for the 3 teams mentioned? 

Bears will be fine. Got some good players and play good rugby. 

Ladies no clue. 
City will be mid table. 

[REDOXO]

13 minutes ago, Selred said:

Bears will be fine. Got some good players and play good rugby. 

Ladies no clue. 
City will be mid table. 

Nah. They were hammered by The Packers yesterday!

[Numero Uno]

1 hour ago, Ian M said:

How many of those clubs wanted the new owners to come up with the funds for loss-making rugby & basketball teams and a couple of construction projects though?

 

I just wanted us to sign a couple more to match how many we had in what was described as a "small squad" last season.

 

How successful will that be when the siege mentality is directed against the players' employer though? Come on lads, let's really show him and get him the riches of promotion on the cheap.

Your last point is a good one BUT what other choice do the staff have? “The budget is the budget”, “what football makes football earns, oh **** it scrub that, let’s build a nest egg for the next Manager”. The only other choice is to throw in the towel and I think Nige and his staff are too professional to do that AND to create that us and them mentality is the only way to keep the fans off your back tbh.

I can think of many lesser Managers (one just up the road for a start) who would be proclaiming “how do you expect me to work under these restrictions” etc etc. who would have literally told Steve, Jon and Phil where to shove it.

Edited September 11, 2023 by Numero Uno

[BrizzleRed]

8 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Yes, totally. Plus it could unsettle the players, coaches etc.

That spirit you mention is so very important…it has a 2015 back in the championship vibe about it. That loss of momentum then was catastrophic, and could happen again now…

And this is something people need to remember every time we sell one of our young stars.  

In the event of a Prem club coming in for one of our rising young stars, how can we hope to persuade them to stay with us, when we show such a lack of true ambition to reach that level ourselves.

Talk is cheap, but his actions over many years indicate to me that SL is frightened of the thought of the Premier League and has no intention or ambition for us to get there under his watch.

I reckon his ambition ceiling is the Championship, where fans can always dream that the Prem is only one great season away.  We get played like a fish on a hook, with the odd throwaway comment about our ambition for promotion and we swallow it hook, line and sinker and ST sales continue holding up.  This summer has been particularly blatant and somewhat cynical and leaves a bad taste.

Sadly, believing ‘spin’ is an area where we’re uncomfortably close to the Sags by accepting bs all to readily.

[Numero Uno]

33 minutes ago, BrizzleRed said:

And this is something people need to remember every time we sell one of our young stars.  

In the event of a Prem club coming in for one of our rising young stars, how can we hope to persuade them to stay with us, when we show such a lack of true ambition to reach that level ourselves.

Talk is cheap, but his actions over many years indicate to me that SL is frightened of the thought of the Premier League and has no intention or ambition for us to get there under his watch.

I reckon his ambition ceiling is the Championship, where fans can always dream that the Prem is only one great season away.  We get played like a fish on a hook, with the odd throwaway comment about our ambition for promotion and we swallow it hook, line and sinker and ST sales continue holding up.  This summer has been particularly blatant and somewhat cynical and leaves a bad taste.

Sadly, believing ‘spin’ is an area where we’re uncomfortably close to the Sags by accepting bs all to readily.

Why though? Can't you look at the squad YOURSELF and make your own mind up on whether we have a chance of being in the mix or not? I can only speak for myself and say that if my reasoning for buying a season ticket was to watch us get promoted to the Premiership I would have knocked it on the head some time ago. I buy mine because I enjoy going to football not because I listen to anything that comes out of Steve Lansdown's mouth and froth at the mouth like some Rabid Gashead. Anyone who has yet to understand he has a very limited knowledge of football as in the game itself must have been in hiding for the last twenty plus years........

Edited September 11, 2023 by Numero Uno

[BrizzleRed]

2 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Why though? Can't you look at the squad YOURSELF and make your own mind up on whether we have a chance of being in the mix or not? I can only speak for myself and say that if my reasoning for buying a season ticket was to watch us get promoted to the Premiership I would have knocked it on the head some time ago. I buy mine because I enjoy going to football not because I listen to anything that comes out of Steve Lansdown's mouth and froth at the mouth like some Rabid Gashead. Anyone who has yet to understand he has a very limited knowledge of football as in the game itself must have been in hiding for the last twenty plus years........

This is the point though.  Of course we can look at the squad and realise we’re short.  That’s why I think there’s a serious lack of belief or real optimism within the fanbase, especially ones of a mature age.  

I haven’t especially enjoyed going to the Gate for some time, but keep renewing each year anyway, out of loyalty to the club.  I’m certainly not doing that in the expectation we’ll be going up, and would actually be totally shocked if we did.  

There are plenty on here who go on about Steve saying this and Steve saying that though, so they are obviously believing that whatever he says, he must mean it and be ‘telling it as it is’.  He just needs to say he ultimately wants promotion and there will be plenty who will take him as his word.  I’m personally well past taking any notice of that sort of guff now.

It just feels a bit sad and slightly depressing when your lifelong club appear to have zero ambition to progress.  I suspect that lack of  aspiration and drive also contributes to the flat matchday atmosphere people constantly bang on about on here!

[reddoh]

On 01/09/2023 at 17:39, Superjack said:

Means nothing.

I've been tweeting Katherine Jenkins for years...

next time I meet her I 'll ask her to tweet back to you

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, BrizzleRed said:

This is the point though.  Of course we can look at the squad and realise we’re short.  That’s why I think there’s a serious lack of belief or real optimism within the fanbase, especially ones of a mature age.  

I haven’t especially enjoyed going to the Gate for some time, but keep renewing each year anyway, out of loyalty to the club.  I’m certainly not doing that in the expectation we’ll be going up, and would actually be totally shocked if we did.  

There are plenty on here who go on about Steve saying this and Steve saying that though, so they are obviously believing that whatever he says, he must mean it and be ‘telling it as it is’.  He just needs to say he ultimately wants promotion and there will be plenty who will take him as his word.  I’m personally well past taking any notice of that sort of guff now.

It just feels a bit sad and slightly depressing when your lifelong club appear to have zero ambition to progress.  I suspect that lack of  aspiration and drive also contributes to the flat matchday atmosphere people constantly bang on about on here!

There’s a big difference to listening to what your owner says and believing his aspirations.

There’s a big difference to listening to what your owner says and basing a decision to buy a season ticket on that.

I read very little on here of people being sucked in as you suggest.

I think most on here are just highlighting that he’s talking crap again, and in a lot of cases want him / can’t wait for him to sell-up.  I’m in that camp.

 

[BrizzleRed]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

There’s a big difference to listening to what your owner says and believing his aspirations.

There’s a big difference to listening to what your owner says and basing a decision to buy a season ticket on that.

I read very little on here of people being sucked in as you suggest.

I think most on here are just highlighting that he’s talking crap again, and in a lot of cases want him / can’t wait for him to sell-up.  I’m in that camp.

 

Maybe I’m overestimating the SL fanbase on here then Dave.  I’m well aware there are plenty who’ll question him, but there also seem to be a fair number who’ll spout the ‘look at everything he’s done for us’, ‘we wouldn’t have a club without SL’ and ‘be careful what you wish for’ line, when anyone mentions any desire for new ownership.

For the record, I’m firmly in the same camp as you and think we’ve gone totally stale under his ownership.  Imho, if he doesn’t sell up soon, I fear we’ll begin a steady slide backwards, especially if he’s decided he no longer wants to fund the club.  

As we all know, the Championship can be brutal if you take your eye off the ball, or get complacent.  SL has never been dynamic, so I’d love to see an injection of ambition and energy at the top, to help lift this club out of its self-imposed stagnation.   Oh for some belief that this club is genuinely striving for some success, rather than just pretending.

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, BrizzleRed said:

Maybe I’m overestimating the SL fanbase on here then Dave.  I’m well aware there are plenty who’ll question him, but there also seem to be a fair number who’ll spout the ‘look at everything he’s done for us’, ‘we wouldn’t have a club without SL’ and ‘be careful what you wish for’ line, when anyone mentions any desire for new ownership.

For the record, I’m firmly in the same camp as you and think we’ve gone totally stale under his ownership.  Imho, if he doesn’t sell up soon, I fear we’ll begin a steady slide backwards, especially if he’s decided he no longer wants to fund the club.  

As we all know, the Championship can be brutal if you take your eye off the ball, or get complacent.  SL has never been dynamic, so I’d love to see an injection of ambition and energy at the top, to help lift this club out of its self-imposed stagnation.   Oh for some belief that this club is genuinely striving for some success, rather than just pretending.

Oh, totally BR…I agree.

I just don’t think they buy their season ticket based on it per se.

[exAtyeoMax]

12 hours ago, BrizzleRed said:

This is the point though.  Of course we can look at the squad and realise we’re short.  That’s why I think there’s a serious lack of belief or real optimism within the fanbase, especially ones of a mature age.  

I haven’t especially enjoyed going to the Gate for some time, but keep renewing each year anyway, out of loyalty to the club.  I’m certainly not doing that in the expectation we’ll be going up, and would actually be totally shocked if we did.  

There are plenty on here who go on about Steve saying this and Steve saying that though, so they are obviously believing that whatever he says, he must mean it and be ‘telling it as it is’.  He just needs to say he ultimately wants promotion and there will be plenty who will take him as his word.  I’m personally well past taking any notice of that sort of guff now.

It just feels a bit sad and slightly depressing when your lifelong club appear to have zero ambition to progress.  I suspect that lack of  aspiration and drive also contributes to the flat matchday atmosphere people constantly bang on about on here!

Yes it has made me sad.

I wonder if SL still believes it himself, deep down. #AlwaysBelieve.

[Abraham Romanovich]

I'm surprised at this anti SL feeling, whilst we can all agree that mistakes have been made who would be a better option.

American investors ? I see the Glazers are well liked in Manchester , Saudi blood money ? or some dodgy property speculator.?

No one buys a football club for altruistic reasons they want a return on their capital or at least not costing them money.

 

 

[exAtyeoMax]

26 minutes ago, Abraham Romanovich said:

I'm surprised at this anti SL feeling, whilst we can all agree that mistakes have been made who would be a better option.

American investors ? I see the Glazers are well liked in Manchester , Saudi blood money ? or some dodgy property speculator.?

No one buys a football club for altruistic reasons they want a return on their capital or at least not costing them money.

 

 

Thing is, he will want to retire at some point, I’m sure, so he will want to sell up anyway.

[FNQ]

8 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Thing is, he will want to retire at some point, I’m sure, so he will want to sell up anyway.

I don’t think that he’s desperate for a sale.. for example he’s younger than Roy Hodgson and our ol mate Neil Warnock who both have really stressful jobs compared to his lot. I don’t get the impression that he’s spending too much of his personal energy on us at the moment and I reckon Steve’s mantra of ‘build it and they will come’ still holds..

[exAtyeoMax]

16 minutes ago, FNQ said:

I don’t think that he’s desperate for a sale.. for example he’s younger than Roy Hodgson and our ol mate Neil Warnock who both have really stressful jobs compared to his lot. I don’t get the impression that he’s spending too much of his personal energy on us at the moment and I reckon Steve’s mantra of ‘build it and they will come’ still holds..

Maybe but with his interests lying in Guernsey, I expect he'll want to be more involved in his golfing venture. 

He's a different kettle of fish to Warnock though…

[Crimson Crayola]

14 hours ago, BrizzleRed said:

This is the point though.  Of course we can look at the squad and realise we’re short.  That’s why I think there’s a serious lack of belief or real optimism within the fanbase, especially ones of a mature age.  

I haven’t especially enjoyed going to the Gate for some time, but keep renewing each year anyway, out of loyalty to the club.  I’m certainly not doing that in the expectation we’ll be going up, and would actually be totally shocked if we did.  

There are plenty on here who go on about Steve saying this and Steve saying that though, so they are obviously believing that whatever he says, he must mean it and be ‘telling it as it is’.  He just needs to say he ultimately wants promotion and there will be plenty who will take him as his word.  I’m personally well past taking any notice of that sort of guff now.

It just feels a bit sad and slightly depressing when your lifelong club appear to have zero ambition to progress.  I suspect that lack of  aspiration and drive also contributes to the flat matchday atmosphere people constantly bang on about on here!

I agree with you, in that I look forward to outside investment or the day when Steve sells to someone a little more football savvy, but I think its unfair to suggest he doesn't want city in the prem or has zero ambition. We all know he threw money at the club previously and I feel its a case of sticking to FFP and a lot of that 'once bitten...' mindset.

Sadly we are in a better position now, yet he is showing little willingness to flex (hence his comittment to stick to a transfer budget mapped out in march, which was based on us keeping Alex).

To say he has no ambition is to over simplify things, but his stubborness and complete lack of desire to engage with the fanbase (through Jon, the CEO or himself) will lead fans to assume he has none.

[Calculus]

15 minutes ago, Just8 said:

I agree with you, in that I look forward to outside investment or the day when Steve sells to someone a little more football savvy, but I think its unfair to suggest he doesn't want city in the prem or has zero ambition. We all know he threw money at the club previously and I feel its a case of sticking to FFP and a lot of that 'once bitten...' mindset.

Sadly we are in a better position now, yet he is showing little willingness to flex (hence his comittment to stick to a transfer budget mapped out in march, which was based on us keeping Alex).

To say he has no ambition is to over simplify things, but his stubborness and complete lack of desire to engage with the fanbase (through Jon, the CEO or himself) will lead fans to assume he has none.

I'm sure he's a very decent guy, wants the best for the club and still has ambition - just that he's 71 now and trying to tidy up his affairs before he himself is promoted to the division above. Maybe Jon isn't willing to take it all on, or maybe he's not as business-savvy as his dad. Either way Steve needs to plan ahead. After all he's done for City and the city we could just trust him...

[Ronnie]

Has improved BCFC everywhere except on the pitch, he is not a football man.

[BrizzleRed]

2 hours ago, exAtyeoMax said:

Yes it has made me sad.

I wonder if SL still believes it himself, deep down. #AlwaysBelieve.

I doubt if he does to be honest.  

I suspect he’s decided after years of trying, that he’s reached his limit with City.  It looks like he’s now viewing the collective package of Bristol Sport as his legacy and City are just a part of that, rather than the main focus of his attention.

He certainly doesn’t look keen on giving the financial backing to us any more, so likely decided he can get far more bang for his bucks in the other areas of BS.

[Leveller]

26 minutes ago, Calculus said:

I'm sure he's a very decent guy, wants the best for the club and still has ambition - just that he's 71 now and trying to tidy up his affairs before he himself is promoted to the division above. Maybe Jon isn't willing to take it all on, or maybe he's not as business-savvy as his dad. Either way Steve needs to plan ahead. After all he's done for City and the city we could just trust him...

I agree. You can justly criticise his achievements, but I don't see why people try to malign his motives. He's about as close to a well-meaning owner as you can get. He didn't need to increase his fortune through sport and while he would no doubt have welcomed the acclaim of a more successful club, his business achievements and recognition mean that he really didn't need personal glory from it.

I think he genuinely wanted to "give something back" to his home city - he could easily have invested in a more promising club otherwise. It hasn't entirely worked out, but without him (or another wealthy owner) we'd probably still have facilities from Harry Dolman's era.

[BrizzleRed]

44 minutes ago, Just8 said:

I agree with you, in that I look forward to outside investment or the day when Steve sells to someone a little more football savvy, but I think its unfair to suggest he doesn't want city in the prem or has zero ambition. We all know he threw money at the club previously and I feel its a case of sticking to FFP and a lot of that 'once bitten...' mindset.

Sadly we are in a better position now, yet he is showing little willingness to flex (hence his comittment to stick to a transfer budget mapped out in march, which was based on us keeping Alex).

To say he has no ambition is to over simplify things, but his stubborness and complete lack of desire to engage with the fanbase (through Jon, the CEO or himself) will lead fans to assume he has none.

Fair enough, but just a couple of points I’ll pick up on about SL’s ambition.  Cast your mind back to our Championship Play-off season under GJ.  We were going great at the top of the table and we could see the promised land becoming a real possibility.  We then hit some injuries and our form started dropping off in the run-in and we found ourselves battling with Stoke for the last auto spot.

This was our big chance to go for it.  Now Stoke strengthened significantly, while we did nothing and we all know the eventual outcome.  Did that look like SL REALLY wanted it?

Then we have the SC period and we had some great momentum and a great side when  we came up as Champions from League 1.  Does it really looked like he viewed that as an opportunity to ride that crest of a wave and make a push for the next level?  It certainly didn’t look like it to me!

Now onto your point that he has splashed the cash at times, where I completely agree, though maybe not for the same reasons.  The most obvious case is under LJ’s tenure and I’ve got a theory on that one.  Although LJ gets a massive amount of stick and I’m not a fan of his, I suspect this splashing of cash was down to MA.

As I said, just a theory, but SL has constantly talked about his aim to make us sustainable.  What if a certain snake oil salesman came in and told him something along the lines of ‘if you want to make your club sustainable, I’m your man! I’ve got an extensive scouting network and can pick you up some real gems, which you can sell on for mega-money.  It’ll take a significant investment to start with, but as a money man, you’ll appreciate you have to speculate to accumulate’.

Purely conjecture, but it would certainly explain why he suddenly released the purse strings and it did work for a while, which may explain why he continued to chuck money around like there was no tomorrow.  This then began to go horribly wrong and SL suddenly finds himself with his pants around his ankles and seeing a shiny suit on its toes, heading in the direction of East Anglia!

I don’t think that spending spree signalled any real ambition to reach the Prem and was just a vain attempt to attain the sustainabilty he’d always wanted. Another of the many examples of bad footballing decisions made by SL.

I honestly believe he’s done things for the right reasons for the club, but unfortunately he clearly makes infinitely better decisions as a financier than he does as a football club owner!

[Numero Uno]

14 hours ago, BrizzleRed said:

Maybe I’m overestimating the SL fanbase on here then Dave.  I’m well aware there are plenty who’ll question him, but there also seem to be a fair number who’ll spout the ‘look at everything he’s done for us’, ‘we wouldn’t have a club without SL’ and ‘be careful what you wish for’ line, when anyone mentions any desire for new ownership.

For the record, I’m firmly in the same camp as you and think we’ve gone totally stale under his ownership.  Imho, if he doesn’t sell up soon, I fear we’ll begin a steady slide backwards, especially if he’s decided he no longer wants to fund the club.  

As we all know, the Championship can be brutal if you take your eye off the ball, or get complacent.  SL has never been dynamic, so I’d love to see an injection of ambition and energy at the top, to help lift this club out of its self-imposed stagnation.   Oh for some belief that this club is genuinely striving for some success, rather than just pretending.

The first sentence of your last paragraph…….that’s what people need to be wary of, especially if we had a lesser Manager than Nige running the playing side.

[Son of Fred]

1 hour ago, BrizzleRed said:

This then began to go horribly wrong and SL suddenly finds himself with his pants around his ankles

Steve Pantsdown

[BrizzleRed]

19 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

The first sentence of your last paragraph…….that’s what people need to be wary of, especially if we had a lesser Manager than Nige running the playing side.

Exactly, which is why I’m getting concerned at the lack of credit and backing being offered to NP from above, considering the job he’s done.  The silence is deafening and I pray we aren’t heading for another of his awful footballing decisions.

FWIW, I don’t see see the club’s existance being in any danger under SL’s ownership and the same certainly can’t be assumed under new ownership.  

That said, it feels like we’ve totally stagnated now and honestly can’t see any upward momentum likely under SL, as it looks like he’s completely lost interest in this ‘project’ now.

[BrizzleRed]

30 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

Steve Pantsdown

About the only thing the Sags have got right

[1960maaan]

I don't know whether to suggest this for Steve or the many on here that know they could do better 

Should actually be a good read IMO.

Edited September 14, 2023 by 1960maaan