We return to the CCS this weekend following a couple of disappointing (and in some respects disconcerting) league defeats on the road. Just as it felt like the team had put the nightmare Elland Road debacle to the backs of our minds by seeing off Stoke in the 4th round of the cup, we then go and put in far too meek a performance at Portsmouth, resulting in a 2-1 defeat, despite some small glimmers of a revival in the game. Those 2 league defeats on the bounce (first time that’s happened since the dreadful Xmas period) have firmly put the pressure straight back on out battling Bluebirds and just notches up the importance of this Saturday’s early kick off against our West Country visitors Bristol City. Who Are You? Liam Manning, the ex-Oxford boss has somehow managed to achieve the feat of keeping what, on face value, is a bang average side fulling in contention for a play-off spot whilst not managing to improve his popularity with the fan base at Ashton Gate. We all know historically they’ve had ideas somewhat above their station (e.g. a City of that size should have a Premier League team and being the biggest team in the area it should be them) so perhaps that has a little bit to do with - unless achieving REAL success then it’s never going to be enough. I do however believe he needs some credit given for keeping them in contention the way he has, especially when you look at their recent transfer dealings. Many clubs (including our own) took a chance to tweak their squads and bring in some fresh blood to try help achieve things in the latter half of the season. Bristol City appear to have gone down a different path, letting a few players go (some quite experienced ones such as Kal Naismith heading to Luton and Rob Aitkinson joining our midweek conquerors Pompey, whilst much heralded summer signing striker Fally Mayulu has been sent to Strum Graz for a loan spell) and bringing in absolutely no-one. To make matters worse the club have stated this is because they have overspent against budget already, never something a demanding fan base want to hear!! Turning to their squad, their current top scorer is Anis Mehmeti with 11 (his mid-week brace against a woeful Stoke side taking into double figures). The Albanian International has come good having been at the club since joining from Wycombe in 2023 where he scored 19 goals in 97 appearances. His record for the Robins is currently 16 in 91, very much highlighting that this season appears to be a bit of an outlier thus far. Next on the list is the experienced Nahki Wells, a player who was rumoured to be on the brink of joining the Bluebirds on loan a few seasons back only for the move to be kiboshed by the Bristol hierarchy – much to his reported ire. He has however very much returned to favour and has 7 goals so far this term. He is closely followed by big money summer signing Scott Twine from Burnley with 5 in his 23 appearances. The Robins' coaches get held up just outside Leckwith waiting to be guided in. Last Time Out & Form Last time out saw the Bluebirds come away from Ashton Gate with a rather frustrating but probably fair draw. City took the lead on 54 minutes through a fine Ollie Tanner goal and appeared to be in the ascendancy at that point, having struggled to make too much of an impression in the first 45 minutes. However, despite beginning to dominate proceedings, subsequent substitutions seemed to put the Bluebirds into a more defensive mindset, letting the hosts off the hook and back into it, with their equaliser coming on 73 minutes via Luke McNally and thus denying City a 4th win on the bounce against our English rivals from over the bridge. Form wise over the last 6 games our respective records are actually quite similar, with both teams picking up just 8 points from the last 16 on offer. Away from home however, Bristol City do seem to be struggling a little with no away win being picked up since a 2-0 victory at Norwich back in early November – some 9 games ago. They have however also only lost 4 of those games but within those defeats were a 3-0 pasting by Pompey and a 1-0 reverse at Coventry. Their last outing was the 2-0 win against the out of sorts Potters on Wednesday night, with their last away fixture being a 1-1 draw at Oxford. They have the 13th best away record in the division so far this season (16 points from 16 games). Overall they have the 10th best attack with 40 goals from their 32 games (we are 17th with our 34 from 31) and defensively they are the 8th best, conceding 36 times. In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About So, just where do we go from here then following that midweek defeat? Definitely out are; Alex Robertson (hamstring) Jesper Daland (shin injury/stitches) Ollie Tanner (foot fracture) Isaak Davies (still getting up to fitness) David Turnbull (as above). Yakou Meite IS now available once again but will surely be on the bench at best. With those 2 defeats I really do anticipate there being a bit of a re-shuffle at the back. Predicted Starting 11 Alnwick Ng Goutas Fish O’Dowda Chambers Mannsverk Ashford Robinson El Ghazi Willock The Odds Bods There I was taking in our new youngsters training facilities when this random ‘bloke’ just wellies the ball at me – anyhow, I figured he looked like he wasn’t from around South Wales and so I decided to ask him to pop his thinking head on and tell me what he thought the odds are for the game tomorrow…. Match Day Melody Bit left field this week but I figured given that one divides us, we just need to kick some butt and then send them back…. Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
Great preview as always Brizzle. I can’t work out if those coaches are from Bristol or Ipswich. Looking at your team I believe we will have just enough to edge this one, provided our defence are up to it! Let’s press them from the start like we did with the JB’s and we could come away with three points.
Mega again Brizzo. Just one thing though - old Gummidge has got the wrong ball there. It's the Puma Rainbow ball this month - I'm saying nothing.
Great stuff BB. Robertson is a big miss. Colwill to start would make sense. We need to win this one. So no silly free kicks given away in Scott Twine territory
It was hard enough getting my write up past the censors here at Chez Brizzle.... I may just have the odd bruise as a result of sticking to my guns with my artistic integrity... Valentine's Day it may be but there's very little loving being shown right now
Those tractors are in a queue because the one at the front has broken down. Guess who it belongs to. Hint: he lives in Cheshire. Fantastic read Brizzle, thank you. I often wonder if a marriage guidance counselor has to get involved for this fixture. I agree absolutely with Irish when he says we have to get at them right from the start. The lads have to get up for this one. If they do, I'm sure there'll be a great atmosphere at the CCS. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds.
Worrying fact is we’ve only won 3 (yes just 3) out of our last 18 (yes 18) games. If that form continues we’ll surely be relegated. Since the heady days of October with 4 out of 5 clean sheets we’ve only had one since against swansea.
Lovely write up. Leave Mrs Brizzle alone till Sunday and book counselling for Monday and all will be good! If we're being picky them Austrians may be upset that you think they all play the guitar!!!
We do seem to be a bit streaky at the moment. A bit all or nothing. Thing is, I've seen a bit of Bristol City and even taking my blue tinted specs off, I really can't see how they have faired much better than we have... They really don't look any more of a play-off bound side than we should. Our start really has hamstrung us in my rather humble opinion. Had we managed the odd win in those early games I truly believe we'd have easily been safely mid-table and potentially flirting with the play-offs much like our visitors this weekend. It's all very fine margins.
**** me, Brizzle. Humility, while being a desirable trait, is not something you need. We all here take pride in your match threads.....and you should too!!
I think humility can be a result of seeing and trying to understand the cosmos. In my hubble opinion. But we digress (not like us to do so. A big day at the office for our heroes in blue. Positivity from the start, self belief and good decision making on both sides of the touchline are key to achieving our aim, as is a good, loud atmosphere at CCS. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
Fair point, it shows how even/poor this league is this season. That said, I’ve felt that about other sides in previous seasons who have been in and around the play-offs. For me, we lack the offensive ability to be a true top 6 side. Too many times we haven’t scored when on top and put teams in poor form to bed, take Swansea last week for example. They were in poor form, we dominated them 1st half and didn’t score. That’s happened way too many times this season for me to believe we will be in the play-offs come May. If we fix our forward line in the summer, then next season we could comfortably be play-off contenders.
Ours has been a mixed bag. We seem to be creating more opportunities than earlier in the year and scoring a few goals. Our defence on the other hand seems far more accomodating to the oposition, especially early on in games. A few of Omer's selections are questionable as well. 4231 seems to have served us well and we now seem to have the tools for that. However, midweek he lined up 433 and we were 2 down before we knew what had happened.
Just thinking about my post above. Robertson being out is a loss at 10. Ramsey still needs minutes in his legs. We're without Turnbull, Tanner, Davies and Daland. With that in mind, I'd start with: Alnwick Rino Goutas Fish O'Dowda Chambers Mannsverk Ashford Robinson El Ghazi Salech That gives us Alves as an early change with Willock, Colwill, Ramsey, Meite and Simic as attacking options off the bench. Ralls, Bagan, Ng as CM/ defensive options. We need to start this one on the front foot.
NG right back Bagan centre back Chambers not in squad? Ashford benched Alves starts alongside Robo and El Ghazi
Short of defenders and midfielders but plenty of attacking options off the bench. We need our attacking players to really shine today.
