Innovative Lee Johnson shows just why the Bristol City head coach is a man in demand He's not afraid to try new things. And sometimes they work very well! From recalling Marley Watkins for a first start in 14 months to setting his team up on the front foot and leading the Robins past four Premier League sides en route to the Carabao Cup side, Lee Johnson must be considered an innovative football coach. (Need further convincing? Ask him about his USB-powered heated gillet.) The former central midfielder is not afraid to change things up and experiment with players or his team. While fans clamour for the spending of money and expensive recruitment that often brings no guarantee of success, many clubs, especially as you go down the football pyramid, cannot afford such luxuries less they go the way of Bury FC. So being able to innovate and come up with your own solutions is a highly valuable commodity. The 38-year-old, who explained last Friday that he is still young and always learning - not least from his recent FA charge that led to a touchline ban up at Oakwell - was heavily linked with various vacant Championship jobs last season and can be expected to again soon because of this. However, Johnson is well settled and set up in the South West and sees his mission as going one better than his father and helping to push Bristol City into the Premier League. Here are some of his biggest tactical curve balls that have helped him in that task, starting at Oakwell last weekend... Marley Watkins recall and new role Before last Friday night, Marley Watkins last started a game back on September 18, 2018, as the Robins put in a good performance at the Hawthorns but ultimately lost 4-2 to Darren Moore's Baggies that night A substitute appearance at Preston aside, there has been little game time for the former Norwich City winger this campaign. But at Barnsley Johnson sprung a surprise and recalled the 29-year-old two-cap Wales international, as the attacker switched to a forward position and his first start of the season, lending more physicality to City's attack. A good display followed and the Robins were on their way to a victory when Watkins departed the pitch on 73 minutes, with his free-kick won deep in the Tykes' half having contributed to the opening goal, Ashley Williams headed in the resulting set-piece. Sammie Szmodics as a false nine Szmodics arrived from Colchester United in the summer and impressed over pre-season, but has made just three appearances since the start of the season: twice in the league and once in the Carabao Cup in a 3-3 draw at Loftus Road. We first clocked the new recruit playing for the Bristol City U23s as a false nine, leading the line against Birmingham U23s at the beginning of September. While the match was likely just an exercise in keeping match fit, Szmodics did continue playing in the more advanced role recently - as he came off the bench against Wigan, having been handed a rare start against Swansea City. There is more to come from Szmodics but we're not convinced that it will be as the team's spearhead. But once again, Lee Johnson has shown he will look beyond the pale. Bobby Reid, the nine and a half One of the head coach's finest moments as he effectively created a £10m player. Lee Johnson turned the bit-part attacking midfielder into a "nine and a half" - as proclaimed by Johnson himself - and 19 goals then followed in the league. Standout performances in the ensuing 2017 Carabao Cup run to the semi-finals then saw Reid develop further until he was eventually bought by Cardiff for a fee believed to be around £10m. Though the Bristolian's career has stalled at the CCS and also now at Craven Cottage (no goals in 13 appearances so far this campaign with the Cottagers) that also lends itself to how Johnson coaxed the best from the now full Jamaica international. Eliasson's withdrawal... to aid creativity Substitutions are another consideration. One that instantly leaps to mind was the at first non-sensical decision to withdraw Niclas Eliasson during the second half against Charlton Athletic at home. Eliasson's subbing off accompanied Famara Diedhiou's subbing on, and was greeted with boos from the Ashton Gate crowd. It came good however, as City switched to a midfield diamond and Josh Brownhill was able to get forward to knock in a 98th minute winner. In the post-match press conference, Johnson pointed out a similar unappreciated triple substitution against Rotherham back in 2017 that saw fans favourite Tammy Abraham withdrawn, but City go on to win 0-1 with Milan Djuric netting. Going to Manchester City and attacking And the effect is not just on individual players, but on the pitch too. One such occasion was the innovative tactics used to keep Bristol City in the tie against Manchester City in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in 2017. Johnson explained to the Coach's Voice how he set the Robins up with two false nines in Bobby Reid and Jamie Paterson, to make City hard to play through. The visitors to the Etihad Stadium gained plaudits for remaining compact, limiting Pep Guardiola's side to minimal chances and almost coming away with a creditable draw from Manchester. City played on the front foot and were well worth getting something from the game. And they almost did likewise in the second leg at Ashton Gate, a few days later. By taking the game to the opposition and the use of slightly tweaked tactics, Johnson showed he had the nous to mix it with the big boys. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/innovative-lee-johnson-shows-just-3507365
A man in demand How I wish. Hasn't or ever will be offered another job. Where else will he be allowed 60 signings in less than 4 years. You lot will, dragging and screaming, catch up eventually. Anyway, sure you will all wish me bon voyage. Off to warmer climes.
stetching it a bit there. City were banging it long and struggling to make 4/5 passes v Barnsley. might be wrong but I doubt there is much demand for Bristols Guardiola!!
Sammie Szmodics - how has he fallen out of favour? In pre-season, he was playing all the time an scoring goals, yet the moment the season kicked off he was nowhere to be seen, and still isn't despite our problems upfront?
How on earth can you leave for warmer climes when Lee may leave for better paid climes during your absence? Whoever wrote this balderdash clearly hasn't looked at the overall picture and therefore made statements that border on insane. Lee will still be at Ashton Gate for many more years and if we finish in the lower half of the table I still expect him to need just 3 more windows. I will give Lee some credit for his positivity but his time for me should expire this summer if we don't make the playoffs because doing the same thing over and over again generally gives you the same results. There's still a long way to go this season and I hope we can meet my requirements to be considered a success, but frankly I am not holding my breath because our opponents are getting better whereas we are just treading water - at best. P.S. Enjoy your sunshine redprintt and don't worry about us back in the damp.
I’ve heard beer is expensive there - I can’t comment because when I was there in the airport en route to Beijing I couldn’t actually find any for sale!!!!
when I was there in May £12 for a small can of Heineken in the hotel, McDonalds was cheap in the airport though... luckily my employer was paying