'It takes time,' says Steve Coppell: No quick-fix for Bristol City's problems
STEVE Coppell is refusing to sacrifice his principles in search of a quick-fix solution to Bristol City's mounting problems.
City's new manager saw his team trounced 3-0 by Championship new-boys Millwall in a one-sided opening-day clash at Ashton Gate.
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To make matters worse, the injury jinx which has deprived Coppell of several key players struck again when loan signing Sam Vokes was carried off with a suspected torn hamstring 13 minutes into his debut.
The Welsh international joins last season's top-scorer Nicky Maynard and Danny Haynes in the treatment room and early assessments suggest he could be out of action for at least six weeks.
City's frustrated boss is also resigned to losing the services of central defender Damion Stewart, who was sent off for a second yellow card offence and will now miss tomorrow's Carling Cup game against Southend.
While the transfer market represents a potential short-term solution to the manager's troubles, he insisted he will not break with the habits of a lifetime and spend multi-millionaire chairman Steve Lansdown's money.
Coppell has already made six summer signings and he said: "People assume I just phone the chairman and say 'buy us another one'. But it doesn't work that way.
"I've never been that way in the transfer market. We all want to be competitive a I would hope that we can do some research, but you don't want to sacrifice your principles for short-term success.
"It took me five years to build a team and get success at Crystal Palace and three years at Reading. It takes time and you cannot keep rushing into the transfer market every time you are short of bodies.
"I'm sure the chairman could buy success if he wanted, but he wants to build a club and it's up to me to identify and try to bring in people who are going to be here for a while and contribute."
Although a total of eight first-team squad players were ruled out through injury, Coppell refused to use an extensive casualty list to excuse his side's poor performance.
He said: "It was a bad day at the office. I could complain about injuries, but there were 11 players out there who were raring to go and wanting to create a good first impression, but were unable to really get going at all.
"Before the game, I said I would be as intrigued as anybody to see where we were at. That performance is an indication that we have an awful lot of work to do and need to improve massively to be competitive. When you get beat 3-0 you are generally concerned and there are a lot of areas we need to do better in. I'm not going to list them all here, but we have to have the mentality that we want to improve. We need to assume responsibility collectively and work hard to get better."
City were sunk by three goals in 11 minutes either side of half-time and Coppell said: "Once we lost the initiative, we lost our balance and poise.
"We played an awful lot of football in front of them and we didn't really get to the heart of their defence and hurt them. We have to get behind teams and try and get down the side of teams to hurt them."
Coppell admitted he may now be forced to return to the drawing board ahead of tomorrow's Carling Cup first round assignment against League Two Southend United at Roots Hall.
He said: "We experimented with quite a few different systems in pre-season, started this game with a 4-3-3 and then switched to a 4-4-2 to match Millwall, without ever really being effective.
"We hardly used 4-4-2 last season and, when we did, we lost most of those games.
"It needs a bit of a rethink about where we are going and what direction we are heading in."
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by George, LONDON
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 2:24PM
“The words "no quick fix" and "I need time," will be etched forever on many manager's gravestones.
Time, as any manager will tell you, is what you haven't got and BCFC are no different from most NPCC Clubs with ambition, in that respect.
The injuries are only half the story.
Quality signings were needed at the end of last season and that increased when Hartley left which was no surprise to anyone.
Skuse & Elliott are to similar and can't play together in a two man central midfield as neither are good passers of the ball.
Our "unbalanced squad" is still unbalanced and the signings of Adomah & Cisse didn't resolve that.”
by Rooster Booster, Clevedon
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 11:58PM
“Mary - what we need and still have not got is an 'iron man' great defender and ball winner in the middle of the team to dominate other teams.
Then we need a really creative player like Zola was for Chelsea and others we could name.
Simple!
SC and SL please note!”
by Mary, Clifton
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 11:54PM
“I really feel sorry for SC.
What can he say now after all these bad results?
What's wrong with the team?. If anyone knows please tell SC and SL asap. Help save our season before it's too late!”
by Fred, Weston
Tuesday, August 10 2010, 11:50PM
“After the Southend match is anyone in any doubt still that we have 'no real defence' and are totally clueless.
The standard of play is that of a lower division and who do these players feel they are kidding by drawing Championship pay and delivering lower division play! Some home truths need to be got home. I've got a good electric cattle prodder that someone can use to galvanise them into some action.
Rolled over by Milwall just promoted from a lower division and now losing away to Southend. How much time do the management have before the rot is too deep to correct. Sadly to say that survival in the Championship is going to be an uphill struggle given the pre-season results and these two latest results! Nicky Maynard's news is a big blow and who is going to score enough goals against the Championship sides to make up for the hatfull of goals our defence gives away? How much time do management think they have to stop this awful rot and run of bad performances because relegation is already staring us in the face based on all these matches since the end of last season.”
by City fans are idiots!, Ashton
Monday, August 09 2010, 11:32PM
“Makes me sick to be a city fan really. . . So many Negative and fickle followers!!!!!
ITS ONE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No doubt not even half of the city fans will be at the next home game, unlike me. I hate to say it but city fans are so shallow, GJ was an awesome manager, done so so much for Bristol City, yet a little blip and he is public enemy number one.
We have a goal keeper whos last game was in the world cup representing England!!!!!!!!!! He is world class, and his age does not matter, I am sure he will prove everyone wrong and get player of the year, with City finishing in the play offs. Thats a fact.
Stick by your team through thick and thin.”
by Royal Joe, Brislington
Monday, August 09 2010, 6:03PM
“Spot on comments Groundhog.
Hartley was so much missed and must be replaced sap. As for Stev Briz who works at our place he really is a sad case so please be kind to him”
by Dave, Bedminster
Monday, August 09 2010, 5:24PM
“Im still amazed this fools think GJ is still at fault, i mean come on? Thats just sad!!”
by Nelson, Bristol
Monday, August 09 2010, 3:24PM
“Typical Arm chair bandits . . . 11 players make a team not just the goalie! none of you could do better even if you had your own 11 and the opposition had 2 players. Stop all the green eyed hatred!
GO CITY! GO”
by Denis, Ashton Gate
Monday, August 09 2010, 3:21PM
“Sure does Cop Out and whilst you ponder that I'll continue to claim my benefits . . when City win promotion AND sort the thug fans out I'll think about getting a job andnot enjoy living off the state.”
by a, bristol
Monday, August 09 2010, 1:22PM
“"shame cardiff didn't go bust" - you should know by now Cardiff have their own very special set of rules and WILL NEVER be held to account over their debts
£30+ million owed to God knows how many companies, how many winding up order threats? and Dave Jones is now saying he expects to sign another 4 players - work that out!”