Nigel’s post match thoughts

[HappyClapper]

 

[Jerseybean]

Both manager’s comments

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I think it's relief … we weren't good today. We didn't play very well and when you play against a side who are near the bottom and asks lots of questions of us ... I'm sure they came here knowing that if they put us under pressure we could crack. 

"We've played much, much better here and lost games and drawn games. There is not a lot of difference between today and other days where we've not played well but we've lost. It's an illustration I think of the fragility of the mental state in terms of what anxiety does and I was as nervous as everybody else, I suppose. 

"But great for the fans and I thought they were excellent in terms of turning the noise up to support the team and the players really recognised that and so did we as staff. It's about the players and the fans, the relationship between them is vital. 

"So now we've got rid of that ridiculously unfathomable run of results here we've got to now turn a corner and make sure our performances match what we want to achieve. 

"Today it was about the result, the performance was secondary."

Barnsley manager Markus Schopp told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Today I think the better team lost, we gave the game away in five minutes in the end of the first half and you see that we are struggling with this bit of experience right now. 

"You can't give away a 1-0 lead where you were dominating the game so easily. This is definitely a hard one. 

"We are talking about individual mistakes in situations where you can't lose balls without pressure, without a situation where I think the other team was happy to get into half-time to resettle. We gave these goals away so easy, this is definitely something that shouldn't happen. 

"But in the end I have to say it was a 50 minutes where I saw a Barnsley team that did everything - created so many chances - and this is something where for me we are almost there, we are almost there. The team has to understand that we have to do this for 95 minutes and not only for 88 like we did today."

[Bristol Oil Services]

"A lot of pointless running around" - working title for Richard Latham's forthcoming '350 Years of Bristol City' mighty tome. Available in any book shops left standing

[Jerseybean]

13 minutes ago, HappyClapper said:

 

Well said NP honest and real as ever. 

[CheddarReds]

Fair comments from Nige that reflect the chat our group had on the way out the ground. Despite the relief and happiness of the 3 points, we didn't play well today. And it's reassuring to see Nige is focused on the process of turning us into a better side at this level rather than dress up a victory to hide our short comings. 

[Jerseybean]

Think NPs first word at the final whistle was hallelujah based on the Twitter feed. 
He spoke of the anxiety being palpable but so was the sense of relief! 

Just now, Jerseybean said:

Think NPs first word at the final whistle was hallelujah based on the Twitter feed. 
He spoke of the anxiety being palpable but so was the sense of relief! 

Here’s the link….https://fb.watch/8ZgBoLfv-F/

[glynriley]

33 minutes ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

"A lot of pointless running around" - working title for Richard Latham's forthcoming '350 Years of Bristol City' mighty tome. Available in any book shops left standing

Knowing my luck, if reincarnation is a thing, I'll come back as a City fan again...

[Major Isewater]

5 minutes ago, glynriley said:

Knowing my luck, if reincarnation is a thing, I'll come back as a City fan again...

Could be worse …

Goodnight Irene …

[Tinmans Love Child]

49 minutes ago, HappyClapper said:

 

I love this guy! COYR!

[Numero Uno]

28 minutes ago, CheddarReds said:

Fair comments from Nige that reflect the chat our group had on the way out the ground. Despite the relief and happiness of the 3 points, we didn't play well today. And it's reassuring to see Nige is focused on the process of turning us into a better side at this level rather than dress up a victory to hide our short comings. 

It's a very refreshing change to have a Manager who could not only see what the rest of us saw today but is prepared to say it. Obviously his job in the longer term is to dramatically improve the level of performance which was bottom of the barrel at times, terrible, but with FFP forcing Steve to keep his hands in his sky rocket this isn't an overnight transformation. In the short term we simply have to play better than that though - hopefully it's a confidence thing because if it isn't then we are in for a very tough season. My gripe today was that we should be playing better than that against Barnsley where we literally turned up for 4 minutes in terms of attacking play. Luckily those 4 minutes won us the game.

If we can battle our way to a draw on Tuesday night then it will be a very good few days for us in the context of the season.

[Daniro]

14 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

It's a very refreshing change to have a Manager who could not only see what the rest of us saw today but is prepared to say it. Obviously his job in the longer term is to dramatically improve the level of performance which was bottom of the barrel at times, terrible, but with FFP forcing Steve to keep his hands in his sky rocket this isn't an overnight transformation. In the short term we simply have to play better than that though - hopefully it's a confidence thing because if it isn't then we are in for a very tough season. My gripe today was that we should be playing better than that against Barnsley where we literally turned up for 4 minutes in terms of attacking play. Luckily those 4 minutes won us the game.

If we can battle our way to a draw on Tuesday night then it will be a very good few days for us in the context of the season.

Agreed.  My gripe is how is it that we can't retain possession?  Even from our own set pieces?

[Numero Uno]

14 minutes ago, Daniro said:

Agreed.  My gripe is how is it that we can't retain possession?  Even from our own set pieces?

No and I don't think it's any accident that the two coaches have been ****** out of it. When teams like Barnsley, no disrespect to them, can keep possession of the football for decent periods even if they somehow contrived not to do the most important thing of the lot then there is literally no excuse for us. Matty James passing today was shambolic and he simply cannot be that bad a player. Something is not right on the coaching side of the operation. A lot of hard work required on the training ground to repair a huge amount of damage caused over the last couple of years. The next coaching appointment is an important one imo. The huge bonus for us is that we are still managing to pick up points IN SPITE OF our performances in an attacking sense and that gives Nige a little bit of breathing space in the short term.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, Jerseybean said:

"You can't give away a 1-0 lead where you were dominating the game so easily. This is definitely a hard one. 

They weren’t dominating at all….it was a scrappy half, a pretty even half.  Bugs me that just because they were leading he thinks they were dominating.  Had our passing been a bit tighter we would’ve ripped their high line apart, which is what we threatened to do and eventually did.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

They weren’t dominating at all….it was a scrappy half, a pretty even half.  Bugs me that just because they were leading he thinks they were dominating.  Had our passing been a bit tighter we would’ve ripped their high line apart, which is what we threatened to do and eventually did.

Ok, them dominating it was a tad over the top. However saying it was even is one way of putting it......even in terms of both sides being as bloody awful as each other in a game that wouldn't have looked out of place at National League South level at times in terms of the "quality" on show.

[054123]

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

They weren’t dominating at all….it was a scrappy half, a pretty even half.  Bugs me that just because they were leading he thinks they were dominating.  Had our passing been a bit tighter we would’ve ripped their high line apart, which is what we threatened to do and eventually did.

Absolutely. I know we struggle in areas at the moment, but calm down Barnsley. 

On that performance I’d happily play them every week.

They may say the same about how us, but i didn’t see anything in them that concerned  me.

Our own frailties gave them impetus, but even with that they didn’t strike me as being able to construct anything of note.

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by 054123

[One Team]

Yet again he's got his assessment spot on. Nice recognition of the part the fans played too. 

[steviestevieneville]

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

They weren’t dominating at all….it was a scrappy half, a pretty even half.  Bugs me that just because they were leading he thinks they were dominating.  Had our passing been a bit tighter we would’ve ripped their high line apart, which is what we threatened to do and eventually did.

Yeah, he’s chatting bollocks . They never dominated that first half. Poor defending gifted them their goal. Apart from that they were poor . We were the better side after they scored even though we didn’t play particularly  well. Two good goals though & the second was well worked. Two very average teams though 

[Top Robin]

Every post match interview he highlights our weaknesses and faults but I wish he'd ******* sort them out at some point.

 

[054123]

The frustrating thing was when we actual played football we looked good (scored twice!). 

I don’t know why we shrink into our shells when if we keep on the front foot they didn’t have an answer.

We really miss Joe Williams.

[steviestevieneville]

4 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Thought if anything we slightly edged it. Both teams had 2 great chances, they scored one of theirs and we scored both of ours.

As you say we gifted them their goal, but the Atkinson pass to them for their other chance was far worse. Really we shouldn't have given them anything.

I thought we were better first 20 odd minutes. Had the ball in more dangerous areas but lacked quality. They then were on top, and we then finished the half strongly. So a bit better overall by us.

2nd half, well that's a different story! 

I thought before their goal it was like a park game. Lots of head tennis , very little quality . A few minutes after they scored , I think , we either missed a few passes or didn’t get stuck in , can’t remember . It’s was like collective bollocking from all of us though it was strange . We got amongst it & took the game to them & got both our goals. 
Second half I was hoping we’d carry on like that but was expecting us to give up possession . It’s not from instruction but from a mindset . I was ******* fuming with Wells . We had the chance , a very good chance to bury the game , just as we did v forest but didn’t take it. 
It was a easy square ball for a wiemann hatrick but blazed over the bar. 
After that we hardly got out , but it was of our own creation. 
that’s how I saw it anyway.

[steviestevieneville]

25 minutes ago, 054123 said:

The frustrating thing was when we actual played football we looked good (scored twice!). 

I don’t know why we shrink into our shells when if we keep on the front foot they didn’t have an answer.

We really miss Joe Williams.

It’s a mindset as I said on another post. There’s no way Pearson tells them to sit deep & invite pressure . As this run has gone on, no matter what the players say it affects them mentally. It’s not just this season either. If we’d have hung on v Blackpool then I think we win the Luton & forest games . However that Blackpool equaliser was massive . Wether we were in the ground or not , the run from last season was still in the players heads plus possibly more pressure by having us back. Thank **** it’s over

[Dr Balls]

We were awful for the first 40 minutes and Barnsley were little better, but they were definitely better at passing and pressing. Their goal was no surprise. 
 

In the lead up to our first goal, the crowd had got really angry, and you could both hear and feel it. Whether that got through to Kalas, who was really the instigator of that goal, I don’t know, but he was absolutely fuming about something, shouting at the rest of the team, then a few moments later brought the ball out of defence, passed a couple of their midfielders and then played it forward. It was what the midfield should have been doing but hadn’t all match.

The biggest problem remains the midfield. They provide next to no cover for the defence and little creativity for the forwards. Marty James had a shocker today, while Bakinson was weak. At his size, he should be dominating like a Vieira, but he was anything but. Massengo runs himself ragged trying to cover for others and at least tries to play the ball forward. However he has proved again that he has zero shooting ability.

Lots to sort out from Pearson and his team, but a win is all important.

[steviestevieneville]

24 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Yeah first half was scrappy. I think their high line and our very narrow 4 in midfield made it very congested. 

I thought first 10 or so minutes of the 2nd half were fine. Not really much to worry about. Pearson then changed it with Weimann right wing and Massengo left in a 442 which didnt seem to help as Barnsley then got on top. 

I know he's young and some might say its harsh but I thought Benarous was the wrong sub. We looked too lightweight trying to defend a lead, but also didnt give them anything to worry about on the break as our forwards tired.

On the balance of play they should have equalised and then I would fancy them to win it, so certainly not happy with the performance overall. But it's 3 points so hopefully it raises confidence going into another winnable game on Tuesday.

Agree Jon . Strange sub. Never watched the lad play so can’t comment on the type of player he is . There was a lot of space in front of our fullbacks both halves & we seemed slow to get out . It seemed worse after the sub. With only Han in midfield with any real mobility I thought the young lad would be the last to come on. 
Pearson definitely seems to be sending a message though . He’d rather put a kid on the bench , then on the pitch than palmer(not in the squad) & O’dowda . It’s not a dig as I know you like Callum but with Palmer as well & 3-4 others we have a decent percentage of our squad that are not championship standard.  

[steviestevieneville]

8 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

I've seen him quite a number of times on the internet, and been to a ground to see him play once.

At 18s and 23s levels he looks amazing. I'd be more interested to see how he does starting a game when we aren't all out defence. And in a team not being physically bullied like we were once Pring and Bakinson had gone off today.

A problem might be for us with having the likes of Benarous, Alex Scott and even Dasilva is we don't pass the ball.

These players that want lots of touches are going to be a bit disappointed if we carry on playing how we have all season.

The more players you get in the team like that though dictate the way you play to a certain extent. 
It would be nice to see him in his proper position in a game free from pressure towards the end of the season. 
Is he a no 10 or a wide forward of a three ? 

Edited October 30, 2021 by steviestevieneville

[redysteadygo]

2 hours ago, glynriley said:

Knowing my luck, if reincarnation is a thing, I'll come back as a City fan again...

I'll probably end up worse and come back as myself.

[steviestevieneville]

11 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

 

I think we have quite a number of very good technical players already. Certainly able to pass and control the ball. 

I guess a more technically gifted striker might make all the difference. 

Benarous likes playing wide right cutting inside.

He has played box to box a fair bit for the 23s as well, but that was only because we have loads of wingers and not many centre mids.

Not sure on quite a number Jon tbh . There needs to be a cull imo of the senior pros , I mean that in time spent at the club rather than age. I’m sure a number of the young un’s can make it but they need help with quality pros . That’s why king & james have been brought in. 

[RedNachos]

A common theme i'm noticing in Nige is he is incredibly honest in pointing out where we go wrong and critical where necessary, however I never get the sense he has a plan to combat what he sees.

Instead of: "we didn't play well we weren't composed"

I'd love it to be: "This performance was not the standard we strive for at City, we'll be working heavily on improving composure"

[Davefevs]

24 minutes ago, RedNachos said:

A common theme i'm noticing in Nige is he is incredibly honest in pointing out where we go wrong and critical where necessary, however I never get the sense he has a plan to combat what he sees.

Instead of: "we didn't play well we weren't composed"

I'd love it to be: "This performance was not the standard we strive for at City, we'll be working heavily on improving composure"

How do you improve composure….and explain / convey that to the relevant audience….in a 2/3 minute media interview.

This is for the domain on the “classroom” with video, whiteboard, etc.

[robin_unreliant]

Start with Dasilva on Tuesday and we all know who Brum will be targetting. At least Tanner might get a break. Much as I like DaSilva as a footballer, his height is a massive weakness in a physical league like the championship. 

Edited October 30, 2021 by robin_unreliant
Spelling

[Bristol is red]

I don't envy Pearson one bit.  It's one thing identifying weaknesses but being able to fix some of them..... 

I'm wondering if some of these weaknesses (which were here before NP) are simply down to player limitations, whether that's talent or mental state, and we're stuck with this until we can recruit better players.  

 

 

 

[Merrick's Marvels]

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

They weren’t dominating at all….it was a scrappy half, a pretty even half.  

3 hours ago, 054123 said:

Our own frailties gave them impetus, but even with that they didn’t strike me as being able to construct anything of note.

 

 

Only one team had a coherent pattern of play.

Only one team looked like they had a plan when in possession of the ball.

And it wasn't us.

At home. To bottom of the league Barnsley.

Forget the result. Everything else about today screamed relegation. 

[Davefevs]

11 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Only one team had a coherent pattern of play.

Only one team looked like they had a plan when in possession of the ball.

And it wasn't us.

At home. To bottom of the league Barnsley.

Forget the result. Everything else about today screamed relegation. 

I agree, but they weren’t dominant despite that.

[RedNachos]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

How do you improve composure….and explain / convey that to the relevant audience….in a 2/3 minute media interview.

This is for the domain on the “classroom” with video, whiteboard, etc.

Yeah my bad for the terrible example. Me and my mate were discussing pre match about his though, what I feel is Nige never seems to take any sense of ownership in interviews, the common cliche used (which I'm very glad is not reciprocated by Pearson) of '' back to the drawing board'' seems to be alien to his media handling style. That's good for multiple reasons but at times I just wonder where the sense of maybe I'll do something about this problem type attitudes in press conferences means he takes accountability or tries to insight change, I doubt that's the case though, I think the most likely answer is he doesn't like to reveal too much off the pitch insight in the media. Again sorry for the poor example

[Davefevs]

8 minutes ago, RedNachos said:

Yeah my bad for the terrible example. Me and my mate were discussing pre match about his though, what I feel is Nige never seems to take any sense of ownership in interviews, the common cliche used (which I'm very glad is not reciprocated by Pearson) of '' back to the drawing board'' seems to be alien to his media handling style. That's good for multiple reasons but at times I just wonder where the sense of maybe I'll do something about this problem type attitudes in press conferences means he takes accountability or tries to insight change, I doubt that's the case though, I think the most likely answer is he doesn't like to reveal too much off the pitch insight in the media. Again sorry for the poor example

No need to apologise at all, least of all to me.

[Judda]

Just needed that first one... hopefully like the bristol bus... one comes along...

[Rocking Red Cyril]

5 hours ago, Davefevs said:

They weren’t dominating at all….it was a scrappy half, a pretty even half.  Bugs me that just because they were leading he thinks they were dominating.  Had our passing been a bit tighter we would’ve ripped their high line apart, which is what we threatened to do and eventually did.

As always spot on Dave. I did feel disappointed we where not able to properly put the game to bed as I think a third would of finished them. I know we where not good today as a team. But thought Han did well in places. But our midfield was woefull as a unit. And I know Wells blasted that sitter over the bar but his positional sense today of being right on the defenders shoulder set for the run on goal but no one found any thing like a supply line to him . I want to see more of Wells and central. As I have stated before.

But was pleased I was able to get to the game today and it was immense to see the support cranked right up last 10 mins. and at last a home win. ;0)

COYR

 

[City oz]

2 hours ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

Only one team had a coherent pattern of play.

Only one team looked like they had a plan when in possession of the ball.

And it wasn't us.

At home. To bottom of the league Barnsley.

Forget the result. Everything else about today screamed relegation. 

Just watched the highlites and I agree Barnsley were the coherent team however we showed some spirit today which was above and beyond what we have seen of late. Determination and great fan support got us over the line.

A win is a win and what I watched did not scream out relegation material too me.

 

[Son of Fred]

32 minutes ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

our midfield was woefull as a unit

A fit Williams (again) can't come quickly enough....

Praying this isn't a 'pipe dream!!

[Rocking Red Cyril]

Just now, Son of Fred said:

A fit Williams (again) can't come quickly enough....

Praying this isn't a 'pipe dream!!

No agree Williams and Han needed together. But then do we run  a 3 or 4 man midfield cause we do have options with players and formation . I feel James and or King most likely. I thought Bakenson was woefull today but not alone in that 

[Son of Fred]

1 minute ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

No agree Williams and Han needed together. But then do we run  a 3 or 4 man midfield cause we do have options with players and formation . I feel James and or King most likely. I thought Bakenson was woefull today but not alone in that 

I feel we need the stability of a four...James,,king,,han & Williams....as & when possible!

 

 

[Rocking Red Cyril]

2 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

I feel we need the stability of a four...James,,king,,han & Williams....as & when possible!

 

 

Yes I can agree. But fitness and formation changes do not allow that seems to me. Strikes me NP does not know his best starting eleven or formation yet . Or maybe he is keeping it to himself ;0)

[Rocking Red Cyril]

5 minutes ago, Son of Fred said:

I feel we need the stability of a four...James,,king,,han & Williams....as & when possible!

 

 

And I still think a number of players he wants gone are still in the side and squad. But he needs money to buy anew. Over to you Mr Lansdown 

[Waconda]

The best I have heard NP speak post game. Very honest and thoughtful.

Reassuring that he knows the performance was poor.

Hopefully the turning point.

Great to see Alex Ball actually doing some useful drills pre game.

[grifty]

The problem is we don't seem to have a game plan or style of play that suits our players.

From what I've seen it's get it to the full backs for them to either chip the ball down the line or pump it into Martin in the hope he can knock it down to someone else. Problem is Martin is too slow to chase a ball down the line, too small to effectively challenge and win a ball chipped up to him and Weimann, Wells, etc are never close enough to win any knockdown.

No-one seems to want the ball in midfield off the defence. Look at our throw-ins. HNM, James, Bakinson all stood completely still. The taker has no choice but to lob it up the line to Martin who won't win it v a 6'3" defender. If we are playing 3 central midfielders, we need them to be moving, making space for each other/themselves to get some passing play/triangles between them to break the lines. Williams does this, but can he be trusted to play more than 2 games in a row before he's out for a month?

The other thing that winds me up is the lack of awareness or talking between them team for simple instructions. The amount of times a lofted ball from the opposition goes to one of our centre backs who has no-one within 25 yards of them and instead of someone giving them a call they have time, they aimlessly head it back into the middle of the pitch where we invariable lose the ball. I don't mind it if we lose the ball trying to play someone through or creating an overload and a risky pass to break the lines, but as we don't get much possession anyway, we need to take care of it when we have the chance.

[DaveInSA]

I've said it before on hear, you can coach and coach and coach on the training pitch, but it means nothing if the players don't IMPLEMENT that plan, then they ain't good enough.

There's something in this combination of players, individually they might be technically skilled, composed intelligent footballers. Put them together as a team and they're panic stricken loonatics.

I only saw the first half, but it wasn't pretty (apart from the two goals). We panic. The defence lump the ball OVER the midfield to our attack. Who inevitably lose the ball; rinse and repeat. The midfield were absent, running around aimlessly. It's pitiful. And if that is what Pearson is coaching, then, "put my head in a paper bag and call me Russell".

I wonder if the collective don't TRUST each other. Because SURELY, it's clear to everyone when we actuallly get the ball on the deck and pass it, we're actually not that bad?

I think this is the connundrum the past 3 managers tried to solve. Unfortunately with FFP Nige has his hands tied with the personnel.

3 year project it is then.

Hopefully we don't get relegated in the process.

[DaveInSA]

6 minutes ago, grifty said:

The problem is we don't seem to have a game plan or style of play that suits our players.

From what I've seen it's get it to the full backs for them to either chip the ball down the line or pump it into Martin in the hope he can knock it down to someone else. Problem is Martin is too slow to chase a ball down the line, too small to effectively challenge and win a ball chipped up to him and Weimann, Wells, etc are never close enough to win any knockdown.

No-one seems to want the ball in midfield off the defence. Look at our throw-ins. HNM, James, Bakinson all stood completely still. The taker has no choice but to lob it up the line to Martin who won't win it v a 6'3" defender. If we are playing 3 central midfielders, we need them to be moving, making space for each other/themselves to get some passing play/triangles between them to break the lines. Williams does this, but can he be trusted to play more than 2 games in a row before he's out for a month?

The other thing that winds me up is the lack of awareness or talking between them team for simple instructions. The amount of times a lofted ball from the opposition goes to one of our centre backs who has no-one within 25 yards of them and instead of someone giving them a call they have time, they aimlessly head it back into the middle of the pitch where we invariable lose the ball. I don't mind it if we lose the ball trying to play someone through or creating an overload and a risky pass to break the lines, but as we don't get much possession anyway, we need to take care of it when we have the chance.

wot he said, then I almost said the same thing right afterward

 

[bexhill reds]

One positive that I did take from yesterday was the entire team’s willingness to fight and literally put bodies on the line, it wasn’t high quality nor want we want to see but you can’t argue that this lot don’t want to play for the shirt, cliche perhaps but the effort was top quality even if the standard not, that’s definitely the Pearson effect.

[Fuber]

13 hours ago, Top Robin said:

Every post match interview he highlights our weaknesses and faults but I wish he'd ******* sort them out at some point.

 

We shall see.

Simpson and Downing being booted out means something must be in the works, or at least being sorted, with regards to coaching setup.

I quite like the way NP is diagnosing the issues piece by piece. Communicating that with the fans in an open and honest manner.

I think by clearing our the deadwood he wanted to see how KD and PS dealt with a smaller core group, as in theory the time per player should've been higher and the training and instructions more effective.

Obviously (as we've seen) things improved initially this season, and have now nearly reverted to last season's awful standard, in spite of said smaller core of players. Ergo he pulled the trigger on both.

A note on Recruitment, I think he's handed over to Gillespie, and barring his own connection signings (Simpson, King, James), and the supposed shabby running or replying to agents on the former's part that were commented on here, I have to say that Tanner and Atkinson have been very astute bits of business. Can't criticise in that respect. Hopefully if that keeps up and we can sign lower league gems with the same dedication and the odd PL cast offs, can only improve.

Onwards and Upwards.

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

31 minutes ago, DaveInSA said:

I've said it before on hear, you can coach and coach and coach on the training pitch, but it means nothing if the players don't IMPLEMENT that plan, then they ain't good enough.

There's something in this combination of players, individually they might be technically skilled, composed intelligent footballers. Put them together as a team and they're panic stricken loonatics.

I only saw the first half, but it wasn't pretty (apart from the two goals). We panic. The defence lump the ball OVER the midfield to our attack. Who inevitably lose the ball; rinse and repeat. The midfield were absent, running around aimlessly. It's pitiful. And if that is what Pearson is coaching, then, "put my head in a paper bag and call me Russell".

I wonder if the collective don't TRUST each other. Because SURELY, it's clear to everyone when we actuallly get the ball on the deck and pass it, we're actually not that bad?

I think this is the connundrum the past 3 managers tried to solve. Unfortunately with FFP Nige has his hands tied with the personnel.

3 year project it is then.

Hopefully we don't get relegated in the process.

The same was true last season, but in that case Dean Holden was entirely blamed.  I heard that on his final day at the club, Holden told the players what he thought of them.  Sadly, Pearson doesn’t seem to be getting any better response,

[Davefevs]

54 minutes ago, grifty said:

The problem is we don't seem to have a game plan or style of play that suits our players.

From what I've seen it's get it to the full backs for them to either chip the ball down the line or pump it into Martin in the hope he can knock it down to someone else. Problem is Martin is too slow to chase a ball down the line, too small to effectively challenge and win a ball chipped up to him and Weimann, Wells, etc are never close enough to win any knockdown.

No-one seems to want the ball in midfield off the defence. Look at our throw-ins. HNM, James, Bakinson all stood completely still. The taker has no choice but to lob it up the line to Martin who won't win it v a 6'3" defender. If we are playing 3 central midfielders, we need them to be moving, making space for each other/themselves to get some passing play/triangles between them to break the lines. Williams does this, but can he be trusted to play more than 2 games in a row before he's out for a month?

The other thing that winds me up is the lack of awareness or talking between them team for simple instructions. The amount of times a lofted ball from the opposition goes to one of our centre backs who has no-one within 25 yards of them and instead of someone giving them a call they have time, they aimlessly head it back into the middle of the pitch where we invariable lose the ball. I don't mind it if we lose the ball trying to play someone through or creating an overload and a risky pass to break the lines, but as we don't get much possession anyway, we need to take care of it when we have the chance.

Spot on Grifty.

Earlier this season we did see some patterns forming, but they’ve gone out the window as we’ve resorted to reactive football, requiring a bit of magic to create a chance rather than carefully constructed moves.  It’s very similar to a lot of the last 2/3 seasons.

Most weeks pre-game I have a little look at the opposition and think how are we gonna cope with them.  A lot of my focus is usually how do we stop them building out, and this is typically how will our forwards and wide midfielders deal with their CBs and FBs/WBs.

Yesterday was a simple Barnsley back 3 and WBs.  Three CBs who don’t really play, but 2 WBs who play high.

I thought Nige would go 442 and that would mean our 2 CFs would split their 3 CBs (no rocket science there) and our 2 WMs would attach to their WBs.  All good.

Even when I saw the line up I assumed 433, so the front 3 of AW, CM and NW would assign 2 to split the CBs and depending on which side of the pitch the ball was on, that forward would attach to the WB, shuffling across the pitch if Barnsley moved side to side.  We would then have 3v2 in midfield and they’d have to go long.  And that would mean our numerical advantage in midfield would pick up lots of bits and pieces.  

So when I saw it start to form as what I’m calling a 4312-diamond it really did raise some questions as to how we’d stop them getting their wingbacks into the game.  They had acres to play in….and we didn’t stop their service.

Between them they had 6 shots (4 on target).

Massengo (RM) and Bakinson (LM) were left with lots of ground to cover.  Too much ground, and we saw how one pass bypasses a one man press all too often.  Ali Hines on co-comms mentioned how two passes got Williams into our final third, with Tanner then going out to engage him.  Really Tanner needs to engage in a “double-up”, but that doesn’t seem to happen in a 442 let alone a narrow (on paper 4312d!  Not blaming Tanner btw.

Its resulting in a lot of needless running, and then we are knackered final 20.

On the flipside, the Weimann in the hole worked fantastically for our two goals….but my question is could they have achieved the same playing as a three rather than a narrow two-plus-one?

Oh, please give me the day when our FBs get a heatmap like above!

[Davefevs]

8 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

It is interesting that there were not many comments that Holden had such a difficult job after just one window, that the players aren't good enough, just staying up would be a good achievement etc.

Loads of people wanted him out when we were 8th! And generally blamed him for how the players performed on the pitch.

But you’re assuming lots of fans aren’t fickle / knee-jerk!

Seriously though, Dean wasn’t backed.  Ashton should’ve gone, not Dean, SL should’ve spotted the Charlatan a mile off.

I think what you are now seeing is that it wasn’t Dean per se that was the problem, but fans needed a scapegoat / SL needed a scapegoat, because he was too blind to see what was going on.  I think if SL had known that MA was pissing off, Dean would’ve been kept in place.  Ashton’s final year (or however long it was) was a professional disgrace.  He shafted Holden last January too as his final act of “power”.  I’d love to tell him face to face what I think of him.

Dean can feel hard done by.

However, I don’t think Dean was the man for a complete rebuild….which is what we now need….because of MA.

[Waconda]

15 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

It is interesting that there were not many comments that Holden had such a difficult job after just one window, that the players aren't good enough, just staying up would be a good achievement etc.

Loads of people wanted him out when we were 8th! And generally blamed him for how the players performed on the pitch.

Also is often conveniently forgotten is that most of his first choice starting 11 were injured after his first 5 games.

There is a middle ground here but the almost "cult like" defence of the current management and coaching set up is odd at times.

 

[INCRED]

12 hours ago, RedNachos said:

A common theme i'm noticing in Nige is he is incredibly honest in pointing out where we go wrong and critical where necessary, however I never get the sense he has a plan to combat what he sees.

Instead of: "we didn't play well we weren't composed"

I'd love it to be: "This performance was not the standard we strive for at City, we'll be working heavily on improving composure"

Probably because he is yet to have sufficiently capable players in the squad to play the way he wants and to manage situations on the pitch. Let’s see what happens to those who aren’t on the NP bus and who we bring in over the next few transfer windows 

He may respond differently in future interviews?

[Dr Balls]

8 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Spot on Grifty.

Earlier this season we did see some patterns forming, but they’ve gone out the window as we’ve resorted to reactive football, requiring a bit of magic to create a chance rather than carefully constructed moves.  It’s very similar to a lot of the last 2/3 seasons.

Most weeks pre-game I have a little look at the opposition and think how are we gonna cope with them.  A lot of my focus is usually how do we stop them building out, and this is typically how will our forwards and wide midfielders deal with their CBs and FBs/WBs.

Yesterday was a simple Barnsley back 3 and WBs.  Three CBs who don’t really play, but 2 WBs who play high.

I thought Nige would go 442 and that would mean our 2 CFs would split their 3 CBs (no rocket science there) and our 2 WMs would attach to their WBs.  All good.

Even when I saw the line up I assumed 433, so the front 3 of AW, CM and NW would assign 2 to split the CBs and depending on which side of the pitch the ball was on, that forward would attach to the WB, shuffling across the pitch if Barnsley moved side to side.  We would then have 3v2 in midfield and they’d have to go long.  And that would mean our numerical advantage in midfield would pick up lots of bits and pieces.  

So when I saw it start to form as what I’m calling a 4312-diamond it really did raise some questions as to how we’d stop them getting their wingbacks into the game.  They had acres to play in….and we didn’t stop their service.

Between them they had 6 shots (4 on target).

Massengo (RM) and Bakinson (LM) were left with lots of ground to cover.  Too much ground, and we saw how one pass bypasses a one man press all too often.  Ali Hines on co-comms mentioned how two passes got Williams into our final third, with Tanner then going out to engage him.  Really Tanner needs to engage in a “double-up”, but that doesn’t seem to happen in a 442 let alone a narrow (on paper 4312d!  Not blaming Tanner btw.

Its resulting in a lot of needless running, and then we are knackered final 20.

On the flipside, the Weimann in the hole worked fantastically for our two goals….but my question is could they have achieved the same playing as a three rather than a narrow two-plus-one?

Oh, please give me the day when our FBs get a heatmap like above!

Thanks Dave. it was clear so often in the first half how Barnsley had width and we didn’t. There were times that their wing backs came forward and none of our players were within 25 yards of them.

What I also spotted is that when they lost the ball, Barnsley’s front 3 dropped back to get behind the ball and support the 4 man midfield. With just our 3 in midfield it was also impossible to play through, and we didn’t have any width to get past that. By contrast, until the Alamo at the end, Wells and Martin did very little to get back and support the midfield, so again we were outnumbered. 

I am not suggesting that the forwards should go back into the penalty area unless it’s heading away corners, as Martin proved in those last few minutes, being far too slow and giving the ball away in dangerous areas, but we do need to play as a combined team rather than disparate units that don’t seem to fit together.

 

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, VT05763 said:

Also is often conveniently forgotten is that most of his first choice starting 11 were injured after his first 5 games.

There is a middle ground here but the almost "cult like" defence of the current management and coaching set up is odd at times.

 

It’s hard to scroll past some posters isn’t it.  There are some good, balanced posters on here, but boy are there some extremists too…on both sides.

[INCRED]

1 hour ago, VT05763 said:

The best I have heard NP speak post game. Very honest and thoughtful.

Reassuring that he knows the performance was poor.

Hopefully the turning point.

Great to see Alex Ball actually doing some useful drills pre game.

It won’t necessarily be a turning point as NP spelt out in his interview, basically we are still crap but Barnsley we’re crap also and didn’t take the chances we gave them to get back into the game 

Fortunately there are 3 or 4 other teams that are worse than us in this division 

[Waconda]

6 minutes ago, INCRED said:

It won’t necessarily be a turning point as NP spelt out in his interview, basically we are still crap but Barnsley we’re crap also and didn’t take the chances we gave them to get back into the game 

Fortunately there are 3 or 4 other teams that are worse than us in this division 

I did say "hopefully".

[Davefevs]

13 minutes ago, INCRED said:

It won’t necessarily be a turning point as NP spelt out in his interview, basically we are still crap but Barnsley we’re crap also and didn’t take the chances we gave them to get back into the game 

Fortunately there are 3 or 4 other teams that are worse than us in this division 

Absolutely, and probably 5-7 teams that are no better than us too, all jostling for lower-half of the table.

[mozo]

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Absolutely, and probably 5-7 teams that are no better than us too, all jostling for lower-half of the table.

I feel reassured that we have 19 points before November, and we have a few games coming up against other teams in the bottom half.

[Roger Red Hat]

 

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, JonDolman said:

Yeah it just seems so inconsistent. The general belief for Holden and any manager we have ever had after just having one window is, if we look rubbish on the pitch then they are largely blamed. They pick the team, they tell them how to play on the pitch.

With Pearson it seems the rules have changed because he is popular. I think it's fine to say he's proven I back him, I back him too believe it or not. I wouldn't sack him, I want him to be here and be successful.

But I expect there's many who have moved the goalposts from we look rubbish, Holden is clueless. To we look rubbish, god what a difficult job this is for Pearson!

I'm only as critical of Pearson as I am any other manager. I haven't been that impressed so far. Otherwise it wouldn't be fair on Holden and the others who I would also criticise!

Yep. And even those early games he had some missing.

Baker out for the season, Mawson not fit.

Kalas then gets injured, Mawson then back and plays with Moore and Vyner. Mawson then bad injury, Kalas returns.

So pretty much all season never having 2 of his 3 main centre backs available at the same time. That alone is bad.

He also didn't have Dasilva or Williams from the start. It was far from ideal but blimey how bad things got after that!

Agree Jon….people are not consistent with how they build their opinions.

Dean made mistakes imho, but what manager hasn’t.  I’ve often said that 352 is an “all-in” system, and in our case was really dependent on a few key players….who got injured.  Mawson and Weimann in particular.  Mawson the solid defender but classy builder from the back. Weimann the link-man.  We couldn’t recreate that at the back, nor in midfield….and the subsequent switch to a back 4 (necessary) had players not really suited, or played out of position.

In many respects, Nige is still dealing with that, trying to fix it.  And nor am I implying it’s all Dean’s fault, far from it.  It goes back further.

That is why Nige gets my patience….he certainly gets my critique for what happens on the pitch, but I think he gets big praise for the non-90 minutes stuff.  He’s trying to rebuild on and off the pitch.  Once again, no idea of the personal dynamics, but Holden with Pearson would’ve been a good combo.  Essentially we’ve lacked a football-rudder in the club to steer it in the right direction.  Ashton is not a football-person (and you know what I mean by that), he is a football-business person.

I hope that Nige at some point gets to ease back, because I do think the modern game has changed, but I think he will eventually hand over first team footballing matters in a far better place than he took over.

[Bristol Oil Services]

2 hours ago, INCRED said:

 

Fortunately there are 3 or 4 other teams that are worse than us in this division 

 

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Absolutely, and probably 5-7 teams that are no better than us too, all jostling for lower-half of the table.

Are we paying too much to watch this crudstuff?

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

 

Are we paying too much to watch this crudstuff?

Yes!