Glowing report by Tony Mowbray for Nigel Pearson and Bristol City- Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray reveals the positive change Nigel Pearson has made at Bristol City The Robins manager has only lost two of his previous 14 games against his experienced counterpart Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray was full of admiration for the way Nigel Pearson has progressed his youthful side and admitted their counter-attacking qualities stifled them from playing their own game. Neither manager could argue with a point at full-time as two in-form sides cancelled each other out on the pitch. City were in control of the contest when Jack Clarke fired the hosts ahead with Sunderland's first strike on target on the hour mark. However, City's persistence and resilience were finally rewarded in stoppage time when Nahki Wells converted from the spot after Jay Dasilva was bundled to the ground. It was no less than the visitors deserved which maintained their unbeaten record in 2023. It also stretched Pearson's impressive record over his experienced counterpart. Mowbray, 59, has come up trumps against the City boss in just two of the last 14 meetings between the pair. With Sam Bell playing through the middle, Sunderland sat deep to prevent the striker from exploiting space in behind and limit City from playing to their strengths on the break. It was a tactic Mowbray adopted as a sign of respect for the way he views Pearson's side. Speaking after the game, he said: "I think we played against a decent team. I think we played against a young, athletic and mobile team which we knew. "It was their 11th game unbeaten so we knew it was going to be tough. We looked as if we had the opportunities that could have led to a second goal. "We had a 15-minute period when we were in and around their goal but it didn't come and ultimately we got sucker-punched towards the end with the penalty. "We have to say, well done to them. They dug in. They're a young, athletic team and they got a point. Good luck to them. I think both teams looked pretty young, and pretty athletic at times today. I could feel their threat. "We've been watching them and we tried to organise our team to stop their counter-attacks. A lot of their goals and the points they pick up is when they nick it in midfield and break very quickly with athleticism which we tried to stop and it took a little bit away from our forward momentum when you try to protect against a team that plays counter-attack football. "If you just go overly cavalier then you find yourself 2-0 down because of the way they play so we tried to protect it and it took a bit of sting away from what we generally try to do. When Jack whacked that one in, I thought we'd get over the line." The average age of City's starting line-up was 24 and such is the strength in depth going forward, Pearson could turn to experienced heads from the substitute bench in Andi Weimann, Harry Cornick and Nahki Wells to offer a different test for Sunderland to deal with. "What he's done with his young team, is he's given them some belief and confidence," Mowbray added. "He's taken some experienced players out of the team - his bench was full of experienced players today and it's full of young lads in the starting line-up.
The positives in Vyners game outweighs his mistakes IMO.......... equals decent player!! With your analysis, there are a few players that struggle with the basics.......
Also, the reason Vyner is ‘caught out’ to use your words, is because he was trying to cover the massive gap left by the James and Williams who were right on the edge of the Sunderland box. I think Tanner was a bit too easily turned as well watching it back, it was very easy for the Sunderland boy to make the space and get his shot off.
Sometimes you need to understand your own clue/s before trying to address it .. Clues...... If a player gets the ball and takes it up field then another player should cover for him! If a player gets the ball and stays in his zone but tries a pass forward but goes to opposition .... ostracised Player gets ball and boots up field but stays in his zone .... gets ostracised Player stays in his zone but under pressure so to run forward with ball is safe... but tries a back pass which results in a negative scenario .... gets ostracised In a normal game may do all of these things and results are a positive ... but every action doesnt get a pat on the back ...... !
'Also, the reason Vyner is ‘caught out’ to use your words, is because he was trying to cover the massive gap left by the James and Williams who were right on the edge of the Sunderland box' Supcon - Williams and James were arguably in their 'areas'. Vyner, as I've told you in 2 previous matches keeps drifting left. Ffs he's a right sided defender, this time he surpasses his stupidity as there's no reason on Earth he's LEFT side 65yards from our goal. 'I think Tanner was a bit too easily turned as well watching it back, it was very easy for the Sunderland boy to make the space and get his shot off' You've obviously never been in that situation. When a decent attacker is running at you it's very difficult to 'run him down the line'. That is UNLESS you have you're mate inside you FORCING the winger down the line. You only chance is to work in tandem. Hope this helps.
From this point here. I would want the shape to get compact.That forces the receiving player outside. The shape dictates where the opponent goes, wider and onto his weaker (?) foot. The player scored from the area where the teams shape didn't deny the opponent space to drive into.
Who wouldn't ? It's easier said than done. This situation is completely down to 3 defenders in roughly correct positions because 1 of the 4 is been caught totally out of position.
Its a great finish, but Citys three were slow to react. No they are not in correct positions. They are not compact, or in positions where they can get into the defensive D's of depth, deny, dictate or delay. Vyner leaving the back four to engage the player in possession is not the worst. Vyner engaging the possession is a defending principle, he attempts to delay (D) the attack - City still have numerical advantage to affect what happened. Vyner goes, they go compact, they didn't. Defending principle could not be applied.
They were doing heir best to rectify a problem caused by Vyner. Defensive D's are fine in a manual but are much harder to effect on grass. The game is so quick, I reiterate they did their best but no doubt in my mind who caused Sunderland's goal. I disagree, 65yards LEFT side is 'the worst', it's not just 'leaving the back 4', it's following a ball throwing our defensive shape out of the window. At the breakdown there were 7 City shirts in the picture PLUS Vyner making the 8th. Madness. Totally unnecessary for him to be so far from his 3 other defenders who make up the back 4. Messrs Tanner, Kalas and Pring would tell anyone to shove that Defensive D where the sun doesn't shine.
So, you’re saying there is no need for our defenders to try and fill a gap left by the 3 midfielders who were all way up the field, only 5-10 yards outside the opposition’s box, and just let them run at will towards our goal? Utter rubbish RP, if that had been Kalas, Atkinson, Naismith you wouldn’t be criticising them, as you haven’t all season, despite 2 of them making some horrific howlers that have cost us points. I sense Vyner is your new vodoo doll since LJ left
SUPCON.. some people need a whipping post, others go to gym and hammer the stuffing out of a punch bag... others just need something to be totally negative about... me ! well I bury myself into something factual or current, I call it the wider picture!!!...!
Drop when outnumbered. The team was out of shape. The midfield was. City still had the opponents outnumbered. Vyner can advance to apply pressure on the ball. His defensive team mates then should respond and get compact.
Cover of players advancing is basics.......unless it's Vyner........whatever happens it's his fault.....thanks RP
Vyner advancing to try to plug a gap in midfield is fine, Tanner should have shown the forward on to the outside, especially as the forward was right footed and always looking to go onto his stronger foot. It was still a very good shot and Vyner very nearly blocked it. If you noticed whenever he got the ball after we always forced him to his left.
