BRISTOL BOY'S
MATCH RATINGS PART 2
Bluebirds Feel Uriah's Wrath As Thompson Takes An Early Bath
Bristol City 1 v 0 Cardiff City - Match review and ratings
By Bristol Boy
Another three points plus another ten years off old BB's life, as Gary Johnson's West Country heroes stormed… or perhaps stumbled would be a better adjective, into third place against a Cardiff team that never looked like a team reduced to ten men after Uriah Rennie's red card had sent Stephen Thompson to the Ashton Gate dressing rooms.
In a game that pulsated in front of a disappointing crowd of 15,700 without ever delivering enough quality in either final third, City ran out winners in an encounter that could have gone either way. Another Marvin Elliott goal from Lee Johnson's inswinging corner put City in front and heralded yet another heart-stopping finale with both Weale & Basso making fine saves to keep the three points. This season has seen us battered in the second half at Ashton Gate and perhaps that's what CCC football is all about?
Thompson's dismissal came after he'd been warned for clattering Carey, and his reckless challenge on Basso was as needless as it was dangerous. Our lack of a prolific striker was highlighted as first half chances went begging with first Sproule then Showunmi missing in front of The Bluebirds' packed away following.
Their admonishment of Trundle was however trumped with City's chant of "Just a Fat Eddie Murphy" that was directed at Hasslebaink.
Lee Trundle was introduced replacing David Noble who has disappointed of late, but whose introduction, too late in my view, was needed to try to retain the possession that City had needed to gain control in the second half - the switch to 4-4-2 once again saw City squander possession that increased the pressure on our defence and I hope that GJ re-introduces 4-4-1-1, as well as Noble, against Barnsley.
Simply put, all of our strikers seem to be more suited as impact players, although Showunmi & Byfield may be worth a try as a partnership and Brooker may be back on Boxing Day as a sub. Lee Johnson & Marvin Elliott are twenty percent better with that shape and Noble around and we look more threatening and in control with only one striker on the field.
Only two points shy of second place after twenty-two games would have been seen as a fantasy in August and what Johnson's team lacks in quality they make up for in the will to win, not withstanding sheer guts & determination.
This platform cannot be wasted and now is the time for City, or more accurately, its manager & chairman, to take a giant leap of faith and bring in the quality we need to push us on towards what might be automatic promotion. If those players are loans with what we would consider astronomic wages, so be it, because, make no mistake, it could be a long time before we're in this position again.
That should see four or five of our fringe players move on and Xmas will be an interesting time for players like Betsy, Keogh, Jevons & Russell.
City lined up 4-4-2:
BASSO
ORR McCOMBE CAREY FONTAINE
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
TRUNDLE SHOWUMNI
RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 (withdrawn) Confident display even after being clattered.
ORR: 6/10 Defended well, but not enough forages forward and the distribution wasn't great.
MCCOMBE: 7/10 Hard working display putting his body on the line, but the distribution was poor and their was too much desperation in our defending.
FONTAINE: 7/10 Strong display at left back and some decent distribution and attempts to support the attack at times.
CAREY: 7/10 Battled well and had to throw his body in the way more than once..
SPROULE: 7/10 Another lively display and looked a threat. Bad miss when he spooned a great opportunity over the bar. Industrious performance, but where's the end product?.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 Credited with the goal and a hard working display of box to box play without ever dominating the midfield for long periods against quality opponents.
JOHNSON: 7/10 Never hides but was as guilty as most when we lost control and started lumping the ball and put ourselves under pressure in the second period .
MCINDOE: 7/10 Hard working display and always involved, but another without great end product.
TRUNDLE (withdrawn): 6/10 Goal-line clearance was the high spot of his performance, coupled with a first half volley from Showunmi's knock down. Apart from that, another game to forget..
SHOWUNMI: 6/10 Saw two efforts blocked, one in each half and another hard working performance. Probably our best current bet as a lone striker.
SUBS
NOBLE: 6/10 One Or two quality moments after a start to forget and missed a great opportunity when he broke the offside trap
WEALE: 8/10 Two good saves including one right at the death and punched well, if a little too often
Revenge is Sweet & Tykes Are Not as Byfield Delivers A Barnsley Chop
Bistol City 3-2 Barnsley
Match report and ratings by Bristol Boy
But first an Xmas ditty:
Black Saturday's here, but don't be glum,
Steve's cut the prices and they've come!
Xmas Blues They Are Nowhere
Coz Ashton's Packed, Because We're There
Lansdown's Price Cuts Reduce The Slack
As Those Missing Fans Come Marching Back
In a game that was exciting for the neutral and so nail biting for the supporter (again) that even the most incompetent referee I've seen in ages couldn't spoil it, City "escaped" with all three points as Darren Byfield's close range finish sent a bumper Black Saturday crowd of almost 17,000 home delighted.
In yet another game that could have gone either way, City's never say die attitude once again saw us through against a niggly Barnsley team that did themselves a huge disservice by targeting Elliott and others with late challenges instead of playing the open attractive football of which they are clearly capable - football that consigned City to a three nil defeat at Oakwell.
The referee, who I've seen on numerous occasions and who has, without fail, been appalling on every one, lost control in the first five minutes and didn't regain it over the next 90+.He wasn't helped by Barnsley's bully boy tactics, which may have been borne out of recent failures away from home, yet were still inexcusable.
Back to the game and City sit proudly joint second after two close range finishes from Enoch Showunmi has seen City fight back from a cracking Macken drive and after a keystone cop routine from Basso and his defenders had gifted the Tykes their second. Both Barnsley goals were very avoidable with basic defending and GJ must have felt disappointed, yet relieved in the half time dressing room.
Without ever looking in command, even when the opposition were reduced to ten men for the second consecutive week, City, with our two strikers for once looking like a partnership, caused problems for another CCC team that looked good going forward but lacking at the back. City's torturer in chief at Oakwell, Brian Howard, was shackled effectively enough on most occasions by Johnson & Elliott and, with Lee Trundle having his best overall game when starting, City looked capable of opening up the opposition defence from the start.
The sending off of Campbell Ryce for a second yellow (diving) seemed to galvanise Barnsley as opposed to City and they caused our defence plenty of problems without ever bringing a quality save from Basso who, whilst not at his best, still had to be alert to deal with crosses from the numerous free kicks conceded.
Odejayi's introduction saw GJ replace the struggling McCombe, who had already been harshly yellow carded for a clumsy challenge, correctly replaced with McAllister who slotted in at left back with Fontaine switched to the centre. The ex Ashton Gate academy prospect looked powerful & mobile. A snip at £300k, who always gives City great difficulty with his robust and pacey performances.
Byfield's close range finish brought the bumper crowd to it's feet and it was almost expected when the 94th minute winner hit the net after another goalmouth scramble.
The best part of the game for me?
After the match I saw a mate of mine who doesn't attend regularly anymore. He'd love to however, both he and his son are on limted incomes and the pre-season price rise forced them to give up their ST's in The Dolman. Three points was a cracking Xmas present for them... like someone said... "It's A Wonderful Life!"
BASSO
ORR McCOMBE CAREY FONTAINE
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
TRUNDLE SHOWUMNI
City lined up 4-4-2:
Subs (used)
Byfield
Skuse
McAllister
Not used:
Weale
Noble
RATINGS
BASSO: 6/10 Looked all at sea for the second goal and some of his kicking was awful although his general handling was sound.
ORR: 6/10 Shoved off the ball in the run up to Barnsley's first and not his best game.
MCCOMBE: 6/10 Poor game overall. Didn't dominate and struggled against Odejayi before being correctly replaced.
FONTAINE: 7/10 Another sound display, only marred by a late booking.
CAREY: 7/10 Battled well & tried to launch some attacks without ever being as commanding as he can..
SPROULE: 5/10 One decent run & shot, but must be under pressure from Murray & Wilson for his place after an almost anonymous performance as he flatters to deceive. A liability in defence.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 After being used as a kicking bag in the first twenty minutes without being protected by an incompetent referee he battled back with some good ball winning and the odd surge forward.
JOHNSON: 7/10 Hard working display & some brighter moments without conceding possession as often as usual. .
MCINDOE: 7/10 Involved without adding huge end product. Worked hard and a constant outlet.
TRUNDLE: 7/10 His best display over ninety minutes and looked up for it without adding that vital goal. Saw a thunderous second haf shot charged down, moved and crossed well
SHOWUNMI: 8/10 Two goals that saw City fight back. Used his height & power well at times and was unlucky not to get a hat trick with a powerful shot from McIndoe's second half knock down. Not the most gifted technically and his first touch is a pass on occasions but the effort and work rate's there.
SUBS
SKUSE: 6/10 Cameo.
BYFIELD: 7/10 What is thankfully becoming a typical late introduction & goal.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Introduced to allow Fontaine's move to mark Odejayi and produced the odd quality moment.
Carey's Out & It's A Rout As Gary Heads To The January Sales
WBA 4-1 City - Match report and ratings
By Bristol Boy
Perhaps, no, not perhaps, this was definitely not the game to judge City's promotion credentials against a team that would compete in the lower echelons of the Premiership. This performance demonstrated that the gap between the top of the CCC and teams that have even struggled at the bottom of the Premiership is massive and the top, as we all know, is insurmountable.
City competed well in an even first half with Trundle & Elliott testing Dean Kiely and Johnson & Elliott competing well in the centre of midfield ably supported by the hard working Sproule & McIndoe on the flanks.
One could question taking on the league's best team in their own back yard with two strikers & two wingers however, that's GJ's way and with only five defeats all season, it's not easy to knock him.
McAllister's error in judgment after 47 minutes let Hoefkens in to tee up Bednar's opener and the floodgates threatened to open… then did so as City backed off Koren once too often allowing him to shoot unchallenged - the gulf in class was all too apparent before Kevin Phillips added two more as a rout of Ipswich proportions beckoned. Our lack of basic defensive organisation that has seen us concede six goals in our last two games is a concern.
That it didn't happen, owed as much to poor finishing as City's stoic defending and fighting spirit as West Brom passed through City's rearguard at will.
Clever balls between the centre backs & full backs exposed City's lack of pace & depth and although they never gave up, City's players must have been longing for the final whistle as some of our disheartened fans took the opportunity to exit The Hawthorns early to start the long journey home.
What hasn't changed is that we still have a platform that may not come again for ten years. Judging the players against WBA is a tad unfair however we should keep in mind that those same players couldn't even compete at the highest level when bolstered with the £20m of talent that exited the Baggies squad in pre-season.
A top six finish would mean the play offs and they, as we all know, are a lottery. Winning that lottery could see our heroes playing at Old Trafford in August 2008 - hold that thought and if you don't think that we must use this opportunity to strengthen our team (not the squad) then the upper echelons of the CCC may not be for you.
Today was a reality check. The reality is that WBA are a ton better than we are and also the vast majority of the other CCC teams, if not all of them. Burnley will be a more equitable test and the absence of our best defender in Liam Fontaine… possibly with our leader Louis Carey missing, will tell us much about the strength in depth at Ashton Gate. Turf Moor will be a stern test of both our quality & character.
GJ's got his work cut out… but then again, he knows that and I wouldn't bet against him turning things around.
Here's hoping!
BASSO
ORR McCOMBE FONTAINE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
TRUNDLE SHOWUMNI
Subs (used)
Byfield
Skuse
Noble
Not used:
Weale
Vasko
RATINGS
BASSO: 6/10 A real curate's egg with some excellent keeping and kicking interspersed with a rick or two, although behind that defence...
ORR: 5/10 Lucky not concede a penalty with an unnecessary first half handball and looked off the pace throughout.
MCCOMBE: 5/10 Tried hard, but lacked the quality needed.
FONTAINE: 7/10 One of few to look up to the job in hand although even he could have seen red on another day when he appeared to trip Bednar inside the box.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Early second half error started the rout and another who looked unconvincing.
SPROULE: 6/10 Looked lively, worked hard and set up City's best chance that Byfield shanked when it looked easier to score, albeit after the game was lost.
ELLIOTT: 8/10 Highly competitive performance and one of a few that didn't look out of place in the second half.
JOHNSON: 7/10 Hard working display, but couldn't live with the second half midfield passing & movement from West Brom.
MCINDOE: 6/10 Kept himself in the game and part of a good first half performance.
TRUNDLE: 7/10 Looked the part and competed well, just needs a goal
SHOWUNMI: 6/10 Lots of hard work but not enough quality and that was never better demonstrated than when he headed over at the end of the first half from the improving Trundle's excellent cross.
SUBS
SKUSE: 6/10 Did well enough after another late introduction.
BYFIELD: 6/10 Another goal and looked busy. Should have been awarded a penalty and that may have evened things up after Fontaine's earlier misdemeanor.
NOBLE: 6/10 Helped hold the ball up after the game was gone and looked bright.
There's No Doubting Tamas As City Stay Hungary For Success!!
Burnley 0-1 City - Match report and ratings
By Bristol Boy
As I hoped, City reverted to the tried & trusted 4-4-1-1 and it paid dividends at a sodden, blustery & dated Turf Moor.
On a difficult pitch, City contained the lively home side and passed their way through Burnley's defence on a few occasions early on, only to squander the opportunities with Byfield & Sproule the main culprits.
With defensive stalwarts Louis Carey & Liam Fontaine missing through injury & suspension respectively, it was always going to be difficult to cope with players of the quality of Akinbiyi & Blake up front, prompted from the flanks by the £2m-rated Lafferty and ex-Bournemouth star Wade Elliott on the right. Both sides were missing influential players and it was City's squad players who came out on top, leaving manager Gary Johnson with a selection headache ahead of the New Years Day clash with Coventry at Ashton Gate.
Basso was by far the busier of the keepers and Akinbiyi struck a post in each half as City battled hard in a game that was always likely to be settled by the odd goal. And so it proved as Trundle flicked on McIndoe's inswinging free kick from the right and "The White Rhino" touched the ball home deftly at the far post. In truth, I can't remember Kiraly making even a reasonable save apart from Orr & McCombe's early efforts, but another clean sheet that was, once again, as much about battling, as ability, saw City stride into third place with only goal difference separating us & Watford.
After a bright start, City became wasteful of possession and, even in victory, one has to examine the performances of our forwards & wide players. Hard work is fine, necessary and very laudable, but the main role of our strikers & wingers is to create or score goals and, for the second season, we are where we are in spite of our strikers and not because of them.
Our wide players look full of menace on occasions and give the team balance, but their input is far greater than their output at present and that needs to be examined. The lone striker role is better suited to Trundle, who appears to be hitting decent form and looks up for it, or Showunmi, although Brooker also looks a likely candidate.
In terms of the January window, surely we must see at least one striker, assuming Brooker's available soon, plus an attacking midfielder? Ribiero's inclusion as a sub takes him a step closer to a debut with either of the full back positions looking favourite and Brian Wilson's introduction in the Noble role, was a plus point of today's encounter which, in fairness, could have ended as a draw or a Burnley win just as easily.
Whatever happens, to have forty-four points from twenty-five games is beyond our wildest dreams and we've won more points from away games than WBA, who are the best team in the Division in my opinion. That being said, if Watford don't win and WBA lose, a City win against Coventry will put us level on points with WBA and with all the praise that they're attracting, that's some feat!
CITY TEAM RATINGS
Defending: 7
Attacking: 4
Passing: 6
Creativity: 5
Crossing & Set Pieces: 6
Commitment: 8
City lined up 4-4-1-1
BASSO
ORR McCOMBE VASKO McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
TRUNDLE
BYFIELD
Subs (used)
Trundle
Wilson
Not used:
Weale
Ribiero
Showunmi
RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Apart from one poor second half clearance when
McAllister passed back, an excellent display of keeping in difficult
conditions.
ORR: 6/10 Hard working display, but not at his best and the distribution
let him down.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Another indifferent display and his distribution is
failing him.
VASKO: 8/10 Goal marks him up from seven and he's given GJ the kind
of New Years headache that he won't mind. Classy defensive display
and got better as the game wore on.
MCCOMBE: 7/10 Strong display against wily and experienced
opponents.
SPROULE: 5/10 Lively, hard working yet ineffective in terms of delivery
in the final third.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 Hard working display, but the distribution needs to
improve and the forward surges need to have end product and quality
to go with the power.
JOHNSON: 7/10 Another improved performance & excellent workrate,
but the quality of the final ball, more shots & assists must come.
McINDOE: 6/10 Tireless workrate and a good free kick for our goal,
but another who needs to improve in terms of goals and delivery in the
final third.
NOBLE: 7/10 Creative passes on occasions, but not enough of them.
Held the ball up well and behind most of our forward endeavour.
BYFIELD: 5/10 Hard working display but lacked service & support.
Wasted one or two opportunities and the lone striker role is more
suited to others.
SUBS
Wilson: 7/10 Looked very fit & sharp considering his lack of football
and looked a decent replacement for Noble in the hole.
Trundle: 7/10 Held the ball up well and looked better suited to the
lone striker role with some clever distribution & link up play.
City are Downing Out With Wheater About.
Bristol City 1 v 2 Middlesborough
By Bristol Boy
Missing Carey, McIndoe & McCombe through injury, City rarely looked like winners against a passing team from the Premiership.
In a match that seemed curiously flat, almost from the start, City took the lead when a well worked free-kick saw Tomas Vasko knock the ball down for the "prolific" Liam Fontaine to force the ball home from about five yards.
Lots has been said about the FA Cup and its importance over the past week, but that seemed lost as the first half morphed into something more akin to the atmosphere of a friendly as City, seemingly fearful of their Premiership opponents, retreated into their own half and conceded possession on numerous occasions. On their rare forages forward Noble released the pacey Sproule who, as has come to be expected, was extremely wasteful, hitting the first man with many of those attempted crosses.
Trundle & Showunmi were introduced with half an hour left as both sets of supporters prayed for a winner - to be honest, I began not to care too much which way, but this was passionless fare in the main and Boro, who passed & kept the ball so much better, just about deserved their winner after Cattermole's storming run wasn't tracked and his pull back presented Wheater with an opportunity for a calm side foot finish for what proved to be the winner.
Basso had gifted Downing an opener allowing a shot to go under him into the net. There was precious little goalmouth action throughout and I can't remember Schwarzer having one difficult save to make in the entire ninety minutes in front of a decent all pay crowd of almost 16,000 including a contingent of around 800 (guess) from Boro. Basso was only slightly busier.
After watching this tired display, I would have preferred to see some our promising youngsters blooded. We know what Orr & Johnson can do, so why not blood Ribeiro & Artus? Plummer can play left wing, whilst Weale needs games in goal to keep sharp.
Unlike some City fans I heard on Radio Bristol prior to the match, talking about the game like we could have won 5-0, I expected a difficult game, but felt that Boro could be beaten if we were right at it - we weren't - I don't know why but we seemed a yard away from our assertive best in midfield and frankly, toothless & largely pitiful in the final third. Never mind about Boro, that's gone. We'll need to be far better than this to beat Colchester.
Over to GJ & co. to lift the players in time for that, with hopefully at least McIndoe restored to the starting line up and, you never know some midfield invention and a new striker!!
City lined up 4-4-1-1
BASSO
ORR VASKO FONTAINE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON WILSON
TRUNDLE
BYFIELD
Subs (used)
Murray
Trundle
Showunmi
Not used:
Weale
Skuse
Commitment: 5/10
Entertainment Value: 4/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 5/10 I've lost count of the number of world class saves he's made and the times he's pulled us through, however this time the boot was firmly on the other foot as his blunder gifted Boro a goal with one of their few on target efforts. Doesn't seem to like playing against Boro!
ORR: 6/10 Hard working defensive performance and tried to get it down and pass without the distribution ever being quite up to muster.
VASKO: 8/10 Defended well and looks better by the week. Assist for the goal and didn't look out of place.
FONTAINE: 8/10 Another who didn't look out of place and combined well with Vasko to score our goal.
MCALLISTER: 6/10 Got better later in the game but the quality distribution and contribution in the final third was almost non existent.
SPROULE: 5/10 Always looks lively but rarely contributes end product. One quality cross over the ninety minutes.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Competitive performance and worked hard but not the usual quality of contribution against better opponents.
JOHNSON: 6/10 Hard working display, but never came close to dominating and created very little in the final third.
WILSON: 5/10 Offered very little width and no penetration at all.
NOBLE: 5/10 Ineffective and didn't impose himself enough.
BYFIELD: 6/10 Worked hard but too often isolated as we whooshed the ball forward, conceding possession on far too many occasions.
SUBS
TRUNDLE: 4/10 Completely ineffective.
SHOWUNMI: 5/10 Covered a lot of ground to achieve nothing.
MURRAY: 4/10 Totally ineffective on the left flank.
No "U" Turn For City As Lisbie Nets Point
Bristol City 1 v 1 Colchester United - Report & ratings
By Bristol Boy
In a game that could have seen City 2-0 down before they scored, I suppose a point was a fair return for a display that promised much at times, yet left a lot to be desired overall. Another game that we could have easily won, yet so easily have lost but for lady luck and some desperate defending, not to mention some "unusual" decisions from the officials!
With our back four looking like strangers and our centre backs looking incapable of dealing with Platt's height and Lisbie's pace, the basement team showed exactly why they'd beaten Charlton at The Valley last time out in the League.
Moving forward, City also looked capable of opening up the "U"'s recently reinforced defence. After Lisbie had strolled through our defence unchecked to open the scoring with our defenders staring at each other, GJ switched our wingers and Sproule immediately began tormenting the Colchester defence.
His mazy run from left to right saw the diminutive Irishman beat two players before curling a delicious & deserved equaliser off the post and into the net. Sproule was also unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he was brought down, yet City also had cause for thanks when Vasko's last minute tug on the dangerous Lisbie, saw the same hapless officials wave play on. Both looked stonewall pens.
This heralded an improvement in City's attacking play, but we still looked fragile in defence and Basso had to be on his toes to save from Lisbie in a defence that, frankly looked a shambles as a unit, particularly in the first period. After having a goal disallowed for offside, City at least entered half time level and in the game.
The second half saw City apply pressure that lacked the quality and a final ball. We huffed and puffed, but our strike force lacked the pace or power to even force a save from Gurken and we quickly ran out of ideas in the final third.
At times like this you need a spark from your strikers or some Sproule-like individual flair, and that just didn't happen - even with Gurken leaving the field concussed after eighty minutes. McCombe's late introduction as a striker for the disappointing Trundle told you everything you needed to know about our attacking prowess as the game wore on.
The exit of Brooker & Myrie Williams (loan) and Jevons on a permanent deal has left the cupboard as bare as previously, and only Showunmi can say that his starting performances are better than when he appears from the bench ... even that's marginal, but the 4-4-1-1 formation, which GJ must surely revert to at in-form Palace, would utilise the big man's strengths whilst gaining Noble's ball retention skills & invention. Carle's attacking ideas & quality could well see him introduced to the squad.
A quality striker (if not two) MUST surely be on GJ's shopping list and, on this showing, the sooner the better. Players will be leaving as our squad should be taking shape for an unexpected (by some!) tilt at the promised land, for this chance may be long in appearing again. We have a large squad yet players like Betsy & Keogh don't even appear to be on GJ's radar
In defence, with Carey looking like being an absentee for at least two weeks more, we may need McCombe's strength & combative attitude against Scowcroft & born again, Clinton Morrison.
One things for sure, we'll need to be vastly superior & more organised in defence than we were today to avoid a thumping.
On a major plus point, wasn't it great to see the 250 away fans allocated 250 seats as opposed to 2,500 and more City fans in the EE? Let's build on that principle!
City lined up 4-4-2:
BASSO
ORR VASKO FONTAINE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
TRUNDLE BYFIELD
Subs (used)
Showunmi
McCombe
Not used:
Weale
Skuse
Noble
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 6/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 5/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 8/10 Made up for last weeks faux pas with a couple of fine saves and a confident overall display.
ORR: 6/10 Hard working defensive performance with one major "rick." The distribution and crossing wasn't brilliant although there was no lack of effort.
VASKO: 5/10 Reverted to his early season form and found Lisbie & Platt difficult to handle.
FONTAINE: 6/10 Struggled early on and not in command. He & Vasko looked like strangers in an out of sorts display.
MCALLISTER: 8/10 His best game overall and kept driving the team forward.
SPROULE: 7/10 Lively display and never stopped working. Excellent goal after switching wings with McIndoe.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Not his best game and didn't look as commanding as usual. Even so, he was more of a goal threat that either striker.
JOHNSON: 8/10 Inspirational & hard working display that kept driving the side forward. A lot less wasteful.
MCINDOE: 7/10 Involved & worked hard. Hit the bar, forced a good save that saw a follow up goal disallowed and fired in some decent set pieces & crosses. Due a goal.
TRUNDLE: 5/10 A very poor second half in particular and that £1m price tag is becoming an albatross. After some improved performances, he doesn't look to have the quality to play in the CCC, week in, week out.
BYFIELD: 5/10 Another start that makes a substitute berth at the next game more likely. Both he & Trundle look far better players coming off the bench.
SUBS
SHOWUNMI: 5/10 Late introduction added very little, if anything.
McCOMBE: 5/10 Cameo at centre forward.
Toothless City Get Crowned At The Palace!!
Let me say at the outset that GJ picked the team I would have from what was available. He had the benefit of having watched Nick Carle in training and knew about the aerial threat of Scowcroft and all about Neil Warnock's whoosh football or, as the pundits would call it, "direct style".
This guy makes Tony Pulis's Stoke look like Arsenal and if Crystal Palace were playing in my back garden, I wouldn't pull the curtains to watch them… in fact, I'd probably go out, however effective, and it is, it sure ain't pleasing on the eye.
At times like this it's all about earning the right to play your football and City were a goal down before they could do that via some Keystone Cops defending for the second time in two games.
A hopeful punt into the front of the penalty area was missed by McCombe & Scowcroft, only for Bradley Orr to let the ball bounce over him - in came McAllister to flick the ball onto Clinton Morrison and past the hapless Basso, trickling over the goal line. Very much a poor team goal!
Every time a similar ball was played in to our box, we looked equally at sea and I feared a rout of Ipswich proportions, and we rode our luck with similar chances going begging.
The reason it didn't come is because Palace aren't a very good side, in terms of quality finishing & football and because City, with Carle getting on the ball and into the game, started to look like a team in second place and Carle brought a fine save from the classy looking Speroni.
Roared on by what is fast becoming the usual massed following, for a period of around fifteen minutes either side of half time, City proved they were a better team and only our lacklustre forward play prevented an equaliser.
Amazingly, GJ decided to replace Carle with Byfield and City instantly stopped playing football and reverted to 4-4-2. If Carle was tiring, and it didn't look like it to me, why not introduce a ready made replacement in Noble?
City only look a good team when we pass the ball, and whooshing it forward at Byfield & Trundle only meant that it would be whooshed back at us twice as quick!
Cue a Palace break, Orr's rash challenge earned him a booking & gifted them a set piece and an opportunity to deliver a right foot cross that was duly whipped in with pace to the front of the box. Hudson rose unmarked and unchallenged to glance past Basso, who was in no man's land.
We can dance around the subject, by it's obvious that City need one if not two strikers and, on this showing, if Carey is going to miss another two or three weeks, a CCC quality centre back as Vasko & McCombe, I'm sorry to say, really don't look up to it, especially against the better sides.
Either that or perhaps play a three and allow Vasko to sweep behind Fontaine & McCombe until Carey returns to bolster the defence and provide leadership.
Carle's debut showed great promise and he looks to have the physical strength and competitive nature, as well as the sweet left foot and eye for goal, that's needed in a side that lacks a strike force.
The window slams shut on 31st January and if we are to challenge for promotion we need to act.
CITY TEAM RATINGS
Defending: 5
Attacking: 5
Passing: 6
Creativity: 5
Crossing & Set Pieces: 6
Commitment: 7
City lined up 4-4-1-1
BASSO
ORR VASKO FONTAINE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
CARLE
SHOWUMNI
Subs (used)
Trundle
Byfield
RATINGS
BASSO: 5/10 Never looked comfortable or confident, behind a jittery defence.
ORR: 5/10 Poor defensive display and couldn't add much in the final third.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 Our best defender on the day and certainly the only one showing much composure.
FONTAINE: 6/10 It could be that Carey's absence is the problem, but certainly not one of his better displays.
MCCOMBE: 5/10 Poor display and out muscled & out-thought by a difficult and experienced opponent in Scowcroft. I'm a fan of the big man, but he doesn't look the part at this level.
SPROULE: 5/10 Nearly got on the end of a cross in the second half, but one super goal every eight or ten games isn't enough and he disappeared in the second half.
ELLIOTT: 6/10 Hard working display, but the quality of passing & dominance was only ever briefly noticeable.
JOHNSON: 6/10 Out muscled in the midfield, when it wasn't bypassed completely and he didn't affect the game.
McINDOE: 5/10 Some nice touches, switched wings, but I can't remember much, if any, end product and he wasted our best chance of the game blasting wildly over when he could have taken his time.
CARLE: 7/10 Got in the game and looks a class act. Our only three efforts on target all came from him and I was stunned when he was withdrawn and we reverted to 4-4-2.
SHOWUNMI: 5/10 Works hard, but the goals & quality are absent. Continually out jumped by smaller players.
SUBS
SUBS
Byfield: 4/10 Ineffective and needs a target man to play off.
Trundle: 4/10 Ineffective and no match for a physical, no nonsense defence.
Seasiders Sick As Grayson Suffers At House of Elliott
City 1 v 0 Blackpool - Report and ratings
By Bristol Boy
Looking for the positives is easy. Three points and another clean sheet. No major injuries or bookings and Nicky Carle looks a quality player, although, with FOUR right wingers at the club, he probably wouldn't have thought he'd replace Ivan Sproule on the right flank.
You couldn't fault the commitment and that'll be put to the test at Loftus Rd, next week.
That being said, he was man of the match and shows strength, quality and an excellent left foot. Every inch a playmaker who looks a natural for the centre of midfield with goals & assists in him.
With Fontaine surprisingly dropped to the bench, Vasko & McCombe combined well and our defence looked better as a unit than of late. With Carey reported as being close to a return, it will be interesting to see how the defence lines up against a different & quicker threat in Vine & Ageymang at QPR next week.
A return to 4-4-1-1 looks likely with Ivan Sproule set to return and Nicky Carle looking destined to play in the hole, possibly with a new target man to aim at?
City started brightly, passing & retaining the ball well, although, in truth, we didn't threaten Rachubka that much with only flicks from set pieces driven into the front of the box troubling the Blackpool rearguard and it was from one of those that his weak punch, fell to Elliott who brilliantly volleyed home for the one goal that always looked likely to settle a game that lacked quality forward play from both teams.
In a game of two halves, City dominated the first and Blackpool took over with a more committed performance after half time. That being said, Basso's one excellent save was enough to keep them at bay, albeit with some desperate defending with bodies on the line.
It must have been like playing against a squash wall at times for our defenders and GJ's search for one if not two strikers must step up a pace if we are not left to depend on Brooker's return and a miraculous change of fortune for Byfield & Trundle, who look less menacing as a strike partnership by the week. The out of favour Showunmi's not the answer, although he isn't in any worse than the other two when he starts games.
Running out of steam and giving the ball away is a feature of our game that we must eradicate against the better teams
City lined up 4-4-2:
BASSO
ORR VASKO Mc COMBE McCALLISTER
CARLE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
TRUNDLE BYFIELD
Subs (used)
Skuse
Noble
Fontaine
Not used:
Weale
Murray
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 6/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 5/10
Defending: 8/10
Attacking: 6/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 One top drawer save and a better overall performance on a quiet afternoon for both keepers.
ORR: 6/10 Hard working defensive performance but too many passes went awry.
VASKO: 7/10 Defended well in a more organised back four against tall opponents in Morrell & Burgess. Some superb long range passes and shouldn't we let him bring the ball out of defence as opposed to Orr & McCombe?
McCOMBE: 7/10 Solid defensive display against an attack without pace.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 Looked calm & solid. Tried to support the attack, particularly in the first half.
CARLE: 7/10 The lad's class and oozes quality even though he was wasted in a role wide on the right. Looks like a natural centre midfielder
ELLIOTT: 7/10 Goal marks him up from six and he was another who was better in the first half and faded in the second.
JOHNSON: 6/10 Better in the first half, but couldn't command the midfield in the second and he surrendered possession on too many occasions.
MCINDOE: 6/10 Nomadic performance especially in the first half as he wandered the field in search of the ball. Not much end product to go with the effort and we played without width for a large part of the match with four central midfielders on occassions.
TRUNDLE: 5/10 Started poorly and looked off his game. The odd decent touch and piece of movement but lacklustre overall.
BYFIELD: 5/10 Another start & another indifferent performance.
SUBS
SKUSE: 6/10 Did all the Skusey stuff, didn't waste the ball and won it well.
FONTAINE: 6/10 Effective defending as he came on to help close out the game on the left flank.
NOBLE: 6/10 Some nice touches, but little chance to get on the ball.
Hoops, We Get Done Again
QPR 3 vs 0 City - Match report and ratings
By Bristol Boy
It doesn't matter what formation you play if you don't play well, but the fact that, in my opinion, Gary Johnson set the team up badly didn't help against a Rangers team that had been well beaten in Cardiff midweek.
After being bullied at Palace we are were given a lesson in technical quality, passing and movement by a stylish Rangers.
Our defence looked a shambles in the first half with individual errors compounding poor shape and a porous midfield. For the second time in two visits to London, we lacked commitment and the competitive edge that has personified Gary Johnson's Bristol City. Simply put, we let down our fans who deserve a lot more and some of whom endured treatment that I felt bordered on the illegal from the over zealous Metropolitan Police
This was a City away performance that would have been judged as typical not so long ago and I suppose my concern is that it doesn't become typical after two visits to the capital have seen almost 6,000 City supporters leave the game shaking their heads, many, long before the end of a game that was over from the moment Ageymang notched his second… or even maybe his first.
GJ mentioned that QPR had overpaid in the January window due to their new found wealth. Sorry Gary, but on the basis of this performance & Palace, I feel it looks like money well spent as Vine & Ageymang made Vasko & McCombe look more like the Chuckle Brothers, ably assisted by Bradley Orr as Stan Laurel & Jamie McAllister as Oliver Hardy.
Our midfield didn't compete, command or even control in a one sided first half and QPR looked like scoring on every occasion they attacked.
Up front, having signed a target man, we decided to whoosh it on every occasion and QPR lapped it up as we surrendered possession and bypassed a midfield badly unbalanced for the second week by Nick Carle's inclusion as exactly what he's not, a right sided midfielder.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Carle in the team - however, in the hole or in central midfield is where I believe he belongs and our play lacked width, cohesion, penetration & defensive balance throughout.
Liam Fontaine's introduction produced a better second half performance which avoided a repetition of the debacle at Ipswich, however even he was powerless to stop Buzsaky's thunderbolt after he had played a clever one two and after our central midfielders and defenders had failed to track or close down his run. Something they failed to do all afternoon.
City mustered more effort in the second half and new signing Adebola hit the post and forced a reaction save from Camp. After that, a clever free kick saw McCombe head across the goal… to nobody, whilst Lee Johnson's next free kick was tipped over by Camp in regulation fashion.
The substitutions saw multiple tactical movements with McIndoe roaming the pitch like a gypsy whose caravan was lost in the dark. Sproule looked effective on the right and added balance, causing him to be moved almost instantly to the left! Liam Fontaine replaced Vasko at half time for the second time this season against QPR and managed to remain in that position for all of the second half… which was nice!
Perhaps the day was best summed up when a subdued Marvin Elliott shanked a similar opportunity to the one he scored against Blackpool, producing the expected hoots of derision from the Rangers fans who baited the traveling Cider Army all afternoon on the back of another inept display in the capital.
So, what to do?
Firstly, back to basics and that means good balance and shape and the return of our leader Louis Carey who must be partnered by Liam Fontaine ( I still can't work out why he was dropped?)
Secondly, stop playing 4-4-2 because it doesn't work, particularly away, primarily because we don't have a combination of two strikers that gel, but we do have some talented midfielders who could possibly weigh in with enough goals to see us make the play offs by the skin of our teeth and, with even more luck, hit the promised land.
City lined up 4-4-2:
BASSO
ORR VASKO Mc COMBE McCALLISTER
CARLE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
ADELBOLA BYFIELD
Subs (used)
Noble
Sproule
Fontaine
Not used:
Weale
Skuse
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 5/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 6/10
Entertainment Value: 6/10
Defending: 5/10
Attacking: 5/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 6/10 No major ricks, but the magical saves didn't happen either.
ORR: 5/10 Bit of a curate's egg as he mixed the odd decent moment with some poor defending, distribution & positional play.
VASKO: 5/10 Reverted to his early season form that saw him replaced against QPR at AG and couldn't handle Vine & Ageymang.
MCCOMBE: 5/10 Faired no better than Vasko in truth but improved in the second half.
MCALLISTER: 5/10 Major rick early doors and complicit in the first two goals.
CARLE: 6/10 Tried hard in a position that is clearly alien to him and won two free kicks in a better second half display. Carle wide right isn't quite as bad as Skuse wide left or right, but in my opinion it's in the same league tactically
ELLIOTT: 5/10 Probably his worst game in a City shirt and I began to wonder if he was 100% fit.
JOHNSON: 5/10 Rarely in the game and for a midfield general he looked more like a private. In games like this you look to your leaders to emerge and for a player of his ability, Lee didn't and he wasn't alone in that.
MCINDOE: 5/10 He's here, He's there, He's almost everywhere, but the left wing. Narrowing the pitch doesn't work and no end product.
ADEBOLA: 6/10 Hit the post and forced a save from the rebound, but lacked support throughout and we never looked like providing the service he needed in terms of crosses. I hope his arrival doesn't signal the arrival of whoosh football.
BYFIELD: 5/10 As an impact player his place in the squad should be nailed on - on the bench. Another start produced another game without a goal. Didn't look any better next to Adelbole that he did next to Trundle.
SUBS
NOBLE: 6/10 Hard working late introduction for Lee Johnson. Held the ball and passed it forward.
SPROULE: 6/10 Lively introduction on both wings!
FONATINE: 7/10 Looked composed and should regain his place next to Louis Carey.
Subs
WEALE
SKUSE
TRUNDLE
BYFIELD
MURRAY
Fresh Dele Serves Up Three Tasty Points As Orr Makes Wednesday Owl
Bristol City 2 v 1 Sheffield Wednesday - Report and ratings
By Bristol Boy
Sheff Weds weren't the best team I've seen this season, however, they'd have probably beaten us last week - that's how much difference there was as City turned from "chalk to cheese" and produced a performance that made the debacles at QPR & Palace all the more annoying & unexplainable.
There weren't that many changes of personnel, but the change in performance level, commitment & quality was there for all to see.
Tactically, GJ got it spot on as City reverted to our strongest formation. There is no argument that our lack of a pacey, quality goalscorer to play off a target man, means we look far more comfortable with a player in the hole and Carle could have netted a hat-trick by half time as McIndoe found Adebola an easy target to find and his strength caused concern in the Wednesday back line.
Gone was the constant whoosh football from QPR, that we also reverted to at Palace when Carle left the field. Having a target man doesn't mean whooshing it, and Adebola's ability to hold the ball into his feet & link runners in brings out the best in players like McIndoe, Johnson & Carle. Cleary he also needs to be patient and not drop into midfield taking Elliott's headers away from him, but that will come with time.
Lee Johnson was involved and on his game from start to finish and that's a great help for a passing team.
A clever Nick Carle pass set Adebola up and as the big man was dispossessed, the ball rolled to Orr who showed quality & composure in side footing the ball high and wide of Grant for what proved to be the winner.
Wednesday lacked a physical presence without Showunmi (who they'll find isn't one, at least yet) & Sodje, and that made City's afternoon easier. If I had one criticism it would be that we didn't kill them off with at least two more goals. We did, however, retain possession and therefore control right up until the end.
On to Scunthorpe and I hope GJ doesn't change a thing. That game won't be easy but a win, no doubt hard fought, could see City top the table going into a revenge mission against Warnock's Palace bully boys and what is always a tough, but winnable game at Layer Rd, thankfully a place that will soon be pulled down and replaced by a new 10,000 seater stadium.
City lined up 4-4-1-1
City lined up 4-4-2:
BASSO
ORR CAREY Mc COMBE McCALLISTER
SPROULE ELLIOTT JOHNSON McCINDOE
CARLE
ADELBOLA
Subs (used)
Byfield
Trundle
Skuse
Not used:
Weale
Fontaine
TEAM RATINGS
Passing: 7/10
Set Pieces: 6/10
Commitment: 8/10
Entertainment Value: 7/10
Defending: 8/10
Attacking: 7/10
PLAYER RATINGS
BASSO: 7/10 No chance with the goal, one decent save and a sound display of keeping, kicking & handling overall.
ORR: 8/10 Super goal and finish. Almost never put a foot wrong in defence and although the distribution didn't always match, he made an excellent contribution.His only error was the "knock down" for Bullen's wonder strike following Kavanagh's free kick.
CAREY: 8/10 Confident and dominant display after he shook off his "ring rustyness". Brought the composure we lost in his absence.
MCCOMBE: 8/10 Looked more composed and confident next to Carey.
MCALLISTER: 7/10 Sound display with the odd surge forward to support McIndoe.
SPROULE: 6/10 Lively game early on, but needs end product.
ELLIOTT: 7/10 Effort was there but the energy that saw him cover the pitch in the early season games seems a touch off and the quality of the passing needs to improve.
JOHNSON: 8/10 My MOM as he drove the side forward from midfield and rarely conceded possession.
MCINDOE: 7/10 Fine combination & assist for Adebola's goal. Involved throughout and stuck to his task on the left flank more. Almost increased the lead but brought a fine save out of Grant.
CARLE: 7/10 Struggled to get into the game or on the ball, early on, but could have had a hat-trick by half time as Grant denied him once, a shank from another effort when he should have done better and another weak effort on the right foot showed a lack of composure in the penalty area.
ADEBOLA: 7/10 His home debut goal summed up why we bought him and demonstrated the difference between Adebola & Showunmi. He controlled a ball in an instant, held off the centre back and slipped the ball to McIndoe whose return pass set the big man free to bear down on goal and slip a neat left foot finish past Grant, sending him the wrong way. Another challenge in the area saw the ball roll to Orr for an excellent finish. Presence & power.
SUBS
BYFIELD: 6/10 Returned to his best role as an impact player. Worked hard but didn't threaten a goal as City saw the game out.
SKUSE: 6/10 Cameo.
TRUNDLE: 6/10 Lively introduction and worked hard with some clever touches.
