Korey Smith doesn't even make the squad Is this the last we’ll see of the legendary Robins midfielder as he doesn’t make the matchday squad for the visit of Preston. Smith is out of contract after this game, although CEO Mark Ashton has confirmed that talks will take place regarding extensions when the campaign concludes.
Bristol City have the normal knocks and niggles, as mentioned by Dean Holden in his latest press conference, but don't appear to have any major injuries worries ahead of the Preston game. Pedro Pereira could be back in contention for a start after his injury problems over the past couple of weeks and Kasey Palmer took to the pitch against Swansea after missing a few games with a knock. Han-Noah Massengo is fit despite missing the last matchday squad and everyone will be assessed again before kick-off later this evening. Before their last game against Brentford, Preston were missing Ben Pearson and Ben Davies with hamstring and knee injuries respectively. Patrick Bauer also had a tight hamstring but all three could be back for the City game.
Dean Holden speaks I can’t wait for this game. We’ve picked a team with minimal changes and want to put on a performance. If we get our forward play right then we stand a really good chance of a big three points for the club. Holden on the changes Pedro Pereira came on at half-time at the weekend and that position is good for him, in terms of his energy, his power and quality on the ball. Adam Nagy comes into midfield and it’s a chance to show us what he’s made of in front of that back three. He’s had an up and down season. He’s had injuries but looking for a big performance from him. Fam comes in up top. Looking for him to secure the ball in the final third areas where we didn’t do so well on the weekend. He’s an extra day’s recovery so his niggle that he’s been nursing is okay. Holden on why no Hunt or Smith Hunty’s got a little hamstring issue. Korey’s okay. It just gives ... we know what Korey has given this football club, huge performances. And he’s played every single minute since lockdown, apart from coming off on Saturday. It gives Adam a chance and allows us to get Han-Noah involved, a fantastic young talent the club has invested him. Holden on Kalas as captain His recent performances, in the four games I’ve been in charge, have been outstanding. I said to him yesterday, we’re starting to see the real version of him but there’s more to come. He leads by example.
Famara Diedhiou wins Player of the Year Robins TV have just revealed that Famara Diedhiou has won the club’s Player of the Season award. Han-Noah Massengo took the Young Player of the Season crown.
Yet again everything you need to know about why we fell so short again, that midfield is beyond shocking, it needs serious surgery before the new season starts. Because it was so weak Paterson was awful and we cannot play to Wells strengths. Bullied for most of the game. Williams if he wants to coach that's fine but please don't offer him a playing contract, Weimann ok as a squad player but nowhere near consistent enough to be a starter. Very disappointing 8 points out 27 from the 9 games post lockdown and 13 points from 48 from the 16 games from February 7th, it's just not good enough. Hurry up and announce the new manager.
Have a look at the team selected and the 9 subs. It didn't matter which of the 20 started, they're all the bloody same. Not a stand out player let alone a spine or system. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, you have Junior's legacy.
Plus, four and a half years of constant championship football, more than any manager since AD.... Barnsley beating Brentford away shows what a difficult league we're in..
Major surgery required New midfield-two new strikers as Afobe and Fammy going New right back. New wingers. Fammy going Afobe going smith going Elliason going would get rid of O’Dowda Patterson Hunt Nagy Weimann Watkins I would keep Niki think he is a great keeper Hoping Walsh and Morrell step up. Team needs improving if SL wants to do a Leeds or WBA
The much vaunted 'model' hailed by Lansdown 4 years ago needs scrutiny. The only City players playing in the Prem are the ones who've been sold or moved on. Even Ayling and Freeman will or have played in the Premiership. And who knows whether we'll add Tomlin and Pack to the list. Mark Ashton has done his bit with amazing transfer dealings going out, none more so than £20million for Kelly. But look what we're left with. A bunch of journeyman going south. The next managers appointment will show if the penny has dropped with Lansdown.
It would not need much scrutiny. There was no model. It was the Emperor's new clothes. It had me going for a short time. My dropping moment was seasons ago. At Wise I was watching a family member playing academy football and on one of the adjacent pitches was the U23's. I did see a true talent playing called Kelly but what was evident to anybody with functioning eye balls was the academy team and the U23's were playing with an approach that was very different to the XI. The rhetoric about creating an identity running through the club, philosophies etc was there to see. It was bollocks.
I would add Williams to that list and Holden and Mcallister. To be fair to Smith it looks to me like this is very much his decision and I can understand that, he is a legend who has given everything for this club unlike several on your list, I hope he gets himself a good deal somewhere else but doesn't come back to haunt us. As for Paterson, as I keep saying, when we are being beaten up in midfield, which we were for much of the season, he becomes a major part of the problem because he is so weak, when we come up against a midfield that is worse than ours, he can win games, if we can build a fully functioning midfield around him or Palmer then we should keep him.
Agree reference Paterson hot/cold player-bit like Pack great when we are in control but poor when we were on the backfoot. Reference Williams he will be gone. I would be very surprised if Mac and Holden are kept on.
Our new manager will have one hell of a task on his hands to remodel the current playing squad and I just wonder how much our checkered past will turn someone off taking the job? When I was watching the Premier matches over the last few weeks it was nice to see some of our ex-players enjoying life at the top but it hurt to think what could have been if we had managed to keep them at Ashton Gate. Wasn't it part of one of our 5 year plans to build a squad that would endure several years, and most of all, be the base on which to build the future? At the moment I don't think we are anywhere near where we were promised over the last 4-5 years and if we don't get on top of our issues soon we could struggle next season. I saw a point made in a 2016 thread that said that if you don't have an immediate successor ready to step in then you are not as prepared as you think you are, and regrettably I think that sums us up in a nutshell. How many times do we have to endure questionable decisions made by our management?