Loderingo Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 Can anyone think of the last time we actually OUT-PERFORMED pre-season expectations?Looking recently:This season. Expected: 2nd-3rd. Actually: UmmmLast season. Expected: 4th. Actually 7th2003-4 Expected: 1st-2nd Actually 3rd2002-3 Expected: 1st-2nd Actually 3rdAm thinking maybe the year Ward took over from Jordan. Any other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nogbad the Bad Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 City are always made one of the bookies favourites, if not the outright favourites, whatever the actual circumstances of the club at the time. The pressure's always on and basically we can't win. Should we eventually go up there'll be no great acclaim in the football world, it'll just be a case of 'about time too'. And no doubt we'd be landed with exaggerated expectations in the division above too. The last time City finished above half way in the present championship is probably the last time we exceeded expectations by surpassing our natural place in the scheme of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotusman Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 In real terms the season we finished 13th in the top level of football. Prior to that around 1965 when having been promoted from the 3rd division we then achieved 5th spot in the 2nd.........that was I think Atyeo's last season.No play-offs back then.So from my perspective our club has only really over-achieved in 2 seasons out of the last 40.Turn the question around and we probably could claim to be the most consistantlyl 'under-achieving club' in the entire league! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedTop Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 City are always made one of the bookies favourites, if not the outright favourites, whatever the actual circumstances of the club at the time. The pressure's always on and basically we can't win. Should we eventually go up there'll be no great acclaim in the football world, it'll just be a case of 'about time too'. And no doubt we'd be landed with exaggerated expectations in the division above too. The last time City finished above half way in the present championship is probably the last time we exceeded expectations by surpassing our natural place in the scheme of things.City have more fans than most clubs at this level. Thus, since fans are by nature an optimistic lot pre-season, more money tends to be placed on City to get promoted than other clubs. As the odds tend to follow the money, this inevitably brings down our odds.There is also the conception among bookies that we are one of the bigger clubs in this division. Until this season, we've consistently been up and around the promotion zone end of the table, and we have also made attractive pre-season signings.The bottom line is that odds don't count. Only promotion does. The idea that we should go up just because our odds are low and we are among the bookies' favourites is so discredited by now that it really shouldn't have any effect on the players.What does weigh heavy on them, no doubt, is the weight of expectation and hyper-critical nature of the City faithful. That is an entirely different thing and directly affects them in the atmosphere at matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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