BRISTOL BOY’S Ratings & reviews

Grapple Mac Crash Leaves City In Lumber On The Humber

Hull City 0 v 0 Bristol City

By Bristol Boy

Down To Ten, Not Again!!

The referee should have displayed far more common sense... however, so should Jamie McAllister and his departure ruined what should have been a three-point comeback at the KC Stadium. Seventeen yellows this season and last are turning him into a liability. Liam Fontaine works hard, but is no left back and it's Watford on Saturday.

City, with David Noble restored to the starting line up once again (why wasn't he Saturday?) proved what a positive effect he has on the entire team, who remembered how to pass when he was on the field and forgot as soon as he left.

I know we were down to ten men against a Hull team that had won their last three games, but a ten yard pass is a ten yard pass, just the same.

City dominated the first half and demoralised Hull with crisp possesion football that still lacked a cutting edge. Perhaps it would have if we'd have played the second half with eleven men, and this was two points dropped after McAllister's departure. When you've lost your last three games and haven't scored, you don't need to go down to ten with one up top, whilst losing your key player.

Why Noble was withdrawn, I don't know, but it's getting habitual when others who are less effective and performing less well are not.

GJ rang the changes with both the formation and personnel. Out went the ineffective Trundle & Byfield and in game the equallly ineffective Showunmi, who worked his socks off without ever looking like scoring. In came Sproule for Wilson who must be wondering what he has to do to stay in the squad never mind the team. Orr & McAllister returned for concussion victim Cole Skuse with Liam Fontaine returning to cente back and Jamie McCombe to the bench.

.The point was hard fought although I thought Hull were poor. The major downside was another suspension for McAllister. Another game without a goal means 360 goaless minutes of football, but let's hope that the trot of results is over. The goals, or lack of them, is the major worry.

The performance was far better and the first half looked much more like a Johnson team. Let's hope it's 4-4-1-1 at Watford and we can keep eleven men on the field - A win would be handy and wouldn't a goal or two from our strikers be a real bonus with seven games still left until we can strengthen in January!

City lined up 4-4-1-1

Basso

Orr Fontaine Carey McCallister

Sproule Johnson Elliot Mc Cindoe

Noble

Showumni

Subs (used)
Byfield
McCombe
Murray

Not used:
Weale
Trundle

RATINGS

BASSO: 7/10 Clean sheet and a confident display of handling.

ORR: 7/10 Defended well and got forward on occassions in the first half. The passing radar was off in the second period. The annoying habit of trying to shadow the ball out saw him caught out at Norwich and it nearly happend again last night - Careful Brad!

MCALLISTER: 5/10 Part of an excellent display for 44 minutes before two moments of madness saw him receieve two yellows. That's seven this season and seventeen so far including last season. That habit could see GJ looking for a replacement left back in January as he's becoming a liability. I'm convinced that he cost us two points last night and what could that mean at the end of the season? Marked down one point for each yellow.

FONTAINE: 7/10 Brave display of defending particularly after moving to left back.

CAREY: 8/10 Back to his best with a display of defending and leadership.

SPROULE: 6/10 Looked lively & worked hard but only one run looked like heralding end product.

ELLIOTT: 7/10 Hard working display throughout and passed better in a first half.

JOHNSON: 7/10 Once again, partnering Noble & Elliott seems to bring out the best in Lee and he worked his socks off and passed well, particularly in an outstanding first half.

MCINDOE: 7/10 All action performance, but we need more end product and goals.

NOBLE: 7/10 Withdrawn, wrongly IMHO, to facilitate the extra defender. Simply put,the catlyst behind a vastly inmproved display in the first half that City dominated. Must start whenever he's fit and we must sign a replacement for when he isn't. He makes that much difference, yet another who needs more end product.

SHOWUNMI: 6/10 Worked hard and looked fit - No threat though, and that's the worry.

SUBS

BYFIELD: 6/10 Could have won it from Carey's pass at the end but was brought down trying to check back on his right foot when a more direct left foot shot would have been the better option. Looks a good impact player and whether the ball was insode the box or not, it was still a foul!!

MCCOMBE: 6/10 Defended well at centre back in the second half but the distribution was poor at times.

MURRAY: 6/10 Typical lively cameo

Byfield of Dreams As E'nochs One In!!

Watford 1 v 2 Bristol City

By Bristol Boy

As he entered the arena, I turned to Mrs BB and said "Byfield's likely to get one, he's a cracking impact player!" I wish I'd had a bet on that, a bit like the one the Mrs had on the big show netting the first at 10/1!!

It was no more than we deserved after a first half display that must have demoralised a Watford side short on confidence after recent defeats.

This was no smash and grab raid, and the millions watching on TV must think we have a chance of greater things as a memorable week for the club, starting with the announcement of new facilities, was followed by a barnstorming display in front of almost 17,000 people, including a vociferous away following that erupted after Byfield's winner.

Sticking to the same formation that saw City outpass and outplay Hull before McAllister's departure, Johnson saw City start brightly with the pacey Sproule terrorising Watford down the right flank. A touch more confidence, a better touch, possibly luck, would have seen the Irishman give City a two goal lead before half time, although Watford's power play gave City a few scares at the other end and City's redoubtable back four with McCombe restored in place of the suspended McAllister, had to be at it's best, ably supported by marvellous Marvin Elliott and the busy Lee Johnson who must wish his old man would put Noble's name on the team sheet every week. Those three, well supported by McIndoe retained the ball and launched attacks, and it's no coincidence that Johnson's best perforamces have come when "surrounded by" Noble & Elliott.

Fontaine's clever run out of defence and cultured left foot cross, deep to the far post, saw Showunmi's powerful downward header beat Poom after Watford, no doubt with Adie Boothroyds words ringing in ther ears after a first half to forget, pressed City with increased urgency and renewed vigour, without the necessary guile to break down a well marshalled defensive unit that kept it's shape against an aerial assault which took both quality and bravery to resist.

Watford's equaliser from a quickly taken corner, saw City nod off with fatal results as a deflected header beat Basso from close range.

At that point, with Watfords soporific crowd awakened, I feared the worst, although Trundle's introduction for Noble had given City fresh impetus in the final third and Skuse had added some extra steel to our midfield against physical opponents.

Byfield's arrival, for the exhausted Showunmi, was another positive substitution and Johnson, was rewarded for his tactical nouse and bravery with a fantastic late winner as Trundle escaped down the left and delivered an excellent outswinging cross that Poom could only fist away to Skuse who cooly crossed for Byfield to smash the ball into the ground and up into the roof of the net, sending City's travelling faithfull into raptures.

Given the problems that Tuesday night's visitors caused us only two or three weeks ago at Portman Rd, I sincerely hope that GJ keeps the same starting line up, especially in defence where we'll need Fontaine to be at his defensive best to blunt Walters, whose domination of McAllister saw him score a hat-trick in that six goal rout. Some points to prove against a side who still haven't won away and who's superb home run of twelve consequetive win was ended on Saturday by Barnsley.

Let's hope AG is filled to the rafters to see City gain revenge and it's one of those occassions when passion & pride must be present, yet tempered with a cool head that ensures quality will shine through.

See you there!!

City lined up 4-4-1-1

Basso

Orr Fontaine Carey McCallister

Sproule Johnson Elliot Mc Cindoe

Noble

Showumni

RATINGS

BASSO: 8/10 Strong overall display, behind a hard working defence.

ORR: 7/10 Sound defensive performance and used the ball well on most occassions.

CAREY: 8/10 Assured display against quality opponents.

MCCOMBE: 7/10 His best game for a while against a real handful in Henderson. Physical tussle saw both players booked and Henderson withdrawn.

FONTAINE: 8/10 Out of position, but didn't look it picking out a brilliant cross for Showunmi's goal.

ELLIOTT: 7/10 It gets almost boring to talk about his workrate and all action game, but that's what your guaranteed on most weeks. Helped dominate Watford's midfield, who were bypassed on most occassions with Boothroyd's hoofball tactics.

JOHNSON: 7/10 Some of the usual good & bad and from Lee. Wasted one or two free kicks in the second half, but part of a dominant midield triumvirate with Elliott & Noble that furstrated and strangled Watford's efforts, particularly in the first half.

SPROULE: 7/10 Lively first half and should have scored twice. Faded from the game in the second.

MCINDOE: 7/10 Involved throughout and another hard working display that just lacked a final ball or a goal.

NOBLE: 7/10 The catalyst, once again, for a super performance of passing.

SHOWUNMI: 7/10 Nice to see the gentle & genuine giant on the scoressheet and hit the post after a bruising physical battle with Shittu who for once, seemed to come out worst. Worked hard and his hold up play, flicks and movement was better.

SUBS:

Used

BYFIELD: 7/10 What an impact! Had he not been robbed of an obvious penalty at Hull, he could have given us six points in almost as many minutes on the field. He and Murray must be two of the best impact players in this division.

TRUNDLE: 7/10 Possibly his best display for City, Scunthorpe aside, although a cameo, he showed what his is capable of with some excellent passing, crossing and hold up play.

SKUSE: 7/10 Superb chase forward and cross and a hard working midfield display in an alien position after replacing Sproule.

Not Used:

Weale & Vasko

Basso Factor Stalls The Tractor

Bristol City 2 v 0 Ipswich Town

By Bristol Boy

Talking about character, desire and attitude becomes almost boring, but as someone who's seen our club lack just that over many
seasons, I'll bang on about it for a lot longer- no apologies!

After bettering Ipswich in attacking terms in an entertaining first half, City had to defend for their lives in the second, although Ipswich couldn't relax completely against a side that ran themselves into the ground against a team that had given them a humiliating football lesson just a few weeks back and who threatened to do it again at times at a windswept Ashton Gate.

In front of a highly disappointing crowd of only 14,000, City started brightly with Sproule & McIndoe taking the game to the opposition, who always threatened a goal, but amazingly, couldn't break through a City defence that played for their lives in front of the inspired Basso, who's making me think that there's more to Religion than I might have thought. If this guy isn't capped by Brazil, then someone's not paying attention in Rio! Time & again the swarthy Latino leapt like a salmon and showed the bravery of a tiger in keeping the skillfull East Anglians at bay.

City suffered an early reverse at Portman Rd and Elliott repaid Ipswich in kind with a fierce low drive inside Alexander's right-hand post. Bradley Orr's gallop forward onto Sproule's pass was checked by a Bruce handball and the defender grasped the opportunity... not to mention the ball and put the Ciderheads two nil up in City's first half.

McCombe & Carey had their hands full against the powerful Lee & Walters, effectively prompted by the stylish Garvan in midfield. Liam
Fontaine effectively checked City's torturer-in-chief, Walters, and when they were bypassed Orr, Elliott & Johnson threw themselves into the fray and still found time, along with McIndoe, to launch atacks against a Ipswich defence that hasn't tasted victory on its travels.

With Counago introduced, Ipswich redoubled their efforts, but GJ reacted by introducing quality from our bench as this game of two
halves ebbed & flowed in cup-tie fashion as City hung on to all three points that see them a point behind second place after twenty games as Christmas beckons

With 2,800 travelling fans heading to Plymouth, I hope that the players can repeat that effort after running themselves into the turf.

City lined up 4-4-1-1

Basso

Orr McCombe Carey Fontaine

Sproule Johnson Elliot Mc Cindoe

Noble

Showumni

RATINGS

BASSO: 9/10 Another clean sheet and another confident display of handling. Is it churlish to ask for better kicking?

ORR: 8/10 Defended well and tried to get the ball down and play out from the back when others hoofed it. Tucked the pen away well and
earned it with a storming run past the ball. Let's have more of that Bradders!

MCCOMBE: 7/10 The odd moment of indecision, but demonstrated the bravery we needed in putting his body on the line

FONTAINE: 7/10 Brave display of defending particularly when not in his preffered position. Dealt with the powerful Walters, who scored a hat trick against us in November.

CAREY: 8/10 Last ditch tackles and one or two brilliant ones. A leader amongst many.

SPROULE: 6/10 Looked lively, looked a threat & worked hard, but the end product needs to arrive soon.

ELLIOTT: 7/10 Hard-working display without dominating and there was a touch of panic on occassions in the second period. Cracking goal, but even he looked exhausted at the end of a pulsating encounter.

JOHNSON: 6/10 Surrendered possesion on too many occassions and wasteful with most of our set pieces. Kept going well and doesn't
give up, but the retention & delivery wasn't as good as of late.

MCINDOE: 7/10 Another all action performance and the goals must come soon.

NOBLE: 6/10 Strong first half, but faded in the second

SHOWUNMI: 7/10 Rivaled Elliott with his workrate and the hold up play & touch was better.

SUBS

BYFIELD: 6/10 Cameo appearance and looked lively.

SKUSE: 7/10 I would have liked to see him introduced at least fifteen if not twenty minutes earlier. Added much need strength to midfield.

TRUNDLE: 7/10 Some better hold up play although he's still too easily moved off the ball at times.

Timar's Shank Cancels Out E'Banks.

Plymouth 1 v 1 City - Match review and ratings

By Bristol Boy

News of an 11.00am pitch imspection, with coaches stopped on the motorway, couldn't dampen the spirits of almost 3,000 Ciderheads who contributed fully (when don't they?) to a pulsating Derby at Home Park.

In a game where both keepers excelled, a draw was a fair result as City came out firing, no doubt with a Johnson salvo ringing in their ears, after a first half that had promised much in terms of possession but delivered little in terms of end product, save Ivan Sproule's run and shot that Larrieu did well to beat away and a shocking miss by Lee Johnson, only matched by Marvin Elliott's "conversion" of a chance in the second period, with City playing towards a sell-out away following in a season's best 16,500 crowd.

With Sproule in lively form, City started brightly and Plymouth's debateable penalty came against the run of play. It was one of those that probably gets given on 50% of occassions if you're the home team.

City's retention & passing was good in the first twenty minutes and several corners (13) flowed, but our lack of a prolific striker looked like causing only our fifth defeat of the season until Timar's outrageous attempt at clearing McIndoe's cross flew over the hapless Larrieu's head.

It was no more than City deserved as they dominated the second half with Trundle replacing the largely ineffective Noble, and the Scouser went close on two occassions with a powerful drive and some clever close control, perhaps signalling a start against Cardiff?

The late introduction of Byfield for the hard working Showunmi mirrored our substitutions at Watford, but he couldn't come up with a winner that City's play may just have warranted with Skuse seeing a powerful left foot drive blocked and Basso called into action as Argyle threatened to snatch the winner on the break.

It was an excellent game in poor conditions, which actually added to the excitement.

Thirty points after twenty-one games is no fluke. A couple of quality additions in January, good luck with injuries & suspensions and a fit & firing Steve Brooker, could take us in sight of the promised land.

Roll on Cardiff and another "cup final"!

City lined up 4-4-1-1

Basso

Orr McCombe Carey Fontaine

Sproule Johnson Elliot Mc Cindoe

Noble

Showumni

RATINGS

BASSO: 9/10 Terrific display of keeping & kicking.

ORR: 7/10 Defended well and tried to get the ball down and play out from the back. The odd foray forward in another sound display.

MCCOMBE: 7/10 Some awkward movements against smaller, pacy & skillfull opponents, but kept going.

FONTAINE: 7/10 Strong display at left back and some decent distribution at times.

CAREY: 8/10 Powerful display and drove the team forward.

SPROULE: 6/10 Looked lively in the first half but faded out of the game largely in the second period apart from bringing a quality block from Larrieu.

ELLIOTT: 6/10 Hard working display and in the wars. Missed a great chance. Passing needs to improve and more breaks forward would add threat although that's difficult when partnering LJ.

JOHNSON: 6/10 Another curates egg of a performance with some effectve midfield play coupled with some moments of missed opportunity and poorly delivered free kicks, McIndoe taking over late on.

MCINDOE: 7/10 Hard working perormance, but not enough end product in terms of shots & crosses. Improved & more effective after half
time.

NOBLE: 5/10 Not at his best and replaced at the interval.

SHOWUNMI: 6/10 Hard work & endeavour but lacking quality & goals.

SUBS

BYFIELD: 6/10 Not able to effect the game after another late introduction.

SKUSE: 6/10 Left foot drive that would have hit the net if not charged down by a brave defender

TRUNDLE: 7/10 Affected the game and played a full part in taking City up a gear or two. Almost scored on two occassions, held the ball up and linked play when running into the left channel.

5, 6, 7... 8, 9, 10... Johnson Orders Same Again

By Bristol Boy

A personal review of the latest batch of ten games and current City-related issues.

STAT ATTACK

P10 W5 D2 L3 F11 A13 PTS 17 = 57%... Over A Season: 79 Points

Away

P5 W2 D2 L1 F6 A9 Pts 8 = 53%

Home

P5 W3 D0 L2 F5 A4 Pts 9 = 60%

Yellow Card Tightrope

Fontaine: 4
McAllister: 7
Carey: 3
Byfield: 3

So, after twenty-one games we sit proudly fourth, having beaten Watford and drawn with the best team I’ve seen this season in WBA. Playing them on Boxing Day at The Hawthorns is a sumptuous prospect in a season full of them.

What’s new? The expectation level & confidence that Johnson's marauders have created that - even after one unlucky defeat by Charlton and two dire performances against Leicester & Ipswich - has seen City come storming back to take eight points from the last four games, three of which have been away - and no game, never mind an away game, is easy in the CCC!

It all started on a sunny day at Norwich, when we could easily have been out of the game as debutant, John Hartson, caused City all the problems in the world - apart from the one thing that the out of form East Anglians needed: a goal. Cue some hairdryer treatment from Johnson at half time, and City came out and passed Norwich off the park in a one-sided second half. Even so, our lack of a truly prolific striker saw City need two late strikes from super subs Lee Trundle & Scott Murray to seal the points after Bradley Orr’s error had let Darren Huckerby in for an equaliser that was undeserved on the balance of the second period.

Next up, Southampton at The Gate, and in a game with only two efforts on target and one corner, a brilliant Sproule run & strike coupled with Byfield's close range finish saw City two ahead at half time. City survived a second half battering to take all three points. A few days later and marvellous Marvin Elliott, who must surely have the Young Player of The Season award in his trophy cabinet, thundered home a thirty-yarder against Tony Pulis’s Stoke, with our former manager (still hurts to say it) getting a “warm Bristolian welcome!” More goals should have followed as City deservedly beat their route one opponents and their binary manager.

A sell-out away following at a packed Molineux watched their heroes go a goal behind in a game that spoke volumes for our character and taught Gary Johnson a valuable lesson about public speaking! I kept my promise albeit in a Tesco’s Extra at 2.00 am - we’re still waiting for you, Gary!

Buoyed by that 1-1 draw, City tackled pre-season favourites Charlton the following Tuesday and with City’s strike force quiet, Chris Iwulemo snatched a winner in the dying minutes, making that seven points dropped at AG this season in added time. Two points to highlight there, lack of goals from strikers and the concentration needed for the entire 90 or even 94 minutes - and we might just be getting the hang of that as Darren Byfield's strike proved at Vicarage Rd in another televised victory.

valuable lesson about public speaking! I kept my promise albeit in a Tesco’s Extra at 2.00 am - we’re still waiting for you, Gary!

No back flips or mass suicide
I don’t often do back flips when we win and I wasn’t going to start a campaign for GJ’s sacking or a mass suicide when a six-goal reverse at Portman Rd followed. We were dire and a clearly shell-shocked Johnson summed it up brilliantly when saying “Everything they were, we weren’t”

After a break, we weren’t much better against Leicester, losing two-nil - leaving us with three defeats, no points, no goals and nine conceded as the doom merchants lost faith, happy clappies fell strangely silent and the media speculated about the bubble bursting.

At that point, and it happens to every manager at every level, it’s about belief & being strong. Johnson lived up to a growing reputation by halting the slide at Hull with a 0-0 draw that would surely have been a win had Jamie McAllister stayed on the field.

Enoch Showunmi scored his first goal of the season as City out-passed Boothroyd's powerful & direct Watford side. That, coupled with Byfield's brilliantly taken 94^th winner from the hard working Cole Skuse’s cross after good work from Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe, gave City a sparkling and very deserved victory that few predicted at Vicarage Rd.

Driving towards the top
Being fourth after three games, or even five games, can be a fluke. Being fourth after twenty one simply can’t be and I’ll scream if I hear anyone talk about avoiding relegation after thirty-five points have been gained. Those points must be a platform for a drive towards the top of the league. If we fall short then we’re in the play offs and they’re a lottery. Setting low standards and performance levels assures one thing - you’ll hit low standards, succeed or fail.

We have a chairman who has kept his promise about investing IF we’re in The Championship and this week's announcement about a new ground encapsulated the new found spirit & belief in South Bristol. The announcement about the training facilities impressed me just as much and all bodes well for a bright future. If we are promoted he won’t embark on a Risdale-like gamble even if that means being a yoyo club until stability is established.

Some people have talked about promotion being a bad thing or even a disaster - Nonsense!

Our chairman is up for it
The January transfer window must be exploited either with long-term loans and/or quality signings. If Brooker’s fit & firing, I would like to see at least one striker and an attacking midfield play-maker who scores goals. They won’t be cheap and, unless we get really lucky we won’t buy much sub £750k that will improve OUR TEAM, not THE SQUAD, because anyone we sign should, if fit and on form, be an automatic first choice. Our Chairman, I am certain is up for it and no reasonable GJ request will be refused, that clear is the bond of trust between the two men, even after some disappointment surrounding the form of Sproule & Trundle who are improving of late.

So why aren’t more people turning up at Ashton Gate? Something that’s obviously concerned GJ and, I would suggest Colin Sexstone, who was subjected to some right stick for a decision he didn’t make!

Dave Lloyd has asked for suggestions and, no doubt will receive many. However the evidence, albeit largely anecdotal, is there for all to see on OTIB and by just observing the resulting attendances.

Make watching City easy
It’s very simple - It’s not about one thing, however, there are things that can be done. It’s very expensive for the game's lifeblood and traditional fan base and the situation will persist if we think we can charge £30 POD for the best seat in the Dolman, then we’re having a laugh or deluded. The strategic decision is this, “Do we want 14,000 City fans at about £25 a head or another 2/3,000 at an average of £19/20?.

£38pcm buys you all the sport and certainly all the football you could ever want at about £2 a game and on a cold January evening there are those who can easily decide to keep £30 in their pocket or, looked at another way, about a month's subscription!

Fair pricing & keeping those who have supported this club through thin & thin involved is key to our future as is attracting their children, and that won’t happen if mum & dad can’t afford to come.

Make watching City easy. Take away the booking charges, POD/advance differential, Postage costs & 0871 phone-line.

City fans receiving three year bans and/or £1,000 fines for the heinous crime of standing up and shouting at Ipswich will, in my view, quite rightly feel disenfranchised or excluded by the modern game.

Listen to the fans about subjects like safe standing. I don’t want to and won’t, but thousands nationwide do and it won’t go away AND, wouldn’t it increase capacity and lower prices?

In brief, listen to your customers and charge what the market will stand. The fact that a club in London charge more isn’t relative, because it’s not those fans we’re trying to attract/bring back.

RATINGS:

This block of ten games: Minimum of five appearances

CAREY: 7.5

FONTAINE: 7.3

BASSO: 7.2

MCINDOE: 7.1

ELLIOTT: 7

MCALLISTER: 6.5

NOBLE: 6.3

JOHNSON: 6.3

TRUNDLE: 6.3

ORR: 6.2

SPROULE: 6.2

MCCOMBE: 6

BYFIELD: 6

SHOWUNMI: 6

As a combination of those awarded in the R&R they seem low, but please note there are three defeats and a hammering in there.

Appearances as sub or starter

RATINGS (SEASON) - Qualification 14 Games

BASSO: 8.5

CAREY: 7.6

FONTAINE: 7.6

BYFIELD: 7.4

ELLIOTT: 7

ORR: 7

MCALLISTER: 7

MCINDOE: 6.7

SPROULE: 6.6

JOHNSON: 6.4