Defence or attack? Bristol City fans split over where fault lies for Reading loss A 3-2 loss to Reading sees fans blaming either end of the pitch. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/defence-attack-bristol-city-fans-2180168 "Can't help but feel that Lee Johnson doesn't know what his best Bristol City team is" Our Robins fan columnist reflects on a disappointing loss to Reading https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cant-help-feel-lee-johnson-2182524 Poor defending does not bode well for narrow margins - talking points as Bristol City lose to Reading What we learned from the Mad Stad https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...ending-not-bode-well-2181477#comments-section On-the-whistle ratings as Bristol City suffer back-to-back defeats with loss to Reading The Robins cannot come from behind for a third time in the game as they lost 3-2 https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...s/whistle-ratings-bristol-city-suffer-2180080 "It's a clear penalty" - Full press conference transcript following Bristol City's defeat to Reading Misfiring front-men defended as Royals loss is chewed over https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-clear-penalty-full-press-2180272 BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45999802 SKY https://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-bristol-c/392730
It's strange isn't it - over the past few seasons we've been pretty good at scoring but concede too many, then this season it's often been the other way around, now this game it's back to type.
"Can't help but feel that Lee Johnson doesn't know what his best Bristol City team is" Pretty much what one of my comments said previously … "Lee has problems in sorting out the best team, and doesn't seem to want to take that little gamble to see if it works or not " He sets up the team, and then endeavours to play to … "" the system of fast forward possession football "" it either starts right or it starts to late!" ... I think we have 3 basic teams within the umbrella of 20 players all capable of all being an above average Championship side at the start of 90 mins ! the key to it all is defence … you cant always blame the goalie for letting in 1 , 2 , or more goals … so of the 11 [ 10 ] 5 [ 4 ] must be defence, goalie aside we have 6 players that can fill 4 positions. Midfield almost seems to go without doubt that Pack and Brownhill will be first 2 names on any team sheet, so this is the pivotal point of at least "2 of 3 teams!" if not all 3! so that leaves 4 players / positions to find, it seems at this point is where LEE "loses it/ loses out" …. Eliasson, Taylor, Diedhiou, O'Dowda, Weimann, Paterson, Eisa ,Watkins, Hegeler, Walsh are just 10 of the ones available.... at this point LEE " in my opinion" selects "the team to start from 3 ""best! "" available" the starting point is a striker? then maybe a defensive midfielder that is still 8 players vying for 2 places! and the type of team lines up at the start of 90 minutes! and soon Hakeeb will be lining up!!!?
Regarding the whole 'he doesn't know his best team' argument, it seems to me that LJ is essentially in a lose-lose situation. Play the same team week after week and there'll be people saying he isn't giving other players a chance and that it'll tire out those that are playing for later in the season - rotate the squad and it's because he doesn't know what he's doing. As a fan, you'll always be able to argue it one way or the other after the fact. The only way to silence the critics is to win games.
In LJ's defence, or continued injury saga does not help. I think if everyone is fit he knows 9 of his starting 11 for most games.
Mr Johnson does not commit to a shape. Its 4-4-2. Sometimes it's with two wide players and two strikers. Sometimes two wide players but with one forward and a player in the hole. Sometimes it's a big man/small man up front, others it's two more mobile forwards. Defensively the team sometimes screen, counter press, half/full press depending on Famara's selection. It is constant experimentation and change. Its also flying in the face of his own words regarding dna, identity, the project …Its very easy to criticise when seasons in he still has yet to establish his model of play.
Just thinking back to all the hype regarding Fulham last season and the fantastic football played, all the millions spent this season to do well in the prem .....I bet if it were us, the knives would be well oiled and truly sharpened!! I've always said, there's more than just one way to play football!!
Looks like JOE is getting very little football ? Maybe he will be released at end of the season and want to come back home!
Saw this on OTIB about the LJ signings. 'Giefer, Golbourne, Lucic, J Smith, De Girolamo, Tomlin, Magnússon, O' Neill, O'Dowda, T Moore, Duric, Hegeler, Patterson, Brownhill, Engvall, Wright, M Taylor, A Matthews, Abraham, D Cotterill, Diedhiou, Pisano, Baker, Hinds, Eliasson, Steele, Bakinson, Holden, Semenyo, Walsh, Woodrow, Leko, Kent, Diony, Watkins, Webster, Adelakun, Weimann, Hunt, Eisa, Maenpaa, Da Silva, Kalic. I make it 43. This spending like a drunken pirate has only been made possible by selling the family silver (Kodjia, Flint, Bryan, Reid, Ayling, Bolasie sell on clause). We really are not getting a good return on all these signings and all this outlay. It's like a kid always wanting a new toy'. We shouldn't be surprised he doesn't know his best system or best 11. Also wonder if SL feels he's getting a fair return.
But the family silver hasn't really set the world alight have they? Need to TRY and improve year in year out, just to compete in the championship......
I couldn't find a report, shame … other than Flint going to MIDDS and an ever present .. the rest seem to be in the shadows.. certainly worked out as a good bonus for us ...or did it? Guess we will never know ...this season a completely different championship … 2 or 3 good /bad games puts an entirely different face on it …...
Hi 1For, I agree the players we've sold haven't set the world on fire (possibly Flint will make the Prem this season). To get 10million for Reid is one I'll never understand so well done MA and LJ. I do realise that 43 LJ signings can be misleading as a number are out on loan, for our future. Anyway looking at 43 LJ signings is really quite sobering and wonder most importantly, do you see what he calls his 'style /DNA' coming through ? He's been here almost 3 years and from afar, unless you tell me differently it's almost knit one purl one. I don't buy this injury crisis as all clubs have this to deal with, Rotherham couldn't even fill a bench when we played them the other week as we wouldn't allow them to play our Zak Vyner there on loan. Also watching Wigan against Leeds last w/e all they kept going on about was Wigan's injury crisis, Nick Powell in particular. And TBF 1For how many clubs can say they've brought in 43 players since Feb 2016. You don't have to tell me how difficult a job he has but his record so far hasn't inspired other than, TBF a fantastic cup run last season. A time ironically when we had worse injury problems to Strikers and LJ played a settled side and system. What do you think, in particular 'his style/DNA coming through' - Tin hat on.
