Some people have short memories, insists Bristol City captain Carey
Long-serving Louis Carey has more reason than most to appreciate life in the Coca-Cola Championship.
After all, the Bristolian learned his trade the hard way, performing week in and week out at many of English football's less salubrious venues as City struggled to escape the lower leagues.
Life in the school of hard knocks served not only to keep his feet firmly on the ground, but also afforded him the kind of perspective denied those whose careers have been spent entirely in the relatively cushy environment of the Premier League.
If anyone is in a position to judge how far the club has come in such a short passage of time, it is Carey, who makes his 551st appearance against Plymouth Argyle at Ashton Gate tonight.
It is a landmark figure, bringing him level with Brian Tinnion, the silky midfielder who represented City with such distinction between 1993 and 2005.
Only Trevor Taynton (581) and the legendary John Atyeo (645) have made more appearances for the Robins.
Carey was understandably in reflective mood ahead of tonight's game, recalling the highs and lows of a career which currently spans 15 seasons and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
In a clear reference to those supporters who are quick to criticise City for any below-par performance in the Championship, the club captain declared: "Some people have short memories.
"This is only our third season in the Championship and it wasn't so long ago we were playing much smaller clubs and travelling to some of the poorest grounds in the country.
"I know where I would rather be and I think the fans, if they stopped to think about it, would all agree. It's because this club has come such a long way in such a short space of time, that people expect so much.
"But supporters have to remember where we've come from before they can really appreciate what is happening now."
City were in League One under the management of Joe Jordan when Carey made his debut as a fresh-faced teenager and he recalled: "Some of the places we had to go to were horrendous when I think back.
"Chesterfield on a Tuesday night was no fun and the dressing rooms at Colchester's old ground and Blackpool, before they did the stadium up, had to be seen to be believed.
"It was a long time coming, but the Championship is the place to be. Of course, we all want to get to the Premier League if we can, but this is a fantastic level of football and most of the stadiums are brilliant.
"We're playing in front of big crowds every week and the standard and entertainment is much better than anything we were used to before."
So how does Carey rate the current squad? "I've played in teams which have won promotion before, but this is definitely the best squad of players during my time at the club.
"I really notice it when I'm injured and sitting in the stands. You only have to look down at the bench to see how far we've progressed as a club over the past few seasons."
Carey cites expectation levels among fans as the biggest single change during his City career.
"Reaching the play-off final and playing at Wembley, one game away from the Premier League, altered the way a lot of fans think," reasons Carey.
"It's why they expect us to beat teams like Peterborough and Plymouth when they come to Ashton Gate. It's why they expect us to be up there challenging for the play-offs.
"Those expectations simply weren't there when I first played for the club.
"It just goes to show how things have changed. It's also something we have to learn to live with."
7 Comments
by Jon, Bristol
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 6:17PM
“Louis/Gary/everyone else at city, i hope that when reading the comments on these boards, you realise that there are still a lot of proper fans that actually support you and realise what you are trying to do.
We all reallise that things don't happen overnight, that new squads don't gel immediately, that people don't play their best games all the time and that there are a multitude of reasons for playing certain players and not playing others.
We are also aware that the club had come a long way and we all don't expect to win every game. After all, the people that do expect this support Man Utd, right?
We don't have short memories. Foe every one of the loud mouthed people, there are at least 5 of us that believe in you.
Please don't be swayed by the vocal minority.”
by Dave, St George
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 4:16PM
“Well said Louis, some people prefer being a big fish in a small pond and at the same time arent prepared to fight it out in the bigger pond! They need to be scooped out and taken away so the rest of us can support the players and the team! Fair play, it may rattle some people but thats how you show who the real City fans are!
Up the Reds!”
by Mike, Staple Hill, Bristol
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 12:11PM
“Well said Louis. He has hit the nail on the head. It is the expectation levels among the fans that has changed.
A lot of these so called fans probably only started supporting City when we were promoted from League One, so therefore cant appreciate just how good a manager Gary Johnson is.
Quite a few comments on these forums say things along the lines of "We have got the squad but its the manager that is holding us back". Gary Johnson is the man that put this squad together you imbeciles.
Look at where we are in the table!! THE CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE!!! Enjoy it while it lasts because I fear the moaners will only drive Gary Johnson away. Even though they are by no means the majority.
C'MON YOU REDS!!”
by Matt, Stockwood
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 11:49AM
“I think there needs to be a clear definition hear of what the issue is from City fans....Louis seems to be getting it wrong. The majority (in my opinion) seem to remember where we were when Gary Johnson walked in and most realise this is just our 3rd season back in the CCC.
The gripe seems to be generally that :
1. We seem to be playing with little or no width at all (McIndoe was not replaced and we only have Sproule on the right)
2. Players are constatntly being played out of position - usually in midfield.
3. The tactics are extremely negative - a case of hold on to what we've got if in front with 20 mins to go.
I agree with Louis and Bradley Orr in so much that this is by far the best squad we have had in recent times, my quibble would be that with the high standard of players, City should be putting teams to the sword, not sitting back in a thoroughly negative fashion to ground out a narrow 1 goal victory. Yes with the players wqe now have we should beat teams like Peterboro and Plymouth, sorry if that insults them, but their squads do not include players of the calibre of Evander Sno, Alvaro Saborio, Paul Hartley, Marvin Elliott and Nicky Maynard. In my opinion Gary need to get more width in the team and decide who will be his first choice central midfielders. If that means upsetting a few people then sorry but so be it. Playing players like Sno out wide is a complete waste. In his interview when he joined, he stated that he was looking forward to having a more attacking role....sadly he thought that would be playing behing the front 2, in Gary's eyes its a case of get out on the wing and push forward.
Dont get me wrong, I am a big GJ fan, however, I feel this is a crucial season for him with the players at his disposal, and as the players say the best squad for years, we should be looking at the top 6 as a minimal target.
Someone asked on the City forum recently if we should be entertaining and stay down or boring and go up. Maybe I am being greedy here, but I would suggest that with these players, it is well within our grasp to have both.
Lets see some attacking football City, sooner or later a team is going to take a hammering from us, maybe thats the spur we need to really get going, lets start against Plymouth this evening.
Come on you reds !!!”
by david, Planet Earth
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 10:42AM
“I don't have a short memory, I just don't dwell on the past as that would be simply resting on laurels.
Leeds, Southampton, Newcastle and Forest have a lot more to rest on and where are they now ?
There is no future in history. Forget all the "look where we were" rubbish and concentrate on where we want to be. That is much more of a winners outlook.
It's a shame that both Louis and the manager have come out with that.
It sounds desparate and not what we want to hear.”
by Rob, Bristol
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 8:57AM
“What shocking journalism...
"After all, the Bristolian learned his trade the hard way, performing week in and week out at many of English football's less salubrious venues as City struggled to escape the lower leagues.
Life in the school of hard knocks served not only to keep his feet firmly on the ground, but also afforded him the kind of perspective denied those whose careers have been spent entirely in the relatively cushy environment of the Premier League."
Poor Louis! Sounds like a dreadful career and life that he leads - as a professional footballer. Why would anyone want to do that, oh, because they love the sport and happen to get paid an awful lot more than the average Jo.”
by Marcus, Wilts.
Tuesday, October 20 2009, 8:46AM
“"We're playing in front of big crowds every week and the standard and entertainment is much better than anything we were used to before."
Louis I have a lot of time for you, you are a City player that all fans respect but to claim the entertainment is far better now than in the past is misplaced and simply not true. In fact I would suggwest the football currently on offer is possibly some of the most boring, dull, repetitious and uninteresting football Ive watched down the Gate in the last 20 years.
We have the squad in place it's just not being utilised in the best way by the manager.
People are fully aware of where we were a few season's ago but that doesn't make the current drap dull football on offer acceptable now. Entertain me!!
Worrying signs that the players have started to get involved in defending Gary's poor tactics.
Brad on th radio on Saturday and now Louis in the EP!”