Under-pressure Bristol City boss Lee Johnson stands by his principles By a_stockhausen please log in to view this image Lee Johnson is not about to abandon his football philosophy in the face of poor results. LEE Johnson is adamant he is not about to abandon pass and move style of attacking football. Under pressure to achieve results following a debilitating sequence of six defeats in seven games, City's head coach could easily order a return to the pragmatic safety-first tactics deployed by some of his predecessors at Ashton Gate. But the former Oldham and Barnsley manager is refusing to compromise his principles and, while he is prepared to tweak the balance between attack and defence, he has no intention of turning his back on enterprising, possession-based football. We want to play this passing game and I feel we are at our best when we play that way," argued Johnson. "If we start to lock games up and park the bus, we'll probably get beat by four or five-nil. We'd have stopped doing the things we do well. Caught on the counter-attack, City conceded the first goal to Preston against the run of play last Saturday. "I have to stick to my principles, I absolutely do. Even when results are not going your way and you are in a poor spell, like we are, it has to stay the same. "The moment we start to question our philosophy and our identity, is the moment we are really in trouble. If you move away from that, the players you sold the dream to when signing them on will no longer be able to buy into it. "I really do believe we are not far away and I'm not about to rip everything up that we've worked on this year." A City side full of progressive players has developed a habit of conceding soft goals to opposition sides that defend in depth and then hit them with swiftly-launched counter-attacks. Concentration, communication and lack of a defensive mind-set are at the very heart of a problem Johnson is determined to address in the January transfer window. He has spoken of the need for a combative striker, one who can make the ball stick in the final third of the pitch, and another strong defensive-type player to bolster the spine of the team. Johnson admitted: "We are too open at times and teams are punishing us on the break. We were outstanding for the first 20 minutes against Preston and then they go and score with their first attack and the game changes. "It's about changing the balance and that is something we are looking to do in January. You can coach it, but sometimes you need to bring those qualities in from outside." http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/under-...s-principles/story-30001337-detail/story.html
I think we've seen and heard all of this before, didn't Steve Cotterell say he was going to stick with his principles and not change and adapt and look what happened to him. I hope Lee is right about not changing his style of play, surely he is not as stubborn as not to listen and be open to other styles, it could be history repeating, I hope not, for his sake.
It isn't working Lee just in case you hadn't noticed. Being stubborn and still believing you are the only one who can get it right is a bit short sighted.
It is working mike, I can tell you first hand having watch every game it's working. What's not working is the players we have who can put the ball in the net. If we had a Gayle or a Gray upfront we would be sitting pretty in the play offs, maybe automatics. We create plenty of chances and do it in an entertaining way. Try not to believe everything the miserable posters say on here about how **** we are or how clueless Johnson is, when the truth is he picks a team that dominates the game most of the time and create plenty of chances but the finishing lets us down. We need a more experienced Abraham and a younger Wilber. If we get that then we'll be much better off.
I mostly agree Shiny. We dominated for the first 20 minutes v Preston and should have had a blatant penalty. Maybe the non-award of that penalty knocked our confidence? Not long after that we went to pieces. According to my mate who goes to far more games than me it's a common theme. I say 'mostly' agree, because I think there is something that LJ could fix without buying anyone - movement off the ball!
Yes but we always end up making excuses for why we didn't win and that makes me believe it isn't working. I do defer to the people who watch the games rather than myself sunning it down Mexico way, and there are still many 606ers who aren't happy and surely they can't all be wrong. The proof is in the pudding and the results tell me what I think is a more valid story. How many times do we have the majority of the possession, most shots and yet still lose? We constantly give up the first and last goals, and that can never be considered a winning attribute, and the dwindling points return makes the point. How much longer can we live in this make believe world, but I love your enthusiasm. Arsene Wenger constantly blames other for loss of points and if you check the highlights he's seldom right. It's a complete package that makes the grade which includes players who can take advantage of our strengths and I don't see that happening if you look at our last 10 matches for example.
I agree with LJ, The philosophy he is implementing is the right way, just needs a little bit more quality and the results will come. I really don't want to go back to the "lump it and hope for the best" style. What you really need is players that can mix it up when required, that takes intelligence, whether we have enough of those players is up for debate.
And extra shooting practice. Cloughy would have had his players on the pitch until 6 every evening shooting from a range of distances, and practicing 1 on 1s
I presume you are talking about old big head who when asked if he was the best manager in the world replied, probably not but I'm in the top one.
I cant disagree with the need for more quality and some deadlier finishing but we need this in the January transfer window just to stay away from the bottom of the table. My fear is that we will panic and pay over the odds for players that are no better than we have, or like Engval that can seemingly never get a game despite the price tag. It's time for the management spiel to stop and to either bring in the signings to help stabilise our position, or change the way we play with what we have in order to get some points.
When you say many do you mean just Red Robin and Redprint there? Just because they shout the loudest and post the same on every thread doesn't mean they are the majority. There are many others stating that the club are moving in the right direction but you don't seem to be quoting them too often. I know there are others who are unhappy with specific issues and off course recent results haven't been the best but I believe that most posters are able to see the bigger picture. We just need to hold our nerve through the current slump and I'm sure we will reap the rewards in the future.
It is a bit weird. If we had a top class centre back and a top class striker (i.e. an older Tammy), there's no doubt in my mind that we would be in that play-offs. Funny game.
I like all of us, do not want to see our club in another relegation battle and as you have said it's a funny game, I just hope LJ & co gets in the players that turns our season around as I don't think we are that far off of becoming a very good side. Confidence is major factor in my eyes and maybe the new/right additions could be all we need..
I'm a straightforward simple kind of guy and I see this quite simply - LJ will be given time to develop his squad and get them playing the way he wants - until/unless we are staring relegation in the face. Then he will go. I can't see him being allowed to take us down.
The bigger picture as you so eloquently quote is getting harder to see because it's disappearing over the horizon quicker than a rat up a drainpipe. Strangely enough my brain still works even though I'm apparently on a different planet than you.
Should the unthinkable happen and we do go back down with LJ still in charge then Lansdown is a worse judge of character and timings than my already low opinion of him would suggest.
Frankly Steve Ls management appointments have been a disaster exception of GJ. Even the quality ones like Sod were given a task that was impossible.
I don't think Steve Cotterill was a disaster, League 1 Champions and the Tinpot Cup, quite an achievement but a disappointing exit..
