For the first time in ages our pre-season seems to have kicked off on a very high tempo particularly when it comes to the player market. New signings already on board and rumours regarding others who might be close to signing makes me wonder how much of this activity, both actual and possible, was in SOD's mind way before the season had ended? Excuse me for saying that perhaps our relegation was pre-destined by those that matter in an attempt to change the mix to a point where we could compete again on a whole new level of financial stability. We were all aware of the problems pervading the club and the dressing room so much so that we knew that something had to give for us to survive. Overpaid and underperforming players were definitely the cause of the issues at Ashton Gate and now perhaps we have a chance of rebuilding our base on more solid ground when we can say that players with greedy self centred attitudes need no longer apply. None of us wished for this and I ask those of you much closer to the scene than I can ever be what do you think are the final building blocks needed to shore up our new team?
Sounds silly but I think the only way this club could of went forward was to get relegated. If we would of stayed up we would of had the exact same season again. Players would of stayed because we were still a championship team and it would of been another scrap for survival. We've gone down so now SOD can rebuild and he can get some confidence back in the team and fans. He'll get his players and we will enjoy a good season where we win more than lose for a change. So far everything sounds good and I cant wait for the season to start to see what type of team we'll be supporting and maybe a promotion push will be what we earn come the end of the season. I hope......
My worry is it will take time to complete the jigsaw so the players will not have gelled by the start of the season if people start talking about promotion next year the expectation might be too high I would be happy to see the club stabilize and start playing good football, if we reached the playoffs wonderful that would be more than I was really expecting this coming season, If we get automatic promotion then I really will believe Sean O'Driscoll walks on Cider.
I think people are scared/cautious to say we will be promoted/have a good season. Some don't want to say it in case it backfires and I can even see it if for example we are top of the league in march people will still say we've over achieved and they would take a play off spot. Im going to stick my head on the line here and say we will finish top 2! Quote it if you want.......
Depends on the mentality of the team if we play away like we did last season we will struggle we need to get our foot on the ball and dominate
I think everyone is right on this one and I am a firm believer that relegation was allowed to happen to save our souls. A very negative way to approach the future but then again what would our future have been under the old way of doing business? The time is ripe to change the entire attitude at Ashton Gate and bring things back under firm control and if we are incapable of doing that then we could be headed for further disaster but, you know what, I am starting to believe again and that takes a lot after what has been allowed to happen to my club. Hopefully the new and improved version of Bristol City will enter the fray with only positive attitudes and make Ashton Gate a fortress where others fear to tread. If we can do that and make our opponents dread the visit of Bristol City and know they are in a fight for any points then we have it made in the shade. Let's wait and see if that can happen.
Shiny as said -SOD wants a vast improvement on previous years,and yes promotion is the aim,if the likes of players being mentioned are coming in then we are in for a excellent season with promotion at the end. I am not frightened to join you,i reckon we will finish top two,watch city return to the championship as most bookies are predicting.
Quite agree with the fact that it did appear to be allowed to happen, there certainly wasnt much of a resistence at the end- I felt that the day that we lost to Wolves we were down all but mathematically and the rebuild started from there. I have no idea, but my guess is that it was monetary and the agruements for this do appear to make sense. Who knows, it could be prudence in advance of a lot of other clubs- I do hope that we get an early foot in the door with transfers and those that want to go, do go leaving a clean slate to have a full pre-season.
We are certainly doing business differently than we have for the past few years getting in early with the bids for the players we want instead of playing the waiting game, which might get you some bargains but also runs the risk that there is no one left to sign that will do you any good. Then you are left with the option of paying well inflated transfer fees for people you haven't done enough scouting on something we know far too much about at the Gate.
I am with gdknac on the Wolves game but I also think there were some games prior to that one that we also could have won. I listened on Ooooh Aaaarh Radio up here in my mountain retreat and thought the match should have been done and dusted by halftime because we dominated the first half and then sat back and let them take over and my thoughts at the end were "Oh my god we're definitely going down now".
Well said Hawk. A refreshing and almost professional approach to the close season so far, which isn't something we've had for a long long time.
Am I missing something here? Apart from Wyntar who have we signed this summer? I know we have had an offer accepted for Flint but has anyone signed?
We've only signed 1 ROD. A bid accepted for another and interest in another player which has reached the public. Usually we don't have any interest for a player until June Let alone actually sign a player and have one with a bid accepted.
Didn't we buy Anderson and Cunningham early doors last season and Bolasie season before. Not being negative even though I'm sounding it, but we have done things early before its just we choose not to remember. Most of players targeted last year choose not to come but we do, do things early on.
Apparently the Anderson and Cunningham deals were discussed whilst the previous season was going on because somehow we found out early(way before the end of the season) that they were going to be available, at least that's what I heard from someone who used to work in the office at the Gate. Now I can't swear to this as it is based on someone elses memory I wasn't party to it.
I think that it will be a bit more than a patch up if Sean gets his way we could see six or seven new players, perhaps more if more players leave, at the Gate for the start of next season, as there seem to be a lot of rumours that Tango for one is on his way out. Also Mr Adkins is looking for some new defenders and he was an admirer of Fonts could get him cut price now please come and get him.
