Bristol City match day thread.

[briangreen]

Going to be an interesting midfield contest when George Cooper is available as well.

 

[arrythewurzel]

A much improved second half display but I still don’t see much of an improvement from last year if I’m honest.

That’s 3 games against league opposition, no clean sheets. For 2 Against 5.

Has Danny Mayor’s end product changed: no. Are we keeping the goals out: no. Are our set plays improved: no (gone backwards on tonight’s showing). Are our strikers banging in goals: no. Have we cured our propensity to give away possession in dangerous areas easily: no (first minute tonight). Have we any answer when the ball is with Cooper and the opposition press our defence: no. I could go on …

Yes, the last three games have been against Championship teams but the top 6-8 in league 1 will be of similar standard to Swansea and Bristol and we’ve fallen short.

8 of the players involved tonight were involved in the 6-0 home defeat to Charlton earlier in the year so we can’t expect miracles I suppose.

I also don’t buy ‘this is only about fitness’. We’ll have wanted at least a draw from one of those 3 games. Psychologically those 3 defeats will not have helped us going into the Rotherham game.

Perhaps my expectations are too high? I don’t know? I just feel I’m being slightly mugged off by what I’m seeing replayed over and over at the moment. I’ve seen little in pre season to quash the bookies ‘relegation favourites’ tag … so it’s not just me being negative about our prospects.

Too harsh?

 

[greenwelly]

Does anybody know what today’s attendance was?

 

[Samson]

Decent enough performance apart from the finishing again.
I'm not sure Jephcott would make the Truro team at the moment, the lad is really struggling and without goals he doesn't do a lot.
Ennis on the other hand was electric and a real handful.
Ennis and Hardie have to start

 

[monkeywrench]

Another game we didn’t score. Again.

Seriously what are you expecting against quality Championship sides?

 

[argyleforever]

Does anybody know what today’s attendance was?

4,286 (290 away)

 

[Monster Green]

4,286 (290 away)

Sure the tannoy bloke said 5,286? Perhaps I heard him wrong! Decent turn out, and a bit of atmosphere as well.

 

[Monster Green]

A much improved second half display but I still don’t see much of an improvement from last year if I’m honest.

That’s 3 games against league opposition, no clean sheets. For 2 Against 5.

Has Danny Mayor’s end product changed: no. Are we keeping the goals out: no. Are our set plays improved: no (gone backwards on tonight’s showing). Are our strikers banging in goals: no. Have we cured our propensity to give away possession in dangerous areas easily: no (first minute tonight). Have we any answer when the ball is with Cooper and the opposition press our defence: no. I could go on …

Yes, the last three games have been against Championship teams but the top 6-8 in league 1 will be of similar standard to Swansea and Bristol and we’ve fallen short.

8 of the players involved tonight were involved in the 6-0 home defeat to Charlton earlier in the year so we can’t expect miracles I suppose.

I also don’t buy ‘this is only about fitness’. We’ll have wanted at least a draw from one of those 3 games. Psychologically those 3 defeats will not have helped us going into the Rotherham game.

Perhaps my expectations are too high? I don’t know? I just feel I’m being slightly mugged off by what I’m seeing replayed over and over at the moment. I’ve seen little in pre season to quash the bookies ‘relegation favourites’ tag … so it’s not just me being negative about our prospects.

Too harsh?

Yep. It certainly feels better, the shape is better, we look more composed. Time will tell

 

[Argylegames]

Seriously what are you expecting against quality Championship sides?

City are not a decent Championship side - they were lucky not to be in the relegation fight last season. They went badly backwards last season.

 

[EyeOpener]

Another game where Jephcott is put in 1 on 1 with the keeper and the keeper comes out on top.

Really is not good enough. Hardie was looking a lot sharper tonight and I’m hoping it’s him that starts up front with Ennis when the season finally gets underway assuming we’re not getting anyone else in.

 

[Samson]

A commendable display against an organised opposition who penned as in for much of the first half. We significantly improved when Gillesphey and Ennis came on. Gillesphey was particularly adept at playing the diagonal or channel ball and I think has the edge over Galloway as a starter. He also is a danger at corners, if we can get them past the first man!

I cannot see Jephcott as a starter. Hardie offers pace over the top and Ennis is as good with his back to goal as he is creating chances with his pace and twists and turns. We have a real player on our hands there. Good to see Danny and Jordan linking up well. Camara was energetic and has a remarkable ball retrieving ability but some of his control and passing was sloppy. Cooper looked assured apart from conceding the penalty. His dead ball is prodigious and he is increasingly comfortable with the ball at his feet.

On the evidence of the pre-season we look as though we are a likely top ten side and we won't be looking over our shoulders at the relegation places. Our acquisitions are all an improvement on last season and I think we can look forward to a season of progression.

Agree we are better than last year but we are coming up short of the top teams and the play offs unless we get a few top draw loanees in as starters and not just squad players.
Thought both wing backs were not very adventurous tonight but maybe that reflects a cautious approach v a championship team and we will be braver against league 1 teams.

Houghton had a decent game but still think we lack an enforcer and physical presence and will get bullied by better teams.
2 or 3 more quality players and we could really challenge

 

[Balham Green]

Agree we are better than last year but we are coming up short of the top teams and the play offs unless we get a few top draw loanees in as starters and not just squad players.
Thought both wing backs were not very adventurous tonight but maybe that reflects a cautious approach v a championship team and we will be braver against league 1 teams.

Houghton had a decent game but still think we lack an enforcer and physical presence and will get bullied by better teams.
2 or 3 more quality players and we could really challenge

You could no doubt say that of the vast majority of teams.

 

[Knibbsworth]

I cannot see Jephcott as a starter. Hardie offers pace over the top and Ennis is as good with his back to goal as he is creating chances with his pace and twists and turns. We have a real player on our hands there. Good to see Danny and Jordan linking up well. Camara was energetic and has a remarkable ball retrieving ability but some of his control and passing was sloppy. Cooper looked assured apart from conceding the penalty. His dead ball is prodigious and he is increasingly comfortable with the ball at his feet.

I don’t disagree, but it must be hard for Lowe when he needs goals - and one of our strikers has scored more League One goals than the other two combined.

 

[davie nine]

Yes who needs to worry about getting shots on target. Completely irrelevant of course.

Your favourite, Hardie, got one on target but the keeper made a good save. I am disappointed with Jephcott’s one on one not being lifted over the keeper and Camara gets into good positions but can’t shoot and Ennis looks great in build ups but also needs to sharpen his shooting.
We really have to improve our shooting.

 

[Railway sleeper]

Another competent performance from Argyle.
It’s remarkable that after last season’s travails the defence now seems the strongest part of the team. Lowe did very well in recruiting mayor and Ennis- but could it be, that Lowe’s best signing has arrived on a free transfer from Walsall ?
We’re still short of a few players, if we want to make a real challenge in league 1, in my opinion.
The priority signing, in my opinion, is going to be a top quality right winger. I think that this is the key to giving us the pace and width- that’s going to make us difficult for other teams to contain us. I think that this is also the key to unlocking the space and creating opportunities for our strikers.

It’s interesting to read the comments about Luke Jephcott. Luke puts me very much in mind of Kevin Gallen, who was a very useful player for us under Ian Holloway. Gallen linked the midfield and strikers. He used to drift in on the blind side and got a few goals for us. I think that Luke will do very much the same for us ( and we’ve already had a glimpse of the sort of runs he can make, with that first half chance), once suitable reinforcements arrive .....