Sturgess

A replay with the prize of an uninspiring 4th round draw… Can’t help but think focus should be on the league and doing all we can to stay up.

Try again now…

I was using the term loosely, but there may well be some monies through either sale of “assets” or off-loading wages of those that won’t be here next season. Basically, something needs to give. What’s the point in an experienced manager who will come with a commensurate wage if you won’t/can’t back him.

I've steadfastly supported Pearson and the challenges he's faced with constrained ability to make signings, but the January transfer window really does feel pivotal. Without some quality additions, this really is shaping up for a relegation battle. The board need to make some money available (even if it's through offloading some "star players") or let Pearson go.

Nope, getting 'Error establishing a database connection' Correction: now back up and running!

Never mind. Maybe “twice” should’ve been “two” ?

Twice at least

Thank god this season is finally over!

Back up now. Saved having to listen to the usual pre-match spiel about Bristol City Women

Yeah, this has the potential to be chaotic and heart-attack inducing! ?

And thereby not have the numbers he needs to get through this season? The mass clear out occurred, but there were always going to be a few in the grey zone with an opportunity to stay… some have taken their chance, others less so, be it down to mentality or they are already maxing out their ability and it isn’t at the level we need.

Exactly! Pure shortsightedness. as you say, this time next season, fair game… but you can’t judge the final product until it’s built. Nige presents hope and a pathway… even if it’s a bumpy ride. What’s the alternative, let’s become a chop and change ‘tactical’ club, never permitting for time for ‘strategy’.

Always optimistic, but in this case, it has to be a successful one in terms of incoming quality. Bristol City became a very comfortable environment for coasting, gradually, players are being made accountable for their effort and that by and large has improved from the pre-Pearson era. It’s taken time, but you can see that. The next piece of the puzzle has to be upping the quality within the squad. If you expect that to happen in one summer window, you’ll be paying for it (and we can’t). However, Bristol City will be far more appealing for players this summer than last. Absence of the above (allowing the manager time) will just see a perpetual cycle of short-term positions and manager rotations… I’d much rather allow Nige to build and take the blips during said transition.

How different it could've been, had Weimann played in Pring as opposed to go for the much more difficult Semenyo pass. Ah well! Really want this season to be over now... whilst I think we'll stay up, I'm really looking ahead to the summer when Nigel hopefully make his mark in the way of signings.

As frustrating as it is to be seeing another win slip from our grasp in the closing minutes, what a world apart we are from the boring, negative football of recent seasons gone by! In Nige we trust!

Guessing we get a few quid for product placement. Maybe we should get the youth team MoM awards sponsored by Appletiser. Consistent identity from youth to first team.

Did they sail here?

The lights weren’t completely off, just a small number due to the power issues, with the pitch still well illuminated.

I know you could say it's a combination of the physical effort put in first half, confidence and a bit of "game management", but I do feel we overdo slowing the game down - and that's from Bentley forward. It almost invites the opposition to come at you. I just wish we could find the confidence to keep up the positive positions, intentions and press!

Really?! Yes, past highs. You know, challenging for promotion, cup runs… it was in our grasp. Does that help?

Minded to agree here, begrudgingly. He needs the opportunity to sign ‘Pearson’ players… the challenge for him is bringing the other players along and getting them to perform until we boot them out! Oh how we have lost our way from past highs.

And you honestly expect it’d be any different ?

Yeah, you could just see how it was shaping up. Full back to centre back, centre back to centre back, then only to play it back to originating full back... and lose possession. Show some balls and try to create something positive and moving towards the target!

If only it were so simple. These players have been on a repeat playlist for years, the manager(s) being the album(s).

Yep, feels like we are stuck with this until the Jan window at least - and that is if Lansdown realises he needs to magic some spending to buy some professional football players. I think we know the manager is often the easy picking though