mozo

4 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

I think we'll be unlikely to get a new striker in January. At least not one good enough to walk into the first team.  

I'd be delighted to be proved wrong there, but I think this player will only be sourced next summer.

What we could get, and I'd be happy with, is a defensive midfielder.

Matty James is decent in this role, but he isn't fast and he needs a suitable replacement being available from time-to-time. Bakinson doesn't cut it for me and I don't like Vyner in MF and none of our other midfielders particularly fulfil that role of providing a last-ditch barrier in front of our defence.

Even on loan RR?

I think we need both Pring and JD on the left, whether that be a 4411, 451 or even a 541.

Then we probably have to play Weimann on Tanner's side as Williams is injured and Massengo needed in the middle.

I just think wide areas need protection.

Then I guess Martin up top for his hurly burly (sorry Wells fans).

3 hours ago, Davefevs said:

The question you have to ask is why do we get so deep and how do you stop that happening.

Long ball forward, player allowed to bring it down.  Massengo senses the danger, but we aren’t deep here, are we?  Slightly worrying that James is where he is but he’s probably marking their midfielder when the ball gets played forward, but he too senses he needs to get back.

By this point, Atkinson has passed on his man to Massengo who is putting pressure on (no issues there).  James trying to get back, has made up 3-4 yards on O’Dowda.  James isn’t worried that “his man” hasn’t run forward, just senses he needs to get into shape.  O’Dowda’s not doing much, Weimann just switching on.

Taylor has been left to run offside, so we haven’t been sucked into to just running back, e.g. we aren’t going deep on purpose, but it’s a good crisp pass to Mighten.  Forest LB looking to steal a run on Weimann.  James now further back, O’Dowda in same spot.

Weimann has let his man gain yards on him.  James and Massengo getting back.  Kalas more worried about Taylor than helping Tanner.

Massengo now left to help Tanner, but he’s also got the man left by Weimann….not good by Weimann.  O’Dowda not in the frame, although you could argue does he need to be?

This kind of play happened too much.  This time it resulted in a goal.  Often in the second half it resulted in us being moved side to side as Forest probed our final third.  They find gaps either between defence and midfield or midfield and attack, often with loose balls, or defensive headers.  I can’t remember the long ball, but I do suspect James has been dragged short by his marker, but Massengo is in place. The ball wide was a good pass on the move and got us backtracking.

My initial thought is we look a bit ragged in our shape from the long ball, but as it was in open play, you expect some fluidity.  But it’s the 92nd minute, players like Weimann were knackered, etc, etc.  What we do have to do (better) is stop the number of times opposition players get the chance to play unpressured passes into wide areas where we don’t have someone supporting Tanner or Dasilva.  Back to pic 1, if Weimann if 5-7 yards deeper, the pass doesn’t go to Mighten, it probably goes back into midfield.

Here’s the equaliser.  It doesn’t need much commentary from me.

 

Looking at the pics makes me wish Pring had been brought on to support JD on the left. He'd still be an outlet, but would secure that side much better than any of the rest could. Even if that meant a 5-4-1 for the last 15 minutes, I'd much prefer that to what we ended up with which was Palmer and O'Dowda doing the foxtrot in the centre circle.

I think we are desperate for some loans in January to give our squad the right balance. 

Hopefully there are experienced players not getting gametime at other clubs that we can persuade to come here.

I want a striker with a physical presence to lighten the load piled up on Martin.

Also a defensive midfielder and a wide player.

Palmer and Bakinson can go out on loan.

This is curious. First it seemed strange that the WBC announced Fury's obligations just days before his fight. Now, Whyte's team seems to have identified a loophole whereby his fight with Wallin is now pointless. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions but it makes me wonder what conversations have been had with the WBC in the shady corners of gentleman's clubs.

5 minutes ago, GTFABM said:

James body checked their right back (i think). 2nd half

It was a really poor challenge because the ball was rolling to our player anyway. Definite foul for me.

5 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said:

I'd be surprised if King doesn't have an option and I'm sure I read somewhere Martin has too, perhaps based on playing a certain number of games.

Which means the room freed up by natural wastage (one way of describing COD) will be minimal and the enforced sale of someone we'd rather not lose (Kalas, Bentley) is more likely.  

I'd be very worried if King and Martin stay beyond next summer.

2 hours ago, Ivorguy said:

I wonder what the hell Nige can do between today and game at WBA.  I doubt many on here believe even a draw likely.  It is the old old case of where do we see the next win come from.  It will come, but when, and will it be enough to keep our season going?
 

Yesterday, in despair I asked how can Nige survive this run of home defeats and draws on his watch, today I am being more positive again and thus wonder what the hell he CAN do.  He has, in truth, few options on the field.  Guess he may turn to youth as he did last season.  

For me there's a lot of pressure on the Barnsley game. 

Let's say we go into that match with our dreadful home record looming over us plus three consecutive defeats fresh in our memories.

To then not beat a rival in the bottom 3 would be a very worrying sign of where we are as a team.

I'm currently anxious about City both scoring goals and conceding them which is a very bad sign. 

1 hour ago, BTRFTG said:

I'm Flappy's biggest critic, not difficult given he's vastly overrated and contributes little, but here I think you're a tad harsh on him. At the end of his run he had sod all options going for him, was surrounded by opposition and was running out of puff. Were he any good he'd have suddenly decelerated, taken a false step and allowed the bloke chasing to nudge into him, conning for a free kick. Contact though isn't Flappy's game and he tries all out to avoid it.

His dithering choice selection however, you're spot on with that.

Yeah I get that view, but I thought he had loads of opportunity to just slow down, turn back a touch and look for a pass but in my opinion he went scampering off like a cockapoo with a stick in it's mouth and then realised he'd run into a brick wall.

Bruce at Cardiff next perhaps?

32 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

Britton's "form" is that he scores a lot of goals and scored in the Championship when we gave him his cameo appearance. Against Brentford as well. He's 20 now. Not a child.

Benarous is 19, but he must also be wondering if he couldn't start to be introduced late in games. Gets rave reviews from those that have seen him play. 

You know what, I don't think Britton is ready for this level but he has to be in the bench for the simple reason that we don't have any other physical strikers and we need him to replace Martin for the last 20 minutes of games.

And Benayous should be in the squad ahead of Palmer every week as far as I'm concerned.

1 hour ago, johnheadbcfc said:

Think Weimann needs a spell out of the starting 11, as soon as he gets the ball you just know its gonna go wrong.

1 hour ago, bexhill reds said:

I think Wiemann brings pace, clearly useful for the press, plus intelligent running into space, perhaps too intelligent for those playing the balls forward. What he’s not so good at though is holding onto the ball especially centrally and slightly deeper, that role really does not suit him.

I'm often critical of Weimann but I though he did lots of good work last night. But there was one moment that really encapsulated Weimann: he picked the ball up in defence and drove forward. He escaped a challenge and drove into the opposition half. He's taken it from defence to attack with real positive intent and then...he can't make his mind up what to do and is easily tackled. Sums him up completely.

51 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Only part of a reason why they got the ball into the position they did to win the penalty. 

I think we were playing kind of a 5311 by the end with Palmer in behind O'Dowda. But Palmer occasionally went central left and kind of made it 541. Just seemed like too much room on our left, as Weimann took up a wide right position and no one on the left side in a similar role protecting Dasilva.

Palmer and O'Dowda going to the player with the ball and an easy pass into the Forest player who then had plenty of time to pick his pass.

 

Massengo could come but really its something O'Dowda and Palmer have to do better at together. 

 

 

The biggest mistake was this though of course! Baker got away with one first half where he needlessly went to ground and got a toe to the ball before their player hit the post. And this time again it was poorly judged. He did some good bits of defending, but he has always had a mistake in him. 

It was painful watching those final 10 or so minutes. On Baker again, he for some reason with just minutes left at 1-0 up kicked a ball out of play when there was an easy pass to Massengo right next to him in space. He also headed a ball out for a throw when it looked like he could have nodded it to one of our players. Giving away possession when no need to is frustrating. Just invites more pressure.

Massengo was a bit sloppy givoing the ball away twice. Once a heavy touch when dribbling, and another time a pass down the line, but if he'd looked up then O'Dowda was stationary wanting it to feet. 

At one point as they had the ball on our left and we had 9 outfield players in our box and Weimann running up top out of the picture, our team stood and no one engaged assuming their player was going to put the ball in first time. So he dribbled towards our box and then we had to engage, luckily putting in a poor overhit cross. Things like that show a lack of cohesion.

Palmer looked a bit lost imo. He lacks game intelligence which Pearson has said himself. Things like O'Dowda pressing their player down the right channel, Palmer cutting out the goalkeeper as a back pass option, all spot on up till then. So the player has to chip it down the line where Weimann heads it towards Palmer now in a striker position. Palmer had not thought about getting back into an onside position and in a position to receive a ball if we won back possession and commits a foul. Might not seem a big thing but all these little things is what means we can't keep possession.

On O'Dowda, he didnt really do anything that actually worked, but he could have been played in on goal twice. Once Dasilva attempted to pass to feet when O'Dowda had started to make a run and would have been in with loads of space behind to attack. Would have been quite a simple chipped ball, though would have meant Dasilva using his right foot!

And another time O'Dowda made the defender think he wanted a ball by Weimann down the line, and once his movement had dragged his defender towards the touchline then O'Dowda had created space for a change of direction and a ball over the top for him to be away. Weimann thought O'Dowda wanted it the way he was initially going down the line and possession was lost.

I wonder if it would have been better to have gone 442 with Weimann and O'Dowda pressing together up top. Bring Pring on instead of Palmer. I think we looked a bit all over the place, though generally we did defend our box well until those final crazy moments. At least with the 442 it's more simple for the players to know their roles and might have helped defend our wide areas better. 

I think back to Swansea away win last season, and how at 2-1 up Swansea struggled to get the ball near our goal. Wouldn't it be better to have better pressure in attacking areas. Weimann still had loads of energy and we know he prefers counter attacking when up top. I think back to O'Dowda and Watkins playing up top at the end of the Boro 3-1 win and really helping relieve pressure. Pressing well and giving them something to worry about.

At that point it is all about finding ways to stop the pressure. Our way seems to be defend our box and look unorganised in front of it and poor in possession. Well that could have worked fine, and has in the past plenty of times. But you have to be spot on defending the box and also sometimes rely on that bit of luck. If Tanner didnt play so well then we would have conceded earlier than we did I am sure. And going by this season we seem to panic defending when trying to see out a win.

 

I understand that NP wanted some attacking outlets on the pitch, but I don't see how Palmer and O'Dowda come on with Pring sitting on the bench. Pring has not only the defensive understanding as well as an ability to carry the ball forward.

Surely we needed JD and Pring on the left, with Tanner and Weimann on the right?! 

My only gripe with Pearson so far is that I often don't understand his substitutions. 

I do sympathise with NP having such a bunch of misfits to work with, but I also think he makes some odd decisions during games, most notably making subs mid 1st half, but also bringing Wells on to play out wide when we have better wide options or leaving tired legs on and making changes elsewhere.

11 minutes ago, INCRED said:

I was sat 10 yards away and Scott dived, the defender got a toe to the ball - It wasn’t a penalty!!

I will say though that some refs would have given it but I would have been gutted if it was given against us 

Thanks for confirming what I thought!

My worry is this...

Martin, Wells, King, Palmer, O'Dowda, Bakinson, Simpson all need to be replaced in Summer 2022 or 2023.

But we don't have the transfer budget to buy quality in 7 positions.

So we then could sell. But losing Massengo, Kalas or Bentley leaves a big hole in the squad which again requires investment.

How do we reshape the squad?

1 minute ago, Rossi the Robin said:

Correct, Bentley was hardly tested

Forest hit the inside of the post but then every team does that against us!

1 minute ago, M.D said:

A freak result, we didn’t deserve that..

 

A freak ending but the result was pretty predictable and deserved in my opinion, as annoying as it is to admit.

7 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

That is utter nonsense!

if anything we’ve tried too hard, that lunge from baker is desperation to win. A cool calm head doesn’t make that challenge - also doesn’t put it in the stand on the halfway line when there’s a man to pass to 5 yards away.

The run has got to them massively. Up until 90 minutes we were pretty good tonight, certainly good value for the win. Clearly a desire to win, but mentally it’s a burden.

I actually thought Forest comfortably deserved the win. We maybe edged a tight first half and the second half was constant pressure from Forest. They could easily have had an extra penalty and Grabban was clean through but for a very dodgy offside flag. They passed better and pinned us back and eventually the pressure told.

I thought we edged it based on quality of chances.

By the way, the woman on co-coms has been probably the best pundit I've heard on Robins TV, albeit a low bar. I'd like to hear her on a City podcast.

4 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

People often ask me, when will City win a home League game. Eventually, I reply.

Bit optimistic. 

I've noticed a lot of kids are getting surnames as their first names like Harrison and Taylor. 

Many girls names have to end in 'a' nowadays. Ada, Eva, Olivia, Luna, Lena, Isla, Mia, Tia, Et Cetera.

43 minutes ago, cityloyal473 said:

A rejuvenated Forest backed by a noisy following against a pathetic City who can't string two passes together and backed by the Ashton Gate library.  Only one way this is ending and might lead to the first signs of visible disgruntlement among City fans.  We've barely raised a whimper about this home form and this can't go on. An ironic chuckle at the end of every home interview from NP about a failure to yet again win might start to grate. 

All I took from that was: easy home win, Massengo hat-trick.

Insight from Tyson's dad...

Only 3 weeks training, out of shape, should have postponed, but didn't want to let people down.

Congrats to the OSIB crew.

Did anyone ever submit animal/bird City players? 

1 hour ago, richwwtk said:

It's cyclical - There's quite a few Alf/Alfie/Alfred's around nowadays. I can think of at least 5 my kids have been in classes with.

There was also a Wilfred which isn't a name you'd expect to see any more!

As well as at least one Keanu (sigh)

Isn't there a Half Man Half Biscuit line about Alfie or Archie as a name? Both are on trend right now.

4 hours ago, Davefevs said:

4-2 up after 65 mins.

Benarous hatrick and Pearson after falling 2-1 behind just after h-t.

Dennis Wise’s son playing for Watford.  Pochetino’s son on the bench.

Get them on the bench on the weekend!