Wake Up Everyone, This Is An Implosion - Notes for Bristol City Thursday, 29th Dec 2016 11:30 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Friday evening’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums. “How many hard luck stories before things change?”, “See what is in front of you. We are not playing well whatever anyone says. It is going wrong. We hoped we would carry on our good start but this is not that”, “The wheels aren’t off but are certainly wobbling”, “We are dropping like a lead weight.” “The team is frankly a mess.” Monday’s 3-2 reverse at Wolves was the Robins’ fourth straight defeat and their seventh loss in eight games. City’s 2-0 win over Ipswich at Ashton Gate earlier this month has been the only positive result interrupting this sequence. Alarm bells have now started to ring. “Why can’t we get this league right? We always seem to struggle”, “Let’s be honest, a one-goal loss at Molineux would not usually be a setting for wailing and gnashing of teeth. This is all about context and the previous two home defeats against Preston and Brentford were really sickening.” “Christ knows what we have to do to win”, “I’m as positive as one can be but I’m at breaking point now. The worrying thing is that I can’t see anything getting better until you-know-what happened to you-know-who”, “Fleetwood at home in the FA Cup could be a big, big match for Lee Johnson.” Lee Johnson“Most managers have a honeymoon period. That’s over now and we are seeing exactly what all the Barnsley fans told us about. Poor signings in the transfer market and most of these don’t get a game. It’s OK though, our manager will talk about us playing a good game in the post-match interviews.” “This team is a mess because there is too much tinkering.” The 35-year-old manager, who is also the son of former Robins’ boss Gary, has been consistently criticised for what now looks like a series of poor summer signings as well as a habit of changing line-ups, tactics and formations too frequently. “I don’t trust Lee to bring in the right players in January. His signings have been mediocre to say the least”, “If we keep dropping like this with the money spent, he will quite rightly feel the wrath of the fans like any other manager”, “He should be judged by results and by this form it should be severe.” “I understand why people are baying for his blood, but I don’t want us to be one of those clubs who continually sack managers”, “Lee is quality but may run out of time and luck. He needs to work out what is wrong and fix it quickly.” Many are hoping the former Barnsley boss can turn things around. “The bloke arrived in February. He is not even a year in charge and not even two transfer windows in, and in the one window he had we sold a £12 million striker. He has got the squad playing pretty much to its level. You have to be hard-nosed so-and-so to not even say he has performed competently.” Formations“Four months into the season and it’s not clear what our best line-up is”, “Four different line-ups, no wonder the players look confused. Johnson needs to work out a starting and finishing formation”, “It was clear the moment Tomlin came on against Brentford that he didn’t understand the formation.” “We are unable to convert pressure into goals, but we allow the opposition to convert no pressure all too easily into goals”, “It’s depressing. We lack any backbone and struggle to score or look fragile defending”, “A lot of our problems this season stem from the failure to replace Jonathan Kodjia.” FieldingMatthewsFlintMagnussonBryanBrownhillPackFreemanReidTomlinAbraham
Johnson’s starting XI at Wolves (above) kept faith with his favoured three in the middle and one up front shape. Bobby Reid has been criticised for his finishing but he operates closer to striker Tammy Abraham and despite his wonder goal against us, Luke Freeman’s inconsistency is still a concern. Although Lee Tomlin is widely seen as their more creative midfielder, he drifts deep when played in the centre leaving his striker isolated. Although not a natural winger he uses the space cleverly when stationed out wide, but he has also been criticised for not supporting his full-back when required. Adam Matthews has kept his place at right-back since returning to the side against us earlier this month, but Robins are more concerned about the defensive reliability of Joe Bryan. The left-back adds an attacking dimension but has been criticised for poor defending in the last three games. FieldingMatthewsFlintMagnussonGolbourneSmithPackFreemanTomlinWilbrahamAbraham
City’s line-up which defeated us (above) at Ashton Gate began with two strikers and was unchanged for their subsequent game, a 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield. Robins noted how the Terriers targeted their left flank, scoring when they found space on that side to swing in a cross to head home. “We are always too pedestrian and too easy to play against”, “In our last several games bar Ipswich, we have been slower getting the ball forward than our opponents.” One Preston fan at their recent win at Ashton Gate noted, “Pace is very important at Championship level and City had very little.” “Too many individuals are making too many errors.” This lack of tempo along with a lack of width and a habit of making costly errors have regularly been flagged up in match day discussions. “We lack so much focus in critical areas”, “Everything we concede is so painfully amateur and simple.” Wolves 3 — 2 Bristol City“The first home win for Wolves in three months”, “This has been the story of our season away from home, frustration after frustration”, “This is a joke. A Flint handball and a penalty. We must be the unluckiest side ever”, “We haven’t been unlucky. We have been terrible”, “We’re not good enough.” “Are we losing yet?”, “Yes”, “Set piece?”, “Yes.” Dave Edwards glanced home a header from a corner after just three minutes to put the hosts ahead but Abraham levelled on 38 after a being played in by a “sublime” ball from Tomlin. Aden Flint headed City 2-1 in front one minute before the interval. “A nice half-time score”, “Who would bet against a 3-2 to Wolves?” Helder Costa equalised for the West Midlanders with a volley on 57 minutes before Ivan Cavaleiro turned the game around with a late penalty for Wolves on 84 minutes after Flint was adjudged to have handled the ball. “The referee blows for the end of the game before we can force it in. It could only happen to us.” Many felt that salt was rubbed in their wounds at the death when a Marlon Pack header was cleared off the line with players feeling that the ball had crept over. “It’s hard being a City fan right now.” Bristol City 1 — 2 Preston“We are doomed, I tell thee”, “In isolation, that was a game where we have just been edged out and it’s easy to say we could have got something. The problem is that it has become the norm”, “Preston managed the game excellently. Frustrating to watch but effective, we could learn a thing or two.” “A goal down, having had all of the play.” Simon Makienok volleyed home the Lilywhites’ opener on 21 minutes against the run of play. Aaron Wilbraham equalised with a header on 78 for City only for North End’s Daniel Johnson to fire a winner in from a tight angle with five minutes left to play. “We started brightly and had them on the ropes but they scored out of nothing. Confidence visibly drained from our players and we returned to our habit of playing like statues with Tomlin dropping ever deeper”, “It was telling just how much Preston’s goal knocked the stuffing out of us.” Bristol City 0 — 1 Brentford“Another narrow loss in a game where we failed to take our chances”, “This is hardly now a blip”. “Frankly as disappointing a result we have had this season”, “It was a massive deflection for their goal but we need to put away our chances”, “Three shots on target from 18 tells its own story.” “What are the odds on a 1-0 defeat after missing these chances?” Maxime Colin won the game for the Bees when he deflected a Romaine Sawyers shot home on 68 minutes, it was the only goal in a game which had no lack of opportunities. “It’s the very small margins that are costing us.” FieldingMatthewsFlintMagnussonBryanPackSmithFreemanReidGolbourneAbraham
“Are we really playing one up front at home?”, “That formation doesn’t look great.” City returned to playing one striker after the side had lost at Huddersfield. Abraham’s poor finishing contributed to the defeat, but fans questioned playing two full-backs on the left and leaving Tomlin on the bench. Goalkeepers and Defenders“Frank Fielding may have good reflexes and be a good shot stopper. He may be good at one-on-ones and a good professional. He is not good in the air and doesn’t command his area. He doesn’t give his defence confidence, he is a poor communicator and is one of the worst keepers with his feet.”  “Fielding can’t kick with his right foot and everyone should have that pinned to their locker.” The 28-year-old ex-Ram “has a poor first touch, poor distribution and takes an eternity to make a decision”, “His best assets are his quick reactions but anything requiring a decision seems to be his weakness.” Ivan Lucic played when Fielding was sidelined with a rib injury picked up against the Bees. The 21-year-old arrived from Bayern Munich this summer. “He is very much aspiring to be the modern sweeper-keeper but, yes, heart-in-the-mouth a few times”, “He was OK but his kicking was iffy.” “Adam Matthews has positional sense that is really good and his interplay with Luke Freeman works really well.” The 24-year-old Sunderland loan signing was recalled at right-back against Town earlier this month and has kept his place even since. “You can see why he has played at a higher level.” “Matthews does put some good crosses in for Abraham, he is one of the only players who will try a cross”, “Freeman and him seem to work well together on our right with Matthews overlapping well”, “As dangerous as they are as a pair on the pitch, they can look vulnerable when we are countered.” “Joe Bryan will get Lee Johnson sacked, don’t get me started on him.” The 23-year-old youth product “allowed his man to turn and get in a cross against Preston, and we were a goal down”, “He gives us the positive threat on the overlap but he is simply not good enough to defend his wing on his own.” “I am concerned when Bryan is the defensive cover on our left. I don’t think he can play that position at this level”, “Each time I see him selected at left-back I get worried”, “He was caught in no man’s land for the cross which led to Wolves’ second goal and against Brentford he was seriously poor.” “Scott Golbourne is solid, dependable and a decent defender.” The 28-year-old ex-Wolves left-back “should be ahead of Bryan”, “He’s a very reliable defender but lacks the same attacking threat”, “A safe pair of hands and he may be a little underrated, just as Cole Skuse was when he played here.” “Give me Golbourne every day, an actual left-back who does the simple things right”, “He went for a world record number of Cruyff turns against Brentford with nobody running in front of him”, “Lee Johnson wants his wide players cutting inside and Bryan is a better fit if you want to play this way.” “I was really impressed with Hordur Magnusson in his first couple of months. A good centre-half who was composed on the ball and impressive with the speed with which he adapted to English football but he has struggled in the last six weeks. His positioning is awful and his decision-making is poor.” “Magnusson’s confidence on the ball looks lower every week.” The 23-year-old summer addition from Juventus “is technically better than Flint but he has been poor lately”, “He has more potential. He’s quicker, reads the game better, is more comfortable in possession and is cool under pressure.” Aden Flint“Flint has the movement of the stricken Bismarck.” The 6ft 5in 27-year-old former Swindon centre-half “may have reached the limits of his ability but he is the most reliable player we have and always gives his best”, “He is always having to clean up everyone’s mess and we struggle without him.”  “One should never underestimate the importance of a big, strong and above all determined centre-back, especially in this league”, “He’s essentially a ‘kick it and head it’ defender and has improved by keeping it simple”, “Tackles, heads, clears and plays the ball to better passers allowing them to play.” Central Midfielders“Gary O’Neil brings our tempo down to a snail’s pace.” Lee Johnson tweeted via the club on Boxing Day that the former Canary would “probably be out for seven to 14 days with a calf injury”. The 33-year-old’s “strengths are his tackling and keeping the ball moving but he has never relied on pace”.  “Josh Brownhill is mobile, neat in possession and reads the game very well. The lad has talent.” The 21-year-old summer arrival from Preston started at Molineux. “He helped us gain some good control in midfield although some of his shots from outside the box were high and wide. He played well.” “In every one of Korey Smith’s appearances this season he has been utterly anonymous and an out-and-out passenger.” The 25-year-old former Norwich and Oldham man “was the worst midfielder on the field against Brentford. He struggled, was outmuscled, created nothing and stopped very little.” “Smith is meant to be the midfield enforcer, the guy who does all the dirty work but he isn’t doing anything at the moment. Games are bypassing him”, “Granted Korey had a serious ankle injury and is having a poor season by his standards but I haven’t seen much to suggest he is good enough.” “Bobby Reid has never had the knack of scoring.” The 23-year-old youth product “isn’t a bad player but at this level he is just not effective enough in the role he plays”, “His work-rate is phenomenal. Not only does he do his midfield duties, but he’s the only midfielder who gets close to Abraham.” “Reid’s finishing is not good enough to play in the number 10 role”, “He has half of Tomlin’s ability”, “He only seems to have an influence on a game from the bench. He continues to be too inconsistent to warrant a starting place. It’s a shame because he’s too sporadic to warrant a starting place.” Marlon Pack“The only consistent midfielder we have is Pack. You don’t hear much of anyone else breaking up opposition attacks”, “Although Marlon plays deep, he is more of a quarter-back than an out-and-out holding midfielder”, “You won’t find a cooler head. He always wants the ball and gives little away.”  The 25-year-old one-time Cheltenham man “is similar to Cole Skuse and does a lot of tidy defensive work without being noticed”, “He lacks the athleticism of a box-to-box midfielder but makes himself available to receive passes”, “A player who goes about his job well but he needs pace around him.” Lee Tomlin“Tomlin is one of the best players I have seen at Ashton Gate. He is hugely entertaining and a star talent.” The 27-year-old former Bournemouth man “can pull rabbits out of hats and win games. We should be building the team around him in the number 10 role, not playing him out of position.”  “Even at the best of times, I don’t think building your team around a maverick is a good idea”, “We look good when we have Lee playing close to Abraham but he ends up dropping deeper and picking the ball up off the centre-backs when played centrally”, “He should play at the tip of a diamond.” The issue of where to play him is a recurring theme. “Tomlin is considered to be effective cutting in from the left, but he fell asleep at Huddersfield and gave their right-back a free run”, “He is our most creative player with a locker full of tricks who is capable of creating chaos in opposition defences.” Wide Midfielders“Callum O’Dowda looks in glimpses like the player we lack.” The 21-year-old left winger was signed this summer from Oxford and has been a bench option lately. “He’s fast, direct, has a good cross and he gives us genuine width. He looks confident in his ability, albeit quite naïve but he will improve.” Luke Freeman“Freeman is lightweight and will always struggle for consistency”, “He can stand back and not get involved”, “He will be anonymous, then link well with his right-back and create some of our best chances”, “His body language is shocking and when playing on the right, he always cuts inside.”  The 24-year-old former Stevenage man “is an embarrassment on the wing”, “Yes, he was a right embarrassment when he smashed that 25-yard volley in against Ipswich”, “Just because he scored one world class goal doesn’t make him a good player. He kills attacks and only uses his left foot.” Strikers“We can’t judge Gustav Engvall given his short amount of game time here.” The 20-year-old signing from IFK Goteborg “didn’t look out of place against Hull in the EFL Cup. A busy player with a good touch, he looks pacy and looks like he will stand no messing from the few minutes we have seen.” “Engvall will occupy and tire out defenders and he will work well with his touch in and around the penalty area”, “He certainly puts himself about and won’t give up on a 50/50 ball”, “His touch is his best asset, it is outstanding. He has a motor and won’t be booed because you can see his desire.” “Aaron Wilbraham always has given everything when he has pulled on the City shirt. He always leads from the front”, “The beautiful pensioner.” The 37-year-old former Palace man “is a hard man with the know-how, that little bit of something he leaves on a player”, “He isn’t too bad at the dark arts.”  “Whenever Wilbraham has played he has always been a total machine, scoring and holding the ball up excellently”, “He is still able to score crucial goals”, “The best free transfer signing this club has ever made, I have total respect for Aaron”, “The Ipswich game will suit him more this Christmas.” Tammy Abraham“As soon as Abraham’s form dried up, so did the results”, “A teenager in his first experience of first team football with massive pressure on him, he has been magnificent all things considered”, “He has been given a real introduction to the highs, lows and all in between of life in professional football.”  The 19-year-old Chelsea loan signing “has been wasteful lately and needs a break, but there isn’t anyone to replace him”, “He’s not physically strong enough yet to trouble big Championship centre-halves. He has height but not the strength and that makes a difference. His strength will improve.” “One of the impressive things about Abraham is that his attitude and desire have been brilliant since arriving. He keeps grafting and finding chances for himself. That’s the sign of a good player, he does not shy away”, “He checked and controlled the ball past the Wolves defender and finished in style.” Robins’ Reflections on our Recent Game at Ashton Gate“A 2-0 win at home. The warm comforting hot chocolate of football results. Unspectacular, satisfying and delightful”, “After 17,548 shots from outside the area, Freeman gets his screamer”, “That was a well-deserved win at last, so happy with that”, “Ipswich were truly awful.” “Ipswich were very, very poor, probably even worse than expected”, “I thought they were pretty awful, with very little spark and will only be heading down the table on that showing”, “They are pretty lightweight up front”, “A shame from their perspective that their front four were useless.” “It’s no wonder Ipswich have struggled getting goals with Douglas and Skuse as their midfield duo, good defensively but offer little going forward at all”, “I’m not Skuse’s greatest fan by any stretch, but a perfectly weighted through ball with his left foot created Ipswich’s best chance yesterday.” They kept a special eye on Cole Skuse throughout the afternoon. “He kept everything as simple as possible. He made several interceptions and then played an easy pass. I saw him misplace one pass all game. As other Robins pointed out, he put McGoldrick in with a good ball.” “Skuse did quite a tidy job yesterday I thought”, “He helped control a large part of the game for Ipswich and one of the reasons we had to go long a lot”, “He was quietly efficient and outmuscled Korey Smith on quite a few occasions before distributing the ball efficiently.” “Ipswich were pretty toothless was because their only decent forward player was McGoldrick”, “He would be a decent foil for Abraham. Strong and with good feet, he looked as good as he could with such poor service”, “He played well, but Lawrence will be glad that not many ITFC fans were there.” “Ipswich were comfortably the worst team I've seen at Ashton Gate this season. They seemed to be really lightweight up front and what amazed me most was that even at 2-0 down in the last 10 minutes there was no especial urgency from their team to attack us, very strange tactics.” “I thought that was bizarre too and I can’t imagine Mad Mick will be too happy about it. The only one who showed any urgency was McGoldrick. He was constantly going to get the ball and trying to get it back into play quickly. The rest looked like they had given up and just wanted to go home.” “As one of the two teams that held collections for us in 1982 when it looked like we were going out of business, I wish them the best for the rest of the season.” Robins’ Wider Views on ITFC and the Game“Don’t worry, Ipswich are up next and they are really poor”, “Ipswich will be a bit of an acid test. Not only have we recently beaten them but we got a point over there last season during a fallow period. Lose there and I would be worried our form is terminally poor”, “The one we can't afford to lose.” “We simply have to get something from this otherwise Johnson really is sinking in the hot water.” Robins are approaching the game with a mixture of hope and trepidation, confident of victory based on what they witnessed at Ashton Gate but equally fearful that their poor run will continue. “Ipswich were one of the poorest teams I've seen down here this season so we go there with some kind of chance of winning. I'm not confident and if pressed I'd predict a 2-1 defeat, but if we cut out the brainless errors at the back and actually start taking some chances we might just do it.” “Have you seen our record at Ipswich? We are heading straight in to a relegation battle”, “A clean sheet would be a start, we just need to stop this losing run”, “We haven't won at Portman Road since 1978”, “We will suffer another narrow defeat, we all know this will happen again.” “A friend of mine is an Ipswich fan and he is as downbeat as we are. Given the form tables I would hazard a guess that they see us as an opportunity for three points”, “I've spoken with my relatives in Ipswich. Their verdict is a dire spectacle between a pair of teams who are both out of form.” WebsitesThe busiest Bristol City message-board is the friendly and knowledgeable Bristol City Fans’ Forum.
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