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Fait play to the Bristol live team pulling this together. City have had 30 penalty claims turned down since Martin's spot-kick at Coventry https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-penalty-claims-martin-8018191#ICID=Android_BristolPostApp_AppShare

If Wolves want a deal, I think there is one to be done. It'll just be around future considerations (£17-18 m up front with possible £10m add ons?). Who knows, but maybe we stretch the fee to make any future FFP issues less pressing (Lloyd Kelly anyone).

Well for a quarter final the crowds at the Mem, certainly did the club justice. 3,742 with 678 away fans (from their official site). How any gas head can make comment on us getting 12k last Sunday is beyond me. Just over 3k of their own fans turned up..... the mind boggles.

It's basically £20m though isn't it, with £5m potential add ons etc. It would be interesting if the club acknowledged that we have been in "discussions" with clubs though of course. That might lead to other interested parties coming to the fore, sooner rather than later.

I lost any respect for JL as chairman unfortunately, when he flew in Feb 2022, and asserted ( as his right as Chairman) that we should be doing better as a team. He was already on the naughty step for that Centenary strip at the Fulham game in March 2020, and lets not talk about the extensive 6 week search that he ran with MA, for LJ's replacement. NP disagreed of course, but was very forthright in his views. What did JL do? He just said nothing, and scuttled off again to his Caribbean island, where he could play online with his digital crayons on his pet project (Fever Pitch). That's not leadership, that's running away from the real issues at the club. So from that moment on (nearly a year now), we haven't heard a peep out of the supposed Chairman, who must have felt that the manager has put him right in his box, and he was too afraid to come out again. Fast forward to 2023, and where is the senior leadership at the club? We have no board, fingers crossed on the new CEO, but nothing from him yet really. An owner, who just seems to approach City now almost like a Spanish lottery scam (ie I've invested so much money now, that the only way to get any back is to keep on investing). Where is the visibility, and accountability? What are the plans? Why does the club just keep pushing NP forward to justify everything, when its clear he just wants to focus on the football team, and not talk about finance. It's a mess, and we come across as a billionaire's family vanity project at times.

To be honest, the defence of the last few months has been the least of our worries, with a number of the defenders improving immeasurably (Pring, and Vyner in Particular). That has coincided with a drop in the goals conceded, and as such we haven't missed Kalas as much as we did in the first few months of the season. Unfortunately it's in midfield, and in particular scoring goals that we have been struggling; and I'm not sure what Kalas's return means with regard to that aspect of our game. Still it's useful to not have to rely on a 34 year old, previously attacking midfielder to cover in at the back. Hopefully Tomas's return, will add to the squad depth, and allow other fringe persona non grata defenders to leave the club.

I can see Semenyo going where you have Pring, and Naismith in for Williams there. With Pring going back to left back. Basically the team that was for most part (Weimann injury, Naismith coming off for Williams) finished against Swansea.

Well if they all moved to E34, It'll make an interesting spectacle for the empty rail standing the club put in.

He had to throw a few hand grenades of course. I wonder whether after all of those NP's "If there not on the bus, I will get rid of them" mantras over the last two years, He finally realised that he couldn't get rid of them, and was stuck with them. With that in mind, losing his proverbial with them wasn't going to work, as with a lot of players nowadays, shouting, threatening and balling at them won't motivate them. I've been surprised how few of the senior players have actually gone out on loan. Getting rid of Palmer was a masterstroke, but unfortunately we just haven't been able to shift some of the other players off the payroll.

I think it means that it's very difficult to actually come down on one side or another against NP. On one hand, we have a team which has demonstrated (the home wins run at the start of the season being a case in point) that they can play well, and get results. Then on the other hand, when we have moved away from that first couple of months of the season, that real same nucleus of players haven't performed to anywhere near those same levels. NP must be frustrated as anyone to watch a squad that is quite evidently capable of winning games in this division (how many other managers have expressed surprise that we are where we are in the division), but ultimately have only won 3 in 20. It's almost the belief that kills @Davefevs. You believe that the team has the potential to win each and every game, but for whatever reason hasn't done so at home for 4 months, and as I say only the 3 wins in 20. It's not like 12-13 season, where there was more hope than actually belief we could win. In that way, does it feel like a relegation season, no it doesn't. But results don't lie, and we have to start winning soon, and stop relying on other teams results. Every game so far this season (Even the Burnley, or Norwich ones) I would say on the podcast, that there are no free passes for the weekend, and on our day, if we turn up, and play to our potential we can match anyone. The fact of the matter is at the moment the wins just aren't coming. Fingers crossed for the weekend.

Certainly, the tightening up at the back has been an improvement (now 6 teams have conceded more goals than us). But as you point out it's been at the expense of scoring goals. That has ultimately led to too many draws that could have been 1 or 2 more wins. Are we being too cautious at the moment? When we break at the moment, we definitely don't break in the same numbers that we used to. Having no real pace at WB (although Pring has made a difference on the left for me) is also a concern (hopefully Wilson can add a differential here). Up front, neither Wells or Conway have real genuine pace or strength. I get that Wells is a box player (shown by the recent goals from Pring assists), and that Conway will further develop in time after his stunning start to the season. But with Semenyo for whatever reason not carrying the same physical presence, we are lacking physicality up front, and hitting long balls into the channels or expecting Wells/Conway to win those battles with 6ft+CBs behind them isn't really their game. In some ways, if we are going to persist with WB's and Wilson is someway off, we have to consider whether we move Scott there again? It's not ideal moving him out of the centre of course, but his movement, pace and goals from that position last year gave us another option. He was certainly our most effective WB, but that of course is a measure of him as a player. I think when we play 3 at the back, most away teams now seem to push 3 players up against the CBs. Stopping us bringing the ball out, in the way we looked to do with Naismith at the start of the season. They also know that whoever plays in the centre of the three has a mistake in them. Only playing with 2 in midfield, is often causing us to be overloaded there, as teams look to break on us. I like James but his mobility is not the best. Often on Sunday he was 20 yards behind the play. I think having Naismith in the centre nullified Allen, as he was put on him man for man. I'm not adverse to seeing some akin to the second half against Swansea. A 451 out of possession, breaking on 433. I'm assuming Weimann, and Conway are out, and Naismith's hobbling around doesn't lead to an absence. I would go:- MOL Tanner, Vyner, Atkinson, Pring Sykes, Scott, James, Naismith, Semenyo Wells I think Naismith played more on the right cm, with Scott on the Lm. But Naismith is predominately left footed, and I think that gives more balance. Given the way that Pring has improved, I'm not averse to pushing him more forward on the left as well, with Naismith filling in at left back. We certainly need pace on either side, and I quite the feistiness of Sykes, and Semenyo to bring a mistake out of defenders on a press. @Davefevs your views? ?

Thanks @ExiledAjax I think therein lies the issue. At times we have played some decent stuff, but the inconsistencies of our performances that NP has highlighted has really blighted us this season. People forget the good stuff, and focus on the fact that yet again we didn't win. The problem is that however well you are playing at times, we are in a results business; and 3 wins in 20 tells it's own story. We need to win at least 1 of the next 2 home games as a massive imperative for me.

Wingbacks, in a 352 or 3412 system. We seem to have lost the link up between the forward line though. Rather choosing to hit the channels, rather than playing the ball through midfield to the wingbacks. I've lost count of how many long balls are being hit to Pring wide on the left from the GK, or at free kicks. I have no idea what is supposed to happen after our 6ft 1 inch wing back wins the ball (sporadically). We used to attack with pace and link up play through the middle, before spreading it wide for Dasilva to overhit the cross. Now I'm not so sure??

Always been a difficult one for me, the question of whether I would support NW becoming our manager. The memory of the Pulis era still sends shivers down my spine. However, the guy is a winner; and gets clubs into the PL from our division. Would the football be attractive, probably not. But we've always said as a club the only way in which we are going to move forward is getting promoted to the PL. At present, we haven't got near it since 2008. Yes, he would have been a pain in the ass, but in a way he would have been our pain in the ass. It's been 43 years since I last watched us in the top division. Over that period there's been so many false dawns, that at times I truly can't see us getting there for another 10 years at least. Not sure it would ever happen under SL of course. You could see another Cotts issue rearing it's head from the start.

That's the key issue though in a way isn't it? We haven't been able to impose our game, and get a win at home since Oct. During that time, have we actually changed formations, tried new tactics (other than when forced to by injuries)? I still have some belief in the coaching staff (not quite ready to give up just yet). But if the 352/3412 whatever isn't getting us the results; then we need to try to evolve somewhat, and do what we saw second half against Swansea. That was the first time since Aug/Sept in my mind that we saw a change in the way we are playing at home. If we start Saturday with the same tired wing back formation, looking to "impose" our game on Birmingham; then it's going to be a long 90 mins again.

I enjoyed the way in which it appeared we went back to basics. Packed the midfield 451 without the ball, going to 433 on transition. In that way, we closed down the Swansea passing channels, forcing them to go backwards. Their defenders (Cabango going off for Darling made a huge difference) panicked massively when we were able to implement a more effective press. Hence the mis clearance for our equaliser, followed a minute or two later for the Wells chance that was saved well. I have to say that both Zak, and Rob looked better in a 4, than a 3. Tanner also looked more comfortable at RB, rather than RWB. Sykes added a bit of drive when he came on there. It was that sort of front foot energy that got us the run of home wins earlier on the season. We've gone away from that to the patient build up, hitting the channels with long passes nonsense that has seen us not win at home since Oct. My only issue is why, knowing the way that Swansea play through the midfield with high possession stats, it took until the second half to make the change. The same applies to recent home games. We set up the same, playing in essence the same players (due to players unavailable for whatever reason), and expecting some sort of different result. You can tell confidence is low We have to be courageous now at home, and look to get back to the type of football we played in August. I haven't seen a fired up team at home for months now, the way we were second half, and I'm sorry I do look to the coaching team to give the team that drive and motivation. I've not given up on NP, I've seen football played by us this season that belies our current position. But results aren't coming in the way we need them. This team fundamentally should be doing better that what it is. Fingers crossed for the weekend we see that second half team again, rather than the apathetic one of recent home games.

@Davefevs I think the biggest problem at the club is the lack of leadership at the top at the moment. I get that we are in a changeover from RG to PA in the CEO role, but really we should be hearing from the Chairman/Owner about their support for NP, the vision going forward, plans for the January Transfer market; and generally addressing a lot of the concerns that we are drifting as a club; we have absolute silence on all of these fronts. As such it is left to NP to present to everyone sometimes 3/4 times a week the club as a whole. It's pathetic really, that the position of chairman is allowed to come across as a personal plaything of the Lansdown family. When I think of some of the great chairman of our past, and where we are now, it's not great. Yes we've only won 7 league games this season, but I've actually enjoyed a number of our games when we haven't won, we've played well on those occasions. However, we are in a results based industry, and I actually swore on the podcast this week; that for us to spend £60m+ on facilities, followed by buying 70+ players in the last 6-7 years at a cost of approx £75m, only to be playing the likes of Rovers, Morecombe, Accrington, Cheltenham etc next season is a demonstration of the mismanagement of the last few years. For me, the next 2 games are key. I get what you're saying about Birmingham, and 1 win is better than 2 draws of course. But we desperately need a win. No win at home since Oct, 1 win (Rotherham away) in the last 12/13. If we drop down into the relegation spots, we have a very young team full of academy players, and no one of our senior players who has experience of a relegation battle, i do fear the worst. How much would relegation set us back? Both financially, and more importantly from a reputational of view; as a club who has a billionaire owner, earnt vast fees in selling players, spent masses on a new stadium and training facilities and then been relegated. NP wants his business down early, by we are now a third of the way through the month. A couple of key players are probably injured for a few weeks. Yes, we can fudge around players that are currently persona non grata, but is that going to help our situation? I sometimes feel at the moment that this inertia that the club is displaying, hoping that someone will buy one of our players soon is leading us down the road we found ourselves in 2012/13 season. We are starting to sleep walk into disaster. I know I sound dramatic @Davefevs, and you know I'm normally level headed about these things. But at the moment, it's difficult to believe that things are going to change this month for the better. Roll on Saturday, a 2-1 win; and hopefully news of the much needed new reinforcements.

Yep, noticed this yesterday. There was a couple of times yesterday where AS had his RCB isolated, but he chose to lay off the ball. Semenyo in his prime of last season, woild have looked to out muscle and out pace that defender without a second thought. Whether it's a confidence, or transfer issue; from a mental point of view he does look to be forceful in his approach this season so far.

Difficult to say with NP though isn't it @GrahamC? He's so belligerent, particularly over loans, but players that have fallen out of favour (Dasilva, Pring begin case in points) have worked their way back into the team. The fact that those guys aren't even in the 18, over the last month when we've been crying out for a win is testament to how far out in the cold they must be though?

Yep, Conway was offside. Running from their half into ours. They took the free kick from 5-10 yards in our half. There sure was some strange decisions going on yesterday.?

In the FBC Podcast yesterday I mentioned that prior to last weekend, we may well have been waiting for a big sale to formulate our transfer strategy for the window. I know that NP wanted to do his business early, and was considering loans at last (after 2 years), but any large sale would hopefully have given him some additional funds to get in either permanently or on loan experienced heads (who cost considerably more of course) needed for the relegation battle ahead rather than potential PL under 21s loans. That position may have changed of course after the Swansea game. Of course we don't know how bad the injuries to Weimann and Conway are. But at the final whistle, from my seat in the Lansdown you could also see Naismith hobbling badly onto the pitch holding his right calf (whether this influenced his substitution is a possibility). You then look at the squad as a whole, with potentially Martin, Massengo & Klose obviously persona non grata; Kalas still not match ready; we are into the under 21s. There is no further squad depth from my perspective. The subs bench for the weekend will already be stocked full of the Under 21s. With the two key home games coming up, we need to make some decisions quickly. Any sale of Scott/Semenyeo could be long and protracted, and it's unlikely that any move would not be until the end of the window. That's not going to help us in the next 3 weeks of course, where without reinforcements we could well be falling into the bottom three. From my perspective we need to be proactive, rather than reactive now based on sales. Yes it's taking a chance (Birmingham anyone) that you are in fact going to make that big sell. But we can't afford to just be standing by, with a mounting injury list, and numerous players not even being considered for whatever reason. Interesting few weeks ahead for sure.

Agree, I thought he was excellent second half in particular. Like Zak, he has really grown as a player over the last few months.

@Davefevs from the Lansdown, Naismith was badly hobbling, struggling with his calf after the game (I'm guessing that's why he was subbed, rather than the less mobile James). Alongside Conway, and Weimann; I would have a query over him for Saturday. For what it's worth, I thought second half the back 4 actually played well, and the additional man in midfield (we were playing 541 at one stage with Wells up top) allowed us to get a grip of the midfield; and push Swansea backwards. That led to their defenders often panicking in their clearances (in particular the Wells chance). I wouldn't be adverse to playing that 2nd half formation again against Birmingham, as I feel against a 3 at the back, Birmingham (who have lost their last 3) would push Chong, Deeney, and either Bacuna or Jutkiewitz, if he plays up against our 3. The battle in the game will be won or lost in midfield again, as two teams in poor form will quickly turn into a physical battle.

Is that them basically saying they're not willing to pay for full time handymen/electricians, or even to engage proper companies if they are needed? All of this goes against somewhat the image of the Chairman as a billionaire owner.... How can they afford to build a new stadium, if there're not willing to pay for the maintenance of a the current one?

The same people (Sahara football) that came up with this in September ? Exclusive: Antoine Semenyo to stay at Bristol City after Bournemouth £10M bid turned down • Sahara Football I'll take this with a proverbial pinch of salt I think.