Match Thread Bristol City (A) 24th August 12:30 KO (7 Viewers)

[Sky Blue Pete]

Made me really want an understudy for him as another singing. If he is the only player Robins thinks can play that role that we have to change tactical shape, we need a new player to cover him.

Yeah

 

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[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

Made me really want an understudy for him as another singing. If he is the only player Robins thinks can play that role that we have to change tactical shape, we need a new player to cover him.

Agreed, I think we need someone like Grimes, not to understudy at all but be able to fill that role almost seamlessly

 

[Warwickhunt]

it’s not that out there a suggestion, particularly given we have players who could play that second striker role, but still drop into a 10 or even wide if necessary to change tactics / formation mid game, eg EMC, BTA, Wright…

and playing Sheaf and Rudoni in midfield should be fairly balanced, shouldn’t it?

I don’t think there’s a one size fits all though, and that’s the biggest query I have over the last half season or so, we don’t generally seem to change anything to counteract who we are playing, it’s the same formation, same players and nothing even changes early enough mid game if it’s not going right. We need to be flexible, and given the players we now have that shouldn’t be a problem

The biggest problem is the players don't feel the same passion and excitement the supporters feel when they go to the match. If they did they would be up for it and counter press and win the ball high up and after 15 minutes or so things would settle down. MR would then perhaps let Van-Eyvak adventure past Saka instead of being super cautious all the time.

 

[mark82]

is too many coaches a factor in this?

No, wouldn't think so. We've been miles behind in this respect for years. Maybe too many new voices is an issue, and that may take time to settle down.

 

[lifeskyblue]

My main concern is that if we don’t go up this season, the following one will be yet another rebuild job.

Agree. That’s the problem in the championship for a lot of clubs. Don’t get promoted, lose better players, buy replacements (odd gem, odd dud), develop them for couple seasons , don’t get promoted…rinse and repeat. And hope you eventually get lucky.

 

[Nick]

Robins clearly wants to play a new brand of football, as shown by the Oxford game and also pre-season and an interview with Eccles where he literally says we are implementing a new style and when the fans see it they’re gonna be buzzing or something like that.
It takes time to adapt, we dont just have the new signings to gel in but the eest of the squad to gel as well as changing systems takes time, we saw what it can do at home, but it seems away from home we’re not implementing it properly yet.
Give the boys time we know what they can do

Will be interesting to see when they show us the new style.

 

[Seymour_East]

Please tell me what I said isn’t true?

It maybe true what you say, but notoriously we start most seasons slowly, whatever the squad we have. Luton not doing well despite being a PL team last year, only 3 games in, really no need to over analyse!

 

[SkyblueTexan]

Many interesting and valid points here. I think the 3-0 preseason win over Everton got us all giddy with excitement. But they’re struggling hopelessly in the Prem and are probably worse than several teams in this division where they will likely be next season. Our overdependence on Sheaf is concerning because he never plays a full season and that’s why you need squad depth to cover each other in times of injuries, suspensions etc. A strong engine room is key to transitioning play from defence to attack and to thwart counter attacks, but currently we are very weak in that department with the options we have. We’re blessed with so many attackers, but teams are cutting off the supply lines and winning the midfield battle and putting our defence under a lot of pressure. Hence, the lack of clean sheets for as long as anyone can remember.

I sincerely hope we prioritize the midfield area with whatever time is left in the window, but if we cannot get anyone in, we have to figure out how to devise a system to make the most of what we have. Players must be willing to adapt, develop and implement these systems and become more versatile in their play. That’s been the reason for the slow start because we never seem to be able to change tactics or formation during the course of a match and are too slow, predictable and ponderous. Sheaf's absence has also exacerbated things, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse. We need to be able to cope and adjust.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Many interesting and valid points here. I think the 3-0 preseason win over Everton got us all giddy with excitement. But they’re struggling hopelessly in the Prem and are probably worse than several teams in this division where they will likely be next season. Our overdependence on Sheaf is concerning because he never plays a full season and that’s why you need squad depth to cover each other in times of injuries, suspensions etc. A strong engine room is key to transitioning play from defence to attack and to thwart counter attacks, but currently we are very weak in that department with the options we have. We’re blessed with so many attackers, but teams are cutting off the supply lines and winning the midfield battle and putting our defence under a lot of pressure. Hence, the lack of clean sheets for as long as anyone can remember.

I sincerely hope we prioritize the midfield area with whatever time is left in the window, but if we cannot get anyone in, we have to figure out how to devise a system to make the most of what we have. Players must be willing to adapt, develop and implement these systems and become more versatile in their play. That’s been the reason for the slow start because we never seem to be able to change tactics or formation during the course of a match and are too slow, predictable and ponderous. Sheaf's absence has also exacerbated things, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse. We need to be able to cope and adjust.

It wasn’t results but performances in pre-season that had me shocked at how flaccid the Stoke game was, and again yesterday. It’s like they got nervous on the league stage.

 

[GIMOC]

It maybe true what you say, but notoriously we start most seasons slowly, whatever the squad we have. Luton not doing well despite being a PL team last year, only 3 games in, really no need to over analyse!

luton similar to us. lost a couple of players and not bought many in either. they are having the same issue where form from last season is carrying into this season

 

[SkyblueTexan]

It wasn’t results but performances in pre-season that had me shocked at how flaccid the Stoke game was, and again yesterday. It’s like they got nervous on the league stage.

That’s why we should never compare preseason performances to the actual season. I was guilty of it too and bought into all the hype and got my hopes up. I agree the performances thus far (especially Stoke and Bristol) have been underwhelming. It can only improve from here I suppose. Thankfully we at least have 4 points to show for it.

 

[Matt smith]

luton similar to us. lost a couple of players and not bought many in either. they are having the same issue where form from last season is carrying into this season

We’ve won one drawn one lost one, it’s not really a poor run of form, need a win next week

performances have to improve massively though that’s for sure

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

We’ve won one drawn one lost one, it’s not really a poor run of form, need a win next week

performances have to improve massively though that’s for sure

If Sargent is still at Norwich we’ll be needing to score 2 or 3 to get a result…

 

[Sick Boy]

The thing is with this is that we’d probably only need to work on a 1 out then 1 in basis, (other than if it doesnt happen a RB and CM) so it wouldnt be a huge rebuild we’re in control as the players are tied down on deals, we sell when we want not when another club or the player wants

I’d expect Wright, Simms and MVE to be off.

 

[Matt smith]

If Sargent is still at Norwich we’ll be needing to score 2 or 3 to get a result…

We’ve got good forwards too.

Actually thought defence played well yesterday

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I’d expect Wright, Simms and MVE to be off.

Wright’s contract can be extended, he could be retained. The others plus Sheaf would all go.

 

[GIMOC]

We’ve won one drawn one lost one, it’s not really a poor run of form, need a win next week

performances have to improve massively though that’s for sure

start of the season everyone said what an easy run we have to begin with

we got 2 late goals one for a winner and one for a point as much as it’s good to get a win on the board performances have been poor overall and that feels like a hangover from last season

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

We’ve got good forwards too.

Actually thought defence played well yesterday

Depends which CCFC turns up

 

[Matt smith]

start of the season everyone said what an easy run we have to begin with

we got 2 late goals one for a winner and one for a point as much as it’s good to get a win on the board performances have been poor overall and that feels like a hangover from last season

Yeah can’t really disagree with that too much, thought we were good against Oxford on the whole though.

Big week re the state of the squad

 

[GIMOC]

Yeah can’t really disagree with that too much, thought we were good against Oxford on the whole though.

Big week re the state of the squad

agree Oxford we played well but got lucky from a poor back pass and gifted the goal

that goal probably covered a couple of cracks which came open again yesterday

 

[SkyblueTexan]

If Sargent is still at Norwich we’ll be needing to score 2 or 3 to get a result…

Wilder was saying after yesterday’s match Sargent will be off for 20-25M. Really hope that comes true thought the Norwich fans think he was winding them up. Anyway, Norwich is and will always be a tough opponent in my view. Hope we can get something from the game instead of the customary defeat.

 

[Sick Boy]

Wright’s contract can be extended, he could be retained. The others plus Sheaf would all go.

It depends if offers starting coming in for him and he becomes unsettled. I’d be looking to extend his contract from around Xmas.

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

I’d expect Wright, Simms and MVE to be off.

We’ve already got BTA, Bassette and EMC so its just a 1 for 1

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

agree Oxford we played well but got lucky from a poor back pass and gifted the goal

that goal probably covered a couple of cracks which came open again yesterday

In fairness, though football is results dominated the performances being consistent will lead to better results in the end. Escaping with a point yesterday was more ‘crack covering’ than getting the result we deserved a week ago.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It depends if offers starting coming in for him and he becomes unsettled. I’d be looking to extend his contract from around Xmas.

Well we have an option, no negotiation required

 

[SkyblueTexan]

We’ve already got BTA, Bassette and EMC so its just a 1 for 1

MVE is irreplaceable

 

[skyblueelephant76]

start of the season everyone said what an easy run we have to begin with

we got 2 late goals one for a winner and one for a point as much as it’s good to get a win on the board performances have been poor overall and that feels like a hangover from last season

Away games are never easy in this league and including the cup we've played 3 out of 4 away.

Two performances have been poor, one was average and one was good. However lucky you think the goal was against Oxford we still thoroughly deserved to win the game.

The top 3 teams have all played 2 games at home, we'll have more of an idea of where we are after the week ahead.

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

MVE is irreplaceable

He’s quality but not irreplaceable, we wont get a RB as good as him in this league but we’ll replace

 

[GIMOC]

In fairness, though football is results dominated the performances being consistent will lead to better results in the end. Escaping with a point yesterday was more ‘crack covering’ than getting the result we deserved a week ago.

Positive negative springs to mind

Oxford game we created chances but did we really make their keeper do too much? both goals came from wide positions

if teams nullify our wide players like Stoke and Bristol where does that leave us?

we have a very predictable style of play and easy to nullify

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Positive negative springs to mind

Oxford game we created chances but did we really make their keeper do too much? both goals came from wide positions

if teams nullify our wide players like Stoke and Bristol where does that leave us?

we have a very predictable style of play and easy to nullify

And despite all your negative waffle we are sat 8th

 

[GIMOC]

Away games are never easy in this league and including the cup we've played 3 out of 4 away.

Two performances have been poor, one was average and one was good. However lucky you think the goal was against Oxford we still thoroughly deserved to win the game.

The top 3 teams have all played 2 games at home, we'll have more of an idea of where we are after the week ahead.

which takes me back to the point of when the fixtures came out and including when sheaf got injured. many on here said it’s an easy start to the season

Stoke haven’t won’t a game since they beat us

 

[skyblueelephant76]

Positive negative springs to mind

Oxford game we created chances but did we really make their keeper do too much? both goals came from wide positions

if teams nullify our wide players like Stoke and Bristol where does that leave us?

we have a very predictable style of play and easy to nullify

Did we make the Oxford keeper do much? The same keeper that kept them in the game?

 

[GIMOC]

And despite all your negative waffle we are sat 8th

negative waffle? it’s called not wearing sky blue tinted glasses.

the gaffer was very critical of the players yesterday. was his negative waffle?

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Did we make the Oxford keeper do much? The same keeper that kept them in the game?

He was man of the match by a distance

 

[Perennial Lurker]

negative waffle? it’s called not wearing sky blue tinted glasses.

the gaffer was very critical of the players yesterday. was his negative waffle?

So we're not sat in 8th?