Preston North End home match thread

[Red Exile]

Decent point against a side that looked very secure in possession and strong at the back. Would have been nice to hold on for the 3 points. There is, however, a strong sense of seen it all before when we let sides equalise after 86 minutes. We seemed to lack control for long periods. Pluses - Knight looks sharp, Dickie confident, Zak as good as he was at his best last season, we have plenty of pace and fitness to bring off the bench. Would be more reassuring if we could nurse possession a little more, not always looking for the worldie pass. After that performance I'll take a point.

[IThinkThatOnesRooney]

1 minute ago, TheCulturalBomb said:

I think we're gonna be real frugal with any money from Scott sale. Can't see anything more than a couple of million being spent. 

Might be best to keep the money until January. Most teams are still capable of making the playoffs in this league when the new year starts.

[Red Cloud]

6 minutes ago, Marcus Aurelius said:

Pompeii equalise 92nd 

ballboy's fault?

[bexhill reds]

1 minute ago, TheCulturalBomb said:

I think we're gonna be real frugal with any money from Scott sale. Can't see anything more than a couple of million being spent. 

The problem is the wage budget rather than have £25m to spend. Ideally Scott stays for another season and we sell for £30m plus

[Midred]

1 minute ago, cityexile said:

Goals scored, them our best card...alphabetical order (just for display, technically ‘equal’).

 

1 minute ago, ExiledAjax said:

No. But away goals scored is a factor.

 

That explains why Preston are above us?

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, Redrascal2 said:

Nothing improved since last season. Just cannot keep possession under pressure. No real goal threat. More of the same from NP, a long hard season.

Get a grip. We were poor TODAY. When you look at what we had in midfield it’s obvious where the Scott money goes when we get it. Then we’ll be better.

[ralphindevon]

Opening game of the season i never expect much, nor do i when we play Preston. 

But that was poor, very poor 

[Gazred]

Fair result but frustrating.

[petehinton]

Just walked past Tomas Kalas coming out the Lansdown stand

[The Coach]

Really need a midfielder with a footballing brain and high football IQ who can put play together.

[Northern Red]

If you can't play well and win, make sure you don't get beat. We did that.

[Alessandro]

Well, after weeks of chat and speculation and recently increased positivity and optimism, even talk from the club of challenging for the top 6 - well it’s a pretty sobering start to the season.

1-1 at home to a Preston team that looked physically and technically superior in most areas of the pitch - but more worrying was the lack of dynamism in our forward play - pretty much relying all game on direct plays which Preston countered all match (bar the long throw goal) - we were unable to ever build possession or pressure in their half, let alone final third - something Preston did to us all second half. Generally very poor in transition. 

Positives - Vyner and on the whole Dickie at the back - and for large parts we looked more organised and tidy defensively - but as Atkinson said (gave away) on Robins TV “you don’t have to be talented to do that, just committed” 

And that I think sums us up today - full of commitment but a lack of talent - what area(s) are we missing that talent? Specific areas of the pitch? Or tactically? I guess we’ll need to see some more games to find out.

Easy to say, but Alex Scott a huge miss - We will need to go shopping after today - that midfield was lacking pace and power today. 
 

Doom and gloom, no - but put the champers on ice for now!

[Numero Uno]

Just now, The Coach said:

Really need a midfielder with a footballing brain and high football IQ who can put play together.

He was in the stand and probably leaving. However you are correct we need to spend some of the Scott money on a replacement if he goes.

[bexhill reds]

Just now, petehinton said:

Just walked past Tomas Kalas coming out the Lansdown stand

Might as well come and enjoy the hospitality… Suprised no one has come in for him, unless he’s got unrealistic expectations

[Not Banksy]

Why do we always let teams have their best moment just after we score.. every season 

[ExiledAjax]

24 minutes ago, Midred said:

That explains why Preston are above us?

Yes. 

We have the same points, goal difference, and goals scored as Preston.

So you go to head to head results and in doing so look at points gained, goal difference and goals scored. But with a 1-1 draw that is also all identical.

So then it's number of wins - again both 0.

So then it's away goals scored. Preston have 1, we have 0.

So Preston are above us.

Edited August 5, 2023 by ExiledAjax

[old_eastender]

1 minute ago, The Coach said:

Really need a midfielder with a footballing brain and high football IQ who can put play together.

Alex Scott... hoped Knight might prove to be this, but despite some nice touches he didn't manage it today.

[Numero Uno]

2 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

If you can't play well and win, make sure you don't get beat. We did that.

That’s the positive for me. We were poor and scraped a point.

[BUTOR]

Vyner continuing his form and then some today. Thought he was excellent 

[HOZDA]

As Nige states and others have referenced: if you're not going to win, don't lose. 

Never easy vs Preston. Despite them playing well, they were certainly not close to full strength, so I'd be quite encouraged if I was them. We didn't have the intensity we claim/aim to play with. Poor ball retention. Also lacked creativity in midfield, a concern if/when Scott goes. Someone like their 10 would benefit us as a replacement. Internally we have Mehmeti perhaps or Benarous when back?

Defence looked pretty solid. Vyner really good from what I saw. 

Not the best start but not the end of world either. Glad football is back regardless!

[Fuber]

Usually optimistic. However.

Midfield nonexistent for me. Not impressed with any of Williams, Knight, or James today, all seemed lost without Scott in front.

Could count second balls or 50-50s won second half on one hand.

Tanner and Pring, by their own standards, poor.

Plusses - Dickie and Zak looked decently solid, former especially in an unfamiliar position.

Bell scoring - good for his confidence. Wells worked hard.

Ticketing system not working with android after the players-fans day is a farce.

Need to buckle up for Millwall off that performance.

[Northern Red]

3 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

If you can't play well and win, make sure you don't get beat. We did that.

Be interested to know what's confusing about this, @Whitchurch?

[luke_bristol]

That was really awful. Turns out pumping Cheltenham and Weston in pre season doesn’t do much to prepare you for Championship sides. 

[1team]

Williams and James at home. Really?

It was an opportunity to see Mehmeti in the free midfield role. 

[!james]

Don't think anyone really stood out for me.

Pring was busy without any end product and Potts kept him quiet. Vyner misplaced a few headers and touches and still doesn't fill me with any confidence. Dickie was solid, Tanner unspectacular.

Knight, James and Williams were largely anonymous. Ball was in the air far too much and no one got a foot on it and tried to dictate play, massively missed Scott. 

Wells and Bell were busy but nothing was sticking and we were our own worst enemy constantly losing possession. I don't think Cornick was any worse just lack of chances and the times he did he was choosing the wrong option. 

Frustrating.

 

 

[Gazred]

Thought Vyner played well today. Looked very comfortable. He's come on loads the last couple of seasons.

[Simon bristol]

20 minutes ago, Ivorguy said:

When you have followed City for eight decades as I have you recognise normal

Amen! I texted my teenage son earlier,,, asked if he was excited for the season starting,, of course he was,,, then i told him about david james signing and how we couldn’t concede with england world cup keeper playing for us… we are bristol city,,, letting people down on day 1 is what we do!

[BCFCGav]

Disappointing performance, I expected more from us today. We took one of our few chances but then went very City - hated having the lead. And sure enough, lost the lead late. All painfully familiar.

[22A]

9 minutes ago, ralphindevon said:

Opening game of the season i never expect much, nor do i when we play Preston. 

But that was poor, very poor 

Go back 12 months. City conceded a late equaliser at home to Blackpool and then a few days later in the League Cup, another late equaliser.

My theory is that it stuck in the player's minds no matter what they did, they couldn't win.

Come on City, prove me wrong in Wednesday night's Cup game.

[BasSavage88]