Bristol City players set a top-six target by the end of February
Bristol City's players have resolved to break into the Championship's top six by the end of February.
Manager Gary Johnson staged a summit meeting with his first-team squad this week to establish goals and targets for the remainder of the season.
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And he has warned his players not to allow their quest for a play-off place to fizzle out.
Johnson said: "From day one, our aim has always been to make the play-offs and that has not changed.
"But it helps if, from time to time, we remind ourselves of what it is we are trying to achieve.
"I felt it was time we sat down as a group and talked about our ambitions and reaffirmed our goals for the season.
"It was a very positive meeting and we've resolved to step up our challenge and be in the top six by the end of next month.
"Of course, I'd like for us to be in that position sooner if possible, but a top-six position come the end of February would set us up for the rest of the season.
"The last thing we want is to fall away and have little or nothing to play for in March and April."
City are scheduled to play nine times between now and the end of February, starting with the visit of fourth-placed Cardiff on Tuesday.
Johnson's team then travel to face Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in the space of four days next week before hosting Coventry. Back-to-back away games against Watford and Sheffield United are followed by home fixtures against Leicester and West Brom, while the month ends with a trip to Ipswich.
"We are now entering an absolutely crucial phase of the season," added Johnson.
"Games are coming thick and fast and the next five weeks will determine whether we are pushing for the play-offs or looking over our shoulders."
Despite winning only twice in their last 11 Championship outings, City remain just three points outside of the play-off positions and are one of several clubs handily-placed to make a challenge.
Johnson said: "With the exception of Newcastle, West Brom and Nottingham Forest, who are all in good form, nobody is really putting their hand up and making a claim.
"It's all much of a muchness and any side putting together a run of wins in the next few weeks will put themselves in a strong position.
"We've drawn too many games, but then other sides are having problems as well. Cardiff are going through a sticky patch, QPR are falling away a bit, West Brom are not picking up points like they were earlier in the season and Blackpool lost at home in midweek.
"It's still there for us and we have a lot to play for over the next month or so."
10 Comments
by bristol, bristol
Sunday, January 24 2010, 11:40PM
“Theres only room for 1 football team in bristol..and thats Bristol City. Garys a good manager, just give him chance. he got us here and he is the man to keep us here.. people always want to much to quickly, we aint ready for the top flight right now lets build the squad and focus staying in the top half of the championship!”
by Nigel, Bs3
Sunday, January 24 2010, 4:43PM
“A decent manager would attract good players, play a better style of football thus bringing in better players.The current squad has been given long enough and to many are not championship footballers.Wilson not given a chance ahead of Mccombe Ribeiro sitting on bench at cardiff Bradley was having a mare is crazy, for me Mcallister at full back s often caught out of position and distribution awful. to many cross field passes cut out by opponents .Players played out of position to often to avoid introducing new faces from reserves . Under current management we lack creativity and are to defencively minded. Scouting system awful.”
by fan of 4 4 2, bedminster
Sunday, January 24 2010, 3:51PM
“Nigel, i get your point about substandard players, but i have 2 points to make
1)McAlistar has been our only wide player this year to get decent crosses in
2)How are we going to attract new players if we keep treating our current ones like crap”
by Nigel, BS3
Sunday, January 24 2010, 2:18PM
“Watch Middlesbrough win against us with their current form and let Gary tell you we will be in play off places. Dreamer we are not good enough with far too many below average players .surely in transfer window we should have started moving out likes of Mcallister Mccombe and be giving acadamy players a chance here.What must akinde Ribeiro think with what are being picked ahead of them. one win against Preston dosent put right the rubbish seen this season. Our form is near relegation and how can you win games with so little attempts on goal ie Cardiff cup . The team was set up to perform as they did. Maynard will never win high balls pumped up to him from back four. His goals have mostly been long range and without them we would be in bottom four. Latest signing hardly inspiring when we need a left footed player. Gary says scottish football not up to much then why so many signings from there.Foreign signings just as poor. Premiership managers will have seen our lump it forward tactics thats why we see no decent loan signings.Gary is out of his depth and all this nonsense about play offs should be treated as laughable.”
by Pops, Bristol
Sunday, January 24 2010, 2:03PM
“"We always believe We always believe We're Bristol City and We always believe"
I remember who said that and look what happened to him?
Shafted by the Manager and now our best keeper has been dropped all season.
Always believe? More like....Your all so naive!
As for play off place? sort your bloody tactics out Johnson and play attacking football and we might stand a chance!”
by Mitch, Ashton Vale
Saturday, January 23 2010, 9:14PM
“Hey, don't forget the boy from the Memorial Farm doing well in League One...bless.
Anyway, I hate targets made public and egg on face has happened before so why come out with this?
Keep it a dressing room target, not public!”
by fan of 4 4 2, bedminster
Saturday, January 23 2010, 1:43PM
“how sad are you gasheads, coming onto a bristol city site and commenting, we city fans have lives”
by gas65, whitchurch
Saturday, January 23 2010, 1:27PM
“dream on, i reckon 15th or 16th by end of feb”
by phil, kingswood
Saturday, January 23 2010, 12:13PM
“and I beleive in the tooth ferry and father christmas.”
by fan of 4 4 2, bedminster
Saturday, January 23 2010, 9:39AM
“We always believe We always believe We're Bristol City and We always believe”