Bristol City 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[the colonel]

Just watching the goals for 1st time. Despite the mistakes the other thing that stands out is composure in front of goal. 

We don't have it. Do you think if we had same chances we would have scored those 3 goals? No!!

[OttawaSaint]

28 minutes ago, Winnersaint said:

About as much chance as Blackadder, Baldrick et al coming out unscathed from the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth.

 

Baldrick Still probably has a cunning plan to start 5 CBs vs Blackburn!

[RedArmy]

On the plus side another possession trophy. 
 

Russell Martin would be proud. 

[Saint NL]

4 minutes ago, a1ex2001 said:

Sack the manager and get someone who isn’t trendy and fashionable in!

Dominic Calvert-Lewis player-manager?

 

[Tanlee]

As soon as any team we play has to come at us due to us taking the lead, we go to total shit and if they score first we go even more to shit, thats not a great scenario 

Edited 19 hours ago by Tanlee

[notnowcato]

We won the XG 😂

[die Mannyschaft]

Still out. Need goal scorer, defenders. Players who don't keep passing ball on our D to opponent.  We need defenders also. At least 5 in window. Garbage side slow nonsense 2nd half and useless defending after we scored. Leaque 1 on horizon!!

[sfc4prem]

1 minute ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

Last season, we were one of the worst teams in top flight histopry.  We have won 4 games in 17 months.  Last season inevitably has had an impact on the football club and Will Still doesn;t seem like the sort of person that is going to get the club back in a more positive state.  BUT, who could?  Sport Republic are shambolic, the coaching staff and recruitment staff are dog shit because for the occasional Fernandes that is a lovely player to have, there's a Downs in a position where we desperately needed quality.  Utterly inept people running the football club and there is zero chance they get anything right.  If Dragan wants the club to succeed, he is probably going to have to have some bollocks and part with the likes of Ankerson etc. and start all over again.  We are only going in one direction and it isn't up.   

I emphatically agree with this. Our mentality as a team, a management and just a club is so weak. So timid. So aimless.

There is fuck all belief in that team. Their heads drop at the first sign of adversity. They dont seem to have any initiative, and any they do have is like stuffing a microwave full of tin foil and putting it on for 10 minutes.

The same can be said for many of the players, too.

[BranfootsLoveChild]

Do any of you think another manager could improve this lot? Because I don't. Whoever was to come in, a seasoned manager at this level would struggle to get these fucking donkeys playing as a team. The recruitment has been shit. 

[Suhari]

10 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

FT 3-1

Not surprised at all, despite their match day 11 costing about the same as Finn Azaz.

This was (ANOTHER) shit show from the manager, who is miles out of his depth.

The system again kills us, surrenders midfield, overload immediately in defence, whilst we plod the ball down each channel. We do not have the players in the middle for that, but we largely keep doing it. We of course had our usual 30 min purple patch, but this was terrible and Bristol did not really have to work hard for it. I know people got excited because we looked good for large parts at home to Swansea, but they were utterly terrible.

The manager is woeful, who has a massively expensive squad with proven Championship quality. The fact Fellows and Azaz are sidelined to a degree is a disgrace IMO. Pumping balls down the line or through the middle is horrific, and the insistence to STICK with 3x CBs is hilarious bad.

I suspect more of the same from the manager on Sat if he sticks with this god awful set up.

One thing is for sure, Nathan Jones will embarrass Will Still as it stands..

Yep.

Our squad is, for want of a more eloquent term, "mustard" for this league.

Yes, a proper no.9 would be welcome, but AA and CA have scored a fair few in this league.

We are MASSIVELY under-performing. That's on the manager.

[Challenger]

3 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

Where do we go after this horror show. 

To Blackburn, where the same boring tactics will be performed again by the same weak players under the instructions of the same ineffective manager employed by the same useless owners.

[die Mannyschaft]

Just now, sfc4prem said:

I emphatically agree with this. Our mentality as a team, a management and just a club is so weak. So timid. So aimless.

There is fuck all belief in that team. Their heads drop at the first sign of adversity. They dont seem to have any initiative, and any they do have is like stuffing a microwave full of tin foil and putting it on for 10 minutes.

The same can be said for many of the players, too.

Negative,  slow. Soft, over tactical, EA26 computer football 

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Challenger said:

To Blackburn, where the same boring tactics will be performed again by the same weak players under the instructions of the same ineffective manager employed by the same useless owners.

A perfect description 

[S-Clarke]

Mentally this team is shot to pieces, completely shot.

We go a goal up, don't control the game, concede almost immediately - and from that moment, we didn't really get another sniff. We lost all control and the game was gone. 

We have a load of new players out there, but they're catching this same meek and weak as piss mentality which has eroded any team we've had for many years now.

The club is rotten to the core. Only new ownership changes it, anything else is just re-arranging the deck chairs.

[Suhari]

Just now, BranfootsLoveChild said:

Do any of you think another manager could improve this lot? Because I don't. Whoever was to come in, a seasoned manager at this level would struggle to get these fucking donkeys playing as a team. The recruitment has been shit. 

The individuals are, without doubt, better than the sum of the parts. At this level they are not donkeys.

We're under-performing.

[sfc4prem]

3 minutes ago, Graffito said:

It didn’t take much for it all to unravel did it? A shit equaliser gifted to them and everyone and everything goes to pieces. There’s a terrible lack of discipline, character, leadership and basic will to win in too many of these players. And the manager just seems confused. He’s confusing the fuck out of me anyway.

Discipline. That's it. I've been beaten into submission by the club and had forgotten that was a thing.

[die Mannyschaft]

Still out. Need goal scorer, defenders. Players who don't keep passing ball on our D to opponent.  We need defenders also. At least 5 in window. Garbage side slow nonsense 2nd half and useless defending after we scored. Leaque 1 on horizon!!

[BranfootsLoveChild]

1 minute ago, Suhari said:

The individuals are, without doubt, better than the sum of the parts. At this level they are not donkeys.

We're under-performing.

Fair point. I'm just annoyed 😅

[The Wyvern]

11 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Props to anyone brave enough to make away trips to these. You're the real heart of this club.

What’s mad is tickets to most of our away games are like gold dust.

[die Mannyschaft]

Stuck in some industrial park shit hole.

Players find bother coming over to away fans. !!

[AlexLaw76]

5 minutes ago, BranfootsLoveChild said:

Do any of you think another manager could improve this lot? Because I don't. Whoever was to come in, a seasoned manager at this level would struggle to get these fucking donkeys playing as a team. The recruitment has been shit. 

Yes, considerably.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 minute ago, The Wyvern said:

What’s mad is tickets to most of our away games are like gold dust.

Club taking the piss, nead to organise a manager and team quick or it leaqu 1. We just can't cope with any team half decent.

[SW11_Saint]

5 minutes ago, Suhari said:

We are MASSIVELY under-performing. That's on the manager.

I’d say that’s on the players…

[Winnersaint]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Yes, considerably.

Hmmm, you maybe correct, but who?

[Sir Ralph]

2 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Stuck in some industrial park shit hole.

Players find bother coming over to away fans. !!

The players didnt come and clap the away fans?

[die Mannyschaft]

3 minutes ago, BranfootsLoveChild said:

Fair point. I'm just annoyed 😅

Poor tactics, Poor training,  not direct enough. We could have CR7 and still lose.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Players find bother coming over to away fans. !!

Good, long overdue.

Sorry you’ve had a shit night though Manny.

Edited 19 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[HedgeEnder]

Highlight of the day was the burger at the cricket ground and first 35 min. After that a horror show. We just don’t counter attack and have no urgency when chasing the game. Will Still and Sports Repblic out. Where do we go from here?

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Sir Ralph said:

The players didnt come and clap the away fans?

No, I think Manny is saying they came over and soon turned tail under a volley of abuse, coins and lighters.

[SaintNewForest]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Yes, considerably.

You think SR will finally make a decent appointment then? You have more faith than the rest of us.

[Patches O Houlihan]

13 minutes ago, a1ex2001 said:

Yet in every full season he has spent at this level previously he has been one of the best defenders in the division…

Maybe he's up all night breast feeding his nipper

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, Winnersaint said:

Hmmm, you maybe correct, but who?

Michael Carrick

[Sir Ralph]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

No, I think Manny is saying they came over and soon turned tail under a volley of abuse, coins and lighters.

Good that they came over and got a volley of abuse. Lucky they dont play for Rangers

[SWLondon Saint]

Bloody hell that was depressing - 3 absolute giveaway goals by them, just ridiculous luck for the first 2 and then a shit pass for the third. Why don't we seem to get any lucky breaks?

There's just a cloud of bad attitude and luck over the club and players. THB, and Downes when he plays, just seem to be in some kind of giant sulk, guaranteeing yellow cards. As soon as things go against us we just mentally flop. Manning and Fraser offer absolutely nothing on the flanks going forward. Jander and Charles were actually good except for Jander's brain fart bad pass for the 3rd. Archer might as well have not been on the pitch. Scienza a clear class above everyone on both sides. 

I think if we lose at Blackburn Still is gone, but I'm actually not sure sacking the manager solves the problem, we could easily get worse instead of better. 

[spyinthesky]

Most of us felt a warm, muzzy feeling after the influx of supposedly decent players in the recent transfer window after a long winter of abject failure.
This short term feeling of optimism has been replaced by the return of the familiar feeling of despondency magnified by the loss of our only true central striker.
Hopefully we are too good to go down but who knows?
At the moment we are unlikely to overhaul Pompey.
The only very small glimmer of light is that all three relegated clubs lost tonight.
Not much of a consolation though.
 

[imadirtyurchin]

Considering how long the club had to prepare for this season - after knowing our fate for so long last season. I don’t think they’ve done a very good job. 

Poor recruitment - massive holes in the squad - no consistent quality down the spine, and glaring problem positions identified last season still unaddressed. And then appointing a relatively rookie manager to deal with it. 

[benjii]

14 minutes ago, BranfootsLoveChild said:

Do any of you think another manager could improve this lot? Because I don't. Whoever was to come in, a seasoned manager at this level would struggle to get these fucking donkeys playing as a team. The recruitment has been shit. 

You honestly think Dyche or Cooper would have done this badly?

[SWLondon Saint]

6 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Poor tactics, Poor training,  not direct enough. We could have CR7 and still lose.

I just don't see how we can play more direct with the 3 miniature amigos up front? Honestly for me I think we have to try Azaz as a false 9 or even Downs, Archer is just not working out as a central striker and Armstrong was completely anonymous as soon as he moved to the middle too.

[AlexLaw76]

Will Still post match....

• Lost by making really easy for them
• They did not have to do much, if anything
• We gifted them 2 goals
• I think 1st half we controlled it, we scored a good goal and made 1 mistake which they scored
• 2nd half, we started positively with a good chance, hit the bar and missed
• Then they shank one and it hits the post
• not much you can say, then they get another
• The situation we are in it is difficult
• we are just not there yet
• We can't miss the ball for their first goal, these are mistakes we can't seem to rub out
• Woody has been really good but makes 1 mistake and it is a goal
• We probably should have dealt with their 2nd before it gets in that position
• it is tricky
• people talk about the tactical element, but we were in total control then gave it away
• We probably could have gone 3 or 4-1 up, then they shank one on the post and score
• I will take the blame and criticism, but it is what it is
• It is concerning that we go ahead and we can't kill it of, but like sat where we dont score
• We are not going to move forward until we do that quickly

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, SWLondon Saint said:

I just don't see how we can play more direct with the 3 miniature amigos up front? Honestly for me I think we have to try Azaz as a false 9 or even Downs, Archer is just not working out as a central striker and Armstrong was completely anonymous as soon as he moved to the middle too.

Downs is absolutely terrible and seems scared of the ball. I swear he's the smallest/weakest tall person ever. 

[spyinthesky]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Bloody hell that was depressing - 3 absolute giveaway goals by them, just ridiculous luck for the first 2 and then a shit pass for the third. Why don't we seem to get any lucky breaks?

There's just a cloud of bad attitude and luck over the club and players. THB, and Downes when he plays, just seem to be in some kind of giant sulk, guaranteeing yellow cards. As soon as things go against us we just mentally flop. Manning and Fraser offer absolutely nothing on the flanks going forward. Jander and Charles were actually good except for Jander's brain fart bad pass for the 3rd. Archer might as well have not been on the pitch. Scienza a clear class above everyone on both sides. 

I think if we lose at Blackburn Still is gone, but I'm actually not sure sacking the manager solves the problem, we could easily get worse instead of better. 

We do seem to be having some bad breaks to be fair.
Robinson hitting the post twice, Boro's flukey goal, hitting the post v Swansea and I think there have been others.
I still think we have enough decent players to make a go of things but spending around £30+ on Downs (!!!) Brereton Diaz, and Archer (probably £100k on wages) plus the £8m wasted on Ross Stewart would have bought us a decent striker.
I dont necessarily blame Sports Republic as they have spent money but the recruitment, particularly on strikers, has been woeful.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Not even a surprise to see the game go that way. Our weaknesses have been clear with this season's set up for a while.

In the second half Scienza rattled the bar and Charles had a golden chance with a header. Both players get credit for all the good work to get into those positions. Because we created nothing as a team.

Broadly the team is toothless up front, entirely missing centrally and disconnected being forced wide or with riskier passes.

AA continues to work hard, although there's no one to deliver it to him quickly when he could deliver. He needs a partner with some contrast. SR decided that was Downs.

Charles is slowly getting better when getting forward, although he's not as good in that role as Stu or even Will were.

Robinson tried some solo efforts when he came on. Just when we should have been looking to get more from AA and Downs being on there.

All of that makes us unlikely to break anyone down. And when we can't do that, we've every chance of giving opponents more chances. 

Jander's was a very poor chance to concede the third. But we didn't look likely to recover from the second, where we didn't cover ourselves in glory either.

They put on their Armstrong. He's a stock forward. Strong, not masses of pace but a little. He caused more problems than our entire attack managed. He wasn't in the top two of their attackers on that performance either.

Same issues:No centre forward. No attacking midfielder. No proper defensive midfielder. Edwards right of a back 3, with Fraser as a wing back while Bree got punted on loan and Mads dropped and a back 4 seems like it's beyond us.  No real plan of attack and no strength physically or mentally. 

Edited 18 hours ago by Holmes_and_Watson

[SWLondon Saint]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Downs is absolutely terrible and seems scared of the ball. I swear he's the smallest/weakest tall person ever. 

I don't think he can be much worse than Archer today tbh who was basically invisible except for that terrible finish against the keeper, but my preference would be Azaz as a false 9. 

[Charlie Wayman]

What a bloody pathetic shambles, players who haven't a clue what they are supposed to be doing and a manager who goes missing as soon as things turn against us.

Still is an absolute disaster for this club, even worse than Jones. How much longer do we have to put up with his crap crab football,. Pantomime season is in full sway. 

Bring on the Clowns, oh, they're already here!

Edited 19 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Winnersaint]

4 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

What a bloody pathetic shambles, players who haven't a clue what they are supposed to be doing and a manager who goes missing as soon as things turn against us.

Still is an absolute disaster for this club, even worse than Jones. How much longer do we have to put up with his crap crab football,. Pantomime season is in full sway. 

Bring on the Clowns, oh, they're already here!

That's the definitive summary to be fair.

[macca155]

That was terrible, what on earth was Still doing. Frazer was woeful, targeted by City and put under pressure. Mads should have had that slot.

1st half was ok but it was easy to see where the problems were. City are a decent outfit, give them a chance and and they score. 

Still was absolutely undone by a classic 4 4 2 formation. An impenetrable defence, overrun in midfield, and bullied by their units up front.

The 2nd half was terrible, players out of position and then Downs was brought on.

Robinson immediately caused them problems, but Fellows was once again playing with his back to the goal.

Azaz, Downes, and Aribo cost millions. All three were needed tonight, but not used.

Still won't be sacked .... yet. They'll try and tough it out and pray for a win. Otherwise the finger will point at their, not so clever, recruitment.

Still has lost the away fans, lots of boos and rumblings tonight. That's never a good sign.

[Vancouver Saint]

Okay, it's official - my patience with Will Still has expired.

That second half was just woeful ineptitude. 70% possession and 5 touches in the opposition box, playing three CB's who pass it around the back in our own half because there's nobody free in the middle to pass to because the opposition have figured out they can out-number us and press us there - doh!
They have 30% possession, three times as many touches in our box and two goals.
we continue to have Manning do out-swinging corners (to nobody that can head a ball) that result in breakaways for the other team.
Continued defensive errors that cost us goals...including massive momentum-swingers like their equalising goal.
Yes the rose-tinted optimists will point to Scienza hitting the bar and Charles missing a header he should have scored from, Archer not capitalising etc...but this game was lost on tactics, energy and desire.
We are absolutely where we deserve to be - 17th.
That's us. Our new goal: reach the giddy heights of mid-table mediocrity.
 

[Pamplemousse]

Utterly depressing.

We won't go down but we need another clear out in the summer, we have zero chance of promotion. It's pretty obvious to everyone who wants to fight and who the losers are. Scienza, Charles, Armstrong, build a team around them.

Sack the manager by all means, and he isn't blameless, but we have too many losers and nobody could get a tune out of them even with the perfect gameplan. He isn't the biggest issue.

Half of them didn't even bother coming over to the fans after the game, too scared to face the music. Still was the only one who did.

[SaintNate]

Oh dear oh dear

[Teamsaint1]

We really do have enormous problems.

Three years of absolute chaos has finally caught up with us. There is little elite level expertise  at the top of  club outside of the immediate first team . 

We likely have the basis of a decent squad at this level ( ignoring the desperate need for at least one more decent striker), but this time it looks as though it is going to take time to build a proper team, and a winning mentality. 
God knows what it is like in the dressing room at the moment, but I’d be certain that the team spirit and cohesion is absolutely miles off what Bristol City , for example, have.

And without that you are stuffed.