Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson explains Tomas Kalas and Nahki Wells selection issue The high-profile international duo did not feature for Bristol City in their Championship opener against Blackpool Such is the way football works that Tomas Kalas was facing Denmark in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 last month, while Adam Nagy likewise faced Toni Kroos of Real Madrid and Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich in the Group Stage of the prestigious international tournament. But neither player could make the line-up at Bristol City to face Blackpool last weekend. Along with Nahki Wells, who has been on international duty with Bermuda this summer, the trio were not chosen for the opening game of the Championship season and instead got competitive game time in midweek against Forest Green Rovers. Rob Atkinson and Nathan Baker were Pearson's centre-backs for the 1-1 draw against the Tangerines, while Chris Martin was preferred in attack ahead of Wells, who also wasn't used as a substitute. Kalas, Wells and Nagy faced the Green in mid-week, and after a 2-2 loss on penalties, it remains to be seen if the three did enough to start against Middlesbrough this coming weekend. Manager Nigel Pearson explained his thinking on the issue ahead of the trip to the Riverside, where the Robins are looking to make it six wins in their last seven visits. "It's a bit of everything. Reputations? I'm not bothered about [them]," said Pearson, with some supporters perplexed at why those senior players, especially Kalas and Wells, have not been more involved. "If I talk about the things we've already spoken about in pre-season and wanting a competitive squad where I feel the players best suited for any given game are picked. "I've got to be as good as my word: I see what I see. "I thought Tomas did well in the week, it's irrelevant what happened on international duty in the sense that I pick the side that I think is best for us. "So I don't look at it from the perspective that you're looking at it from. "I'm very pleased to have Tomas and Nahki in the squad. And Adam, you're then talking about three players who have been on international duty who are currently not playing, but that's how it is. "So they've got to do enough to get into the team. And if they get into the team they've got to do enough to stay there." Pearson explained that he will assess the best team to play on a match-by-match basis, and has not discarded changing tactics later in the season if needed, including switching from four to three at the back, as was used at times during last season. The City boss added that he will continue to utilise Hungarian dynamo Nagy as he sees fit, despite the player having requested to leave the club. All eyes on North Yorkshire then, and matchday 2 of the Championship season. City enjoy heading to that part of the world. "I'll tell you after the game," remarked Pearson on whether the West Country outfit are heading to a lucky stadium, given their good record on Teesside. City come up against Neil Warnock and will hope for a similar result to their visit there last February, when Pearson took over at Ashton Gate but kept a watching brief from on high for that game, something he has returned to of late. "I see the game for what it is rather than on the touchline. It's a position of benefit to the team," he explained, of watching from in the stands rather than on the touchline. "I've done it before for long periods. I did for a whole season once. It's what I think the team needs. For myself it's the benefits of the team," said the manager. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...ws/bristol-city-manager-nigel-pearson-5778498
I've got no problem with that interview, setting the stall, taking complete control... If it works we will all be happy...... It's his sword to fall on, taking full responsibility........can't argue with that IMO.
Bentley Atkinson Kalas Baker Perm any 5 from 7 Martin Wells. The six I mention are as good as we have. Up to Pearson to sort the rest out.
We are in for the striker at Rotherham Michael Smith They are bringing a prem lone in and then the cards fall into place.
A question fired at NP and his response-My take is show your worth or you will not play. ------------------- Are you basing your team selection on what you are seeing on the training pitch or is it the players and the combinations,such as with Baker and Atkinson who you can see really complement each other with what they bring to the team... It’s a bit of everything. Reputations, I’m not bothered about, and if I talk about things I’ve already spoken about pre-season and wanting a competitive squad where the players that I feel for any given game are picked, I’ve got to be as good as my word. I see what I see. I thought Tomas did well in the week. It’s irrelevant what happened on international duty in the sense that I pick the side that I think is best for us. I don’t look at it from the perspective that you’re looking at it from. I’m very pleased to have Tomas and Nahki in the squad and Adam – three lads who have been on international duty and they’re currently not playing. That’s how it is so they’ve got to do enough to get into the team. If they get into the team, they’ve got to do enough to stay there.
NP is certainly stamping his authority on the side. However, dismissing the good Euro performances of Nagy and Kalas is strange - If past performances are irrelevant to the team selections then how are we going to ever choose any players to buy or field? I feel there could be more to it - dressing-room politics methinks. Perhaps their egos needed taking down a bit? Of course I could be wrong............
Who knows, but. Agree it does seem odd. As you suggest I’d guess there’s more to it than meets the eye. Obviously we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes and NP is an experienced man manager so I guess he knows what he’s doing, but some of his decisions around who to play, and who to leave out, from the outside seems to defy logic.
I expected it to take time, but this is the one thing that has disappointed me about NP, I thought in the short term he was going to make us difficult to beat.
