Shuffle

Agree with Weimann & Bell being our least effective players & Cornick was decent when he came on but for all his enthusiasm Yeboah offers little in terms of end product. Weimann has to play centrally for me or not at all although understand with injuries he has to.

Yep not sure if he was bad enough to be brought off he would be available for Saturday. Didn’t hear the trust him to play through it comment but that is certainly a vote of no confidence . I know it wasn’t like for like but why didn’t we bring on Memehti for last 5 as 1-0 down & whilst congratulations to James on debut we ended up with 2 x 17 year olds on our left. God knows where Memehti’s head is at the moment but how do we get the player back we all saw when signed without playing him.

Now I haven’t been Pearson biggest fan and was one of those calling for his dismissal after West Brom game on Boxing Day. I can admit I was wrong. He’s significantly reduced our costs and worked with handcuffs on due to Lansdown tightening the purse strings. We have a club that has players who want to be here and fight for the shirt and a clear style of play & a pathway for academy. The fans are united behind Pearson so it would be so Lansdown like to shoot us in the foot by not extending his contract. I’ll always support this club as it’s mine and yours (despite our owners thoughts)and whilst I’ll be grateful to Lansdown for investment in infrastructure just let common sense prevail and give him a new contract. I fear from Pearson words that he knows he won’t get that and that is suicidal from a football perspective. Lansdown is in huge damage of people forgetting all the good & be remembered as the man who couldn’t be challenged or see sense when faced with a football decision.

Good player that Sam Bell Good player that Sam Bell

His best game for me on Saturday as was brilliant. The balance in midfield not quite right for me as we lack creativity but Knight/James are certain starters with the other place up for grabs.

Last week at Leicester, I thought he was very good & used the ball well but yesterday I thought he was really poor & wasteful. Also could have done better to stop cross for third goal. Whilst he can cover RB, I thinks it’s clear that he’s a CM. All about opinions and maybe I’m being harsh but his two recent performances were like chalk & cheese.

Naismith in general defends well but come the last 15 mins seems to lose his discipline and becomes loose in his passing. Ultimately, we all knew we were light at CB with Atkinson injured & compounded now by Vyner injury. We have such limited options & Lansdowns budget strategy needed us to remain injury free which we aren’t. Naismith does need to be better as a senior pro but let’s not lose sight of the tightened budget as that’s the only reason he’s at CB as no options.

Spot on & said the same on another thread as was embarrassing.

Luke Thomas has suffered from mental health & this is bullying in the workplace and gross misconduct. What a disgusting bloke Barton is & as a player who in their right mind would want to play for him as it could be your turn next. In fairness even the most biased Rovers fans who defend them at all costs are calling this out. Can the PFA do anything about this?

I have no issue with Weimann coming on as a 10 or advanced 8 but not as a left sided attacker. He did well to play in TGH when he took a ridiculous first time shot and worked hard to keep ball in play but struggling to think of anything else that stood out. Flip side he hesitated in mix up with Max that could have been a pen and sat on the floor pleading for a foul that wasn’t as players from Stoke were pouring forward. Still protesting with ref after Stoke winner. Just watched third back & watch Naismith recovery run after missing header he just walks. Prings header puts us under big pressure and again we don’t track runs and leave a tap in for their sub. It came from their goal kick and was a shit show. What I’m puzzled over is how the hell do we get Memehti back firing as looked really good when signed. At a time where money is tight we need to find a way to get our £1m signing on the grass. I know his decision making is suspect but he must feel lower than a snakes belly seeing Weimann/Bell in front of him. I’m not saying he deserves a start but seems not to be trusted.

Can’t be terrific in every department when you concede 3 in any game. Granted we should have won but just lost to a poor side

Good post & agree with players singled out especially TGH. He came on & demanded the ball & tried to drive us forward & was positive throughout. Looks a good player & gives us legs in midfield that both James & Williams struggled to provide admittedly against a top side . I agree midfield hasn’t got the right balance & TGH looks like he could be more creative than current 3. You cannot change it yet as would be unfair after some good performances but TGH is wasted at RB & will force himself in probably at expense of Williams.

Also said we had good squad depth which if you’re considering 17 outfield players enough then fine. Then said we need to be lucky with injuries but what if we aren’t Phil as surely we needed to plan for that & I don’t just mean TGH to cover RB. Seems the fact that Nige consistently said that Knight was signed to play with Scott that there wasn’t a plan B if he went, as Scott had to be sold as we already had purchased his replacement & added to squad. Geoff Twentyman was a hard act to follow but felt interviewer didn’t challenge or probe further. Fine if Lansdown doesn’t want to fund it as his choice but move the club on then Steve & drop this our budget is higher than Luton’s and they went up,so we can on comparable budget.

Spoke to a couple of City analysts on the way back and their view on crucial decisions were as follows: 2 disallowed goals for offside were correct Disallowed goal by Knight should have stood Yellow card correct decision as man on cover Sykes - should have been a penalty for push in back Naismith handball - should have been a pen What a performance & some awayday & the lift we all needed

City were 1-0 up v Notts Forest a couple of seasons back when the assistant referee put the board up with 5 added minutes to play. City then proceed to concede 2 goals and inexplicably end up losing the game. City are well set for the 23/24 season with 15k season tickets sold & a talented squad giving everyone huge optimism after a few years struggle. City then proceed to sell their best player for £25m & suffer injuries to key players. City (Lansdown) then inexplicably choose not to reinvest any of the monies or to address star boy leaving or injuries thus turning a fan base full of optimism to pessimistic supporters overnight. Both the situations above caused me massive grief but I can forgive the first as us being naive & not deliberate but the second is sheer stupidity and spiteful to not just Nige but to everyone who follows OUR beloved reds.

I will be eternally grateful to the Lansdown family for the amazing infrastructure that they have delivered & years of financial support. I think what should be a fantastic legacy is or will become tainted with many for the decision to cut the budget. I get that you want costs down prior to a sale but Lansdown will be remembered for turning his back at a time when his club needed him as we are a couple of injuries away from this season that started with huge optimism becoming a disaster and struggle.

Now as a fan of many years & seen the lows of 82 & 3 back to back relegations, I keep going because I’m Bristolian & whilst they tempt your patience I genuinely love the club. As a fan, I’m bemused by the timing of wage constraints after an extensive focus on squad reduction & raising £25m for Scott. We clearly need signings & help & Pearson after doing everything he’s been asked to do must be thinking what’s the point as the club could be perceived as setting him up for failure. If I was Nige with no financial imperative to work & no long term affinity with club & my boss kept asking me to deliver when asking me to cut costs & lose my best players then I’d think why bother & walk. Perhaps it says more about me but what is the motivation for him to stay? Genuinely can’t see why you’d stay & nobody could blame him if he did walk unless he knows that’s what Lansdown wants.

He seems a shadow of the player who joined the club & looks a terrible signing for a £1m when we all thought we’d got a bargain. Clearly has ability and there’s a player in there but his decision making is terrible & not sure how you coach that. Seems to be playing with fear & confidence has completely drained. Coupled with Cornick on the other side & we are toothless.

The big positive on the night was Yeboah who was very good. We were well beaten & carry no threat at all. The signings of Cornick & Memehti look poor now & King can’t influence a game anymore & certainly not last 90. Thought Dickie (rolled again for goal), Roberts & Tanner were dreadful & expect TGH to start at RB on Saturday. it’s going to be a long season & night made more depressing by news that no new signings as squad not good enough as it is.

Unfortunately the fans are the only ones loyal. I would have loved him to stay as a top defender for me.

In fairness to Barton any money made from Twitter paywall is going to Nick Anderton

That’s fine & you should work on premise of 2 players for every position so at face value we look fine. The reality is that at GK we have 2 understudy’s who have never played a league game & have Atkinson, Conway out until November & Benarous out again after 2 ACL injuries & unfortunately we have McCrorie out for an unspecified period. That’s before you add in other injuries that will happen on top of the above & suspensions. I think we all know we are light & even if we have numbers in certain positions the jury is still out regarding quality. Just seems we are taking an avoidable risk. Nobody is expecting multiple signings but to stop at TGH is crazy although I know you agree.

Just curious but does the £700k loan fee cover his wages or are they on top?

Head past the HPC which will be on the left & take first left at Lights & park on the main road. Not sure if this is Weston Rd as advised by @Claverham_Red