The Opinion That 'we've Come A Long Way So It's Fine'

[gater2]

Everyone has an opinion and before anyone slates me, I think both sides have truth in them. Yes, I think it is fantastic that we are 4th in the Championship with 2 games to go in 2008, and having travelled away to places like Wycombe, Peterborough and Rotherham, we never could have dreamed this would happen in such a short time.

HOWEVER, I do not think this is the right attitude to take at this time. We've had a great season and we've been challenging for promotion: but that's the point: we've been challenging for PROMOTION. From about halfway through the season we knew we would not get relegated, therefore the goal has been going to the promised land, the Prem. Now, at the moment, with the current form, it looks as though it's not going to happen and I think that is a failure. If you don't think that, then put yourself in GJ's shoes: tonight he won't be thinking, ah it's ok, at least we're better off than we were a year and a half ago; he will be royally PEED off, as we've missed a chance to get in the top two, and on current form, unless we get Watford in the semis, we won't get into the final of the playoffs. This may be the best chance we have for TEN years to get to the Prem, and I'm sorry, but I'm gutted that we seem to have missed out, really gutted.

If there's any time for thinking how far we've come, then maybe at the end of the season, however even then, look at Colchester. 'Second Season Syndrome' is quite a common footballing phenomenon (coming in with a bang, and then the next year.. it's not quite so rosy - look at Reading, Ipswich, John O'Shea etc.), and I'm very afraid it might happen to us. That's why it's so important to get promoted this year.

Of course I'm going to stay positive for the rest of the season, and anything can happen in the playoffs.. but if I'm honest I think we've blown it, and that, as a Bristol City fan, is so disappointing. I think I've noticed in the last few weeks, although I thought supporting Bristol City could actually be fun, I've realised this was and always is an illusion.. but maybe for the real football fan this is why we love it: the hope of occasional moments of joy amongst all the pain!

[pdgifford64]

Sick and tired of hearing how we`ve blown it and how we`ve thrown away a golden opportunity.

The squad and GJ and the coaching staff have pulled off a minor miracle in getting City as close as we`ve been. We`ve been helped with luck in some games and the indifferent form of all the other contenders.

Essentially this squad does not contain enough players with the quality needed to get promoted from this division. We may well make the playoffs, probably, and that will be a different kettle of fish though the form guide will not be in our favour.

In a way its a shame we did so well to get the expectation levels of so many so high, its spoiling what should be celebrated as a great return to div 2 and should give us a sound base to build the squad for next season. Instead individual players are being slated and Johnsons ability as manager is being questioned by a few.

Having belief is one thing but having the ability to turn that belief into reality is another.

At some time or another i`ve played every hole on my local club to par or better. I believe one day i can do that in one round, but do i have the ability to do it. I`m not good enough to have that consistency. This squad is not good enough to have the consistency to get promoted.

It`s been a great season and who knows what will come in the play-offs but whatever happens its going to be an interesting summer. Keep a close eye on the ins and outs. If GJ sets out next season to challenge again then i believe there would have to be big changes to the squad. I`m not rubbishing players that have given their best but the fact is that for a lot of them their best isn`t good enough to be promotion contenders.

PDG

[worthyred]

Sick and tired of hearing how we`ve blown it and how we`ve thrown away a golden opportunity.

The squad and GJ and the coaching staff have pulled off a minor miracle in getting City as close as we`ve been. We`ve been helped with luck in some games and the indifferent form of all the other contenders.

Essentially this squad does not contain enough players with the quality needed to get promoted from this division. We may well make the playoffs, probably, and that will be a different kettle of fish though the form guide will not be in our favour.

In a way its a shame we did so well to get the expectation levels of so many so high, its spoiling what should be celebrated as a great return to div 2 and should give us a sound base to build the squad for next season. Instead individual players are being slated and Johnsons ability as manager is being questioned by a few.

Having belief is one thing but having the ability to turn that belief into reality is another.

At some time or another i`ve played every hole on my local club to par or better. I believe one day i can do that in one round, but do i have the ability to do it. I`m not good enough to have that consistency. This squad is not good enough to have the consistency to get promoted.

It`s been a great season and who knows what will come in the play-offs but whatever happens its going to be an interesting summer. Keep a close eye on the ins and outs. If GJ sets out next season to challenge again then i believe there would have to be big changes to the squad. I`m not rubbishing players that have given their best but the fact is that for a lot of them their best isn`t good enough to be promotion contenders.

PDG

Good post have to agree with you, whatever happens its going to be an interesting summer, if we don't make it up this year GJ will have us ready for a damn good bash next season, disappointed? of course I am we all want promotion, negative and ready to slag off the manager and team? not a chance after what has been an incredible return to the Championship. Yes we were in a great position and let auto promotion slip away, but this was our first term back in this division and we have a manager who does not rest on his laurels. Should we still be in the championship next season we will be ready for another crack at the prem. CTID

[Guest BCFCNW]

I`m not rubbishing players that have given their best but the fact is that for a lot of them their best isn`t good enough to be promotion contenders.

But their best was so nearly enough, and you can't help wondering what a couple of shrewd signings during the transfer window might have achieved. Could they have turned the improbable into the possible? We'll never know. But it's unlikely next season's Championship will be as even and win-able for a low-budget team as this season's Championship was. Fingers crossed for the play-offs, but we'll need to invest heavily for next year, whichever league we're in.

One crumb of comfort from today however. Imagine having to go and watch every home game at a dump like the Britannia. What a souless, bleak, sh1thole it is. And to think that it's only ten years old. If we'd moved to Severnside all them years back, this is what we'd have faced. I hope to God that our new stadium doesn't end up like this; a featureless, pre-fabricated, thrown together, windswept non-entity of a stadium surrounded by car-parks, warehouses, contaminated land and views of the Staffordshire slums. Truly awful.

[pdgifford64]

But their best was so nearly enough, and you can't help wondering what a couple of shrewd signings during the transfer window might have achieved. Could they have turned the improbable into the possible? We'll never know. But it's unlikely next season's Championship will be as even and win-able for a low-budget team as this season's Championship was. Fingers crossed for the play-offs, but we'll need to invest heavily for next year, whichever league we're in.

One crumb of comfort from today however. Imagine having to go and watch every home game at a dump like the Britannia. What a souless, bleak, sh1thole it is. And to think that it's only ten years old. If we'd moved to Severnside all them years back, this is what we'd have faced. I hope to God that our new stadium doesn't end up like this; a featureless, pre-fabricated, thrown together, windswept non-entity of a stadium surrounded by car-parks, warehouses, contaminated land and views of the Staffordshire slums. Truly awful.

Yes it was and they should be applauded for that but in the end maybe it was just asking too much from players that had already given all they had. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and we`ll never know if signings would have made the crucial difference, there`s no guarantee it would have but who`s to say it wouldn`t. We can only judge on what we know.

I hav`nt been there but i`ve seen it from the motorway.....about as close as i`d want to get really.

PDG

[Lordofthebling]

We could so easily have gone back down like S****horpe, and bearing in mind the majority of the players we have in our squad are league one players - I don't think we are doing too badly.

We have a great starting eleven and one that, on its day, can compete with any team in the championship. However, the quality in the squad is not there - and that was always going to catch up with us. You cannot expect LJ and Elliott to play 40+ games a season, This was all to relevant by the fact that we were playing two defensive midfielders and a usual right back at right wing in a must win game away from home.

We even started with two strikers who have played, what, at most 30 mionutes together?

However, this is not a negative post. All of those players in that squad deserved the chance to play in the championship after their performances last season - and all of them deserved to keep their places after January due to the early season peformances.

It was not quite to be - nevertheless, this club is finally moving in the right direction. To have a feeling, that I am gutted that we may have missed out on a top two spot in the championship is a horrible, yet very proud feeling.

Maybe this can be an advantage? We are clearly not ready for the Premier League - if we make it through the playoffs - then great. But you can bet your bottom dollar that Bristol City is now a club many players will want to play for - not leave.

[Guest Denilson]

Sick and tired of hearing how we`ve blown it and how we`ve thrown away a golden opportunity.

The squad and GJ and the coaching staff have pulled off a minor miracle in getting City as close as we`ve been. We`ve been helped with luck in some games and the indifferent form of all the other contenders.

Essentially this squad does not contain enough players with the quality needed to get promoted from this division. We may well make the playoffs, probably, and that will be a different kettle of fish though the form guide will not be in our favour.

In a way its a shame we did so well to get the expectation levels of so many so high, its spoiling what should be celebrated as a great return to div 2 and should give us a sound base to build the squad for next season. Instead individual players are being slated and Johnsons ability as manager is being questioned by a few.

Having belief is one thing but having the ability to turn that belief into reality is another.

At some time or another i`ve played every hole on my local club to par or better. I believe one day i can do that in one round, but do i have the ability to do it. I`m not good enough to have that consistency. This squad is not good enough to have the consistency to get promoted.

It`s been a great season and who knows what will come in the play-offs but whatever happens its going to be an interesting summer. Keep a close eye on the ins and outs. If GJ sets out next season to challenge again then i believe there would have to be big changes to the squad. I`m not rubbishing players that have given their best but the fact is that for a lot of them their best isn`t good enough to be promotion contenders.

PDG

I clearly think the lad means, its a one in a lifetime oppo.

[Guest DanC]

I'm just gutted cos of at 5.20 yesterday if we would have won our next 3 games then we would be in the premier league.

[megansdad]

No matter what happens we are in a great position to build for next year. it can still be done probably via the play offs but if LJ comes back fit and raring to go he could be the vital ingredient we have been missing so no need for doom and gloom. I will be back for the Preston game and hope it will be an opportunity to celebrate what has been a great season - no reason we can't finish with the prize we all want either.

[myol'man]

I was at Swansea for the 7-1 defeat in Tinman's last game,

beleive me, we've come a long way !

[Port Said Red]

How have we blown it?

Even now we are in a position that, on paper, we have no right to be in.

Everyone knew to maintain a position in the top 2 of this league was going be a huge task for this squad. I know it's disappointing that it looks like we aren't going to make the auto positions, but this kind of madness is just that, madness.

The positive view is that this squad got us to a position that we could blow! It's like a striker that misses a good chance, at least he got into the position in the 1st place. The very good ones will get in there again and learn from their failures.

The gap between League 1 and the Championship is almost as large as the one between the Championship and the Prem, (ask Scunny or even Blackpool). If we were to get into the Premier League and "blow" a lead at the top of that league would you be posting this kind of madness then?

The desire for instant gratification belongs with the big money earners in the Premier League not with sides like Bristol City.

[Bristol Boy]

Excellent point and basedd on fact, not blind faith & hope for the best.

You're right of course that you'll get slated for being negative which,of course you're not.

I've tracked our "blip" back to 19th January!!

Crystal Palace outfought, outmuscled & outplayed us and, with some odd moments of better play & some decent results, if not that many great performances, our luck and our belief started to run out.

Now, viewed for afar, it all looks rosy, fine & dandy however, if you see levery game, home & away, then you know the honest truth and so do the players.

Like you, I hope we win our next five games and go up-Heart.

I'll freely admit that I don't think we will-Head.

The "we would have setlled for this in August," Brigade will still be happy and the four from bottom will do just fine for me sir," club will also be content.

However, from where we were at 5.20pm YESTERDAY, it's a massive disappointment and can't ve viewed any other way.

[andy g]

After seeing our pre-season friendlies some people were telling us that we would struggle. We haven't.

And the simple fact is that we have exceeded EVERYONES wildest expectations this season.

Getting in the playoffs is a major achievement - it can't be seen in any other way, given where we have come from. If we go up (and with 2 games to go, thats still very possible) that would be nothing short of miraculous. Whatever happens, we're going to end up finishing above ex-Premier League clubs who have spent millions on their players, like Sheffield United, Wolverhampton and Charlton.

Yes, if we don't go up, that will be disappointing. There is no-one on this forum who won't be disappointed. And I'm sure the players will feel it just as much, if not more.

BUT, its only disappointing because we have massively over-achieved this season.

I think you always have to bear that in mind before talking about "blowing it".

[Port Said Red]

Excellent point and basedd on fact, not blind faith & hope for the best.

You're right of course that you'll get slated for being negative which,of course you're not.

I've tracked our "blip" back to 19th January!!

Crystal Palace outfought, outmuscled & outplayed us and, with some odd moments of better play & some decent results, if not that many great performances, our luck and our belief started to run out.

Now, viewed for afar, it all looks rosy, fine & dandy however, if you see levery game, home & away, then you know the honest truth and so do the players.

Like you, I hope we win our next five games and go up-Heart.

I'll freely admit that I don't think we will-Head.

The "we would have setlled for this in August," Brigade will still be happy and the four from bottom will do just fine for me sir," club will also be content.

However, from where we were at 5.20pm YESTERDAY, it's a massive disappointment and can't ve viewed any other way.

Well I knew you would agree with him after all you were screaming for signings to be made that would have GAURANTEED promotion and in your eyes any decision that is made that doesn't match the Bristol Boy mantra is a wrong one.

I am still struggling to understand how your previous applications for the Managers job have failed, I mean how can they not see the error of their ways.......

Stunning really.

[Bristol Boy]

Well I knew you would agree with him after all you were screaming for signings to be made that would have GAURANTEED promotion and in your eyes any decision that is made that doesn't match the Bristol Boy mantra is a wrong one.

OK, let's cut the childish remarks & address some facts.They may not line up with your bias and red tinted blindness however:We have a jaded looking squad that's suffering from injury to key players-That wasn't entirely unpredicatable, was it?

Whilst I have never said that signings will "guarantee anything" our squad has a paucity of quality and are bereft of attacking ideas & threat hence our minus GD.Up to ten games ago the fact that we kept clean sheets saved us-However, that' slipped as players who have been reliable and in form, have succumbed to fatigue, injury and/or loss of form.Our luck ran out as well.Quality signings would have helped because as far as I'm aware you can't score less than nil or do worse than lose.In terms of tactics & formation GJ seems to be at a loss-Watch his interview on World-More of the same seems to be the mantra

I'll put the other infantile comments down to tiredness and watching from afar.

[Port Said Red]

I'll put the other infantile comments down to tiredness and watching from afar.

Well if you think my comments need excusing feel free to take that attitude. I wasn't tired and I am not quite sure what the second comment refers to.

I think the main problem that I have with your comments is that I still can't quite get past the fact that you wanted GJ sacked after 10 games, I have to wonder whether each game that passes with him in charge is one where you can't say "Ï told you so".

You continue to take the short term view of where we are now compared to where we were 10 games ago, I continue to take the long term view of where we were when he took over and where we are now.

If that is looking through red tinted glasses (if you want to trade infantile comments) then fine. Personally I think it's being realistic and a celebration of our upward mobility under the best manager we have had in long time. I think that the majority of fans would be looking at it that way too.