Johnson frustrated after Millwall stalemate Saturday, August 19th 2017 Lee Johnson was left frustrated by City’s inability to convert plenty of possession into clear-cut chances against an awkward Millwall opponent. The newly-promoted visitors were keen to slow things down and break up play in a game that only really opened up in the closing stages when City’s Joe Bryan hit the crossbar and Tom Elliott of Millwall struck the post. Johnson, although pleased with the commitment levels of his players, felt it was an opportunity missed to return to winning ways. “They played their game very well,” the head coach said of Millwall, speaking to BCTV. “They frustrated, they hustled and they harried. “Everything took ages to get going and everything went long into our box, but that’s a style and we’ve got to cope with it. “Defensively, I thought the boys were fantastic to put their bodies on the line and make blocks. “We had the lion’s share of possession but didn’t really use it. It was a little bit sloppy at times, which is the bit that really grates me because I want our neat and tidy footballers to play our way – to get the ball wide and deliver crosses. “When we did get it wide, I thought we were quite good, but on the day we didn’t create enough opportunities for the amount of ball that we had. “It’s scrappy because they make it scrappy. You wouldn’t say they’ve defended for their lives, but the referee sometimes plays into their hands by giving little fouls and I’ve seen that a lot – I know all the tricks of the trade. “It can get frustrating for the players because it kills the tempo. That’s the bit that disappointed me – sometimes we need to be really patient before we get those final through balls in. “The boys have come off battered and bruised because the level of contact in that game was very heavy and strong. “There were some good performances – not necessarily performances to get you a nine in the paper, but performances that showed we’re willing to put our bodies on the line.” https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/johnson-frustrated-after-millwall-stalemate/
Fair assessment. Though I thought Smith and Diedhiou were both poor. Surprised he took Pack off instead.
Put up Jnr's point of view but it's obvious people don't want to respond, I won't do it again, I was trying to be fair after recent comments, I won't do another one again......Sorry folks....
??? I think his assessment was fair - at least he acknowledged that we need to be able to cope with style's like Millwall's, rather than complain about it. It's his job to find a solution though - though I like our passing style when possible, there's nothing wrong with knocking it into the corners for our wide players to chase and hopefully get a cross in. Diedhiou had a poor game, but in theory, he should be enough of a presence to win headers if he's given the service. It'll be interesting to see what approach we take with Villa - we were outplayed by Brentford, but this might be the first time that even before kick-off we think about playing defensively and hitting on the counter. A draw would be fine, but a win would really turn around an underwhelming run of form.
Well hopefully he's watched Villas games and realises they can't cope at all with a pacy team. Hull figured it out after 45 minutes. I'd go with Eliasson in that game over Brownhill and really let him and Patterson cause some damage down the wings along with Bryan and Pisano, get those balls whipped into Diedhiou and let him give Terry a tough old time. Villa are there for the taking, should be getting a result at home to them, a draw likely, which is why we should really have beaten Millwall. Overall though happy with how the seasons going. Where we are now is where I think we'll finish. Not an exciting season but a steady one. Maybe after Lee has spent another 20 million we'll be a top 6 side...
Really shiny? You mean you're happy with the way the season's going downhill after what seemed a decent start? Only 4 games gone I know, but Barnsley look very poor and the others you've played should have all beaten you on the day - you got out of jail against Brentford and Millwall. So Villa are there for the taking are they? Most teams in this division are if you go out there with the correct gameplan from the start and impress that upon a receptive squad of players willing to listen. That's why you need a manager respected by his players and capable of adapting his side to suit the opposition. That's not a question of showing the opposition too much respect, that's often a bigger problem than ignoring them - more the opposite in fact. Recognition of what it'll take to win a game against the various styles you encounter in the Championship and implementing it is the answer. I know many of you have your doubts that Johnson can achieve that. Maybe he can, but the hard evidence isn't there yet. After a great start last season your owner seemed convinced he had the right man at the helm although you bombed later, but the success of your club seems to be measured as staying in the Championship rather than getting out of it at the right end. Getting out of it at the wrong end should not be conceivable given the investment made, but how long will it take for you to make a finite judgement? Anywhere near the bottom 6 around Christmas time and the alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear. Despite the usual cross channel stuff, just an honest observation from an avid football observer - no axe to grind fellas.
Lamentably, £20m isn't quite the monstrous figure it may seem in the Championship anymore, when you consider Boro have spent over £40m (admittedly, a lot recouped in sales also) and Wolves around the £20m, including £16m on a player who captained Porto in the Champions League not long ago - Fulham and Leeds have also spent big. I've said before that in principle I agree with City's approach of signing young players with resale value with a long-term view to success, and not going down the road of unsustainable spending splurges we've seen before from QPR and Cardiff, which can yield immediate results, but ultimately set the club back. However, there is the fear that the long-term comes completely at the expense if the short-term, which is also a risk if it results in relegation and sets back plans by potentially many years. There's no point in planning for tomorrow if tomorrow never comes. I think after the Brentford game (i.e. four points from three) that we could say we were pretty much where you'd expect to be, even if that is a bit boring/conservative, but five from four is a bit dodgy, particularly when a reinvigorated Villa side are probably likely to make it five from five. Whilst I'm never against making new signings to improve the side, I think we can expect more from the players we already have - for instance, I don't know why Hegeler lost his spot after impressing in the opening two games? You can question the quality of the opposition, but at the same time, you can only beat what's put in front of you.
I think even the LJ 'supporters' (if you can call them that - more like the 'I'm OK for him not to be sacked right now' brigade) seem to be united in saying that if we're in the relegation zone after 10 games then he should go. I think what's most likely is we'll be floating around 20th and things will carry on as always, which will p**s a lot of fans off. I think come the end of the season, most of our lot would be satisfied with a solid mid-table finish - just avoiding a season-long battle against relegation would at least represent progress. It can be hard to be realistic with regards to expectations and at the same time remain ambitious. Promotion would represent over-achievement for pretty much every club, bar maybe Boro and Villa, with a dozen or so (including Cardiff) who should be targeting the playoffs. If we're not in the playoff mix by next season, then I think it's fair to say we've not progressed at a satisfactory rate.
'There's no point in planning for tomorrow if tomorrow never comes' We are a totally divided club, without unity tomorrow will never come. There is huge undercurrent of resentment against Johnson, it will never change. It might not surface for a while but happen it will.
To an extent I agree with you - even the most capable of managers will not likely become a success if there are enough fans and/or players against him. I'm aware the situations are not that alike, but Clough was pretty much doomed at Leeds from the start. When LJ was appointed I was worried, partially because of his minimal time in the game (though mostly positive in that time, it should be said), but mostly for the fan's treatment of him. He was the most divisive player in the club's history (I was a fan - no room for passengers in a side able to make the playoff final I say), and that was always likely to follow through to his management career. Pretty much no manager can escape a group of fans against them (even Sir Alex had some saying 'thanks for the memories, but it's time to go' after they finished 3rd behind Liverpool), so a pre-existing resentment was always going to make a tough job even tougher. The one solace I did/do have was/is that I believe he has strong attachment to the club and truly wants the best for it. What it'll take for those that want him out to get their way, I'm not sure - last season suggests it would take something pretty extreme (i.e. relegation) for SL to say goodbye. If we endure a bad run similar to last season, then I can see the fans protests being too pronounced to be ignored though. It'd be interesting to know the players' thoughts, as there's been little the way of rumours of discontent, bar Tomlin, where publically, things have remained cordial (even after his move), and Wilbraham, who basically only said that he didn't like being told he'd only be given a small amount of game time (which most of us would agree would be right for the club).
I'm not an LJ hater, but come Christmas time last season I thought he should have lost his job, I think, after ten games if we are bottom three it should be curtains and time to get an experience man in at this level. Will it happen, I have my doubts, but for us to progress to the next level, that to me is the only way forward. I certainly don't like to see someone sacked, and I hope LJ proves a lot of people wrong (me included) and makes BC a successful club, will he, well only time will tell.
If we want to be a big and ambitious club-then we have to act like a big and ambitious club,are we doing that at present personally don't think we are. I'm swaying backwards and forwards on the fence,gradually tipping off.But i'm holding fire until ten games have passed.
That fence is uncomfortable to say the least but I feel deep within that all is not as rosy as it is made to appear. The problems that dogged us last season have not gone away I fear and try as hard as I can I don't see us that much better this time out. Trying not to make it a personal attack on Lee is virtually impossible and his smug look on the touchline (live feeds now afford me that opportunity) is starting to irritate me knowing that the improvement I had dearly hoped for will be a long time coming, and change will take until eternity.
I both agree and disagree with you. Of course, we need to be ambitious and bold, BUT, I don't think a club like City can achieve their ambition of reaching the Premiership by doing the same thing as many others in this division, as we are, comparatively, a small to medium sized fish in this particular pond. In my mind, the obvious shining examples are Swansea and Brighton, as clubs who have reached the Premiership without buying numerous 'established' players at exorbitant prices, playing attractive (but more importantly) effective football and improving their infrastructure (i.e. stadiums and training facilities). We've seen some of the groundwork be laid, but it's getting close to the time where results need to be reflected on the pitch also. As I've said before, I can live with us simply showing progress this season by reaching a higher final placing than 17th, but next season, we should be aiming for the playoffs. Patience is only different from procrastination if you know when to expect results by.
'(though mostly positive in that time, it should be said)' 'Positive' ? Johnson holds the same record at Barnsley as he does at City. Most consecutive losses in the club's history. Not sure that's a 'positive'. 'Theone solace I did/do have was/is that I believe he has strong attachment to the club and truly wants the best for it'. Sorry I don't buy it and never will. He's a survivor and will say anything to save his skin.
Tbf at the start of the season we were playing very good football and dominanting. I believe lee johnsons downfall will be the stubborn fans getting on his and the players' backs Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes we beat Barnsley, but they seem to be a poor side,Brum first half was good,second half they changed formation, and were the better side. Brentford hammered us,Millwall contained us,Villa will batter us. We don't seem to have a plan B and then struggle. For me LJ is on a sticky wicket
A view from OTIB. When people talk of having agendas against LJ, that really is a cheap shot, because there is no agenda, people just want to see some evidence that we are backing the right man. He has had millions spent, more than any manager in our history, and an open book on recruitment on and off the field. With that in mind, you now have to show something. For example , against teams that are going to battle and bruise you, and there are many, what are we going to do ? Hey it's no shock, anyone who has watched Milwall knew what they would do, as will Cardiff for example (Wolves had a similar issue) so now LJ has a chance to show we have an action plan if we face this again, that should have been lesson learnt last season. No one expects promotion, even on the wildest OTIB threads I have not read about promotion. But people do want to see something. For now, it looks an elaborate charade and indulgence , where words do not match the action. The approach on paper is credible, but the application and deployment laughable.
