Bristol City (H) - Post-Match Thread

[The Doctor]

24 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

Although what you observe is correct, it really has nothing to do with the concept of 'things clicking' - that's just poor individual performance you're describing.

It's poor performances to a degree (certainly the decision making aspect) but also players not quite grasping everyone else's roles in the system and so instinctively knowing where their teammates will be, so the cutbacks are to a player rather than an area etc

[Lillehamring]

4 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

It's poor performances to a degree (certainly the decision making aspect) but also players not quite grasping everyone else's roles in the system and so instinctively knowing where their teammates will be, so the cutbacks are to a player rather than an area etc

Fair point - that is true from an individual perspective, though it seems most of the clicking talk seems to be focused on some kind of sudden footballing epiphany where we change from the way we're playing now into a turbo version where we are winning 4-0 each week.

[ARM1968]

11 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

Fair point - that is true from an individual perspective, though it seems most of the clicking talk seems to be focused on some kind of sudden footballing epiphany where we change from the way we're playing now into a turbo version where we are winning 4-0 each week.

This is my point entirely. I think people are waiting for something that may not happen to confirm it has all ‘clicked’.  I wonder if a modicum of disappointment might waft through some fans when this ‘click’ doesn’t turn out to be what they are expecting. 
 

I think we are playing well. Confidence is high now and that helps. I think we will become more relaxed in the application of Enzo’s tactics and better at executing it. I’m just hearing too much of this mythological ‘click’  which I’m not sure anyone will ever really see as an ‘event’ or a demonstrable moment. 
 

Hence why I wonder if we will still be hearing it said at the end of the season. I find it interesting. 

[Ric Flair]

12 hours ago, lcfcsnow said:

We’re not going to batter anyone as since pre season we seem to willingly turn down attacking opportunities and it’s still happening. I’ve seen us go back to defence from a corner, free kicks in the attacking third and when a pass is on to someone in acres down the wing many times.

 

We also don’t have the right players in attacking areas to score goals. Neither Vardy or Iheanacho are suited to the way we’re playing, Wilf and KDH as good as they’ve been in certain areas they are not scoring us goals, both have only scored in one league game this season.

I mean, I've raised a few concerns that we don't have enough goalscorers in this squad but this is a little dramatic. 

 

We missed sitter after sitter going for a 4th vs Southampton and then likewise missed a few more when going for a 5th.

 

Vs Norwich we were continuing to push and once again either missed good chances (McAteer open goal before he scored) or the final ball when 3 on 2 let us down.

 

Maresca isn't a negative manager, he's not tending to bring defenders or destroyers on for the sake of it to protect a lead but whether we're losing, drawing or winning a game, the choice of pass in the build up phase doesn't change too much, the philosophy is to keep building. That can be frustrating but we're still only 8 league games in, we've won 9 in 10 games in all competitions and the immediate gains have been jaw dropping.

 

I want more goals, whether we get them or not might be more down to the lack of finishing ability than tactics, but I do agree that our strikers tend to not be the ones getting the most chances a game, so unless you have natural finishers in midfield or out wide, we're going to have to keep finding ways to score more.

[Lillehamring]

25 minutes ago, ARM1968 said:

This is my point entirely. I think people are waiting for something that may not happen to confirm it has all ‘clicked’.  I wonder if a modicum of disappointment might waft through some fans when this ‘click’ doesn’t turn out to be what they are expecting. 
 

I think we are playing well. Confidence is high now and that helps. I think we will become more relaxed in the application of Enzo’s tactics and better at executing it. I’m just hearing too much of this mythological ‘click’  which I’m not sure anyone will ever really see as an ‘event’ or a demonstrable moment. 
 

Hence why I wonder if we will still be hearing it said at the end of the season. I find it interesting. 

I think some people are just clinging to the idea because, whilst happy we are winning, don't particularly like the way were playing and hope that one day we're suddenly scoring for fun and humiliating teams.

 

Others, as i say, are probably just thinking about getting to a level where the system becomes natural and they start playing with freedom and a capacity to express themselves.  Which I think will happen, but it won't be an 'hallelujah' moment, it'll be gradual - one player at a time - winks is there, mcateer, perhaps, ricci, more or less - for everyone else it still is a bit forced and unnatural.

[ajthefox]

40 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

I think some people are just clinging to the idea because, whilst happy we are winning, don't particularly like the way were playing and hope that one day we're suddenly scoring for fun and humiliating teams.

 

Others, as i say, are probably just thinking about getting to a level where the system becomes natural and they start playing with freedom and a capacity to express themselves.  Which I think will happen, but it won't be an 'hallelujah' moment, it'll be gradual - one player at a time - winks is there, mcateer, perhaps, ricci, more or less - for everyone else it still is a bit forced and unnatural.

I think people are expecting a big win and a complete performance at some point that shows that the system is working and in a way confirms that this is who we are now.

 

I think this is the closest you can get to there being any sort of definitive clicking. The reality is obviously that it is a gradual thing as you say.

[Lillehamring]

7 minutes ago, ajthefox said:

I think people are expecting a big win and a complete performance at some point that shows that the system is working and in a way confirms that this is who we are now.

 

I think this is the closest you can get to there being any sort of definitive clicking. The reality is obviously that it is a gradual thing as you say.

But based on that logic we 'clicked' vs southampton.  If anything, by the standards of that game, this one was more a case of reverting back to the previous issues in the final third - so a 'big win' proves nothing.

I think when the system becomes more natural, players will play more naturally and under those circumstances, decisions and execution will improve and we might see some regular 2s and 3s - but that doesn't mean we'll surpass the 4 goals we've scored against southampton.  Even though i certainly hope we do.