Well here we are, exactly halfway through another season and once again, it is fair to say that things have not panned out quite as expected. First off, Keith was given the opportunity to show us all that the debacle that was last season, was consigned to the dustbin as a bad year at the office. That the football of survival by any means was behind us and that with a fresh start, some new faces and a full pre-season under our belt, things in terms of organisation and style of play would change for the better. That hope and optimism lasted for exactly 94 minutes when it became pretty obvious to all but the most blinkered that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAD CHANGED and in fact, we looked even more disorganised than before (if that was possible). No style, no pattern of play, no game plan – nothing... We hit the glass wall at 30 yards out from goal and had absolutely no idea what to do - meanwhile, the brains of the operation simply stood silently on the sideline with his arms folded… Regrettably, it took the board a further 2 months of dire football and another 6 defeats to come to the same conclusion and to realise that Keith simply wasn’t up to the job by which time we were well in the mire. Now, after much rumour, speculation and court appearances, the building blocks of the future of this club are slowly falling into place. The new stadium is inching forward and we finally have the man that most of us wanted in charge and who I believe will build the future of this club. I have to say that I also believed that with new management and a fresh approach, we had more than enough quality to survive and indeed, early signs were good however that belief is now being called into question so I will ask them publicly, how can the same players that gave us so much hope and optimism by outplaying and beating the leaders of the division, have reverted to their former previous level of performance… For the first time, I find myself tending to agree with Shiny’s post “perhaps its time” We have seen what the team CAN do (Southampton) but if the same players can’t do it on a constant basis and beat the worst side in the division, then it is time for some to be shown the door – at this point, I was going to give my retained list but that would just distract the thread… One thing however is for sure, Sir Steve CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON to replace those who will be leaving in the summer or there is a very strong possibility that we will be starting next season in league 1 and his vision for this club will be one step further away… Sometimes, they say, you need to take a step back to re-build and move forward but I'm not interested in that - for years, we have relied on motivating mostly ordinary players into over performing. Now, we need a new generation of clever players capable of playing joined up football with purpose, to take the club forward to the next level....
Beddytare has advised me of your comments treat this forum and it's members with respect and you're welcome if not you will be off.....
Your comments surely echo the thoughts of most, if not all, City fans prem and the specifics you wrote are spot on in every respect. I think if you asked most players the meaning of the word APATHY they would answer "I don't know and I don't care". As you say how on earth can a team produce a result against Soton and then fall off the edge of the earth. These kinds of results were commonplace under previous regimes and now they have reared their ugly heads again. It must surely highlight once and for all that we have a group of players who couldn't care less about BCFC and it's supporters. This has to lead to a massive clearout and the rebirth of a new credo at Ashton Gate that dictates that mediocrity is not acceptable and if that is your mindset then you need not apply. For too long now we have had to accept mediocre players just showing up and putting in their version of a good shift when the paying punters can see a totally different version of the same events. Derek will show us and the players the way to redemption. A fair days play for a fair days wages seems like a good idea to me.
I had the pleasure of 30 minutes following the players around before a game recently. They didn't seem to talk to anyone else but their little groups of friends in the team and for many their only interest was in what the programme said about each of them (but only their own profile). It felt like they were just doing a days work (just as you astutely point out inver). There didn't seem to be any bonhomie or comaraderie between them; no 'come on Citys' or fighting spirit. Not like I imagine the Wimbledon team of the 80's or those other teams who punch above their weight. I am not denigrating the "team" or the club, or the manager. But when Derek took over many players said they were prepared to fight for their places. I didn't see any of that - except maybe Ryan who is fighting for a place at the richest club on earth, and Albert who seems to really enjoy what he does every minute of every day. I for one am looking forward to a busy January window. Fingers Crossed
We've had the long overdue managerial change. We are now entering the most critical period for several years and we all need DM to decide who is worth keeping and who isn't and if they aren't who is needed to replace them. Del is the manager and if he wants to discard every single player currently at his disposal then I for one wouldn't argue with him. What we've currently got have hardly covered themselves in glory and we're in a fight to the death. We need points and soon and I don't care who gets them for us. A change of Chairman would also be very acceptable instead of that puppet Sexstone.
Muppet is more appropriate angelic. I haven't watched one interview with him that seemed real - more surreal in my opinion. As for the players currently on staff you can fire just about all of them as far as I'm concerned because they have been firing blanks for years now. I remember arriving at Ashton Gate several years ago and was early enough to see the players (loosely described) arrive prior to the game. One of them arrived in a personal plated Bentley as if his lack of on-field commitment wasn't enough to insult me. How dare these players insult the supporters by arriving in luxury vehicles paid for by us and give less than nothing in return. Rant over and it's time to move on to better times. Go on Derek do what's necessary and you earn our vote.
I have to say that I also believed that with new management and a fresh approach, we had more than enough quality to survive and indeed, early signs were good however that belief is now being called into question so I will ask them publicly, how can the same players that gave us so much hope and optimism by outplaying and beating the leaders of the division, have reverted to their former previous level of performance… New Manager Syndrome maybe, and something that my lot have suffered from a lot in recent years. If you can keep your flying winger you have someone who can make chances who-ever fills Maynard's place. At the gate I agree you played us of the park and we were never really in the match in the way we normally are. Still feel you can give us a game tomorrow night but for obviously not too hard a one. Can't see you going down as I have seen far worse teams than yours this season.
AN16 is pretty much spot on. There are a few lads who do work hard but most of them believe in their own hype and disregard the supporters and history of the club. It's just a (very, very) nice pay cheque. I, for one, was hoping the DM would shove the preverbial rocket up their a$$es and the early games suggested this had happened. Now we are back to where we were but many of the players know they get paid come what may and can still kick in the cruise control. DM has to do some good deals in Jan to turn this around. Give us a bunch of hungry youngsters and things may be different. We may go down fighting but building team spirit and appreciation of the privilidged position that these players find themselves in would go a long way to bouncing back. As for the chairman, let's not go there. Truely a huge error by SL as Sexstone is nothing than an utter to$$pot and he seems to revel in talking absolute bollox in every interview I've seen him give. I'd rather see SL's son in the job as at least he might feel inclined to look after the old man's club.....
sfc4bag...it was on the cards we had a good chance against you at home your away form is your achilles heel...tomorrow will be different I think we will COME AWAY WIT NOWT, although a point would be helpful!!! and still maintain your cast iron fortress! ...got it in one lets see JCR AND CLARKIE IN THE MIX!!!
It's amazing to me that one posting gets some very good points out in the open and this one has really shown distaste for the overpaid bunch of players currently at Ashton Gate. If ever there was a perfect example of how to ruin a football club we have been watching it for many years. I remember a game I saw a match on telly several years ago when I commented to my co-watcher how it appeared that the players were having fun and looked like they were up for the game (camaraderie) and wanting to play for each other. That was during the season when we went to Wembley and we all know the wheels have fallen off since then under several regimes that certainly have led to our current situation. I agree that the new manager syndrome took over when DM arrived but since then the players have clearly decided that minimal effort is all that is required to satisfy only themselves. Derek needs to grab this team by the proverbials and hopefully the transfer window will give him that opportunity to rectify a problem that has been years in the making. The New Year's resolution at Ashton Gate needs to be that if you want play Derek's game then you can stay, if not get on your bike and go and be mediocre somewhere else. I hope that SL will someday wake up to the fact that CS needs to go and that DM needs his full support to achieve success at Ashton Gate, a task that I believe he is well capable of achieving.
Del's hands are somewhat tied until he can sort the dead wood out, but the clock is ticking for survival. We've had some very average players over the past few years (some of who have overperformed in fairness), and attractive football, dazzling individual skills (or even personalities) in order to keep people coming back week after week and attracting new fans, and having a fortress of a home ground like we used to have just a few short seasons ago, have been conspicuous by their absence. Who can forget the humiliations at home to the likes of Chesterfield (2-4), Doncaster (2-5), Ipswich and Millwall (0-3) in the last couple of years, I mean really - WTF has gone on ?????!!!!!!!!!!! We never used to lose by these sorts of margins. A complete and total rebuild is still needed and that includes playing staff, tactics, attitude, maybe training methods, and the whole shooting match. I don't want us to go down as it will put the new stadium even further back and we'll get less TV money, but I'm begining to think that's where we might be heading.
In the past few seasons you have never seen a single dooom and gloom report from me when most have been "advertising" their opinion of us going down, even after that disasterous run after Christmas last year when a period 7 games or so according to my reckoning only gave us "0 " points I threw in 3 to so as not to publish 0 BUT this season I am fearing the worst may happen...we need to win at least 5 of our next 8 games...and I dont think we will start today, so thats 5 of the next 7.....just to stay in touch.........
Sorry to see you so gloomy jgf2. Remember a frown is just an upside down smile! We must have faith in DM because he has seen both sides of BCFC during his brief stint with us, and that might just be the impetus he needs to drastically change the attitude that has been prevalent at Ashton Gate for far too long. Cheer up my friend and let's hope by the end of January you will see positivity from the terraces which will bring you back in to the fold. Counselling sessions available by personal introduction only (LOL).
JGF2 - Yes I've been well guilty of that and with bloody good reason. Any half decent statistician can chart our steady fall since losing to Hull and with this decline has come the crap home performances and results, dwindling attendances and general disinterest in the club, and a glut of players who don't have half enough pride in the shirt for my liking. We've also had clueless and unemotive people in charge like Millen who I doubt could get excited about winning, losing or drawing and a sense of apathy all round. I admire SL's vision for us but at this very point in time we are further away from a new stadium, big crowds, decent football, and Premiership opposition week in week out than at any time during my previous 40 odd years supporting City.
Oh come on AN16, we’re very inconsistent yes but nothing can compare with the dark days from October 1979 when we were 8th in the First Division, sliding down to the bottom and three successive relegations with a bankruptcy jammed in the middle. And bottom of the 92 in December 1982! When I bought £100 worth of shares to help save us – my missus played hell with me as we only had £110 in the bank at the time! I’ve never been known as an optimist, a 12 year old Chris Garland nicknamed me “Moaner” on a train en route for Plymouth in the early 60’s, BUT we now have a quality man manager and tactician in Derek McInnes. He is going to prove himself our best manager since AD. We are not going down this season – only upwards. Yes we’ll stutter a few times but we are too good to go down. Optimism please. I’m looking at flights for the new year to be there in body as well as in spirit.
I do indeed remember the dark days and things like losing 7-0 at Northampton and 3-1 at Hartlepool on my wedding day in 1982. All I'm saying is that aside from a bit of glory under GJ and a cup win against Liverpool we've been largely annonymous ever since those days. Still onwards and upwards and like you I'm convinced that Del will be the best manager since AD and hopefully even better
Thanks Angelic. Actually it was 1-7 against Northampton on a Sunday afternoon. My wife came with me and when Glyn Riley scored at 0-5, with me jumping up in delight, I got a short sharp “Sit down, it’s not the beginning of a fight back” Yes since then pretty anonymous. If only we can stay up this year AND get the go ahead for the new stadium, we’ll stand a chance of catching up on all those clubs like Boro, Saints, Derby, Stoke, Wigan, etc who have all benefited from a new stadium, wise investment from the board and the choice of a good solid football manager. We have one in place with Derek McInnes and await the other two with hope and expectation. One day we may fulfil our “Potential” which has been talked about ever since I was a kid in the 50’s. Hope I live long enough to see some of it.
