Why the Optimism ?

[nigel]

Just looking from the outside, why is there so much optimism for next year ?
Has there been a commitment to the playing budget well over and above this year ? or is it just hope for the future ?

Only asking at it seems so different to previous years and so different from two/three months ago when things didnt seem to be going so well.

[darrenb]

The main reason for this is Tim Harris! He has bought stability to the club and is building a squad capable of challenging at this level.

We look as though we are starting to get a settled team and the defence aren't leaking goals like they were at the start of the season.

If we hadn't given away so many soft goals late on in matches at the start of the season we would be challenging for the play offs now. If we can keep hold of players like Welshy over the summer and get a bit of luck I think the play offs is a realistic aim for next season.

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

I'd have to agreed with Darren and go further - if we'd won every game this season we'd be in with a shout of the play-offs

[Simon]

I am very optimistic about next season.

Tim Harris is the main reason, the man is a genius and I think he truly loves this Football club. He has moulded a team since his arrival which could be in the reckoning come May 2008. If you think about it, on the last forum, I found out that if we had held on to all the games we had taken the lead in we'd only be 2 points behind Bath at the moment. All we need is a defence, we have the strike force to push us forwards and a luxurious midfield to choose from as well.
Next season is the first season I really think we will challenge for the Playoffs or maybe the Championship. This season was a false hope, but now, I believe.

[tigermatty]

I think that at last we are starting to see something which looks like a permanent squad which is going to be allowed time to gel. Hopefully next year we will be able to use loan players as a supplement rather then rely on them too much, because I think that's what's cause a lot of the instability this season.

[city supporter]

I think that at last we are starting to see something which looks like a permanent squad which is going to be allowed time to gel. Hopefully next year we will be able to use loan players as a supplement rather then rely on them too much, because I think that's what's cause a lot of the instability this season.

That is it in a nutshell !

[Dommotyger]

If we can build on things that have already happended recently for next season we should do really well!

[bobcarolgees]

Before we start dreaming of promotion we need the people of Gloucester to start coming through the sodding gates every week, not a few times every year! For all the good work Harris is doing, we arent going to be able to compete with Kings Lynn, Chippenham and the likes for players with gates of less than 400

[Neil]

I totally agree Bob. I think we need something to happen at Meadow Park that will really capture the public's imagination, if not a friendly then something iconic that re-associates the ground with the City and the beautiful game....

[bobcarolgees]

Following up to my previous post about competing with other teams I heard a rumour that Kings Lynn could move to the northern league next season? Would certaintly benefit us would it not?..

[Neil]

The current relegation candidates from the Conf South are all from the south of the country, so yes, Kings Lynn may well get the big heave-ho and be shoved up north. Yes it would help us but I also think that the likes of Maidenhead and Tiverton (out of this years bunch) would come to the fore in a weaker division.

[Dommotyger]

This town well CITY will always follow the red and whites (not cheltenscum) of Kingsholm and once they get an even bigger ground more will follow them! Let's just hope they charge more next season following their success this season so those who will no longer be able to afford it maybe come to us!

[ItmustbeCity]

Before we start dreaming of promotion we need the people of Gloucester to start coming through the sodding gates every week

Totally agree, there are a lot of reasons why people don't come, some of them genuine of course but we really need the people of Gloucester to get along to Meadow Park. A good FA Cup or Trophy run could really capture the imagination of the public

[Dommotyger]

Things is we never get a decent Cup / Trophy run these days - would be nice though but I wont hold my breath

[badsy]

I too am excited for next season got the making of a decent squad, if we can just get the mix right at the back then i think we could be strong challengers.
with regards to the crowds, i think there are a number of issues
The level we play does not attract the casual supporter who is looking for a game to watch, there are higher standards of football available locally (for now!)
The fact that whenever we seem to get a big fixture the game is either called off or we play poorly.
The lack of media coverage, I know much has been written on this forum about this, but i remember when we were on the back page every friday even if it was only a strap line to a preview inside the paper. As a fan i will look 3 or 4 pages into the paper to find the preview but will everyone?
finally people associate the club with financial troubles so even if we are ok they donbt want to get involved at the club as we have been boom/bust for quite a while.
Possitively if we are doing well it will bring more people in the gates and also if we can get into higher league then I am convinced it will bring more of the people just looking to fill a saturday afternoon.
Looking forward to the days when the opposition fans sing where were you when you were crap

[Pablo]

Possitively if we are doing well it will bring more people in the gates

For example the game against Ilkeston, when we could have won the league, there was about 900!

[badsy]

I am sure that if we are at the top next season we will get 900+ for a number of games remeber playing rugby and getting 1500 for a midweek game. I work with a guy who went to that game and he is a hereford fan living in Ross but thought he would go to that game as it was a crunch game and had read about it in western daily press, now theres a paper!

[Smudge]

I am not too familiar with the geography of the new massive development at Kingsway, Quedgeley, but I understand that the new canal crossing entering the City from that direction will now take you virtually past Meadow Park. Perhaps the council can be persuaded to include 'Gloucester City AFC' on the appropriate roadsigns in that area. I am sure that many of the new residents of Kingsway may not be Gloucester people and seeing a sign to the Football Club may encourage fresh faces :D