Ben

A supporters view on Bristol City related opinions

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

Nail 🤝 Head

[Mike Holden @binaryfootball]

Okay, some thoughts.

It took me a while to gather them because it's hard to put a cocktail of different emotions into words — but this interview triggered several things in me all at once.

First of all, let me say: communication is good. This is not about a club making an effort to communicate with its fans.

But if you're suddenly doing this a few days after a 5-0 home defeat, you're either doing it too late or your prior messages haven't been clear enough.

CEOs have fans forums and other opportunities in the calendar to talk publicly about what happens on the pitch. Otherwise, stick to business and stay in the background on football matters.

Execs are responsible for strategy and this interview is nothing to do with strategy, it's pure tactics. Delaying tactics, at that.

Bristol City appears to be a club lost in the weeds with no sense of where they really are, and this guy is pleading with fans for the sake of more thinking time.

This whole interview hints at a club that doesn't know how to execute. People behind the scenes who are better at talking than actually doing. Explaining themselves as a habit. Afraid of making mistakes.

Dangling a manager's future in front of a camera should never be your go-to. Those guys put themselves in the arena every single weekend.

Not every strategy will be a winning strategy but if you operate with clarity, work to a proper structure and know your KPIs, then you hold your nerve when things don't go according to plan.

You take the criticism with broad shoulders and try to learn something from it. You don't come running for forgiveness and you don't feel a need to appease anyone. That's just weak leadership.

There's a phenomenon in psychology known as self-completion theory, whereby you feel a premature sense of accomplishment when you talk about your identity and what you're going to do before you actually do it.

When people talk too much about what they stand for, they get the same dopamine hit of satisfaction as actually living to that standard. Once they feel heard, they subsequently lack the motivation to follow through.

If you truly know what you stand for, then you already know what you need to do to turn things around and it doesn't all boil down to one guy.

But if that one guy really is your only problem, then you already know your next move. Call him in on Sunday morning, look him in the eye and shake his hand.

Instead...

"I want the fans to know that everyone shares their frustrations. From the owners, to the board, to James Ellis. Every single person at this club feels that frustration...

"Michael Skubala, more than anybody, knows we need to improve."

Honestly, go and fuck yourself.

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@JonD_BCFC I don’t mind it at the start or doing more comms. Just don’t want them doing comms just to tick the box of doing comms. This just felt so unnecessary & very little gained just to tick the box of communicating. Can’t imagine players & staff were pleased with the video

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

In hindsight does this comms (wasnt needed imo) actually end speculation or just delay it? We know he won’t be sacked now but we are still gonna speculate… what happens if we lose next home game? What happens if we win at home but lose 3 away? Nobody knows so why the video?

[Bristol City FC @BristolCity]

A message from CEO Charlie Boss.

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@preece8 Agreed

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@jonnyblundra And that is fair & perhaps the harsh reality. And by no means am I spokesman of the wider fan base- I am one of probably thousands opinions which means they can’t please everyone. But suppose the wider point is as long as they are purposeful with their comms then all good

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@jonnyblundra I think there is a difference, in my mind anyway, between communicating for the sake of communicating to please fans & communicating with a purpose. I like comms but I don’t think the club should feel obliged to communicate everything just because us fans want to know everything

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@ohdontcry Agreed

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@BristolCitehh Completely agree

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@jonnyblundra But we knew they would be unhappy
Not sacking him was evidence of backing Skubala to turn things around- dont think we need telling that we won’t sack him for now
If he does bad he gets sacked

Why does any of this need to be made in an amateurish video in the public domain?

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@BristolCitehh But in this case what are the comms achieving other than ticking a box to say we have done comms?
For me this has done more harm than good- just doesnt come across well & certainly doesnt achieve anything meaningful

[England @England]

HK126 👑

Thomas Tuchel confirms our captain is set to win his record-breaking 126th #ThreeLions cap tomorrow night 🙌

[Tactx @Tactx_]

Football is a different industry and there’s people within it, in high positions, that don’t understand the industry.

This is embarrassing. And everyone in the staff office and changing room will be highly offended.

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@jamiepersonaI Fully agree

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@TheAngelofAIM1 Tbf he is entering a period where actually we will get a fair reflection of his time. If he comes through the next period with a good return we look at the last set of games as a blip (& possibly overcoming home form) If he doesn’t then it’s a case of not worked out & move on

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@ChrisBessex Agreed. Just feel you can’t end speculation- it is just changed what we now speculate. We’ve moved our speculation on from not sacked now to what needs to happen for him to keep or lose his job. Just question what the video was therefore actually aiming to achieve?

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

Time will tell if it this is the correct decision- suppose there is a fear that it isnt but a hope it is. But I do like the fact that we are giving a gaffer time. Probably not going to be appealing for attracting new gaffers if they are ousted after a poor first 15 games

[The Exiled Robin @TheExiledRobin]

Much as you can debate the merits or otherwise of the decision to give Skubala more time, I can’t help but feel it’s a very narrow view to say “what happened to City not being nice/soft any more”.

Not being nice doesn’t mean you have to sack a manager when the fans demand it

[Bristol City FC @BristolCity]

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. ❤️

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@BristolCityFM Ultimately whilst I’m not a massive data man (more because of lack of understanding rather than a lack of appreciation) I think the underlying data suggests there is enough to back but the stat about Norwich scoring more at AG is very very alarming

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@BristolCityFM I think I’m in a position where I don’t really mind what is decided- but it does feel like too much needs to happen to overcome fan perception. But as you mention- I would love nothing more than him turning this around for so many reasons which shouldn’t be controversial

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@JonD_BCFC Remember defending NP even though we were poor at the time I didn’t think there was anyone else I would rather turn it around given circumstances. Defended LM as was never this bad & felt he deserved time to keep shaping the team how he best seemed fit. Feels different for MS now

[Ben @BCFCRobinsView]

@JonD_BCFC I’ve been a defender of us under Skubala mainly due to away performances. Home think we’ve had better performances than results shown but still not to the level it should have been. Recent form & overall record at home means it does feel inevitable