When lucrative player sales dried up and Covid hit, Bristol City were left nursing a troubling set of accounts and stale team, but the hard yards back from there under Nigel Pearson are starting to bear fruit in the form of one of the division's more entertaining sides - we spoke to Dave Featherstone for the latest.

Certainly been an entertaining start, loads of goals at both ends, what have you made of it?

In many respects it’s been a continuation of the last quarter of last season, especially the goals for and against, whilst sticking with a system based on making the most of its strengths — forward-thinking players. It’s been enjoyable, and a bit frustrating too, as I think we could easily have a couple more points on the board. A decent foundation has been laid and fans are generally optimistic about the rest of the season. Even the ‘Nige-Out Knee-Jerkers’ have gone quiet. I’m turning up to games expecting us to give any opponent a tough match.

Bristol City league results thus far…
Hull 2-1 Bristol City Tufan pen 72, Seri 90 — Weimann 30)
Bristol City 2-3 Sunderland Weimann 10, Martin 51 — Simms 4, 53, Stewart 71
Wigan 1-1 Bristol City Keane 67 — Weimann 6
Bristol City 2-0 Luton Wells 5, Conway 27
Bristol City 2-0 Cardiff Conway 41, Atkinson 64
Blackpool 3-3 Bristol City Bowler 7, Yates 55, Corbeanu 90 — Conway 44, Semenyo 63, Ekpiteta og 70
Bristol City 2-0 Huddersfield Wells 35, Semenyo 80
Blackburn 2-3 Bristol City Diolan 71, Brereton 90 — Conway 42, Wells 55, 73
Norwich 3-2 Bristol City Pukki 11, 23, Sargent 65 — Conway 44, Semenyo 77
Burnley 2-1 Bristol City Benson 4, Rodriguez 67 — Wells 27

Noticeable changes and improvements from last season?

As above, Pearson has settled on a back-three based system having seen its relative success last season but has changed the emphasis from being predominantly counter-attacking to one that is evolving into more possession based (ignore Burnley away!). Don’t worry, we haven’t turned into Swansea overnight, but we are now able to control parts of games. We are still dangerous on the break, but we are building attacks through the ‘thirds’ and utilising width in advanced positions. We are still a bit open in midfield and that puts pressure on the defence, but generally we are improving our structure without the ball.

The big change has been Kal Naismith and his ability to start attacks from deep, whether that is an incisive ball into midfield or the roaming Weimann, or dribbling into midfield himself, it has meant more control and less ‘banging’ it forward to Martin and Semenyo in the hope they could create something. Semenyo has been only just come back from injury whilst Martin is currently having to be content with a place on the bench, having started almost every game last season. Our bench finally looks decent.

Lack of injuries have also played their part, especially with a small squad. Only Tomas Kalas and youngster Ayman Benarous remain injured from close season, and Joe Williams, who had spent a frustrating first two years at City, has featured in every League game so far (rested for cup matches). This has also seen a settled threesome at centre-back and I think we are realising the benefit of players getting used to each other’s game, little partnerships beginning to blossom, e.g. Rob Atkinson (LCB3) and Jay Dasilva (LWB).

General opinion of how Nigel Pearson is doing?

As you know I’m a big Pearson fan, but whilst many opinions are led by results, I had to keep faith that the job being done off the pitch would start to culminate in performances and results on it. The financial cutting back from the spendthrift days of recent times has been some effort, as has been the ability to move on a couple of players not ‘on the bus’ or who’d just gone stale here. What he’s also done is build the right culture (signing the likes of Premier League winners King and James) for a crop of fine young players to come through and become first teamers. All of this takes time, and many fans just aren’t patient enough.

If we take Tommy Conway for example. Has he really burst onto the scene? Yes, in terms of starts and goals, but the backstory is that having made his debut in 20/21 and was probably exposed too soon by Pearson (but what other choice did he have?) it would’ve been easy to think that last season should’ve been spent out on loan in League Two or even the National League. However, he spent it sat on the bench, rarely getting minutes, but spending every training session with the first team group, building a bond with a certain N.Wells, formerly of the Shepherd’s Bush parish. Nahki wasn’t getting many minutes either, so a 19-year-old wasn’t gonna get the nod ahead of him, was he? Wells took him under his wing, partnered him in u23 games and took this partnership into pre-season where Conway benefitted from Wells assists. Conway even started at Wigan ahead of Wells, but come the Coventry cup-game, the two were brought together and it’s been a huge success. I honestly don’t think this happens without Pearson’s guiding hand and motivation of players not starting games.

Nor have I had to mention Alex Scott’s form (ok, I have now), more on him below.

How did your summer transfer window go?

It started off really well, Mark Sykes came on a free from Oxford, and he’s done really well so far. We then got Kal Naismith to the annoyance of Nathan Jones, which I see as a double bonus. He came on a free too, quickly followed by Kane Wilson from Forest Green Rovers for a bit of ‘compo’. We then got goalkeeper Stefan Bajic, formerly of St. Etienne, who was a free-agent, although had to get a work permit first. He arrived having had a wrist injury, so the French youth international has only made a couple of U21 appearances so far. All of that happened early, so there was no excitement as the windows closed — very quietly in our case.

Ins >>> Stefan Bajic, 20, GK, FC Pau (France), Free >>> Kal Naismith, 30, CB, Luton, Free >>> Kane Wilson, 22, RB, Forest Green, Undisclosed >>> Mark Sykes, 24, CM, Oxford, Free

Outs >>> Callum O’Dowda, 27, LW, Cardiff, Free >>> Kasey Palmer, 25, AM, Coventry, Free >>> Robbie Cundy, 25, CB, Barnsley, Free >>> Tyreeq Bakinson, 23, DM, Sheff Wed, Undisclosed >>> Nathan Baker, 31, CB, Retired concussion >>> Taylor Moore, 25, CB, Shrewsbury, Loan

Stand out players and weak links in the side?

I’ve already mentioned Tommy Conway (and his partnership with Wells), but the one to watch is #starboy Alex Scott. I’m sure you know he was the teammate of Tim Iroegbunam in the successful England U19s this summer. Last season he played a lot at RWB, but although still providing versatility / cover, it is in the heart of our midfield where he is at his best. Plays with a maturity beyond his years and is a feisty character too (5 yellows / 4 league / 1 cup). As it stands his partnership initially with Massengo and now Matty James means Joe Williams is having to settle for minutes from the bench. Scott is a joy to watch, his touch is superb, can play off either foot, and pick a pass.

The other key player in our evolving style of play is Kal Naismith. His passing and composure at the back has really helped Rob Atkinson to get forward and support Dasilva as our left side has created a ton of chances. His vocal nature and leadership have also helped Zak Vyner at RCB3, who has never quite won the hearts of City fans. Unfortunately Naismith does have a mistake in him, but I think that takes away from the excellent defensive work he does too. He is crucial to the way we play.

In terms of weak links, there are two main areas. Firstly, we lack a real aerial ball-winner at the back. We’ve struggled a bit against those teams (Wigan, Blackpool, Sunderland) who play into a big-man (or two) up-top. Our midfield doesn’t provide the best screen either, although I sense a bit of improvement in this area in recent games. The second one is double-edged; we are sometimes too quick to attack and leave our midfield with a lot of pitch to cover sideways. When Weimann does drop in to make a three-man midfield we look much more secure. It will be interesting to see how we cope with Willock and Chair and maybe stopping Johansen supplying them is a good start.

Any FFP/points deduction concerns given the state of the last set of accounts?

This is an area I’ve spent a lot of time looking into over a long period. 20/21’s accounts were horrific, but something I’d been bleating on about for four years or so. Covid, although unexpected, just hastened our financial position. The trend was there, you just can’t have a cost base as large as ours and think you can sell a £10m player every year. It catches up with you. We are still fine re FFP for 21/22’s accounts when they come out later this year, the bigger worry was this season. I think it is quite tight, but I think we have done enough to stay under the EFL’s radar. We could sell a ‘starlet’ in January and would then be well inside FFP anyway. From next season onwards the cost base reduces even further and even if we are still under the current FFP rules, 20/21’s £38.4m loss is no longer relevant, so it’s just about getting through this season. I don’t think the EFL would’ve let us sign players in the summer if we were at risk.

Revised expectations for the season?

I said middle-eight at the start of the season, and I think that is still valid, although being in the top half of those eight looks more likely than I initially thought. Hopefully further progression in the Carabao Cup (Lincoln at home in round three) too, perhaps a money-spinning tie against a big-club if we get into the next round. There is talk of a play-off push, which although not impossible would be a huge test of a small and evolving squad. I’m just happy we continue to build as we were such a mess when Pearson came in.

Links >>> Bristol City official website >>> The Exiled Robin — Blog >>> One Team In Bristol — Message Board >>> Bristol Post — Local Paper >>> One Stream In Bristol — Podcast >>> Fevs Football Analytics - Contributor's page

The Twitter @loftforwords, @fevsfootball

Pictures — Action Images

Action Images

TacticalR added 21:08 - Sep 29 Thanks to Dave. I must admit I thought Bristol City would be plagued with FFP issues for a few more years, but it sounds like there are signs of recovery (on the pitch at least). I also wondered if Nigel Pearson still had it in him as he had previously sounded fed up with the football circus.
0

Fevs_BCFC82 added 23:44 - Sep 29 Thanks TacticalR Yes, it’s meant a huge reduction in both wages and amortisation costs which had grown out of kilter with revenues. Not easy to do in a broken market. Assuming we get through this season, then we ought to be able to move forward, and look beyond free transfers! As for Nige, I think he sees this job as one last challenge / project before he goes off to fight wild dogs in Transylvania on a more regular basis.

0

thehat added 08:04 - Sep 30 Last two games have seen last minute winners for the away side. Following the same patten would be nice tomorrow. It was fantastic celebrations in the away end It was my first ever visit to Bristol and Ashton Gate last season - Great away day in a really good ground and city - Shame the bloody train strike will put quite a few off (including me).
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Queens Park Rangers Polls