Well that's clearly where our opinion differs massively, as I've not seen improvement, I have just seen difference, and quite frankly its been a sidewards to backwards step, much like our ball retention policy! I also believe our squad is Playoff material, or certainly knocking on the door, whereas you don't which baffles me. So where did you see us finishing at the start of the season if not in the race for playoff or not in the fight for relegation, as it must be very specific position number you thought we were for a virtually new team. Either that or you are just making it up as you go along which wouldn't baffle me as much! As for a coach on financial restraints, please list the teams in our division NOT working with financial restraints. Also name all the players in his squad he does not want... You say Kilkenny and I'll scream, because you are dead wrong if you think he didn't want him. He even said the day he arrived he longed to bring the bloke to Doncaster and relished working with him. So name the others he desperately doesn't want?
It is extremely difficult to show any physical or vocal enthusiasm because of the way we are set up. After five minutes of every game, I am almost asleep an I don't expect any different tonight - yes I am going but I don't know why. And before anyone tells me to support my team in times of trouble, here is my attendance record. 1950-60; as often as school and parents cash flow would allow. 2 or 3 away games per season. 1960 to 1986; missed only a couple of home games through illness and went to lots of away matches. 1986 to 1995; lived in Shrewsbury, saw all home games except one when we were snowed in plus loads of away. 1995 to 2005; every home game but not more than 5 or 6 away each season. For two years in this period, I lived in Livingston, near Edinburgh. 2005 to 2012-13; living in Portugal but saw minimum of six at home and one or two away each year. Sept 2013 back in Bristol, first thing I did was to buy my season ticket. So when someone like me considers not going because it is so dire, there has to be something sadly wrong with my Club. This season makes 1982-3 seem like a walk in the park. Come on you Reds, but without any belief.
I had no lofty expectations 12 - 13th that sort of thing. Last season I saw a team unable to mark properly at corner kicks, unable to provide cover and defensive balance etc. This eason that is no longer a significant concern. That difference IS an improvement. City do not look like they will implode, they are not the shambles you describe them as. Going forwards is another aspect. All teams work with financial restraints, but if City are making a reduction in spending others are not due to its excess spending. Citys spending past income wasn't just abnormal it was blind stupidity. What was it 120 - 140% overspend each season? How many others a will be cutting as deep? Not many. Its apparent in team selection who does not fit. I see no point in going don't like him, and that one, get more as I don't see a fourteen million pound loss amongst other masive losses as a trifling inconvienience. Somebody has to pay for it. Some of this endless negativity also becomes boring . I will enjoy tonight. Tomorrow I will be with the kids hopefully discussing a J-E-T stepover. Football is always fun if you want it to be. Serioulsy thinking of not going. Don't, do something else. There are other things in life.
Well in that case you were the only one then, as even SOD said we would be competing for promotion, as did the board, as did a lot of the players. You only have to look at previous articles on the BBC around August time to see quotes indicating the ambition and aim! As for the improvement side, I don't recall players making basic shocking errors on a consistent basis before like, half ass back passes to the goalkeeper, own goals, a goalkeeper who couldn't catch a beach ball, and a striker far too good for this league completely sapped of confidence he can't hit a barn door when previously he buried those chances at the first time of asking! We clearly differ on what improvement is as well. Back to the finances! If we are cutting our cloth to match that of the teams around us, why is our wage bill so high and if we are trying to go down to a level playing field for this league, why are we at the bottom of that league despite having a higher wage bill and better players???? Its a simple equation you are still yet to answer properly: Wage bill higher than 90% of the clubs in this division at present - some very good players that other clubs would love - team in bottom 3 of the league with worst win ratio in most fans living memory - please answer the reasons why if SOD isn't too blame? I don't want to hear transition, expenditure cuts, because we STILL HAVE A HIGHER WAGE STRUCTURE THAN ALMOST ALL THE TEAMS ABOVE US!!!!!! So you still can't answer that question either can you? Naming the players who SOD supposedly doesn't want and never did want and has been utterly lumbered with. From the rest of your response you have basically used a footballing equivalent of "the lord moves in mysterious ways" when a religious person is asked "why does god allow natural disasters to happen?" Nice work!
"So when someone like me considers not going because it is so dire, there has to be something sadly wrong with my Club." You have just summed up the feelings of 3 quarters of the people who I used to go to games with Cidered. They no longer attend, and 2 of which who still have a season ticket, they give their seat to friends when they can find someone who wants them. So have paid for a season ticket they currently no longer want!
Well in that case you were the only one then ... I am sure there were others. Back to the finances! If we are cutting our cloth to match that of the teams around us, why is our wage bill so high and if we are trying to go down to a level playing field for this league, why are we at the bottom of that league despite having a higher wage bill and better players???? A high wage bill does not necessarily = a quality squad if it did Sheffield Utd would not be at this level, Palace would not be in the premiership, and Bristol City would still be in the championship. Nicky Hunt & David James = ?? That lack of value does not just disappear, it is still there now in the squad. City spent so far past their income the have to cut further than other clubs or can no longer compete with Peterbrough, yes Peterbrough. I see no point of coating off current players. If they play in red they will get my support tonight even if I do think they can't be trusted to pass to the other side of the road. If they cease trying e.g Maynard that is different, he also left. From the rest of your response you have basically used a footballing equivalent of ... A philosphy that has seen me support the club through a period when it really was out on its arse ... Support Bristol City club now or never will be recognised by the old un's. It is also why I look at the long term not just now. My philopshy is that Bristol City is a club that plays football. That club is not just about football results, or I would not go, its fun also if you allow it to be. Finacially that FC, its existence has been at risk without the largesse of Steve Lansdown. I will support the intent to turn it back into something a little like being a club that plays football that can survive without the constant bale out's from Guernsey.
My case in point then, the players we currently have on our books, the majority of them are the ones SOD signed on the wages he saw fit to sign them on! So our "supposed" current lack of value in the squad we do have, is down to him, no one else! You see no point in coating off current players.... Because you cannot admit that these are SOD's men and SOD had a great opportunity to clear out the ones he didn't want, which he quite rightly did in the summer. The ones that stayed were because HE wanted them. You see no point, because you fail to concede you are wrong. I am afraid this isn't 1982, and as I have told you dozens of times, Football in 30 years has completely changed due to the money in the game. There is no magical old fashion spirited comeback or heroic resurgence to yesteryear glories! Rovers have no recovered in the slightest from their relegation and are on the verge of dropping even further! The one thing that simply does not exist in the game anymore is TIME, so it irritates me beyond belief when people say "give it time" because time is always ALWAYS against you. The longer it takes to get it right, the less likely it will come, and the more of your decent players you lose, the less fans keep turning out (look at this thread for example) the less likely you are going to achieve anything close to what you had hoped when you started. Wake up Bristol City, because you have already failed to act before it was too late, now act before its cripplingly too late!
JGF you're the weirdest poster on here, even you said a few weeks back he was rubbish and you don't even know what day it is I predicted 8 - 15 but I didn't think we would achieve that by being boring to watch. Anyway I'm getting ready to go and have a snooze
I'm bleedin' freezing but glad I went, Baldock played like a man possessed and the team never gave up, well done SOD and the boys, now where is that large 'Isle of Jura'... please log in to view this image
If, as some have stated, there is improvement could they please explain to me why we still in the relegation place, and as far not tuning in to the supposed dictates of our manager you may want to consider that they don't believe in him either. We are fighting the same battles as we have for the last couple of seasons and may I remind you that we are now in a lower division and falling fast compared to teams who spend a lot less than us.
I simply cannot be bothered to read all that this time. In this very thread you state Sean O'driscoll lost the players a long time ago. Tonight makes that statement look even more ridiculous than it was then.
Second half the best we have played in the league this season. Still a long way to go though,a long way before i get my mojo back.
have to admit i thought pack had a good game still some of the passing was the wrong type and made a couple of wrong decisions shame williams came off we looked better with him on Joe wasnt his usual self JET needs his engines restarted hope reid comes back in soon
Ahhh spoken like a man who knows he is well and truly in the wrong. Something no doubt you are more than used to. Time to adapt to the modern era, football is no longer played with a ball that has lace keeping the leather tied together! You maybe happy watching our club sink into the abyss, and willing to p!$$ your money away on boring soon to be league 2 football, but some of us actually aren't happy to go further backwards before we "HOPE" to go forwards sometime in the next decade or so! Would not be surprised if SOD is gone by the time I am back in 8 weeks time!
If Judge Jeffreys was trying your case at the assizes your doomed. LOST THE DRESSING ROOM .... You said.
