To all Bristol City boo boys: Lay off Lee Johnson
THREE points and a performance that was more akin to what we have come to expect under the stewardship of Gary Johnson.
Big Jamie McCombe was the hero, flicking home Jamie McAllister's free kick, on his return to the side. Jamie was immense at both ends of the pitch and was deservedly named man of the match at the end of the game.
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Bristol City's Lee Johnson
The 'Big Man' won pretty much everything that was thrown at the City defence and when he didn't, invariably Liam Fontaine, who was excellent alongside him did.
There were a few shaky moments and too often we were sloppy in our possession of the ball and the ball was needlessly given away throughout the game. Only Gary Johnson and Keith Millen will know if Jamie would have started if Captain Louis Carey had not been ruled out. In my opinion, Norwich were a poor side and against better sides we may very well have been punished.
This game was all about taking three points and that was achieved and had we made more of the chances in the first half it would have been more comfortable. Football is about confidence and this win should mean Tuesday night's trip to Charlton is viewed with anticipation.
Lee Trundle was recalled to the starting line up and Trunds and Dele Adebola caused the Norwich back four problems especially in the first half. City got back to playing the ball on the ground and as a result looked far more dangerous than we had in recent weeks.
I still feel that we are missing a clever ball playing midfielder and a wide man. We are not getting the right ball into the box from out wide. Gavin Williams has been a disappointment and Ivan Sproule gets into great positions without providing the end product. Nicky Maynard looked lively when he came on and was unfortunate to get booked.
There were a couple of moments in the game which disappointed me. Leroy Lita made his first return to Ashton Gate since his 2005 move to Reading and some members of the crowd showed what short memories they have with some unsavoury chants and by booing Leroy's every touch. Leroy is a class player and showed glimpses of this and could easily have left with a goal. I'm sure the same people booing Leroy would be cheering if he had re-signed for us. This attitude shows a distinct lack of respect .
The second incident was even more disappointing. On 88 minutes Lee Johnson was substituted and replaced by Brian Wilson. The cheers that greeted this change were not for Lee's performance but more for the fact that he had been substituted. This is disgusting and is the sort of idiotic behaviour that Ashley Cole was subjected to by fans at Wembley.
I don't hide the fact that I am a Lee Johnson fan and I accept that Lee didn't have the best of games, but would the same treatment have been given out if Michael McIndoe had been substituted? Many felt that Lee should have lost his place to David Noble but were perhaps unaware that Noble was yet again out injured.
Lee does at times give possession away but this is largely due to the fact that he has possession of the ball more than most. I hope those involved take a long look at themselves.
6 Comments
by dave, briz
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 9:35AM
“he wasnt booed, change the headline”
by Stephen, Jersey C I
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 2:14PM
“I attended my first game of the season last saturday and experienced a complete sense of deja vu.It was just the same as most of last season,have we not learned from the huge disappointment of just missing out ?
We must play with pace and wit and i'm afraid LJ has neither.Selling Carle was a big mistake and with him and Elliott in the middle we'd surely have got 3 or 4 because Norwich were poor.
If we play like that against Reading we'll get battered and we'll be scraping around in mid table for the rest of the season.
Last year we'd've been more than happy with this years start,but a year on and with £3m or so spent aren't we entitled to think we should be doing better ?”
by ROB DAVIS, Bristol
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 1:45PM
“I agree with your sentiment booing your team should be punishable by exclusion or at least treated with distain, However I think back to the Derby county game and have no issue with Lee passing to their centre forward in the 6 yard box (as that happens) however his performance for the remainder of the game wasn¿t that of someone who was trying to make amends and perhaps GJ isn¿t doing him any favours by keeping him on, on bad days.
I know as a manager of my own son, as a rule my son get the rough ride, not the easy ride.
This is the email I sent Matt, this morning after reading his article, he then pointed me in the direction of this site and now it's time to defend my friend.. I 100% agree with virtually all the comments on here other than 1 this one.."then you are not a city fan thats for sure??" Trust me if you cut this guy in half it would read BRISTOL CITY all through him like a stick of rock.”
by Joe, Yate
Monday, October 20 2008, 6:30PM
“Ive only missed 3 games this season and all the games Ive seen Lee Johnson play, he hasn't exactly been on his game. Hes to small, got no strength, cant tackle, cant shoot, needs to many touches, cant hit the target from set pieces, cant take a accurate corner and gives the ball away far to many times. Skuse got dropped for giving the ball away to much, so whats the difference? He doesn't deserve a place in the 1st team the way hes playing at the moment. Maybe being dropped, could make him a better player? After all every one else has been dropped for poor performances! From what i see week in week out, City need a stronger midfielder along side Elliott. I personally would like to see someone like Ben Watson from C Palace? Gary Johnson isn't exactly helping his boy by starting him every week even when hes had a bad game. I don't agree with booing him but the fans have been patient with him and hes getting worse and still starting. As a supporter its not working and hes the weak link in midfield and teams are sussing him this out as well as the supporters. I wish him well in the future but at this time City need a change for the best. After all Gary, 75% of the fans who go down every week can't be wrong?”
by Peter, KIngsdown
Monday, October 20 2008, 3:42PM
“LJ is an enigma. We didn't initially look too good without him last year, but come the end of the season and the playoffs and the regular presence of NIck Carle we looked much better in the playoffs. Then Carle gets sold and LJ is a regular again this season. And I have to say he has been disappointing. He really doesn't look in any kind of form. Slow to make decisions, too easily gives away and loses possession in dangerous positions, poor heading, it hasn't been an overwhelming display so far. Compare him to Elliott or Trundle both of whom seem to know how to control possession and play one-touch football and he fares even less well.
I actually think we could do with a bit of a shake-up in midfield. Drop LJ, try Trundle behind Adebola and Maynard, and put Sproule or Brian Wilson on the right wing depending on whether we need more attack or defence.
On Saturday, Maynard certainly appeared to thrive on the quick balls from Trundle, more than he has benefitted from the slow laboured build-up we seem to have with LJ in the team.
That and it might nip in the bud some of the nepotism jibes!”
by Alan, Ashton
Monday, October 20 2008, 10:22AM
“Well let me start by saying i dont agree with any Bristol City player being booed, but i would like to say to the writer of this article if you are happy with the performances that LJ puts in every week then you are not a city fan thats for sure?? If anyone else gave the ball away as much as him they would not make the bench let alone the team, You look at the last 4 games of the season last year look at the attacking football we played from midfield we looked dangerous and who was missing?? yeah LJ...I have been a season ticket holder for 34 years so i think i have a right to have an opinion....The boy LJ offers us nothing he is weak in the challenge, gives the ball away to easy and when he does try to head the ball well its like something you would see on the peter kaye show comical?? thats the area we should be winning the ball and going forward, instead of a square suicide ball or backwards or lose the ball all together as LJ does week after week?? Thats why the fans who are the peopole that pay there hard earned money to watch the team they love get annoyed with him, but they get more annoyed with the fact he puts in such a useless performance week after week such as gifting peterborough a goal, the week after gifting derby with a goal, and is not dropped?? If that had been anyone else like trundle noble weale basso they would of been dropped without fail, the family ties thing need to stop at ashton gate and need to stop now, if we are to push on! I think GJ is a great manager just needs to leave his family at home!”