ENJOYMENT

[Guest]

I was involved in a brief discussion about enjoying football.

I didn’t enjoy the game today and the result had little to do with that.

The game today it seemed to me was all about possession and very little about entertainment.

I don’t pretend to know the answer, but if our football, and football in general doesn’t provide entertainment to spectators then what’s the point in going to a game?
 

If anyone who reads this did enjoy the game please tell me what you enjoyed?
The football from both sides was 99% flat and the crowd was 99% quite.

[BCFCGav]

I enjoyed it up until their equaliser. I’m always happy when we’re winning. And utterly desolate when we lose.

[Robin101]

I’d actually be interested to read more about why this style of football suddenly seems to have completely swept through the football league like a new strain of Covid. 

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

Is this Pep Guardiola’s influence or something else?

[bearded_red]

Vyner and Dickie are still down there now rolling the ball to each other at walking pace.

Absolute ******* torture.

[The turtle]

Couldn't watch the first half today. Heard the first half was somewhat decent. All prepped and ready for second half; this was my first 25 mins.

[Andrew_V1]

Very good point here, results aside the last few games have been incredibly dull to watch.

The modern trends of possession at all costs is typified by the amount of times a full back gets near a crossing situation then checks inside and passes back and within 3 passes you are back at the keeper recycling back out to the other side.

That’s why it’s refreshing to see a side like Luton achieve what they did by playing a completely different style to what’s ‘trendy’ 

[Robin101]

 

The Simpsons eerily predicting the future once again. 

[Robin101]

1 minute ago, Andrew_V1 said:

Very good point here, results aside the last few games have been incredibly dull to watch.

The modern trends of possession at all costs is typified by the amount of times a full back gets near a crossing situation then checks inside and passes back and within 3 passes you are back at the keeper recycling back out to the other side.

That’s why it’s refreshing to see a side like Luton achieve what they did by playing a completely different style to what’s ‘trendy’ 

I think we should hire Warnock, and seek to replicate 2010 era Stoke City.

[The turtle]

7 minutes ago, Countryfile said:

I was involved in a brief discussion about enjoying football.

I didn’t enjoy the game today and the result had little to do with that.

The game today it seemed to me was all about possession and very little about entertainment.

I don’t pretend to know the answer, but if our football, and football in general doesn’t provide entertainment to spectators then what’s the point in going to a game?
 

If anyone who reads this did enjoy the game please tell me what you enjoyed?
The football from both sides was 99% flat and the crowd was 99% quite.

The reasons why People enjoy football are questions external. For some it's results only, for most it's a bit more complicated than that with feelings built up over more than 1 game.

 

Teams can earn and save money in the bank for a rainy,but capital is not cheap

[Hello Dave]

5 minutes ago, Countryfile said:

I was involved in a brief discussion about enjoying football.

I didn’t enjoy the game today and the result had little to do with that.

The game today it seemed to me was all about possession and very little about entertainment.

I don’t pretend to know the answer, but if our football, and football in general doesn’t provide entertainment to spectators then what’s the point in going to a game?
 

If anyone who reads this did enjoy the game please tell me what you enjoyed?
The football from both sides was 99% flat and the crowd was 99% quite.

I’ve been saying this for a while now. I think there’s too much football on the telly, which doesn’t help. It’s always on, but I can’t remember the last time I watched the whole game.

Also, like you said, this possession football is boring as ****! The aim of the game is to score more goals than the other team, so what’s wrong with putting long balls and crosses into the box and creating goal mouth action ? It’s great watching Man City or Barcelona playing like they do, but there’s an end product. We struggle to get a shot on target!!!

[SomeRandomBristolian]

I enjoyed my hot chocolate at half time. It was a bit cold today. 

[Dr Balls]

5 minutes ago, Robin101 said:

I’d actually be interested to read more about why this style of football suddenly seems to have completely swept through the football league like a new strain of Covid. 

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

Is this Pep Guardiola’s influence or something else?

It is the Pep effect. The problem is that if you don’t break all the FFP rules to get the best players available at top price, it doesn’t really work so well. 

And as for that goal kick routine where the central defender plays it back to the goalkeeper centrally in the front of the goal to then either play a defender into trouble or kick it long  to the opposition from further  back in the 6 yard box, wff?!

Both sides played it and it was a complete waste of time. In terms of risk v reward, the risk is far too high for any notional reward. It just doesn’t achieve anything.

[Red_Alligator]

I'd like to see City playing a more direct style of football, but that certainly isn't young Manning's style, so don't expect to see it. 

[Robin101]

3 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

It is the Pep effect. The problem is that if you don’t break all the FFP rules to get the best players available at top price, it doesn’t really work so well. 

And as for that goal kick routine where the central defender plays it back to the goalkeeper centrally in the front of the goal to then either play a defender into trouble or kick it long  to the opposition from further  back in the 6 yard box, wff?!

Both sides played it and it was a complete waste of time. In terms of risk v reward, the risk is far too high for any notional reward. It just doesn’t achieve anything.

Yes, exactly what I mean. I’d have been much more frustrated with City playing silly GKs if it wasn’t for the fact Norwich returned the favour.

I said to my friend, the overriding sense I couldn’t shake during that was that we were watching a training match. Both teams going through the drills. He said it’s because that style of play is much more coachable - you do the patterns over and over again. No idea if that’s true or not.

And additionally, it’s not like when we played it around their front 3 we were suddenly bursting through at them. That would have made sense. Instead the whole pattern just seemed to shift up the pitch, until we’re on the halfway line and they’ve still got 11 men behind the ball - or vise versa.

Edited December 3, 2023 by Robin101

[formerly known as ivan]

We seem to be able to play a decent standard of football between the 30th min and half time if we are lucky. The rest of the time is dire. There is no purpose to anything we do.

[Peter1450]

It’s a little like me as a spotty youth trying to ride me bike like Barry Sheene( look him up you young guns). 
     We watch the big boys and think we can replicate it, the trouble was I used to fall off and hurt myself ! 

[Dr Balls]

Just now, Robin101 said:

Yes, exactly what I mean. I’d have been much more frustrated with City playing silly GKs if it wasn’t for the fact Norwich returned the favour.

I said to my friend, the overriding sense I couldn’t shake during that was that we were watching a training match. Both teams going through the drills. He said it’s because that style of play is much more coachable - you do the patterns over and over again. No idea if that’s true or not. 

The way to beat it is to have a player in midfield who is willing to commit players and go past them taking them out of the game and getting the ball forward quickly. Gardner-Hickman and Knight both have it in them to do this but they need to be encouraged to do so rather than coached to take the “safety first” possession pass.

[Robin101]

1 minute ago, Dr Balls said:

The way to beat it is to have a player in midfield who is willing to commit players and go past them taking them out of the game and getting the ball forward quickly. Gardner-Hickman and Knight both have it in them to do this but they need to be encouraged to do so rather than coached to take the “safety first” possession pass.

Someone like Alex Scott maybe?

[W-S-M Seagull]

That was the worst atmosphere at Ashton Gate that I've ever known.

 

I'm not over reacting when I say it was on par with the 6 nil loss to Cardiff. It was genuinely that bad. 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by W-S-M Seagull

[The turtle]

9 minutes ago, Dr Balls said:

It is the Pep effect. The problem is that if you don’t break all the FFP rules to get the best players available at top price, it doesn’t really work so well. 

And as for that goal kick routine where the central defender plays it back to the goalkeeper centrally in the front of the goal to then either play a defender into trouble or kick it long  to the opposition from further  back in the 6 yard box, wff?!

Both sides played it and it was a complete waste of time. In terms of risk v reward, the risk is far too high for any notional reward. It just doesn’t achieve anything.

With live in a world where team's are now willing to take more risks in their own box than the oppositions.

Some data somewhere probably fully backs it up.

[Edgy Red]

The modern game is all about posession and i thought we had some good spells today.

Manning is clearly asking Knight and TGH to be more positive and play higher up the pitch.

It will take time to implement his style and ideas and we obviously need more quality in the final third, but i saw some positive signs today.

A draw was the least we deserved and ironically Idah who scored the winner is the type of player we need with his pace and physicality.

[Dr Balls]

2 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was the worst atmosphere at Ashton Gate that I've ever known.

 

I'm not over reacting when I say it was on par with the 6 nil loss to Cardiff. It was genuinely that bad. 

 

 

It’s hard to get excited when the football is akin to watching paint dry. Although the first 30 mins against Middlesbrough was even more boring until TGH scored his goal…

[noize]

Bristol City, the "England" of the championship. All about keeping possession, drawing the other team out, and then taking the opportunity. Problem is, if you have no creative flare the opportunity never comes. Classic England Horseshoe football. Yes i said "shoe"  

[Full nelson]

I think once everyone realises we are what we are and the reality of the club floating between the championship and league 1,  supporting city isn't that stressful. Just a shit ride!! The club will never reach the prem or the playoffs in the championship.

[Dr Balls]

Just now, noize said:

Bristol City, the "England" of the championship. All about keeping possession, drawing the other team out, and then taking the opportunity. Problem is, if you have no creative flare the opportunity never comes. Classic England Horseshoe football. Yes i said "shoe"  

The horseshoe being the back 4 of Pring-Dickie-Vyner-Tanner. “To-me-to-you football”.

When the centre backs have 6 times more touches than your centre forward you can pretty much guess how we played.

[pongo88]

I think part of the problem is that average managers watch teams like Man City and try to replicate their style of play. Unfortunately they ignore the fact that the players at their disposal haven’t got the same quality as those at the top of the Premier League. It would help if a bit of pragmatism was thrown into the mix and teams played to their strengths. If Manning is given plenty of time and money his style of play could easily work at City. On the other hand, if he’s got to work with a meagre budget he may struggle 

[Pezo]

28 minutes ago, Countryfile said:

I was involved in a brief discussion about enjoying football.

I didn’t enjoy the game today and the result had little to do with that.

The game today it seemed to me was all about possession and very little about entertainment.

I don’t pretend to know the answer, but if our football, and football in general doesn’t provide entertainment to spectators then what’s the point in going to a game?
 

If anyone who reads this did enjoy the game please tell me what you enjoyed?
The football from both sides was 99% flat and the crowd was 99% quite.

There's a part of me that thinks this thread doesn't get created if we win but you have a point.

Peps influence is something that gets blamed for the ticky tacka or what ever it is but Peps sides don't play like we did today they use the possession to probe and move opponents into positions to create gaps pulling opposition players out of position and then exploiting that space - we didn't do that we stood off and just passed it to each other with Norwich just stood Infront of us with no reason to move.

[Floatn Over]

14 minutes ago, Red_Alligator said:

I'd like to see City playing a more direct style of football, but that certainly isn't young Manning's style, so don't expect to see it. 

But but…..that’s what a certain Technical Director said was missing, Front Foot I recall mentioned.

[Bedred31]

Good point this. We’ve developed a generation of English players who are comfortable receiving the ball, comfortable on the ball, even under pressure, and good at seeing and making short passes. But we have v few capable of getting past opposing players, and the desire to retain possession militates against the long forward ball and risky defence splitting pass. Basically secure possession based secure football, at the expense of adventurous attacking.

[Dr Balls]

3 minutes ago, Full nelson said:

I think once everyone realises we are what we are and the reality of the club floating between the championship and league 1,  supporting city isn't that stressful. Just a shit ride!! The club will never reach the prem or the playoffs in the championship.

And why would that be? Could it be the very limited ambitions of our owners? They might say they want Premier League football but do they really? Are they willing to put their money on the line to achieve that or squirrel it away in some notional “nest egg”? The reality is that they are looking to sell to someone who really wants to go for it, because they aren’t willing to take the risk any more. They want it “on the cheap” as per Luton, because that’s the latest model for success apparently, I.e. a young lower league manager and a squad of limited players getting lucky.

[Pezo]

30 minutes ago, Robin101 said:

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

Percentages.

[Slack Bladder]

Yes, the atmosphere was flat today, but that only matched the flat boring football being played on the pitch.

[ProfitInMyPocket]

But but but we're better with possession in our own half now...

It's personal preference what type of football we all enjoy of course but it's so predictable what this team will do.

Under Nige we maybe had less control and confidence on the ball but at least we'd rush teams and put it on them and stick a few balls into channels for us to hound and chase - feels like we've lost that part of us (which is probably the bit I enjoyed about NP's play the most)

Been saying for a while that were missing that midfield drive, it doesn't have to be a number 10 but just someone who can roll past a man and get the other teams running back but nope it's a couple passes out the back then pass wide and then hit and hope. Really lacklustre and easy to defend against. 

I don't want to see Weimann play again, never really been his biggest fan. Just doesn't show for the ball at all and if he takes more than 3 touches he just kills any momentum we have. Give him a few first time finishes or passes in and around the box and he works off instinct and he's great but when he has time to think he's not a net positive for the team.

They spoke about young players getting opportunities with the academy pathway yet Yeboah hasn't even seen a sniff of the pitch since LM has come in when he's been a real positive influence off the bench under NP. Very raw but an injection of pace/power/unpredictability.

I would rather us stick long balls forward with a load of pace and strength and play from there but that's just my personal way of enjoying the game. 

Losing Scott (the midfield drive) and Semenyo (pace/power/unpredictability) without replacing those attributes just makes the games pretty boring.

I want to see us driving forward and seeing other teams defences panic and fall apart. 

I think most defenders won't mind playing against us the way we play now. Hmmm a few passes and it's gone out wide? Thanks I'll just head that one out all day. 

Feels like the power and drive is slowly being picked apart for a more technical game - which is interesting because JL said we had finally found an identity. I guess that's getting changed now.

Just all a bit deflating isn't it.

[Cowshed]

27 minutes ago, Robin101 said:

I’d actually be interested to read more about why this style of football suddenly seems to have completely swept through the football league like a new strain of Covid. 

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

Is this Pep Guardiola’s influence or something else?

Its not sudden. Coaching evolves and from the nineties there has been a shift towards more possession based football and building play through the thirds.

Guardiola's influence is massive, as is Klopps and the UK has imported foreign coaches and influences. We the UK have moved from direct and 4-4-2 to a multitude of approaches based upon possession as a keystone to what is varying and wildly differing football - Bournemouth, Brighton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Man City will all build from the back but all play differently as they advance up the pitch.

 

[Red_Alligator]

10 minutes ago, Floatn Over said:

But but…..that’s what a certain Technical Director said was missing, Front Foot I recall mentioned.

He didn't mean long incisive balls and a more direct style of play though did he? That's what I'd like to see, if we want to push the excitement level up as the OP suggested we might?

[lenred]

20 minutes ago, Edgy Red said:

The modern game is all about posession and i thought we had some good spells today.

Manning is clearly asking Knight and TGH to be more positive and play higher up the pitch.

It will take time to implement his style and ideas and we obviously need more quality in the final third, but i saw some positive signs today.

A draw was the least we deserved and ironically Idah who scored the winner is the type of player we need with his pace and physicality.

Can I ask what positive signs you saw today.   Genuinely?  Because I saw a team that couldn’t beat one of the worst teams I’ve seen down the Gate for a long long time.   They looked like they were scared of their own shadows they were so devoid of confidence, yet we still let them win.  It was very very poor imho and I didn’t see anything from us to make me feel any better so anything you can provide would be gratefully received! This is not meant as a slagging of Manning btw.  He still gets time from me.  But that was terrible today imo. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Enjoyment. Not much of that for a lot of today.

Was planning to take my brother to  a game, he hasn't been in years. I still will but feels like more of an unusual punishment than early Christmas present atm

Edited December 3, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[Charlie BCFC]

27 minutes ago, Edgy Red said:

The modern game is all about posession and i thought we had some good spells today.

Manning is clearly asking Knight and TGH to be more positive and play higher up the pitch.

It will take time to implement his style and ideas and we obviously need more quality in the final third, but i saw some positive signs today.

A draw was the least we deserved and ironically Idah who scored the winner is the type of player we need with his pace and physicality.

Not allowed to post sensibly here mate, you know the rules!

[2015]

Football is about excitement for me, like all Sports but unfortunately I don't find us an excitable watch. Even against Boro we were a hard watch, wins sugar coat the actual real problem for me in that we are just so damn boring. 

Watching us try and scrape victories every week isn't for me and never will be.

Edited December 3, 2023 by 2015

[Mr Popodopolous]

Bristol City could I suppose bolster their revenue by marketing the video of today's game as an assistance with insomnia and similar conditions.

Edited December 3, 2023 by Mr Popodopolous

[mozo]

I think the possession is a good tactic, and we seem to be capable of it, IF we can then make the link from possession to final third and creation of chances (which we struggle with).

There was a long spell of possession after we went 1-0 and it was useful because we retained control of the game. 

The problem was that the possession fizzled out when we got to the final third. 

[Nomad]

26 minutes ago, Bedred31 said:

Good point this. We’ve developed a generation of English players who are comfortable receiving the ball, comfortable on the ball, even under pressure, and good at seeing and making short passes. But we have v few capable of getting past opposing players, and the desire to retain possession militates against the long forward ball and risky defence splitting pass. Basically secure possession based secure football, at the expense of adventurous attacking.

If you are including us in your analysis re short passing, I disagree. We are hopeless at this. Like our players are on different wavelengths, always wrong footing each other....

[Edgy Red]

9 minutes ago, lenred said:

Can I ask what positive signs you saw today.   Genuinely?  Because I saw a team that couldn’t beat one of the worst teams I’ve seen down the Gate for a long long time.   They looked like they were scared of their own shadows they were so devoid of confidence, yet we still let them win.  It was very very poor imho and I didn’t see anything from us to make me feel any better so anything you can provide would be gratefully received! This is not meant as a slagging of Manning btw.  He still gets time from me.  But that was terrible today imo. 

I thought there were a number of positives today.

Knight and TGH continue to impress and we tried to play the ball through midfield where we could.

I'm not sure how many shots we had today but it felt like we caused them problems but lacked that bit of quality needed in the final third.

Whilst Norwich have been on a poor run of form they are a decent side with some very good footballers.

Its always horrible when you lose a game with almost the last kick of the game and Zak should have done better, but we were the more positive team in the 2nd half.

[Lrrr]

1 hour ago, The turtle said:

Couldn't watch the first half today. Heard the first half was somewhat decent. All prepped and ready for second half; this was my first 25 mins.

So what you’re saying is it’s your fault for watching 

[The Bard]

One of the good things about Nige was his clarity in being a counter attacking side. He wanted us to be good in possession but it wasn't for possession's sake. 

We had a way of playing that was different to most other sides. We look like we just want to be just samey.

 

[Mike Stone]

1 hour ago, Countryfile said:

I was involved in a brief discussion about enjoying football.

I didn’t enjoy the game today and the result had little to do with that.

The game today it seemed to me was all about possession and very little about entertainment.

I don’t pretend to know the answer, but if our football, and football in general doesn’t provide entertainment to spectators then what’s the point in going to a game?
 

If anyone who reads this did enjoy the game please tell me what you enjoyed?
The football from both sides was 99% flat and the crowd was 99% quite.

Brilliant post, spot on 

[spudski]

42 minutes ago, pongo88 said:

I think part of the problem is that average managers watch teams like Man City and try to replicate their style of play. Unfortunately they ignore the fact that the players at their disposal haven’t got the same quality as those at the top of the Premier League. It would help if a bit of pragmatism was thrown into the mix and teams played to their strengths. If Manning is given plenty of time and money his style of play could easily work at City. On the other hand, if he’s got to work with a meagre budget he may struggle 

That's so true in many cases.

[fanjita]

1 hour ago, Countryfile said:

I was involved in a brief discussion about enjoying football.

I didn’t enjoy the game today and the result had little to do with that.

The game today it seemed to me was all about possession and very little about entertainment.

I don’t pretend to know the answer, but if our football, and football in general doesn’t provide entertainment to spectators then what’s the point in going to a game?
 

If anyone who reads this did enjoy the game please tell me what you enjoyed?
The football from both sides was 99% flat and the crowd was 99% quite.

Excellent post

[The turtle]

5 minutes ago, Lrrr said:

So what you’re saying is it’s your fault for watching 

That more than crossed my mind

[ralphindevon]

1 hour ago, The turtle said:

Couldn't watch the first half today. Heard the first half was somewhat decent. All prepped and ready for second half; this was my first 25 mins.

The last 3 games we’ve come out after half time very flat and certainly not on the front foot.

It’s cost us 2 goals v Boro, the winner on Wednesday and the equaliser today. All scored between 45 and 60 minutes.

Must do better, change where you get the half time oranges or something.

[Fpcity]

1 hour ago, Robin101 said:

I think we should hire Warnock, and seek to replicate 2010 era Stoke City.

That style of play would probably do well as teams won't know how to play against it

[North of the River]

I enjoyed watching Ipswich play. I thought they were determined and committed without being reckless. Why can't we play like them?

[Robin101]

1 hour ago, Robin101 said:

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

And Man City have just scored a third against Spurs in exactly this fashion…

[Fpcity]

3 minutes ago, Robin101 said:

And Man City have just scored a third against Spurs in exactly this fashion…

Talking about playing out from the gk/defence I remember Big Sam saying it would end up this way. His motto was that the further away from your goal the ball the less chance of conceding. Sounds simple/stupid but true 

[Davefevs]

21 minutes ago, The Bard said:

One of the good things about Nige was his clarity in being a counter attacking side. He wanted us to be good in possession but it wasn't for possession's sake. 

We had a way of playing that was different to most other sides. We look like we just want to be just samey.

 

He was trying to transition us to one that controls more, but as you say not passing for passings sake.  Foundations built, evolution to his next phase.

[Wellspokenman]

Let’s take a breath.

We have a good central defensive partnership. on the full backs, Tanner looks promising, but Pring needs to replicate last season. It’s there but needs to come out. Without that drive, Bell is ineffective.

Sykes, is really impressive in the right flank but he and Bell need to cross more from deeper to service Conway in the middle.

Centrally we are pretty good and Knight is impressive, but in real terms we need another good attacking CM to accompany a good new striker, or allow Conway some additional company up front.

The only difference between us and the top teams is really a couple of players. They have a good striker - we don’t. Norwich and Boro were no different.

Did I enjoy the game ? Not really, but I was with my lad, and his company, a pasty and a couple of pints of Gold, and it became, as it always does, an enjoyable afternoon. 

 

[Maltshoveller]

1 hour ago, Robin101 said:

I’d actually be interested to read more about why this style of football suddenly seems to have completely swept through the football league like a new strain of Covid. 

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

Is this Pep Guardiola’s influence or something else?

This style of football does not work for 99.9% of teams

The only teams who have ever won much playing it are 

Man City - Bayern - and Barca (all have something in common PEP)

 

 

[lenred]

46 minutes ago, Edgy Red said:

I thought there were a number of positives today.

Knight and TGH continue to impress and we tried to play the ball through midfield where we could.

I'm not sure how many shots we had today but it felt like we caused them problems but lacked that bit of quality needed in the final third.

Whilst Norwich have been on a poor run of form they are a decent side with some very good footballers.

Its always horrible when you lose a game with almost the last kick of the game and Zak should have done better, but we were the more positive team in the 2nd half.

I can’t see a lot of positives listed there tbh.  Norwich were terrible - good players or not - they were there for the taking. Knight was good though - I agree. Probably the only one today unfortunately.  Thank you for replying.   

[bearded_red]

I can’t quite decide whether the bit of the game I enjoyed the most was Vyner rolling the ball to Dickie or Dickie rolling the ball to Vyner.

Hang on, wait, what am I talking about?! It was when Tanner rolled the ball back to Vyner.

All done at a pace that could have been pressed by Peter Griffin.

[BS13 Robin]

2 hours ago, ralphindevon said:

The last 3 games we’ve come out after half time very flat and certainly not on the front foot.

It’s cost us 2 goals v Boro, the winner on Wednesday and the equaliser today. All scored between 45 and 60 minutes.

Must do better, change where you get the half time oranges or something.

Its not just the last 3 games though is it,most games we come out for the second half and the opposition have a good go at us and we always look like we might concede!

[ralphindevon]

20 minutes ago, BS13 Robin said:

Its not just the last 3 games though is it,most games we come out for the second half and the opposition have a good go at us and we always look like we might concede!

True, it does feel like it’s happened far too often. I couldn’t be bothered to go any further back to get more stats though.

[Harry]

Personally I think the 2 home games so far under Manning have been more entertaining than most of the stuff served up in the last 4 years. 
We’ve had possession (yes sometimes slow), but it’s resulted in more shots and more shots on target. 
Hasn’t the main issue for most people in recent years been the lack of shots. Well, we’ve doubled the average in the last 2 home games. 

The reason it ‘felt’ like a boring game today was because the crowd was silent. Crowds and atmosphere have a huge influence on how people perceive the excitement levels of matches. If the game is played in virtual silence it seems to drag. 
 

Today, the chances created and general possession play was good - in the main. And Norwich also had a number of shots and hit the post. It wasn’t a boring game, but it was played in a very boring and silent arena. 

Edited December 3, 2023 by Harry

[Bat Fastard]

Every style of play has a place but to play without much ambition in the second half was unforgivable.  the time wasted passing along the back line, partly due to the lack of movement from our players further up the pitch, was just awful. With the clock ticking down we must surely expect our team to throw the kitchen sink at a poor and teetering opposition team. I was very disappointed and surprised to see that LM was not fuming at his players.  Maybe they are carrying out his instructions to the letter.  If so, may the Lord of Hosts be with us. We will need him.

[Frenchay Red]

11 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Bristol City could I suppose bolster their revenue by marketing the video of today's game as an assistance with insomnia and similar conditions.

That didn't work for me. I'm in Perth at the moment and watched on Robins TB. Game finished just before 1130pm local time. I was so cross/feed up with the performance & result I couldn't relax and get to sleep . I fear that when I'm back and get to my next game on Jan 1st, our points tally will be the same.

 

[The Constant Rabbit]

12 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was the worst atmosphere at Ashton Gate that I've ever known.

 

I'm not over reacting when I say it was on par with the 6 nil loss to Cardiff. It was genuinely that bad. 

 

 

Watched a stream - every time it cut to the crowd all I could see were yawns, frowns and looks of utter boredom.

 

A season of this and ticket sales next year won't be great.

 

In all honestly we'd probably sell more if we went down.

 

At least we'd win a few more in L1

 

The game, even with 3 goals, hitting the woodwork etc was a horrible watch.

[Clutton Caveman]

18 hours ago, Robin101 said:

I’d actually be interested to read more about why this style of football suddenly seems to have completely swept through the football league like a new strain of Covid. 

Every team seems to try and play it. The best chances every team creates each week seems to be when they nick it off the opposition centre back trying to play like Xavi.

Is this Pep Guardiola’s influence or something else?

I think this style is on the way out in the Prem. Pep sticks with it but Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs have become far more direct.

[Clutton Caveman]

13 hours ago, Harry said:

Personally I think the 2 home games so far under Manning have been more entertaining than most of the stuff served up in the last 4 years. 
We’ve had possession (yes sometimes slow), but it’s resulted in more shots and more shots on target. 
Hasn’t the main issue for most people in recent years been the lack of shots. Well, we’ve doubled the average in the last 2 home games. 

The reason it ‘felt’ like a boring game today was because the crowd was silent. Crowds and atmosphere have a huge influence on how people perceive the excitement levels of matches. If the game is played in virtual silence it seems to drag. 
 

Today, the chances created and general possession play was good - in the main. And Norwich also had a number of shots and hit the post. It wasn’t a boring game, but it was played in a very boring and silent arena. 

Its a Chicken and Egg situation. When the team produces boring football the crowd loses engagement and it goes quiet. On Sunday we were clutching at straws, every won tackle each corner each mini break the crowd got up but with the ball moving endlessly sideways and backwards just brings everybody down

[BCFC_Dan]

I think it's more a question of execution than style.

When a team isn't quite clicking, then the right passing options won't be there. When players have no obvious option and no confidence to try something, they play safe.

The difference in style shows in what "safe" means. These days it means "go backwards and keep possession". Traditionally it meant "get it as far down the field as you can". Either way, the result is unsatisfying.

I can remember so many discussions here when games have consisted of endless punts downfield, and supporters complaining about the poor football. I always maintained that it was never the intention to kick the ball to nobody, just a failure in execution. The same is most likely true now, but with a different style of poor football.

[extonsred]

One of the things we've become incapable of making use of is balls down the channels..can hardly remember one on Saturday...always going wide. Trouble is we have too few players get into positions where anyone receiving the ball has anyone to pass to....need desperately players getting more forward to support Conway / Cornick...all play too far apart and defences pick us off far too easily before we become a threat.

[Mr Popodopolous]

42 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

I think this style is on the way out in the Prem. Pep sticks with it but Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs have become far more direct.

Possession football can take multiple different forms. Possession stats are an indicator of intent.

I'd say they and a range of PL sides all play possession football but in different ways. Those 3 are possibly more varied than Man City but they enjoy quite a lot of the ball, most of the time.