NP's Future, One Dimensional & Atkinson

Bristol City verdict: Nigel Pearson's morale and future, one dimensional and Atkinson's threat
All the talking points after the Robins struggled at home to 10-men Peterborough to put pressure on the manager

There was a chorus of 'that was embarrassing' from the home supporters at the full-time whistle as the players headed for the tunnel.

It was difficult to argue with as the 10-men of Peterborough grabbed a fully deserved point with former Bristol Rovers striker Jonson Clarke-Harris rubbing salt in the wound on a dismal performance.

While the showing on the pitch was far from good enough, especially when the manager said in the week that some players have six games left to play for their futures, it was the comments after the game from the manager that raised the eyebrows.

Pearson spoke like a man who knows he is under pressure, highlighting the task of the job at hand, referencing his own future and describing the club as "passive" in an interview with BBC Radio Bristol at the full-time whistle.

Who he is referring to in particular will be a lot clearer in his own mind but to suggest the "club is strange in that regard" because of the passiveness certainly raises the question as to what his thoughts are behind the scenes.

Here's the verdict from a difficult afternoon at Ashton Gate.

Nigel Pearson's future
In the final 25 minutes of the match, Pearson barely left his technical area as he watched his side struggle to break down a Peterborough side who have conceded 82 goals this season.

Assistant Curtis Fleming was as animated as ever, bellowing instructions to his side from the touchline but the fact that the manager remained rooted may have been telling in itself - although it's easy to read too much into these situations sometimes.

Fast forward an hour, and Pearson appeared to be questioning his own future in his post-match press conference when addressing the issue of the task at hand in the summer.

As already mentioned in the quotes on the website, he said: "We’ve got five games left and the players that are here can either be here next year, or not.

"That goes for me as well, if I’m not here, whoever comes in has got the same problem and that is getting players to play."

That's actually the second time Pearson has referenced his own future after a game with the first coming away at Swansea following a 3-1 defeat after Andi Weimann had put the visitors ahead.

Back in February, he said: "We might have to make changes because people like me lose my job through results. We’ve got players in our squad at the moment that have got until now and the end of the season to prove whether they’re good enough to be here next year whether I’m the manager or anybody else."

Only now, it feels a lot more real.

Pearson came across as a man who had run out of patience with his players, fed up with the inconsistencies that have hampered City's progress all season. Add to the fact that he has no money to spend in the summer with the huge task at hand of shaking up the squad and he may be asking himself the question: Is it really worth it?

Even in his interview with the club after the game, he was obviously very frustrated but his demeanour could have suggested that he is just waiting for the season to be over.

It will also be the second summer in a row where Pearson will have no money to spend unless he sells the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Alex Scott. Again, that poses the question as to whether that is something Pearson would be willing to put up with for another year.

On a week where season ticket sales went on sale, City's form that includes one win in eight and the lack of investment to sign new players, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence that they will be flying off the shelves.

What is refreshing about Pearson, is he'll never shy away from telling it how it is. But on the flip side of that, how will that approach sit with the powers that be who have to make the final decisions?

It's going to be a huge summer, there's no doubt about that and the decisions have to be spot on when it comes to recruitment otherwise City will undoubtedly find themselves in big trouble next season.

One dimensional and poor in possession
It's been a reoccurring theme in recent weeks, Pearson admitting how his side have been far from good enough with the ball at their feet.

Against Bournemouth last week, the hosts had 77% possession at one stage - not totally unsurprising given the quality of Scott Parker's side. He mentioned after the game how they were wasteful when they did get on the ball, giving it back to the Cherries.
Although today was a completely different test against a side on a one-way ticket to League One, it was another contest where City seemed to struggle to put together a string of passes and dominating the play - particularly against a team with 10-men.

They ended the match with 53% possession having made a total of 412 passes with a passing success rate of 76%. Peterborough on the other hand made 377 passes in total with a 72% passing success rate - despite playing the final 30 minutes with 10-men.

In reality, City could have conceded three or four in the first half with Peterborough breaking through the lines of play.

Pearson switched it up at half-time taking off Robbie Cundy for Zak Vyner and moving Alex Scott into his favoured position in the middle in an attempt, presumably, to be more authoritative in the contest by putting an extra man in the middle of the park.

Although he was not willing to go into detail on why he made the tweak at half-time, Pearson was adamant that yesterday's result had nothing to do with tactics.

He said: "We gave it away for fun whether in a three at the back or four at the back Tactics have got nothing to do with today, they’ve scored a goal where they’ve launched the ball into the box, we don’t get the first header and we don’t clear it. Nothing to do with tactics."

He's correct to a certain extent and City's attacking threat is very evident when playing a side who they can hit on the counter and use the running of Andi Weimann and Semenyo.

Against a side who don't have that quality and City struggle to find a Plan B to break them down - that was clearly on show against Peterborough.

The Robins had 19 shots in total but just two on target. When they need to find a moment of ingenuity and a different approach to hit the target they seem to lack inspiration.

Whether that comes down to the quality of the players on the pitch or not, the tactics must be called into question when enduring a run of form that includes one win in eight games.

Alex Scott off the boil?
The fact that this is being mentioned is more of a testament to Alex Scott's ability and form rather than an overriding criticism to his recent performances.

But you can't shy away from the fact that the wonderkid has been off the boil in the last month or so.

There was a period around the beginning of February where Scott was consistently outstanding when the transfer rumours of Premier League scouts and interest from the likes of Leicester and Everton were in full swing.

However, since the defeat at Nottingham Forest five games ago, Scott hasn't been able to have the same impact on his side as shown previously.

He lasted 58 minutes against Blackburn, albeit was walking a tightrope with a yellow card, and followed that up with a disappointing 39-minute cameo against Barnsley when he was forced off with an injury to his ankle ruling him out of England duty during the international break.

Scott then missed the draw with West Brom returning to play Bournemouth but again, struggled to get himself into the game in the flat midfield three.

Pearson opted to stick him at right wing-back yesterday where his positioning was found wanting on numerous occasions when Peterborough got in behind down his side. It may also have contributed to why Cundy struggled so badly in that opening 45 minutes.

He moved into the middle in the second half but when City needed those moments of quality in possession to spark their attack, Scott couldn't provide that even though he certainly has the potential to make a difference.

There could be numerous factors as to why his form has dipped in the last month or so. The fact that he has made 30 starts as a 18-year-old in a relentless league is one, speculation over his future is another or perhaps he is still feeling the after-effects of his recent injury. Perhaps it's also a combination of the weight of expectancy on his shoulders.

it just goes to show how heavily reliant City have been on the performances of Scott this season. When he doesn't have his finest game, it appears to reflect on the rest of his team-mates.

As the old cliche goes, class is permanent and form is temporary but City and Pearson, in particular, will need Scott to be back to his best for crucial final five games of the season which could determine his manager's future.

Aiming for Atkinson
If there is one positive to take from that performance, it was the consistent performance of the centre-back who is starting to endear himself to the fanbase at Ashton Gate.

It was two in two for the £1.6million summer signing from Oxford as he thumped home another terrific header from Jay Dasilva's cross - providing a rare moment of quality in a drab contest between "two poor sides" as Nigel Pearson put it.

Injuries have hampered Atkinson's progress in a City shirt this season but with five games remaining, we are starting to see the real threats that the centre-back has in his locker.

Rewind to last week and his goal at Bournemouth when he leapt highest to head in an opener and threaten to cause a real upset on the south coast.

It was clear in this game particularly, that City have a game plan to specifically aim for Atkinson from their set-pieces and it's proving effective with the player causing havoc in the opposition box.

Early on in the contest, an Alex Scott corner from the right aimed for Atkinson at the back post in which he was unlucky not to get on the end of. Moments later, there was a replica as the corner met the head of the big man only to see his header blocked by a Peterborough defender.

It was third time lucky in the 43rd minute when City decided to go short to Dasilva. Atkinson took a step away from his marker and delivered the finish out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

After the game, Pearson highlighted Atkinson's threat as one of few positives by saying: "I thought he played okay as well today, pretty solid. A good goal. Two in two, good strike rate for a centreback."

Much has been made of City's attack this season as one of the shining lights, although yesterday was extremely wasteful in front of goal, Atkinson's threat in the opposition box is another welcome string to City's bow.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-verdict-nigel-pearson-6931088

 

The evidence is there for all to see, we have reached the bottom of the pit, we've all chewed over countless times how we've got here, it's pointless rehashing LJ,MA, DH or what NP inherited, we have arrived with current conditions at the point of no return, relegation fodder next season.

Decisions have to be made and determined now, I notice we don't hear a sound from the owners, Jon Lansdown is as useless and dull as ditchwater, Gould made an early promise on some financial support and then disappears, we are all aware of the financial situation and miracles don't just happen, the performance of our team is lamentable, the manager is ultimately responsible for the team and performance but in fairness circumstances of the last 2 years have been crucial in our downfall.

If the decision to keep Nige in situ then complete support should be now be given to him to clear out, sack, remove the culprits, players who lack the skill levels, the lazy sods who hide away, the sick notes and some funding be made available for investment, if not sack the bloke and we can all share the despair of deja vu.

 

Surely a lot of those stats were made when the team was playing at a lower level? that is not a realistic comparison.

 

Extremely expensive.