MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h)

[windermereROYAL]

It`s all very depressing, can`t defend set pieces, both our main goal scorers are out long term, and WTF is it with the shirt numbers, can`t wait for our first televised match when the commentators will rip us a new one.
3 games in and it`s looking grim already, hope they can prove us wrong.

[quickwingerswife]

Windermere Royal. Don’t like women eh? That was a valid post. Look at city’s first goal last night. Happened a lot last season and I think 3 times this season. You are a very rude teenager.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

Ever since Laurent and Rino were encouraged to push forward more mid way through last season we've been a mess.

The defensive coach should be shot.

Moore is a disgrace when you look at performance vs wage.

7 goals conceded in 3 games. Simply not good enough. The manager merrigoround is going to be firing up again with the clown of an owner we have.

Agree regarding Laurent and Rino. And Moore.

Could quickly become quite ugly for him if any more performances like that. I’d happily never see one of those cross field balls that drift out of touch/ straight to oppo full back again

As opposed to watching Moore, Morrison and Rafael slowly knocking it around to each other?

Doesn’t seem like the CB’s are capable of anything else than the two scenarios above

Moore played himself into trouble at least 3 times last night. Not sure why, who takes on a player being the last man 20 yards from goal?
It was painful but the midfield also need to make themselves available. No point dropping deep and then staying there.
A few times Moore passes it to Laurent who then became static at the CB position and joined in the sideways passing.
Was impressed by the loanee. He actually done it properly a few times. Received the ball moved it and then made a direct run forward, which mostly was a unchecked run and found himself in yards of space.

[Stranded]

It`s all very depressing, can`t defend set pieces, both our main goal scorers are out long term, and WTF is it with the shirt numbers, can`t wait for our first televised match when the commentators will rip us a new one.
3 games in and it`s looking grim already, hope they can prove us wrong.

Yes our scorers are out but we still have scored twice in each game and look capable of scoring fairly regularly this season - I'm still fairly confident that if we can sort out the defence a bit we'll be more than comfortable this year, which is the real target.

Hopefully Riberio is done and dusted in time for him to play on Saturday as we desperately need someone who is comfortable on the left to give us proper balance.

[Notts Royal]

I think the central defence is going to be an issue for a few games now as I don’t think anyone has a clue which out of the 4 is the best.

If Morrison has lost it, we’re in deep trouble as he has been Mr Reliable. As many have alluded to already, Moore is no more than 6/10 every week, and not showing much leadership.

That leaves TMac & Holmes, both who had decent seasons last year but rarely played alongside each other.

None of those 4 strike me as being able to pass it around the back competently. Can we please change the tactics and not take as many risks? Get it forward quicker to the midfield, who are better suited to playing technical football

[Hound]

Agree regarding Laurent and Rino. And Moore.

Could quickly become quite ugly for him if any more performances like that. I’d happily never see one of those cross field balls that drift out of touch/ straight to oppo full back again

As opposed to watching Moore, Morrison and Rafael slowly knocking it around to each other?

Doesn’t seem like the CB’s are capable of anything else than the two scenarios above

Which is why Swift needed to drop deeper more often to pick the ball up from them and look to make a positive forward pass.

Moore defensively was appalling. Either he or Morrison need to be dropped. Simply unacceptable defending last night.

Noted both swift and Laurent made themselves available a number of times without it being given to them

As mentioned the main issue is the passing between Moore, Morrison and Rafael was so poor - either slow, not accurate enough or the subsequent control so poor that they put themselves under pressure and couldn’t pick a pass. Was woeful at times

Agree Moore or Morrison need to be dropped. Holmes can come in. And get a LB and McIntyre away from LB

Just seeing the highlights - defending abysmal on all goals and that one that hit the post. Utterly lame from McIntyre on that one

[Westwood52]

Now that John has gone;who exactly is responsible for our defensive set up ?Quite rightly Moore and Morrison have been criticised on here;but how bad was T Mc ?Tom Holmes must be wondering why he can’t get a game; albeit he plays on supposedly our stronger right side.
If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

[Pandoras Box]

Now that John has gone;who exactly is responsible for our defensive set up ?Quite rightly Moore and Morrison have been criticised on here;but how bad was T Mc ?Tom Holmes must be wondering why he can’t get a game; albeit he plays on supposedly our stronger right side.
If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

Spot on.
You know when a player suddenly catches your eye because he does a couple of poor pieces of play in a row?
Well I got that with T Mac last night.
From that point I watched his play more intently and quite honestly it was shambolic.

Presume he was playing out of position.
Half the time I couldn’t even work out where he was supposed to be playing.
Wing back with no running capability? Dunno.
Missed headers (and TBF covered by Moore multiple times)
Poor decision making, slow execution and inaccurate passing.
Looked lost.

[Bigtimmeh]

Agree regarding Laurent and Rino. And Moore.

Could quickly become quite ugly for him if any more performances like that. I’d happily never see one of those cross field balls that drift out of touch/ straight to oppo full back again

As opposed to watching Moore, Morrison and Rafael slowly knocking it around to each other?

Doesn’t seem like the CB’s are capable of anything else than the two scenarios above

Moore played himself into trouble at least 3 times last night. Not sure why, who takes on a player being the last man 20 yards from goal?
It was painful but the midfield also need to make themselves available. No point dropping deep and then staying there.
A few times Moore passes it to Laurent who then became static at the CB position and joined in the sideways passing.
Was impressed by the loanee. He actually done it properly a few times. Received the ball moved it and then made a direct run forward, which mostly was a unchecked run and found himself in yards of space.

I think Moore is consistently one of our worst players who struggles to display leadership. Really went off him when he was walking back to defend a counter attack the season before last.. He's been propped up by Morrison but that looks like it's ended. You ask why he takes on a player when he is the last defender..I agree, but that's also how he got his goal.

[NathStPaul]

If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

He's got COVID, widely reported last night and today.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

He's got COVID, widely reported last night and today.

Might be fit for saturday, never know

[Coppells Lost Coat]

I think Moore is consistently one of our worst players who struggles to display leadership. Really went off him when he was walking back to defend a counter attack the season before last.. He's been propped up by Morrison but that looks like it's ended. You ask why he takes on a player when he is the last defender..I agree, but that's also how he got his goal.

He has a feel of billy big bollox to him the last few seasons. I hope he can go back to the form that made him captain, i really do.
Call me old school, but no one should be taking on a player when last man, completely no excuses. Moore was not the last man when he got his goal though he was at the other end of the pitch.

[NathStPaul]

If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

He's got COVID, widely reported last night and today.

Might be fit for saturday, never know

He has to isolate apparently, misses at least the next two games. That was from a report, not my opinion. We have to hope he hasn't been badly affected by it too.

[Vision]

If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

He's got COVID, widely reported last night and today.

Might be fit for saturday, never know

Or COVID might be code for "about to be sold"

[Hound]

Now that John has gone;who exactly is responsible for our defensive set up ?Quite rightly Moore and Morrison have been criticised on here;but how bad was T Mc ?Tom Holmes must be wondering why he can’t get a game; albeit he plays on supposedly our stronger right side.
If Ejaria is not back to hold the ball up on Saturday,then I fear the worst.

Spot on.
You know when a player suddenly catches your eye because he does a couple of poor pieces of play in a row?
Well I got that with T Mac last night.
From that point I watched his play more intently and quite honestly it was shambolic.

Presume he was playing out of position.
Half the time I couldn’t even work out where he was supposed to be playing.
Wing back with no running capability? Dunno.
Missed headers (and TBF covered by Moore multiple times)
Poor decision making, slow execution and inaccurate passing.
Looked lost.

Hopefully that was his ‘Preston’ performance out the way for the year because he was dreadful

[Snowflake Royal]

I wouldn't single out McIntyre... off days are possible and the whole side was poor.

It's the ones who are consistently poor that are the problem and that's Moore. Time and time again.

Oh how much better off we'd be if Bowen had stayed and got his way, clearing him out. At least £4m better off.

[Westwood52]

I wouldn't single out McIntyre... off days are possible and the whole side was poor.

It's the ones who are consistently poor that are the problem and that's Moore. Time and time again.

Oh how much better off we'd be if Bowen had stayed and got his way, clearing him out. At least £4m better off.

Didn’t think TMc was that great on Saturday either.I am sure one of our three CB s will be dropped this Saturday.

[Zip]

As opposed to watching Moore, Morrison and Rafael slowly knocking it around to each other?

Doesn’t seem like the CB’s are capable of anything else than the two scenarios above

Which is why Swift needed to drop deeper more often to pick the ball up from them and look to make a positive forward pass.

Moore defensively was appalling. Either he or Morrison need to be dropped. Simply unacceptable defending last night.

Noted both swift and Laurent made themselves available a number of times without it being given to them

As mentioned the main issue is the passing between Moore, Morrison and Rafael was so poor - either slow, not accurate enough or the subsequent control so poor that they put themselves under pressure and couldn’t pick a pass. Was woeful at times

Agree Moore or Morrison need to be dropped. Holmes can come in. And get a LB and McIntyre away from LB

Just seeing the highlights - defending abysmal on all goals and that one that hit the post. Utterly lame from McIntyre on that one

At goal kicks Swift was often advanced well up the pitch almost in a centre forward position when we really needed him a lot deeper to play the Lewis Baker role and pick the ball up off the centre backs. He did it on occasions but nowhere near enough.

The defending was unbelievably bad. I need to see the second goal again because it looked like two unmarked players on our back post. Why was no one marking them? Basic stuff and worrying.
I would go with Morrison and TMac at centre back v Coventry, We really need a specialist left back too. I would prefer a back four as I don’t want to see Yiadom as an apparent wing back because it simply does not work.

Pauno is also not exempt from criticism. We will both remember Birmingham at home last season. Last night was like that. It’s not good enough for the team to start so poorly against teams in dire form. He must have them motivated from the start.

[Snowflake Royal]

Which is why Swift needed to drop deeper more often to pick the ball up from them and look to make a positive forward pass.

Moore defensively was appalling. Either he or Morrison need to be dropped. Simply unacceptable defending last night.

Noted both swift and Laurent made themselves available a number of times without it being given to them

As mentioned the main issue is the passing between Moore, Morrison and Rafael was so poor - either slow, not accurate enough or the subsequent control so poor that they put themselves under pressure and couldn’t pick a pass. Was woeful at times

Agree Moore or Morrison need to be dropped. Holmes can come in. And get a LB and McIntyre away from LB

Just seeing the highlights - defending abysmal on all goals and that one that hit the post. Utterly lame from McIntyre on that one

At goal kicks Swift was often advanced well up the pitch almost in a centre forward position when we really needed him a lot deeper to play the Lewis Baker role and pick the ball up off the centre backs. He did it on occasions but nowhere near enough.

The defending was unbelievably bad. I need to see the second goal again because it looked like two unmarked players on our back post. Why was no one marking them? Basic stuff and worrying.
I would go with Morrison and TMac at centre back v Coventry, We really need a specialist left back too. I would prefer a back four as I don’t want to see Yiadom as an apparent wing back because it simply does not work.

Pauno is also not exempt from criticism. We will both remember Birmingham at home last season. Last night was like that. It’s not good enough for the team to start so poorly against teams in dire form. He must have them motivated from the start.

Rino and Laurent should be more than enough to pick the ball off defence. They should then be looking for balls in to each other, Yiadom, McIntyre, Bristow, Azeez and Swift or Joao. Swift has no business dropping deeper than the centre circle to receive the ball from CBs.

[Zip]

Noted both swift and Laurent made themselves available a number of times without it being given to them

As mentioned the main issue is the passing between Moore, Morrison and Rafael was so poor - either slow, not accurate enough or the subsequent control so poor that they put themselves under pressure and couldn’t pick a pass. Was woeful at times

Agree Moore or Morrison need to be dropped. Holmes can come in. And get a LB and McIntyre away from LB

Just seeing the highlights - defending abysmal on all goals and that one that hit the post. Utterly lame from McIntyre on that one

At goal kicks Swift was often advanced well up the pitch almost in a centre forward position when we really needed him a lot deeper to play the Lewis Baker role and pick the ball up off the centre backs. He did it on occasions but nowhere near enough.

The defending was unbelievably bad. I need to see the second goal again because it looked like two unmarked players on our back post. Why was no one marking them? Basic stuff and worrying.
I would go with Morrison and TMac at centre back v Coventry, We really need a specialist left back too. I would prefer a back four as I don’t want to see Yiadom as an apparent wing back because it simply does not work.

Pauno is also not exempt from criticism. We will both remember Birmingham at home last season. Last night was like that. It’s not good enough for the team to start so poorly against teams in dire form. He must have them motivated from the start.

Rino and Laurent should be more than enough to pick the ball off defence. They should then be looking for balls in to each other, Yiadom, McIntyre, Bristow, Azeez and Swift or Joao. Swift has no business dropping deeper than the centre circle to receive the ball from CBs.

Swift was well beyond the centre half a lot of times. Neither Rino nor Laurent were actually picking the ball up from the CB’s. Neither are particularly good passers. There was also a lack of movement and as a team we are hopelessly slow at shifting the ball, There were times when Bristow was in acres of space down our left flank but he was either ignored or the passing was so laboured that by the time he received the ball space had been closed down.

It was very noticeable last night that Swift was the only one capable of passing the ball forward accurately and effectively.