Management....

Been away on holiday, hence the belated thread. Just been catching up with 2 weeks worth of posting and definitely think that some of the comments on here about SL have, to say the least, been harsh.

First off, in the 2 seasons prior to last year, he wrote off £30m of losses made which were largely as a result of the new contracts many of the players signed following our last promotion (which also hamstrung us in the first season in league 1) and the many less than good signings made during the decline. So, to say that SL has not backed the managers we had in place is patently wrong.

Now some may argue that it is the wrong sort of backing but don't forget that most of the time, it was the manager who selected the targets and SL just paid for them. This was the cause of the "black magic" comment some time ago which was clearly about GJ's style, i.e. keep your nose out and carry on signing the cheques mate which these days, very few owners are in a position to do.

The chairman clearly needs to trust the manager and vice versa but I do get the strong impression that BOTH the owner AND THE MANAGER believed that the squad that got us promoted would be able to at least hold its own in this division with the aid of a few signings. Judging by the performances so far, we probably will but the balance is not quite right.

Despite what happened last year, I never thought we were a very incisive team. We were clearly better than most in league 1 but especially at home, we did not pose the clear attacking threat that for instance the likes of MK Dons did. When they went forward, it was with a clear purpose and threat whereas we just kept the ball and eventually wore out the opposition in to making a mistake which led to a goal.

Now that is all very well and good but it does not take a rocket scientist to work out that the players in this division are better and on the whole, will therefore make less mistakes. The evidence of this is clear to see against our 3 home opponents so far where were we kept the ball well for long periods but didn't really threaten or where we did (Burnley), didn't capitalise and the opposition were happy to keep us at bay and hit us on the break or at set pieces

Kodjia is definitely the right type of signing, a strong bustling centre forward who will get better as he settles but we need another clinical forward to compliment him and frankly yes, I would pay big money for someone like Ross McCormack as whatever you think of him, his pedigree at this level is there for all to see.

Finally, to say that our owner does not have a plan in place is simply not true. The fact is however that as you might expect from a man who has been involved with investments most of his life, it is a long term thing (made longer by the frustrating Ashton Vale saga).

SL has stated on many occasions that when he does walk away from BCFC (probably when he is no longer with us), he will leave the club with no debt but, MORE IMPORTANTLY, as a self-sustaining entity. This is the key element as if he were no longer be able to fund for whatever reason, we are genuinely in the brown smelly stuff. The plan is to build a bigger stadium which will mean that we can afford to sustain higher wages and thus compete.

We are closing in on the first part of the equation which will be ready next year. I imagine that when it is, SL will probably have one last plunge and then, it will be up to us supporters to do our bit (ala Portsmouth, Derby and the like who just turn up regardless) and put our bums on the seats if we want our team to succeed.

 

I agree with what Prem says, as a team the manager and owner felt the team was good enough. However the squad is a different thing and that needed to be strengthened.
But signings would then become more difficult as you are looking for squad players not guaranteed first teamers.
We replaced JET with Kodjia, we replaced Cunningham with a player in Fredericks (but he ****ed off) a player capable of playing on both right and left. We then added Robinson a player that can play the Freeman role and up front.
The only failure in my eyes was the Elliott replacement, but going on last years Pack stepped up and filled his shoes.
Yes we might of looked light on the signings but in hindsight we thought the team would do well.
The emphasis on transfer deadline changed from forwards to defence based on the past games in this division.

Loans do and can work, we took Matt Smith just last year, he scored goals. We also took a Mr A Cole on loan who didn't turn out to bad.

What we do lack in this club (probably the same around the country) is patience to give players time. Looking back just last season, everyone was moaning and groaning about Matt Smith.

 

I think part one of this has been actioned in as much as we have bought in a couple to try and stop shipping goals. This is the first element with hopefully more to come...

 

IMHO our failure to strengthen the squad over the Summer has cost us all of the momentum we built up last season and that is the biggest shame of all.

However if we can consolidate this year and push on again next season, having (hopefully !!!!) learned our lessons, then I'll be happy.

 

Unless this would destroy a confidence, who is your "other one"?

 

They cant even sort out an effective phone or ticketing system. The commercial department and retail arms of the business leave a lot be desired. Therefore it is not much of a surprise that they are pretty useless when it comes to sorting out an effective transfer strategy and executing it. We need a Director of Common Sense and the Bloody obvious!

 

I have to agree with this, my experience of the commercial side at Ashton Gate is that it is riddled with incompetence.. buying a ticket for football match from the club who are playing the football match should surely be a damn sight easier than it currently is!

I am in hospitality this year as a treat with some friends and they are already moving the goal posts on our agreement, the complimentary bar is now until 15 mins before Kick off not until kick off as (as agreed before we bought) its just a constant ball ache with everything they do, little things they can't get right and as Red Hub says a complete lack of common sense. Some decent leadership would be a start!

 

Problem,from my observations is the quality of staff at ground level, ticket office, commercial dept etc, is not good enough. Why? because maybe they are under funded.
As an example i booked a table for a rugby world cup match. They gave me a code to do a transfer of funds. This I did and did not receive any receipt of payment. When I contacted them they asked me to prove that I had paid them because they were unable to access their accounts. They took money for a season ticket seat that did not exist. On querying why they had cocked up they said the builders would not let them on site until just before start of the season and they had been selling from an old plan. My point is surely they should have had regular meetings with the build team to identify any plan changes before they started selling season tickets. Just another example of incompetence and a situation that should not have happened.

 

Another anonymous nobody then...

 

last season I frequently stated I was about xx% sure or unsure of Cotts, which would concur with your comment...he picks the team and states how to play, never really thought of it as incisive, but a good a phrase as any

 

transfer window...

3 stratedgies

1) plunge in at the start and at least have someone but maybe lose out later
2) wait till the end or near the end to see who is available due to being displaced by in coming
3) have a hit list and stick to it whilst making the odd " could do with him cheap cheerful and will be back up"

I think city had a bit of 1 a lot of 3 and a large portion of 2 in other words a plan that didn't pan out............

 

Couldn't agree more.. I could tell you story after story like that.. Change is required, do Bristol Sport have the real desire to do it?

 

Well I would say that the "departure" of the CEO is quite a big step in that direction, this would be a pretty big deal in any other line of business (although we all know who really signs the cheques).

He could of course have left of his own volition but having read many similar announcements, the wording is very curt and to the point which suggests not and although we don't know the facts, it could well be that he has paid the price for this summer's failures in the transfer market ESPECIALLY if the previous thread about the £1.5m offer (when we agreed £2.5m) for the Hull player is true.

SL has to have people he can trust in place as he cannot be everywhere at once, the replacement (If there is one) has to be in touch with the ordinary fan.

I'll do it....! (seriously)

 

I just want to perhaps buy a shirt (or whatever) without them making me feel like they are doing me a favour!

Our hospitality table this year is the best part of £32k but now its a bit popular again its like they are suddenly doing us a favour letting us spend our money with them if the results continue in the same manner, they will be begging people to go in there next year! they're just so short sighted.

 

The debt has not been written off. It has been restructured across different companies.

 

There is a popular conception that more shares are issued each year to cover the debt.

That said, however he does it, the point is that SL is not going to for his money back and wind us up in the process....

 

Chickens with heads cut off come to mind and after so many years of supporting my boyhood heroes I wonder if they ever get it right. Our owner is a blessing I know, but for some inexplicable reason despite the fact that he has spent money in droves, nothing seems to hit the mark when it comes to success. Organisational skills would appear to be the problem and I constantly hear from the posters on 606 that they want to pull out their collective hair out in frustration at some of the happenings down in BS3.

Why?????