I stuck my head on the chopping board as said this would be our year,plus i said we would finish top. Nothing has changed my mind,even with sammy going,Agard is a ready replacement and looked good in his first game yesterday. I really like wilbs,his non stop running chasing back,holding the ball up well,he has been a fantastic signing,hopefully agard will get to understand him and feed of him well. All the new lads are settling in well and producing good football. Little was a fantastic signing,Freeman is getting better each game,Smith looks class in the middle,alongside the fantastic Wade Elliott.Ayling had his best game for city yesterday and looks good. It really is looking up,and i really think this will be our year. Humble pie regards Steve Cotterill he has brought quality players in, and got the team ticking nicely. It really is nice going to the gate and feeling confident and proud what other fans,managers,and pundits are saying about our club.
Very pleased with the start and the signs are looking good after a few seasons of below par commitment and results. I do think we are 1 or 2 players away from the full meal deal and it will be interesting to see if we make any good loan window moves to shore up a sometimes creaky and scary defence. Overall rating of 7 out of 10 from me based on what has transpired so far.
For pessimist like me to agree with Red Robin, it shows how much we have progressed in the last nine months. We can all gnit pick about what is not yet going well but it is again a pleasure to see a City side battling and working so hard to achieve results. At least the supporters now know that if we do not achieve the ultimate goal this season, it will not be for lack of trying. And while I am feeling good about City, I also witnessed a determined , resolute and passionate display by Bristol. I have seen some derogatory comments on OTIB about their win against Worcester but I say as one who saw both this weekends games live at the Ashton Gate stadium, it feels good be a Bristol City football and Bristol rugby fan!
Even I'm starting to believe... We are sure to have a dip in form at some point, so I'm glad we're accumulating some points now. It bothers me that the defence still look shaky, even against quite a poor Scunny side. It also bothers me that if Wilbs or Agard get a long term injury we are short on options. We ought to be aiming for 6 points from the next 2 games.
The reaction to a loss is now going to be vital, that will tell us whether this side really has the balls for the job.
Many thought that Cotterill teams were boring. But what they are is efficient and well organised. This team are now doing what all successful teams in any sport have to do; grind out the results. And when that inevitable first defeat comes, they will not buckle, it will spur them on to start another long undefeated run! When the City really click into gear and get early goals in a game, someone is in for a real hammering.
I am also beginning to believe, although I am a dies in the wool City fan so am awaiting the "crash and burn" sorry but just can't help it too many years a supporter I suppose. As for Bristol's win yesterday, thought it was great, showed character and fight and is only the first game of the season. What a great weekend of sport, City win, Bristol win, Northern Ireland win, England Cricket win, Lewis Hamilton win, Scotland lose, Rovers lose to part timers and we have England playing Switzerland tonight! Oh well can't have everything I suppose.
We've not had a good start to the season for a long time, at least since McInnes got us a few decent wins at the start of the season he was sacked. As usual, I want to give Cotterill ten games before I decide where we stand. Personally, from what I've seen, I think we're still not capable of a promotion push and I largely think that we'll finish mid-table again as we're a few key signings away from a rock solid team. Unlike most here I'm very happy with Fielding in goal. He's not too confident, but that will grow with experience and I think he could be an outstanding keeper at City for many years if we sign an older keeper to mentor him. What we really need is an experienced defender to help settle the back three and possibly act as an impact sub. We also need a defensively-minded midfielder that can act as cover when needed. I'd like to see us move JET into midfield, if not as a way to get him running around a bit more than as a way to use him to move the ball out of midfield and up the pitch.
I agree too. Also, apart from Orient, we haven't faced an opposition who could pass for championship level yet. Peterborough will be an interesting test.
Correct, I want to see how this side and the manager bounce back from disappointment, it's all great when everything's going well but the best sides bounce back straight away from disappointment.
'apart from Orient, we haven't faced an opposition who could pass for championship level yet' Cotterill failed miserably a Championship test that night. El Abd, Ayling to midfield and JET on for 20 seconds. Seems to have learnt his lesson.
We don't need to pass any championship tests yet.? Lets walk before we start running. This side is new both in personnel and style, they will need at least half a season to even settle down properly We're not gonna go through the season without losing, look what happened to Orient last year, they were walking this league then fell apart after a back to back loss.. We need to react correctly. I'm fairly confident we will.
Without doubt the best squad in the division we have started well,and it is a darn site easier when you start well,than start badly,confidence breeds confidence.
What we dont need is over confidence. We need to work hard every game to get results as was proved by the test Scunthorpe gave us
'Lets walk before we start running' - I couldn't agree more. However, I don't think playing 'El Abd, Ayling to midfield and JET on for 20 seconds' has anything to do with 'walking or running'. Just piss poor football logic and keeping a guy on a 3 year contract happy. TBF - Other than not getting in a keeper, the Orient game is my only criticism of Cotterill so far this season.
'However, I don't think playing 'El Abd, Ayling to midfield and JET on for 20 seconds' has anything to do with 'walking or running'. Just piss poor football logic and keeping a guy on a 3 year contract happy" You don't get a shout anymore Victor, you blew it with your Wade Elliott appraisal..
