Match Report: Johnson's latest collapse may be fatal

[Olé]

Disclaimer: It’s rarely commented upon but perhaps it is due a mention that I don’t write this stuff in an echo chamber, you may disagree with me and by the law of averages I’d expect that plenty do, but I do try to nuance what I write according to the tone of all those around me at the game - and the tone on leaving a rain-sodden Valley was dire.

Lee Johnson has survived bigger and badder runs, but City’s fourth straight defeat away at struggling Charlton may turn out to be a decisive milestone - the scene of his City appointment 4 years ago is unlikely to be the end of the road for him, but it should now raise awkward, overdue questions about the latest surrender of his expensive squad.

City blagged their way through Boxing Day at a poor side that had gone 11 without a win. In the first half we contrived an early 4 minute spell of probing, but a lack of attacking flair soon consigned that to a distant memory. Charlton simply pushed harder and the door swung open. We had to make the usual wholesale changes to compete.

Introducing Niclas Eliasson at half time - most weeks decided incompatible with our strangely anaemic approach to “winning” football games  - led to an immediate response, not just an equaliser from the Swede’s early second half cross, but a goal to go ahead too before the hour too. Johnson suddenly galvanised by a player he ignored.

That sense that the manager has no idea of his best players and owed good fortune to those thrown on to rescue the game for him was underlined as City pushed to extend their lead, only to be horribly exposed - as before with the opener - by those already on, Charlton’s long balls over the top beating our defence not twice but three times.

As it happens we started strongly, the visitors dominating the opening exchanges and after 6 minutes Hunt and Brownhill had combined to set Weimann away on the right, to win an early corner. City were dominating and another sweeping move saw Moore pick out Diedhiou on the edge of the box who turned inside and slammed a shot wide right.

At the other end the rare occasion of Charlton danger was curtailed swiftly by tigerish challenges from Tommy Rowe - flying into people like a man possessed - and Josh Brownhill, crudely hacking down one such Addicks break, and rightly booked having been left desperately chasing back after the first of many City’s miscues in possession.

But despite these errors the away team were on top and enjoyed a near 4 minute spell of possession in the Charlton half, working the ball side to side and probing patiently for an opening, Diedhiou and Nagy combining to release Hunt down the right, his cross spilled by the keeper and at the second attempt Famara drilling a shot wide of goal.

At the midway point of the half City’s second shot - and second off target - was not much but after recent goal-shy performances it promised much for the visitors, and yet as it happened that was it, the visitors losing their way in the following exchanges to a far more comfortable Charlton side, and on 34 minutes they nearly fell behind.

A ferocious break down City’s left - the source of our problems all day - saw a right wing cross quickly into the middle and Kalas have to hook behind desperately as Bonne closed to apply the close range finish. In moments the home side had looked more direct and more dangerous than City had managed with all their possession prior to that.

So it was no surprise on 40 when we fell behind. It started as everything does with City right now: from a mistake. A poor touch in attack surrendering possession with players out of position, a lightning break saw Morgan get the ball under control and lift it long over the top for Bonne, Bentley racing out rashly, the striker lobbing him first time.

Charlton finished the half stronger in front of the near 1,300 visiting fans, who at a rain swept Valley were staring down the barrel of a fourth straight defeat. Therefore it was no great surprise that Johnson yet again radically overhauled his side at the break, adding width and pace with Eliasson for Hunt and Dasilva back from injury for Rowe.

It paid immediate dividends. City came roaring out of the traps playing with an urgency that was absent in the first half. Dasilva featured in the first minute and after the ball was worked right, Eliasson did what he so often does - raced at the defence before sweeping in a wicked early cross that Weimann came short to, glancing into the far corner.

Suddenly the away side were playing with confidence, one touch passing at speed - Nagy in particular a different player to his half-hearted efforts of the first 45 - and it was ex-Charlton man Dasilva, and Moore on the right, who led the one-sided assault on the hosts - curtailed briefly by a Sarr far post header onto the bar from a rare free kick.

Yet it was no surprise when City, in front of their travelling fans, roared into the lead on the hour mark: another intricate combination, started by Eliasson probing on the right, then inside to Nagy and Brownhill - the move looked wasted by an overhit through ball but game-changer Eliasson stole in quickly onto the ball and lasered it in at the near post.

Delerium in the away end and perhaps sense of a long overdue win for City, at their struggling opponents. The away side took the game to Charlton and minutes later yet another teasing cross from the Swedish substitute was half cleared, Brownhill returning it first time with a stinging half volley that the keeper could only parry, the ball hacked clear.

City were swarming forward at every opportunity but perhaps their propensity to concede goals this season had been overlooked as they left the door open for the hosts. With less than quarter of an hour left yet another high long ball over the top was flicked on and Kalas was easily overpowered looking to clear, Bonne lashing into the roof of the net.

There was brief respite as Nagy again did well to cue Eliasson to curl into the far post, ex City man Matthews heading behind as Dasilva closed. But Dasilva’s attacking intent was cruelly exposed inside the final 10 by another long ball down Charlton’s wide open right, the ball swept into the middle, Kalas marooned and Doughty beating Moore to finish.

Having recovered the game in a bright opening to the second half, this quick fire 5 minute capitulation into a losing position left City shell-shocked and in truth they rarely looked like recovering the game after that. Korey Smith was being readied to see out the game, but instead O’Dowda came on (almost inevitably overpowered with his first touch).

City were all out of ideas by now, Weimann fired high and wide with their best chance, and in the final minute of an eventual 7 added on, a Brownhill free kick with keeper Bentley up, saw a Nagy strike from outside the box through a crowded box deflected for a corner - appeals for handball - and then Weimann head straight at the keeper at the death.

And that was it. A fourth straight defeat for Johnson’s men, and to a side that had not won in a remarkable 11 games. His second choice adjustments - as so always - had dug the inconsistent visitors out of a hole, but they were exposed by long balls all afternoon and two more did for the visitors, Kalas among those who should have won their battles.

A local bus for me, and after Sheffield on Sunday it would be hard to get too upset about a wasted day, but in torrential rain and with plenty making the trip from Bristol, the mood on the way out of The Valley was not kind to manager Johnson. He still has no idea of his best team, they play like much less than the sum of their parts, and the football is awful.

 

Bentley 5 Rash for the first, might have saved the third, comes across as a winner and the dross in front of him is perhaps prompting too much impetuousness to get involved

Kalas 4 Not close to the player of last season - at £8 million he should be dominating matches like this, not getting overpowered every time Charlton pump a long ball forward

Williams 5 Exudes more confidence than Kalas at the moment, won more than his more expensive colleague, one poor pass straight to an opponent symptomatic of our mistakes

Moore 5 Should have done better not to be beaten for the winner and was made aware of that by both Johnson and Weimann. Still the most convincing playing out from the back

Hunt 5 One good move early on but neither wing back really spread the pitch or made their positions count so zero surprise they both got hauled off for a different formation

Rowe 5 I know sometimes flying in to people is for show, but when you’ve lost 3 in a row the fans need to see that - got stuck in more than most first half but didn’t offer much else

Nagy 5 Had all the talent coached out of him in a matter of weeks, variously anonymous or awful in the first half, far better in the second half when we moved the ball more quickly

Massengo 5 Almost non existent first half, better in the second but throughout the game was not strong enough for Charlton and so really didn’t offer the bite we needed in midfield

Brownhill 5 The only player you can guarantee will put a shift in, but it’s not enough - the midfield lacks cohesion and quality and like most his confidence is gone at the moment

Diedhiou 5 A few decent touches but a day when balls pumped up to him very often didn’t stick (compare to his opponents) and he put both of our only two first half chances wide

Weimann 5 Well taken goal in terms of finding space and controls the ball better when played into him, but as with recent games goes missing for long periods, is not a real target

 

Dasilva 6 Far more of an attacking threat than Rowe - the first player since Jamie Paterson to actually collect the ball and run at opponents - but exposed by quick long balls

Eliasson 8 The game changer. An assist and a goal and plenty more besides. God only knows what he needs to do to start. What is the point anymore, build the team round him

O’Dowda 5 An enforced change to chase the game (again). Bar winning one corner was feeble losing the ball on his first possession (again) - a player going through the motions.

 

[glen humphries]

2 hours ago, Olé said:

Disclaimer: It’s rarely commented upon but perhaps it is due a mention that I don’t write this stuff in an echo chamber, you may disagree with me and by the law of averages I’d expect that plenty do, but I do try to nuance what I write according to the tone of all those around me at the game - and the tone on leaving a rain-sodden Valley was dire.

Lee Johnson has survived bigger and badder runs, but City’s fourth straight defeat away at struggling Charlton may turn out to be a decisive milestone - the scene of his City appointment 4 years ago is unlikely to be the end of the road for him, but it should now raise awkward, overdue questions about the latest surrender of his expensive squad.

City blagged their way through Boxing Day at a poor side that had gone 11 without a win. In the first half we contrived an early 4 minute spell of probing, but a lack of attacking flair soon consigned that to a distant memory. Charlton simply pushed harder and the door swung open. We had to make the usual wholesale changes to compete.

Introducing Niclas Eliasson at half time - most weeks decided incompatible with our strangely anaemic approach to “winning” football games  - led to an immediate response, not just an equaliser from the Swede’s early second half cross, but a goal to go ahead too before the hour too. Johnson suddenly galvanised by a player he ignored.

That sense that the manager has no idea of his best players and owed good fortune to those thrown on to rescue the game for him was underlined as City pushed to extend their lead, only to be horribly exposed - as before with the opener - by those already on, Charlton’s long balls over the top beating our defence not twice but three times.

As it happens we started strongly, the visitors dominating the opening exchanges and after 6 minutes Hunt and Brownhill had combined to set Weimann away on the right, to win an early corner. City were dominating and another sweeping move saw Moore pick out Diedhiou on the edge of the box who turned inside and slammed a shot wide right.

At the other end the rare occasion of Charlton danger was curtailed swiftly by tigerish challenges from Tommy Rowe - flying into people like a man possessed - and Josh Brownhill, crudely hacking down one such Addicks break, and rightly booked having been left desperately chasing back after the first of many City’s miscues in possession.

But despite these errors the away team were on top and enjoyed a near 4 minute spell of possession in the Charlton half, working the ball side to side and probing patiently for an opening, Diedhiou and Nagy combining to release Hunt down the right, his cross spilled by the keeper and at the second attempt Famara drilling a shot wide of goal.

At the midway point of the half City’s second shot - and second off target - was not much but after recent goal-shy performances it promised much for the visitors, and yet as it happened that was it, the visitors losing their way in the following exchanges to a far more comfortable Charlton side, and on 34 minutes they nearly fell behind.

A ferocious break down City’s left - the source of our problems all day - saw a right wing cross quickly into the middle and Kalas have to hook behind desperately as Bonne closed to apply the close range finish. In moments the home side had looked more direct and more dangerous than City had managed with all their possession prior to that.

So it was no surprise on 40 when we fell behind. It started as everything does with City right now: from a mistake. A poor touch in attack surrendering possession with players out of position, a lightning break saw Morgan get the ball under control and lift it long over the top for Bonne, Bentley racing out rashly, the striker lobbing him first time.

Charlton finished the half stronger in front of the near 1,300 visiting fans, who at a rain swept Valley were staring down the barrel of a fourth straight defeat. Therefore it was no great surprise that Johnson yet again radically overhauled his side at the break, adding width and pace with Eliasson for Hunt and Dasilva back from injury for Rowe.

It paid immediate dividends. City came roaring out of the traps playing with an urgency that was absent in the first half. Dasilva featured in the first minute and after the ball was worked right, Eliasson did what he so often does - raced at the defence before sweeping in a wicked early cross that Weimann came short to, glancing into the far corner.

Suddenly the away side were playing with confidence, one touch passing at speed - Nagy in particular a different player to his half-hearted efforts of the first 45 - and it was ex-Charlton man Dasilva, and Moore on the right, who led the one-sided assault on the hosts - curtailed briefly by a Sarr far post header onto the bar from a rare free kick.

Yet it was no surprise when City, in front of their travelling fans, roared into the lead on the hour mark: another intricate combination, started by Eliasson probing on the right, then inside to Nagy and Brownhill - the move looked wasted by an overhit through ball but game-changer Eliasson stole in quickly onto the ball and lasered it in at the near post.

Delerium in the away end and perhaps sense of a long overdue win for City, at their struggling opponents. The away side took the game to Charlton and minutes later yet another teasing cross from the Swedish substitute was half cleared, Brownhill returning it first time with a stinging half volley that the keeper could only parry, the ball hacked clear.

City were swarming forward at every opportunity but perhaps their propensity to concede goals this season had been overlooked as they left the door open for the hosts. With less than quarter of an hour left yet another high long ball over the top was flicked on and Kalas was easily overpowered looking to clear, Bonne lashing into the roof of the net.

There was brief respite as Nagy again did well to cue Eliasson to curl into the far post, ex City man Matthews heading behind as Dasilva closed. But Dasilva’s attacking intent was cruelly exposed inside the final 10 by another long ball down Charlton’s wide open right, the ball swept into the middle, Kalas marooned and Doughty beating Moore to finish.

Having recovered the game in a bright opening to the second half, this quick fire 5 minute capitulation into a losing position left City shell-shocked and in truth they rarely looked like recovering the game after that. Korey Smith was being readied to see out the game, but instead O’Dowda came on (almost inevitably overpowered with his first touch).

City were all out of ideas by now, Weimann fired high and wide with their best chance, and in the final minute of an eventual 7 added on, a Brownhill free kick with keeper Bentley up, saw a Nagy strike from outside the box through a crowded box deflected for a corner - appeals for handball - and then Weimann head straight at the keeper at the death.

And that was it. A fourth straight defeat for Johnson’s men, and to a side that had not won in a remarkable 11 games. His second choice adjustments - as so always - had dug the inconsistent visitors out of a hole, but they were exposed by long balls all afternoon and two more did for the visitors, Kalas among those who should have won their battles.

A local bus for me, and after Sheffield on Sunday it would be hard to get too upset about a wasted day, but in torrential rain and with plenty making the trip from Bristol, the mood on the way out of The Valley was not kind to manager Johnson. He still has no idea of his best team, they play like much less than the sum of their parts, and the football is awful.

 

Bentley 5 Rash for the first, might have saved the third, comes across as a winner and the dross in front of him is perhaps prompting too much impetuousness to get involved

Kalas 4 Not close to the player of last season - at £8 million he should be dominating matches like this, not getting overpowered every time Charlton pump a long ball forward

Williams 5 Exudes more confidence than Kalas at the moment, won more than his more expensive colleague, one poor pass straight to an opponent symptomatic of our mistakes

Moore 5 Should have done better not to be beaten for the winner and was made aware of that by both Johnson and Weimann. Still the most convincing playing out from the back

Hunt 5 One good move early on but neither wing back really spread the pitch or made their positions count so zero surprise they both got hauled off for a different formation

Rowe 5 I know sometimes flying in to people is for show, but when you’ve lost 3 in a row the fans need to see that - got stuck in more than most first half but didn’t offer much else

Nagy 5 Had all the talent coached out of him in a matter of weeks, variously anonymous or awful in the first half, far better in the second half when we moved the ball more quickly

Massengo 5 Almost non existent first half, better in the second but throughout the game was not strong enough for Charlton and so really didn’t offer the bite we needed in midfield

Brownhill 5 The only player you can guarantee will put a shift in, but it’s not enough - the midfield lacks cohesion and quality and like most his confidence is gone at the moment

Diedhiou 5 A few decent touches but a day when balls pumped up to him very often didn’t stick (compare to his opponents) and he put both of our only two first half chances wide

Weimann 5 Well taken goal in terms of finding space and controls the ball better when played into him, but as with recent games goes missing for long periods, is not a real target

 

Dasilva 6 Far more of an attacking threat than Rowe - the first player since Jamie Paterson to actually collect the ball and run at opponents - but exposed by quick long balls

Eliasson 8 The game changer. An assist and a goal and plenty more besides. God only knows what he needs to do to start. What is the point anymore, build the team round him

O’Dowda 5 An enforced change to chase the game (again). Bar winning one corner was feeble losing the ball on his first possession (again) - a player going through the motions.

 

Cant disagree with any of that, thanks for the Wright up ole 

[Med/MadHatter]

Thankyou for your fine reports Olé, as I can't get to see many games on tv as I live and work away from home and have no access to tv in the wilds of Northern Canada, I consider matchdays complete when i have read them. Always a pleasure to read a balanced view of the games, thanks again!

[Guest]

Thought Moore was quality until he got moved to right back. Kalas kept saving us first half with superb defending but made mistakes second half. 

Let's face it, get a strike force that works and everyone improves. Fam and Weimann the worst strike force I can ever remember in terms of linking up.

I'm thinking we need at least 3 strikers in January, not 2, and certainly not 1.

[RedM]

Great write up as ever. We seem to want to use the tactic of going behind and then try to claw the game back and win it in the dying minutes as it’s ‘exciting’. I’d rather get the job done, go 3-0 up and then play some showboat football for the last half hour. We don’t seem to have the players or the nouse to do this, and half don’t look interested any more, they look boring, are bored and too predictable to play against and watch.

[glen humphries]

32 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Thought Moore was quality until he got moved to right back. Kalas kept saving us first half with superb defending but made mistakes second half. 

Let's face it, get a strike force that works and everyone improves. Fam and Weimann the worst strike force I can ever remember in terms of linking up.

I'm thinking we need at least 3 strikers in January, not 2, and certainly not 1.

The midfield and defence is the problem Jon 

[And Its Smith]

14 minutes ago, glen humphries said:

The midfield and defence is the problem Jon 

In terms of personnel it’s strikers we need. The defenders and midfielders we have are good enough. Playing with no confidence at the moment and need to score the first goal more to give us a platform to control a game. 

[glen humphries]

1 minute ago, RedDave said:

In terms of personnel it’s strikers we need. The defenders and midfielders we have are good enough. Playing with no confidence at the moment and need to score the first goal more to give us a platform to control a game. 

We leaked goals all season, yesterday we had a 8 million pound player getting bullied all game, a right back who can’t defend and Tommy Rowe who gives his all but isn’t championship quality, you start at the back if you want to be successful, we’re really poor in the most crucial area.

[City oz]

3 hours ago, Olé said:

Disclaimer: It’s rarely commented upon but perhaps it is due a mention that I don’t write this stuff in an echo chamber, you may disagree with me and by the law of averages I’d expect that plenty do, but I do try to nuance what I write according to the tone of all those around me at the game - and the tone on leaving a rain-sodden Valley was dire.

Lee Johnson has survived bigger and badder runs, but City’s fourth straight defeat away at struggling Charlton may turn out to be a decisive milestone - the scene of his City appointment 4 years ago is unlikely to be the end of the road for him, but it should now raise awkward, overdue questions about the latest surrender of his expensive squad.

City blagged their way through Boxing Day at a poor side that had gone 11 without a win. In the first half we contrived an early 4 minute spell of probing, but a lack of attacking flair soon consigned that to a distant memory. Charlton simply pushed harder and the door swung open. We had to make the usual wholesale changes to compete.

Introducing Niclas Eliasson at half time - most weeks decided incompatible with our strangely anaemic approach to “winning” football games  - led to an immediate response, not just an equaliser from the Swede’s early second half cross, but a goal to go ahead too before the hour too. Johnson suddenly galvanised by a player he ignored.

That sense that the manager has no idea of his best players and owed good fortune to those thrown on to rescue the game for him was underlined as City pushed to extend their lead, only to be horribly exposed - as before with the opener - by those already on, Charlton’s long balls over the top beating our defence not twice but three times.

As it happens we started strongly, the visitors dominating the opening exchanges and after 6 minutes Hunt and Brownhill had combined to set Weimann away on the right, to win an early corner. City were dominating and another sweeping move saw Moore pick out Diedhiou on the edge of the box who turned inside and slammed a shot wide right.

At the other end the rare occasion of Charlton danger was curtailed swiftly by tigerish challenges from Tommy Rowe - flying into people like a man possessed - and Josh Brownhill, crudely hacking down one such Addicks break, and rightly booked having been left desperately chasing back after the first of many City’s miscues in possession.

But despite these errors the away team were on top and enjoyed a near 4 minute spell of possession in the Charlton half, working the ball side to side and probing patiently for an opening, Diedhiou and Nagy combining to release Hunt down the right, his cross spilled by the keeper and at the second attempt Famara drilling a shot wide of goal.

At the midway point of the half City’s second shot - and second off target - was not much but after recent goal-shy performances it promised much for the visitors, and yet as it happened that was it, the visitors losing their way in the following exchanges to a far more comfortable Charlton side, and on 34 minutes they nearly fell behind.

A ferocious break down City’s left - the source of our problems all day - saw a right wing cross quickly into the middle and Kalas have to hook behind desperately as Bonne closed to apply the close range finish. In moments the home side had looked more direct and more dangerous than City had managed with all their possession prior to that.

So it was no surprise on 40 when we fell behind. It started as everything does with City right now: from a mistake. A poor touch in attack surrendering possession with players out of position, a lightning break saw Morgan get the ball under control and lift it long over the top for Bonne, Bentley racing out rashly, the striker lobbing him first time.

Charlton finished the half stronger in front of the near 1,300 visiting fans, who at a rain swept Valley were staring down the barrel of a fourth straight defeat. Therefore it was no great surprise that Johnson yet again radically overhauled his side at the break, adding width and pace with Eliasson for Hunt and Dasilva back from injury for Rowe.

It paid immediate dividends. City came roaring out of the traps playing with an urgency that was absent in the first half. Dasilva featured in the first minute and after the ball was worked right, Eliasson did what he so often does - raced at the defence before sweeping in a wicked early cross that Weimann came short to, glancing into the far corner.

Suddenly the away side were playing with confidence, one touch passing at speed - Nagy in particular a different player to his half-hearted efforts of the first 45 - and it was ex-Charlton man Dasilva, and Moore on the right, who led the one-sided assault on the hosts - curtailed briefly by a Sarr far post header onto the bar from a rare free kick.

Yet it was no surprise when City, in front of their travelling fans, roared into the lead on the hour mark: another intricate combination, started by Eliasson probing on the right, then inside to Nagy and Brownhill - the move looked wasted by an overhit through ball but game-changer Eliasson stole in quickly onto the ball and lasered it in at the near post.

Delerium in the away end and perhaps sense of a long overdue win for City, at their struggling opponents. The away side took the game to Charlton and minutes later yet another teasing cross from the Swedish substitute was half cleared, Brownhill returning it first time with a stinging half volley that the keeper could only parry, the ball hacked clear.

City were swarming forward at every opportunity but perhaps their propensity to concede goals this season had been overlooked as they left the door open for the hosts. With less than quarter of an hour left yet another high long ball over the top was flicked on and Kalas was easily overpowered looking to clear, Bonne lashing into the roof of the net.

There was brief respite as Nagy again did well to cue Eliasson to curl into the far post, ex City man Matthews heading behind as Dasilva closed. But Dasilva’s attacking intent was cruelly exposed inside the final 10 by another long ball down Charlton’s wide open right, the ball swept into the middle, Kalas marooned and Doughty beating Moore to finish.

Having recovered the game in a bright opening to the second half, this quick fire 5 minute capitulation into a losing position left City shell-shocked and in truth they rarely looked like recovering the game after that. Korey Smith was being readied to see out the game, but instead O’Dowda came on (almost inevitably overpowered with his first touch).

City were all out of ideas by now, Weimann fired high and wide with their best chance, and in the final minute of an eventual 7 added on, a Brownhill free kick with keeper Bentley up, saw a Nagy strike from outside the box through a crowded box deflected for a corner - appeals for handball - and then Weimann head straight at the keeper at the death.

And that was it. A fourth straight defeat for Johnson’s men, and to a side that had not won in a remarkable 11 games. His second choice adjustments - as so always - had dug the inconsistent visitors out of a hole, but they were exposed by long balls all afternoon and two more did for the visitors, Kalas among those who should have won their battles.

A local bus for me, and after Sheffield on Sunday it would be hard to get too upset about a wasted day, but in torrential rain and with plenty making the trip from Bristol, the mood on the way out of The Valley was not kind to manager Johnson. He still has no idea of his best team, they play like much less than the sum of their parts, and the football is awful.

 

Bentley 5 Rash for the first, might have saved the third, comes across as a winner and the dross in front of him is perhaps prompting too much impetuousness to get involved

Kalas 4 Not close to the player of last season - at £8 million he should be dominating matches like this, not getting overpowered every time Charlton pump a long ball forward

Williams 5 Exudes more confidence than Kalas at the moment, won more than his more expensive colleague, one poor pass straight to an opponent symptomatic of our mistakes

Moore 5 Should have done better not to be beaten for the winner and was made aware of that by both Johnson and Weimann. Still the most convincing playing out from the back

Hunt 5 One good move early on but neither wing back really spread the pitch or made their positions count so zero surprise they both got hauled off for a different formation

Rowe 5 I know sometimes flying in to people is for show, but when you’ve lost 3 in a row the fans need to see that - got stuck in more than most first half but didn’t offer much else

Nagy 5 Had all the talent coached out of him in a matter of weeks, variously anonymous or awful in the first half, far better in the second half when we moved the ball more quickly

Massengo 5 Almost non existent first half, better in the second but throughout the game was not strong enough for Charlton and so really didn’t offer the bite we needed in midfield

Brownhill 5 The only player you can guarantee will put a shift in, but it’s not enough - the midfield lacks cohesion and quality and like most his confidence is gone at the moment

Diedhiou 5 A few decent touches but a day when balls pumped up to him very often didn’t stick (compare to his opponents) and he put both of our only two first half chances wide

Weimann 5 Well taken goal in terms of finding space and controls the ball better when played into him, but as with recent games goes missing for long periods, is not a real target

 

Dasilva 6 Far more of an attacking threat than Rowe - the first player since Jamie Paterson to actually collect the ball and run at opponents - but exposed by quick long balls

Eliasson 8 The game changer. An assist and a goal and plenty more besides. God only knows what he needs to do to start. What is the point anymore, build the team round him

O’Dowda 5 An enforced change to chase the game (again). Bar winning one corner was feeble losing the ball on his first possession (again) - a player going through the motions.

 

Great write up OLE.

I suppose the positive is we are still 13 points above the relegation play offs.

[Maesknoll Red]

6 minutes ago, RedDave said:

In terms of personnel it’s strikers we need. The defenders and midfielders we have are good enough. Playing with no confidence at the moment and need to score the first goal more to give us a platform to control a game. 

I’m not convinced, in terms of personnel, I have to agree with the growing swell, it’s a change of Manager we need, then maybe some tweaks to the playing staff - a prolific striker would be a nice January present, but to watch a team that has a shape, some idea that they look like they know they ‘the plan’ and allowed a bit of individual expression would be the best New Year gift.

[Dottie]

7 minutes ago, Maesknoll Red said:

I’m not convinced, in terms of personnel, I have to agree with the growing swell, it’s a change of Manager we need, then maybe some tweaks to the playing staff - a prolific striker would be a nice January present, but to watch a team that has a shape, some idea that they look like they know they ‘the plan’ and allowed a bit of individual expression would be the best New Year gift.

Spot on. They’re over coached to the point that when the plan doesn’t work, they’re unable to work out what to do for themselves. How many times have we brought players in because of their natural ability only to coach it out of them? Massengo  is a perfect example, so much talent but not being able to play his natural game which is what we paid money for & you can see the confidence draining out of him & others the same. 

[One Team]

Great write up mate. You know it’s bad when our own fans are fighting each other after the game let alone the diabolical performance on the pitch.

I don’t think LJ is going anyway anytime soon though and will have at least the rest of this season.

[DT The Optimist]

Great write up as always, I listened in on local radio.  
How many transfer windows LJ had now, 7?

60 plus players in and out through the door?  Our DNA that Holden spoke about on the main site Pre match.  I do not have a clue what it is apart from meaningless words. The tombola will be spinning Sunday 

[And Its Smith]

33 minutes ago, glen humphries said:

We leaked goals all season, yesterday we had a 8 million pound player getting bullied all game, a right back who can’t defend and Tommy Rowe who gives his all but isn’t championship quality, you start at the back if you want to be successful, we’re really poor in the most crucial area.

Rowe is a back up left back. Kalas is better than yesterday unless you are suggesting replacing him.

No settled defence or midfield is the problem. The personnel are fine. Confidence is a massive part of the game.

The incompetence is in striking personnel.  

[glen humphries]

1 minute ago, RedDave said:

Rowe is a back up left back. Kalas is better than yesterday unless you are suggesting replacing him.

No settled defence or midfield is the problem. The personnel are fine. Confidence is a massive part of the game.

The incompetence is in striking personnel.  

We have not got a problem scoring, we let in to many, it’s not rocket science the facts are there to see , we’re incompetent in midfield and defence, look at our goals conceded it’s obvious.

[Olé]

41 minutes ago, Dottie said:

They’re over coached

I have to say, I said exactly this last night.

I posed the question how does a team with

1. the undoubted talent and record investment in good players
2. the relentless detailed coaching Johnson is routinely praised for

seem to make such a ridiculous number of basic mistakes game after game, which to my eyes, certainly recently, is the biggest difference between us and opponents - give the ball away, don't close down player, missed tackle, missed finish, misplaced pass. It's endemic and while I know confidence is part of it, these are the basics we're mainly talking about.

It can't be because they're rubbish players because see: 1. It can't be they're not coached or prepared properly on what to do, see 2 (unless the whole Johnson coaching pedigree as widely reported is a myth). So just maybe the problem is they're over-coached, they are not able to think about the basics as they're too busy trying to execute a complex game plan.

I don't know if that qualifies as Occam's Razor but "over thinking things" seems to me to make more sense as an explanation for this team's propensity for mistakes, than anything else: I really don't accept that these are poorly recruited players (Nagy and Massengo both look worse than when we signed them). I also don't buy the idea another striker fixes this.

[Cowshed]

1 minute ago, Olé said:

I have to say, I said exactly this last night.

I posed the question how does a team with

1. the undoubted talent and record investment in good players
2. the relentless detailed coaching Johnson is routinely praised for

seem to make such a ridiculous number of basic mistakes game after game, which to my eyes, certainly recently, is the biggest difference between us and opponents - give the ball away, don't close down player, missed tackle, missed finish, misplaced pass. It's endemic and while I know confidence is part of it, these are the basics we're mainly talking about.

It can't be because they're rubbish players because see: 1. It can't be they're not coached or prepared properly on what to do, see 2 (unless the whole Johnson coaching pedigree as widely reported is a myth). So just maybe the problem is they're over-coached, they are not able to think about the basics as they're too busy trying to execute a complex game plan.

I don't know if that qualifies as Occam's Razor but "over thinking things" seems to me to make more sense as an explanation for this team's propensity for mistakes, than anything else: I really don't accept that these are poorly recruited players (Nagy and Massengo both look worse than when we signed them). I also don't buy the idea another striker fixes this.

Think of your 2 as a statement of fact. Is it? Teams who go through as much change as Bristol City do will experience less detailed coaching. The coaching cannot logically be as periodized and as intense as those that do not. 

Basics are coached in. 

[Jerseybean]

11 minutes ago, Olé said:

I have to say, I said exactly this last night.

I posed the question how does a team with

1. the undoubted talent and record investment in good players
2. the relentless detailed coaching Johnson is routinely praised for

seem to make such a ridiculous number of basic mistakes game after game, which to my eyes, certainly recently, is the biggest difference between us and opponents - give the ball away, don't close down player, missed tackle, missed finish, misplaced pass. It's endemic and while I know confidence is part of it, these are the basics we're mainly talking about.

It can't be because they're rubbish players because see: 1. It can't be they're not coached or prepared properly on what to do, see 2 (unless the whole Johnson coaching pedigree as widely reported is a myth). So just maybe the problem is they're over-coached, they are not able to think about the basics as they're too busy trying to execute a complex game plan.

I don't know if that qualifies as Occam's Razor but "over thinking things" seems to me to make more sense as an explanation for this team's propensity for mistakes, than anything else: I really don't accept that these are poorly recruited players (Nagy and Massengo both look worse than when we signed them). I also don't buy the idea another striker fixes this.

As always sensible and informed input Ole. I would add a couple of additional observations. 

1. I recall it being said that LJ needed x training sessions with new players in order to implant his coaching expertise. While I don’t remember what x was it was a lot! This suggests great detail and complexity.

2. As a fan I am now totally bored and fed up with LJ’s comments and language, particularly his post match contributions. Makes me think what the players, who hear him day in day out, must think.

I don’t see LJ departing this season, however, I am massively bothered by the situation and by our performances (not only recently) and wonder if it might be that he’s lost or is losing the changing room. If that happens it would/should accelerate decision making re his future.

 

[And Its Smith]

55 minutes ago, glen humphries said:

We have not got a problem scoring, we let in to many, it’s not rocket science the facts are there to see , we’re incompetent in midfield and defence, look at our goals conceded it’s obvious.

We can always improve in all areas but it seems clear to me that if we sign one player in January it has to be a striker. If we sign more than that then fine look at others 

[Olé]

20 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

Think of your 2 as a statement of fact. Is it?

I really don't know - I am simply assuming from all the people in football who comment about Johnson's coaching methods and his level of coaching detail and innovation, that if I'm looking for a problem it's not that his team's are going to be under-coached.

You say the basics are coached in which is to be expected, why then are players unable to focus on successfully executing the basics? It's not for lack of coaching the basics, of their technical ability to execute the basics, what then is the great distraction?

[Cowshed]

15 minutes ago, Olé said:

I really don't know - I am simply assuming from all the people in football who comment about Johnson's coaching methods and his level of coaching detail and innovation, that if I'm looking for a problem it's not that his team's are going to be under-coached.

You say the basics are coached in which is to be expected, why then are players unable to focus on successfully executing the basics? It's not for lack of coaching the basics, of their technical ability to execute the basics, what then is the great distraction?

Last season the team was not as porous. This season? What has altered?

If players make more basic errors it is normally a symptom of preparation and demands being shifted.

Technical ability of players is set more or less, sharpness, understanding of tasks is not. 

I made a point about periodised training. Great coaches think it takes months to feel at ease with changing system , seasons to internalise one style of play with high quality players. Lee Johnson has good and average.. 

 

[Redtucks]

6 hours ago, Olé said:

A local bus for me, and after Sheffield on Sunday it would be hard to get too upset about a wasted day, but in torrential rain and with plenty making the trip from Bristol, the mood on the way out of The Valley was not kind to manager Johnson. He still has no idea of his best team, they play like much less than the sum of their parts, and the football is awful.

I don't remember torrential rain at The Valley (maybe I was numbed by the defeat!!!).

It rained on the way to East London and started again as we approached Bristol on the way home.

I don't disagree with the rest of your report though.

 

 

 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, glen humphries said:

The midfield and defence is the problem Jon 

I don't think there is a problem there. It's who plays up top that is the main problem imo. I bet if Afobe had stayed fit then the rest of the team would defend better as we would not have to over compensate for a terrible strike force that we have.

[italian dave]

Despite your invitation @Olé I'm not going to disagree with your usual superb summary - wouldn't argue with any of the report or the scores. 

But I also shared your sense yesterday that this may have been a pivotal moment in LJ's tenure, that something has changed, and it's really hard to put a finger on it. For the fans, I think part of the problem yesterday was that many of us - unlike you! - had to endure a horrendous journey to even get there, 4-5 hours of constant rain and endless traffic jams meant we didn't arrive in the best of humour!

This isn't about LJ 'out' - for several reasons I'm not an advocate of any particular view on that:

a) because it's not a decision that I (or anyone else on here) either has to make, will make or really knows the facts well enough to make

b) because fundamentally I don't believe that changing managers is usually a solution: I've seen too many periods where we've changed managers every year and gone backwards, whilst the most successful spell I've ever seen was when we backed a manager for a long time through thick and (much) thin.

c) nothing annoys me more than the knee jerk reactions - which yesterday were staring even at half time on here - and the 'sack the manager' calls that epitomise the populist world we now seem to live in. Those three words are as negative, as meaning less and as solution-free as 'take back control' or 'get Brexit done'!

But there was lots yesterday that just left me as perplexed as you. Why do Nagy and Massengo look half the players they did in August? Why is the rock that we knew as Kalas now so inconsistent - yes, he saved us a few times yesterday but he also looked shockingly indecisive at others. How can we have two forwards who (individually both fine) have played with each other, and with others out there yesterday, for so long, and yet seem so totally unaware of each other and what they are going to do. The body language throughout the team just seemed poor. And the contract between Charlton's aggression - which was based on a commitment to a cause - and ours (you mentioned Rowe) which seemed to be based on being told to do it.And far less effective for it.

I've no idea what the reason is: LJ seems quite up and down after games nowadays, the strange departure of the U23 manager, all suggest as well that something's changed. I kept thinking back to Gary J's departure, when SL was at pains to say that it was all amicable, that the time was right, that he wanted it to happen when they were all still on good terms.....

But then I thought that it's only 3 weeks since we thought the world looked so rosy after Huddersfield and Fulham, and maybe by 12th Jan, after 4 back to back wins, it will look rosier again! Who knows!

[deadredfred]

1 hour ago, Olé said:

I really don't know - I am simply assuming from all the people in football who comment about Johnson's coaching methods and his level of coaching detail and innovation, that if I'm looking for a problem it's not that his team's are going to be under-coached.

You say the basics are coached in which is to be expected, why then are players unable to focus on successfully executing the basics? It's not for lack of coaching the basics, of their technical ability to execute the basics, what then is the great distraction?

Perhaps the assumption from within football is that his additional methods (drones, A&E visits, DNA, whatever) are on top of already sound and well grounded basic coaching skill set. At this point, they become the fine margins, the additional 1%’s here and there that LJ seems so keen to eek out. Which when your Guardiola’s and Klopp’s find these little areas for improvement, (and I think LJ does consider himself closer to these two than your Warnocks or Wilders for example), they can make the difference between 1 point and 3. 
 

I have no football coaching experience whatsoever, but I have managed people. My role as manager was to ensure that at any given moment, everyone working within my team knew exactly what they were doing, had the tools to do it, and were clear on how their role contributed to the end goal. Basics really. What I would assume common sense, and the kind of approach I expect a Warnock side (agsin, for example) to have. No it’s not pretty when applied to football, but players well drilled in basics.

Similarly, I’ve had managers who had the fanciest self made spreadsheets to create reports on progress and productivity but had no skills whatsoever in man management or team leading, so confusion reigned and bluntly, people just weren’t clear on what’s required. 
 

someone made a great point re the players listening to LJ everyday. I can’t cope with his interviews, can’t imagine what it’s like day in, day out. 

[Allwaysred]

7 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

I don't think there is a problem there. It's who plays up top that is the main problem imo. I bet if Afobe had stayed fit then the rest of the team would defend better as we would not have to over compensate for a terrible strike force that we have.

Afobe aside this is Johnson's side players he's brought in over the last few window's so no excuses but what I do question is what they are taught on the training ground as it's clearly not the basics as we are still making the same mistakes we did 2 seasons ago... I looked at that team yesterday and not only is it clear how unbalanced we are but dreadfully weak in key area's still. Personally I don't think LJ can identify the correct players for what's needed in this division and if you look at the dead wood we've managed to accumulate it's criminal.... for me loans in January and see where we end up and hopefully say thanks to LJ & Co and build again as our football is absolute dross and he's taking us know where. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Allwaysred said:

Afobe aside this is Johnson's side players he's brought in over the last few window's so no excuses but what I do question is what they are taught on the training ground as it's clearly not the basics as we are still making the same mistakes we did 2 seasons ago... I looked at that team yesterday and not only is it clear how unbalanced we are but dreadfully weak in key area's still. Personally I don't think LJ can identify the correct players for what's needed in this division and if you look at the dead wood we've managed to accumulate it's criminal.... for me loans in January and see where we end up and hopefully say thanks to LJ & Co and build again as our football is absolute dross and he's taking us know where. 

We have some of the better championship defenders, a quality goalie and many midfielders to choose from. So like you say it's LJs instructions /coaching that are the problem.

[cheshire_red]

Working yesterday, half an eye on Final Score. 20 odd minutes OFF ROWE BRISTOL City. FFS. That's it we've lost. 1-2 wahey they've galvanised. 3-2 typical City. Read Ole's report no mention of sending off, absolutely typical Lee Johnson's City, no bottle. 

[RedRock]

The pattern is as ever.

The strikers don’t score/look a threat. Confidence drains from the midfield, then spreads to the defence, then the keeper.

Happened since the dawn of time.

 

Bloody obvious what’s going on, but not to our management team. 

Fed up with the excuses now. Get someone in who has some experience and doesn’t need to refer to textbooks. A manager that uses ‘gut instinct’,  not ‘The Theory of Football’ manuals.

 

 

[glen humphries]

33 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

I don't think there is a problem there. It's who plays up top that is the main problem imo. I bet if Afobe had stayed fit then the rest of the team would defend better as we would not have to over compensate for a terrible strike force that we have.

We don’t have a problem scoring, we do have a problem defending.