That's pretty much spot on- There was a phone in on Five live the other day, asking if fans were now being treated as customers- In short, Yes.Maybe not quite so much outside the Premier league- I noticed this a number of years ago when taking my son, who, at the time was aged 14, to a Spurs game and there were no concessions. The attitude appeared to be that the seat could be filled regardless, so pay in full or go without
We got players In January so was Cotterill too overambitious (we talked about a playoff run back in November in the Evening Post and promotion in August) Bristol Sport is Lansdown trying to emulate FC Barcelona. Probably is used to loophole FFP and I don't see it interfering too much.
Most of the major clubs in Europe, Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern, Sporting Lisbon, Ajax, Ferencvaros and many others have 3, 4, 5 other sports in the stable. I don't have a major issue with the Bristol Sport model, I DO have a problem with the director of football recruiting our new players...
Not Easy ! SC moaned towards the end of last summer that money was refused him back in May when he wanted to buy players like he had the summer before. Next thing we are being asked ridiculous prices for average Championship players. For example, would you say Loathsneyd that either Gray or the Palace player have done anything since our offers that have pointed to them being worth 7 and 11 million ? The point being that if money HAD been made available when he needed it, Cotterill might still be in a job, and we would be having a different conversation. Or maybe we wouldn't If we had sacked everyone who got us into the relegation zone in the past, Johnson and Dicks would both have been out on their ear, and we would have absolutely NOTHING to show for 120 odd years of Bristol City Easy. Arrogance is the first sign of insecurity !
Money was available it was just that nobody wanted to come to us. As for Gray being worth the money Burnley are currently going for promotion which might have something to do with him being the Championshipss top scorer. So I guess Burnley would look at it as money well spent if they achieve it. We had been in the relegation zone for weeks but a home defeat to Preston and Cotts losing it with a fan was probably the final straw.
For me, the key element here is SL's statement about never having refused any deal put in front of him.. My question is, put in front of him by whom...? My thought is that SC was presented with a list of players to choose from and said no to all of them because none of them were his choice. THEN, money was refused for the players that he wanted. I have no evidence of this, just my feeling on the subject.
SL has a question and answer session booked in a pub at the Forest game. I hope someone (respectfully) asks him to clear this up.
The story I've heard is that SC had a couple of good players lined up and who were all set to sign for us last Summer. He had agreed personal terms with them, and everything had been ironed out. The deals just needed Board approval. SC went on holiday and came back to find the approvals had not been granted, and then there was to question of whether he was trying to make money for himself out of the deals which is why the board had vetoed them. I can't say for sure that this is 100% true but it might explain a lot of what happened afterwards.
It all went pear shaped when SC went on holiday the deal for the Hull defender was agreed at a fee,then that fee was greatly reduced by our end, and Steve Bruce told us to do one.
"DO ONE" very interesting, answers are limitless .. roly poly somersault crossword puzzle bake a cup cake willing partner gut a fish .........
