Thanks to a new TV channel which I only saw yesterday allowed me to get a subscription and record today's game vs Hull City. My first impression was how good our newly renovated stadium is starting to look and the finished article will move us into the 21st century when it is completed later next year. I thought our overall performance was OK and the opposition came as advertised on the tin and with over 65% of the possession they probably should have gone away with all 3 points - but they didn't. We still have the tendency to give the ball away too easily, especially when we are on the attack ,and when the inevitable onslaught came we held our own, if somewhat tentatively at times, and hung on for a vital point. What I saw today gave me confidence that our ship of fortune is starting to turn in the right direction and if we can give that kind of performance every week I think we are heading for a mid-table finish for the season. The time is now to take something from every game and push forward and upwards again.
Clearly BCFC is being run on a budget and the lack of strength in depth shows. While we appear to be getting to terms with leaking goals we desperately need someone new to score them. We must all realise that we are in bottom four in terms of budget so maintaining the status quo will be a real achievement this season. I am totally confident that will be achieved but strengthening in January will be key. SC knows we cocked up in pre season lets hope that SL gets directly involved after Christmas and backs his manager.
Firstly, I trust Cotts to be better placed to decide the squad than me or most of us on here, but I would dearly like to know why Cox is left out. If he isn't good enough then send him back to Reading and save some money.
Maybe there's a deal like pay as he plays set up by Reading. As you said we don't know the whole of the deal plus at the end of the day Agard and Kodjia are starting to form a bit of a partnership. Agard looked a little subdued when Wilbraham came on as he was left to be the ball carrier up front.
that said I thought Wilbraham did well in holding up the ball and generally delaying play when we were set on keeping it as a draw. I have not seen enough of Cox in a City shirt to tell if he can do the same. Personally I think Cox is with us as cover in case of a few injuries, until we can go for enough Gayle type player in the New Year. Cox is not a permanent answer.
If he's surplus to requirements then why the hell is he still here? Excess strains on our bottom line and lack of incomings are the supposed reason why we can't spend on players who could help us progress. Looking back in retrospect, after the initial glow of seeing City on telly, I saw an encapsulation of the Bristol City that has morphed over they years and become somewhat predictable in both ability to play the game and the usual result after holding a tentative lead. Same old same old really when it comes down to the heart of the matter.
In fairness Mike, Hull will be there or thereabouts come next May, and on another day would have beaten us with something to spare on Saturday. Therefore I was grateful for a point, which is more than I thought we'd get. After Saturdays unexpected results for Charlton and Rotherham, we desperately need to beat both of them when we face them shortly. We have been struggling at this level due to the lack on investment in the team over the Summer, and are now relying on the likes of Bennett and Baker to bring some quality to the squad. Let's hope we can keep them both until the end of the season, or beyond. I do believe that there are 3 worse clubs than us in this division, but we need to keep the focus going.
There was quite a bit of wages on the field for Hull - I thought Livermore and Huddlestone were excellent in midfield. I agree with Angelic - they will be Top 6 and maybe Top 2. Mike was spot on about us giving the ball away too easily at times. If we play Kodjia and Agard together we can't just lump it in the air - got to play down the channels I would love to see Kodjia play with Matt Smith Permanent deals for Baker and Bennet would be excellent
Are Hull another of the teams who still get parachute payments after their return to the Championship? When I see seasoned ex-premiership players turning out against us the difference in playing ability is there for all to see and goes to highlight the inequity in the system. Any tier of professional sport should give all participants the same level playing surface. Trying to compete, yet alone thrive, is becoming more difficult with each passing season and until such time as we can draw crowds that generate enough revenue to allow us to move to the next level we are doomed to stay in this nether world of being non-competitors. Any answers to our predicament?
Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan, Portsmouth, Swindon, Barnsley. The let goes on and on. Southampton, Norwich and a few others ran out of the parachute money but still got back up there, it can be down on a shoestring look at Blackpool, Burnley (possibly both times) and Bournemouth.
