BCFCGav

Hello mate, thanks for the input. Hope he bangs in a few more for you before the season is out. Random question: do you have a second team/prem team? My mate posited people who support 'smaller' teams (no disrespect intended) ALWAYS have a second team. I disagreed, saying every club has a core fan base of 'one club and one club only' type supporters. So you can help settle a debate for me if you don't mind!

Important run of games and as said, if we can still be in with a sniff of PO's after them it should be a good end to the season. Lose to Forest then pick up 3 or fewer points in those 4 games and it's sadly time to look forward to the Euros and next season. As we stand today, we're still just about fighting on two fronts. Let's keep the dreaming alive as long as possible and go from there.

Welcome Stokesy!

Seems to be in the same bracket as Adam Murphy and Alex Scott a few years back as signed for the academy but may well see a first team subs bench very soon (well, next season as he's going back to Shots for 6 months). Like the look of this one.

I like the 3-4-3 (early days). The removal of wingers and use of split 10’s means rather than being very light on the right wing, we’re suddenly well stocked (as those split 10’s can be Twine, Knight, Mehmeti, Sykes, even TGH or Conway in a bind). We’ve looked a little more dangerous going forward, some good chances against WHU and 6 SoT against Watford (albeit set-piece driven - granted). Depth in the WB positions is my main concern - but I think Sykes for the right and Roberts for the left is good cover. Roberts looked very good high up the pitch in the League Cup (small sample size). On Anis - I too think he’ll start against Forest where Twine was. We’ve got a small squad but with players back to fitness there are some who will miss out. Hopefully he smashes it against Forest and gives LM no choice but to drop Knight/Twine against Cov. I hope that’s Anis’ mindset. You’ve got the shirt, play to keep it.

They wrote off another season because their egos couldn’t handle Nigel. And given we’ve been treading water for 9 seasons now, we shouldn’t be writing off seasons. We’ve been patient enough. I like Liam and think he’ll do well. I thought his record was better than the thread title so I’m a bit surprised by that, but the three wins on the spin and West Ham games show he has something. We’re defensively resolute more often than not and if he can find a way to get the goals flowing, we’ll be in a really good place. But it’s bloody annoying we’re in a transition again because some billionaires don’t like a straight talker.

Good enough point and performance in isolation, I think the 3-4-3 is making us a little more dangerous without sacrificing our defensive solidity. Would have been another clean sheet if not for some handy defending. Play-offs drifting away a wee bit, need a win soon. No new knocks (which I’m going to start abbreviating to NNK, because I’m a trailblazer). Injured: Atkinson Naismith Benarous Sykes

Liked the look of him. Unlucky not to add an assist to his goal with one of those set-pieces. I just can’t see a world of where Burnley and us agree a fee in the summer, especially if they’re down. So a loan player I won’t let myself fall in love with.

Quick one today as I was running late. Knight is well enough after illness to start rather than take a place on the bench. One change to the MD20 - Nelson out, Twine in (and starts ). COYR ️ Injured: Atkinson Naismith Benarous Sykes

Half watching while catching up on some 3 Peaps. Shame about Salah. Klopp will be less than pleased. Kudus goal very nice. He may shift Ings out the West Ham team at this rate.

Good note. So sort of split 10's. That would open up a wealth of new possibilities behind Tommy and solve our lack of wide cover.

If this is on the cusp as reported it looks as though we'll stick with the 4-3-3 and the 3-4-3 on Tuesday was a quick fix. Can't see we'd sign Twine and Stokes if we're considering not utilising a 10. Anyone, this kid looks really bright. Fingers crossed we get him. Twine, Stokes and Benarous to come back, it's an area we'd suddenly be very strong in and Knight would be free to play deeper.

Not often a Bristol City match thread on a Watford forum will read like that. Glad to hear they think Manning is doing better than Pwarson though in Pwarson's defense he doesn't exist. Twone also unlikely to be involved.

Wahoooo!

Blackpool well in this. I’m knackered after yesterday but would happily suffer some ET for Blackpool in the next round rather than Forest.

Can honestly say it didn’t occur to me once last night?

I'll be cheering on Blackpool tonight. Forest isn't a 'glamour' tie as we've played them a lot recently, it's just a bloody tough one. Blackpool would see us healthy favourites (not that that's always a good thing!).

I wonder if we'll have Sykes back for the Cup match. Get the impression it's not a very serious one for him.

Did they 'take' any of the pubs - as was apparently their plan? I don't get involved with any of that but I've heard a few suggest there was some trouble about.

Gonna convince myself he's the one who will stay with us and take us to the promised land, rather than go there on a solo mission. 5 year contract please!

Well it’s interesting now because the 343 worked well. Seemed to give us so many more passing options. But doesn’t utilise a 10 where I assumed he’d been signed to play. Question is, did we change shape tonight because a) Knight was poorly, b) Manning thought it a good fit for this particular opposition or c) Manning sees it as a better option for us going forward. I think Twine starts Saturday. Tonight was wonderful but we’ve still scored two goals in our last 5. But the shape we use Saturday will be very interesting.

Will have meant a lot to him tonight, his first start in a match since May or whatever, against a team in the top 6 of the Prem. A really challenging 6 months is over and he’s done really well. He’ll be on top of the world. Well in Ross ️

He won us that red card. Got in so many of the ‘big scary hammers’ heads. Good as a goal!

Defence has kept a good few clean-sheets this season but that’s a beauty, 1-0 up through Mr. TC in the 3rd minute and then see it out. I think we could’ve been a bit better on the ball if I’m honest, so even more to come what a night. And no injuries, as always, a VERY welcome bonus. Injured: Atkinson Naismith Benarous Sykes

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