'Talk of Lee Johnson out is laughable - Bristol City's Premier League ambition is a long-term project' The Sky Sports News presenter offers her verdict on the Robins ahead of Preston North End. It was a surprise hearing the Bristol City result come through the headphones while doing Soccer Saturday. I think most expected them to come away with three points but Reading rallied and thanks to a Liam Kelly wonder strike and some lapse defending they prevailed over City. Once again an international break is upon us and the Robins approach this one in a worse off position than the last two. However, it is important to have some perspective here. I saw a few mentions of Johnson out again which, as we discussed on the podcast, is laughable. One fan told me about a post saying bring in Steve Bruce, as the new accounts show Bristol City are in no position to do this and Johnson's job shouldn't even be being questioned. The Robins lost their three biggest players this summer, and as yet Johnson does not know his best team. I read the Bristol Live fan column commenting on this, but a lot of the responsibility lies with the players. You feel watching on almost everyone has more to give. The standout player so far has been Josh Brownhill and arguably sticking him out on the right against Reading didn't work. you'd expect Liam Walsh to be dropped to allow Brownhill back into that central role against Preston. It was very interesting to read about the Robins accounts and the record loss of £25.5 million, the club is striving to become sustainable and this is a big blow. However, next year that should significantly reduce due to the sales of Bobby Reid, Aden Flint, and Joe Bryan this summer. The club relies, of course, massively on Steve Lansdown. Lansdown naturally wants to back the manager with investment into players and wages, but it is a catch 22 situation as the club needs to meet financial fair play and be sustainable. Most Championship clubs make a loss but it is important it is not this high. Although City went far in the Carabao Cup, that actually didn't make that much money, unlike the FA Cup which rewards big sums for round progression. Player’s wages continue to rise, and if City want to attract a certain calibre of player this, unfortunately, has to happen. This comes back to the Johnson out murmurs, this is a project long term. If Johnson and his coaching staff can exude the best of their players they might just flirt with the play-offs but perspective is needed. A continued improvement of finishing position has been seen each season, anything above that this season could arguably be seen as overachieving given the fine balancing act of calibre of player, money, and results. Preston are a bogey side for Bristol City, although Lee Johnson dismissed this in his press conference. He spoke at length this week about how Bristol City need to be more direct and how last year they could count on Hordur Magnusson's long throw and Aden Flint in the box. Johnson called City's chances a lot "purer" this season. Gregor mentioned this week on the podcast the Robins need to stick with Famara Diedhiou and hope he picks up form. The other spot next to him is up for grabs, do you go with Andreas Weimann who has hit a dry spell or Matty Taylor? Alternatively, we discussed the strengths of Jamie Paterson, he has proven it before so maybe now is the time to give him a run with Diedhiou and see if a partnership can build. Three points on Saturday could see Bristol City in touching distance of the play-offs, but a loss could see them slipping away. It is finely poised, but with a win, City are still right in the mix. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/talk-lee-johnson-out-laughable-2197993
‘Johnson Out’ - or should I say ‘Manager Out’ (because it doesn’t necessarily need to be Lee) is always only a few defeats away, but right now it would be ridiculous - for the reasons in this article.
Hard to believe it's been almost 3 years since Johnson's appoinment and they are still saying this is a project long term, I've got to say I couldn't care less if he stays or leaves, the subject is more boring than Brexit and at least that is coming to a conclusion,
There's only 3 scenarios with this; Relegation battle with the real prospect of going down = LJ goes Mid-table = some weeks LJ's doing well other weeks he's clueless or boring Top 3 or playoffs = LJ's a hero, with others saying.."well so he should with all the funds at his disposal"!! As it sits, I'm quite happy with the job he's doing!!
The 'laughable' bit was employing him in the first place but even I don't think it's the right time - yet. I'd give him this January as his last window (6th?) - remembering at the time of his appointment he wanted 3 windows to show 'his' team/DNA. I can't seeing LJ leaving for years (SL). The club will remain divided and tread water at best (expensively) until LJ leaves.
Yeah I absolutely don't want him out but I'm not going to lie, we've had nearly a year of crap football now. Something has to change.
Don't think the Johnson out talk is laughable to be honest, we have been utter ****e for months including today's fascinating display with yet another formation change and different 11, starting Deidhiou who done absolutely nothing yet again yet we keep going long ball to him. Different formations/ tactics every week dropping in form players and bla bla bla, all getting very tiresome watching this crap every week to be honest
How much longer do we have to make excuses for our team when they went out today and showed us that we have stayed where we apparently want to be (minus several million quid) and haven't got a clue how to do better. Lee Johnson was never going to be the answer, and try as hard as I can to believe he can be, I'm afraid consistent crap results still make me a non-believer. Is our hierarchy going to sit by and hide behind the usual corporate garbage when it must be apparent that we have a manager still wet behind the ears spending more money than needed to give us a squad (mostly his during his somewhat more than 3 transfer windows) that can't punch their way out of a wet paper bag. I don't think Lee has a clue what we need, or how to get it, and the balanced squad we need to get us somewhere looks as far away as our dreams were long before his arrival. Wasn't it Del Boy who said "Dare to dream Rodney" and if anyone still lives in the block of flats outside Ashton Gate peering down on our matches they are probably laughing behind their net curtains at the absolute load of expensive rubbish down below them pretending to be either football managers or players. Sorry folks someone needed to say it out loud even though nothing will happen until someone wakes up and smell the roses and decides we probably need another yes man to implement the next 20 year plan, and coming from someone who hasn't watched a game in many years that is a sad reflection from the sidelines.
I'm afraid it's looking rather ominous, messing about with formations, strikers are not good enough, dropping Kelly, sorry like some posters have said he doesn't know his best team, i'm beginning to agree with them.
I'm not so sure Lee's sacking is anywhere in our near future based on the obvious love-in between him and Steve Lansdown and yet here we are again going absolutely nowhere on a slow train. Perhaps there is something in our DNA that precludes us from success but as we all know well many others tarred by the same questionable brush have done it, and more. The manger-go-round keeps turning but right now the only thing I know that is churning is my stomach and it's quite a bitter taste.
We really are missing an opportunity here. The squad we have, the talent coming through, this club has some serious potential over the next few years. Granted, a big chunk of it is down to LJ, but then again a big chunk of our shortcomings are down to him as well. Maybe I'm being emotional (today was utter utter ****) but if someone was to say Moyes is a serious candidate and genuinely interested.... well I'd be biting your hand off if I'm honest.
David Moyes career path.. Preston North End - Everton - Manchester United - Real Sociedad - Sunderland - West Ham United .........BRISTOL CITY ? Bristol City managers - Gary Johnson - Steve Coppell - Keith Millen - Derek McInnes - Sean O'Driscoll - Steve Cotterill - Lee Johnson. I don't think it will happen, we are small time, we couldn't afford him and I think there will be bigger clubs to come calling for him.
