The Official Bristol City v West Bromwich Albion Match Day Thread.

[The Journalist]

10 minutes ago, Aizoon said:

I think we've done pretty well, to be honest.

100% this. We changed half the team, picked a couple who we know aren't really up to scratch, but dug in and stayed well in the contest until the last whistle.

Can't have any complaints with that. We'll need to back it up at Leeds on Saturday though.

[Reigate Red]

Not so upset about the result but the performance doesn't sound so good (was not watching). I was hoping that we would have given it a good plucky go so that confidence from Saturday would build.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

3 minutes ago, Red Wardy Returns said:

I don't know what Wilbraham offers, I really do not. Is it just me? It isn't all his own fault, the Bloke is 36 for christ's sake.

The service to him was appalling all night, the one time Burns whipped in a cross, he got on the end of it.

But SC didn't substitute him again, what's going on?.

 

Edited January 19, 2016 by Esmond Million's Bung

[Will]

Gladwin hopefully will improve that service in the final third.. Still prefer the Kodjia and Agard partnership

Edited January 19, 2016 by Will

[samo II]

Was a bit of a toothless performance, but by no means bad; we certainly lacked a cutting edge, but played good football (or tried to) and sometimes were guilty of trying to do that a little too much, in all honesty.

Final ball often poor, but Freeman didn't look 100% fit, and you could see we lacked the energy of Smith (which in a weird way has me pleased he was rested for the weekend).  But all together, that was a decent strength Premier League team, and we kept going against them well with a weakened side.

One negative is that I'm sad to say, but I really feel Wilbraham is coming to the end of his usefulness.  He was frequently left behind by the play, and clearly did not have the energy to go and force errors, or often even make up the ground on defenders to close them down.  In a system with the mobility of Burns and Reid and even Wagstaff (who looked understandably rusty), then you can't have a player who simply is left behind by the play as soon as the ball isn't within a yard of them, and even then doesn't win it.  Kodjia may not have had much to feed off at the end there, but he was immediately closing own and harrying the WBA backline, where as Wilbs didn't do that all game and his touch isn't consistent enough for him to be as static as he is.

But am pleased that we seem tactically flexible (looked quite adventurous at 442, if they were sitting back) and think the new players will help us with that.

Not nice to lose, but we did well with a young team of several who've hardly started this year or recently.

Edited January 19, 2016 by samo II

[BRISTOL86]

4 minutes ago, TheCulturalBomb said:

Reid very good, I thought at least! Some naff deliveries but going forward with the ball he is brilliant, tried to get the ball moving quickly and has good vision.

I can't fathom how anyone could have watched that game and thought Reid was 'very good'. 

Take out that one good pass to Burns (and credit where it's due - it was lovely) and he was simply awful, by far and away the worst player on the pitch! And for gods sake someone stop him taking corners! 

Agree on Little - his game has really gone downhill. One trick pony and I think he's even forgotten that one particular trick...

Edited January 19, 2016 by BRISTOL86

[CotswoldRed]

Didn't need more games in the schedule. I'm happy enough. 

[Major Isewater]

Ok , not a scintillating match but we have n't embarrassed ourselves on telly against a Prem team .

Saved some legs for Saturday and don't risk playing a dirty Pish team  in the next round .

Well done young Max .

Bring on Leeds .

[Red Wardy Returns]

1 minute ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

The service to him was appalling all night, the one time Burns whipped in a cross, he got on the end of it.

 

But there is nothing else to his game. He doesn't offer an outlet by holding the ball up or running the channels. I think that is down to age.

[cityexile]

2 minutes ago, Reigate Red said:

Not so upset about the result but the performance doesn't sound so good (was not watching). I was hoping that we would have given it a good plucky go so that confidence from Saturday would build.

And that is exactly what we did. First twenty we were by far the better side. Could and maybe should have gone a goal up. 

We were not great, no good pretending we are. However, against the team top of this league, and a very average premier side we have drawn 1-1 overall, with far from our first team tonight.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

1 minute ago, Red Wardy Returns said:

But there is nothing else to his game. He doesn't offer an outlet by holding the ball up or running the channels. I think that is down to age.

That could apply tonight to Reid, Williams and Little, I will excuse Wagstaff who is coming back from injury.

[CotswoldRed]

Bolton into the next round. More fixtures to tire them out. Lovely jubbly. 

[Ivorguy]

How did Max do?

[YorksRed]

One goal conceded against Boro and West Brom is a significant improvement from where we were.  We are looking more solid and resilient as a result of the changes made. Not bothered that we lost, far more important things to focus on.

[Red Wardy Returns]

2 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

That could apply tonight to Reid, Williams and Little, I will excuse Wagstaff who is coming back from injury.

Reid did play a great first time ball through to Wes and won a free kick in a very dangerous position. But he was struggling at times.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

The important thing, hopefully kept Freeman available for Saturday after his injury, gave Wagstaff a run out and please get Bradley Wiggins on his bike to sign, I like Williams but he ain't a full back and kept Kodjia fresh, the subs were correct IMO, good management for the important game of the week.

[cityexile]

3 minutes ago, CotswoldRed said:

Bolton into the next round. More fixtures to tire them out. Lovely jubbly. 

Maybe as importantly for us, MK, who hopefully will become distracted by playing Chelsea.

[wallaceboy]

12 minutes ago, TheCulturalBomb said:

Freeman was very poor, can't make a decent pass and lost the ball on many occasions.

Reid very good, I thought at least! Some naff deliveries but going forward with the ball he is brilliant, tried to get the ball moving quickly and has good vision.

Pack, amazing in the air, won lots, couldn't fault him.

Random person I will criticise is Little, guy is like a cat in headlights, and won almost nothing in the air, failed to recieve a simple pass on several occasions.

Freeman was indeed very poor.he is actually really starting to get on my fxxxxxx nerves.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

3 minutes ago, Red Wardy Returns said:

Reid did play a great first time ball through to Wes and won a free kick in a very dangerous position. But he was struggling at times.

Reid isn't strong enough at this level IMO.

[Port Said Red]

14 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

WBA/Pulis taught us a lesson tonight about denying space, getting close to the player you are marking, harrying in midfield.

I don't think Bobby Reid is strong enough for this level and Williams is not a full back.

But hey we weren't disgraced.

 

Bobby Reid has had his first two full games in months within 72 hours, he has played the league leaders and a Premiership side. He looked tired tonight understandably but I wouldn't write him off. If Burns had put the chance he created away, we might be having a different discussion.

[wallaceboy]

2 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

The important thing, hopefully kept Freeman available for Saturday after his injury, gave Wagstaff a run out and please get Bradley Wiggins on his bike to sign, I like Williams but he ain't a full back and kept Kodjia fresh, the subs were correct IMO, good management for the important game of the week.

If Freeman starts instead of gladwin on Saturday I will be shocked. I think u meant korey....

[LoyalRed]

17 minutes ago, BRISTOL86 said:

So terrible that an established premier league side created the same number of clear chances as we did?

A team thirty-something places above us, when we had several first team players out, a 19 year old debutant in goal, a first start of the season in Wagstaff, and our only defensive midfielder out of the game. 

Yes they didn't need to get out of first gear, but to suggest they slaughtered us is simply not true.

At the end of the day they were the better side, as they should have been. No complaints on the effort front here, they're simply a better team! Think it might have been a different proposition with Korey, Bryan and Kodjia starting. 

Slaughtered no ?

Sloppy passing - yes

unable to produce any form of pressure - yes

as I said, they did a job on us and made us look rubbish - even the commentators were bored of watching it. 

[Red-Robbo]

Surprised people are disappointed we weren't as good as a top flight side whose squad costs more than our side and the rebuild put together.

We didn't disgrace ourselves and we now move on to the business of getting ourselves safe in the league.

[robin_unreliant]

Don't think we really got going. Two good games in a row have been hard to achieve recently. AG sounded very quiet in the second half on TV which wasn't surprising given our lack of chances.

I thought Reid showed why SC wouldn't pick him - too easily knocked off the ball. Wilbs wasn't in the game. Neither of our FBs were good enough and Waggy showed his lack of sharpness.

Pack, Burns and Flint played well and young Max did nothing wrong.

Hope we were saving ourselves for Leeds.

[CotswoldRed]

The crowd were many times worse than the players tonight. 

[Inactive user]

Balls. Oh well, we can concentrate on getting back into league one now.

[Dan Robin]

Unfortunately, the late goal conceded at The Hawthorns made the difference: tonight's first half performance was quite good, but in the second half WBA were the better side.

Anyway, cup exit is not so negative: now the team can focus 100% on the league. COYR!

[Flagon]

Other than their goal i don't think they had a shot on target. Considering we dropped players, were playing different formation and were playing off the back of a hard fought victory against our league leaders I thought we did pretty well. 

It also showed that had Cotts maybe utilised what he had a little more we would probably have a few more points now. Burns and Reid are easily up to being in this squad as is Little and Wagstaff who plays literally anywhere and gives his all. Yes there are better players out there but at least what we have do not look out of place. 

We've got a long way to go but these last two games have eased my nerves a bit.

[Londoner]

A good effort but must remember poor league position dictates changes.

Bobby Reid too lightweight at this level, Burns shows glimpses but so so raw and could do with a loan move out...not knocking him at all but just feel some experience st league 1 would be beneficial for him 

good to see wagstaff get a run out but clearly no long term future here.

The only draw back of this new formation is that we create little, but certainly seems more stable at the back....and as my old colleague told me (studied football statistics for his dissertation)....it's not goals scored that keeps you in divisions, it's goals conceded (or lack of) that makes all the difference

[lenred]

55 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

Surprised people are disappointed we weren't as good as a top flight side whose squad costs more than our side and the rebuild put together.

We didn't disgrace ourselves and we now move on to the business of getting ourselves safe in the league.

I'm really disappointed that we just didn't give it a better go tonight. Agreed they have a more expensive and better squad on paper but I really think we've missed a trick tonight by just going through the motions. We had a really good chance to be in the 5th round had we won this and how often can we say that? I realise I'm in the minority though and completely agree that the league is infinitely more important and even out of the boys I go with I was the only one with this view on the way home. Just think we've missed a trick tonight. Flat horrible atmosphere as well. Just a carp night all round after Saturday.  Onwards!