The club ain,t big on Bartley and Bartley ain,t big on the club . It all looks like a sale to Leeds .....early , could be wrong Davy but I don,t think so .
I heard at the match today that it was all about Jansson going in hard on one of the kids at training. No other details.
Interesting WJ. Must have been something in it for Monk to apparently censure Jansson by not using him after the break. Is the consensus that it's cost us points do you reckon?
I reckon I'll get pelters for this, but here goes. I truly believe that we didn't miss Jansson. Cooper was perfectly adequate cover. We've lost quite a few games recently, even with Jansson playing, so it's clear that he's not our saviour. Nor is he the reason for our losses either (although a contributor). I still believe the root of our troubles is the DM 2. Sometimes we have continuity over back to back games, but never more than that. I honestly believe that in the system we play, the DM pairing is just as important as the CB pairing. Get consistency there, and Bob's your uncle. Change it about all the time, and well, you get people slicing right through your middle. Sound familiar? And just to add to that, we've relied too heavily on the kids as DMs. Don't get me wrong - they've been great at times. Even a lot. But kids will be inconsistent, and if you overplay them over a season, they'll get mentally tired. Which is where we are, right now. Next year, I'd like to see the kids alternate (contradicts above, I know), playing alongside an old head (O'Kane, Bridcutt or perhaps a newbie). They've picked up a good bit of experience this season, but the education must continue. Next year I'd also like us to get proper wingers in too. Our most consistent, & best 'wingers' this season have without a shadow of doubt been Roofe & Doukara. Both strikers out of position! Sacko offers terrific pace, but so does a Ferarri. And the Ferarri can probably cross better & make better decisions. Barrow can go home with his head hung in shame (& take Grimes with him). Imagine not being able to break into our team when we're playing so rubbish! Pedraza would be a useful squad addition if he was a free. But he's not. He's not worth €850k, far less 10 times that! He can bugger off too. Which leaves Dallas. And unlike a lot of people, I think he's a great guy to have in your squad - but more for his defensive & link qualities rather than his wingership (is that a new word I've invented?).
Yes you're right I disagree think Coopers a wage thief,league 1 standard,and the three point lost when we dropped Jansson plus the effect it seemed to have on team spirit probably cost us 6th place.But not possible to prove either way,so will just say weren't you sailing around New Zealand at the time.
Didn't lose 6th place against Norwich m8,our season went for a burton before that.See what I did there . Anyway Mighty Just so you don't hate all Bristols after today.
you had me very worried about you then wanting to groom kids and get into them hard. made me laugh when I read your second post.
Some observations from yesterdays match. Green has improved as the season has gone on in all goalkeeping departments. Bartley and Jansson are not the quickest. Both are brilliant defending balls into the box but when the ball is on the deck or slipped through the channels they struggle particularly Bartley. This is part of the reason they defend so deep which leaves too much space if front of them which has cost us goals this season from shots outside the box. Beradi is a warrior…wish he was taller as he would make a great centre half. Vieira is going to be a superb player and we need to give him a 5 year deal tomorrow as there is absolutely zero risk in giving him a long contract. O'Kane impressed me which begs the question why has he been on the bench the last couple of months. Roofe I'm sorry but other than run around a lot I cannot see what he brings the team. First season so maybe he will improve but unfortunately lacks the pace to be either a winger or the speedy front man who can play on the last shoulder. Dallas a good solid contribution and same as O'Kane should have been playing the last couple of months. Wood what a fantastic season but if anyone is daft enough to pay £20m then we should cash in. Let's be honest we would have all been delighted to recover the £3m he cost us not so long ago. Monk after the match said our young squad lacked experience of the business end of the season. Sorry but I'd only consider Vieria and Roofe as young or inexperienced from yesterday's match and Vieria was one of the best players on the pitch. He picks the team and he made selection errors from the FA cup defeat onwards which I believe have cost us a play off position.
I'll put my comments in in blue: Some observations from yesterdays match. Green has improved as the season has gone on in all goalkeeping departments. Couldn't agree more. Bartley and Jansson are not the quickest. Both are brilliant defending balls into the box but when the ball is on the deck or slipped through the channels they struggle particularly Bartley. This is part of the reason they defend so deep which leaves too much space if front of them which has cost us goals this season from shots outside the box. Interesting. Hadn't considered that - and you may well have a point. And let's not mention the slomo defensive passing when we should be getting the ball up there quickly - a bit like Norwich did in the first half. Beradi is a warrior…wish he was taller as he would make a great centre half. Hadn't thought of that either - you're spot on. Something to munch on - could he be our DM answer, á la Batty? Vieira is going to be a superb player and we need to give him a 5 year deal tomorrow as there is absolutely zero risk in giving him a long contract. No brainer. O'Kane impressed me which begs the question why has he been on the bench the last couple of months. I agree that he was good for much of the game. Now remember that he's a DM. Watch the highlights and tell me where he was for their 3 goals. It's a bit like one of those 'Where's Wally' books. MIA. And it hurt us bad. Roofe I'm sorry but other than run around a lot I cannot see what he brings the team. First season so maybe he will improve but unfortunately lacks the pace to be either a winger or the speedy front man who can play on the last shoulder. He's a much improved player to the one who started the season. He was a wee lost boy then. Now we're assessing his wingership and yet we paid £2m for his strikership. Not fair on him. He's bitten the bullet & done what's asked of him. Many others would chuck teddy & ask for a transfer. Dallas a good solid contribution and same as O'Kane should have been playing the last couple of months. Get the feeling sometimes that it's only you & I that appreciate Dallas You might have a bit more support for O'Kane! Wood what a fantastic season but if anyone is daft enough to pay £20m then we should cash in. Let's be honest we would have all been delighted to recover the £3m he cost us not so long ago. Would deffo bite at £20m, but tbh, the offers will be coming in in the £10-15m range. Hope his head isn't turned. If he goes, we need 2 of him, as currently no backup. My worry then is that we are notorious for signing strikers that don't produce properly until their second season. Monk after the match said our young squad lacked experience of the business end of the season. Sorry but I'd only consider Vieria and Roofe as young or inexperienced from yesterday's match and Vieria was one of the best players on the pitch. He picks the team and he made selection errors from the FA cup defeat onwards which I believe have cost us a play off position. I think he meant that we don't have any old-style leaders in the dressing rooms. The kind of players that scared the living daylights out of you & would kick the shiit out of you if you didn't produce 100%, 100% of the time. I've read countless footballer autobiographies & it's funny how often the great players have been influenced by such scary guys. Can you imagine going off the boil & Tony Adams or Terry butcher was in your team? Or even worse - Wee Billy! You'd play out of your skin just to save body & soul, far less enhance your career. The only players I've seen with playing time words & passion this season are Bartley & Berardi. Possibly Green too, tbh. But no-one else comes even close - and not even our captain, Bridcutt.