Manager reflects on his first game in charge of the Robins. please log in to view this image Steve Cotterill believes his side deserve credit for how they reacted to a week of change at Ashton Gate. The new City boss was appointed last Tuesday and had just a few days to prepare his side for the trip to Tamworth in the second round of the FA Cup with Budweiser. The Robins avoided a potential cup upset with goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Sam Baldock helping secure a 2-1 victory. âThe players have had a tough week. With a new manager coming in they didnât know what to expect,â Cotterill told Bristol City Player. âThey were unsure what to do, what to say and how to play. The players showed great character to make sure we progressed safely through to the next round. âI donât know how many teams would have gone to Tamworth and played silky football. âTo be fair to them they have some big boys â when we were in the tunnel you could tell they were a bigger team than us. âSometimes the physicality of a game is very difficult to stand up to if you havenât got big, strong players. âI wouldâve liked to have played more football, but when we used the diamond well we did showed we can in spates. âWe could have scored three or four goals before Samâs goal. If we wouldâve put those away, the last gasp balls into our box arenât important.â Read more at http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/20131210-cotterilloncharacter-1227304.aspx#PfHLczAc0tq6MeIe.99 It's great to hear good news, it must do the players a power of good..
Now all we need is for everyone to be on the same wavelength and things will improve. Have had the impression for many years that teamwork was not in the playbook of previous managers and it will take time for the squad to believe in the systems that will inevitably put in place. Play to the team strengths and the individuals will prosper in their own special ways. Treat all problems as opportunities to improve!
Was speaking to my work mate yesterday, the Forest fan who told me what to expect from SoD. And he was right on everything saying he worries to much about the opposition and don't seem to have a plan b. He said he liked Cotterill he came in at a difficult time and in his opinion got them out of it. He said he was sad to see him replaced with SoD, and Cotteriil took the rap for their poor finish 10 points above relegation place, even though when he came in they looked like relegation certs. Hopefully his words of wisdom prove correct again, in that this time we have a good manager. Only time will tell, I'm not bouncing around with a 2-1 win at Tamworth but playing 2 up front seems a giant step forward.
I was up north yesterday and chatting to a work mate of mine who is a Burnley season ticket holder. Interestingly not convinced about Sean Dyche who I think is doing a good job. However he did quite like Cotterill and said that he did OK at Burnley and was quite sorry to see him go. Said he thinks SC will do Ok for us. Lets hope SC proves an early christmas present. So far so good.
He's been very good with the press so far. Also dealt with the "abuse" from the Tamworth fans so well they chanted his name at the end
This FA Cup tie reminded me of pre-season friendlies and cup ties over the past four years. Remember them? How we have struggled to win them? How we have looked second class against so many sides from lower leagues. So in the cup games this season against lower teams, Wycombe excepted, we have at least managed to win. And against Tamworth we also, despite their huffing and puffing, looked in control. Not what one would call a polished performance but we must have a group of players who have minimal confidence, so let us give them credit for showing us one or two green shoots. Maybe recovery is too much to claim at this time, but every game they win, or not lose is a bonus for us and them.
