Match Thread Bristol City (A) 24th August 12:30 KO (5 Viewers)

[Skyblue Bangkok]

MR also sat on the bench and didn’t stand in the technical area to bark orders or make signals as he is wont to do. Not sure if he was sluggish as well.

He was in his technical area for the Stoke game , makes no difference really in or out

 

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[chiefdave]

We needed a stoppage time goal to beat Oxford after dominating the match. We theoretically could have only had 2 points by now and be in 18th place. We cannot afford another slow start and expect to make a late dash to the playoffs. Consistentcy is key and that can only be achieved through consistently good performances which we have not yet achieved.

But we're not in 18th we're in 8th. Unless you think we're not going to play any better than this then I'm not sure its the time to panic.

If we're sat in 8th with our best yet to come that's not bad is it?

 

[skybluegod]

I assume you’re not counting Rudoni as a CM
here then?

Correct, I don't think he could play the 6/8 with another attacking midfield. It's okay chasing the game. But not sure you could start a game with it?

 

[Terry_dactyl]

Ok, ok..I’ve caught up with the general vibe on the forum…
It appears that expectation does strange things to people.

 

[SkyblueTexan]

But we're not in 18th we're in 8th. Unless you think we're not going to play any better than this then I'm not sure its the time to panic.

If we're sat in 8th with our best yet to come that's not bad is it?

I hope you’re right. Performance over position at this stage is important although playing great and losing every week would also be bad for morale. Fine lines.

 

[Tommo1993]

Home.

Dovin made a few good saves, his punches are gonna land us in trouble though.
Not convinced that Binks is the calm, assured head he’s made out to be.
Rudoni, Eccles, Torp all poor. But seriously, in general, what is Torp offering to this team. Never thought I’d say it, but Palmer gives us more. Personally have seen enough of Torp.
Sakamoto looked terrified and knackered.
We knew Wright was better on the left, so I’m sort of wondering why we signed EMC just to throw him on the right where he’s no good.
Simms absolutely fuck all to feed off.
BTA is a good signing and should be starting games.

If it’s another season of turning up in the 65th minute, then it’s another season below top 6.

 

[Flying Fokker]

Let's be honest, they are both not at the level for a team who want promotion.

Going from Hamer and Sheaf to Eccles and Torp is a huge drop in quality

I had a feeling the TV view would not go down well…

 

[Old Warwickshire lad]

I am worried about the bright spark who has decided we defend corners this way.
Eleven men in the box, no one on the edge of the box to stop a half clearance being fired back in.
And if they decide to take a short corner, we all stand in the box and say look at them wonder what they’re doing.

 

[Flying Fokker]

What’s annoying is that Bristol looked decent, but only created chances from our errors or set pieces. Again we were lethargic. The subs helped (Palmer anyway).

We got absolutely nowhere near the level of the Oxford game.
Midfield horribly exposed. Rudoni & Torp disappointing and that’s one of the worst games I’ve seen Josh Eccles play.
Frustrating that we have 4 attacking players on the bench that are equal in quality as the starters, defence too but there’s not much Robins can do about DM/CM with only Allen available. We only have one CM injured FFS.
If we’re playing 3 in the middle, I want 2 CMs in next week.
Lati, Dovin and MVE good.
Palmer MOM

Must admit, Torp was off form.

Palmer wasn’t on the field long enough for MOM. It was hard to choose a stand out performance other than Dovin keeping us in the game.

 

[theferret]

A bit worrying that. We'll improve for sure, but we're some way off at the moment. We seem quite easy to play against, press high and we struggle to cope. Are we trying to play on the break? I can't really tell what the plan is, but midfielders sitting so deep it doesn't work.

We went there early last season, outplayed them and lost, so there is that. Decent point in the end and improvement will come I'm sure.

 

[skyblue_55]

Just got back & simmered down a bit .
The press trumping us up , might be one answer to why we think that we just have to turn up to win ?
The other is the complete lack of leadership, that we have all mentioned.
A strange Robins analysis, as “ they might be jaded , after a full weeks training “ ????
whatever the clubs take on the cause , this was another way below standard performance & Doug might be asking questions soon , of our very expensive squad .

 

[Old Warwickshire lad]

Home.

Dovin made a few good saves, his punches are gonna land us in trouble though.
Not convinced that Binks is the calm, assured head he’s made out to be.
Rudoni, Eccles, Torp all poor. But seriously, in general, what is Torp offering to this team. Never thought I’d say it, but Palmer gives us more. Personally have seen enough of Torp.
Sakamoto looked terrified and knackered.
We knew Wright was better on the left, so I’m sort of wondering why we signed EMC just to throw him on the right where he’s no good.
Simms absolutely fuck all to feed off.
BTA is a good signing and should be starting games.

If it’s another season of turning up in the 65th minute, then it’s another season below top 6.

3 games in and I’m already feeling sorry for Simms. Trying to feed off scraps as you said. Hope to f*** the crowd stay off his back.

 

[robbiethemole]

We needed a stoppage time goal to beat Oxford after dominating the match. We theoretically could have only had 2 points by now and be in 18th place. We cannot afford another slow start and expect to make a late dash to the playoffs. Consistentcy is key and that can only be achieved through consistently good performances which we have not yet achieved.

This is still a better start than the last 2 years, we went 7 games without a win once, didn't we??

 

[theferret]

This is still a better start than the last 2 years, we went 7 games without a win once, didn't we??

Same start as last season. Arguably better start last season (performance wise), the one game we lost (at Leicester) we played really well.

 

[robbiethemole]

Same start as last season. Arguably better start last season, the one game we lost (at Leicester) we played really well.

maybe the season before then?

 

[SomersetSB]

Just got off the train back home and mates who are Bristol city fans are glad they drew with us!!
We are they’re yardstick PUSB

 

[Levship20]

We need some creativity in midfield or I fear each week we will be on the backs of most.. have to realise that our front line relies on build up play, and we simply are not creating enough.

 

[theferret]

We need some creativity in midfield or I fear each week we will be on the backs of most.. have to realise that our front line relies on build up play, and we simply are not creating enough.

Yeah, 2 games out of the 3 we've only had 2 efforts on target in 3 hours. Some very talented attacking players but there is a missing link atm. It will come, but midfield is a worry.

 

[Alan Dugdales Moustache]

Let's see where we are after 10 games. I'd expect at least 13-15 points which would put us middle to top half . No need to panic at this stage .Lots of teams are feeling their way and we're no exception.

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

Correct, I don't think he could play the 6/8 with another attacking midfield. It's okay chasing the game. But not sure you could start a game with it?

yeah, you’d probably want a more defensive minded / stronger tackling midfielder in with him, but for instance you could play Sheaf, Rudoni and say one of EMC / BTA / KP more advanced

 

[Blind-Faith]

8th best start in the league, without playing that well for most of it. Aslong as it starts to click, we’re going to be alright

 

[CCFCSteve]

Let's see where we are after 10 games. I'd expect at least 13-15 points which would put us middle to top half . No need to panic at this stage .Lots of teams are feeling their way and we're no exception.

Exactly. However frustrating the performances have been, very early days and with a new coaching set up. Still won two, drawn one and lost one from one home and three aways. Not really panic stations

 

[Jamesimus]

8th best start in the league, without playing that well for most of it. Aslong as it starts to click, we’re going to be alright

Let's see where we are after 10 games. I'd expect at least 13-15 points which would put us middle to top half . No need to panic at this stage .Lots of teams are feeling their way and we're no exception.

Yeah there’s a lot of wet sheets for this early in the season.

At this time last year Preston were right up there. 10 games is a sensible bench mark and although I’m not happy with how we’re playing, win our next home game and that’s a decent start.

 

[SkyblueTexan]

This is still a better start than the last 2 years, we went 7 games without a win once, didn't we??

I don’t recall, but we’ve historically been very slow starters for sure.

 

[bigfatronssba]

I watched the game with the Sky commentators who were absolutely awful, worse than Clive and Oggy for getting players' names wrong and very under-educated about our tem.

When Clive and Oggy get things wrong it’s cute

 

[hinckley cov]

Home.

Dovin made a few good saves, his punches are gonna land us in trouble though.
Not convinced that Binks is the calm, assured head he’s made out to be.
Rudoni, Eccles, Torp all poor. But seriously, in general, what is Torp offering to this team. Never thought I’d say it, but Palmer gives us more. Personally have seen enough of Torp.
Sakamoto looked terrified and knackered.
We knew Wright was better on the left, so I’m sort of wondering why we signed EMC just to throw him on the right where he’s no good.
Simms absolutely fuck all to feed off.
BTA is a good signing and should be starting games.

If it’s another season of turning up in the 65th minute, then it’s another season below top 6.

I think Torp and Eccles are too similar and can’t play together.

 

[Jamesimus]

I think Torp and Eccles are too similar and can’t play together.

Robins just needs to make sure they go to different barbers.

 

[hamil99]

Didn't see the game today as I was out, but if Bristol played well, we had a stinker and we've still come away with a point, surely that's not to bad going. A point away against a team who some have as a dark horse this season is positive. Hopefully over the international break they can iron out the creases and we will come out stronger from the blocks.

Edit. Hopefully we'll also have at least another midfielder in by then.

 

[itsabuzzard]

Ok, ok..I’ve caught up with the general vibe on the forum…
It appears that expectation does strange things to people.

And it created it's own momentum, leading some to indulge in what I'd charitably describe as hyperbole.

 

[SeshMouseSkyBlue]

Course it shouldn't. It was offside.

Problem is the goal stood! Shite decisions from sub standard officials yet again!

 

[Terry_dactyl]

And it created it's own momentum, leading some to indulge in what I'd charitably describe as hyperbole.

Very generous…

Just like our useless players and their terrible tactics!

 

[itsabuzzard]

When Clive and Oggy get things wrong it’s cute

Rob Gurney is just dull.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Couldn’t be arsed for people saying everyone and everything was ‘useless cunts’ -

 

[StrettoBoy]

I think Torp and Eccles are too similar and can’t play together.

That’s a good point. They are both decent players but as today showed it’s not working with them together.

 

[2024/25 League 1 Champs?]

That’s a good point. They are both decent players but as today showed it’s not working with them together.

‘decent’ doesn’t get you top two though

Torp is weird because he should have a high bar in terms of potential but doesn’t seem to be progressing at the minute, that game against Man Utd last season showed what he’s capable of but he needs to perform to that level regularly…Eccles also needs to push on, but he’s a bit further ahead in terms of appearances and yet still pretty average at the minute.

I’m not convinced either are the answer, we need Sheaf back and two very good starters in the middle, Eccles and Torp aren’t going to get us promoted in my opinion