The Clive Jones Column

Last updated : 26 August 2002 By Clive Jones
I have resisted the temptation to jump on to the band wagon of doubt and apprehension that has descended like a cloud to fog the Tigers start to the new campaign... and, for some little while yet, I will continue to do so.

Now for one that is normally so fast to voice an opinion, City supporters might wonder "What's this - has Clive turned over a new leaf?"

Well, actually, no. It's just that I haven't come to a definitive decision over the new genus of players that have been bussed in during the summer by manager Jan Molby.

But perhaps the biggest conundrum is the boss himself. I wonder if he actually does know what his best team is and if the answer is yes, I see little sign that he's prepared to stick his neck out and afford them the chance to gel as a team.
However, it is as well to remind the doubting Thomas' that the team has played less than half a dozen games and, thus far, there has been just the one defeat. Three draws from a side that is playing for only half an hour a game isn't bad reward.

I will maintain that the crucial column in football is the one that records the defeats. I will further assert that any side passing double figures in the aforementioned column hardly deserves to go up.

It does happen but if the Tigers can get a point out of games in which they play badly, then that's an improvement on the last two seasons when they would have lost such matches.

Okay so you may think that's a load of old tosh. Tell me that at the end of the season. If my theory is wrong, I will readily stick my hands up. But I caution you. It is a theory that has stood the test of time and one that I have been happy to espouse for many a long year.