Bristol City 0-0 Bristol rovers

[Guest ciderhead06]

I'm sorry but i had 2 big problems about that game. and I'm sure you would agree.

Firstly- Why was scotty murray playing in the middle of midfield.

Secondly- What a crap ref!!

[The Fat Controller]

Firstly- Why was scotty murray playing in the middle of midfield.

Scotty was playing just behind the strikers in an attempt to get in behind their defence.

Also seemed to be drifting in to either channel and making intelligent runs.

Looked to me like the Gas werent picking him up at all.

[Jay]

I'm sorry but i had 2 big problems about that game. and I'm sure you would agree.

Firstly- Why was scotty murray playing in the middle of midfield.

Secondly- What a crap ref!!

The tactics were a little odd this evening. I'd always play Murray in his natural right wing position. The formation didn't quite work for me either. That said, we didn't loose with what we had. Yes, so many of us hoped & even expected a win but it didn't happen.

I still have faith. GJ will quickly learn from this evening & we'll see the reintroduction of key players like Showunmi in the next game. We're half way there & teh sags can't play the same tactic again. It's a good opportunity to play the good, passing football we know we can play.

[Guest ciderhead06]

well if we play our usual tactics away and we should grab the win

[dezgimed]

Ive never been so infuriated by a formation, and saddened by a performance.

Really am embarassed tonight.

All this hype, build up, excitement, from the manager, players, chairman, chief executive etc..

And we come out 5-3-2..

Woodman left wing back, Orr right wing back, with our only out and out winger in the middle.

No suprise, we played with 5 defenders, and comically at times, it was Keogh, Woodman and Fontaine building attacks down the left.

The Noble substitution was daft, but totally expected.

Fair play we tried reasonably, but like I say, wasted opportunity against a crap team who played for 0-0.

I think the deafening silence at the end said it all, I think we were all stunned that the players/manager could let us down so badly.

[Guest]

Sags never really looked like scoring and if Brookers post shot had gone in we would be all talking differently. Having said that a below par performance by us and an above average by them evened things out; a draw was a fair result'

We are City and expect a victory away at tough Brighton and we will turn over the gas in the second game;

Tatics, etc I`ll leave to the manager :Believe:

[Guest ciderhead06]

The tactics were a little odd this evening. I'd always play Murray in his natural right wing position. The formation didn't quite work for me either. That said, we didn't loose with what we had. Yes, so many of us hoped & even expected a win but it didn't happen.

I still have faith. GJ will quickly learn from this evening & we'll see the reintroduction of key players like Showunmi in the next game. We're half way there & teh sags can't play the same tactic again. It's a good opportunity to play the good, passing football we know we can play.

it will be good to get our strongest team back, and thats why i thin we'll grab the away win!

[Nibor]

They defended with 8 or 9 men at all times and got the draw they came for. No complaints about that really it was to be expected.

We played through the midfield with ease mainly because of Noble's quality but couldn't play through the back four.

Defence played well with little to do really, Keogh stood out.

Front two worked hard, Brooker looked a little short of sharpness as to be expected but still nearly won the game... Andrews ran his arse into the ground. They were both being marked by two players most of the time because we weren't stretching the full backs.

We had no width because of the selection of Woodman on the wing (he is never going to be a winger if he refuses to go past the opposing midfielder and always passes inside) and Murray's injury/weird position so the only times we managed to get crosses in was with the help of the front two which meant there was noone on the end of them.

Bit disappointing but in the second leg they'll have to come out of their trench and with luck we'll have Murray, McAllister, Showunmi and McCombe back.

For the second leg I'd play:

..Basso.....

......Carey............McCombe..........Keogh........

.....Murray....Skuse.Russell..........McAllister......

..Noble......

.....Brooker..........Andrews...

Thomas

Fontaine

Johnson

JMW

Showunmi

provided everyone's fit.

Onwards and upwards - now for the game that actually has some importance, Brighton on Saturday.

Edit: Someone needs to turn off that stupid sodding feature that edits multiple full stops.

[SimplyRed]

We were punchless tonight and I think we'll be lucky to get anything out of the game at the Mem. We should have put it away tonight. City once again flatter to deceive in front of a big crowd.

We were half a yard off the pace in the first half, with Andrews being the biggest culprit - only reacted when the ball was on its way instead of anticipating the pass.

And people ask why Johnson comes in for so much stick - well, I think it's because he is rarely substituted when he's playing poorly. It's also because he - annoyingly - takes every free-kick and corner we get in the final third.

Personally, I'd like to see a bit of variety and invention and mix up our set pieces a bit. We certainly needed that tonight.

Poor performance. How can you expect the 6,000-odd part-timers who came to tonight's game to come again on that performance?

[pdgifford64]

We were punchless tonight and I think we'll be lucky to get anything out of the game at the Mem. We should have put it away tonight. City once again flatter to deceive in front of a big crowd.

We were half a yard off the pace in the first half, with Andrews being the biggest culprit - only reacted when the ball was on its way instead of anticipating the pass.

And people ask why Johnson comes in for so much stick - well, I think it's because he is rarely substituted when he's playing poorly. It's also because he - annoyingly - takes every free-kick and corner we get in the final third.

Personally, I'd like to see a bit of variety and invention and mix up our set pieces a bit. We certainly needed that tonight.

Poor performance. How can you expect the 6,000-odd part-timers who came to tonight's game to come again on that performance?

i don`t think we flattered to decieve with big crowds against Cov and Middlesbrough.

I think we`re struggling to get out a settled side with set tactics.

If we do, and soon, i think we`ll achieve the thing we desire most- if not, another season in Lge 1 beckons i fear

[Guest snowy_RDFC]

For the second leg I'd play:

..Basso.....

......Carey............McCombe..........Keogh........

.....Murray....Skuse.Russell..........McAllister......

..Noble......

.....Brooker..........Andrews...

I have a big problem with that side in that Skuse - who cannot play football - is included.

Definitely missed McAllister on the left tonight. He's generally quite good at getting up the line (far far better than Brian Wilson might i add).

[Nibor]

I have a big problem with that side in that Skuse - who cannot play football - is included.

Definitely missed McAllister on the left tonight. He's generally quite good at getting up the line (far far better than Brian Wilson might i add).

Wilson isn't a left sided player he just had a decent time there against poor league two defences. I'd like to see him at right back at some point.

Completely disagree with you about Skuse and I can only assume you haven't watched him play much. He's very talented but is struggling to consistently dominate games. I am absolutely certain he will though and he wil go on to play at a higher level. Hopefully with us.

[i_am_red]

thought the ref dint have a bad game apart from the decision not to award brooker a free kick near the end

[Guest snowy_RDFC]

Completely disagree with you about Skuse and I can only assume you haven't watched him play much. He's very talented but is struggling to consistently dominate games. I am absolutely certain he will though and he wil go on to play at a higher level. Hopefully with us.

Too weak, plays his football in a similar mould to Johnson, when what's really required there is a hard man.

Granted "he can't play football" was a little harsh but alongside Johnson he is extremely ineffective, even more so then when he was chucked out on the left wing!

[Guest snowy_RDFC]

thought the ref dint have a bad game apart from the decision not to award brooker a free kick near the end

I agree. You can't blame the ref - who made no/didn't not give any game-changing decisions - for your side playing poor football.

[Nibor]

Too weak, plays his football in a similar mould to Johnson, when what's really required there is a hard man.

Granted "he can't play football" was a little harsh but alongside Johnson he is extremely ineffective, even more so then when he was chucked out on the left wing!

I think having a hard man in the middle is a thing of the past. Challenges are being punished more and more and these days it's more effective to just get back behind the ball and force an error. A 50/50 doesn't really exist any more. It's a 50/25/25 - the final 25 being the change you'll give away a free kick even though you won the ball fairly. I can't see the value in diving in the middle of the park at all the way the game is now.

Skuse needs to influence games more, win more in the air and get into the box, but the work he does off the ball and ground he covers are excellent, his control and ability on the ball are great. I think those things he lacks will come with more experience.

I never ever want to see him on the wing though I must admit.

[bartolona]

what's really required there is a hard man.

Can you imagine if we had a hard man playing tonight,they were dropping like flies anyway.

[Guest mesa boogie]

I wouldn't say we came for a draw until the last 10 minutes, first half I thought we had a real go and until Scott Monkey went off it looked like being a good end to end contest. Until the last 10 minutes of the match we were always looking to hit you on the break. You on paper are a far better side than us so that is why we concentrated on defending.

[Bristol Boy]

The Ref was a bit fussy but I've seen a lot worse and is that all you can find wrong with us?

You can't blame the ref for our inability to shoot or pass for almost all of the ninety minutes.

[Nibor]

I wouldn't say we came for a draw until the last 10 minutes, first half I thought we had a real go and until Scott Monkey went off it looked like being a good end to end contest. Until the last 10 minutes of the match we were always looking to hit you on the break. You on paper are a far better side than us so that is why we concentrated on defending.

You played with 8 or 9 men behind the ball at all times and 100% nailed on came for a draw. You weren't looking to play on the break with Walker and Lambert up front.

Not complaining as it's what I expected but please don't pretend it was anything else - a good end to end contest? You're having a laugh.