Waconda

Not dynamic, risk taking or exciting to watch.

Didn't expect us to win today but it was basically a "free hit" and a chance to really have a go and be adventurous.

All very dull and downbeat. Hopefully we have to go through this period before things improve but after a couple of "false dawns" it is worrying and the list of people to blame is narrowing.

Far better than the horrendous black 2nd kit we currently have.

I would like us to keep purple and lime every year as our 2nd kit, we could do stripes, hoops, Arsenal sleeves etc.

12 hours ago, And Its Smith said:

This shows he is overrated!  I would debate he’s our best player let alone by a country mile!!

I respect your opinion.

14 hours ago, pongo88 said:

It’s interesting that the first heat map shows that he plays a lot on the right and in midfield, which is what most supporters would agree with. Yet, he is supposed to be a second forward with Martin and has managed to score 4 goals from hardly getting  into the penalty area (if the heat map is to be believed). Logic would be that he should play more in the middle, closer to the penalty area, or have I missed something? 

He indeed should be playing as the 2nd striker and should be the first name on the team sheet in that position - IMO.

17 hours ago, OneTeamInBristol said:

It shows what a lot of us have known for a while now, that he is one of, if not the most important outfield player. 

Much worse team when he doesn't play. 

The season was over in terms of a top half finish as soon as he was injured last season.

Our best player by a country mile.

Hartlepool away FA Cup - lost 0-1

and a 0-0 at Stockport wins the dullest away game ever !!

4 hours ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

Bradford 1989 - quarter final of the league cup - what an atmosphere ...

This one.

3 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Good point, he's in that role now is he? Useful starting point if so- although the flipside is, will it be less useful given Brexit? Plenty of unknowns.

I believe he has quite a varied role including some coaching but sure keeping tabs on the foreign markets would be included, he also played in the MLS for a bit.

48 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Was a good read that.

On the foreign market point, Louis-Jean could have been a useful one to retain IMO- he had experience of both the UK and the foreign market or at least of playing in each. Played a part with Kodjia IIRC. Ideal starting point for a job spec IMO would be someone who knows the foreign market by dint of being foreign or having experience there, but at the same time knows what is required in the English game.

Cisse.

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Was gonna suggest BCW too.

I was at SGS College this morning for a college open day for Joe, and spent a lot of time looking out over the football pitches where they were undertaking training.  Thought they’d moved to HPC but perhaps not in their entirety.

Whilst not trying to compare to the men’s game, it’s hard not to, and I’ve been a bit disappointed by what I’ve seen at times over the last season or so.  However watching them move the ball in a training “match” today I have upped my opinion….some really good technical ability.

Worth contacting the club and see if you could get something a bit more special, e.g. meet a few players too….might make your grand-daughter’s day.

All teams below under 18's are still at SGS. Plan is for all age groups to be up at HPC asap but need to sort indoor facilities.

He could well retire to focus on his health and other business interests - IMO.

1 minute ago, JonDolman said:

Weirdly Martin got better the more tired he has got!?

He is deceptive on that front, puts in "Bolt like" sprints in 85th minute of games after looking done in for the previous hour.

3 minutes ago, petehinton said:

O’Dowda injured again 

He’d be put down if he was a race horse 

Very worrying that the injuries are piling up again. Deja vu !

Baker

Conway

Semenyo

Massengo

Wells

and possibly COD again

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

better from him, but still presses 5 yards from his man....got to impose himself more....like he did when nipping it away from Thompson.  too much time watching the ball be passed around him.  He's been unlucky with two crosses.

He does seem to spend an enormous amount of time "spinning around" looking where the ball has just gone.

5 minutes ago, Rocky said:

Because he's show pony who only turns up every 20 games.

Correct.

1 minute ago, westonred said:

Can someone remind me why LJ would never play Szmodics was it a personality issue it cant be ability we all know Sammy has plenty of that ?

Why does Pearson not play Palmer ?

2 minutes ago, dave36 said:

Szmodics was never good enough for City!

says it all!

LJ’s legacy

But he wasn't good enough for us at the time - Now in our current state then yes he probably is.

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I can’t be arsed to manually work it out, but in 17/18 the drop off of shots in the second half of the season was significant.

 

 

Okay, I could be arsed.

12.96 in 2017 (5.08 on target)

9.47 in 2018 (3.19 on target) 9.19 without the 20 shots in the 5-5 v Hull

 

 

Yes fair enough, can only really judge over a full season but i stand by my point about dreary but not necessarily negative in terms of chances and shots created.

Just now, Davefevs said:

17/18 - 11.37 shots per match at 37.1% on target

This season - 10.11 at 34%

As I thought.

28 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

I’ve really noticed how much less we pass the ball backwards. Incredible compared to LJ/DH. 

Not that I was a fan of the post Man City LJ "over coaching" that went on but passing the ball sideways and backwards is not necessarily negative.

Dreary I agree but it would be interesting to see the shot on target stats from LJ and Pearson eras.

My 8 year old has kept the faith despite not even seeing us score on our last 4 visits too AG.

I have never seen him so excited as he was when we scored today.

He's hooked.

14 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I think they targeted our right side because McCallum is so much better than Odubajo, Willock and Chair like to drift left too.

Its interesting that we saw little of Dickie (RCB) coming forward with the ball.

I would assume that they had done homework on our weakness in the full back areas. They would have planned to play the same way and attack certain weak spots of ours regardless of team selection - IMO.

5 minutes ago, BTRFTG said:

Haven't looked into it in detail but wasn't it suggested the difference in costs related to the differential accounting periods Derby decided to deploy when establishing the various subsidiaries? Again it's robbing Peter to pay Paul for short term improvement. In the end it'll all catch up.

Neo Liberal Capitalism you could say !

1 minute ago, Slack said:

Just a thought if this is the state of our forum can you imagine PSG's after drawing to club brugge. "That Messi fella needs to go"

Interesting comparison.

46 minutes ago, TomThumb84 said:

2 defeats from 7 this season. Not the worst start to a season by a long way.

But 2 wins from 8 (including being knocked out of the Cup by a league 2 team) doesn't sound quite so good - just saying.