Full post-Wigan transcript from Lee Johnson: embarrassed head coach, Joe Garner 'that sort of player' Every word from the head coach at his post-match press conference... Bristol City couldn't repeat their visit to the north west of two years ago when they won a tight game against the Latics via an 88th minute Aden Flint winner. Instead the tables were turned as Nick Powell conjured some magic to get Wigan the three points on Friday night in front of the Sky cameras. No team has beaten the Latics at the DW Stadium this season and it's perhaps easy to see why with the home side excelling in the second half. But that didn't stop Robins head coach Lee Johnson from admonishing his side in the post-match press conference. What did you make of that? We guess you're disappointed... Exactly that. Disappointed. Gutted really with my team's performance. I didn't really see it coming. There's no excuse for it - we made changes and had freshness and brightness... We didn't play with enough grit and steel to see us get anything from the game. Joe Garner's challenge could have see red, couldn't it? Well so I'm told but I haven't looked at it back. But I know what he's like. I played against him a number of times as both a player and a coach and he's that sort of player that you want him on the team for that exact reason but sometimes he goes over the edge. Whether that went over the edge today I'll let you decide. Do you feel it could have been different if your Robins side had taken one of those early chances? Yeah, of course. Weimann went through one-on-one with the keeper. Famara could have slipped in Weimann for an easy goal, and even second half we could have played Weimann in for an easy goal and probably Famara's got to do better for the headed chance. But there just wasn't enough from us really but there just wasn't enough from us really. And the boys have got to look in the mirror and ask why. Whether that's preparation I don't know, but we were out-thought and out-fought today. You said you were embarrassed by your Bristol City side to Sky Sports, is that correct? I was a little bit embarrassed, yeah, I was. I didn't think we showed our identity. And I think a big part of our club is our identity. I think about things like our academy players watching that performance and I try to encourage our younger players to watch first team games and learn off the senior players but I wouldn't of wanted them to learn an awful lot today. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/full-post-wigan-transcript-lee-2032145
Don't know what to make of that, do you blame the players for not listening, lack of fitness or trying, the coaches for wrong team selection and tactical nouse or LJ for bad leadership and poor communication skills. Surely you should never criticise your players in public, print media or tv, it will come back to bite you and cause distrust amongst your players and fan base.
We don’t need dressing room antics right now Lee and although I concur with your feelings I think a bit more diplomacy might have been the way to go. I hope you’re way works out.
I didn't see the game but the descriptions of it on here would suggest that they should be embarrassed! As individuals, they each know what they're capable of and, in this instance, didn't apparently come anywhere near it!! Under the circumstances, I've no problem with LJ saying what he did and I suspect that the players feel the same way.
The thing to remember is he didn’t name players, so at least he’s kept that part to himself. But I guess some are going to be getting a bit of a talk. It was a lacklustre performance which none of them done particularly well. However teams above today stalled so it’s still only 4 points but that means the pack are closing in.
The thing is he said what we were all thinking , I like his honesty , he didn’t name names , so I don’t see a problem. They will know theirperformance wasn’t good enough too . They get praise collectively when they give a good performance, they should be man enough to receive criticism when they play poorly.
