Sorry But A Sober Perspective

[Red to the world]

Wonderful season - I would have bitten your hand off last August for a top half finish.

We have done better than any of us forecast.

BUT

GJ is still learning at this level.

Whatever you may think of him Ashtonyate was correct - our failure to sign a half decent ( not a star just a half decent ) striker in January cost us dear.

Adebola was awful today - like the locals said when we signed him - one good game ( Palace first leg )and then two poor ones.

We never seriously troubled their keeper today and why would we expect to with a top scorer with 8 goals ?

Some have posted the best team lost. Sorry - the best team is the one which scores most goals - end of.

Grateful for all your pluses GJ and well done everyone but your signings ( or lack of them ) and your negative team selections last ten games cost us - so you deserve credit for the good things but also deserve blame for your mistakes.

Hopefully you will learn from the experience and bring in quality goalscorers in the summer - we will need them.

Nobody ever got promoted not scoring goals........!!!

[haggis_farewell]

Nonsense. Just got back from Wemberley (I live in London now), and I think Johnson has done a terrific job this season. He's got a massive performance from a squad that still has the same spine as the League 1 team from last season, and on our day we're the best club in the league. We were pressing Hull hard throughout the whole second half and were unlucky not to get an equaliser and force extra time.

Agreed I'd like to see a solid goal scorer signed in the summer, but I think we should be proud of GJ and the team - we've undoubtably got the best manager in the league and I back him in whatever he does.

[Pack’s Chin]

Wonderful season - I would have bitten your hand off last August for a top half finish.

We have done better than any of us forecast.

BUT

GJ is still learning at this level.

Whatever you may think of him Ashtonyate was correct - our failure to sign a half decent ( not a star just a half decent ) striker in January cost us dear.

Adebola was awful today - like the locals said when we signed him - one good game ( Palace first leg )and then two poor ones.

We never seriously troubled their keeper today and why would we expect to with a top scorer with 8 goals ?

Some have posted the best team lost. Sorry - the best team is the one which scores most goals - end of.

Grateful for all your pluses GJ and well done everyone but your signings ( or lack of them ) and your negative team selections last ten games cost us - so you deserve credit for the good things but also deserve blame for your mistakes.

Hopefully you will learn from the experience and bring in quality goalscorers in the summer - we will need them.

Nobody ever got promoted not scoring goals........!!!

I totally agree with you mate, we seriously need a prolific goalscorer, trundle has been half decent this season, but not as good as we needed him to be, GJ took a massive risk signing byfield and Elliott and in my opinion, Elliott has been fantastic this season and has certainly proved himself at this level, Byfield on the other hand as been below average but in fairness has scored some vital goals. we need to improve in Defence, Midfield and up front to have any chance of making the promised land next season.

In addition i would like to say well done to all fellow supporters and to all staff at ashton gate, you have all done us proud!

KEEP THAT RED FLAG FLYING HIGH! :Believe:

[Loderingo]

Nonsense. Just got back from Wemberley (I live in London now), and I think Johnson has done a terrific job this season. He's got a massive performance from a squad that still has the same spine as the League 1 team from last season, and on our day we're the best club in the league. We were pressing Hull hard throughout the whole second half and were unlucky not to get an equaliser and force extra time.

Agreed I'd like to see a solid goal scorer signed in the summer, but I think we should be proud of GJ and the team - we've undoubtably got the best manager in the league and I back him in whatever he does.

I've also just got back as live in Reading. Didn't you go Rod? We tried really really hard but was not our day. You have to give a lot of credit to Hull too - they pressed us well and you could see why they have the best defence in the league.

It's very disappointing but lets not lose heart. Last year West Brom lost in the playoffs, this year they won the league. It can be done. I expect 6 or 7 to leave over the summer like Russell, Myrie Williams Showumni etc. If we can replace those with 5-6 quality signings then next year can be our year.

[denning]

Before I begin to reply to what you have said, I want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at BCFC for their tremendous hard work this season...

Right,

Adebola had a nightmare? what game did you watch, he won a good 70-80% of the headers, carved some good chances for himself, used his strength fantastically, and was hard done by not to get a penalty with the Hull centre halves not being able to deal with him so clambering over him.

We lost, in my eyes undeservedly but that is how it goes sometimes. This team has done fantastically well and perhaps it was just a step too far. We beat Palace as a result of 4 absolutely superb goals, today we were beat by 1 superb goal and credit to windass (reluctantly) for taking it as we did.

I can only offer two complaints about todays game...

(1) Lee Johnson for Orr,,, I am not a LJ hater for a start, in fact I rate him extremely highly, but he was anonymous for major parts of the game.... he didnt pick the ball up too well from the back and as a result we resorted to alot of long ball games (long balls Dele did his fair share of work in winning might I add)... I personally would have put Vasko on for Orr and swithced Carey to right back... however, hindsight is a wonderful thing and I can see, although I don't agree, with GJ's views. That said, who the hell am I to argue with the chap who knows this team inside out!!!

(2) Carle off,,,, WHY? he may not have had the impact he has had over the past 3 games (I still feel he played pretty damn well btw) but I feel we lost a massive threat as soon as he came off. I personally, if I would've brough byfield on (which I wouldn't have btw), I would've taken off LJ. Once they subbed Campbell barmby and Windass, you felt alot of their attacking threat had gone, and to leave LJ on to take off an attacking midfielder seemed like nonsence..

That said, hats off to the boys.... you did us proud

[Red to the world]

Nonsense. Just got back from Wemberley (I live in London now), and I think Johnson has done a terrific job this season. He's got a massive performance from a squad that still has the same spine as the League 1 team from last season, and on our day we're the best club in the league. We were pressing Hull hard throughout the whole second half and were unlucky not to get an equaliser and force extra time.

Agreed I'd like to see a solid goal scorer signed in the summer, but I think we should be proud of GJ and the team - we've undoubtably got the best manager in the league and I back him in whatever he does.

Are you demented - the best club in the league does not fail to get promoted !!

We were not unlucky we were poor in terms of worthwhile shots on goal.

Nonsense - get real............

[bh_red]

typical rod only appear when we lose

As ever full of shit

[Red to the world]

typical rod only appear when we lose

As ever full of shit

I would like to thank you for your constructive, considered and eloquent reply.

It must be difficult being so thick !

[haggis_farewell]

Are you demented - the best club in the league does not fail to get promoted !!

We were not unlucky we were poor in terms of worthwhile shots on goal.

Nonsense - get real............

Given that we've come up from League 1 this season, we've had a terrific season. Saying we've got the best manager in the league is spot-on.

We had more shots on goal than Hull, and given they had a couple of lucky deflections we could have scored. We looked the more dangerous side for most of the game.

cheer up

[cheese]

I would like to thank you for your constructive, considered and eloquent reply.

It must be difficult being so thick !

It must be difficult talking nonsense all the time. But then, you seem to practice a lot.

[easton boy]

Before I begin to reply to what you have said, I want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at BCFC for their tremendous hard work this season...

Right,

Adebola had a nightmare? what game did you watch, he won a good 70-80% of the headers, carved some good chances for himself, used his strength fantastically, and was hard done by not to get a penalty with the Hull centre halves not being able to deal with him so clambering over him.

We lost, in my eyes undeservedly but that is how it goes sometimes. This team has done fantastically well and perhaps it was just a step too far. We beat Palace as a result of 4 absolutely superb goals, today we were beat by 1 superb goal and credit to windass (reluctantly) for taking it as we did.

I can only offer two complaints about todays game...

(1) Lee Johnson for Orr,,, I am not a LJ hater for a start, in fact I rate him extremely highly, but he was anonymous for major parts of the game.... he didnt pick the ball up too well from the back and as a result we resorted to alot of long ball games (long balls Dele did his fair share of work in winning might I add)... I personally would have put Vasko on for Orr and swithced Carey to right back... however, hindsight is a wonderful thing and I can see, although I don't agree, with GJ's views. That said, who the hell am I to argue with the chap who knows this team inside out!!!

(2) Carle off,,,, WHY? he may not have had the impact he has had over the past 3 games (I still feel he played pretty damn well btw) but I feel we lost a massive threat as soon as he came off. I personally, if I would've brough byfield on (which I wouldn't have btw), I would've taken off LJ. Once they subbed Campbell barmby and Windass, you felt alot of their attacking threat had gone, and to leave LJ on to take off an attacking midfielder seemed like nonsence..

That said, hats off to the boys.... you did us proud

Adebola, did not play well. He's 6 foot 24 inches( i know, i know) he SHOULD win most of his headers. But today he was NOT VERY GOOD with the ball at his feet(there - put it VERY politely)

As for LJ for ORR, I was saying EXACTLY the same thing. Although I didn't think that LJ played too badly, taking our best midfielder and putting him at RB seemed nonsensical when with a bit of reshuffling, you can have an (almost) specialist in that position. It cost us our shape as Marv looked out of depth at RB and was caught out positionally on more than one occassion.

[bucksred]

We had two things wrong today:

One the issue with a prolific striker, which has been endlessly debated to death. Half of the other clubs in the Championship are looking for this striker. Does he actually exist?

Adebola was decent in the first half, but he faded in the 2nd, which considering hes longer than Lardyarse and he didnt run out as badly as Dele. Byfield is on the small side

We don't currently have an alternative, and it showed. Workrate spot on, quality not great

The other problem is having McCombe go ill at the last minute (Fonts got his place), meant that when Orr was injured we didnt have any defenders, and wasting LJ, or Marvin in this role was a chance lost. I reckon this is what did for us.

cant complain though, this is our first season back up in the Championship, and we didnt half do well. The little shortcomings will be sorted in the summer, of that Ive no doubt-we couldnt risk laying out a load of dosh, had we struggled to stay up. We have so expect a few additions.

[Red to the world]

It must be difficult talking nonsense all the time. But then, you seem to practice a lot.

Please articulate ( in the unlikely event you know what that means ) which part of my post is nonsense ?

[fka dagest]

I find it quite sad that in the context of this season and a great effort today that some people are already on here deciding to point the finger.

Sad, so sad.

[cheese]

Please articulate ( in the unlikely event you know what that means ) which part of my post is nonsense ?

All of it.

[redrebel]

Before I begin to reply to what you have said, I want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at BCFC for their tremendous hard work this season...

Right,

Adebola had a nightmare? what game did you watch, he won a good 70-80% of the headers, carved some good chances for himself, used his strength fantastically, and was hard done by not to get a penalty with the Hull centre halves not being able to deal with him so clambering over him.

We lost, in my eyes undeservedly but that is how it goes sometimes. This team has done fantastically well and perhaps it was just a step too far. We beat Palace as a result of 4 absolutely superb goals, today we were beat by 1 superb goal and credit to windass (reluctantly) for taking it as we did.

I can only offer two complaints about todays game...

(1) Lee Johnson for Orr,,, I am not a LJ hater for a start, in fact I rate him extremely highly, but he was anonymous for major parts of the game.... he didnt pick the ball up too well from the back and as a result we resorted to alot of long ball games (long balls Dele did his fair share of work in winning might I add)... I personally would have put Vasko on for Orr and swithced Carey to right back... however, hindsight is a wonderful thing and I can see, although I don't agree, with GJ's views. That said, who the hell am I to argue with the chap who knows this team inside out!!!

(2) Carle off,,,, WHY? he may not have had the impact he has had over the past 3 games (I still feel he played pretty damn well btw) but I feel we lost a massive threat as soon as he came off. I personally, if I would've brough byfield on (which I wouldn't have btw), I would've taken off LJ. Once they subbed Campbell barmby and Windass, you felt alot of their attacking threat had gone, and to leave LJ on to take off an attacking midfielder seemed like nonsence..

That said, hats off to the boys.... you did us proud

Absolutely spot on.If there had been anyone to feed off Adebola the result would have been different.

[gizmo666]

How can you say well done and then go on to have a go?

This club has got where it did today through the team we have... A clever manager (GJ) will build up on that during the summer... Not you, not me but GJ... Have faith. We lost. Hull won... Last time we played at this level we went back down... In one season we got where we are and you still point the finger and moan... What more do you want? Because I couldn't see this coming last year?

Let the manager do what he's paid to do and the fans watch the games... Stick to football manager 2008 if you think you can find the golden ticket we need...

[0738parkway]

Wonderful season - I would have bitten your hand off last August for a top half finish.

We have done better than any of us forecast.

BUT

GJ is still learning at this level.

Whatever you may think of him Ashtonyate was correct - our failure to sign a half decent ( not a star just a half decent ) striker in January cost us dear.

Adebola was awful today - like the locals said when we signed him - one good game ( Palace first leg )and then two poor ones.

We never seriously troubled their keeper today and why would we expect to with a top scorer with 8 goals ?

Some have posted the best team lost. Sorry - the best team is the one which scores most goals - end of.

Grateful for all your pluses GJ and well done everyone but your signings ( or lack of them ) and your negative team selections last ten games cost us - so you deserve credit for the good things but also deserve blame for your mistakes.

Hopefully you will learn from the experience and bring in quality goalscorers in the summer - we will need them.

Nobody ever got promoted not scoring goals........!!!

Your talking out of your ass just like ashton yate has all year

[denning]

How can you say well done and then go on to have a go?

This club has got where it did today through the team we have... A clever manager (GJ) will build up on that during the summer... Not you, not me but GJ... Have faith. We lost. Hull won... Last time we played at this level we went back down... In one season we got where we are and you still point the finger and moan... What more do you want? Because I couldn't see this coming last year?

Let the manager do what he's paid to do and the fans watch the games... Stick to football manager 2008 if you think you can find the golden ticket we need...

It's called constructive criticism.

[Orange Chairman]

Next season will be a heck of a lot tougher than it was this term.

The division this season was the worst it's been for years in terms of consistency and general standard. Expect the bar to be raised next season. And I think the original poster is quite correct, you need a player who'll net you 15/20 goals in this division.

We'll see.

[bh_red]

I would like to thank you for your constructive, considered and eloquent reply.

It must be difficult being so thick !

Was a Fair and Balanced View I belive.

I like the way you completmented Ashtonyates views, after all you, him and rod are the same person, one almost ****

[Northern Red]

I find it quite sad that in the context of this season and a great effort today that some people are already on here deciding to point the finger.

Sad, so sad.

Sad, but totally predictable. If you could have taken bets on who would have started it, the poster of this topic would be odds-on, along with certain others who I'm sure will grace us with their presence at some point.

A shame, as the mood leaving the ground, and that of the people who I heard on 6-0-6/Talksport etc was positive. Gutted, but immensely proud of what has been a fantastic season.

[Beery]

Next season will be a heck of a lot tougher than it was this term.

The division this season was the worst it's been for years in terms of consistency and general standard. Expect the bar to be raised next season. And I think the original poster is quite correct, you need a player who'll net you 15/20 goals in this division.

We'll see.

certainly on points needed to get top 3 in last 4 years - only 2 of the previous 8 clus promoted are still PL and it took Sunderland 2 goes

2004/5

1 Sunderland 94

2 Wigan Athletic 87

3 Ipswich Town 85

2005/6

1 Reading 106

2 Sheffield United 90

3 Watford 81

2006/7

1 Sunderland 88

2 Birmingham City 86

3 Derby County 84

2007/8

1 West Bromwich Albion 81

2 Stoke City 79

3 Hull City 75

Will also be interesting to see what QPR do in transfer market this season

I think GJ has taken some of the players as far as they can go and he needs to be ruthless now to go the next step.

It's probably a bit early to be writing this, as some people have said, but the rebuilding should start now, in fact the plans for both scenarios should have already been tabled.

[nickhend444]

Wonderful season - I would have bitten your hand off last August for a top half finish.

We have done better than any of us forecast.

BUT

GJ is still learning at this level.

Whatever you may think of him Ashtonyate was correct - our failure to sign a half decent ( not a star just a half decent ) striker in January cost us dear.

Adebola was awful today - like the locals said when we signed him - one good game ( Palace first leg )and then two poor ones.

We never seriously troubled their keeper today and why would we expect to with a top scorer with 8 goals ?

Some have posted the best team lost. Sorry - the best team is the one which scores most goals - end of.

Grateful for all your pluses GJ and well done everyone but your signings ( or lack of them ) and your negative team selections last ten games cost us - so you deserve credit for the good things but also deserve blame for your mistakes.

Hopefully you will learn from the experience and bring in quality goalscorers in the summer - we will need them.

Nobody ever got promoted not scoring goals........!!!

I agreed with the first bit of this post until it gets down to the best team won today. Only the delusional hull fans will say that they preformed better today, we dominated from start to finish all we lacked was a goal. Sorry the best team lost. The only comfort i get from a Hull win is that they will be lucky to get a single point next year, especially without Campbell.

I think we should try to sign someone like Ebanks-blake - someone who can give us 20 goals a season. A loan of Danny Welbeck for season from Manchester united could be a good idea for us. West ham also have a few out of favor strikers that are good quality which due to age (late 20's-30's) we could probably snag up on the cheap.

[reddoc]

All of it.

Actually, no it's not.I'd say it's a fair reflection of what I and the majority of City I spoke to on the journey across London away from the ground today were saying. Adebola was poor, Trundle , much as I love the guy needs a right foot which he won't discover at the age of 30 and tactically questions are bound to be asked. LJ for Orr and losing our driving force in midfield was a risky failure I'd suggest , and taking Carle off when he appeared to be the one player causing panic with his driving runs made little sense to me.

Love LJ but short of match practice and didn't offer the same threat. Would also argue Ivan for Noble. Struck of desperation when perhaps we should of shown some faith in the players who'd got us to the final.

If it had worked then genius, but sadly.....

[AK47]

Sad, but totally predictable. If you could have taken bets on who would have started it, the poster of this topic would be odds-on, along with certain others who I'm sure will grace us with their presence at some point.

A shame, as the mood leaving the ground, and that of the people who I heard on 6-0-6/Talksport etc was positive. Gutted, but immensely proud of what has been a fantastic season.

Facts are facts though, now is not the time to be debating as there is too much emotion around however Lansdowns comments for the evil post are pulling no punches, he keeps saying it's a missed oppurtunity ,which it is, he seems to be more angry than hurt

[PhatWill]

Please provide a list of the strikers GJ could/should have signed.

[Tunley Legend]

Before I begin to reply to what you have said, I want to say a huge thanks to all the staff at BCFC for their tremendous hard work this season...

Right,

Adebola had a nightmare? what game did you watch, he won a good 70-80% of the headers, carved some good chances for himself, used his strength fantastically, and was hard done by not to get a penalty with the Hull centre halves not being able to deal with him so clambering over him.

We lost, in my eyes undeservedly but that is how it goes sometimes. This team has done fantastically well and perhaps it was just a step too far. We beat Palace as a result of 4 absolutely superb goals, today we were beat by 1 superb goal and credit to windass (reluctantly) for taking it as we did.

I can only offer two complaints about todays game...

(1) Lee Johnson for Orr,,, I am not a LJ hater for a start, in fact I rate him extremely highly, but he was anonymous for major parts of the game.... he didnt pick the ball up too well from the back and as a result we resorted to alot of long ball games (long balls Dele did his fair share of work in winning might I add)... I personally would have put Vasko on for Orr and swithced Carey to right back... however, hindsight is a wonderful thing and I can see, although I don't agree, with GJ's views. That said, who the hell am I to argue with the chap who knows this team inside out!!!

(2) Carle off,,,, WHY? he may not have had the impact he has had over the past 3 games (I still feel he played pretty damn well btw) but I feel we lost a massive threat as soon as he came off. I personally, if I would've brough byfield on (which I wouldn't have btw), I would've taken off LJ. Once they subbed Campbell barmby and Windass, you felt alot of their attacking threat had gone, and to leave LJ on to take off an attacking midfielder seemed like nonsence..

That said, hats off to the boys.... you did us proud

I would have done exactly the same as you to be honest. Vasko on and Carey shipped to right back. All LJ did for me was slow the tempo of the game down when we needed to speed it up either through holding the ball too long or due to his passes taking too long to reach the player (Noble and Carle seem to pass the ball with more crisply). And Elliott, our best player, was completely and utterly wasted at right back. Not a LJ bashing post but just my view on what I saw.

[Beery]

Please provide a list of the strikers GJ could/should have signed.

David Connolly of Sunderland. Sunderlands top scorer last year in the CCC winning team but didnt get a kick in the Prem.

[Rednready]

We have the usual Forum wars going on, but that will happen for years to come.

Imo, with two major defenders off, McCombe and Orr, we needed another big unit on the pitch, Vasko !

Not a 5ft 6" player who did not affect the game in any way shape or form . Certainly not to replace Orr, Noble or Carle, not now or ever when fit.

Carle or Noble are better central midfielders alongside Elliot any day, especially going forward.

With Orr leaving the field I would have moved Carey to the right, brought on Vasko to center back and Sproule to replace Noble around the 80 minute mark.

Using GJ'S terms, I don't think Noble, Adebole, Orr, Trundle, or McAllister affected the game in the first half to a significant degree.

All being said, the season was a learning process for GJ, the players and fans. We did much better than I thought,which was around mid table. To improve next season we have to believe in 6/7 players who will give us the improvement as a "team" to reach the Premier League.

We have done great things, now we need better.