BRISTOL CITY: Steve Cotterill not surprised Bristol City are struggling in the Championship. By a_Stockhausen BRISTOL City manager Steve Cotterill is not surprised his team are involved in a Championship relegation battle. Promoted as League One champions last season, the Robins harboured ambitions of establishing themselves in a mid-table position in the English second tier. But problems encountered during last summer's transfer window meant Cotterill was unable to strengthen his squad as he would have liked and City are tackling the Championship with what is essentially a League One team. While the manager remains confident his young team will learn quickly enough to stave off the threat of relegation, he readily admits he anticipated a difficult campaign at the higher level. A 4-0 defeat at Derby on Tuesday night saw the Robins drop to 21st in the table and they are now just one point above the bottom three with nearly half the season gone. Cotteril, pictured, told the Bristol Post: "I'm not surprised where we are in the league, because I knew what it was going to be like. "Of course, I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised. Do I think we could have been a little bit higher? Yes, I do think we could have been a little bit higher, had we taken more of our chances and had a bit of luck at times. But I'm not surprised we're not at the top of the table. "It could be that, sometimes, you are not good enough to win a few games. These players are human and they are going to make mistakes. We all make mistakes, but this season might be like that. "We don't want to be down there. It would be nice to be in mid-table at the moment, with fewer losses on the board and a few more wins, but there is nothing I can do with these players that I am not wringing out of them already. It is what it is. "This group will improve, but it is a matter of whether or not they will improve quickly enough. It's okay playing the odd game against West Ham when you are in League One and giving them a good game, but doing the Championship week-in and week-out is a much harder thing to do." City's manager endured a frustrating summer as a combination of non-availability and budgetary restrictions prevented him from landing several transfer targets. In particular, City's failure to lure a proven Championship goalscorer has cost them dear. Although Crystal Palace and Brentford accepted bids for Dwight Gayle and Andre Grey, respectively, neither player was prepared to move to Ashton Gate. "Unfortunately, I've always had to manage under difficult circumstances in the Championship. I've never been awarded a golden ticket in this league," added Cotterill, who cites an inability to take chances as a major reason for his team's league position. "At any given time last season, we always had two strikers scoring goals. First it was Aaron Wilbraham and Kieran Agard, then it was Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Matt Smith. Then we had other people chipping in. Luke Ayling chipped in with a few, Derrick Williams scored some important goals and then there was Aden Flint. We don't have that this season, hence the players I chased during the summer. "We don't have goals throughout the team, so we have to sacrifice some of our attacking play in order not to let goals in. "We knew last season that, if we let a goal in, we were liable to score two or three ourselves. But that is the adjustment you have to make when you get promoted and, pretty much, go with the same team." http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTO...ised-Bristol/story-28380519-detail/story.html
"I'm not surprised where we are in the league, because I knew what it was going to be like." Well he's said it then and if taken in the context I imagine he's been quoted in, is he pointing a finger at the owner/board to say 'told you so' ? It's a wonder he didn't add, 'it's a shame that the board are such a bunch of incompetents. I could see what was coming and they didn't/couldn't/wouldn't'
The board and owner need to take a long hard look at themselves,what were those words a tilt at promotion again, incompetence comes to mind.
what worries me is whatever money SL puts up in Jan, if we keep using the same failing tactics, it won't make the blindest bit of difference - we just acrue even more debt and go down
The simple fact of the matter is that we don't have anyone at any level of the club who has a clue what they are doing so why waste our breath. Seen it done it and got the tee-shirt. I just want to scream 'here we go again" but I have done that so many times I have lost count and desire.
No I thought we would be maybe one or two places higher, but I looked at the teams going into this season and didn't see hardly any if any bankers.
Reading between the lines I think he is close to walking out the door due to sheer frustration at the lack of support and I think he is dreaming if he expects the floodgates to open on Jan 1st. Whatever decisions, if any, happen in the New Year expect them to be rife with second guessing and poor fit for the job required. If you get the impression that I'm angry then you are close but I am holding my thoughts right now to just concern for us ever getting anything right when it comes to taking the club to a better place. We have failed so many times when it comes down to the nitty gritty and if you want to continue as a supporter be prepared to go through an emotional roller coaster ride every season until the inevitable relegation.
I think entirely unfair to level any criticism against SL it is after all his money to do with as he sees fit. Given that he has previously excessively bank rolled managers he has taken a step back and said "I will give you the tools to stand on your own two feet" and built a new and shared stadium. That does not happen overnight as the advantages take time to flow through. SC is well paid to manage the players he has he got he has no right to demand any new money. Just like any other employee he can ask and recommend but if the prior debate has taken place it is his job top deploy his boss's decisions. He is to all intents and purposes a jobbing manger and he would be unwise to walk in what is already a precarious profession. We have no choice but to hope that SL will take charge of the January window transfer policy. Clearly the existing devolved powers regime have proved "not fit for purpose". We can only hope "clear direction" has been given.
I think Cotts has got every right to ask for more serious investment, his judgement was rewarded with a silverware and promotion to the next level, not bad for a jobbing manager, surely with rising to a new higher league, some better quality and higher skilled players are desirable, we need to improve to progress, we have made one brilliant acquisition in Kodjia, we now need 4 or 5 others, there is a team of qualified so called professionals in place to organise new players alongside Cotts and move other players out, they seem to have disappeared as the going gets tough. SL get your money out, move the so called professional senior management that have already seriously cocked up out, get some experienced know how like Joe Jordan in place to help Cotts, get rid of sub standard players and preserve our sides status in the Championship, back up our manager with some serious action on the playing levels. Bristol City FC is your biggest and most profitable asset in Bristol Sport without it you will crumble, just my opinion of course, I know all of the football professors and know alls will be instructing me on my ignorance of football and business now, I can only say don't bleeding bother there will be no response.
I really do not understand the reasoning behind a new stadium at £45 million and being so apparently willing to let us slide back down. Also makes me wonder if Bris Rugby are also told not to get up there. All this money being spent on a bloody conference centre and misleading the supporters with comments like "the Prem in five years" My last season as I will not renew my dual ST. I'll go and watch park football instead. At least they don't have any ideas above their station in the scheme of things. Gutted!
Better Sun Tan than Steve Jones had Heeeeeeeeeey Jonesey, oooh aaaah, I wanna know where you got than tan !
