Mis-season review. Flashscores.

[Bar BS3]

Just thought this might interest some.

Seems pretty bang on to me.

Interesting to see an outside perspective sometimes.

A bit more level headed that those who think we are either going up, or in the midst of the worst period in living memory..!

[Mr Popodopolous]

Spending pushing £10mish gross sure helps after 2-3 years of needed austerity. Solid base too..broadly in line with my Hopes and Expectations actually.

Okay maybe we are a bit above but yeah this looked like an opportune year in some ways for a Playoff push.

Has been enjoyable at times though and Clean Sheets are invaluable..getting a few from early October to now.

Edited Friday at 19:30 by Mr Popodopolous

[Bar BS3]

14 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Spending pushing £10mish gross sure helps after 2-3 years of needed austerity. Solid base too..broadly in line with my Hopes and Expectations actually.

Okay maybe we are a bit above but yeah this looked like an opportune year in some ways for a Playoff push.

I'd agree generally although bizarrely, we are doing well despite the money spent, rather than because of it.!

If our striker signings had had a better impact we'd arguably be right up in the top 6.

I know that's the decision makers mistake, but not all signings do work out. Even inspite of that, we seem to be improved & not badly placed - obviously the consistency & whether we can keep that up is the next big test.

 

[cidercity1987]

13 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

I'd agree generally although bizarrely, we are doing well despite the money spent, rather than because of it.!

If our striker signings had had a better impact we'd arguably be right up in the top 6.

I know that's the decision makers mistake, but not all signings do work out. Even inspite of that, we seem to be improved & not badly placed - obviously the consistency & whether we can keep that up is the next big test.

 

There's one thing taking a gamble and it not working out but it was a major and inexplicable strategic error to go for two risky striker signings at once 

[Silvio Dante]

“A notable habit of taking points from the top teams”

Sheffield Utd - 0

Leeds Utd - 1

Burnley - 0

Sunderland - 1

Middlesbrough - 3

Blackburn - 0

WBA - 0

So, in 7 games in teams above us then we’ve taken points off 3. Not really a habit is it? Lazy journalism again, and not worth the (internet) it’s written on.

[Bar BS3]

6 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

There's one thing taking a gamble and it not working out but it was a major and inexplicable strategic error to go for two risky striker signings at once 

Agreed. 

I just can't see what had been seen in FM, unless he has drastically changed somehow & there is actually a player in there that can come to the fore. There is just nothing there imo.

Armstrong I can understand far more. He has attributes but raw. I can see why any manager who's confident in himself & his coaches could think they can mould him into a better player & that will take time. It took years with Semenyo.

Of course it's a gamble, but at least pace & power are a base to start from.

Mayulu just doesn't seem to have anything, or the attitude, or anything - so I'd love to know what was seen & exactly what drew the conclusion that he'd be ready or even near being the right player for what we needed.

Mayulu being good would completely justify more of a project with Armstrong - but with Mayulu's complete failure (to date) it's meant Armstrong not being ready or up to scratch matters, whereas otherwise it wouldn't really be an issue at this moment in time.

I can totally see why scouting Armstrong would feed back positive reports of potential. I just can't see what Mayulu could have shown to impress..!

[Bar BS3]

14 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

“A notable habit of taking points from the top teams”

Sheffield Utd - 0

Leeds Utd - 1

Burnley - 0

Sunderland - 1

Middlesbrough - 3

Blackburn - 0

WBA - 0

So, in 7 games in teams above us then we’ve taken points off 3. Not really a habit is it? Lazy journalism again, and not worth the (internet) it’s written on.

True, factually. But I think the majority of us would agree that we tend to be more able to raise our game against better teams, than break down struggling teams.

Probably just perception, rather than backed up by stats - but it seems to have often been our way.

Sheff Utd really could/should have been at least 1 point (deserved)

Blackburn & West Brom were 2 of the unacceptable no-show performances, along with Portamouth away & Derby away (2nd half)

[Silvio Dante]

Just now, Bar BS3 said:

True, factually. But I think the majority of us would agree that we tend to be more able to raise our game against better teams, than break down struggling teams.

Probably just perception, rather than backed up by stats - but it seems to have often been our way.

Sheff Utd really could/should have been at least 1 point (deserved)

Blackburn & West Brom were 2 of the unacceptable no-show performances, along with Portamouth away & Derby away (2nd half)

I don’t overly disagree but the article did state “a notable habit of picking up points against the top teams” which as you acknowledge is factually incorrect - that alone shows it’s some chancer in his bedroom writing this and it isn’t worth any more airtime (in fact less) than your, mine or anyone who’s seen us over a sustained period this year.

The fact is that unless we improve our record against the teams above us we’re likely to regress from current standing (as our second half of season has played three struggling clubs) as opposed to progress. So, pretty much the polar opposite of the “analysis” in this “article”

[Bar BS3]

8 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I don’t overly disagree but the article did state “a notable habit of picking up points against the top teams” which as you acknowledge is factually incorrect - that alone shows it’s some chancer in his bedroom writing this and it isn’t worth any more airtime (in fact less) than your, mine or anyone who’s seen us over a sustained period this year.

The fact is that unless we improve our record against the teams above us we’re likely to regress from current standing (as our second half of season has played three struggling clubs) as opposed to progress. So, pretty much the polar opposite of the “analysis” in this “article”

Oh definitely a "column inch filler" as opposed to any deeply insightful analysis. 

I don't think any articles are ever that insightful. Usually swayed by opinion or interpretation - even if formed with more direct knowledge that just a general overview. 

[Davefevs]

22 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

True, factually. But I think the majority of us would agree that we tend to be more able to raise our game against better teams, than break down struggling teams.

Probably just perception, rather than backed up by stats - but it seems to have often been our way.

Sheff Utd really could/should have been at least 1 point (deserved)

Blackburn & West Brom were 2 of the unacceptable no-show performances, along with Portamouth away & Derby away (2nd half)

We get filed under “gallant loser”. As fans we lower our expectations and then surprise ourselves a little that we can compete, and think we’ve done well!

[Sleepy1968]

I asked chatGPT to comment on the 24/25 season to date. This LLM is clearly batshit crazy: -

"As of January 2025, Bristol City’s 2024/25 season in the Championship has been a relatively solid one, though with some inconsistencies. The team, under manager Nigel Pearson, has demonstrated moments of promise but has also faced challenges when up against top-tier sides in the league.

Performance Against the Best Teams:

Against the higher-ranking teams, Bristol City has shown competitive spirit, but their results have been mixed. In games against strong Championship sides such as Sheffield United, Norwich City, and Ipswich Town, City have often struggled to convert possession and strong spells of play into positive results. While they have managed a few impressive draws, they have also been on the wrong end of some defeats, with defensive lapses being a key issue in those games. Their ability to close out games against high-pressure sides has been an area of concern.

Bristol City’s performances against top teams suggest a trend where they can hold their own but lack the consistency required to secure points in tough encounters. This could be attributed to moments of individual defensive errors or a lack of clinical finishing when opportunities arise.

New Signings:

Bristol City made several key signings in the summer of 2024, aiming to strengthen their squad depth and challenge for a higher spot in the Championship standings.

George Tanner (Defender) - The right-back has shown good potential, contributing solid defensive displays. However, he has had to adapt to the intensity of the Championship, and although he's made some solid contributions, his performances have been a mix of good and average.

Sam Bell (Midfielder) - The young midfielder has added creativity and energy to the team. Bell has impressed with his versatility in the middle of the park, although his consistency in terms of output (goals/assists) could improve as he adjusts to the higher level of competition.

Harry Cornick (Forward) - Cornick has been a direct and energetic forward. He brings pace to the team and has been a useful outlet on the counter-attack. His goal-scoring contributions have been limited, though, as he has had a tough time finding the back of the net against stronger opposition.

Scott McKenna (Defender) - McKenna has provided some much-needed stability at the back. The Scotland international has been a rock in defence, but like some of his teammates, his performances against elite Championship sides have shown that he’s sometimes caught out in high-pressure moments.

Overall, the new signings have added quality and depth to Bristol City's squad but haven't yet been able to consistently push the team over the line against the best sides in the league. The squad still relies heavily on the performances of key individuals, and more cohesion and consistency in their overall play will be required if they are to consistently challenge the top teams.

Summary:

Bristol City’s 2024/25 season so far has been a mixture of encouraging signs and areas for improvement. Their performances against top sides have often highlighted their vulnerabilities, but their new signings have added value and potential. If they can fine-tune their defense and improve their finishing in key matches, there is the potential for a stronger second half of the season."

Edited Friday at 20:35 by Sleepy1968

[joe jordans teeth]

1 hour ago, Bar BS3 said:

Just thought this might interest some.

Seems pretty bang on to me.

Interesting to see an outside perspective sometimes.

A bit more level headed that those who think we are either going up, or in the midst of the worst period in living memory..!

That is shoddy as hell,stating the bleeding obvious is not journalism 

[Bar BS3]

1 hour ago, joe jordans teeth said:

That is shoddy as hell,stating the bleeding obvious is not journalism 

Don't shoot the messenger.