| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! 12:31 - Aug 22 with 14660 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
Hi All, I am going to be one of the 1,000 odd fans making the early start to head up to Spotland tomorrow, for what should be a good encounter between both sides. I am here to give my opinions on the threats you will have to overcome to beat this current Bristol City side tomorrow, the weaknesses in our side, and also to get an insight from your fans of what to expect from your side!
On the pitch, we have made a solid start, picking up 7 points out of 9, without playing near our full potential. Things haven't quite clicked yet, the new signings are slowly settling in, some impacting the few games we have played more than others. Currently, Cotterill has got us playing the 3-5-2 system which he puts much faith in, the same system which he implemented on the side when he took over back in January last year, which sparked a change in fortunes, and got us playing much more efficient and effective football.
We have done our business this summer very effectively, picking up all but one player (Agard) early in the summer, allowing them to bond in the Pre-Season tour we took part in of Botswana and South Africa. Despite making such a tidy start, I and many fans don't class us as Top 6 certainties just yet, although it looks very likely, I believe we are still vulnerable in two areas of the pitch.
I'll start with our keeper, Frank Fielding. Frank signed last summer, and made a horror start, getting dropped after 5 games or so, and Frank's #1 jersey was not regained until the end of last season, where he came in and put in some good performances. In the first 3 games, Frank has not made any notable huge mistakes, but it is little things that make you un-certain about him, and the bloke definitely has a mistake in him. Pressure him hard enough tomorrow, and you'll get a goal out of the bloke. A new number one is one area in which we need to re-invest.
Another department in which we look weak in, is LCB. It is early to judge yes I know, but from what I have seen in these early parts of the season, teams are using out weaker left side to their advantage, and looking to exploit it when possible. Saying this, we do have a starter to come back in, Karl Osborne, who is now available after receiving a horror injury in our Pre-Season tour, whether he is selected for the squad remains to be seen, as fitness may play a part in this. As I referred to earlier in the post, we are playing the 3-5-2 system at the moment, currently selecting either Bryan or Cunningham at LWB, neither are natural LWB's, but can certainly do a job and play a part in getting us out of this division.
Onto the strengths of our squad, and believe me, there is much more to be pleased about in the last few months being a Bristol City fan, and that being down to the depth of our squad that Cotterill has created. In the striking department, we have really created a pairing of 4 to be afraid of. In Baldock, JET and Agard, we have 3 players who scored 72 goals in this very division last season, and currently JET isn't even getting a look in! We also have a new man in Aaron Wilbraham, who has came in and scored 3 in 3, and looks a good asset to have. Wilbraham did seem to like a tad tired Tuesday, and whether he plays or not with Agard coming in yesterday remains to be seen. One of the problems with not having either JET or Wilbraham in your front 5, is that we have no-one else in it over 6 foot, so both of those two bring a different outlet to the team, and give us something else to resort to if Plan A is not proving successful.
Our midfield is neat and tidy, with the recruits of Wade Elliot, the 35 year old experienced midfielder who was on loan with us in the latter stages of last season, and Korey Smith, the rock infront of the back 4, who breaks up play and is a hard tackler; someone we have missed for years. The backup in this department doesn't look half bad either, including Pack, who started Tuesday and had a tidy game, and also Reid, one of our academy graduates, but is more of an attacking flair player.
At the back we look more organised than in recent years, picking up Ayling from Yeovil who has done a tidy job, and also with the vast improvement of Aden Flint, who is now proving to be the player we thought we had signed 12 months ago, but he didn't quite cut it last season, and found himself sat on the bench a lot of the time. In the backup department, we have Adam El-Abd, the experienced defender from Brighton. He came in last January, and made numerous mistakes and found life hard adapting to a new team, but after a good pre-season, looks to of found his feet, and has been neat and tidy when brought on to hold out a lead.
Overall, I'm pleased with the balance of our squad, and look forward to the upcoming season. If you got this far on reading, fair play to you, and I look forward to the day tomorrow, and also reading your responses your fans have, and also to get an insight on what to expect from your team!
That's all from me guys, thanks. |  | | |  |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 12:37 - Aug 22 with 8213 views | _dezzy |
I'm looking forward to tommorows game, the likes of games against you cov city sheff utd are what getting promoted are all about,
We know all about Frankie fingers as we had him on loan a bit back, My opinion of him was he was a bit of a clown with his coming out of the area a lot,
I am expecting a hard game, but you never know with our lot, |  |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 12:57 - Aug 22 with 8009 views | bolton_dale |
It will depend on whether you get the Rochdale performance against Chesterfield or the one at Crewe.
If you get the one we witnessed against Crewe, I'd be confident of picking up the 3 points. Either way, from what you've said about your strikers, with the fact our defence looks shaky, I think you will score - just hope we score more!
Here's to a good game - you should come back on here afterwards and let us know what you thought of us! | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:03 - Aug 22 with 7935 views | deezel |
aye but keep it briefer brizzlelad! | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:05 - Aug 22 with 7917 views | judd |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:03 - Aug 22 by deezel |
aye but keep it briefer brizzlelad! |
There's crappy roadworks virtually the whole way, so you and your fellow gasheads need an early start. |  |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:08 - Aug 22 with 7884 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 12:57 - Aug 22 by bolton_dale |
It will depend on whether you get the Rochdale performance against Chesterfield or the one at Crewe.
If you get the one we witnessed against Crewe, I'd be confident of picking up the 3 points. Either way, from what you've said about your strikers, with the fact our defence looks shaky, I think you will score - just hope we score more!
Here's to a good game - you should come back on here afterwards and let us know what you thought of us! |
Speaking on Chesterfield, they have the base of a good squad, and they very much remind of Rotherham when they came up last season; good base, new stadium etc, and it wouldn't surprise me if they came close to replicating Rotherham's achievements last season. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:09 - Aug 22 with 7879 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:03 - Aug 22 by deezel |
aye but keep it briefer brizzlelad! |
Sorry if I got a bit carried away, haha. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:52 - Aug 22 with 7607 views | debbiesfella |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:05 - Aug 22 by judd |
There's crappy roadworks virtually the whole way, so you and your fellow gasheads need an early start. |
Gasheads??? |  | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 13:54 - Aug 22 with 7585 views | tazzydjr |
Enjoy your trip to Fortress Spotland this weekend BrizzleLad |  |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 16:08 - Aug 22 with 7126 views | 49thseason |
Cant wait to see that pairing of four! especially when he then describes 3 of them and adds one as an afterthought and then tells us they play with a front 5!
It must be a West country thing ... ooh aarrr! |  | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 16:40 - Aug 22 with 6979 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 16:08 - Aug 22 by 49thseason |
Cant wait to see that pairing of four! especially when he then describes 3 of them and adds one as an afterthought and then tells us they play with a front 5!
It must be a West country thing ... ooh aarrr! |
The front 5 ahead of the defence, clearly. Including the CM's.
And I quite clearly said JET doesn't get a look in, and I clearly stated about our depth, meaning we can't fit them all in, and have adequate replacements. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 17:04 - Aug 22 with 6833 views | SuddenLad |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 16:40 - Aug 22 by BrizzleLadInPeace |
The front 5 ahead of the defence, clearly. Including the CM's.
And I quite clearly said JET doesn't get a look in, and I clearly stated about our depth, meaning we can't fit them all in, and have adequate replacements. |
Frankie Fielding was in the Dale team that got promoted a few years ago. Happy memories and sure of a warm welcome on his return. |  |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 17:18 - Aug 22 with 6771 views | deezel |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 16:40 - Aug 22 by BrizzleLadInPeace |
The front 5 ahead of the defence, clearly. Including the CM's.
And I quite clearly said JET doesn't get a look in, and I clearly stated about our depth, meaning we can't fit them all in, and have adequate replacements. |
Clearly stating things on message bourds doesn't always work tbf | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 17:21 - Aug 22 with 6752 views | 49thseason |
Whatever..yawn.. It'll be a nice day out for you lot, we have electricity, curtains, trams and everything. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 17:23 - Aug 22 with 6738 views | boromat |
All the pressure is on Bristol anything but 3 points would be embarrassing. If we play like we did against Crewe it'll be a very open game and although it worked against Crewe I'm not sure it'll work against Bristol and that's why I expect a different line up. Saying that the youth and energy in Allen and Hery might work wonders against a 35 yr old.
Really looking forward to the game and I hope we play with no fear and go for it even if we do end up getting a battering. | |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 19:55 - Aug 22 with 6356 views | Nafelad |
After reading the Bristol City fan's smug description of the qualities of his team, all I can say is - I hope we batter them tomorrow!! |  |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:09 - Aug 22 with 6295 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 19:55 - Aug 22 by Nafelad |
After reading the Bristol City fan's smug description of the qualities of his team, all I can say is - I hope we batter them tomorrow!! |
Smug description?
I came to tell you what to expect, I don't know what's wrong with that. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:12 - Aug 22 with 6273 views | SuddenLad |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:09 - Aug 22 by BrizzleLadInPeace |
Smug description?
I came to tell you what to expect, I don't know what's wrong with that. |
Nothing wrong with that. I found it interesting. Can't please everybody. | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:18 - Aug 22 with 6250 views | Nafelad |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:09 - Aug 22 by BrizzleLadInPeace |
Smug description?
I came to tell you what to expect, I don't know what's wrong with that. |
I wouldn't dream of posting a description of 'what to expect' from Rochdale on the opposition fans website, for fear that I would be accused of being smug regarding my own team's ability. | |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:38 - Aug 22 with 6177 views | WhiteyBFC |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:09 - Aug 22 by BrizzleLadInPeace |
Smug description?
I came to tell you what to expect, I don't know what's wrong with that. |
We had Korey Smith on loan the other year. Didn't have a tackle in him.
But on paper, yours is probably 'the' strongest squad in the division. However, you have a shit manager. So that evens it up a little.
Can I ask you how you've managed to cobble this strong squad together? Last I heard, Bristol City had huge, spiralling debt. What's changed? Most clubs who get relegated (as we've just done - I'm a Barnsley supporter, by the way) have to cut their cloth accordingly. We certainly have. And, to be fair, we were breaking even in the Championship. You lot were far from breaking even when in that division, have since had a shit season in League One and yet you've somehow put that squad together. It baffles me. Where you found the money for Agard?
I'm not knocking you here, I'm knocking your club. There's little I detest more in football than clubs that overspend and never suffer for it. Just as annoying is then reading a fan from said club describing the great players his club have recruited without the funds to do so.
Yours in sport,
Andy. |  | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:38 - Aug 22 with 6174 views | boromat |
Love this comment from the BC forum.
"I know they're newly promoted and have just beaten Crewe 5-2 but Rochdale's squad is full of lower league journeymen and with the greatest respect to them we really should be winning up there tomorrow.
As long as we apply ourselves, aren't complacent and SC gets the tactics right then we'll come away with all 3 pts IMO."
He's obviously done his homework we're a squad full of lower league journeymen!! What's the average age of our squad?
I do agree that they should be winning the game but only because of there financial clout compared to ours. In terms of football anything can happen on the day. | |
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| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:55 - Aug 22 with 6111 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:38 - Aug 22 by WhiteyBFC |
We had Korey Smith on loan the other year. Didn't have a tackle in him.
But on paper, yours is probably 'the' strongest squad in the division. However, you have a shit manager. So that evens it up a little.
Can I ask you how you've managed to cobble this strong squad together? Last I heard, Bristol City had huge, spiralling debt. What's changed? Most clubs who get relegated (as we've just done - I'm a Barnsley supporter, by the way) have to cut their cloth accordingly. We certainly have. And, to be fair, we were breaking even in the Championship. You lot were far from breaking even when in that division, have since had a shit season in League One and yet you've somehow put that squad together. It baffles me. Where you found the money for Agard?
I'm not knocking you here, I'm knocking your club. There's little I detest more in football than clubs that overspend and never suffer for it. Just as annoying is then reading a fan from said club describing the great players his club have recruited without the funds to do so.
Yours in sport,
Andy. |
Although it has only been 3 games, but it seems Korey is going to be a good player. Korey is a runner, and tackles hard, and gets stuck in, what we've missed for many a year.
I think she 'shit manager' comment is unfair, as he has done a great job here, and developed a tidy looking squad that looks set to fight for promotion.
Lansdown (our owner) has wrote of all the debt to himself (£40m) and created our company Bristol Sport, and got around FFP and can pump as much money into the club as he wishes, and said he will go wild with it when we get back into the Championship. As the situation has it, we are one of the richer clubs outside of the Football League, and whilst one Steve Lansdown is in charge, we should continue to be.
In the 2011/12 season in the Championship, we had the second highest wage bill in the division, but it we spent on complete tosh, and ended up staying up with only one game to go.
This summer, we've bought Freeman for 800k, Agard for 900k, and a few others for good money, so money for us isn't really a problem.
Either way whatever we do, Lansdown can write all the debt off to himself, and as long as he continues to do that, our financial situation won't ever be that bad.
Cheers | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:56 - Aug 22 with 6099 views | nordenblue |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:38 - Aug 22 by WhiteyBFC |
We had Korey Smith on loan the other year. Didn't have a tackle in him.
But on paper, yours is probably 'the' strongest squad in the division. However, you have a shit manager. So that evens it up a little.
Can I ask you how you've managed to cobble this strong squad together? Last I heard, Bristol City had huge, spiralling debt. What's changed? Most clubs who get relegated (as we've just done - I'm a Barnsley supporter, by the way) have to cut their cloth accordingly. We certainly have. And, to be fair, we were breaking even in the Championship. You lot were far from breaking even when in that division, have since had a shit season in League One and yet you've somehow put that squad together. It baffles me. Where you found the money for Agard?
I'm not knocking you here, I'm knocking your club. There's little I detest more in football than clubs that overspend and never suffer for it. Just as annoying is then reading a fan from said club describing the great players his club have recruited without the funds to do so.
Yours in sport,
Andy. |
Your last paragraph is spot on Whitey | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:57 - Aug 22 with 6100 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:38 - Aug 22 by boromat |
Love this comment from the BC forum.
"I know they're newly promoted and have just beaten Crewe 5-2 but Rochdale's squad is full of lower league journeymen and with the greatest respect to them we really should be winning up there tomorrow.
As long as we apply ourselves, aren't complacent and SC gets the tactics right then we'll come away with all 3 pts IMO."
He's obviously done his homework we're a squad full of lower league journeymen!! What's the average age of our squad?
I do agree that they should be winning the game but only because of there financial clout compared to ours. In terms of football anything can happen on the day. |
Seems a silly post to make, and shouldn't doubt any squad in this division, as at the end of the day, anyone can beat anyone. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 21:09 - Aug 22 with 6047 views | BrizzleLadInPeace |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 20:56 - Aug 22 by nordenblue |
Your last paragraph is spot on Whitey |
I also agree fella, but Bristol City FC is not run in this way, we would not still be getting away with it, and making the same mistakes. | | | |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 21:14 - Aug 22 with 6018 views | nordenblue |
| Bristol City Fan - In Peace! on 21:09 - Aug 22 by BrizzleLadInPeace |
I also agree fella, but Bristol City FC is not run in this way, we would not still be getting away with it, and making the same mistakes. |
Theres quite a few clubs who've done perfectly well over spending for years, theres another team not far from us who are doing exactly the same yet again as we speak, then when it all goes belly up they'll want everyone else to bail them out with their sob stories. (Sorry didds!:)) | | | |
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