Hup

Backwell is a midfielder (No8)

Omar perhaps. Yate wasn’t a test for him. Palmer Houlden - the 21s have no strikers available atm so there’s a need there.

Fair enough fella. It’s a game of opinion I guess. One thing I do struggle with is fans who continually band ‘passion’ around - define passion? They worked their socks off, pressed all over the pitch, didn’t shirk a tackle or challenge. Kept going until the final whistle. We’re they vocal, by and large no. But young footballers aren’t like Tony Adams et al anymore. The games changed - in that respect (for the worse IMO). But lack passion, with all due respect I find those shouts ludicrous.

Jees… I probably wouldn’t go again if I were you!!! Niggly game dominated by a bizarrely fussy referee. No wonder Nige is pulling his hair out. Two relatively evenly matched teams where Birmingham had the lions share of non threatening possession but City we’re never really threatened other than the two chances they had. The penalty and the late close range miss which they should have scored. Doesn’t matter what level football is played, sometimes you get a dead game. Seemed a bit like that today. City had a few square pegs in round holes today as well which hampered their usual creative fluidity with Owers at LB second half and Marley Rose (usually a winger / 10) and Tommy Backwell alongside him instead of his customary up and down midfield role. Thought Kadji had one of his better games today and Joe Low looks like one of Jose’s buses he often parks. Proper CB that lad. Bamba looked very rusty.

Assuming ‘success’ is playing first team football… If a player is recruited by the academy whether that be at 7 or 17 it’s down to the academy. Obviously the younger you recruit the longer you have to develop a player, but that can’t be held against the academy. If they recruit a player at an older age and fast track them because they’re ready, so be it. Academy football is about recruitment, coaching and developing (on and off the pitch). It’s doesn’t have to be all three. Ideally you’d recruit all your players at 7 who live in Bristol and are City through and through - from memory though… football has never worked like that and never will. Credit where credit is due. The academy is doing an incredible job in all three departments.

BAckwell has scored in the last three games for the 23s now I think… from midfield. Goal scoring midfielders are rare these days!

Khari Allen played LB for Yate last night having being released by the club at the end of last season. James Taylor & Zac Bell now on loan and a couple of injuries in the full back position. Also for those having a whinge… it was a very young side in the second half. With the exception of JL/DI/JO/JM all were scholars and 17/18. So the experience gained against a decent Yate side (second half anyway - they were steam rolled first half) will do them good. Remember, U23 football is about developing players not about the result necessarily!

9. Seb Palmer Houlden. 12. Harry Leeson. 6. Joe Low. 10. Tommy Backwell