So it was said the season would be reviewed after 10 games. Perhaps this latest display at Brighton epitomises City this season. Hard working, little attacking flair, gutsy defending and more team spirit. If they had 2-3 better players in key areas - centre back, central midfield and number 9, then City may turn these 1-0 leads into a comfortable 3 points. Manga has to come in for Morrison, again at fault for a goal. Jones has slipped back into his own little comfort zone; he has to be replaced if he's not going to give 100% all the time. Ralls is hard working but not dynamic enough; an attacking and creative central midfielder is essential. Whittingham plays too deep. He needs to be up the field and getting 2-3 shots off each game. He is wasted being so deep. If Mr Tan can come up with some realistic cash and Slade buys well then who knows, we may have an outside chance of top 6 but in my opinion, as it stands, we'll be top 10 at best as it stands..
I was at Brighton on saturday, (what a lovely stadium and a very well supported club, we were in the North stand with their supporters, had some good banter) Whitts played well but to deep, we were under the cosh for most of the match, however Brighton did not have a finisher and Zamora looked very slow when he came on. We were lacking in midfiled, Dikachoi had an off day and gave the ball away very cheaply, which was disappointing as we didnt have much of it, Ralls also looked a little off the pace. We need a Nolan type of player in the middle of the park. Joe took his goal well and we could have knicked it at the end but that would have been a travesty. Personally i think we are a shoe in for a top six spot, but we need to be a bit more adventurous away from home. Great day out though.
Had City down for a loss on Saturday and in all honesty it should have been. Gutsy stuff earned a point but Brighton are to blame as much as anything for not killing us stone dead overall on the 90. If we go through the rest of the season playing like that then we will be more than just safe - anything more will depend on something different from the last two performances against Charlton and Brighton. Maybe no need for a massive shake up but something extra is required from those we've already got or some new imports to make it happen. I've liked Morro in the past but he is showing weaknesses in his game that need to be addressed. Up front we don't seem to scare opposition enough despite the presence of Jones.
First team to get a point at Brighton this season. Away from home we look capable of getting a result anywhere. I wouldn't say we're gong away to batter anyone, but our hard working side will win/draw it's fair share on the road. The points you make about more quality and KWJ putting a shift in will be more of a problem at home and I agree in part. I do not think Ralls is an issue at all. I think Manga is as likely to be at fault as Morrison in plenty of cases but he's a quality player and I wouldn't be too upset to see him brought back in. I think we've got a chance of top 6, but we'd need quality reinforcements to threaten the very top end of the table. We'll need a bit more to get through the playoffs if we do scrape in anyway. January will be interesting. If we're in contention, it'll be time for Tan to back his man.
Stevo - we are certainly in with a chance of a top six finish even with the squad we have right now, but that's as much to do with the lack of quality in this division this season as anything else. We're currently in 8th at this early stage and at the moment I can't see us finishing any higher than that given the way we're playing. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it's not good enough to seriously challenge those teams with quality above us unless you think that the "Rorkes Drift" effort on Saturday is going to do it in the future. We'd also need some of the 7 teams above at present to start failing on a regular basis given that we seem to fail quite often ourselves. Also some clubs currently below us like Wolves, QPR and Ipswich aren't going to give up on the prize. This side either needs an import quality boost or a good kick up the arse. They say that a pat on the back is worth 10 kicks up the arse but I'm not so sure about that.
I am firmly of the view that with the introduction of some players with some quality, and who would want to really be part of a club and not just see it as a meal ticket (talking here primarily of loan players), could turn a potential top 6 team into a likely top 6 team.
doing much better than our supporters expected..........well done slade and the boys on the pitch shows how much us fking fans know hey
Agreed aber - 8th right now is much, much better than I expected. If we stay there or thereabouts, Slade will have done a good job. Top 6 and a shot at the playoffs would be the icing on the cake from what many including me expected - a few tweaks with maybe a quality game changer or two brought in in January could make it a reality rather than a hope.
not only you sparkey but nearly all city fans(including myself) didn't see any plus points coming this season.............the icing on the cake would be top six but needs 2 invest in the current squad but im not sure with the crowds like they are he can afford 2 take a chance.....lets hope im wrong and he backs the manager and gets him the quality needed for the final push after chrimbo(the business end of the season). we can but live in hope lads
We have Preston next and recent history shows us that Preston enjoy nabbing a goal or two against us . To be honest, I'd happily take a draw against Preston and Boro and then smash 7 shades out of those bar stewards across the bridge!!
Don't fret guys...you have us soon so that will increase both your points tally AND your goals scored tally!
don't put yourself down cider red.........we aint no great shakes ourselves.......but I must say I do hope your right . I used 2 love the seven side derby....always entertaining......especially our victory walk back 2 temple meads station after the final wurzle.....oops sorry whistle <wink>
I have seen nothing this season from my lot to inspire me. The management must have been deluded to think a league 1 squad, ok we run away with it but it's still L1, would stand up to the championship. We are currently second best to every ball and unless Cott's gets a few points on board soon the head hunters will be about. Anyway, nice to see all my old muckers on here happy for a change...it was all doom and gloom at the start!
We live in hope CCR but the fat lady is always waiting in the wings exercising her tonsils. I'm sure our looming clash will liven things up a little.
I am not in love with sport at the moment Blue....my lot are dyer, and the "World cup champions elect" team in white are, er, 'kin dyer!
Caldicot - that's either a Bristolian spelling for dire or a reference to the handbag snatcher at Swansea............... This is a poor division this season and to be at the bottom of the pile at the moment can all change. Long way to go yet pal.
Still reeling from that Parkin inspired romp! We should expect this workman like City to get past Preston this time mind. Interesting to see Russel actual admit that we played poorly at Brighton and somehow got the point. Last season he would have been praising a defensive masterclass from Morrison. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34435723
And both derby games are to be bubbles: - http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/...iff-citys-severnside-derbies-bristol-10223845 Later in the article it says the away Birmingham game the week before Christmas is to be changed to the Friday night. Another away trip bolloxed!!!!
The spooling priblem is down too my Caldicot edjucation i fink........... Still, a couple of loans in today for a few months should help us. Don't know much about the Norwich lad, but Cox from Reading alongside our french lad could be interesting. We could score 3 goals a game and let in 4 now!
Plus the Forest game home has been moved from an afternoon to an evening. Not a big fan of evening games, especially in the winter.
