Nigel Pearson reacts to hostile Bristol City crowd as supporters turn following West Brom defeat The Bristol City manager faced an angry reaction from fans following a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to West Brom https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...ws/nigel-pearson-bristol-city-hostile-7970338 'Nigel Pearson says he is "not bothered" by the vocal criticism directed at him after a section of fans vented their frustrations inside a hostile Ashton Gate following defeat at home to West Brom'
What a reaction -“I’m not bothered”, yeah we know Nige, we see it in your tactics and lineups. If your not bothered, then do the right thing and resign
At least show a morsel of humility Nigel and not act like a manager who doesn't give a rat's arse. I have not liked his attitude for quite some time and now it is clearly evident to one and all. Sorry Nige but do the right thing.
Sort of blaming the fans not getting behind the team.. lose the next two which are away. I think he will either be pushed or will walk away..
I have always said NOT going along with Paul Simpson and and Keith Downing was a mistake / a terrible mistake. On reflection now easy to say hindsight but always been in my postings .. the 2 coach's were the last in charge to win two on the trot? CERTAINLY since NP arrived and even more so after CF we have been like a waterlogged bit of wood floating around on the tide in the docks ... gradually sinking .................. they were successful YOUNG COACH'S coaching younger members of the National team . a scoop to get them! And forced out by underhanded dealing.. IMO. NP wanted his own coaching staff . but told NO a blessing to him when Simpson went ill ......
That’s hindsight and rewriting history , they weren’t a good fit either imo, when they were appointed I at least expected us to at get access to young up & coming players through their association with England youth, nothing was forthcoming was it ?, plus there’s no evidence they were forced out.
He forgets if they were so good, why was we so poor that DH needed sacking. We was going some games with no shots on target.
For me yesterday was the final nail in the coffin. The selection against Stoke was awful and in my view could well have cost us the game, to make the same mistake yesterday was plain bloody minded. When I saw the team yesterday it was obvious there was only going to be one result. Long term what he’s doing is good, but we have to get the most out of the players we have now, and Nige hasn’t , isn’t and in my view wont, therefore as manager he has to go. I’d be happy with him as DOF , or something similar for long term planning, but not manager.
What is he doing long term that is good, or different to the mandate any other manager would have had when Pearson was appointed? Yes, he had to trim the squad and the wage bill, which he seems to have done, granted, but again that would have been the mandate for any manager. His transfer signings have largely been poor, his coaching team is woeful, his handling of the Massengo situation is also woeful, the stadium and facilities were already in place, so what has he done?
Every word from Nigel Pearson on Bristol City fan criticism, confidence, transfers and loans Every word from the manager's written press post-match interview following the defeat at home to West Brom What were your thoughts on the performance, any complaints with the result? No, not really. No Complaints. We've had chances and not taken them and they're a really good side. Carlos has got the best out of that group of players now so disappointing for us. What were the thoughts on the second-half performance and the lack of chances created specifically? In the first half we've conceded another poor goal but worked very hard to get back into it. We finished the first half very well and they dominated in the second half. Because they adopted a defensive sort of shape where they were going to be deep to play those balls in behind. It was difficult for us to break them down. Do you feel let down by the performances of your players today and their reaction? No, not at all. The reaction of what? The reaction to the second-half performance and the fact that West Brom looked so comfortable. Do you not think that is because are a very good side? Yes, but I think Bristol City are a good side too. I don't feel let down by the players at all. Is that the most difficult or testing day for you as manager of Bristol City? No, not really. If you're alluding to the reaction from our fans then that's part of football, I'm afraid. Our young players have really only experienced the positive aspects of football so far. What it does, it creates a situation where it will test very much the resolve of who's onside and who's not. Simple as that Our fans are entitled to their opinions but what is important is that they stay behind their team. It's never going to be beneficial to have a negative reaction. If they want to have a go at me, they can have a go at me. It's important our team stays together, it's as simple as that. Do you think the reaction by the supporters was justified? In what sense? The reaction towards you was hostile at the end. Yea but I've had that before. I've had that at some point in every club I've been at. People have their opinions and they can do what they want. It's fine. Does it hurt you when you hear chants like that? I think what's important to recognise is that I know exactly the job that I've got to do here so I keep it in context. Football matches are emotional. If people want to vent their frustrations, I'd rather they do it at me and not the players. It doesn't help the players. It's not beneficial towards the players. Do you think the concerns about relegation at the moment are justified and should fans be concerned? Is this squad of players good enough to be clear of that? I think we will be fine but the bottom line is that I've been brought here to do a job. Affecting change is something which makes people feel uncomfortable. It is what it is. How can you pick them up from here because as you said, there's players in this side who haven't experienced an atmosphere like that? We'll see how we are tomorrow because the bottom line is this, how people see the game compared to or how they feel emotionally about it, I try and keep things in context. We played against a side who were better than us today. In the first half, in particular, we caused them problems. How people view the game is up to them. I have to keep a more pragmatic view of it. That's my job. I'm a football manager, I'm not a football fan. I'm a football manager. Is there a danger that this result can damage confidence? Yea, it could do. Yea, could do. please log in to view this image Matty James in action for City (Image: Rob Noyes/JMP) The key thing is that you've got young players in the side and you've brought a lot of them in yourself, but the worry is isn't it they hear that from the stands and people like Alex Scott won't be able to express themselves as confidently when things like that are going on? Look, I don't want to confuse the two issues. The players are in there because they are good enough. They are our best players and so the question is, how do we approach January? Can we freshen things up or not? The players that we have, they have to be good enough so I don't know whether people actually like hearing the reality of our situation. Maybe there are a few frustrations with that in terms of being able to freshen the squad. Look, for me, it's just a very simple situation and that is, we as a football club need to decide whether we can or cannot strengthen in January and if we can, we'll try and do it in the best way possible without affecting our financial fair play scenario. I'm sorry not to engage on a level of emotion which conflicts with our fanbase. People have had things to say today and they're entitled to their opinions. If they're going to have a go I'd rather they have a go at the players because the players need the support of the fans. What is the very latest, do you expect to have money to spend or not? It’s not about having money to spend it’s how we release money so we might have to trade. It means players go out to free up money to offset the wages, it’s more about that. If there is money to spend that’s a different situation. What we must not do is get into a situation where there’s an air of panic that 'oh dear things aren’t going well we need to splash out' and then we fall foul of the financial fair play. My job is very much to try and keep a steady hand on it and whether things go badly today or not, the season of goodwill it certainly isn’t today and that’s the bottom line. A lot of damage was done before you came in as well... I’m not interested in apportioning blame, what I’m interested in, and I just said to some of the staff at West Brom, the easy thing to do is pat yourself on the back when things are going well. You earn your corn when things aren’t going well so when people start to question what we’re trying to do here they need somebody to have a go at. So, if they’re going to have a go at me that’s fine but the bottom line is we still need to get ourselves out of the situation that we’re in and that’s not just this season and where we are in the league. I’m talking about the bigger picture of what we’re trying to do at the football club. So, if people want to express their displeasure or whatever, fine. They’re entitled to do it, but it doesn’t really help the team. Going into January, are you as confident as ever knowing the job that has to be done? Yeah, there are plenty of good things yeah. So today my first reflection is, ‘they’re a good side.’ It’s not about picking the bones out of that, you can always do that with your own side, but today we came up against a side who are actually, they’re on 32 points now. They’re actually now getting the best out of their own players, but when we played them at their place, we beat them 2-0 comfortably on the night because they had players that were coasting, and they weren’t getting the best out of their players, so it depends how you want to look at it. It depends on what the criteria it’s based on. If it’s about having a go at one person, if that’s me, fine. It doesn’t bother me; I’ve been booed off bigger stadiums. I always try to look at the bigger picture Nigel and the bigger picture is still important... The bigger picture is important, but we need to start winning games. That’s clear. I’m not getting away from that. One of the criticisms from the stands Nigel was the square pegs in round holes, playing Weimann at wing-back how do you answer that to the fans? What do you mean square pegs in round holes? Instead of who? I suppose Tanner on the bench Yeah, Tanner is a right-back. Mark Sykes has played there and who else? That’s one player Andi Weimann has scored goals from there. Andy King at centre-back? Because the other players haven’t been up to it recently. We had all this last week and if it’s about Rob Atkinson the same thing applies, he needs to respond. I see them every day, you don’t. How King after his injury? I don’t know. But I thought Rob did okay when he went on apart from a couple of occasions. And Chris Martin at the moment? Not in the squad, yeah. But that happens to a lot of players. Choose the squad for the day, but players are still in the squad even if they’re not involved. Maybe the question needs to be can we go out then and strengthen in the areas we’re weak? I think that’s a better question. The players that are playing are the ones that are showing the most in training, so that’s the answer to your question. What would you like to do in January ideally? We need to strengthen at the back is the priority. Just one central defender? I didn’t say that. We need to strengthen at the back, depending on what we can do. How difficult is it to trade in this climate as it’s a bit of an unknown quantity after the pandemic with less money? I think it depends on whether, if you’re talking about if players move who are on big money in terms of wages, then that could free it up to bring a couple in for one. But again, the availability is a big thing. We are exploring what we could do in the loan market but again all those types of questions there are more variables because there are more people involved. Whether you can do a loan deal, whether it’s affordable, whether it’s a deal that can be done on the wages all those types of things are quite complex. We’ll try to do some business, but we’ll see what happens. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/every-word-nigel-pearson-city-7970393
point 1 you cant expect someone to be appointed , then instantly get access to young players to players who are primarily with other clubs already or much younger. The point was they were very good at their jobs and had to sort their own house out first. [ at a time when Covid was striking] You get employed as a person to do a job and get a job title, assistant coach. Check through all the media like footstats etc etc on football staffing etc and you will see he was assistant coach [ and creditted with 2 wins from 2 games] illness removed him from the job and he was on sick leave. NP brings in CF [ as temporary cover ] and our results REALLY PLUMMET... PS RETURNS FIT AND WELL but NP says sorry I wanted my own mate to be assistant so lump it or like it! KEITH DOWNING LEFT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY WERE TREATED ..................... why was we? well for a while we did exceptionally well it was DH's apparent sticking point of how we lined up and and played that he got the push for losing 6 on the trot... he was the conductor and the orchestra played his tune ! amazing 2 games that were at the time not likely to be won did get so but that was the last happy moments of BCFC fans .. it has since accelerated down hill LGE 1 HERE WE COME ... unless the tide turns and other teams fair less well than we do! quite a lot on here without seeing the team sheet saw the result! We do seem to attract managers that get stuck in the groove/ are past their sell by date? Its not my hindsight rewriting history? though is it, I stated from the start a bad idea, why not continue with the 2 coach's and although I gave my support was never in favour in the choice of NP, and even less in CF.
THANKS Wiz for posting the report #11 not read it .... yet .... dont really have the stomach for it. NP is a witteringer, Should call him wittering Pearson! Ive supported and been a fan of BCFC since 1952 when from being 34 miles away and a small boy only time you got the result 5pm on the wireless and 2 hours later when the "green'un" came out. There has been many many up's and downs... the high moments and the low moments. from teams mostly homegrown to teams that in the squad they likelyhave insufficient home grown players to field a team. wiser now? by over 70 years it saddens to see the present state of affairs at ASHTON GATE. I am in no way blaming the owner or any of the owners who gone before they have all been brilliant, SL & Dolman doing massive things for the red side of Bristol supporters. With the new year upon us, and new years wishes [ I usually have 3 ] the prime PURPOSE to celebrate the event ! ... I must say this is the first year I can remember it is like 1 of mine will be regarding BCFC ... AND CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT or the existing one seeing the light and his reliance on the "old family stops"
Times up Mr Pearson yesterday was the straw the broke the camels back- I was until yesterday behind him -To play the same team in the same positions as Stoke was a kamikaze move.He must have skin like Teflon.He was on to a hiding if we lost. Then to call the fans out was the last straw. He has to go.But I don’t see another manager getting a tune out of the players here.Goalkeeper Defence and midfield needs overhauling.
I wouldnt have preferred a change, times were difficult, MA was a bad influence looking mainly to boost his CV Had DH still been manager for 2 more games would they have been wins? no one knows! had they been lost should DH have stayed or gone! .... would the first cames after DH been 2 wins for the coach's ????????????? HISTORY and therefore life is a straight line .. it is what it is ... at the time I had no preference for a new manager ... the time was in a turmoil for everyone and most things, best to keep the ship in a straight line then see what the future holds when the storm has abated ........... PS at the time we we sacked DH WE PRETTY had no chance of going down ... a number of players not available and were looking like a mid table outfit .... since we have looked like relegation candidates for the third year !
Got to give him credit on one thing, if he does go and that is by no means a certainty,who ever takes over would find the club in a far better state than the one Nige inherited after the 2 previous failed regimes, the debt, reducing but under control, wage bill drastically lowered, supposed superstars, hanger ons, holiday makers, egotists, lazy con men, all contract protected cleared out, medical, fitness and development departments now operating efficiently and an academy to wish for. We have improved considerably in most areas business and quality wise, I have deliberately left out first team, squad and management areas for obvious reasons , I may be wrong but I don't think SL will react against Nige and he will stay through the transfer window, what with Gould about to exit, club stability is more important, this will enable current negotiations and player activity to be completed incomings or outgoings, on the other hand I might have had too good a Christmas. Happy New Year to everyone..
This is where Pearson has to take a lot of blame, he has signed 8 defenders (9 if you count signing Simpson twice), yet the defence still needs an overhaul, as it’s abysmal. In the current financial climate, that is unforgivable, perhaps more so than the previous regime that spent money hand over fist, as it was more readily available then. His only other 2 signings were midfielders, his 2 ex-Leicester mates. James has done ok, but King has been an expensive mistake for me, add to that his poor handling of Massengo, he has set us back years, which given his experience in the game, is again unforgivable for me. I am not sure what SL is waiting for now, is he giving him until the New Years Day game?
You confuse me sometimes, you criticise NP, then go on to say you don’t see another manager would be able to do any better with the players available? . I believe another manager would be able to do better, for a start playing round pins in round holes would be better, For a start Atkinson should have played rather than King at CB, also we had RWB’s on the bench, but played Weiman there instead, madness. It was madness for Stoke , but to continue with it yesterday as well, and then appear to blame the fans for not backing the team , he’s finally lost the plot. Get rid, use Tinns as caretaker until he can be replaced.
It’s a shame but the club hierarchy knows that this isn’t working Do it now before relegation becomes a certainty
