Lee Johnson: Brighton defeat proves how busy we will be at Bristol City during the transfer window Lee Johnson insists Bristol City must act decisively in the January transfer window if they are to mount a sustained challenge for the end-of-season play-offs. Although the Robins have made a decent enough start to their Championship campaign and are currently eighth in the table after 16 games, Saturday's 2-0 defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Brighton served as a wake-up call. The in-form Seagulls demonstrated the gap that still exists between City and the very best sides in the Championship and, after watching his side lose to Newcastle, Norwich and Brighton, Johnson admits he must continue the process of strengthening a squad that was bolstered by 14 new arrivals last summer. There are seven weeks remaining before the transfer window reopens and Johnson and chief operating officer Mark Ashton know they have to improve their starting eleven if City are to establish themselves as serious promotion contenders. Johnson offered a brutally honest assessment of his team's performance following defeat to Brighton and admitted: "I see a few too many things that upset me when we play against the top teams. The players have to stand up to the challenge." He warned: "You have to give them the opportunity to do that, but if they don't take it, then they have to move on. It's the only way to do it. Either that, or they drop down the pecking order and someone else comes in above them. "That sounds a bit negative, but it's the process of an evolving football club and this is why I've said we need three transfer windows really. "We used this game as a marker and, clearly, there is still business to be done if we are to match the top couple of teams. In all honesty, I think we have a little bit of work to do and need a couple more players in before we get to that level." Having spent best part of the previous two months in and around the play-off positions, City have dropped to eighth in the table following a defeat that served to highlight deficiencies within the team. Johnson has now had long enough to assess his squad and identify those players who are up to the task of mounting a promotion challenge. Having seen his side comfortably beaten by a Brighton side that is now unbeaten in ten games and standing second only to Newcastle in the Championship table, City's head coach knows exactly what is required before the Robins can advance to the next level. He said: "I think knocked back down to earth is a good way of describing it. When it's on national TV like that, it hurts. We've been convincingly beaten by structure, match savvy, physical power and being weak and conceding a couple of poor goals. "I told the lads they have to stand up, because they were competing against a top team. It is not good enough, when we are a goal down, having so many getting fives and sixes out of ten when we need sevens and eights. "I've no doubt Brighton will be promoted, but we still have a bit of business to do. There are at least three spots to go for in the play-offs and we have to keep going and bounce back if we are going to give ourselves the best chance. "We have to find a formula and we keep having to get better. It is a process and it should not be result based. We have to grow, whether that is through nurturing our own or by bringing players in who can compete in games like that." http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/lee-jo...nsfer-window/story-29872681-detail/story.html
I think this last sentence says it all.. "We have to find a formula and we keep having to get better. It is a process and it should not be result based. We have to grow, whether that is through nurturing our own or by bringing players in who can compete in games like that."
Getting the players to work more off the ball would be a start. I only managed to watch the second half on Saturday but for me the obvious difference between the teams were when we had the ball we crept slowly up to their box, allowing them to put their ***s out before walking back and packing the defence - and then we pussied around, with our players mooching around closely accompanied by their marker, whereas Brighton broke fiercely together, pulling our defenders apart. Sometimes it felt like I was watching England - with all its frustrations! That CAN be taught and I feel we have the raw material to learn. It's whether we have the time to get them doing it.
The writings on the wall. Blame the players, you silly boy, it wont help the dressing room. You need to look in the mirror.
If we are to make the top 6 this season, which personally I seriously doubt we are capable of, then City will have to make some serious signings in January. This will be Transfer Window 2 out of the 3 he talks about.
I think we all got carried away a little bit when we were in the Top 6. Lets all remember where we were this time last year. Amazing progress is being made both off the pitch and on the pitch. We have done well in the first transfer window, and have a young squad with huge potential.
We have the best midfield squad that I can recall in living memory- Its the 4 that start are often incorrect for me- I am not alone in feeling that Smith and O'Neill cannot play together. Paterson and Tomlin are starters with the others selected on formation and tactics for each game. The CM is too defensive and we are not quick enough in breaking. Brighton did it with speed that at times was terrifying. Right back is a priority, Matthews on loan and Little is not championship. There were and are often vast spaces for opposition to attack on that side of the pitch. We do need additional striker back up. Wilbs cannot keep doing it and Tammy will go back next year. Still not convinced about either of our GKs.
In a way, LJ is now a victim of City's early season success. Before the season started, I'd suggest that most fans would have expected a mid-table finish, so in that regard we're still ahead of expectations. However, in football, you can't guarantee success at any point, so you need to try and make the most of it when you find yourself in a good position, so it would be disappointing if we wasted what was looking like a great opportunity of making the playoffs. I usually defend the manager & the team in the wake of those who criticise based on a single poor result, but if you're 'unlucky' in dropping points in one game (which happens to all teams), then at some point you need to get results in games you wouldn't otherwise expect it to compensate. One win in six isn't good enough, and things need to improve somehow. Without delving into blaming individuals, I think we're conceding far too many goals. Most people seem more concerned with the other end of the pitch, but most successful teams are built on a solid defence.
It's a very tough league. Most of us knew it was never going to be a walk in the park and the early season league position was flattering. But the cracks there for all to see. Points thrown away at Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday, followed by more recently against Barnsley. Early season the likes of Villa, Leeds, Derby all struggled. Some managers have been sacked as a result of their teams not hitting the ground running. All appear to be turning the corner as have Preston. You wouldn't bet on us finishing above any of those first 3 teams come next May, notwithstanding Newcastle, Brighton, Norwich, Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday etc who will all probably finish above us too. I therefore still believe we're currently no better than being a mid-table team. Which is still progress compared to the struggles of last year IMHO.
Bristol City 16 .. 3 .. 6 .. 7 .. 17 .. 26 .. 2 .. 2 .. 4 .. 10 .. 15 .. 1 4 .. 3 .. 7 .. 11 . -9 ... 15pts this season ... won 7 drew 3 lost 6 ... ... goals for 23 against 19 and of course 24 pts the 17th game last season we drew then L L W L D D so at halfway we had 21 pts now that shows so far how much better we are than last year ..in front by 3 points and 7 to play! it is a bit unsettling for the players, ....................... coaching and encourage until the day they get told sorry ..we have decided to let you go BHA =9 Newcastle = 13 9 teams have conceded more 2 teams the same the rest less by a goal or 2 .. so par for the course ... however should we concede less then likely get better results ... catching a "goodteam" in a bad spell is something we have missed out on in some other seasons ..usually we lose against a team having a poor run and they go on to win the next halfdozen ..... 7 points from these 3 all will be top 8 by end of season
