I just don't get you

[Citycitycity]

Afternoon my fellow reds.

I'm not one to moan /slate or anything I do have one question though for each and every fan that blamed last seasons second half fail on the carabao Cup.

what's your excuse this year?  I argued with anyone last season who blamed the cup for our shocking 2nd half to the season. These are professional athletes who are the fittest around and who all crave the Premier league and let's be honest massive pay increases.  We have been out of sync since February last year. I predicted 14th this season and I'm looking pretty spot on. Yet we were out the cup on round one against a team we hammered 5 nil last season. (alarm bells.. No?)  So I do ask. What is your excuse now. Our stats are still similar to about last Feb and march.
On a side note city sold us our season tickets the earliest they have ever done last season.. Coincidence? Maybe.. Maybe not?

 

[Bar BS3]

30 minutes ago, Citycitycity said:

Afternoon my fellow reds.

I'm not one to moan /slate or anything I do have one question though for each and every fan that blamed last seasons second half fail on the carabao Cup.

what's your excuse this year?  I argued with anyone last season who blamed the cup for our shocking 2nd half to the season. These are professional athletes who are the fittest around and who all crave the Premier league and let's be honest massive pay increases.  We have been out of sync since February last year. I predicted 14th this season and I'm looking pretty spot on. Yet we were out the cup on round one against a team we hammered 5 nil last season. (alarm bells.. No?)  So I do ask. What is your excuse now. Our stats are still similar to about last Feb and march.
On a side note city sold us our season tickets the earliest they have ever done last season.. Coincidence? Maybe.. Maybe not?

 

My excuse...

There are 23 other teams in this division, all trying to win games, and all just as capable of winning any game as they are losing one. We are currently smack bang in the middle of said division, so I’m not sure what you are trying to get me to excuse...?! 

[View from the Dolman]

31 minutes ago, Citycitycity said:

On a side note city sold us our season tickets the earliest they have ever done last season.. Coincidence? Maybe.. Maybe not?

Nope. Not true.

2018/19 season tickets went on sale from March 5th. My e-mail confirmation for 2009/10 showed I renewed my season ticket on February 14th.

 

[Harry]

43 minutes ago, Citycitycity said:

Afternoon my fellow reds.

I'm not one to moan /slate or anything I do have one question though for each and every fan that blamed last seasons second half fail on the carabao Cup.

what's your excuse this year?  I argued with anyone last season who blamed the cup for our shocking 2nd half to the season. These are professional athletes who are the fittest around and who all crave the Premier league and let's be honest massive pay increases.  We have been out of sync since February last year. I predicted 14th this season and I'm looking pretty spot on. Yet we were out the cup on round one against a team we hammered 5 nil last season. (alarm bells.. No?)  So I do ask. What is your excuse now. Our stats are still similar to about last Feb and march.
On a side note city sold us our season tickets the earliest they have ever done last season.. Coincidence? Maybe.. Maybe not?

 

The players WERE tired last season. Injuries forced LJ to play almost the same XI for nearly 2 months, with no rest, in high intensity games vs very testing opposition. 

So the excuse last year was very valid. 

I’m certainly no happy clapper or particular lover of LJ so I’ll happily say that he doesn’t have a similar excuse this year. 

Last season we had a style of play and generally executed it quite well - not brilliantly, but quite well. This season we have no style of play. And that falls on the shoulders of 2 people. LJ for not creating a system/plan/style, and Ashton for not providing LJ with the right tools to fit the system/plan/style that he wants. 

 

[Sturny]

3 minutes ago, Harry said:

The players WERE tired last season. Injuries forced LJ to play almost the same XI for nearly 2 months, with no rest, in high intensity games vs very testing opposition. 

So the excuse last year was very valid. 

I’m certainly no happy clapper or particular lover of LJ so I’ll happily say that he doesn’t have a similar excuse this year. 

Last season we had a style of play and generally executed it quite well - not brilliantly, but quite well. This season we have no style of play. And that falls on the shoulders of 2 people. LJ for not creating a system/plan/style, and Ashton for not providing LJ with the right tools to fit the system/plan/style that he wants. 

 

I could be wrong with this one as i'm just guessing, but during our promotion season from L1 did our players play even more games than last season? They kept up performances didn't they with little rotation? 

[ScottishRed]

4 minutes ago, Sturny said:

I could be wrong with this one as i'm just guessing, but during our promotion season from L1 did our players play even more games than last season? They kept up performances didn't they with little rotation? 

My memory is highly similar, but I stand to be corrected.

Last season's second half demise was, IMO, due to a number of factors - tiredness was not one of them.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, ScottishRed said:

My memory is highly similar, but I stand to be corrected.

Last season's second half demise was, IMO, due to a number of factors - tiredness was not one of them.

Agree ffs tired, one or 2 games a week, are these not supposed to be trained athletes, most of them don't run around for all the game, anyway don't they rest at half time, poor little sausages.

Isnt there a local lad running across USA right now .....and our lot cant manage a football pitch once or twice a week....what are they paid for again?

[Bar BS3]

20 minutes ago, Sturny said:

I could be wrong with this one as i'm just guessing, but during our promotion season from L1 did our players play even more games than last season? They kept up performances didn't they with little rotation? 

You are right, although the level opposition in that season wasn’t generally a patch on that of last season, so it’s bound to be a lot tougher physically. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Citycitycity said:

Afternoon my fellow reds.

I'm not one to moan /slate or anything I do have one question though for each and every fan that blamed last seasons second half fail on the carabao Cup.

what's your excuse this year?  I argued with anyone last season who blamed the cup for our shocking 2nd half to the season. These are professional athletes who are the fittest around and who all crave the Premier league and let's be honest massive pay increases.  We have been out of sync since February last year. I predicted 14th this season and I'm looking pretty spot on. Yet we were out the cup on round one against a team we hammered 5 nil last season. (alarm bells.. No?)  So I do ask. What is your excuse now. Our stats are still similar to about last Feb and march.
On a side note city sold us our season tickets the earliest they have ever done last season.. Coincidence? Maybe.. Maybe not?

 

I blamed the clueless manager and his poor recruitments, also the lack of ambition this club shows. "14th this season" bottom 6 for me if nothing changes soon. 

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

You are right, although the level opposition in that season wasn’t generally a patch on that of last season, so it’s bound to be a lot tougher physically. 

They couldn`t be bothered after xmas when they saw the rubbish that was being shoehorned into the starting 11 just so the manager could save face and show us what he`d done...again.

[City fan 1982]

If this clown is still here next year me and family won’t be renewing ! 

[Harry]

36 minutes ago, Sturny said:

I could be wrong with this one as i'm just guessing, but during our promotion season from L1 did our players play even more games than last season? They kept up performances didn't they with little rotation? 

It’s indeed true that Cotterills promotion winning team saw very few changes week to week. However, we played a very different style. Last season, using the same 11 each week, we were asking them to play a higher tempo, press higher and quicker and they would generally result in running further and making more sprints, thus tiring the players more. 

In short, last season we were asking more of them physically than we were in the promo season. 

[Harry]

23 minutes ago, Bri Stool City said:

Agree ffs tired, one or 2 games a week, are these not supposed to be trained athletes, most of them don't run around for all the game, anyway don't they rest at half time, poor little sausages.

Isnt there a local lad running across USA right now .....and our lot cant manage a football pitch once or twice a week....what are they paid for again?

Of course they are fit. The tiredness of football players is comparable only to other football players. 

We played a style last year that asked more of each player physically than the opposition did. If we are running a mile more per game than the opposition and being asked to do that week on week with no rest, then the relative effect is that our players will be more tired than the opposition players of equal fitness. 

I’m not making excuses for LJ. 2018 has been poor, ain’t no doubt about that. But to say that tiredness was not a factor last year is nonsense. 

[Sturny]

6 minutes ago, Harry said:

It’s indeed true that Cotterills promotion winning team saw very few changes week to week. However, we played a very different style. Last season, using the same 11 each week, we were asking them to play a higher tempo, press higher and quicker and they would generally result in running further and making more sprints, thus tiring the players more. 

In short, last season we were asking more of them physically than we were in the promo season. 

That's true. I just had a quick lookie at some of our key players appearances from last season and our L1 season and there's not much difference tbh  

[Harry]

3 minutes ago, Sturny said:

That's true. I just had a quick lookie at some of our key players appearances from last season and our L1 season and there's not much difference tbh  

Yes I’d imagine it’s similar. I recall SC playing the same 11 for about 10 games in a row. 

The differences are though, that the standard of opposition was poorer, meaning we didn’t play a high tempo press, as we could allow the opposition the ball knowing they would concede possession by their own mistakes, so we didn’t have to chase the game. We probably had more possession ourselves too, so again were not chasing the ball and using energy. 

[Sturny]

11 minutes ago, Harry said:

Yes I’d imagine it’s similar. I recall SC playing the same 11 for about 10 games in a row. 

The differences are though, that the standard of opposition was poorer, meaning we didn’t play a high tempo press, as we could allow the opposition the ball knowing they would concede possession by their own mistakes, so we didn’t have to chase the game. We probably had more possession ourselves too, so again were not chasing the ball and using energy. 

Imagine if that was the very simple answer to our problems. Just a fresher midfield for ball chasing 

[Bar BS3]

37 minutes ago, Bri Stool City said:

They couldn`t be bothered after xmas when they saw the rubbish that was being shoehorned into the starting 11 just so the manager could save face and show us what he`d done...again.

Have a day off mate. You make yourself sound utterly ridiculous. 

[Harry]

31 minutes ago, Sturny said:

Imagine if that was the very simple answer to our problems. Just a fresher midfield for ball chasing 

If only it were that simple. 

Tiredness was certainly a factor last season. But this season is multi-faceted. 

The main reason for our consternation this season is that we no longer have the players capable of committing to the high energy pressing game (this was basically Bobby Reid, he led it and the rest followed on his trigger). Weimann, whilst he can run a bit, is not on the same level as Bobby was when it comes to understanding when & where to enact this. We have also recruited poorly. We’re still missing an effective right back, an extra midfielder with ready-quality, a striker with a nose for a goal, we’ve bought many wingers/no10’s and we’re not playing a system which suits many of our players. It’s a mix-match, a hotch-potch whatever you wanna call it (some may say tombola). 

Ashton hasn’t given LJ an abundance of championship ready players. And LJ is not playing a style and system which suits the players he’s been given by Ashton. 

So yes. Tired was a factor last year. But this year there are reasons far beyond energy levels as to why we look poor. 

[Nongazeuse]

In our L1 Promotion season we ran out of puff around Christmas and had a few key injuries.

Luckily Matt Smith came in and JET had a decent spell when he decided to play with energy. We also has a few other like Wagstaff who covered well.

It kept up the momentum until Wilbs and others came back. 

The Championship is much less forgiving though - if you are 5-10% off the pace you are likely to lose games.

[Cowshed]

1 hour ago, Harry said:

The players WERE tired last season. Injuries forced LJ to play almost the same XI for nearly 2 months, with no rest, in high intensity games vs very testing opposition. 

So the excuse last year was very valid. 

I’m certainly no happy clapper or particular lover of LJ so I’ll happily say that he doesn’t have a similar excuse this year. 

Last season we had a style of play and generally executed it quite well - not brilliantly, but quite well. This season we have no style of play. And that falls on the shoulders of 2 people. LJ for not creating a system/plan/style, and Ashton for not providing LJ with the right tools to fit the system/plan/style that he wants. 

 

If players are tired in January that is the fault of the Manager and his preparation. If you want a high intensity game you prepare and recruit for it. Reid lasted season long.

Post January Bristol City had styles of play and generally the execution was piss poor. This season the team is again morphing through styles only earlier in the season.

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, Harry said:

It’s indeed true that Cotterills promotion winning team saw very few changes week to week. However, we played a very different style. Last season, using the same 11 each week, we were asking them to play a higher tempo, press higher and quicker and they would generally result in running further and making more sprints, thus tiring the players more. 

In short, last season we were asking more of them physically than we were in the promo season. 

I agree with most of that.  I don’t think it’s really possible to compare 14/15 season with last season or even Lg1 with Champ.  It’s chalk and cheese.

What I don’t get is why the Head Coach has come out a couple of times in recent interviews and said that’s NOT his we played last year, he’s said that we sat back and counter attacked.

Its when he says things like this that I think he just makes it up and thinks he pulling one over us.

[reddogkev]

I thought we didn't like excuses on this forum?

But what's not to get?  We've sold Flint, Reid, Bryan, even Magnússon, all quality players.

[nickolas]

6 hours ago, Harry said:

The players WERE tired last season. Injuries forced LJ to play almost the same XI for nearly 2 months, with no rest, in high intensity games vs very testing opposition. 

So the excuse last year was very valid. 

I’m certainly no happy clapper or particular lover of LJ so I’ll happily say that he doesn’t have a similar excuse this year. 

Last season we had a style of play and generally executed it quite well - not brilliantly, but quite well. This season we have no style of play. And that falls on the shoulders of 2 people. LJ for not creating a system/plan/style, and Ashton for not providing LJ with the right tools to fit the system/plan/style that he wants. 

 

I believe this seasons buzz word is identity. 

LJ says we dont show. Yet most of us are concerned as to what it is anyway!!

im hoping its not the sit back and take games for granted identity ive seen a lot lately. 

Otherwise our dna will also be identified within League One this time next year!

[BS4 on Tour...]

7 hours ago, Citycitycity said:

Afternoon my fellow reds.

I'm not one to moan /slate or anything I do have one question though for each and every fan that blamed last seasons second half fail on the carabao Cup.

what's your excuse this year?  I argued with anyone last season who blamed the cup for our shocking 2nd half to the season. These are professional athletes who are the fittest around and who all crave the Premier league and let's be honest massive pay increases.  We have been out of sync since February last year. I predicted 14th this season and I'm looking pretty spot on. Yet we were out the cup on round one against a team we hammered 5 nil last season. (alarm bells.. No?)  So I do ask. What is your excuse now. Our stats are still similar to about last Feb and march.
On a side note city sold us our season tickets the earliest they have ever done last season.. Coincidence? Maybe.. Maybe not?

I didn’t blame anything on the cup run - we had ONE cup game throughout the whole of November and December.....ONE cup game in two months - how exhausting that must have been.....

[MarcusX]

6 hours ago, Bri Stool City said:

Agree ffs tired, one or 2 games a week, are these not supposed to be trained athletes, most of them don't run around for all the game, anyway don't they rest at half time, poor little sausages.

Isnt there a local lad running across USA right now .....and our lot cant manage a football pitch once or twice a week....what are they paid for again?

Talking shit. It’s not just running, it’s impact etc plus kicks and knocks and twists - add to that mental exhaustion and the disappointment of being a step away from a major domestic final and I think “tiredness” in its many guises is valid.

it doesn’t account for this season necessarily though

[Lrrr]

Selling key players and replacing with ones who could be as good but aren't at the moment doesn't help. Not an excuse and could be a criticism of recruitment, so more a contributing factor.

[BobBobSuperBob]

13 minutes ago, MarcusX said:

it doesn’t account for this season necessarily though

Or the season before 

[Mad Cyril]

Both phases of turning crap coincided with the return of Diedhiou?

[KeepUpLino]

16 hours ago, Harry said:

The players WERE tired last season. Injuries forced LJ to play almost the same XI for nearly 2 months, with no rest, in high intensity games vs very testing opposition. 

So the excuse last year was very valid. 

I’m certainly no happy clapper or particular lover of LJ so I’ll happily say that he doesn’t have a similar excuse this year. 

Last season we had a style of play and generally executed it quite well - not brilliantly, but quite well. This season we have no style of play. And that falls on the shoulders of 2 people. LJ for not creating a system/plan/style, and Ashton for not providing LJ with the right tools to fit the system/plan/style that he wants. 

 

Sorry Harry I’m not having that.. Do you serious think that because we played a high intensity game until Dec we were tired for the next 4 months...

The human body is incredible and you can argue the harder they worked during games the fitter they became so I’m not sure where the being tired excuse comes from.. 

The truth is that the run after Christmas was arguably worse then the huge losing streak, considering LJ had apparently cracked it in the first half of the season!

LJ Has had a ridiculous amount of support now from the club and fans, it’s time the fans stop making excuses for him.. It’s time for him to go!!

[Sturny]

9 hours ago, hodge said:

Selling key players and replacing with ones who could be as good but aren't at the moment doesn't help. Not an excuse and could be a criticism of recruitment, so more a contributing factor.

Said this at the start of the season, got totally ripped. Definitely one of the major factors in my eyes