I was invited by top football website The Hard Tackle to write a post on the start made at Bristol City by Derek McInnes, and this is the result: http://exiledrobin.blogspot.com/2011/11/derek-mcinnes-start-to-life-as-bristol.html?spref=tw Please click through to the full article once you get to my site, already had some very positive feedback on the piece so hope you all enjoy too
Great article cider1977! Your insight in to the finer points of the beautiful game highlight some of the major problems that have been hanging around us for the years following our euphoric season when we went to the playoff final. Living in Canada does not allow me the regular visits to the gate that I would like, and so I have to rely solely on Radio Bristol and BCFC Player to get my City fix. Even with this limited supply of fix I saw a team that had totally lost it's way and often wondered whether anyone at the top had seen the same things as the rest of us. From the outside it looked as if we were trying to fit square pegs in round holes and if that didn't fit then bring in more of the same. Clearly that was never going to work and with the hiring of DM I finally see that someone has listened to the background noise. I now see a more organised club, both on the pitch and the dressing room, that WILL finally give us what we have asked for, which is a product that actually looks like it knows what is required. Like a lot of other posters I believe we have the core of a very good side based on the players on the books and all it will take is a person who knows how to organise and motivate them to perform at a higher level than in the past. Derek McInnes is that man because he does not suffer fools lightly and possesses the football acumen to make players perform within a structured team environment. This will allow individual players to improve within a squad that is based on players strengths and let them play accordingly. For the first time in many seasons I am filled with optimism regarding our future, and I can't wait to get down there in March to see the final product that DM has created. Side note to all City fans - believe and support with all your might.
My feelings on the article are very similar to other comments here. Derek McInnes like many Scotsmen in football already appears to have a tougher style of management than several recent City managers. His action in getting down the tunnel quickly after the win at Barnsley meant only one thing to me - that he wanted the squad to get all the glory. Yet it also showed that he wants to win, win and win all the time. I stated on another recent thread that weak managers had led to dressing room power that has been the curse of Bristol City too many times in the last 60 years. Yet those managers who imposed themselves on and dominated within the confines of the dressing room always came up trumps with a promotion success. The list is not long so let's remember Pat Beasley, Fred Ford, Alan Dicks, Terry Cooper, Joe Jordan, Gary Johnson with pride because that's what they brought to Bristol City, the Club and it's many loyal supporters. They were all different in their backgrounds but McInnes's manner is already reminding me of the time in 1967 when an unknown AD arrived with even less experience of management that DM has. If he can avoid relegation this season, I believe that we will become a force in the Championship and break the continual cycle that we have suffered since I began watching City in 1950 - that promotion usually from Div 3 is followed inevitably within 2-4 years by relegation back to where we started. All that has ever done is to create a boom/bust pattern with attendances where we lose more on the way down than we ever gain on the way up because the majority know what will happen in a couple or three years. Yes, we all dream of getting to the Premiership, but the best thing right now would be three /four years of top eight finishes with a couple of play off final appearances and a decent cup run every season in both League and FA Cups. Couple this with a new stadium that will encourage new supporters to enjoy a matchday experience in comfortable surroundings, may lead the wider football world to regard us as REAL potentials for the Premier rather than hopefuls who are more likely to go down the plughole!
Thoughtful and very well written article which I think reflects the feelings and hopes of the majority of posters on this board following the mess Millen and co left and the hope of a brighter tomorrow. Up The City
Yeah, can only echo the comments above, well written article. it is very early days and the test will be over the weeks leading up to Christmas to see if Mcinnes's ways are embedded deep into the players mind set. So far so good......There is no doubt that the changing of the manager was required and the effects are there for all to see. IMO, he would have done a great job if we stay up.........and then with a couple of signings, I have a sneaky feeling next season we will look like a promising outfit looking for a playoff place..
Very good article and bang on the money.We now seem to have a manager who has instilled pride and belief in what was looking like a team without hope.Lets hope this is the beginning of a new upsurge in City's season.
Thanks to all, always good to get the feedback good or bad as it helps future writing - really pleased to see such positive comments. My only concern with this article was people thinking I was piling pressure on after just four games but most seem to share the view it's a breath of fresh air. No guarantees of course but the future does seem bright!
Excellent article Bill, summarises what a lot of us have felt and said on here over the years. I have been saying for a while that the players were in charge of the dressing room, to play the way they did after the half-time roasting and personal threats that they got and which some of us heard before Keith twigged to shut the dressing room window, just showed how little notice they took of him. It was all too cosy and as the regulars here will know, as soon as I familiarised myself with DM's background, I never had a single doubt that he is the man for the job as he has "winner" written all over him. IMHO, it is only a question of how long we can keep him unless of course, he takes us up (and I still haven't ruled out making the play-offs this year but we may not be ready), it is then just a question of the stadium and the limit of SL's ambition... For the first time since GJ's early days, we have the right man in charge and I've got the bug again and really can't wait for the next game and that hasn't been the case for over 2 seasons now...
http://exiledrobin.blogspot.com/2011/11/derek-mcinnes-start-to-life-as-bristol.html?spref=tw Final call for this piece ahead of tomorrow's renewal of league action - cheers
