Supersonic Robin

5 hours ago, BCFCGav said:

I wonder if this isn’t a bit of a must win. Not in terms of where we are in the table but in terms of where we could be after our following 3 (QPR, Fulham, Millwall at the den). Let’s do Luton tonight, take the pressure off those games. COYRRRR

Could be seen as a bit of a must win with regard to finally getting an elusive home win.

Next 2 home games after this are Fulham and Bournemouth - 2 very challenging fixtures.

Fail to win tonight and it could well be another month or so without a win at home 

The atmosphere tends to influence the nature of games IMO - a strong atmosphere causes an increase in intensity on the pitch (of course it could be argued that the cause/effect is reversed). IIRC many of the championship games played without fans during the pandemic felt a bit slower

There are examples of an atmosphere allowing a home side to come from behind or achieve an upset, but (obviously) the key factor is still the ability of the teams on the pitch. In that sense, a good atmosphere probably won't win you games. e.g. Despite the "famous Elland Road atmosphere", Liverpool still battered Leeds this weekend. 

In terms of good form caused by atmospheres, a lot of it may be more about psychology....does the away team feel that the away ground is a "tough place to go" and lose confidence? Or inversely in our case, do away teams have a boost of confidence in thinking that AG is an "easy place to go"? (regardless of whether the atmosphere actually makes such feelings accurate)

Felt a winnable game before kick off, but one of our more disappointing performances so far this season IMO.

Seemed a real lack of quality from both teams at times. Thought we looked rather blunt going forward and a bit more leaky at the back than I'd have liked.

Suppose we were always going to have a few games like that this season. No disaster, but a bit underwhelming.

On a positive note - Massengo looked excellent again.

I do appreciate why many Ipswich fans are rather reluctant to listen to our point of view. Everyone gets excited by new signings, and most of us (myself included) were impressed with some of Ashton's work before the truth of the situation ultimately became apparent.

Having said that, there does seem to be a bit of naivety among some Ipswich fans on their forum....

• If he was a brilliant CEO and we were just bitter about losing him, would there not be more positive wishes to him from our fans? Would the negativity from our end perhaps be a bit less consistent? Would his departure have still won Champagne Moment of the Year?

• Similarly, if Ashton had done so well here, would his next step not be to something slightly grander than Ipswich? No disrespect to Ipswich Town, but MA has of course taken a step down into L1. Perhaps the move is driven by the salary they're offering him - if so, do you think he justifies that salary?

• I've seen some Ipswich supporters claim that we "unfairly blame him for our poor recruitment and injuries". Have they looked into why that is? If you fire the previous recruitment team and say "**** it, I'll do it myself", does the responsibility not then fall on you? Have they looked into the many dubious staff appointments MA has made here and elsewhere?

If you apply a little bit of thought to it, the idea that we're simply jealous of MA leaving falls apart pretty quickly. Who knows, it may all work out for him there, but Ipswich fans would be wise to at least listen our warning rather than attempt to drown it out with jibes.

24 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Immense.

Has a little bit of everything, mobile, uses the ball very well, wins challenges, finds space, available for a pass, always goal side when we are defending.

Really rate him, only 30 last month, looks a great acquisition.

Think I recall hearing someone (Pearson? Rennie?) saying that James is effectively a "young thirty" as he's played so few games over the last few years.

Could have a few more years in him than we might expect, too.

We knew Boro away was likely to be a tough game. Regardless of result, I was really hoping that we'd at least be competitive today. Those who watched the full game, did we compete? Or was it another easy/simple game for our opposition?

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

That's what I was told

Sorry, to clarify - you were told what exactly?

That TK has handed in a transfer request? Or that we are relatively open to selling him?

2 minutes ago, City_USA said:

I'm starting to worry that there's something seriously wrong behind the scenes at our beloved club if the rumours about Kalas are true. When was the last time 2 senior players have handed in a transfer request at the same time?

Have there been rumours that Kalas has asked to leave? I don't recall seeing/hearing that

13 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

I didn't mention relative comparisons but we'll find out soon. What I did highlight is our squad is largely crap by what traditionally is required to thrive in The Championship. Are we improved from the side that got us here? In my opinion, NO.

But there's nothing that leads me to believe (Derby aside who I believe have no players) we're superior to any of those mentioned. Results & performances will inform.

7 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Ask any Blackpool fan Saturday which player of ours they'd covet?  Few, that's for sure.

Agree we're not in a position to thrive. But are we in a position to survive and finish lower midtable? Absolutely. 

I imagine the vast majority of those clubs mentioned (including Blackpool) would happily snap up a large chunk of our first XI were it possible for them to do so.

Looking at the Blackpool comment the other way around - how many of Blackpool's team would we take in our "first XI"? I can't say I'd be keen on very many at all.

I understand your general frustrations, but I just think you're being a little melodramatic in some of your comments mate. IMO, we're a slightly below average squad, performing notably below our ability level. That, for me, is possibly the biggest frustration about our current predicament.

14 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

So a keeper who's a decent shot stopper but who has no command of his box, interacts woefully with his defence and who every time the ball gets pumped into the box has us on the edge of our seats.

Vyner, defensively weak. Going forward? He doesn't, because he can't.

Atkinson, not seen much of him. Could be OK but no athlete from first view & recalls Flint (who to remind was awful, excellent, then awful in equal measure.)

James - we might get something from him - defensive ain't that difficult to play. Offensive he ain't, his best years are long gone, and will he last?

Williams, I thought Rob Edwards was sicknote personified until Williams appeared. Don't care how good a player he is as he'll deliver **** all from the treatment room.

Semenyo, has showed what he can do. Flipping burgers for a living and earning a few bob turning out for an 8th tier outfit. If we're placing our hopes in him Pearson should have the decency to throw in the towel. Extensively proven he can't do it in lower leagues; why persist?

Palmer - flat track bully. Of use only when 2 up with 10 mins to play at home. Talented yet gives the ball away at will. Were that in offensive attempts I'd understand - it's usually in the direction of our goal. Overall liability at this level, which is why nobody else fancied him.

Wiemann. Flaps like a chick about to leave the nest. Plummets to reality like the chick that left the nest but didn't make it. Nearly gets there, never does. Career record of 1 in 6+, which given one or two useful years earlier in his career doesn't bode well for us. Reduces us by one when his name is on the teamsheet.

Wells - £ for £ the biggest waste of time and space ever to appear at AG ( & we've had some donkeys in my time.) I'd like to think of something positive he brings to the squad , but as that isn't pace, movement, touch, retention or ability in front of goal, I'm reduced to that fact he's possibly a 'joker' or 'good in the dressing room'. In which case I'd concur. It's a joke he's still here; his best position is in the dressing room.

And if that's our best XI Div1 and lower is fully deserved.

Not a glowing review of our squad! Surely this is a wind up mate? Most of those statements are, with respect, ludicrous.

You really think that our squad, man-for-man, is one of the 3 poorest in the division? Poorer than Derby, Blackpool, Peterborough, Hull, Huddersfield, Preston, Coventry, Birmingham etc? 

5 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

We made their keeper make 1 save, plus the goal. 

It's wasn't dire, but let's not kid ourselves that it was anywhere near good. 

Any top half team would have destroyed us and Blackpool could easily have equalised before they did. 

I wouldn't worry too much about the shots on target....the chances were there and that's what matters.

Okay, Weimann, King etc didn't hit the target from 8 yards out, but it's the fact that we're creating shooting opportunities in dangerous areas that's important.

I guess it depends on your definition of "good", but we were comfortably the better team IMO. How often has that been the case in the last 18 months? For me, Saturday was a clear improvement on most of last season (at least performance wise).

I personally don't agree that "any top half team would have destroyed us", and in the same way that Blackpool could have scored sooner, we could have been 2 or 3 ahead.

25 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

We don't and therein lies the problem.

22 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Are we? IMHO were bang on track given that 'talent' (sic,) at our disposal.

5 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

I don't blame Holden. I blame the sh*te squad Johnson built in his image. A multitude of players who wouldn't look out of place in a pub team.

Do you think you might be being a tad harsh on our squad? By no means are we world beaters, but man-for-man our squad should be (somewhat comfortably) good enough to survive relegation IMO. And of course, the team we put out tonight should be capable of beating FGR.

I think the idea that our squad is simply dreadful and that results like tonight are to be expected are inaccurate.

A potential XI of:

Bentley

Vyner Kalas Atkinson Dasilva

James Williams

Semenyo Palmer Weimann

Wells

...should be nowhere near the relegation zone this season based purely on individual ability. 

For me the issues are more "team based" than "ability based". Fitness, patterns of play, defensive shape, set pieces, communication, confidence etc.

The momentum is my main worry right now.

The last thing this group of players needed was 2 bitterly disappointing results to start the season. Summer was a great chance for a mental reset and I felt like we'd achieved it 70 mins into the Blackpool game! Now I'm concerned that the last week could have caused any confidence built up in the squad to dissipate.

I'm not too worried about this season as a whole (relegation is unlikely IMO), but boy could this squad do with a confidence boost.

1 minute ago, Bar BS3 said:

Blackpool were probably the worst team we've played in the championship. 

We still couldn't win..! 

Agree the result was frustrating, but look at the performance. It was the first time in forever that we've created multiple good chances and have deserved to win a game. Shame to drop the points, but a clear improvement on last season IMO.

(and I'll certainly agree that Blackpool are the worst team we've played in the Championship this season )

We're just so Bristol City.....

How long until the "Start Janneh up front vs Middlesbrough - he's the best striker at the club!" posts start? 

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

Initially did thigh, but then hamstring, during rehab, then hamstring again on return to playing.

Is this the latest version of 'higher or lower'?

Just now, Bar BS3 said:

It's not quite the impact that many hoped for or expected. 

I've had NP as an unrealistic top of my wanted list for several years. 

Was amazed we got him - he speaks well, but I'm already doubting him. 

Some of his selections are odd, to say the least.

I' m usually one to back managers to the hilt - maybe because they've been unproven and needed time to learn on the job - but so far, I've been really disappointed with the impact that NP has produced in the pitch. 

I honestly can't see much different to anything that LJ or DH served up, but at least we won occasionally under them..! 

I thought we looked significantly better against Blackpool than we did for the last few months of Holden's reign 

My concern for Williams is outweighing my enthusiasm for the goal 

Just had a quick skim through the most recent pages of the matchday thread on the Blackpool forum.

Comments include:

"I thought City were poor. They were gifted a soft goal. We started the brightest and finished the brightest. If we’d have had a full strength team today we’d have beaten them."

"In fairness you could say we had more opportunities i think most bristol fans will be thankful for the point."

It's interesting how differently each teams' fans see the game! I felt we were quite comfortably (and clearly!) the better team today. Weirdly, I don't seem to recall our fans looking jubilant and relieved to have claimed a point at full time!

44 minutes ago, Marco the red said:

Current climate means his price has fallen in my opinion. We paid 2 mil? Can't see us getting that back.

Agree his price may have fallen relative to what we paid (though perhaps not by too much).

It does seem that Nagy has struggled to adapt to England (both on and off the pitch). A few good performance for us, but the majority of his appearances have been very "meh". I'm not too worried about losing his contributions. He's not a bad player, and I don't think it's due to lack of effort or commitment - it just hasn't worked out.

Central midfield probably is the one position in which we can sell without needing to buy a replacement. Hence, any money from a Nagy sale may be redirected elsewhere (to a striker or winger?). Not sure what kind of fee that might be - his price will likely have risen following the euros, and may now fall again if it's publicly known that he's asked to leave 

Thought our general standard of play was notably better than last season (not a huge challenge!). Shame we didn't convert the chances we made in the first half, but it's encouraging that we we're actually making some good chances.

I thought we looked quite comfortable for large parts of the game. Really disappointing that we weren't able to see it out and offered Blackpool a number of opportunities towards the end. 

Very much feels like a game we should have won - I really wasn't impressed with Blackpool. 2 points dropped.

54 minutes ago, YorkshireSection said:

Some new seats and filling in of the sides would make that part of the ground more aesthetically pleasing,I'm aware we don't need the extra capacity.

The Atyeo looks very dated in an otherwise ultra modern Ashton Gate.

 

I admit I haven't actually been in the Atyeo for almost 10 years, so it's hard for me to comment on just how worn out it may be.

I get the impression that there are a fair few stands in the Championship that are notably more old and nasty. Perhaps we would replace the seats, but even that seems unlikely given that it's used as the away end. Aesthetics probably falls quite a way down the list of priorities right now. 

My thinking would be that the Atyeo is the next stand to be rebuilt/redeveloped at a time when we want a notable increase in capacity (e.g. to 30k). Until then I imagine we'd be unlikely to bother with any significant developments, such as filling in the corners.

1 hour ago, CodeRed said:

No, it doesn't work like that.  The new developments are being made by Steve Lansdown and the companies he formed to develop the site that he acquired . The profit will flow to Steve Lansdown and his fellow investors in that company. Nothing to do with BCFC.  It's nice that there will be facillities that some might benefit from on matchdays (more retail, food etc) or if you want to watch basketball or attend concerts but all the money goes to SL & Co.

Ah, okay. So why is it that City can include AG profits towards FFP, but not the rest of the sporting quarter? My understanding (which may be wrong) is that the football club and AG are now 2 separate businesses?