Forever Bristol City Podcast

Massive

One word describes the task Steve Lansdown is facing in the coming weeks: MASSIVE !!

City's one moment of class in this game was Bakinson's 2nd goal in a week which provided an interval lead. In the second half City put in a performance of the kind we have become increasingly used to. An equaliser conceded through lack of physicality in the 6 yard area and then, as they stumbled to what would have been a point against the bottom of the table side, a needless [?] handball from Palmer in the box from a shot by goalkeeper Stockdale and up steps the Barrel that is Akinfenwa to strike home a penalty for his first goal in 38 games!!!

It's 9 from 33 points since Nigel Pearson has been in charge - hardly inspiring is it. Take away the opening 4 straight wins and its 39 points from 39 games. I'm still backing him with injuries being his get out of jail card but he's not stamped any identity on the rabble that is taking the field and for me, I don't want to see Fam pull on a City shirt again.

The task for SL is massive for these reasons: we need clarity on the manager position, a new CEO is required, there needs to be an independent review of the medical set up, the recruitment team needs a proper player acquisition professional, and then the task of building a competitive squad for next season has to be commenced. These things must be sorted by the middle of June or we can write off season 21/22.

I'm not renewing yet. I will but not until I see some direction off the field.

Draws are like buses!!!

No drawn games for half a season and then two come along in succession!

Ian, Lezz, Mark & David discuss the 1-1 draw at Hillsborough where City trailed from another set piece goal after 3 minutes and at one stage it looked like it was going to be the Barry Bannon show!

The Owls midfielder, coveted by City for a number of years, saw his questionably awarded penalty kick saved by Dan Bentley, and like his teammates he faded as the game wore on. Despite being down to 10 men for the majority of the game after Angela's sending off City's battling 2nd half performance was worthy of a point which was secured by Bakinson's classy strike.

Our talk turned to the usual speculation on what next regarding confirming Pearson and new investment, who should be retained from the OOC players. 

 

Baby Steps....

OK, we're starting from a low bar but there was enough in yesterday's 0-0 draw against Forest to suggest that City have arrested a decline in form at Ashton Gate that was becoming embarrassing.

It wasn't pretty to watch and the visiting keeper wasn't troubled but in the second half, inspired from midfield by the ever improving Massengo, City put in a performance that pleased most fans and Nigel Pearson.

Ian, Mark , & DaveFevs joined me to discuss the match action and also just WTFIGO with regard to confirming Pearson's appointment, a possible departure of Mark Ashton, the Chairman's continuing silence and the owner's pursuit of new investment 

City's players fail badly in the Line of Duty - shame on you!

Once again City fell to defeat where the performance rather than the result which was bad enough poses severe question marks against their commitment and buy in to interim Manager Nigel Pearson's methods.

We tear into the players performance  which culminated in a back pass by Tommy Rowe which was so bad and led to the killer 3rd goal that it took me back to something similar Ray Atteveld produced in his debut vs. Oxford in March 1992!!!!

Moving on from the action we debate whether Nige is the man and with just about broad agreement that he is we then question why the delay in getting him on a contract so the rebuild can begin in earnest.

We also discuss owner Steve Lansdown's statement that he is on the look out for new investors. Does he mean just in Bristol City or the wider Bristol Sport brand

In Conversation with .... Danny Wilson, manager 2000-04

At age 37 and in only his third season as a manager, Danny Wilson led unfashionable Barnsley to promotion to the Premier League.

Barnsley may have only lasted one season in the top flight but Danny went on to manage his former club Sheffield Wednesday, in the Premier League themselves and a club he had served well as a player. When City went looking for a manager in the summer of 2000 after the debacle of Lennartsson, Pulis, & Fawthrop, the friendly Northern Irishman Wilson seemed an inspired choice to lead City back to the Championship.

Danny had 4 seasons at Ashton Gate with a win rate of 46% and year on year improvement but after losing to Brighton in the 2004 final he was dumped, there's no other word for it, by then rookie Chairman Steve Lansdown.

Many will surely agree that under him City played a fine attacking style, indeed in 2003 when they won the LDV Trophy they massed over 100 goals in all competitions. Perhaps if he had been given the level of financial support in the transfer market enjoyed by Lee Johnson things might have turned out differently?

In this hour long interview Danny talks about not only his time at City but his wider football career and how he feels in selecting his former Sheffield Wednesday teammate, Nigel Pearson, City have got the best man possible to secure their Premier League ambition 

Ashton Gate - the Robins Low Performance Centre!!

This week saw the launch of the much heralded new training centre at Failand, curiously named the Robins High Performance Centre. With 2 weeks to prepare for this game, albeit without players on international duty or the masses still injured, you would think that the team would put in a performance that might show some identity in terms of what we can expect long term from a Nigel Pearson coached side.

The performance was abject as City stumbled to an unwanted record of 7 home defeats in a row.

We go through the 90 minutes action and suggest that only Kalas, Bentley & Massengo from that starting line up are players we would welcome in a starting line up in August. That's quite bizarre when two of them form the core of one of the worst defenses in the Championship and the other a midfielder with no goals or assists in his almost 2 seasons at the club.

With murmurings on OTIB that Nige has perhaps lost his sparkle we banish such thoughts and say he should be offered the job within days so he can set about the task. Must be concerning that he himself said post match it will be "too late" to leave it to the summer - he seems to want it ..... do SL & MA want him?

If the club had a zero tolerance policy regarding crimes on the person .....

then Danny Simpson would not be playing for Bristol City - that's it, end of.

But they don't and so for more than a week the thread has been running on OTIB that it is abhorrent that the club should even contemplate signing someone who was convicted of domestic violence against his then girlfriend and mother of his daughter.

For some, the fact that the victim seems to have workable relationship with the offender is not enough - the club, in their eyes, are showing a lack of moral compass in letting Simpson through the door. I guess for these people rehabilitation and remorse by the offender will not feature in their thinking.

Ian and Headhunter discuss this hot topic, why his signing was even necessary at this "dead rubber" stage of the season and then speculate on a possible long term future for Simpson at Ashton Gate.

There is a mountain to climb .....

In 20 weeks time season 21/22 gets underway. There is so much to be sorted on and off the pitch at Ashton Gate it does not bear thinking about.

Rotherham bullied City to their 9th home defeat of the season with two set piece goals. Across the whole team City were found wanting for large parts of the match and the loss through injury of Kalas and, late on, O'Dowda showed that hoodoo is still hovering over the place!

Ian & Dave P discuss the match action but call upon the signing up of Pearson full time as a must do action before the run in to the end of the season begins on Good Friday. 

We question why over Danny Simpson's intended signing and agree that the impact of Bristol's proposed Clean Air Zone is perhaps not as bad as first thought.

 

True Grit

City did well to earn a point at Ewood Park with a gritty performance against Tony Mowbray's Blackburn.

It was a first drawn game in 24 and they had to start it without Dan Bentley who cried off sick in the afternoon. In Max O'Leary it shows they have a ready made replacement should Bentley move on in the summer.

Another plus point was the continuing improved form of HNM who gave another high energy performance.

A lacklustre display from Fam suggests that next game should see changes up front with a view to having next season in mind

City were under the cosh for the first half but had chances to win in the 2nd although Blackburn too went close.

Well done Ian who hosted tonight's pod for the first time after tech difficulties prevented Birthday Boy Headhunter for joining him, DaveFevs & Mark

 

 

A Daddy Cool performance from KP45

Scored one, made one, should have scored again - what a week for Kasey Palmer; became a dad for the 2nd time and showing the sort of form that justified the £4M fee paid to Chelsea. If there is one player particularly rejuvenated by the arrival of Nigel Pearson, Kasey is that man.

Although Birmingham hit the post twice early on, City ran out easy winners 3-0 with an all round team performance that augers well for the future.

Ian, Mark, DaveFevs and Headhunter discuss the match action and a whole host of other topics:

why no draws in half a season, why is Ashton Gate a bogey ground, success in the WSL, EFL not maxing out its potential revenue from TV plus the question on everyone's mind - WHEN IS NIGE GOING TO SIGN A 3 YEAR CONTRACT 

Also, Ian does a damn good impression of Sean Dyche!!!