My Views On Today's Performance...

[DaveF]

Basso - 5 - Awful kicking and a bit flappy.

Orr - 7 - Solid and but in some good crosses.

Macca - 6 - Solid but didn't offer too much going forward.

McCombe - 3 - Start off pretty well won so many headers but his sending off was just inexplicable, he cost us a point today with 2 terrible tackles. Also a pathetic dive when Hulse pushed him.

Fontaine - 6 - Didn't really notice him much to be honest but didn't seem to much wrong.

Sno - 8 - Best player on the pitch by a mile, rarely loses the ball and was the only player to really have a go at Derby, looked a different class to most out there today.

Johnson - 6 - Not bad but pretty ineffective.

Hartley - 6 - A few glimpses of class, hilarious when he skinned Savage but gave the ball away a few too many times.

Elliot - 6 - Won a few tackles but again gave the ball away a lot.

Maynard - 6 - Didn't really get much out of Leacock.

Saborio - 6- Involved a lot but missed a couple of decent chances.

Subs:

Sproule - ? - Didn't touch it?

Nyatanga - 6 - Solid enough.

Haynes - 6 - Looked threatening but didn't create anything.

Fans - Good away support, entertaining banter with the Derby fans who were much better than last season.

Derby... Awful team, but deserved their win, missed so many chances it was at times comical.

[Guest comfortinsound]

Fair enough i think.

Had a few great conversations with some genuine friendly derby fans before the match, football should be like that. All loyal to your own team but have a pint with other proper fans. Put me in a great mood. The mood changed after watching the match!

[DaveF]

Yeah I'm at uni in Derby and for the most part everyones really friendly. Not gonna hear the end of it after that loss though!

[Guest comfortinsound]

Ah man unlucky. Hopefully we will do similar at the Gate, so bite your tongue and hold it till then! They were so friendly, unfortunately they also all thought we'd smash them today. Oops.

[publandlord]

Just got back from Derby too

Worst second half performance for a long time we could have quite easily lost that game 6-0 against a poor side low on confidence having have lost the last 4 games before playing City. If we play like that at St James Park next week we could lose by double figures

Basso made 2 appalling clearances which I would have expected us to have conceded 2 goals against a conference level team. He made a poor attempt at saving Teale's goal bad positioning too Henderson must start on Tuesday if Gerkin not fit.

McCombe has always been too slow for this division - he also appears to be too stupid now - ridiculous petulance for first booking which could have been a red card, then 3 minutes later he blatantly barges a Derby player off the ball - the referee could do nothing else but send him off.

Elliott continues to give mediocre performances which are a shadow of first season with us - if other teams want to waste £2million on him we should bite their hands off.

Sno and Hartley look good in midfield but received little support from Elliott and even less from Johnson who contributed nothing (how does he get picked ahead of Williams, Clarkson, Skuse) and we should be loaning Johnson out before the likes of Plummer and Artus.

We have a big squad with plenty of competition for places - Elliott and Johnson need to be dropped (and in Johnson's case not return until Williams and Clarkson have both been given a run in the team).

Extremely Frustrated Timsbury

[mcbcfc]

Basso - 5 - Awful kicking and a bit flappy.

Orr - 7 - Solid and but in some good crosses?????. - His awful first touch gave the ball away and they scored from it, tackled well, still can't pass!!!

Macca - 6 - Solid but didn't offer too much going forward.

McCombe - 3 - Start off pretty well won so many headers but his sending off was just inexplicable, he cost us a point today with 2 terrible tackles. Also a pathetic dive when Hulse pushed him.

Fontaine - 6 - Didn't really notice him much to be honest but didn't seem to much wrong.

Sno - 8 - Best player on the pitch by a mile, rarely loses the ball and was the only player to really have a go at Derby, looked a different class to most out there today.

Johnson - 6 - Not bad but pretty ineffective.

Hartley - 6 - A few glimpses of class, hilarious when he skinned Savage but gave the ball away a few too many times.

Elliot - 6 - Won a few tackles but again gave the ball away a lot.

Maynard - 6 - Didn't really get much out of Leacock.

Saborio - 6- Involved a lot but missed a couple of decent chances.

Subs:

Sproule - ? - Didn't touch it?

Nyatanga - 6 - Solid enough.

Haynes - 6 - Looked threatening but didn't create anything.

Fans - Good away support, entertaining banter with the Derby fans who were much better than last season.

Derby... Awful team, but deserved their win, missed so many chances it was at times comical.

[mcbcfc]

Just got back from Derby too

Worst second half performance for a long time we could have quite easily lost that game 6-0 against a poor side low on confidence having have lost the last 4 games before playing City. If we play like that at St James Park next week we could lose by double figures

Basso made 2 appalling clearances which I would have expected us to have conceded 2 goals against a conference level team. He made a poor attempt at saving Teale's goal bad positioning too Henderson must start on Tuesday if Gerkin not fit.

McCombe has always been too slow for this division - he also appears to be too stupid now - ridiculous petulance for first booking which could have been a red card, then 3 minutes later he blatantly barges a Derby player off the ball - the referee could do nothing else but send him off.

Elliott continues to give mediocre performances which are a shadow of first season with us - if other teams want to waste £2million on him we should bite their hands off.

Sno and Hartley look good in midfield but received little support from Elliott and even less from Johnson who contributed nothing (how does he get picked ahead of Williams, Clarkson, Skuse) and we should be loaning Johnson out before the likes of Plummer and Artus.

We have a big squad with plenty of competition for places - Elliott and Johnson need to be dropped (and in Johnson's case not return until Williams and Clarkson have both been given a run in the team).

Extremely Frustrated Timsbury

One easy way to get more out of him is more him inside rather than wide left, he'll never influence a game from out there

[DaveF]

I didn't think LJ was that bad to be fair.

Boom Boom's sending off was shocking and all round it was a pretty dire performance. If Derby could finish we would have been thrashed, Croft's open goal miss after another poor kick from Basso was hilarious.

[DaveF]

Mcbcfc I did take note of that but to be fair he gave the ball away deep into their half attempting a reasonably difficult bit of control, it was a mistake but letting Teale have that much space to get a shot away is more criminal that Bradley's attempt to go forward in my opinion.

[Guest comfortinsound]

Nah LJ Wasn't that bad. But he always seems to be average, and costs us way too much. The team seems to be shifted to include him, and we have far better players. But absolutely he was not the worst player.

Prior to the goal i was finding their misses hilarious, me and my mate were saying how it was looking like another leicester 0-0, which we would've happily taken considering. And then bam they score from a half chance where Bass could've done better. That stopped my laughing. How they didn't convert all those easy ones is beyond me. They won't get chances that easy again for a while i wouldn't have thought.

[greenun]

Mcbcfc I did take note of that but to be fair he gave the ball away deep into their half attempting a reasonably difficult bit of control, it was a mistake but letting Teale have that much space to get a shot away is more criminal that Bradley's attempt to go forward in my opinion.

It was far worse watching the replay inside the ground, as Teale ran over sixty yards with the ball before shooting.

Mind you, Basso will be disappointed with his attempt to save the 18-yarder.

[Frenchay Red]

It was far worse watching the replay inside the ground, as Teale ran over sixty yards with the ball before shooting.

Mind you, Basso will be disappointed with his attempt to save the 18-yarder.

Unless I'm mistaken I believe you were the guy who came on the radio after the game and said something along the lines that milk turns quicker than McCombe.

Made me smile. Not much else did about today's performance!

[Guest comfortinsound]

Teale scoring really was a rub in as he'd kicked about 4 deliveries straight out prior to it. Not a good goal. Bass should've saved it.

[mcbcfc]

Mcbcfc I did take note of that but to be fair he gave the ball away deep into their half attempting a reasonably difficult bit of control, it was a mistake but letting Teale have that much space to get a shot away is more criminal that Bradley's attempt to go forward in my opinion.

With 5 mintes to go when down to ten men? No as a defender your first job to stop the play (especially when down to 10) not come charging down the pitch needlessly give the ball away, turn round and hope someone has filled the huge gapping hole you've just left. And the only reason Teale had that much space was because Brad had gone walkabout.

[Guest bigcheese]

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[Guest comfortinsound]

It's true about Orr. Terrible first touch and he then hung around up front before jogging back, Hartley's effort to get back was there but he obviously was in an alien position. I expected to see Orr sprinting back. I know it was late on but it was his position, he made the room for teale and he should've been commited to getting back.

[Guest bigcheese]

It's true about Orr. Terrible first touch and he then hung around up front before jogging back, Hartley's effort to get back was there but he obviously was in an alien position. I expected to see Orr sprinting back. I know it was late on but it was his position, he made the room for teale and he should've been commited to getting back.

Sounded like that on the radio (I posted before but deleted as I mis-read the original post)..

This is another reason why I personally like the 3-5-2, Bradley can get forward (which is what he obviously wants to do) but with less potential bad consequences!

[Chappers]

Personally, I thought that LJ added nothing to the team. Him and Hartley doing roughly the same role, and his presence pushed far better players out of position.

What is really annoying me is that we have a reasonable collection of players, but no shape or balance. I have no idea why the wing-back option is not being used (I have an idea why!), as we have a glut of central midfielders, but no wide players, and that seems the best option with what we have. How we can play 4-4-2 (Or 4-3-3 if you are GJ!) with no width defies logic. For all Derbys faults, they got the ball wide regularly, and Croft & Teale did stretch us, even if it looked like Sproule was the crossing coach (And Bas coaching the strikers!). All in all, baffling team selection and a truly shocking second half. And definitely one of Bassos worst ever displays.

On the positive side, the beer in the Brunswick was absolutely top notch, that really is a cracking real ale pub. Pity the Porter ran out before I could try it, but the other dark beer was absolutely first class.

[redrob]

Been back in sometime, had chinese and time to savour the performances so hear goes....

Basso - Worst game I have seen Basso ever have. Had no confidence from outset. Nearly spilt two tame shots in first half. Apalling does no even describe his kicking and communication today. Is this the reason no prem or other championship team wants him???

Orr - Looked solid, gave a few balls away but this appears to be more that he can only pass backward, or inside to Hartley. No other options

Mcallister - Again has no options to pass other than speculative long ball or inside to Hartley. (which is often blocked off due to Elliott and Johnson being in the mix plus the opponents midfiled.

McCombe - Poor in the floor, poor in the air today as gets no clearance on headers (always on way down when heading (good spot from Dad)) Proven again that not upto this league and how can he possibly be captain? Also how can a 6ft6 centre half get shrugged off the ball so easy all the time.

Fonts - Did OK often having to clear up mess from McCombes lack of positioning.

Hartley - Good game but died to the end. Makes Johnson look like a conferance player. Does everything Johnson does but better and can tackle and track back.

Johnson - How he is back in this team amazes me. At least he was taken off today which I didnt think was going to happen. (Fair Play GJ right call) Offers nothing to the team in defence and is just clogging up the midfield.

Elliott - Does not look fit or interested IMO. By second half was blowing big time today and lacked any real bite that made him so famous. Milwall warned this would happen. Great one season then off the boil.

Sno - This guy is immense. Disappeared in second half as we did not give him the ball. You can tell class players by the way they can find space without even moving! Assured on the ball, dragging defenders and midfielders in all direction. Should build the team around him.

Maynard - Quiet day today a few clever runs, when Sno not on ball no one else looks capable of playing that decisive pass to lay him in as he is one step ahead in his thinking.

Saborio - Can reallly see this guy playing in Prem. Old Fashioned centre forward in the Alan Sheaer mold. Lets hope he can find his goal scoring boots and bang goals away like Shearer did. Million miles better than Adebola.

Subs

None did anything other than run about a bit. Although Haynes did offer an outlet down right for the inevitable hopeful long ball

[Tunley Legend]

Personally, I thought that LJ added nothing to the team. Him and Hartley doing roughly the same role, and his presence pushed far better players out of position.

What is really annoying me is that we have a reasonable collection of players, but no shape or balance. I have no idea why the wing-back option is not being used (I have an idea why!), as we have a glut of central midfielders, but no wide players, and that seems the best option with what we have. How we can play 4-4-2 (Or 4-3-3 if you are GJ!) with no width defies logic. For all Derbys faults, they got the ball wide regularly, and Croft & Teale did stretch us, even if it looked like Sproule was the crossing coach (And Bas coaching the strikers!). All in all, baffling team selection and a truly shocking second half. And definitely one of Bassos worst ever displays.

On the positive side, the beer in the Brunswick was absolutely top notch, that really is a cracking real ale pub. Pity the Porter ran out before I could try it, but the other dark beer was absolutely first class.

We all know what your idea is Chappers. Lets cut the crap and admit that GJ's achilles heel is the continued selection of his boy when there is absolutely no reason for him to be in the team. A selection which causes the team to be unbalanced and is absolutely pointless when we have better options in Sno and Hartley to do the job. The lad can "do a job" at this level but has no genuine quality in his game whatsoever and the sooner he finds another club the better for all parties in my view - it actually wouldn't hurt Lee Johnson himself to forge a nice little career for himself away from the old man. And it might also do Bristol City Football Club a favour.

And anyone who thinks that certain squad players aren't having the same conversation amongst themselves is naive in the extreme.

[Ron]

"Who is your no.33?

I'm told he looked very dangerous and it was relieving when he went off."

Not that I'd accuse this forum of bias against said 33, but...

[Slave to the rhythm]

"Who is your no.33?

I'm told he looked very dangerous and it was relieving when he went off."

Not that I'd accuse this forum of bias against said 33, but...

Your post makes no sense because you are obviously alluding to Lee Johnson, but he isn't squad number 33.

[Tunley Legend]

"Who is your no.33?

I'm told he looked very dangerous and it was relieving when he went off."

Not that I'd accuse this forum of bias against said 33, but...

Obviously they weren't talking about our number 8, Lee Johnson, then!!

[Guest comfortinsound]

I think Saborio is 33.

Did make me laugh though as 33 immediately made me think LJ. He obviously now 8 because he knows he'll start every week so might as well have a 1-11 jersey.

[windmillhillred]

He obviously now 8 because he knows he'll start every week so might as well have a 1-11 jersey.

Despite the fact he doesn't start every week?

[Tunley Legend]

Despite the fact he doesn't start every week?

He's not exactly out in the wilderness either. Go and ask Gavin Williams if you need a definition.

[Guest comfortinsound]

Started the last 3?

[windmillhillred]

He's not exactly out in the wilderness either. Go and ask Gavin Williams if you need a definition.

Never said he was - simply that he didn't start every week - it was an incorrect statement by the originalposter.

[windmillhillred]

Started the last 3?

that means he'll start every week does it?

[Guest comfortinsound]

No it wasn't, he's started the last 3. If you need a reason for him not to start just check out the kung-fu attempted clearance v Scunny that Cantona would be proud of.

[Slave to the rhythm]

that means he'll start every week does it?

We'll find out on Tuesday won't we. If he starts on Tuesday then I think it's fair to assume that he's back in the team and there's nothing anybody else can do about it.

[windmillhillred]

No it wasn't, he's started the last 3. If you need a reason for him not to start just check out the kung-fu attempted clearance v Scunny that Cantona would be proud of.

Yes, he has - it doesn't mean he's guaranteed a spot. If players stay/get fit, he has absolutely no chance of starting - say - the next six or seven games.

[windmillhillred]

We'll find out on Tuesday won't we. If he starts on Tuesday then I think it's fair to assume that he's back in the team and there's nothing anybody else can do about it.

Not really. If Skuse is fit, or if we have three fit centre backs and Johnson squeezes into the middle of a 3-5-3 ahead of one of Elliott, Hartley, Sno and Skuse, then I'll more than happily listen to you.

[Guest comfortinsound]

that means he'll start every week does it?

Yes it does, because since returning from illness he's started every week. I was joking really, just highlighting how absurd it is that the midfield gets juggled to suit him and quality players get shunted out of position. Lee wasn't that bad today, i applauded him off as usual. But Elliot was on the left because of LJ, this is ridiculous and reminds of the final - Elliot put to right back just so Lee could get on. Lee is not good enough for this level, and is certainly bottom of the pecking order when it comes to central midfielders at the club.

We'll find out on Tuesday won't we. If he starts on Tuesday then I think it's fair to assume that he's back in the team and there's nothing anybody else can do about it.

Well said.

[windmillhillred]

Yes it does, because since returning from illness he's started every week. I was joking really, just highlighting how absurd it is that the midfield gets juggled to suit him and quality players get shunted out of position. Lee wasn't that bad today, i applauded him off as usual. But Elliot was on the left because of LJ, this is ridiculous and reminds of the final - Elliot put to right back just so Lee could get on. Lee is not good enough for this level, and is certainly bottom of the pecking order when it comes to central midfielders at the club.

If you want to re-open that little gem...

1. Why didn't Lee just get picked to start then? Because if Gary moves his players round to suit Lee, surely he could have done it for the play-off final?

2. Elliott played as a right back frequently for Millwall. McCombe dropped out with illness on the eve of the game so the alternative would have been to bring Vasko on and shift Carety out to right back - a position he hated.

[Guest comfortinsound]

Carle was keeping him out of the team i think, and hadn't he recently come back from injury? We had Vasko (a defender) on the bench who could've come on and left elliot in his strongest position which was my point anyway. IMO a defender would've been a better option that a midfielder who hadn't played RB for a season. Play marv in is best position, he's much better in the centre than out wide or at RB. Just my view of course. Didn't mean to re-open it, i'm a late comer to this excellent forum!

[windmillhillred]

Carle was keeping him out of the team i think, and hadn't he recently come back from injury? We had Vasko (a defender) on the bench who could've come on and left elliot in his strongest position which was my point anyway. IMO a defender would've been a better option that a midfielder who hadn't played RB for a season. Play marv in is best position, he's much better in the centre than out wide or at RB. Just my view of course. Didn't mean to re-open it, i'm a late comer to this excellent forum!

I agree with you about not re-opening this! However...!, if GJ simply wanted to pick Lee, he would have done. Surely that's obvious? The problem with Vasko is that he couldn't really have played as right back, meaning that Carey would have moved to RB - leaving a very disrupted back line.

All water under the bridge now, and a shame about Orr. Probably the worst player to get injured on the day from the point of view of having a real lack of replacements.

[Guest comfortinsound]

Good points, yeah let's leave it. Should've joined the forum years ago!

I've just seen mccombe's play acting on TV. I'm honestly ashamed.

[windmillhillred]

Good points, yeah let's leave it. Should've joined the forum years ago!

I've just seen mccombe's play acting on TV. I'm honestly ashamed.

not seen it - I won't watch highlights if we lose. Surprised though, really didn't see McCombe as that sort of player at all.

[Tunley Legend]

Good points, yeah let's leave it. Should've joined the forum years ago!

I've just seen mccombe's play acting on TV. I'm honestly ashamed.

I hope the FA look at it and give him at least half a dozen matches on top of the one match ban he will get. We can do without that sort of rubbish from players representing our club. That might pass as OK in the Prem but players who do that in a red shirt can f00k right off as far as I am concerned.

[Guest comfortinsound]

I agree, so out of character. It was terrible.

That Steve Claridge is such a plank, never ever mentions us when we deserve it and once said something like 'You only deserve to have an opinion on football if you've played it professionally'

How disrespectful is that?!

[NickJ]

Yes, he has - it doesn't mean he's guaranteed a spot.

Well, it would seem that he is.

How else would you explain the farce of Johnson playing centre midfield, with Elliott left wing, while more natural wide players such as Haynes, Sproule, and even Williams and Clarkson sat on the bench.

Dont forget Johnson was officially injured at the start season, thats why he wasnt playing in the first couple of games, and even (Gary) Johnson would have found it difficult to bring him straight back in after the reasonable start when he wasnt playing.

[Nibor]

Not really. If Skuse is fit, or if we have three fit centre backs and Johnson squeezes into the middle of a 3-5-3 ahead of one of Elliott, Hartley, Sno and Skuse, then I'll more than happily listen to you.

Don't be ******* silly, we played four central midfielders today.

Of our SIX central midfielders, he is certainly the worst, but he's still getting in the side somehow.

[Chappers]

We all know what your idea is Chappers. Lets cut the crap and admit that GJ's achilles heel is the continued selection of his boy when there is absolutely no reason for him to be in the team. A selection which causes the team to be unbalanced and is absolutely pointless when we have better options in Sno and Hartley to do the job. The lad can "do a job" at this level but has no genuine quality in his game whatsoever and the sooner he finds another club the better for all parties in my view - it actually wouldn't hurt Lee Johnson himself to forge a nice little career for himself away from the old man. And it might also do Bristol City Football Club a favour.

And anyone who thinks that certain squad players aren't having the same conversation amongst themselves is naive in the extreme.

I was trying not to offend! Personally, I think the guy is totally out of his depth at Championship level. I never wanted him to sign, simply because I do not like the idea of City being a 'Family Firm', that happens at small provincial Clubs, not one that is trying to be a major force in the Championship.