“I can only praise my lads today. it was a tough week in personal terms. We lost two players, we had injury problems and travelled with a really thin squad. We had a special plan and it totally worked.
“It was a well-deserved win and I am happy to end a tough week in such a positive way.”
Well I don’t think anyone can argue with those wise words from Daniel Farke following Saturday’s welcome if, let’s be honest, slightly unexpected victory at Ashton Gate.
Well done City.
I think the slim squad will be reinforced soon in one way or another – I guess we’ll have to wait and see on that count. But Farke hasn’t given up the ghost on this season yet. Let’s get that Chelsea replay out of the way and see where we can take it from here.
Every logical thought in my head tells me we are almost certainly looking to next season already but – incredibly – we remain merely six points away from the last play-off spot, so never say never.
Any lingering fears of the drop (this time around) I had have disappeared. I am positive many of us feel the same; positive being the key word. 37 points chalked up already and all those games to go? Who knows where events might take us. It won’t be down.
Seeing the sheer spirit in that outfit on Saturday was heart-warming, particularly in the light of my previous column.
Maybe Farke has indeed instilled some not before time self-belief in the buggers. You cannot win at places such as Bristol City otherwise.
And the goal – that sublime goal from James Maddison – was fit to win any game of football. Chuck in the efforts of Angus Gunn at the death and you have the makings of a serious little outfit here. If only we could hold on to both protagonists…
For all my regular moans, Webber, Farke and Co might just be getting somewhere despite the best efforts of the Board to undermine them. C’mon, I’m allowed one dig per article.
The only thing I have consistently written here on MFW is that this structure must be allowed to see out this season and have a really good old crack at the next. I’m not for turning on that.
Sure, I know deep down we probably won’t make the playoffs this time around and the football isn’t that pretty on the eye just now, but I think we might surprise a few folks next season.
We might have to do it without James Maddison and Angus Gunn of course, eh Delia?
Just check out that turn inside, continued control and finish via any media you can, dear readers.
Bloody wars if that wasn’t special I don’t know what is!
And as for the save it was the original “Cor blimey Charlie”.
“We had a special plan and it totally worked”.
Now that’s what I like to hear.
A good read apart from the suggestion that the board are trying to undermine Farke and co. The board have made mistakes but deliberately undermining a recently appointed management team. Why? I think that a major part of the issues we have now is the board backed Alex Neil to the hilt and it was his poor recruitment that has led to the present need to sell. If anything they have been over loyal to managers.
So poor and misleading comment in my view.
Thanks Richard.
My use of the word undermining refers solely to the sale of Alex Pritchard and that many of us are worried who might be next. I’m sure Daniel Farke will be a much happier man on February 1, whatever we are left with in terms of personnel.
Okay I’m sure we all want Madders to stay and none more so than DF. It can’t be easy to work in an environment where you never know when the rug might be pulled from under you.
Misleading rather than poor in my defence – I’m pretty sure DF knew what he was walking into. I probably should have used the word restricted rather than undermined.
Anyway thanks for a good comment.
Whilst the boards aim was not to deliberately undermine Farke, what else can the sale of Pritchard be? Farke’s comments subsequent to his sale to me indicate a manager who wanted to keep hold of one of the very best players at his disposal. He and Maddison looked like they were building a good understanding and may have provided an attacking impetus that shot us to the playoffs. This after Balls had said there was no pressure to sell.
Yes Pritchard is reported to have wanted to leave, but I don’t buy that he couldn’t have been kept and reminded that the summer window was coming and that we would then listen to offers if/when we missed out on promotion.
The same could be said for Neil, whilst backed on some very dubious signings (Some good as well) he had some good players sold that I very much doubt he wanted to lose. (left back options!)
Bah!
Strangely some of the Neil signings (and I stress some) have left us with a bit of potential to build upon.
If you dig beneath Naismith and Wildschut there are two or three bubbling under…
Sadly typical of the kind of post and mentality of supporters at the moment – positivity following any kind of result and huge negativity if there is any semblance of things going wrong. Maybe you should just hold your comments and wait and see.
The board and coach do their best to achieve what the fans want within the constraints of being one of many clubs this size. Patience is the key and football success is always cyclical and that success all the sweeter for supporting your club through the tough times. Try to enjoy it, if not maybe try something more consistently entertaining but hardly exciting like Strictly
Football is about emotions. I prescribe to enjoying it through those emotions, not the accountants view like yourself.
Thanks Mark.
Surely it’s in the DNA of a supporter to applaud success and equally register disappointment at failure? We’re like that as a breed, us football fans. Most of us anyway, whoever we support.
I couldn’t have made it any plainer above that I accept this new set-up might not be an instant fix and believe it should be given time. A considerable amount of time.
I’ve seen more than enough of the good and the bad over the years to understand exactly where you’re coming from.
But there’s surely nothing wrong with wanting NCFC to be the best it can be?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I think you might be being a little hard on Martin there. Firstly, I think his article suggests he is trying to enjoy it! I don’t think positivity after 5 games unbeaten is uncalled for just as negativity until and including the burton result was understandable given the team was again showing serious no Tettey problems.
But I think we all have had serious doubts about the recent upturn in results. Afterall in the league it has been uptil Bristol, against poor sides either in the relegation places or lower half. Britstol represents a good win against a good side away from home (I’m keeping my powder dry still because Bristol have not won in 5 and may have been jaded from their cup exertions). But we have a team again that is tough to beat, but unfortunitely seems to hinge on one player with dodgy knees.
Is it to simple to say we should be optimistic if Tettey starts and pessimistic if he doesn’t? Keep Tettey fit and I think the playoffs are within reach, thats no knee jerk its bourne of performance with him in the side.
Anyway I’m encouraged that after a difficult week we once again picked up points, as Martin said, relegation should not be a worry for any but the most pessimistic fans.
If Farke finds a way of winning without Tettey then I really will start thinking he has it cracked. Still a bit of a home hoodoo to overcome, but with Tettey I have faith. Bring on the blades
Bah!
I love the concept of the words Tettey, knee and hinge all “flowing” together:-)
Sorry General, I don’t think he’ll be here next season and if anyone deserves a decent deal to return to his homeland on a free it’s Alex Tettey. Top man.
Six weeks ago, I was starting to twitch on the “R” word but as you so rightly allude to, it ain’t gonna happen.
Good post and thank you.
Great result. Still think we need more bodies in though. The subs bench looked pretty thin on saturday. The likes of Naismith, Jerome, Martin not even on the bench. In any business you want your assets working for you. What team do you think we should put out against Chelsea? To my mind the Sheff Utd game is far more important and we can’t afford to get key players injured with such a small squad.
Thanks TFC.
There will certainly be bodies coming in but who and when I know not.
As for the Chelsea selection I know even less – it’s down to DF obviously but I would like to see at least Tettey, Maddison and Pinto given a rest.
I agree Sheff Utd should be the priority – it could be a bit tasty, that one, and they will have had eight days rest compared to our bare three.
Since the current size of our squad is about 16 or 17 players, I am not quite sure who is going to supply the others with a rest. I am increasingly sorry Godfrey’s loan to Shrewsbury was renewed because it really does look like we could do with another defensive midfield option at the moment – he is the only person that could really give Tettey a break, since Harrison Reed is clearly a different kind of player.
And who else do we have as a right (wing) back option at the moment, given Russell Martin is going out on loan? Ironically Wildschut was also used there pre season, but he is also now out of the equation… Maybe Stiepermann plays everywhere… Hoolahan is still an option for Maddison. How times have changed in that now he seems to be a considerably lesser option…
Referring back to Godfrey, I find it a little ironic that given the emphasis on the Academy needing to provide more throughput of players into the first team, the one person who seems totally ready is not currently in the building. There also doesn’t seem much inclination of Farke to look at the Academy strikers yet either, but I guess that in part is because of the work rate and type of roll his system requires, and thus the need for strikers to train with the first team squad a while. There is Watkins too of course, who in many ways seems to have adapted less well than Wildschut did, whom I assume has been let go purely because of the size of his wage packet.
So, looking forward to the further re-strengthening of the squad this window, so that we do indeed have a few more subs to use… over to you Stuart Webber.
“The one person (from the Academy) ready to step up” – there is also a certain Jamal Lewis who seems to have made it!
One place we are certainly struggling for cover – and have been for some time – is RB. With Martin and Wildschut temporarily (at the very least) gone, what if anything happens to Pinto? Unless we’ve got a right-sided version of Jamal Lewis in the U-23s who has stayed under the radar.
I hope that’s the case cos I really don’t fancy Steipermann in the Pinto role!
Nice to read such a positive piece after last week!!
If I am honest I did not expect to get anything from this game, particularly after the events of last week. Apart from this fantastic result what was also clear from that performance is that the much maligned team spirit remains strong, even Nelson in spite of reports elsewhere regarding some ongoing strop. What I saw was he also worked hard for the team (in his own way!) and had 2/3 good chances and is just suffering a dip in form/ low in confidence.
Bristol are a good side the league table does not lie, but Farke going with the same formation as was deployed against Chelsea did ‘….totally work’.
As for the future, a result like the one on Saturday does fill you with hope, it seems we have a capable head coach and outside factors have conspired against him so far. As Farke often says, it is what it is, it’s my job to find solutions, but losing our best player for half the season due to injury or actually seeing him sold from under his nose dis not help the situation!! I fear it may prove difficult to keep Madderson here (Spurs, Liverpool, etc.etc. are reported to be showing interest) my hope is that Webber can negotiate a deal that keeps him here for the rest of the season and perhaps next season aswell on loan??!!
We need to see players brought in now, our squad has become critically thin, players are required to give us the depth and quality for us to progress up the league, as I have said before on here if we can keep our best 11 players ‘on the pitch’ I feel we can progress, but……
All things considered I’ll stick with my pre-season prediction of an 8th place finish in the league would be ‘par’ for this season given all the changes to personnel.
Next season my hope is that the recruitment dept. functions well and players like Tom Trybull signs a new contract and Alex Tettey is offered as new contract, he has been pivotal to the the upturn in our recent form (see the stats) and would be worth another 12 month contract to give us some of that squad depth that we so badly need.
All that said I remain optimistic about next season…..we’ll see!!
OTBC
Trybull seems reluctant to sign an extension. Plus, another injury… Not sure of his medical history at his previous clubs but two in less than 7 months is a little worry.
Yes good point, but looking to next season if Trybull and Tettey could be secured. We already have Vrancic and Ben Godfrey to come back in the summer if one other CM more in the mould of Tettey/ Trybull. could be added there would be sufficient cover for any further injuries/ suspensions. However, this comes back to the squad depth and having sufficient quality so injuries do not impact the team as it has done this season. But I would suggest the above players would sort the CM positions for next season.
Injuries have indeed been restrictive this season. We have an option on Trybull for a further year so whatever his contract situation he should still be here along with Vrancic and Godfrey as you so rightly say.
My guess is they will replace Harrison Reed with another loanee, giving us a “perm any two from four” set-up,
This summer will be a lot more significant than this January, I am sure!
You’re the first I’ve seen to mention the loan-back option re Maddison. It would seem like an obviously good idea to me. He’ll be off somewhere bigger soon enough, but the longer we can cling to him the better.
Top comment and totally agree. I understand he’s not on fantastic money here, btw.
The world would appear to be his “lobster” and good luck to him – he’s been t’riffic.
Great read Martin and the most interesting aspect of the game on Saturday was that we played as a TEAM and from the player ratings I’ve seen, we didn’t have a ‘weakest link’. OK, some will say that the #BCFC players were tired after their game against #MCFC midweek, but you can only play the team you’re facing.
Our efforts were certainly NOT helped in any way by the ‘man in black’, aka Simon Hooper who really seems to have it in for NCFC ever since he disallowed Jerome’s goal. Lewis was being persistently fouled, but no free kick, yet as soon as he fouled an opponent, he gets booked!! Klose stepped in and had a ‘word in his ear’ to stop him getting a 2nd yellow.
Look at the exploits of Glenn Middleton – he played about an hour for the Under 18s on Friday and had a massive influence on that fantastic result and then played for the Under 23s yesterday- less than 48 hours later and still had a good game. VERY promising for someone who only turned 18 on Jan 1st.
Not so super Simon Hooper will continue to be a thorn in our side I am sure.
Ever since he disallowed CJ’s goal he has indeed “had it in for us”. Impossible to prove of course. A biased ref? They don’t exist. Largely and luckily, I don’t believe they do, apart from a couple of dishonourable exceptions.
However it happened right in front of the Barclay and I only wish I could remember which of our players told Hooper his fortune in that moment. It wasn’t CJ because he was so demoralised and disbelieving he melted away. But one of ours quite correctly gave Hooper the fullest of Montys. Wagging fingers, raised fisty, large portions of verbal, the lot.
If anybody can remember who that was, please let me know some time.
You guys truly can’t help yourself. Just look at Bristol city’s recent form and then you might understand why you’re so confused after the next couple of games and how chalk and cheese we are.
Farke said himself the squad is still being dismantled, therefore I can’t see next year being easier. Not to mention the football…good god…its horrific to watch.
We desperately need a goalscorer and probably another right back to strengthen the squad at the moment.Just think where we would be in the table if Nelson or another striker had been on top form.No striker as far as I know has been linked to Ncfc yet,which I think is a bit worrying,unless Webber has something up his sleeve.My opinion is that a top six finish is still possible,but not without a striker on form.
It was an excellent performance; the goal Angus and the crossbar were all worthy of celebration-pity I couldn’t celebrate loudly as I was in a home supporters’ stand but inside my heart was singing. It was one of the few times that I can say that no-one had a sub-standard game; even Vrancic looked decent (Tettey is bringing out the best in lots of people). Jamal Lewis is showing the form and potential which should ensure that the club’s subsidy for season 2019-20 is safe.
It is good to have these positive moments in among all the negativity. We’re six points off the play offs but I really don’t think we’re good enough to put in a sustained challenge. As Martin says, we’re now in a position where relegation doesn’t seem like a threat so I would like to see them just give it a go and see where the season takes us.
If things hadn’t turned out so well on Saturday I would have been having a right paddy about the loss of Yanic; I watched the Cardiff game before ours and he made a huge difference when he came on.
I do not profess to be a football tactician nor a psychologist but the return of Lewis and Tettey means Farke’s recent experiment with three at the back seems to being paying dividends – Lewis was fast tracked to the first team before his untimely injury and it seems no Tettey and there’s no party. Maybe Farke intended to set up the squad in this formation from start but was unlucky with injuries and signings that haven’t really worked, thus forcing his hand to the 4231 post Millwall. In lewis and pinto we have additional width and the athleticism of these two means they can play the wing-back role with aplomb. If I’m not mistaken, Pinto was bought in for his pace and ability to get forward and back to defend. Since the reversion to 4231 he’s been negated in that wingback role and therefore we’ve lost that width down the flanks. Unfortunately those formative months where we lost Pritch and Lewis, then followed by Tettey’s absence have cost us valuable points, and time.
On Saturday the one touch passing prior to the goal and, credit where’s it’s due, Vrancic’s pinpoint cross to Pinto was beautiful to watch. When the system works it works, reminding me of that stuff we played at the Wembley final. It’s just getting the players to do it, and I don’t just mean the starting 11, the brick wall for us is the lack of squad depth and quality of those on the bench. That for me is a big obstacle if the surge up the table is to continue. Still early doors too but I admire the focus and forward thinking towards next season we’ve so badly lacked before.
I concur with all of that.
With regard to this transfer window if the all rumours come to pass Stuart Webber needs to extract his digit and get some players in urgently, particularly cover for Pinto where there is no cover apart from the youth team or playing someone our of position.
We should all be on alert for the surely imminent arrival in the first team squad of our superb youth team right back Max Aarons. I have seen him on a several occasions this season and he is composed and has power and a propensity for both a tackle and getting forward along the flank at a rate of knots. MOTM in the U18’s defeat of Derby on Friday.
Thanks @SMITZ _ I don’t think I’ve seen much of Aarons, as I’ve just been to Under 23 games in the past, but I’m definitely going to see the next Under 18s game at CR.
I’d love to see Abrahams n the bench occasionally, as he certainly has an excellent workrate AND an eye for goal.
Hi SMITZ, I somehow managed to miss this yesterday.
It seems my prayers have been answered (see comment from Michael D and reply, above).
I’ve seen nothing of the current crop of U-18s whatsoever this season, but as Ed says, maybe it’s time I put that right too.
Thanks for your post.
Good stuff in there Hilary. Excellent comment indeed.
A pleasantly surprising and welcome result, however it still shows how important key players are to getting a result.
Maddison’s goals and importance cannot be overstated. As Farke’s formation relies on what my old sports teacher would call ‘pissing about’ and a deck chair for the striker, it means goals ‘sparingly’ have to come from elsewhere and Maddison is the man. Chris Martin saved Roeder’s neck and Maddison is saving Farke’s or more to the point, Delia’s.
I totally agree that the board aren’t doing Farke any favours. He’ll go along with it for now and maybe for an unspecified time in the future, but when the best of the squad will be continually sold and either replaced with youth and or cheaper players to fund the delusional and naive self-funding model, he will be worn down.
I still don’t think the play offs are a realistic option – unfortunately – but it shouldn’t distract from the wider problem. Delia.
If she isn’t prepared to invest then sell to somebody who will. There are no other options if the club is to move forward.
Robin Pie alone does not fill the stomach, whether it is served in Bristol or Stowmarket.
Ha!
I’ll just stick to an old PE teacher reference this time round.
We used to play 5-a-side in the gym with no gk and just a tiny overturned bench (or form) to aim at.
Someone (not me) asked “Sir” aka Pete why and he said it would help us work out our angles when finishing.
And bless me he was right!
“despite the best efforts of the Board to undermine them. C’mon, I’m allowed one dig per article.”
I think you should explain that statement.
I agree about giving the system 2 seasons, clearly idiotic to do anything less.
My greatest fear is that the style of football is pretty dire and I whilst I also agree that results nay well improve, I detest the ridiculous style (shortcoming also demobstrated by the very similar Huddersfield style in the Prem). I’ll go to the odd away game in and around London, but I’ve no intention of doing regular 280 Mike round trips to watch the back 4 try and play keep ball.
Hi Tony – happy to expand on the “undermining” comment.
I think I kind of did in my response to Richard at the top of the shop, but to add to it:
MFW writers cover a large spectrum of opinion and I tend to be on one side of the Delia coin, so at least in my own mind maybe I feel I should put a casual little pop in most of my articles.
Acknowledging that as I do is a bit of a tongue in cheek reference and not to be taken in any way seriously.
While they do it on the pitch (which is what we all surely want) I’m happier than my written words might suggest!
I do think you have to be careful with throw away comments. We live in a world of polarised views. How much damage to the club we all care for would it be if we become board haters against board lovers.
Pritchard was sold undoubtedly on Webber’s recommendation. Let him explain in due course.
Fair do’s.
Polarisation in this particular case is potentially deconstructive, although getting some of us to depolarise ourselves might be, erm, less than easy.
Perhaps I should indeed try and hold back on the chuckaway comments – flippancy doesn’t always pay off:-)
Thank you for your pertinent comments today.
Good read Martin. A perfect weekend if one factors in the youth team beating Derby in the cup and the under 23 side defeating Newcastle. At any level, I love a city win.
Much is said above about the 3 at the back model, which briefly became 4 when Raggett entered the fray at the death. It strikes me as the best use of available personnel to play Klose, Zimmermann and Hanley together as they are all plainly among our best eleven players. The solidity of a battery of three big strong pivots, all of whom have differing assets to go with their height and power is a good platform for the team going forward.
Regarding my earlier reference to the under 23 victory, the display of Naismith should not go unnoticed. Could it be that his 2 goals and an assist during his run out display some professionalism and willingness to be involved on his part? Perhaps a fit and motivated Naismith could be utilised at Chelsea to help take the load off the first eleven.
Chris mate your first two paragraphs are taken as read. Sound stuff and I like the idea of the current if recently-reprised back three formation continuing in situ myself.
As for your final sentences, I agree so much its beyond belief. The only trouble is, so do Shakespeare’s Bottom, Blackadder’s Baldrick and Trigger from Only Fools.
If Naismith is prepared to take part in that capacity fair enough. Sure I know we need some pressure reduction on our overworked regulars but as we’re at last seemingly close to off-loading SN I wouldn’t want yet another injury to scupper it. For his sake neither – he’s done nothing wrong to us despite his salary which was possibly the final legacy of Alex Neil.
Oh no that might have been Yanic Wildschut.
A very enjoyable read
Transfers in
I read recently that city had agreed to sign a Dutch born Nigerian player from ADO in Holland at the end of the season on a free yet Vital are reporting that he is going to Portugal instead, I might be wrong but isn’t a pre agreement binding for both sides.
Jordan at Kilmarnock has been mentioned in dispatches most of the season, now Rangers have had a £500k offer turned down is he worth a punt.
Onel Hernandez dropped of the radar
Transfers out
All very misleading but it seems that Spurs are supposed to be trying to agree a deal for Maddison and loan him back for the season, this would be a very positive move for both sides.
Martin to Rangers a done deal
Naismith to anywhere north of the border PLEASE
Jarvis bad buy not his fault tranfer to the nearest retirement home for knackered footballers
Would like to say a fond farewell to Cyrille Regis had it all as a forward for Coventry, WBA and England and they say the good die young.
Last a footballer who could have been a top player injuries and bad moves looks to have finished his career early Jack Rodwell Sunderland looking to terminate his contract.
Thanks Alex:
Cyrille Regis was indeed quite something and the loss of him really puts all our little moans into perspective.
Wow, what that man achieved – the rest of us could only dream of emulating him.
I had no idea he was fractionally younger than me, not as if it matters.
Thank you for remembering Cyrille on this site and I am positive every single one of our readers will endorse that thought.
Cheers Alex
Good read Martin and nice to get back to what we’re all logging onto this site for, what happens on the green stuff. I’m like you though, the bigger picture does need reviewing as it’s all intrinsic to the end product. I won’t stick my head in the sand and trust everything the powers that be do, like you, it needs questioning and I will continue to do so, whether it’s on here or over a pint with my mates. I’ve always been a supporter of the new model, even though my previous comments might not show this. I’m prepared to be patient just don’t want the powers that be to cock it up that’s all. We’re now going through the pain of significant and ongoing squad surgery, the rehabilitation now needs to begin. Some signings of young hungry players with a point to prove would do. “To give the lads a hand” as a previous illustrious leader used to say.
Yeah – I wonder what PL will do with his two weeks in charge of Stoke before the window shuts – they’re a Club I’ve actually got a fair bit of time for incidentally, despite the activities of Pulis in the past.
Back to us, whatever we might think of the Board and for whatever reason as individuals, most of us seem to be still well onside with Webber and Farke.
So far so not so bad, as they tend to say in American films.
Thanks Chris.