News from NP & the Luton Town Defeat.

Every word from Nigel Pearson on Luton Town defeat and possible positive Bristol City news
Robins manager spoke to the press following the 3-2 loss on Sunday afternoon.

We’ve seen some frustrating games here this season, but that one has to take the biscuit?

Well, you’ve probably seen more than me. Today’s game shows exactly where we are. If you want an illustration to show where we are as a football club it’s that performance.

Too many players unavailable, some good football to go 2-0 up at half-time. A performance that showed players folding and working independently, not as a team.

Not a good thing, not a good day.

They’re all criticisms that you’ve said of the players before, too easy to beat, etc…

Forget tactics. Tactics have nothing to do with anything today. What we saw today was a very fragile mentality. That’s what we have.

It’s difficult, I hope our younger players aren’t damaged by playing in a situation where they are exposed to these types of experiences. We are relying too heavily on young players, but we have to.

It looked like a performance from players who can’t wait for the end of the season. So in the first half, yes we did okay, scored two goals.

I haven’t seen the disallowed one, we could’ve had a penalty, we were comfortable on the ball. We did okay.

In the second half, three really poor goals. We just don’t communicate on the field, players don’t talk, players don’t affect each other. It’s a real reality check of where we are.

The team punched above its weight for the first part of the season, and now we are limping towards the end.

It’s clear the supporters want to see you get the job and get your teeth into the rebuild

Do they? Oh right. I’m a bit surprised after all of the defeats we’ve had.

That’s clear if you look at social media which I’m sure you do?

No, I don’t.

People can see that there is a problem that needs putting right, and they want you to do it. You said there were positive talks this week, are we near to a conclusion?

I’ve had good conversations this week. Hopefully, yes, there will be some positive moves soon to sort that out.

I don’t think that the lack of clarity has been helpful. We have a lot of players out of contract, I say lack of clarity but I’m clear in my own mind.

Externally, I understand people’s frustrations. Our fanbase, the fact that they can’t be here at times like this they probably feel a bit excluded. That’s not the intention of the club at all.

I know through speaking to Steve, and to Jon how passionate they are about our fans. This season is a very frustrating one for us.

It’s excruciating at times to go through that 95 minutes. It really clears or clarifies, the job that needs to be done. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done.

Are you as keen as ever to do it?

I feel a bit battle-worn today! I’m somebody who tries to be as realistic, and as positive as I can. I’m being tested very much in that regard at the moment.

For the players, it’s a tough end to the season. We’ve got some young players doing exceptionally well that I worry about, whether it will damage them.

It’s such a lopsided group that we have, with not enough balance to be able to change things. We don’t have too many options. At times the players look and possibly feel as though they wish the season was over.

We have two games left. Some big selection issues to think about over the next two games, because they’re both very tough, Millwall and Brentford.

No game is a pushover for us at the moment, we go 2-0 up and can’t even see it through, and we can’t because we are hoping that things happen rather than be proactive on the pitch.

You have players playing with whatever demons they have in their own heads. Some have clearly got a few, they’re not managing that situation particularly well.

It is what it is. I look at it in the cold light of day for what it is. We are a club that needs change.

On a positive note, you want the job and are hoping there will be some news soon?

I hope so, yes. We’ll see.

People want to see you get the job, are we talking a matter of days?

I don’t know, hopefully, yes.

There are 365 days in a year so it could be days.

It’s great to see the young players involved, Alex Scott, Tommy Conway, Saikou Janneh, but are you getting the balance right in terms of experience versus young players, for winning the physical duels and having an impact?

The thing about it is, if you look at the bench today where we have some experienced defenders, it was too early for Baker to maybe start. It’s good to have him on the bench at least.

The starting eleven is already populated by a lot of youngsters. The starting team today was to look at players who, we felt, were positive enough to deal with the situation. It’s always easy after an event to say ‘we could’ve done this, we could’ve done that.’

We’ve been playing that game for a long time now. Our results have been poor for a long time. How many chances do people need?

You get to a point where it’s risk and reward.

Today Tommy Conway started, and I thought he was excellent. He was really good. Alex Scott going on, most people at the club hadn’t heard of these players before, the coaching staff didn’t know who they were.

We’re at a point where we are playing these players because we have to. It’s always easy to say we are putting too much onus on the younger players. I’ve said in previous weeks that I want the experienced players to shoulder the responsibility, but we’ve not done that either.

It’s quite a difficult situation. When you are looking at players like Semenyo coming on as a sub, what is he 20, 21? You have players starting who are younger and he is considered as a senior player.

At the start of the year, I imagine he was considered a squad player who maybe would play some games. We’ve relied on him a lot this year. Famara wasn’t fit so he didn’t start due to swelling on his knee, so that’s why he didn’t start.

We’ve got what we’ve got. It’s not about making excuses, it's just about being realistic with where we’re at. The players who go out there have always got a better chance of succeeding if they share the responsibility, but we haven’t done that again.

What we’ve ended up with is having lots of individuals out there who are out of form. It’s the reality of it. I don’t ever look to dress it up as anything else.

I don’t know what our opponents said today but they were okay, that was all. We gifted them three goals. It was nothing to do with tactics, it was about our fragile nature with the players we’ve got.

I think it’s quite painful for even me to see players unable to function as players because they’ve got whatever demons they’ve got in their heads.

We have lots of work to do, I’m not hiding from it. It’s a big job and somebody has to do it.

Do you think one of the turning points in the season was the injury to Andreas Weimann? I know it was before you came into the club.

You’re asking the wrong person because I didn’t see him play.

But look, I worked with him before at Derby, he’s a really good pro. He’s the type of player that we clearly miss at the moment.

But we’re missing lots of players.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/every-word-nigel-pearson-luton-5340385

 

I wonder who he is talking about?
'I think it’s quite painful for even me to see players unable to function as players because they’ve got whatever demons they’ve got in their heads.'

 

I didn't really take that on board, bad information flow, I'm sure 'Tinman' was aware of them but for a manager of NP''s experience to make that statement must put a bit of distance between him and the coaches.
' Today Tommy Conway started, and I thought he was excellent. He was really good. Alex Scott going on, most people at the club hadn’t heard of these players before, the coaching staff didn’t know who they were.'