Pre - Season Advice in September?

BRISTOL CITY: Steve Cotterill wants players to "meet the challenge" against Reading.

STEVE Cotterill will remind his Bristol City players not to be intimidated by reputations before sending them out to face Reading in the Championship tomorrow.
Newly-promoted from League One and yet to fully find their feet in the second tier, the Robins are coming up against big clubs and players with Premier League backgrounds whenever they take to the pitch this season.
Like Birmingham, Burnley, Middlesbrough and Leeds United before them, Reading will boast a recent Premier League pedigree and will attempt to impose themselves on the new boys when they turn up at Ashton Gate.
Cotterill describes City as "a League One team in the Championship" and admits the process of assimilation could take all season.

In the meantime, he reckons his players will adapt to life in the Championship more quickly by not showing undue respect to the opposition.
He explained: "It is very difficult when you step up a level and end up playing against players you have seen on the television.
"Rather than standing around and looking at them, you need to meet the challenge.
"You only get one chance to lay down a challenge and, if someone gets the better of you, it is a long time before you play them again.
"You get one chance and, if you meet the challenge, it becomes easier the next time, because you have put doubt in your opponent's head.
"Because we knew Preston from last season, we were able to go in there and get among them and eradicate their threats. We were not intimidated by them and we did not stand there looking at them.

"We got as much grappling and marking done in the penalty area the other night as they did. I wouldn't say we have done that against Burnley or Birmingham."
Steve Clarke's Royals will be eager to make amends after they surrendered a seven-match unbeaten run against Derby County in midweek.
Reading striker Orlando Sa was sent off and will miss tomorrow's game in BS3 through suspension, but Cotterill was still quick to acknowledge the threat posed by the Berkshire outfit.
He said: "Reading are a good team and were unlucky against Derby the other night. They looked like the better team with 11 men.
"They are dangerous, have some good players in their team and have spent a bit of money putting that squad together.
"They've found their goal-scoring form and any team that can put five past Ipswich are going to be dangerous."
City will be encouraged by their performance at Preston in midweek as they go in search of their first home win this season, but Cotterill may be forced to change his starting line-up.
Loan signing Nathan Baker hurt his back in the 1-1 draw at Deepdale, was unable to complete the game and is a doubt to face the Royals.
Derrick Williams stepped off the bench and performed with distinction in midweek and will deputise should Baker fail to recover in time.

Newly-promoted from League One and yet to fully find their feet in the second tier, the Robins are coming up against big clubs and players with Premier League backgrounds whenever they take to the pitch this season.
Like Birmingham, Burnley, Middlesbrough and Leeds United before them, Reading will boast a recent Premier League pedigree and will attempt to impose themselves on the new boys when they turn up at Ashton Gate.
Cotterill describes City as "a League One team in the Championship" and admits the process of assimilation could take all season.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTO...players-meet/story-27818237-detail/story.html

 

Surely phrases used like those listed below should have been discussed and explained way back in July, it just proves to me our pre- season preparations are all over the place and about six weeks behind everybody else.

Sorry but headline comments don't work, just get some quality in,stop making excuses and understand if we get beat we deserve it, end of..

* Intimidated by reputations..
* Meet the challenge..
* One chance.
* Step up a level..
* Impose themselves..
* and......."a League One team in the Championship" and admits the process of assimilation could take all season.