It makes me laugh (no, rather sigh with exasperation) when the 'Johnson-haters' refer to GJ as a bully. In fact, I can't get inside the head of people who attack the second most successful manager our club has seen in living memory. They got what they wanted; both Johnsons gone and our club marching from 'strength to strength' in the new proud post-GJ era.......... (oh dear....). Hopefully Cotts will take us back there - we are heading in the right direction - but we are still, even now with today's positivity, half a table BELOW where we were when GJ left us. I don't claim to know what the dressing room was like under GJ - or without him for that matter, but in my time playing the game I have met many strong, but destructive player-egos that needed to be sorted out - but werent, because the managers were simply not strong enough - tails wagging the dog. If anything, GJ created a 'band of brothers' ethos - which is why we very nearly succeeded with 'inferior' payers - and also why so many of his former players have followed him around. 'Sir' GJ will always have a place for me as a City fan and I wish him nothing but the best.
I agree. The one thing we've missed for a long time is a siege mentality. Under GJ, the players rallied around the club, and teams were afraid to come to Ashton Gate. Unlike some other City fans, I still think that our previous bunch of managers were very capable. McInnes and SOD were very technical and had firm ideas of how their teams should play, but they weren't able to rally a team around the club and to their way of playing. While I don't think Cotterill is a tactical genius he has been able to rally the players, and it's why I think he's done well where others have suffered. While I wouldn't mind seeing him back at the club, I'd rather we look towards the future and not the past. If GJ were to come back, it'd have to be if we were in a position where we'd need him.
Coterill had the benefit that a lot of the old guard were leaving as he arrived, so didn't have to deal with them.- I think he is savvy enough to have stood up to them but success might have taken longer. He brought in new players that have bought into his way of thinking. That is good management. I have had numerous managers in my near 40 years in employment and you can pigeon hole a lot of them into similar types- I have seen the bully type, the weak type, the tactical know all with little control or and the ones that command respect by their sheer aura. I cant see that football managers are any different in character and I know the ones that I would prefer to work under- Out of all of them I would say that Dicks was still the best but would put Cotterill a close second followed by Johnson.
A truly great manager for Bristol City & Yeovil Town, took our club so so, close to the promised land & Yeovil to heights they could only dream about. Wish Gary all the best for the future, he gave us many great moments & had us all bouncing around the ground.
GJ - the bully who got found out. With us and then at Northampton and Posh. And now at YTFC. The dressing room is saying the same down there. Paddy Madden and Andy Williams both 'had' to go and GJ bemoans why YTFC can't score. He got found out and I love it. What goes around comes around. Another glass of red Mrs R. PS 'his former players have followed him around' I can certainly name one
can anyone remind me how GJ treated Ivan when he lost his baby and the team had to rebel against the old bully?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31145404 I don't think bullying had anything to do with it.......not a bad manager imo, and as some others have said, the best/most successful manager we've had since AD........Fact. One game away from the premiership for City and taking Yeovil from non league to the championship on a very low budget.........In my opinion a very good manager.. Most haters have a problem that he played his son, I didn't and it's good that LJ is finding his own feet as a manager.......good for him!! Interview was interesting, nice honest guy IN MY OPINION.
'and it's good that LJ is finding his own feet as a manager' And me, always said he had a footballing brain. As for playing (still only 31) he'd still be here if Father was in charge. The 'Lovers' were shocked that subsequent City managers didn't play Junior. And absolutely outraged he was sent on loan to 4th tier bound Chesterfield. I talked 1For and R&W out of doing anything silly when they found out Chesterfield didn't want him and sent him back. 1For was in a hypnotic state raging that Junior was 27 and in his 'prime'. Sad, but inevitable - that even pub league managers sacked him after his Father flew the nest. History will show nepotism (let's not forget Uncle Pete) reigned supreme whilst GJ ruled AG. SC is now in charge and a real breath of fresh air.
Yeah, City did really well without him (them) didn't they? !! Good job we didn't go down that season as I think LJ would have got the blame!
