One year ago almost exactly to the day Bristol City signed a player who boasted Premier League and England Under 21 experience, Nicky Hunt, a signing that shocked in more ways than one....
Arguably City's biggest disappointment of recent time, Hunt was exactly what City needed, however after a howler of a start to his City career the majority of fans bayed for his blood. But have the City faithful decided that he deserves a second chance?
Signing from Bolton Wanderers on a free, the 26 year old only enhanced City's hopes of reaching the play offs joining an improving squad under the guidance of then manager Steve Coppell. The very next day after signing he would impress the fans in the only home friendly of pre-season against Blackpool until he limped off after an hour with a knock. Coppell mentioned after the game that the right back would be out for two weeks.
However he would be on the Ashton Gate field in a weeks time for the season opener against Millwall. In a 3-0 thumping loss Hunt looked a shadow of the player we had seen in the Premier League for Bolton and even 7 days before against a newly promoted Premier League side, he wasn't fit but Coppell had no choice but to pick him out of a very packed injury list.
Having to play in the League Cup first round defeat to Southend would have only further put strain on an unhealed knock and even worse for him would be that the man who brought him to Ashton Gate would walk the following morning. If he had thought this couldn't get any worse he'd be wrong.
Hunt would go onto to start the next five games in 31 days, with his only weekend off being an international break, a spell in which would see City keep just one clean sheet in the sole victory at Scunthorpe and leak eight goals. City fans lost patience and Hunt was torn from the squad half way through the defeat to Watford with new manager Keith Millen stating after the match he was concerned he would be sent off.
The City fans had seen enough, most described him as the worst they had seen in the red and it appeared Millen had also lost patience with him as he removed him from his plans. City eventually would find some form and begin a five a match unbeaten run, which saw City beating Swansea away - a feat not repeated by any other Championship side last season, the pressure began to lift on the club. Looking to remain unbeaten for a sixth consecutive match City would go to former giants Leeds United, a game that would see the end of Nicky Hunt's career at Ashton Gate.
With the game tied at 1-1 Carey was forced off with an injury and would be replaced by Hunt who hadn't played in two months, yet it looked like two decades. City would concede three goals in the last 25 minutes - the first of which coming a minute after Hunt came on setting the scene as Hunt would be heavily involved in two. The defense had returned to it's earlier self and Hunt would be to blame, even publicly Millen confirmed that the last 30 minutes City were poor and subs were to blame. He looked out of his depth, unfit and everyone had now had enough.
A thread on OTIB would appear after that match which could damage anyone's self belief and confidence - the fans wanted him out and clearly Millen did too, announcing on a Radio Bristol chat show around January he had informed Hunt that he was no longer needed and even softly hinted at personal problems which is why we never signed the player we believe we did. Nicky Hunt's career at City was done, and City were better for it.
Fast forward to present day and the faithful's opinion on Nicky Hunt has began to change. The same fans who posted their hate filled posts on the forum are now asking for Millen to give him one last chance, and why not? He has played twice in pre-season, albeit in the reserve look teams but he has performed - and that's all he can do. And boy do the City fans like a worker!
Brian Tinnion was verbally abused in the streets after a poor start in his career at the Gate but eventually he would find himself as a City legend. Even Steve Jones more recently turned the fans opinions around before injury ended his time with City when he was given a second chance. But is Millen ready to take that risk?
Nicky's professionalism can't be disputed. He still turns up for every training session at a club he has no place, it's even been said that he has requested DVD's of his matches here to learn from his mistakes. If he's not willing to give up on his career then surely he'll grab the chance with both hands when given to him. After all we know he's good. You don't start 113 Premier League matches by chance, it's just a case of unlocking that player hidden inside him.
Nicky's professionalism can't be disputed. He still turns up for every training session at a club he has no place, it's even been said that he has requested DVD's of his matches here to learn from his mistakes. If he's not willing to give up on his career then surely he'll grab the chance with both hands when given to him. After all we know he's good. You don't start 113 Premier League matches by chance, it's just a case of unlocking that player hidden inside him.
It would look bad on Millen's judgement to bring him back into the squad after publicly deleting him from playing any part in his squad again, but if it worked Millen would look a man management genius, and it would solve one of City's three defensive problems which have remained untouched throughout this summer.
A start against West Brom this Saturday would be the final task Hunt would need to pass, and with knocks once again a problem this pre-season Millen would be forgiven for giving him his first run out in ten months at City's home. A good performance could see City's ex-Premiership right-back finally arrive at Bristol City - he just needs one game to show us and then maintain that.
Hunt's career could well depend on whether Millen agrees with a growing number of fans or not, either way, we lose nothing by giving him one last shot.
Hunt's career could well depend on whether Millen agrees with a growing number of fans or not, either way, we lose nothing by giving him one last shot.