We've all been here before (many times for some of us) - a massive game in prospect, huge anticipation, expectation, even some trepidation but we all know that our record in BIG/IMPORTANT games, is not good. In fact let's be honest, its crap. We have bottled it on so many occasions (to be fair, mainly in the play-offs/Mickey Mouse Trophy) that its not funny anymore. Most will remember:- Swindon Walsall (*!$%^!!!!) Stoke Cardiff Brighton Hull and the one that anyone who was there (I was) will never forget Rovers 3-0 for the title decider in old Division 3 you could even go back to 1906...! to name but a few... Of course there have been some good times too but in the main, and excluding play-offs, when we've go on a good/great run and have built up expectation we get to a BIG game, take a huge following if its away, only for it to come crashing to the ground when we usually put in a shambles of a performance and get stuffed - Ipswich (6), West Brom (4+ many times), Stoke, the list goes on and on... IT'S TIME TO CHANGE BREAK THE CYCLE We face arguably our 2 biggest games since the play-off final in May 2008. 2 games that could well decide our fate in this division so, another sub standard performance simply cannot happen I know we have been playing in fits and starts and generally not great this season but we do know that we CAN do it and now, as we come to the really business end of the season, we need EVERYONE to pull together, play for each other and literally run themselves to a stand still for the cause. As the East End put it last Saturday, We're Bristol City so play with some pride We will all either be there or watching on the TV on Saturday so we will see exactly who is giving their all for the cause. So long as everyone gives it everything, we can ask no more and hopefully it will have its own reward. IT'S TIME TO LOSE THE "BOTTLERS" TAG, COME ON LADS, WE NEED YOU TO TURN UP AND THROW THE KITCHEN SINK AT THESE GAMES. COME ON YOU REDS...!!!!
I agree with every word! I could also add at least a dozen or so occasions when our City boys have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. SO PLEASE BRISTOL CITY, TURN UP AT FOREST AND JOIN IN FROM THE 1st TO THE 95th MINUTE. ANYTHING LESS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. AND THEN DO IT AGAIN ON MONDAY AND THE OTHER FOUR REMAINING MATCHES.
Ive Never experienced relegation, when was the last time we were relegated? Hopefully i wont experience it
13 years ago shiny, ex Rovers manager john Ward took us up, then Benny the fool was brought in, still till this day don't understand that one
Cant help remembering that 2-2 at Highfield Road that kept us in Div 1 (in the days before they started getting poncy with league names). It was a similar scenario then, with 6 to go and a daunting list of fixtures. Then the final drama against a fellow struggler. Both survived at the cost of Sunderland. I remember the tension well, but our team didn't freeze and the big players performed on the day. Gow was an inspiration. I hear the big man will be one of the legends at Ashton Gate on Monday. What a pity he wont be playing.
Whatever the result at Forest I just want our boys to show a bit of pride and passion - if they do that at least they had a go - I worry about our soft underbelly
Regarding the relegation under benny, I spoke to Jim Brennan at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton Alberta when Jim was playing for Canada vs Brazil and his comments on the happenings at Ashton Gate under that regime can't be repeated. However let me get back to this weekend's crucial 2 fixtures, and as prem so eloquently says nothing less than 6 points is acceptable in our current situation. To be brutally honest I can't see us getting anything at Forest with our current form and if you look back over the last 10 games we just haven't competed on a consistent basis. Look around us at the bottom and you will see that some of the others have hit a more acceptable record than that which we have produced and to compound our problem goal differential could be our undoing. I have been hoping, like all other City supporters, that we could hit an improvement in form and put more points in the bag but it hasn't happened. We can all hope that an improvement will arrive on Saturday and Monday but don't get your hopes up too high and you won't be disappointed.
Tell us more mike I would be very interested to know Brennans thoughts on what went on around that time?
I can take defeat (being used to it as a City fan) but what has annoyed me the most this season is the all round apathy and lack of heart. I'll jump for joy if we can get 4 or more points from these 2 games but I simply can't see it. I just hope the televised game later on isn't a total embarrasment.
