PNE Vs Bristol City

[SF_]

Could really do with winning this one, we've lost three in a row against Ipswich, Hull and Derby, playing alright but getting done by sides who take their chances. Something we haven't done.

May and Doyle looked very good when they came on and Garner sprung to life when he had people willing to run beyond him. Ideally i'd like to see all three of them start but that would leave Tom Clarke unprotected at right back, it's not his position and he was shown up on Saturday by Russell.

Vermijl and Keane to drop to the bench for me, neither have earned a starting spot yet and we have better options. I'd also like to see Browne given a chance, Gallagher is a loss.

Pickford
Clarke, Huntington, Wright
Humphrey, Welsh, Browne, Cunningham
Johnson
Garner, Doyle

Kirkland, Vermijl, Woods, Kilkenny, Brownhill, May, Keane​

 

[hodge]

Reckon we'll see a draw here, Little in for Ayling at RWB and just a case of whether Ayling slots back in at RCB or is benched. Reckon we'll stick with 532, if we change it will be at home imo. Would like Agard up top with Kodjia but reckon Wilbs will start.

 

[TomPNE94]

I think we need to play 4 at the back. It seems he doesn't want to drop any of the 3 CB's and feels like he needs to play them all. I'd drop Hunts (harsh, I know) and go for a flat back 4 with a proper right back playing there and not Clarke.

Pickford
Woods---------Clarke--------Wright---------Cunningham
Welsh
Kilkenny-------------Johnson
May---------------------------Garner--------------------------Doyle​

 

[SF_]

I think we need to play 4 at the back. It seems he doesn't want to drop any of the 3 CB's and feels like he needs to play them all. I'd drop Hunts (harsh, I know) and go for a flat back 4 with a proper right back playing there and not Clarke.

Pickford
Woods---------Clarke--------Wright---------Cunningham
Welsh
Kilkenny-------------Johnson
May---------------------------Garner--------------------------Doyle​

I'd be happy enough with that team.

 

[JJH]

If we set up in a 3-5-2 we may as well not bother turning up, as anyone who has watched us this season will know exactly how the game will un-fold. We'll have a lot of the ball, force a few decent saves out of their keeper, moan about Wilbraham being past it, and then concede to either a goal on the break, or in behind the wing-backs. It's so, so predictable, it's been the same story all season.

It'll be a scrappy, narrow 1-0/2-1, much like it was at Ashton Gate last season if he sets up how I think he will.

Personally - I'd change formation completely. We have the players to be more than alright in this league, but they're not being used to good effect.

Hamer
Ayling-----Flint-----Baker-----Williams
Pack-----Smith
Agard-----Reid-----Freeman
Kodjia
​

Hamer back in, because I have no idea why he was dropped on Saturday. Williams at left back because we idiotically sold Cunningham. Freeman back on the left to accommodate Reid, but I'd have a flexible 3 in behind Kodjia, not strictly disciplined and rigid positions.

I appreciate this system would take a while to get used too, but I'd rather see us lose like this adapting to the new style of play rather than the other predictable shite that has been served up whilst playing the 3-5-2.

 

[old parkender]

If we set up in a 3-5-2 we may as well not bother turning up, as anyone who has watched us this season will know exactly how the game will un-fold. We'll have a lot of the ball, force a few decent saves out of their keeper, moan about Wilbraham being past it, and then concede to either a goal on the break, or in behind the wing-backs. It's so, so predictable, it's been the same story all season.

It'll be a scrappy, narrow 1-0/2-1, much like it was at Ashton Gate last season if he sets up how I think he will.

Personally - I'd change formation completely. We have the players to be more than alright in this league, but they're not being used to good effect.

Hamer
Ayling-----Flint-----Baker-----Williams
Pack-----Smith
Agard-----Reid-----Freeman
Kodjia
​

Hamer back in, because I have no idea why he was dropped on Saturday. Williams at left back because we idiotically sold Cunningham. Freeman back on the left to accommodate Reid, but I'd have a flexible 3 in behind Kodjia, not strictly disciplined and rigid positions.

I appreciate this system would take a while to get used too, but I'd rather see us lose like this adapting to the new style of play rather than the other predictable shite that has been served up whilst playing the 3-5-2.

Drop Joe? Very much one of our best for a flat 4? Bloody hope not

 

[JJH]

Drop Joe? Very much one of our best for a flat 4? Bloody hope not

Shit, completely forgot about Bryan.

I'd shove Freeman back into the middle then and have Bryan on the left. Harsh on Reid, but he'll get his chance this season.

 

[old parkender]

That does look good on paper...I do get the impression that Cotts is gonna live or die by the sword tho and may view a formation change akin to admitting he's got it wrong for this division!

 

[BCFC David]

Big game this, lose this and confidence will be rock bottom. I can't see much change to Saturdays line up. Here's hoping the back 3 start to click otherwise we will continue to struggle to pick up points.

 

[BCFC Jordan]

PNE will win comfortably. 3-0 or 3-1.

 

[Ciderhead]

First game against a fellow promoted side, always an interesting benchmark. Neither of us have had the greatest start, and really don't want to be losing this. Expect a tightly contested game like back in April, maybe a 1-1 draw, but hopefully we can nick it.

I've been one for sticking with 352 but that team JJH posted with Bryan in it does look alright, be happy with that. Don't see it though, Cotts is so stubborn about having a big man up top, even last year. Big shame we didn't manage to get Kermogant over the line.

 

[hodge]

If we went 4 at the back I'd rather Bryan at LB with Williams benched and then Agard-Reid/Robinson/Freeman-Freeman/Robinson as a 3 behind Kodjia.

 

[TomPNE94]

Grayson seems to have had the better of Cotterill tactically recently, hopefully that continues.

 

[JJH]

If we went 4 at the back I'd rather Bryan at LB with Williams benched and then Agard-Reid/Robinson/Freeman-Freeman/Robinson as a 3 behind Kodjia.

I think Bryan would be to limited playing as a full back in a four. He's better going forward than he is defensively, so it would make sense him being pushed out on the wing if we did adopt that formation, which I can't see. But - I do understand the argument of trying to accomadate all the attacking options into one side.

 

[hodge]

It's not that as such, I don't trust Williams as a left back, felt uneasy when he got used there last season and when Cotts first took over.

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

Two teams out of form and struggling to adapt to the higher level. I can see a very scrappy game and a home win by the odd goal. Think things will get worse before they get better (which they will!)

 

[zanderpne]

Considering in our opening 6 games we've played Middlesbrough, Hull, Ipswich and Derby who are all expected to be up there, we've actually had a decent start.

Hopefully we'll have too much for Bristol City, their defence doesn't look brilliant.

 

[SF_]

Considering in our opening 6 games we've played Middlesbrough, Hull, Ipswich and Derby who are all expected to be up there, we've actually had a decent start.

Hopefully we'll have too much for Bristol City, their defence doesn't look brilliant.

Aye, out of the bottom half teams we've played (Rotherham & MK) we've got 4pts on the road,
Played well for a point against Boro,
Bit of a travesty we didn't get anything from Ipswich,
Hull were very professional at their place but didn't outclass us
and despite us not playing particularly well I don't think Derby were great value for the three points.

Bristol City, Brentford and Sheff Weds looks a bit kinder.

 

[kelbiiz]

PNE will win comfortably. 3-0 or 3-1.

I also think like you

 

[PrestonCha]

Cunningham to totally nullify Callum Robinson, clear 2 off the line and score a 93rd minute winner.

Oh aye.

 

[SF_]

Forgot about Callum Robinson, how has he done this season?

Don't think I would have taken him back at this level, personally.

 

[PrestonCha]

How has Robinson looked so far, anyway lads?

Bit lightweight?

 

[hodge]

Very much a back up option to bolster numbers.

 

[BCFC David]

I'm going to be positive, and say 2-1. We are not as bad a results suggest. Freeman and Kodjia ( who has suprised me at how well he's settled) and Freeman.

 

[JJH]

Forgot about Callum Robinson, how has he done this season?

Don't think I would have taken him back at this level, personally.

How has Robinson looked so far, anyway lads?

Bit lightweight?

Looked alright when he's played, nowt special. Definitely back up, but he's been played all over the shot. Wouldn't mind him up front with Kodjia.

 

[Ciderhead]

I'm going to be positive, and say 2-1. We are not as bad a results suggest. Freeman and Kodjia ( who has suprised me at how well he's settled) and Freeman.

And Freeman don't forget

 

[BCFC David]

Haha maybe I meant 3-1. Who knows.........

 

[Ciderhead]

Greg's bound to have a good game, though his task will be made easier by not having a fully fit Mark Little to face down that side.

Convinced Kilkenny will have a stormer as well. Type of prick who loves to stick it to his previous clubs, pretty much the only game he wasn't utterly shite in a City shirt was against Leeds

 

[SF_]

Cunningham is yet to have a dodgy game, we badly missed him at Hull it seems as Elmohamady tore Callum Woods a new one by all accounts. Was one of the few players to have a good game on Saturday and didn't give Tom Ince a sniff.

It would be class if Kilkenny scored, he's so slappable and smug, he'd have the Bristol City fans seething.

 

[hodge]

Cunningham was good for us too, it was just unfortunate for him that Bryan developed really well after his loan spell or Greg probably would still have been #1 at City.