I kind of a little bit opposite. I think hogh performance demands more. Let's see. My concern now is about 4 games and 5 points
It's a shame but Charles' confidence appears to be shot after not being picked for so long, he is the obvious DM back up with Smallbone much more suited to be an 8, the chemistry just wasn't right in midfield tonight. I hate to write a young player off so soon though but I think that Lavia's early development meant that we thought that we were getting the same ready made player with Shea and it's clearly not the case although he did ok at RB recently.
Admittedly his passing wS very poor, but he moves with the ball well. I think he will co.e good, maybe not this season
Yes, I also think that Smallbone is due a rest, he's played almost the full matches even in the cup for the last few months in a demanding position and must be getting fatigued. Shea can only get better with experience.
Downes is a huge loss, no doubt about it. City looked fresher than us and seemed to have an extra yard of pace. We looked tired and off the boil. 1 loss in 26 ain’t bad. It’s gutting that we have such a difficult fixture next, and that we aren’t 2nd after such a great run. There really is no room for error. But we have still made up a huge amount of ground and given ourselves a massive chance of autos. Plus… the plays offs will be more fun anyway
As would I. As dreadful as he was for 45 minutes today, he has had good games for us. And he's the most suitable for that position when Downes isn't available. I really didn't want us moving Smallbone into DM today, but I totally understand why. As I've said, my view is that Charles needed to be taken out of the firing line. And if Martin had kept him on and we'd lost (which I think we would have done), he'd have been slated for not changing Charles. Lots of players will be wanting to put tonight behind them, not just Charles. Just because someone was bad tonight, it doesn't guarantee that they will be bad on Friday too.
Exactly this. And though Shea and Kamaldeen both stood out a bit, nobody was good (other than KWP, but that's a given).
I had thought/expected that the recruitment of Rothwell was to provide us with an alternative to Smallbone. But so far, I think it's only been in the Watford away game that he's played in place of Smallbone. I think all his other appearance have either been in place of Stu, or in Smallbone's role but with Smallbone still in the team (in Downes' role). I guess losing Charly may have had an impact, because previously he could have been the alternative to Stu. I wonder if Aribo might go straight back into the XI on Friday, or whether Martin will reintroduce him gradually.
Yep, you could see that in the Huddersfield game first half. Getting the results have become more of a grind very recently. I think ending the run might take a bit of added pressure off. Need a few things to go our way at Hawthorns in those pivotal moments to bounce back. Could be a season defining moment.
The downside is that Ajayi will be returning alongside him. I see that WBA had to field Erik Pieters at CB tonight! Diangana will be another returning back from AFCON for them.
Evening guys just back from the game and gone through your posts. First thing the majority of city fans including myself did not see that result coming. Secondly you 24 game unbeaten run is a great achievement. It was always going to come to an end and tonight was it. We have been playing well recently apart from losing to Leeds at home 1-0 .’ I said at seasons start that Leicester would go up top and Leeds second and after playing all three of you I stick by that. You will get playoffs with WBA and two others. At present we sit 4 points outside however any team that can put a run together will shoot into the playoff spots. Personally on playing you and Leeds twice this year -we still have to play Leicester at Ashton Gate -I believe Leicester and Leeds are by far the best sides in the championship. Good luck for the rest of the season you never know we might meet in the playoffs.
I might be alone in this but I'm glad that run is over. It had to end sometime and I bet Martin was getting tired of having to talk about it. Lets get them onto another one and hopefully that game in hand yields the points we need.
I am trying to ignore my negative thinking telling me "typical the first game i get to in months is the loss". It happens but I think with our away performances it has been due. I was saying before the game I think Leeds are in a way better position than us and I think tonight only cements that. We just arent as good as Leeds, for several reasons, (mainly manager and remaininging fixtures) and I think we will rely on the lottery of the play offs.
The Loading run was fantastic, the magic run remains unchallenged! And I take full responsibility. I have not seen us win since we beat Palace 2-0 on Boxing Day (I think) the season we got promoted to the PL last time round, 11 years ago. So I make that about a 60 game run with my poor attendance. Coupled with the fact I went with my mate who has never seen Bristol City lose and it was a a given. We weren’t that bad in the first half, a drab game which neither team imposed themself on. So you could call it poor on our part as the team that was favourites, but it wasn’t terrible. Second half we were **** and City took full advantage. Midfield was bad throughout and Manning is even worse close up than he is on the TV. Was playing right in front of me and the amount of times we moved the ball well only for his dog control to slow everything down was infuriating. Brooks had a couple of moments but nothing to shout about, like the whole team tbh. Lost to the better team on the night and will be interesting to see how we bounce back, Leeds will go on the same run we did so will be hard to stay with imo
