Short-Term Solutions

Pearson's patience has run thin so what are the Bristol City manager's short-term solutions?
The Robins manager admitted changes are going to be made following defeat at Swansea

Nigel Pearson issued what appeared to be a final ultimatum to a number of his players on Sunday after surrendering a one-goal lead to lose 3-1.

His patience has obviously been stewing to breaking point in the previous weeks with sloppy goals being conceded against Luton, Blackpool and Preston in the build-up to the loss at Swansea.

Pearson was looking for a reaction to the 3-1 defeat at Blackpool just a week prior and for the initial 45 minutes, he got it when Andi Weimann superbly and deservedly put the visitors ahead. However, a combination of three more sloppy goals conceded, one being from another cross was enough for the manager to publically criticise his players.

It felt as if he had been bottling up his previous frustrations and Sunday's game was one too many as he pulled no punches when addressing the media.

The stand-out quote from the weekend is undoubtedly: "We might have to make changes. People like me lose my job through results. What I’m not having are players who cop-out."

So there's no doubt changes are on the horizon and Pearson will be referring to both the short-term and long-term. The long-term is possibly a debate for the summer when the transfer market opens and he has the freedom to flog the players that he deems not at the level to play for the club (and there could be a few.)

Another one of his comments he told BBC Radio Bristol was: "The first and second goals are apologies of defending, it’s as simple as that. If the players don’t start getting a grip, they’ll be gone. It’s as simple as that." So there it is, the ultimatum - shape up or you're out.

That's all well and good when May arrives, but there are still 14 games left of the football season so what can be a short-term solution to a longer-term problem? The home truths were loud and clear and how the players respond to those comments will become slightly more evident in the home match with Middlesbrough on Saturday.

For a number of players low on confidence, Pearson's tough-love approach may have an adverse effect on a number of players with the spotlight well and truly on their performances from here on out. The proof will be in the pudding but here's a breakdown of the options available to Pearson in a bid to get a tune out of his defenders.

The personnel
We'll start with the personnel available to the manager at this point in time. In Pearson's defence, he does have his hands tied with a threadbare squad which was evident again on Sunday.

On the bench was young Duncan Idehen, a brilliant experience for the 19-year-old to be included in the City squad for the first time. However, it's fair to say he has barely had a kick of first-team football.

The stats online suggest he played just six times for Grimsby in League Two before he was released by mutual consent by current manager Paul Hurst. He then had a trial at Birmingham in October where he played for the Under-23 side before joining Bristol City in January.

Idehen had impressed in the U23 draw with Cardiff a couple of weeks ago but surely throwing the teenager into the deep end when City's defence is already up against it is surely going to end one way.

Assuming Pearson's comments were directed at Zak Vyner, he is the most likely name to be out of the starting XI against Middlesbrough on Saturday. A lapse in concentration allowed Martin Obafemi to sneak behind him for Swansea's opener while he was nutmegged for the third.

"Desire" was the word that Pearson repeated on numerous occasions and he would have been raging with the way the centre-back allowed his man to breeze past him before finding the bottom corner.

So who comes in for Vyner on Saturday? Well the only real option as a direct replacement is Robbie Cundy. Whether he has it in his locker to play the full 90 minutes remains to be seen as do question marks over his ability.

It's impossible to judge him either way until he gets a run of games under his belt. With the way City have defended since the turn of the New Year, surely if he can't get in the team now then he never will.

Yes, it's understandable the reluctance to put him in the side following the long-term injury that forced him to wait until January 29 to make his eagerly-anticipated debut away at Preston. He only managed to get eight minutes under his belt that night followed by another three in the victory over Reading.

A grand total of 11 minutes is nothing to go off although he has featured a couple of times for the U23s in the build-up to making the first-team squad. It would be interested to see whether he will play with the youngsters again on Tuesday afternoon when they play Swansea. If so, then surely it's to build his minutes to throw in into the first team.

Danny Simpson is barely worth bringing into discussion at the moment and appears absolutely miles away from the senior squad. Another option could be to bring Cam Pring back into the three and move Alex Scott back to right wing-back and switch Jay Dasilva onto the other side.

Scott's obviously been performing admirably in the middle but needs must sometimes even if it's just a short-term solution before the likes of George Tanner (hamstring), Rob Atkinson (calf) and Ryley Towler (back) return from injury. Pearson admitted Joe Williams can't play three games in a week before playing 30 minutes against the Swans.

He will now have six days until the next contest and after three substitute appearances, will surely be pushing for a start should Scott move back out to the right side.

The formation
Pearson seems very reluctant to change the way he is approaching matches which again, is understandable considering it is likely to mean mixing up that front three. On the other hand, on too many occasions he has found himself saying "we have to score three just to go home with a point."

It's all well and good being able to score in 12 consecutive matches and to have the likes of Antoine Semenyo and an in-form Weimann at your disposal, it's an important string to their bow.

But since the last time City drew a blank, against Sheffield United on November 28, The Robins have scored 21 and conceded 28. When the topic of a formation change came up after Swansea, Pearson was in no mood to discuss the debate. He responded "Oh my god, the formation? You can’t give players desire. It doesn’t matter what formation you play."

But perhaps it is time to switch it up even if it means sacrificing some of City's attack qualities to help protect his players at the back. One clean sheet could do the team's confidence a world of good and the first way to stop that is to make more of an attempt to stop the crosses coming in.

Moving to a back four with full-backs and wide midfielders may help solve that issue although it could pose a question in attack, but what is the priority at this moment of time?

Let's suggest Vyner has had his last chance so that raises a problem at right-back. George Tanner remains sidelined but Tomas Kalas could be the solution. He has played in that position before, boasts the ability to whip in a wicked cross when he gets forward and maintains his aerial threat.

Timm Klose and Cundy or Pring could plug the gap in the middle until Rob Atkinson returns at least while Dasilva can play on the left on his natural foot.

There is no doubting Scott's desire to stick in a foot and he could play out on the right with Han-Noah Massengo and Williams through the middle. With the latter, he could drop deeper allowing Massengo more freedom to contribute in the attack.

The left remains a problem position, especially with Callum O'Dowda sidelined for another five weeks and it could force Andi Weimann to play out in a wide position - a role he is more than capable of doing with Chris Martin and Semenyo leading the line.

Another option is to move to a 4-3-3 with Martin spearheading the attack with Semenyo and Weimann occupying the wider positions with the freedom to drift inside.

The comeback kids
Nigel Pearson must be crossing off the days on his calendar until he can get three players back in particular. George Tanner, Rob Atkinson and Matty James remain crucial members of the side and are probably needed now more than ever.

Tanner is expected to return at the end of the month with his recovery continuing to remain on track. Two weeks ago Pearson confirmed that he would look to be back in training at the end of February and his welcome return could solve the growing issue at right-back.

Atkinson is also expected to return at a similar time with his last appearance coming in the 3-2 victory over Cardiff. He lasted 16 minutes on that occasion before hobbling off with a back problem that later turned into a calf injury.

The 23-year-old was a success story at the beginning of the season following his £1.6m move from Oxford but did lose form in October after suffering from injury. His return would bolster the numbers in central defence, where numbers remain so light.

Both of their recoveries will help Pearson reshape his defence with the flexibility of switching positions. If he plays with a back four, Atkinson's return will allow Kalas to play on the right with Pring on the left and Dasilva pushing into a more advanced position.

Finally, James' absence has been a huge problem. His return to the squad would take some of the pressure off Williams, Scott and Massengo. James' return date remains unknown but Pearson is likely to provide an update in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/pearson-bristol-city-patience-solution-6658246

 

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An interesting look at how the season has unfolded.

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