The highly optimistic brigade- where are you?

[ashton_fan]

It's no coincidence that our good run of form has happened just as some of our injured players have returned, we definitely lost some points by not having a recognised RB while McCrory and Tanner were injured, and having Bell and Twine back has given us some more options up front.

[38MC]

On 02/01/2025 at 10:25, Robbored said:

Tbh - I’m genuinely surprised that City are doing reasonably well given the shite Manning has been serving up.

That said recently results have improved since the dismal performances at the Hawthorns and Fratton Pk so my optimism has returned to a degree despite not beating struggling Argyle at Home Pk on NYs Day

 

So let me get this straight:

Manning is bringing you optimism because he doing reasonably well resultswise despite serving up shite. 

And then Gary Johnson, who did incredibly well resultswise - in your opinion served up shite but many would disagree - and he's the devil incarnate.

Danny Wilson - the man you'd love to give a reacharound to - served up entertaining football with shite results in the third tier, and yet for you he could walk on water.

You really are a parody. You tie yourself in more knots than the Christmas fairy lights.

I've never encountered someone who is able to defy their own logic with such ease. You really are as thick as cow dung

Edited January 7 by 38MC

[Mr Popodopolous]

10 minutes ago, ashton_fan said:

It's no coincidence that our good run of form has happened just as some of our injured players have returned, we definitely lost some points by not having a recognised RB while McCrory and Tanner were injured, and having Bell and Twine back has given us some more options up front.

Especially the RB/RWB situation that was debilitating without a doubt.

Earthy, occasionally Roberts- did even Yu play there on occasion.

Vyner at RB more of a natural fit but could have its flaws too.

[1960maaan]

2 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Especially the RB/RWB situation that was debilitating without a doubt.

Earthy, occasionally Roberts- did even Yu play there on occasion.

Vyner at RB more of a natural fit but could have its flaws too.

Full back does seem a recurring problem , away at Cardiff last year we had Joseph James at RB and Sykes at LB. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

3 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

Full back does seem a recurring problem , away at Cardiff last year we had Joseph James at RB and Sykes at LB. 

Loaning out TGH..

..Yeah hindsight but he can cover both Fullback, Wingback as well as his favoured CM.

I digress, at Cardiff Away that was absurd..think Pring was at CB In a Back 4 too.

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Especially the RB/RWB situation that was debilitating without a doubt.

Earthy, occasionally Roberts- did even Yu play there on occasion.

Vyner at RB more of a natural fit but could have its flaws too.

Was it?  We had options to cover, that’s why we have the squad we have.

I’m not sure this is debilitating:

Leeds:

Preston:

Sheffield U:

Norwich:

Which were the games where people thought we had an injury crisis.  We win 2, drew 1, I think that shows the strength of the squad, look at the unused subs, and not debilitating at all imho. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

6 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Was it?  We had options to cover, that’s why we have the squad we have.

I’m not sure this is debilitating:

Leeds:

Preston:

Sheffield U:

Norwich:

Which were the games where people thought we had an injury crisis.  We win 2, drew 1, I think that shows the strength of the squad, look at the unused subs, and not debilitating at all imho. 

Weren't McCrorie and Tanner both unavailable for weeks simultaneously though? A month to 6 weeks, McCrorie injured v Leeds and Tanner either injured v Sheffield United or Preston? Think it was the former.

Yeah it's nothing on October 2023 but it seemed to hone in on specific positions for a time..the Fullback/Wingback areas.

[Mr Popodopolous]

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bristol-city/kader/verein/698/saison_id/2024

Squad age Profile, treat the contractual stuff with caution as Transfermarkt can be hit and miss for that.

Bell e.g. is 2026.

Edited January 7 by Mr Popodopolous

[Engvall’s Splinter]

4 hours ago, 38MC said:

I've never encountered someone who is able to defy their own logic with such ease. You really are as thick as cow dung

Have you never come across the recently departed moody bloke on the FBC podcast?

[mozo]

5 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Was it?  We had options to cover, that’s why we have the squad we have.

I’m not sure this is debilitating:

Leeds:

Preston:

Sheffield U:

Norwich:

Which were the games where people thought we had an injury crisis.  We win 2, drew 1, I think that shows the strength of the squad, look at the unused subs, and not debilitating at all imho. 

Sykes as RWB and Ross McCrorie LWB is definitely sub optimal! 

Having said that, Manning could have selected Morrison to at least have a left sided player and switched McCrorie over.

[Davefevs]

11 minutes ago, mozo said:

Sykes as RWB and Ross McCrorie LWB is definitely sub optimal! 

Having said that, Manning could have selected Morrison to at least have a left sided player and switched McCrorie over.

Exactly.  That’s my point, he had several choices he could’ve made, both personnel and / or system.  That doesn’t class as debilitating in my eyes, and the results kinda prove it too.

[swanker]

On 22/12/2024 at 19:50, Mr Popodopolous said:

On here and beyond, for months we have had forced jollity and optimism, strange convoluted defences of the Club etc.

I shouldn't really slate but bloody annoyed..here and beyond, like a Pied Piper of Hamlin leading us to our midtable mediocrity.

Feels like Play-off tilt over and today barring a scratch team have Wolves found a little mojo?

Leicester 0 v Wolves 3

Season over by January 11th by 2pm or 3pm if we get extra time etc. Explain that one!

I’m optimistic at the moment, I sense the feel good factor about the club coming back.  Mate of mine was talking to one of the injured players yesterday and he’s chomping at the bit to get back on pitch and involved with the team again. Believe me, all the players are behind the manager and everyone else who works at the club. 
COYR. 

[Solent Robin]

We had a depleted squad for many weeks across our defence in particular. You cannot legislate for injuries to both your full backs at the same time (left then right) giving little option but to play players out of position and no appropriate cover on the bench. It could have been debilitating but to his credit LM managed the situation well in getting some decent performances and results. Don't quite get the criticism of playing McCrorie at LWB against Leeds given his performance and before anybody pipes up about his injury, it was his other hamstring which was unfortunate. I doubt the club would have risked him if he wasn't fit to start. Playing Morrison from the start against Leeds and the quality of their wide players would have been risky, but concede that he should have been a direct replacement when McCrorie went off. The squad depth helps generally, but imo is not a valid argument where we managed to get the results despite the specific injuries in those full back areas. If not debilitating, it certainly didn't help and in hindsight because of the results, shouldn't be ignored. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

18 minutes ago, swanker said:

I’m optimistic at the moment, I sense the feel good factor about the club coming back.  Mate of mine was talking to one of the injured players yesterday and he’s chomping at the bit to get back on pitch and involved with the team again. Believe me, all the players are behind the manager and everyone else who works at the club. 
COYR. 

I'm becoming a little more optimistic and it is heartening to hear about the unity. I suppose my reservation is the slow start and the 1 Win in 7 Post 2nd International break leaves not much Margin for error in respect of a true Play-off push.

However COYR.

[Solent Robin]

It is interesting that when we were conceding goals earlier in the season I had concerns about the ability of the midfield to screen the defence. Despite Knight or Bird not being defensive midfielders as such, they have proven to be an effective partnership in the past few weeks. I think that it has been helped by going to a back three, which provides an extra layer of security. However, when we come up against the top sides who are better in transition I think that partnership will be more exposed. LM may need to be brave in breaking up that partnership and re-introducing McGuane. Horses for courses. 

Providing the majority of the squad remain fit, there are grounds for optimism. The play offs may be a step too far, but remaining in contention until April will show progress. However, I don't see SL providing the funds to bridge the gap in this window which is notoriously difficult. Depending how things pan out, he may be persuaded to do so in the summer when we will lose some of the sqaud. 

 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 vs 3 feels a problem vs better sides IMO, like I say I'd be looking to flood the central area or at least overload it 2 v 3 whenever..

Who steps out of the back 3 to negate the 3 v 2. On tbe flipside what gaps can we exploit.

[Davefevs]

We have specifically created a squad size big enough to absorb the impact of injuries.  We have more players than are required for a match day (20).  We have a strategy that suggests we will use academy should we need to backfill beneath “senior players”.  We have some players better / more important than others.  Injuries will of course put pressure on resources, but ignoring Bajic, we have 8 outfield subs of which 5 can be used.  I’ve rarely looked at the bench this season and though “eff me, I’m gonna dread the second half when Manning has to make subs, that’s really gonna weaken us”.  Ironically, Norwich (a super performance) was the only game I got close to thinking that, because I thought it the bench was unbalanced…but even then there were still lots of options to be flexible without exposing players.

[Davefevs]

11 minutes ago, Solent Robin said:

It is interesting that when we were conceding goals earlier in the season I had concerns about the ability of the midfield to screen the defence. Despite Knight or Bird not being defensive midfielders as such, they have proven to be an effective partnership in the past few weeks. I think that it has been helped by going to a back three, which provides an extra layer of security. However, when we come up against the top sides who are better in transition I think that partnership will be more exposed. LM may need to be brave in breaking up that partnership and re-introducing McGuane. Horses for courses. 

 

This is what I’m looking forward to seeing.  I don’t think that we play a screen whichever way Manning sets up, or what resources he uses…not in the sense of someone like Marlon Pack, who had that as his specific detail.  Manning tends to get his 2 DMs (hate the term DM) to mark / track / pass-on or press the ball, rather than positionally screen the CBs zonally like Marlon did.  Teams don’t necessarily “get at us” in those pockets either, so it hasn’t presented itself as a problem as yet.

Transition defence and rest defence was the issue early season.  Again, somewhere else to watch for.

We are entering a bit of the unknown…in a good way.

[Solent Robin]

Midfielders in the modern era are expected to do a bit of everything, so I am not expecting a specialist holding player. However, Meguane offers more defensively with his tackling and recovery runs. Knight is key in transition both ways with his energy. There is the option to play three across the midfield with Bird the furthest forward (3-5-1-1). Mehmeiti would likely get the No 10 role as he provides more of a constant threat and has the pace to break the lines. As you know I am a Twine fan, but he may need to be sacrificed if we need to be more solid. We may not need to do this if the Knight - Bird partnership remains effective against the better sides, but it is an option. 

 

 

 

 

[Mr Popodopolous]

Duels in certain contexts. I'll pick WBA as I think they are quite rounded albeit lacking in depth. I'll exclude GK.

Furlong Bartley Holgate Heggem

            Mowatt  Molumby

    Fellows  Swift  Johnston

                    Maja

                     Vs

      Vyner Dickie McNally

McCrorie  Knight  Bird  Pring

    Twine                 Mehmet

                  Wells

Is it a case of Vyner and McCrorie somewhat shut down/face Heggem and Johnston then Pring and Mehmeti face off vs Furlong and Fellows? Maybe my 2 v 1 concern is misplaced..Twine really has to pick up the slack out of Possession centrally though it we will lose that..there were some major gaps 2nd half up there.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, Solent Robin said:

Midfielders in the modern era are expected to do a bit of everything, so I am not expecting a specialist holding player.

Depends on the system and / or the player.  Under Manning, no, you wouldn’t expect a specialist like Pack.  But Mousinho has him doing that (until he needed him at CB).  Horses for courses.