Well some of their more tolerant fans have given Holden 3 to 6 games before hes sacked.
This has made me chuckle glad its not Hughton, Gerrard, Pearson, Howe et al.
This is hilarious...
Dear Dean
Congratulations on being appointed as head coach.
You will already know what a superb football club and city you are part of. We thought we could perhaps further your learning by offering some thoughts from us, the fans. Therefore, what follows has been distilled from comments posted on our brilliant forum OTIB. Which no doubt you are aware of. In case not please do check it out:
https://www.otib.co.ukOTIB is home to 17,357 Bristol City fans, from all over the world. It provides many things, not least of all a barometer of fan’s opinions and views. We thought that by collecting together comments from posters we could provide you with a useful insight from the fans perspective.
We also want to invite you to help us to help you. Although what follows is fans communicating with you, please do communicate with us, throughout your tenure and be clear about the things that we the fans can do to fully support you and the team.
Welcome
So to start with a genuinely, warm Bristol welcome. One other thing to mention early on (just in case you haven’t come across it before) is we are Bristol City and although there is only One Team in Bristol lots of us do not take kindly to being called Bristol.
Success
It is an obvious thing to say but for the avoidance of doubt we really, really, really want the same thing as you - success, which means promotion. Some fans want even more citing ‘playing decent football’, ‘playing with a bit of passion’, ‘giving youth a chance’, ‘semi-consistent tactics and team selection’ ‘entertainment,’ ‘excitement’ and ‘some attacking football would be greatly appreciated’.
Many of us have experienced a lifetime of ups-and-downs as City supporters (it has been a roller- coaster at times) and on occasions being a City fan has been tough and certainly character building! The media often refer to us as ‘a sleeping giant,’ which is another label some of us dislike, although in fairness it is a convenient sound bite.
Recent times
Although this is about the future, we want to tale a brief look back at the recent past next. Which, of course, you will have greater insights into than us. A fair few OTIB regulars have, for some time, aired their views about the limitations of our ex-head coach, which one contributor summed up by saying ‘please help us to wipe our memories of the last two years of dross.’
Others have recognised that Lee Johnson stabilised the club and worked tirelessly but that ultimately the time was right, for all concerned, for a change.
As you know your predecessor was keen to talk about our ‘identity’ and ‘DNA’, although, to be honest, very few of us could confidently describe any particular ‘identity’. Any attempt to describe our recent ‘identity’ would certainly not involve many positives. Under your leadership, we would be delighted to applaud and support a style of play that is attractive, discernible and effective.
The hierarchy
Our hierarchy, as you know first-hand, has worked very hard over recent years to embed a sustainable mentality throughout the club and we are indebted to them, most especially Steve Lansdown CBE, for the commitment, financial backing, loyalty, stewardship and dedication they bring. We believe that you are very fortunate to enjoy their backing.
Becoming a legend in the South West
Given you have just been appointed the next point seems horribly premature; nevertheless we feel it needs to be said. When you eventually part company with Bristol City Football Club can your legacy please include words such as - success, promotion, attractive, effective football rather than - sacked, left by mutual consent or other such euphemisms.
We love pride, passion and attacking intent here. If that can bring us the long overdue success of achieving top-flight football again, then you will become a legend and we hold our legends in very high esteem. You would never need to purchase a glass of fermented apple juice again in your lifetime!
OTIB
One poster suggested that you avoid reading OTIB, while others suggest that might be a schoolboy error, feeling you should subscribe, as there is much benefit to be had from the combined thoughts of the OTIB community.
Home form
You will not need us to point out that our home record is an important issue to be resolved. Many of us travel away too and have enjoyed some memorable away days over the last couple of years. However, Ashton Gate is not the fortress it needs to be. The synergy between what is happening on and off the pitch is critical. There are certainly things that might help which we as fans can do e.g. make more noise and provide positive encouragement. There are things the players can do e.g. play exciting, effective football and show some passion and there are things the club can do e.g. rethinking the area set aside for travelling fans, enlivening the atmosphere in various ways such as:
Extending the singing section.
More interaction with the fans on a match day would gee up the crowd and by taking a few moments to ‘rally the troops’ before kickoff, at half time and at the final whistle always goes down well and will maximize what can be fantastic support from the home faithful. Indeed, you could do a lot worse than to very publically announce that you would like to ‘get the crowd bouncing around the ground.’ Which, in an instant, would enable the continuity of one of our most effective and unique chants.
Achieving the permanent inclusion of some seats allocated to home fans in the Atyeo stand.
The stats
The critical statistic is the number of points we have been behind the team that finished second in the table over recent seasons:
2019/20 = 20 points
2018/19 = 19 points
2017/18 = 23 points
2016/17 = 39 points
2015/16 = 37 points
The match-day experience
Understandably, your focus will be on winning football matches; there are also a few off-field matters we would like to bring to your attention, although they may already be apparent to you. Perhaps you could delegate somebody to sort out the appalling and legendary PA system at Ashton Gate, oh and please get ‘those lights’ turned off (you will know what we mean). While on the subject of basic match-day needs, a few of the internal concession outlets serving chips would most certainly go down well!
The rest
There were many other comments and suggestions, many of which were self-deprecating and testimony to the humour and banter within OTIB. Which is a rich blend of virtual terrace banter, informed, well considered debate, which is often incisive, forensic and spot-on, although sometimes banal and downright weird.
Finally
In summary, congratulations, good luck, we look forward to entertaining football, which leads to promotion and please help us to help you and the team by communicating regularly with us and ensuring we really are the 12th man every time our team play.