Forever Bristol City Podcast

21/22 Season Review with Chris Honor

Dave P is joined by former player and local media pundit Chris Honor along with regular contributor Neil [@ncnsbcfc] in looking back on the last campaign. Wasn't so bad really was it?

A generally positive chat which meandered on to talk of transfers in and out and the shape of the team in 22/23

Where was the hope for next season; bye-bye HNM have a nice life

An all too familiar display from City saw them end the season on a losing note rather than extend the unbeaten run to six games and send everyone into the summer break in relatively good spirits.

Ian, Mark & DaveP spend little time reviewing the match action where sloppy goals were again evident, instead talk is of the curse of the HPC with the ACL injury to Benarous, how do you accommodate Alex Scott in a midfield without breaking up WSM and was it crocodile tears from HNM at the final whistle as he said his goodbye to the fans. If you're that sorry to be leaving just sign the contract that's been in front of you for three months and whilst we all agree you really are a decent human as a player you really haven't kicked on in the three years you've been here.

City flying high in end of season demolition of Hull!

The perfect way to sign off the 21/22 season at home as City scored 5 without reply against the Tigers.

The W-S-M strike combination scored all the goals and provided the assists in a sparkling display which augers well for next season.

Ian, Mark, Neil & DaveP discuss the game, transfer speculation plus the outside investment in the club owner Steve Lansdown says he wants but at what price.

There's no talk of flying shoes or old player interviews in this episode.

Has a corner been turned, are we heading in the right direction?

A solid 3-1 victory at Pride Park against the Rams extended the unbeaten run to 4 games.

Ian, Mark & DaveP discuss the match action and debate whether we have turned a corner and are, at last, heading in the right direction.

We also discuss whether wage assisted loan outs of the "unfavoured" are one way to get the wage bill down.

Second half performance raises the bar of expectation

City might have had all 3 points were it not for 2nd half missed chances but during that period they played with a level of intensity that fans will be wanting to see repeated in the trio of games left between now and the end of the season.

Those that were there, more like 13k than the published 18k+, would have walked away in the early evening feeling they had been entertained against an equally intense Blades side whose play off chances are faltering. The poor performance against Peterborough was well and truly banished and I'm sure a fair few who were questioning whether to renew their season ticket will now do so!

Ian, Mark and Neil with DaveP in the chair go through the match action and more.

 

JDS wonder strike gives City all three points in a gritty display at Stoke

In taking all three points City put in the sort of display that we would like to have seen a lot more of on the road this season - organised, resilient, creating a fair number of chances on the break and good game management in the closing stages.

Watching the goal again, a wonder strike by Jay Dasilva, a lot of credit must go to Antoine Semenyo who expertly shrugged off two Stoke players to provide the assist pass.

Only our 5th clean sheet of the season, were it not for the goal perhaps the other main talking point was the WWF style clash between Bentley and Brown on the stroke of half time.

Peterborough [H] reviewed ..... are you with the in crowd?

Ian, Neil, Mark and DaveP go through the match action as City failed to get max points against bottom of the table Posh who were a man down for the final third of the game.

Is it player mentality, coaching or both that are the root cause of the problem or does it go right to the top and the benevolent and benign dictatorship that is life under the Lansdown dynasty - SL is undoubtedly a winner in business but not when it comes to running a football club; others have achieved a lot more with a lot less.

Are NP's veiled criticisms of policy and attitude evidence of him trying to orchestrate his own sacking [he's ain't walking away from the £2M balance owed on his contract] and if that happens who would we be happy with to lead us forward into 22/23

Defeated as expected but on balance more positives than negatives

A 3-2 defeat against parachute payment supported Bournemouth was not real surprise yet despite being outplayed for large portions of the game City can emerge with some credit for not being overwhelmed.

Rob Atkinson gave us the perfect start after 3 minutes but the sides went in level at the break as Solanke rolled in his 25th of the season.

Cook was allowed too much space early in the second half to score from distance but one argue that the match turned in two incidents with the score at 2-1: Martin clearly fouled by Kelly inside the box but no penalty and the same City player contriving to miss at close range from a JDS cross.

Weimann finished well for his 19th of the season in injury time to end the scoring.

Ian, Mark & DaveP discuss the action and amongst other topics the effect on the cost of living aligned to City's form when it comes to selling season tickets in the summer

In conversation with ........... Joe Royle

Joe Royle was at City for barely two and a half years [11/77-7/80] but rarely has a player had a greater impact on their debut than he did by grabbing all 4 goals in a 4-1 win at home to Middlesborough.

It wasn’t until I did some research prior to interview that I realised what a coup it was for Alan Dicks to sign Joe who was still very much in his prime at age 28.

Joe made his debut for Everton at 16 and by 21 was an ever present in the 1969/70 League Champions side and was averaging a goal every other game. He moved to Man City in 1974 before his time at Ashton Gate and after here he ended his playing career at Norwich City.

Joe's managerial record is top drawer - check it out on Wiki. From the interview it sounds like we could have had him twice!!!!

 

 

We’d have taken a point before the game so let’s not complain too much...

Another assist and goal from Andi Weimann but the time added on curse strikes again to deny City all three points.

Ian, Mark & DaveP discuss the game and Chris Martin's contract extension in a shorter episode than normal due to an error at Podbean Central!

We'll be back after the international break but there may be another in conversation piece before that.