please log in to view this image Nigel Pearson on Alex Scott He's alright, he's available, which is good. O'Dowda is a doubt for Saturday Callum O'Dowda is a bit of a doubt but we'll see how he is. He has a bit of a tight groin but apart from that we're very much in the same place as last week in terms of availability. NP on 2021 I wouldn't have thought it's the most positive year that we've ever had but I suppose the last two years have shown quite a bit of change within the club which has traditionally been a very stable club. We're going through transition but it's not really for me to judge how other people see it. I know very much where we are, in relation to where we want to get to, and there's still considerable work to be done. Early days in many ways. We've made some progress, behind the scenes in particular. NP on 2022 I'm not somebody who makes statements on the basis you've asked me a question. Is it going to be positive? There will be up and downs but we'll continue to make progress. What's really important throughout, all the decisions we make as a football club, in terms of trying to take the club forward, is that we have a transparency and an openess in terms of what we do. That's something I believe to be paramount in trying to keep our fanbase very much onside with us. Fans see it for what it is. I don't think I'm overdramatising it when I say football continues to go through very difficult times as an industry. Certainly in the Premier League, there is more of a financial stability but in the EFL there remains a lot of work to be done to get ourselves, us a club, and many others into a position of stability. It's never an easy balance to keep everybody's hopes up that you're going to make progress and there will be success on the horizon but you just have to be as open as possible, in terms of where we are and what we can and can't do. NP on Covid and vaccines I worry for people's health, first and foremost. Sport is a part of our community, a very important part of the social aspects, so just if you look at us as an operation, we have an exceptionally high percentage of double vaccinations in the workforce; players and staff alike. We'll also be encouraging people to have the booster. Just in terms of how we operate here, we're doing everything we can to make the workplace as safe as possible. The problem we've got is, the big picture is what's happening on a national and global level. Unfortunately we're still living through difficult times and people's tolerances and patience will be continually tested. NP on vaccination numbers at City All I can say is that we are very proactive in terms oif giving people the opportunity to do so. The problem is there are still a lot of question marks as to where this end will up. I can't speak as a medical person but having suffered with Covid twice myself and knowing the impact it can have on your health, it's something to guard against, there's no doubt about that. And we also want to have people available to play so it's in our interest to get our playing squad having the protection to keep them fit and healthy. It's a pretty complex problem. I don't know about conspiracy theories or people's ideas on why you wouldn't do it but I just find it bizarre people don't see the necessity to protect themselves and each other. That's the important thing, as far as I can see. It's a tough situation. NP on conversations with players about getting the vaccine If I have, they're not things I would divulge in the public domain because I respect people's opinions but, having said that, I know from experience it's something that can threaten your life so, that in itself, is a very telling fact. It continues to take lives and continues to mutate, like all viruses do. NP on season targets The easy answer is I don't necessarily work in that way. I have a more flexible way of thinking because there are too many variables. Goal-setting is important but our starting point in the summer was a difficult one in terms of numbers of people out and numbers coming in. Do I think we should be better placed than we currently are? I do think we should have more points but realistically, can we improve on the first half of the season - absolutely yes. But again that's not a given. When you work in circumstances where we are finding solutions as we go, it's not exactly the perfect scenario but it's the one we currently have. More from NP on season targets We have to be pragmatic with what we have but creative in terms of finding solutions to move forward. One of the problems we've had suffered so far this season is a lack of availability of some of our key players, especially in the midfield area. So where we've got some really key players with experience, we've seldom had them fit at the same time. Those situations alone potentially can change how things feel. It's as you go, you find solutions. More on O'Dowda He's just had a tightness. A bit from the game. I think it's probably best he's not involved at the weekend but we'll see. NP on the table It's amazing when you consider the fine margins that we're talking about, and we can recount so many games this season where we've given away points. It's been a tough first half to the season in many ways. Certainly being able to find an effective way of playing has been a test but we're in and around it and, like you say, it remains a very, very tight division. We've just got to make sure again that our minds remain very much on us and trying to get the best out of what's here. NP on Huddersfield We're playing against a side at the weekend, in some ways similar to Hull who will try and pass the ball and have had some success this season but are only three points ahead of us. It is really an illustration of how competitive this league is and how things can change so quickly. If we have a reasonable festive period then there's a possibility of making a climb up the table, but likewise it can go the other way too. We have to make sure, and the one word which I use a lot but we've struggled to find, is consistency and have it moving forward. That's all from Nigel We'll have more reaction through the afternoon. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-press-conference-live-6359325 'Let's take the game to Huddersfield' - Pearson https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/lets-take-the-game-to-huddersfield-pearson/
Match Preview: Huddersfield Town (H) please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Take an in-depth look at how City match up against this weekend's opponents Huddersfield Town at Ashton Gate. Preview ~ https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/mansionbet-match-preview-huddersfield-town-h/ Nigel Pearson delivers blunt assessment of Kasey Palmer's Bristol City prospects Bristol City playmaker Kasey Palmer hasn't featured in any of the Robins last five matchday squads https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/kasey-palmer-pearson-bristol-city-6367699 Matchday Programme! https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/semenyo-stars-in-your-free-robins-matchday-programme/ Supporter information for new COVID-19 rules https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/ℹ-supporter-information-for-new-covid-19-rules/ please log in to view this image
"At the same time, the small squad of players Pearson is operating with, and Palmer's own talents in the light of City's creativity issues, make him an obvious possible solution. The City manager has frequently bemoaned the lack of chances being created for his strikers from midfield and although defensive concerns may remain, Palmer is one of the few individuals in the current group of players capable of providing such". No sh!t Sherlock
Pring starts: The predicted Bristol City XI to face Huddersfield on Saturday please log in to view this image https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/p...tol-city-xi-to-face-huddersfield-on-saturday/
Yep the evidence is overwhelming 6 assists in nearly 4 years in nearly 70 games. "If he does enough, he might be included. So that doesn't change.
whats the "olive branch c***!" to offer an olive branch is to "kiss and make up" so has he dropped the hint NP and KP are at odds! and NP is cutting off nose to spite face!
What utter bollox. They are not at odds, the player needs to show commitment, why do you think LJ cut him adrift and Holden couldn't wait to ship him out on loan? were they cutting off their noses to spite their faces as well? Unlike you who only reads reports and watches highlights, Pearson sees him training everyday and sees the effort that he puts in.
Surely even you would expect far better than 6 assists in 70 games? Also you still have never explained how 4 managers have seemingly eventually come to the same conclusion about him.
Is that 70 games where we have scored? If not, maybe that's down to the strikers failings! Maybe those managers have failed him...He's shown that he does have the ability.....it's down to whatever manager to get the best from him...they have all failed..
Time to ship him out as we don't need any more projects - just about all of them have gone down the toilet.
Bristol City predicted team vs Huddersfield: O'Dowda injury leaves Pearson with obvious choice Bristol City host Huddersfield Town in their penultimate game at Ashton Gate of 2021 https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-predicted-team-huddersfield-6369913 Bristol City (3-5-2): Dan Bentley; Zak Vyner, Tomas Kalas, Rob Atkinson; Alex Scott, Matty James, Han-Noah Massengo, Andi Weimann, Cam Pring; Chris Martin, Antoine Semenyo
We do have a tendency in shipping our better players out.......now I wonder, over the years......has that worked for us?
And it is down to the player to show effort on the training ground, end of argument, he is the one who has failed not 4 managers who had a vested interest in him showing his undoubted talent consistently. We all know about his ability, it's all about his attitude, application and consistency that are in question, but as usual you are right the vast majority are wrong, but a little evidence to back your claims up wouldn't go a miss.
That’s bit of an odd statement tbf, there comes a point when he has to take responsibility, you can’t pass it off as everybody else’s fault.,he’s had chances, but hasn’t taken them.
Yep and under 4 managers, all of whom ended up ditching him. As I said we know about his undoubted talent, but the problem obviously lies with him.
There’s rumours Ipswich are interested, if true it would mean a drop in wages, but could be a good opportunity to get a run in the team, a chance to show what he can do, I doubt he’ll take it though, rather collect a wage for doing nothing.
That was always the plan, a plan that LJ, Holden and I am sure that Pearson when they signed on the dotted line were well aware of. You either lay that at the door of the owner or it is a lame excuse. It is how you use the incoming money that is the crux of the matter and Webster and Brownhill were huge successes in that regard and the academy has done us proud as well, the investment from big fees have in the main been appalling. A quick read through our potted history as a club will tell you that the only time we ever bucked the trend of keeping our best players was from 1976 to 1980 in the top division and look how that almost ended, it's who we are, anything else is just a poor excuse, when the answer lies squarely with our recruitment. I am reading a book about the life of John Atyeo and there is a reference by a great Sunderland hero Len Shackleton, he had a chapter in his book called 'what chairmen know about football' followed by a blank page.
Yep I suspect you are right, sadly contracted to us until 2023 is my understanding. I think apart from the premier league, wages are dropping all over professional sport, Bristol Bears this week resigned Ellis Genge from Leicester one the best props in world rugby still only 26 years old and Pat Lam stated that he had taken a pay cut to return.
