Best for 20 years

I believe Steve Cotterill is the best manger we have had for 20 years. He was so impressive after the Cardiff match and I believe we will struggle to keep hold of him. He clearly has the team and the management all talking from the same hymn sheet. He is realistic in saying that whilst we are playing attractive football it is all part of a learning process which develops experience. He no doubt realises we are two or three players short of a top 6 team and this is reflected by the players he tried to sign previously. I have total faith that the club is in good hands and cannot wait for the January window when surely we will get our transfer act together and back his judgement. He is a breath of fresh air compared with some managers. Direct and to the point and clearly determined to play attacking football

 

Managers will be judged on results and Cotts is doing ok so far, but way off GJ.
Time will tell.

I like Cotts by the way.

 

Cant disagree at all- Doing very well

 

I think that to date SC has a better win rate, but performance in the Championship is the measure which matters. SCs is streets ahead with his transfer record ie he buys very few duds

 

Still yet to reach the heights in the championship that GJ did, but firmly believe he will out do GJ's achievements with our club, as long as we hold onto him of course...

 

AD first GJ next and then,i would love to know who was responsible for the cock up pre season transfer wise.
It has cocked us up big time going back into the championship.

 

Well a senior member of the board left abruptly so one can only read between the lines

 

'Cotts is doing ok so far, but way off GJ'

I think SC is better than GJ.
Nepotism was a massive weakness here as Junior's career/retirement has proved.
More than that Johnson is the same everywhere, does well for a few seasons and then Bam.
His bully boy tactics last only for a while, he rows/kicks doors in/fights with players at every club he manages.
Not just us, ask any Northampton, Posh, or Yeovil fan.
In particular - when Paddy Madden scores I have a little chuckle.

 

Unfortunately I always thought we would ultimately fail under GJ, even when we got to Wembley.

Aside from the rumours of bullying and unprofessional behaviour, there were the 2 signings that still rankle with me when he signed Adebola and Carle, when a couple of decent signings may well have got us automatic promotion.

For me, and including the wonderful achievements of last season, SC is second only to AD during my City lifetime, with GJ third.

 

Before he came I was not sure about Cotts' style of football

However the attacking phiolosophy we have is so good to watch - so I'm going for Cotts - (who also gave me my best ever season last year (covering 40 odd years!!)

 

I did of course say 20 years which I believe rules Dicksy out

 

It's hard to gauge managers over the years as the nature of the game has changed so much. In Alan Dick's years, it was about player recruitment & coaching. We were still a relatively small fish but the playing field was generally pretty level.

GJ did an amazing job and got us within a whisker of the Prem. Some might argue that it was a fluke but he created a team that worked hard for each other with relatively few prima donnas. Nepotism was definitely a downfall though and some of the transfer dealings were poor.

Cotts is doing great. Last year was simply superb. This year is a struggle but we're playing with the big boys now. We are a small fish in this pond and we have to work harder than some of the more established clubs. Financial prudence is an absolute must and this will hinder us when our revenue is relatively low due to capacity issues. When the west stand is open, if we can fill the stadium (BIG "IF"!!) our match day revenue will rise by around 60 - 70%. This gives us more clout in the market. This is why staying in the Championship is absolutely essential.

Whilst we can argue who is the best manager for 20 years, I think we should be pretty unanimous regarding who is the best owner. Looking at the daily progress at The Gate, it's exciting to finally see us being pulled into a modern club. I thank the day that Steve Lansdown committed himself & his wealth to Bristol City. He's not perfect but we're lucky to have him.

 

I like the way we try and play under Cotts, and who knows he may overtake GJ in my own ranking - if he gets us to the championship playoff final then he will have done.

The GJ 'bullying' rumour is a strange one. RP and a couple of others have been saying that for ages - and yet our success that season was due to our tight-knit 'band of brothers' culture, with the (inferior) players all playing for each other.
Many of his ex players have continued to follow him too, which surely they wouldn't have if he was kicking them around the changing room after every game?
Until someone releases a book we'll never know I suppose.
I'd love to know why Basso refused to sign for example but all there are are rumours. No facts.

 

I'd take Cotts over GJ all day long.. Angelics point about poor signings also rankles with me but Carle started impressively and I thought he could do well here, The only reason I could see for his removal from the team was to accommodate Junior.
He was dropped against Stoke in an away game that had we won we would have been promoted instead of Stoke!

They're still there 7 years later..

 

As I recall there were rumours of a fight in the car park , cant remember who he thumpred

 

That was a fight between Carle and McIndoe after Carle had gone to Crystal Palace. Nothing to do with GJ.
I am open to evidence that GJ behaved badly, but the only 'evidence' so far have been opinionated posts on these forums presented as 'facts' from people who hated GJ anyway because of his son.

 

Cotterell is a good manager apart from his ability to change tactics and effectively use substitutions. Apart from that and the ability to build a well rounded squad he's a very good manager.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

I thought it was fairly common knowledge that GJ and Sproule came to blows after one game and that was when the players turned on GJ.?

 

Wasn't that game at Plymouth?

 

I think it was and even GJ alluded to it when interviewed about it after, didn't he say something about "they've heard all my jokes before" or something along those lines.

as reported in the Daily Mirror at the time.

"Johnson immediately squared up to Campbell-Ryce which sparked a violent scuffle as other players like Ivan Sproule allegedly waded in."