I know there are reasons for it, but......

[lake district canary 4,875]

.....that was really poor.

Bristol City did very little to win that match, defensive covering was poor, giving the ball away so many times it's verging on the ridiculous. All BC had to do was just be organised and their win was assured. 

So much dithering on the ball, running into trouble, bad passing, lack of awareness, poor decision making. 

I just hope the international break actually helps us reboot, because that was an awful second half. 

Edited November 9, 2024 by lake district canary

[cambridgeshire canary 7,912]

The most interesting thing for me is that Bristol have almost as many players out injured as we do yet they still managed to outplay us and beat us without breaking a sweat.

[S_81 1,134]

All teams have injuries. Bristol had plenty today. I’m really concerned about four core things:

1) the current ability or readiness of the squad depth. 
2) the effort being shown by those on the pitch. 
3) the manager’s inability to change the style of play to better work for the players at his disposal. 
4) some of his selection and substitution decisions based on what’s happening in plain sight. 
 

this team doesn’t look like winning again any time soon 

[Virtual reality 862]

It’s absolutely baffling we’ve no competition for Sargent given his injury record and how we struggled without him last season, 

Edited November 9, 2024 by Virtual reality

[Creedence Clearwater Couto 1,700]

Clearly there’s mitigation, but not many could’ve predicted this at last international break, post Hull. 

An absolutely dreadful, confidence sapping, block of winless games, against very average opposition - bar Boro the rest could easily be the bottom 5. 

The Championship is a funny old League. Time to regroup, and go again. I can’t see us winning without Sargent on the pitch though.

[The Great Drinkell 51]

11 minutes ago, S_81 said:

All teams have injuries. Bristol had plenty today. I’m really concerned about four core things:

1) the current ability or readiness of the squad depth. 
2) the effort being shown by those on the pitch. 
3) the manager’s inability to change the style of play to better work for the players at his disposal. 
4) some of his selection and substitution decisions based on what’s happening in plain sight. 
 

this team doesn’t look like winning again any time soon 

Point number 3 is the big worry, you can't play a "system" without the correct type or quality of players. 

Hopefully this international break has come at the right time for us? 

[Graham Paddons Beard 2,876]

Is there a match thread ? 

[S_81 1,134]

Just now, The Great Drinkell said:

Point number 3 is the big worry, you can't play a "system" without the correct type or quality of players. 

Hopefully this international break has come at the right time for us? 

And yet he persists. Watching us being pressed whilst struggling to get up the pitch when playing out from the back - only to then concede possession right by our box - is so infuriating. 
 

And so easy for the opposition. Just get in our faces and we crumble. 

[Jim Smith 2,641]

25 minutes ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

The most interesting thing for me is that Bristol have almost as many players out injured as we do yet they still managed to outplay us and beat us without breaking a sweat.

The key really with us though is where the injuries are. We have 4 of our most important 5 players out. We don’t have adequate (or any) cover for 2 of them amd the other two are the absolute key to our system and how we play. It’s really f**ked us at a point where we should have been kicking on. 
 

We can’t play differently as we have no pace or physical presence up front to go more direct.

The issues with the squad are masked when everyone is fit. We have a top 6 side. We get away with Crnac on the wing flitting in and out of the game because there is a lot of quality around him. Take that quality out and the other issues are magnified.

I quite rate Knapper but it has to be said he’s messed up with the lack of pace and striker cover in the squad. 

 

 

[Worthy Nigelton 1,329]

We look nothing like a Norwich team. We look like we've bought anyone over 6ft who is available without checking if they can run or play to me. Sainz aside, where is the guile, the invention, the intricate play? Where's the Hoolahan, Huckerby, Crook, Buendia? The small mercurial players who get you off your seat? The low centre of gravity, the pace, the change of direction, the pass nobody sees? These lot are big and crap.

[hogesar 10,935]

Double up on Sainz and our summer signings are the easiest to defend against in the entire league.

[Petriix 3,248]

That was the most tactically inept performance since Dean Smith left. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Bristol City spent most of the game defending from the halfway line but we never looked like getting in behind them.

Marcondes came short every single time and Sainz was hugging the touchline. There was no desire to attack their box, no running off the shoulder. Where on earth is a goal supposed to come from? 

Regardless of injuries, it shouldn't be that difficult to work out how to play against a team who try to box us in. We were totally devoid of ideas. 

[Worthy Nigelton 1,329]

1 minute ago, Petriix said:

That was the most tactically inept performance since Dean Smith left. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Bristol City spent most of the game defending from the halfway line but we never looked like getting in behind them.

Marcondes came short every single time and Sainz was hugging the touchline. There was no desire to attack their box, no running off the shoulder. Where on earth is a goal supposed to come from? 

Regardless of injuries, it shouldn't be that difficult to work out how to play against a team who try to box us in. We were totally devoid of ideas. 

The players can't run. There's no pace and no ability to cover ground. Absolute basics of a footballer and these lot can't do it.

[Cowboy 261]

14 minutes ago, Jim Smith said:

...

I quite rate Knapper but it has to be said he’s messed up with the lack of pace and striker cover in the squad.

I don't really know how you can 'quite rate' Knapper on the evidence of his incomings so far. Sure, he's done well with a couple of sales figures, but the quality (and suitability and attributes and balance and value!) coming in for this manager's apparent requirements looks WAY off to me. Time will tell.

[Jim Smith 2,641]

7 minutes ago, Petriix said:

That was the most tactically inept performance since Dean Smith left. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Bristol City spent most of the game defending from the halfway line but we never looked like getting in behind them.

Marcondes came short every single time and Sainz was hugging the touchline. There was no desire to attack their box, no running off the shoulder. Where on earth is a goal supposed to come from? 

Regardless of injuries, it shouldn't be that difficult to work out how to play against a team who try to box us in. We were totally devoid of ideas. 

There is not a single player in the first team squad who can run in behind or stretch them up front. That is the issue. Im not really sure what the coach can do other than perhaps chuck someone in from the U21s if there is anyone there will a hint of pace. The squad is totally deficient in attacking and wide areas in terms of pace, running in behind or physicality. Given that Barnes was injured and Sargent has a history of injuries it really beggars belief we did not bring another forward in. 

[Jim Smith 2,641]

1 minute ago, Cowboy said:

I don't really know how you can 'quite rate' Knapper on the evidence of his incomings so far. Sure, he's done well with a couple of sales figures, but the quality (and suitability and attributes and balance and value!) coming in for this manager's apparent requirements looks WAY off to me. Time will tell.

I think he’s appointed a very good coach. I like the way he quietly goes about things. I think Cordoba and Doyle are good signings, Marcondes and Slimane are decent enough and Crnac and Schwartau will end up in time being very good. That’s the stuff I rate.

Trying to get away with no cover for Sarg though is a huge error, as is the Long contract and Gordon looks a poor loan signing at this stage. 

 

[Michael Starr 583]

I think Gordon was brought in (maybe 3rd or 4th choice on the list) last minute to offer us a bit more pace up front, but unfortunately he's really raw right now and looks out of his depth. Therefore, we have no attack minded impact sub available on the bench right now. We aren't able to change games.

[Robert Ketts Yellow Army 38]

Has throw-up lost the dressing room already? 

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,832]

13 minutes ago, Michael Starr said:

I think Gordon was brought in (maybe 3rd or 4th choice on the list) last minute to offer us a bit more pace up front, but unfortunately he's really raw right now and looks out of his depth. Therefore, we have no attack minded impact sub available on the bench right now. We aren't able to change games.

He's another Marcus Edwards or Patrick Roberts. 

Will probably go on to have a decent career but for us, at this precise time, it's totally wrong and as you say looks way out of his depth. 

We'd have been better off dragging someone up from L1. Maybe Jade-Jones from Posh. 

Edited November 9, 2024 by GodlyOtsemobor

[ghoul 13]

There was a moment late in the second half when Long gave the ball to Cordoba in our box.  He didn't know what to do.  You've got the whole pitch ahead of you, and the rest of your team are out there..  do something!  

Invariably we would just pass it around our back line as if we dared try and play forwards, BC would press, win the ball or force a mistake, then they are right on us again.  They were more than happy to let us keep the ball and pass it around because there was no danger of us doing anything with it.

It's all well and good playing the tactics to draw the opposition onto us to create space elsewhere to exploit, but this team today would draw the opposition in, then lose the ball to them and immediately we're under pressure.  

So many lightweights in that midfield today too (Sainz excepted).  I hope there is some promise in them to develop, because from what I was seeing, they continually crumble under pressure.  I don't see what Slimane offers at all.  Sorensen, Schwartau and Marcondez way below required standard. And Crnac looks a very strange bit of business currently.. I've lumped him in with our midfield, because a striker he is not.

6 games ago we were rising stars, full of potential, with a proud unbeaten home record.  That's all now gone, and we look relegation fodder. 

[Mason 47 1,994]

I'll probably get pelters for this, perhaps I shall deserve that.

I feel like there are a lot of voices very happy to use terms like 'patience' and 'give them time to learn' whilst we were winning. Very easy to- very humbly, of course- say how very early it is into this project whilst we are beating Hull 4-0.

Seems all along, our signings have been crap, Knapper's clueless, Thorup doesn't know what he's doing and we might get relegated. Thank god the obvious truth has been revealed.

Edited November 9, 2024 by Mason 47

[Capt. Pants 5,145]

Next level pathetic.

You can't blame injuries IF Brizzle had as many as we did.

Get a grip Thorup. We need a proper centre forward!!

 

[daly 553]

Manager out of his depth

We could still be playing and not score 

[duke63 755]

Man City without just one important player, Rodri, and the best manager in the world may be about to lose their 4th game in a row. 

[Big Vince 430]

2 hours ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

The most interesting thing for me is that Bristol have almost as many players out injured as we do yet they still managed to outplay us and beat us without breaking a sweat.

Not a great advert for Napper leading us into the future then?

[Big Vince 430]

1 hour ago, Worthy Nigelton said:

The players can't run. There's no pace and no ability to cover ground. Absolute basics of a footballer and these lot can't do it.

So what did we spend millions on Colney for?

Millwall have no such facility.

[Big Vince 430]

1 hour ago, hogesar said:

Double up on Sainz and our summer signings are the easiest to defend against in the entire league.

Delaware Capitalists taking us down in their first season then?

[Petriix 3,248]

38 minutes ago, Mason 47 said:

I'll probably get pelters for this, perhaps I shall deserve that.

I feel like there are a lot of voices very happy to use terms like 'patience' and 'give them time to learn' whilst we were winning. Very easy to-v ery humbly, of course- say how very early it is into this project whilst we are beating Hull 4-0.

Seems all along, our signings have been crap, Knapper's clueless, Thorup doesn't know what he's doing and we might get relegated. Thank god the obvious truth has been revealed.

I know I can be a bit schizophrenic in my views. I definitely called for patience originally and am now being pretty impatient. However, it's probably worth clarifying why that is rather than just looking at the apparent hypocrisy. 

I imagined needing time for things to click and for players to find their feet. I didn't for a second think we would be failing to do the very basics of forming a coherent defensive structure and putting in a professional workload. I also never would have considered it possible to keep making the same mistakes week after week.

Sticking with a keeper who makes two howlers for every one save. Always being a man short in defensive transitions. Never seeming to address the obvious issues. These things make it hard to be patient. 

I'm still happier than most with Crnac. I'm just increasingly despondent that we didn't sign a proper CDM or another striker. 

[Mason 47 1,994]

7 minutes ago, Petriix said:

I know I can be a bit schizophrenic in my views. I definitely called for patience originally and am now being pretty impatient. However, it's probably worth clarifying why that is rather than just looking at the apparent hypocrisy. 

I imagined needing time for things to click and for players to find their feet. I didn't for a second think we would be failing to do the very basics of forming a coherent defensive structure and putting in a professional workload. I also never would have considered it possible to keep making the same mistakes week after week.

Sticking with a keeper who makes two howlers for every one save. Always being a man short in defensive transitions. Never seeming to address the obvious issues. These things make it hard to be patient. 

I'm still happier than most with Crnac. I'm just increasingly despondent that we didn't sign a proper CDM or another striker. 

All reasonable. I myself was one of the most vocal critics for last Saturday (for which I now feel unfortunately vindicated) and today was dreadful, criticism is not unwarranted.

However, as a rough guide, Riddesholm said in an early interview that it's viewed as a 3 year plan. If it happens sooner, great, but the general outline is a few years. Players like Schwartau, Crnac were brought in (I believe) with next year and beyond in mind, which seemed to have been well understood by most until we hit a rough patch. Now we need 'instant results' and our recruitment is a disgrace. 

Pep just lost 4 games in a row for the first time in his career, and they've only lost Rodri. What would happen if you take out Foden, Haaland, Kovacic and Bernardo Silva as well? We're clearly out of form, and confidence, and have quite a few starters at the moment who have less than 900 Championship minutes on the clock. I think it would be a miracle if there wasn't a drop off.

I want to make it clear, I don't agree with it as an excuse. A lot of things happening right now mimic my biggest criticisms of Wagner and I'd be remiss not to level the same at Thorup too. Just seems to me that now is the time for all that patience people waxed lyrical about, but it's suddenly in short supply.

Maybe I'm just in a grump

[Big Vince 430]

7 minutes ago, Mason 47 said:

All reasonable. I myself was one of the most vocal critics for last Saturday (for which I now feel unfortunately vindicated) and today was dreadful, criticism is not unwarranted.

However, as a rough guide, Riddesholm said in an early interview that it's viewed as a 3 year plan. If it happens sooner, great, but the general outline is a few years. Players like Schwartau, Crnac were brought in (I believe) with next year and beyond in mind, which seemed to have been well understood by most until we hit a rough patch. Now we need 'instant results' and our recruitment is a disgrace. 

Pep just lost 4 games in a row for the first time in his career, and they've only lost Rodri. What would happen if you take out Foden, Haaland, Kovacic and Bernardo Silva as well? We're clearly out of form, and confidence, and have quite a few starters at the moment who have less than 900 Championship minutes on the clock. I think it would be a miracle if there wasn't a drop off.

I want to make it clear, I don't agree with it as an excuse. A lot of things happening right now mimic my biggest criticisms of Wagner and I'd be remiss not to level the same at Thorup too. Just seems to me that now is the time for all that patience people waxed lyrical about, but it's suddenly in short supply.

Maybe I'm just in a grump

There needs to be a scapegoat now. Any scapegoat.