Scrumpys Dietary Advisor..

and the one thing that all of these have in common is that none of them would accept or put up with being told what to do by JL who is the biggest obstacle to this club actually going anywhere as he blocks ideas by his own team that could move us forward There was a MASSIVE amount of anger around the club just before NP's appointment. Amongst many others, I made a post at the time saying if we appoint one more "yes" man, then the club would lose a large chunk of the fan base.. We had NP for 2-ish years but he obviously dished out one too many unpalatable truth for JL and was exited and we have now reverted to type with our leaders thinking that that we have forgotten about the string of forelock tuggers that went before . Well, NO WE HAVEN'T... Don't get me wrong, I was really hoping that LM would succeed, there were some early signs that looked good. We moved the ball at pace and attacked but now the team has also reverted to type and Tommy must be dreaming of the kind of forward ball that he got at West Ham. That is what he is good at, so why have we stopped passing the ball forward...? This is pretty much going to guarantee that we lose any remaining academy players with any ability and the will to succeed. Tommy has probably made up his mind that he doesn't want to be up front on his own making pointless runs and gathering dust because noone will play a forward ball or cross to him. Why would anyone stay for that... LM may well yet do well, I hope he does, but it is going to take a very swift move away from the current style if this is going to happen We may be in luck though as it will soon be season ticket renewal time and an increasing amount of empty red seats on match day and a poor take up of renewals will ratchet up the pressure...

Maybe we should ask Scotty to dust off his boots and show them how it's done...

Said it before, we are ok against teams who cone to play... We simply have no clue how to break down the scrappers and cloggers

I was thinking exactly the same as the OP He was never given a chance and I do remember the usual short sighted comments on here from a few saying he was nothing to write gone about, which of course you can tell from 30 seconds on the pitch (3 appearances in total) At least someone in our organisation had the insight to get him on books but then the usual behaviour kicked in...

The problem is not manager specific IMO, it is a problem we have had for a very long time in that we can be very good against teams that come to play, but we absolutely do not have that nasty, win by any means streak that you need to deal with the scrappers and cloggers We haven't had a mean bone in our body since Flint left and you just know that we would be hopeless at it and be down to 8 men if we tried Where is the spark, the desire to win. It's all very well taking the plaudits for wins like Southampton but when we really need to get stuck in and roll teams over, I struggle to think of anyone, apart from Cam Pring maybe who would step up to the plate and do the "professional" stuff You gave GOT TO HAVE THIS in a team if you are going to get anywhere

The "bottom half" syndrome thing is easy to diagnose. Top half teams are confident, they don't feel the need to play a game to contain us, they feel that their football will be good enough to overcome us relay on this and set up to attack us rather than stifle us We like those games, we are better at them because we don't have to unlock teams, we can play our way through them and we're quite good at it When it comes to the bottom half, teams come to defend and right now, we simply don't have the guile/ability to break them down. What's worse is that we don't seem to be able to fathom that unless you have players capable of a) making clever runs and b) playing a through ball, just passing the ball to each other for 90 minutes is pointless and also boring a **** in the bargain It will be exactly the same against Wednesday, we need to change it, do ANYTHING at this point, even hoofing it is in the equation but just DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT because walking football is the dullest thing ever... Thank you ....

Really couldn't disagree more. The contrast between this performance and the Millwall game was stark Against Millwall, we were passive, happy to retain possession and offered little threat I liked everything about today's game, and especially the second half, other than the fact that we didn't win. We had 3 free headers in front of the South stand, one of which should have gone in Today, we had an aggressive midfield, runners, many forward passes and, the thing I really liked was the hunting in packs. We pressed intensely at times and forced errors from Watford and, when we've got a bit more practice at it, teams will struggle to get out Watford played their part to be fair and I just thought it was a cracking game of football all round Kudos to Liam Manning for the turnaround and I think with another signing or 2, we will only get better. I like the shape this team us evolving into. Tommy will come into his element when we get there....

No, I didn't say we are doing the same things, I said we are TRYING to copy the style. The ball was repeatedly recycled a few times and then switched, but at 33 .1/3 speed rather than 45 or 78 rpm as Man City do it (one for our older readers) The amount of times the ball went backwards in Millwall's half was surreal. I can understand wanting to retain possession, but not at the expense of actually trying to score a goal

I think he would be booked and eventually sent off in trying to hang on to the ball for 90 minutes (but maybe there is something in this ..?)

I watched them do it first hand for 90+ mins against us and, that is EXACTLY what they did...

Yes I can, probably around £600m

I believe that is also part of Max's job description but the clue is in the title "goal keeper"

No, I have chosen not to answer it because I have no interest in discussing the merits of 8-1-1 v 2-6-2 add infinitum. The manager will decide what system he wants to play and what we say won't change that You can dress it up however you like but what it boils down to endless recycling of the ball, are you going to argue that point ..? I go back to my original post where my point is that copying possession based, constant recycling of the ball with no risks (like Man City do) is what will kill off the game we love as a spectator support because it is as boring as f__k...

And that is exactly the problem with modern football. Over complicated with mumbo jumbo to make it sound hard Football however is a very simple game. The fundamentals are very basic, constant movement and pass to a player in space, within the pattern of play that you chose (and practice in training) I dread to think what (2 times European Cup winner) Brian Clough would have made of the upside down, inverted camshaft formation. Now that truly is a load of bollox... p.s. Max's role is to keep the ball out of the net ..

Simple. In essence, Guardiola Ball is all about endless probing and recycling of the ball until they find a way through. On Monday, we did the endless recycling bit but that is mostly where it ends...

And you've just validated my point. We don't have any of these so why try to play like we do ..?

Like everything, football has evolved re pitches, tackles etc which is good, but not all of it is for the better. Football has always been the game for the working classes. It has now become the province of all, which is fine, but it is the working man that makes football enjoyable and watchable. The North, and especially the Midlands haven't completely lost or forgotten that yet. I've been on The Holt End when it was at full steam and that really was an experience never to be forgotten. Wolves are similar Football is tribal, you love your team, it's everything that's what makes it but the truth is, the game is being sterlised for those with a passing interest, without total commitment for the "match day experience", a phrase I always find an abomination when applied to football So, take away what makes football, and it slowly dies

I still have faith in Tommy, a lot in fact. Maybe we should remember this from last year... https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/football/bristol-city/whisper-it-quietly-bristol-city-star-likened-to-alan-shearer-amid-impressive-start-to-season-3851403 Probably, things like this are a distraction but as some have astutely pointed out, Tommy is missing his wing man badly, both on and probably off the pitch. I don't know how well they get on but I am hoping that Ayman can fill this role, quality player A few of the comments on this post are beginning to go down the Antoine route. He was written off and got dogs abuse for ages but it was always clear to me that he had a) the ability and b) the mean streak and desire required to make it up the ladder, something I was also laughed at about but, he got what he wanted Tommy has it in him too, he just has to seize the day. The cameo performance against Rotherham showed us what he can do when he focuses his mind on the job WE just need more of that single mindedness from Tommy which we know he has, and for us to get behind him, and he will be back in the news again in no time

I can't do anymore reactions today so just to say, this post pretty much nails it. Virtually nothing of interest happened yesterday and the lack of it pretty much killed the atmosphere stone dead Football is all about passion and excitement, something to get you going to relieve the mundane nature of life, it NEEDS this to survive. Displays like yesterday will spell the end as a live spectator sport. If I want chess, I'll watch or play chess. When I watch football, I want 2 teams going at each other, blood and thunder style so, win lose or draw, I have something to talk/shout about As for players not being brave, why is that .? We know they can be, so what is stopping them. LM is not the first manager to suggest this .. Whilst not wishing to highlight players, I must ask what is going on with George Tanner. I rate him highly but at the moment, he looks like he will be fined a month's wages if he passes the ball forward. Back to you ..

My concern is the style if football we are playing and particularly the impact it has on our crowd. Bore everyone stupid and they'll think twice about coming back

Not sure what your point is. As you've dug out my old post, you will have also noted that I have been on this forum for 13 years and don't post every 5 minutes... I post when I see things that concern me and today was one of those days. The type of football we are trying to play is killing the atmosphere in stadia That is A MASSIVE CONCERN...

Agreed, Tommy is a forceful player when he is on his game but he looks lost and a shadow of himself at the moment playing up front on his own.(although part of me wonders about not playing too well in the transfer window) We just bounced off them today

100% agree. The football was verging on the final LJ days in terms of not wanting to play forwards All managers should have time to implement their ideas but I'm concerned that JL has committed to the Playstation football ethos. Anything but that please

I missed that, I'd stuck pins in my eyes by then....

Thanks for the admonishment from the only adult in the room... 3 or 4 more similar performances will see a lot more empty red seats. My opinion is a concern for the future of this club You nay have experienced a hostile or negative atmosphere before but I repeat, the ground was totally SILENT in the latter stages, quite disconcerting