Kibs

The problem is, relatively dominant performances like that are rather uncommon for City, so to say “keep playing like that and we’ll win far more….” is a bit pointless tbh, because it’s a performance that shows up only a handful of times a season. That’s the reality. 
 

Goals have dried up and confidence is starting to drain which is such a big part of it. Id love to be wrong but I think some are kidding themselves if they don’t think we could be amongst those scrambling for safety. 
 

The World Cup break can’t come soon enough. We need players back and a reset mentally. 

Does this mean we don’t have to worry about Pearson going to Leicester? Phew!!! 

21 minutes ago, Dolman_Stand said:

Agree he is a great player but of the current England squad who's place would he take?

Any one of the 18 defenders in the squad! 

1 hour ago, AppyDAZE said:

I like him, but the more times I see their first goal and watch him trying to bring that ball down on his toe, the more I wonder what planet did he think he was on?

It is a dreadful decision, especially in such a game against somebody like Pukki.

Shocking really. Has to learn by this surely!

Yeah that was the one that really was bizarre. I'm not sure whether it was arrogance or stupidity? I can kind of accept the ones where he steps into midfield and his passes get picked off, or he tries to break the lines and the ball gets nicked, but that one was absolutely insane. Trying to bring a ball down coming out of the sky over his left shoulder, with the outside of his left foot, facing his own goal, whilst under pressure from a striker. Even if he does somehow turn into Lionel Messi for a second and brings it down, what does he do next!? Just head it/volley it out for a throw. 

I really like the guy, I love what he brings to the team, not just his ability but his attitude and leadership. Everything we've been missing. I managed to speak with him after the Sunderland game and he was absolutely devastated, you could see what it means to him but he really needs to sharpen up his decision making - which I'm sure he is well aware of. 

Potter has to take it IMO. Even with putting the money aside......

1. You don't know when or even if, an opportunity like this will come around again.

2. BHA are currently riding the crest of a wave, whilst it's possible they could have an amazing season, there's a fair chance they fade away.

3. Even if he goes to Chelsea and gets sacked within 6 months, his BHA success won't be forgotten that quickly and he likely lands another decent job. 

I can’t believe he’s being compared to Neil Kilkenny. Unbelievable.

Never saw Kilkenny drive forward, play at pace, make a tackle (ever), rush opposition players into mistakes, steal the ball, win a header, break the lines. 

The only similarity is that they both play in midfield! 

We are a different team when he is on his game and we play a more youthful, dynamic midfield IMO. Easy to forget his young age, he’ll go on to far better things than Bristol City.

Fair, but we were also losing in this one. Twice. 

He completely changes our team when he's fit, as much in an attacking sense as a defensive one. The ability to step forward into the middle of the pitch and beyond is something we've missed desperately ever since Webster left us, and Luke Ayling before that. By stepping forward, he takes 2 or 3 of the opposition players out of the game and gives us a numerical advantage in the opposition half. Suddenly we have multiple passing options. It's even more important when we play with a back 5 IMO.

When we don't do this, it often ends up with a hopeful, lofted, 40/50 yard pass forward from one of the CB's into Martin (who was excellent yesterday btw) and we risk giving the ball straight back. 

I'd love to see Kalas the other side of Klose doing the same thing. 

Job done. That was my “hope” at the start of the season, sadly. 
 

Would like to see better next season despite the budget restrictions. 
 

Some positives:

The youngsters (Scott, Benarous, Pring, Semenyo). More games for Joe Williams. Jay Dasilva return to form. Emergence of Robbie Cundy. Atkinson - very good first season all things considered. Weimanns goals. 

Hopefully an opportunity to offload a couple more high earners in the summer and bring in some hungrier players. 

54 minutes ago, CliftonCliff said:

And Pearson agrees with you, as do I. He stated quite explicitly yesterday that it is not a question of players’ abilities, but of the culture of the club, both on and off the pitch, which is also what many of us are arguing - and have been doing so for years.

It is an incredibly difficult task to change the ingrained culture of any organisation. Ask those at the top of the Metropolitan Police. Only a strong personality like Pearson, who is not afraid to speak truth to power, has any chance of turning it around.

As for the strategy the club is supposed to be founded on, there have been plenty of sound principles that it would be hard to disagree with. It’s the implementation that has been woeful. The explanation for that is to be found in the Boardroom, as again, many OTIB members have pointed out over and over.

In another thread yesterday, someone said (quite rightly and for the umpteenth time) “the problem lies at the very top”, and I responded by pointing out the blindingly obvious - that this is a much more profoundly difficult problem to fix than a need for change in the manager’s office or the dressing room. It would require that those at the very top recognise that the problem is at the very top. With apologies for repeating myself, it’s about as likely as Putin resigning because he massively miscalculated over Ukraine.

Don’t hold your breath.

Agree with a lot of that - I just think that in-spite of it, he should be doing better on the pitch. I guess that’s where views differ. 
 

Yesterday, many of the players were either his players, or the players he trusts. 

750-1 on SkyBet if anyone is genuinely worried! 

I think he has a lot to offer, and he knows the components required to make a CLUB successful. I’m just not convinced he can do that as the first team manager without some of the previous staff he’s been successful with. 

I don’t buy the view that nobody else could do better. Surely in the time he’s been here, It’s more likely that nobody could have done much worse isn’t it? If you looked at a 92 club league table from when Pearson was in charge, I’m fairly sure we’d be very close to the bottom! 

https://experimental361.com/2021/12/30/2021-league-table/amp/
 

I am also getting really fed up with him blaming everyone but himself. He’s part of it whether he likes it or not. Take responsibility and take it on the chin. 

Despite all of that, I’d still like to see him given more time. The summer window and the first 15 or so games of next season at least. If I’m completely honest with myself, at the start of the season I’d have accepted staying up - I just think this squad has a bit more talent than is given credit for and could have accrued quite a few more points. 

In an ideal world, I’d really like to see him in a more senior role with more control at that level but the Lansdowns would never go for that anyway. 

He reminds me of Tony Dinning 

Very disappointing so far. Had high hopes.
 

His return to the side has also coincided with our rubbish form of the last 8 games or so. Probably played our best football this season when he was injured.

Sounds like he’s had enough to me - of the players and the owner.

You have to wonder who he’s blaming in terms of personalities/character (today’s performance) because of the 10 outfield players:  

He signed Klose, Atkinson, James. He often praises Williams, Martin and Weimann. Scott is a youngster who he rates highly, Cundy is new to this level and Dasilva had a reasonable game. That only leaves Wells and the subs who came on. Who is he blaming? 

Good point lads, well done! 

You don’t need to pay transfer fees to put together a decent squad. Doesn’t concern me at all and it shouldn’t be used as an excuse next season.
 

Plenty of clubs have put together decent sides on minimal budget. Providing the recruitment is well planned, it shouldn’t really be a problem. 
 

How many money signings did the likes of Luton, Coventry, Huddersfield make between them this season? Not many I bet.

Their fitness will be building game by game (as will Matt James tbf), so hopefully we’ll see more games like yesterday. 

It’s probably not as bad as it seems and we’ve likely had a few go our way too but we do seem to have been on the wrong end of a ridiculous number of incorrect/bad decisions this season.

I was under the impression that it was pretty common practice at most high level professional sports clubs. Be very surprised if we didn’t use one. 

As frustrating as hell as this season has been, I’d have thought he’s got plenty of time on his side yet. 

2 minutes ago, Finley_Smith10 said:

I don’t think we’ll get anyone better or I’m not Pearson out atm but 30 defeats in 54 games is an absolute joke

Jesus christ is that genuinely his record?! 

2 hours ago, Club and Country said:

Out of interest why would you be amazed?

they are absolutely flying , the only hope would be they’ve peaked too early?

Agree - in fact, I think they’ll comfortably make the playoffs and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they nicked an automatic  spot.
 

Wont be a popular opinion but fair play to Barton, he’s really turned it around. 

Not convinced Bell will even make it as a striker at this level - in fact, I’ll be surprised if he does. Remember watching him at Forest Green and thinking he was miles off it. Other than being nippy (not lightening quick by any means), I don’t see anything in him at all. Sorry. Lives off his name abit with a few of the fans IMO. 

Even against a Coventry, where he was under no pressure whatsoever due to their standoff tactics, he didn’t want the ball and almost always took the very easy option of cutting back and giving it back to Kalas. To be honest, it was evident that the players didn’t want to give it to him anyway.

The fact that Pearson thinks he is our best option at RB is absolutely bizarre and extremely worrying.

Don’t agree with Matty James coming straight in either. Our young, mobile, energetic & athletic midfield has been one of the few positives lately. It allows us to play through teams and even put them on the back foot. No need to rip that up. I’d be delighted as an opposition manager to see James and Williams playing. Not going to break the lines too often that’s for sure. 

I’m losing patience with Pearson (AKA “Nige”). We’d be at serious risk of going down without all the points deductions and we’re not quite safe yet. 

Collection of errors but doesn’t change my mind at all from first viewing last night.

If I’m HNM, there is no way that player is getting a pass or shot off after I’ve made the initial error. Stopping the attack by any means  necessary gives us the best chance of not conceding. Sorry. 

It doesn’t detract from an excellent performance btw because some of the football we played last night was a joy to watch. Such a young team and hopefully next time, he doesn’t think twice.