For the most part, Bristol City’s pre-season schedule has gone swimmingly: three wins, two draws, eight goals scored, just three conceded, the only injuries incurred have appeared minor and the players have looked fit with moments of real coherence and continuity in their play.
There are undoubted creases to be ironed out; Chris Martin admitted their goal conceded against Forest Green Rovers echoed set-piece struggles of last season. And, you can take as much out of pre-season as you want, in terms of analysing where the Robins are as a team because ultimately, within a fortnight, it’ll all be forgotten as the cut and thrust of a Championship campaign begins. But it appears to be a job well done. So far, at least.
All this pleasant narrative could well change by 5pm today as City visit Bournemouth, a team who comfortably and comprehensively outplayed them over 180 minutes last season and are now a fully-fledged Premier League outfit, albeit with only minor improvements made so far in the transfer window.
A strong performance and, if possible, a good result won’t have any tangible bearing on what awaits City in 2022/23, but it will put the team in the best possible position to have the highest chance of starting the nine months in a positive fashion. Here are the talking points ahead of this afternoon's game against the Cherries...
What sort of team will we see?
We’ve yet to witness over pre-season what constitutes Nigel Pearson’s “best XI” or, in more relevant terms - the team most likely to face Hull City on July 30. We can all make a pretty healthy guess as to who those 11 individuals are, and the publication of the teamsheet at 2pm could confirm it for good.
Given it’s the final fixture before the season curtain-raiser, and no indication that Tomas Kalas or Antoine Semenyo will be fit in seven days time - the only two bona fide “first-team players” unavailable at the moment - it should be as close as possible to what Pearson conceives as his hopeful line-up at the MKM Stadium.
There are caveats to that, an Alex Scott-sized one (which we'll discuss a bit further down), plus this is also probably a final road test for a few individuals (also bear with us on that particular theme), but Pearson’s thoughts as to how City will start the season have been sufficiently narrowed by now.
That being said, there is a case for not necessarily having to present the Tigers so much preparation time by showing his hand this soon - although, in truth, you’d imagine their analysts have been in-tune with the pre-season schedule anyway so that’s academic to an extent. Plus the fact there are a few more trials and experiments he may want to make ahead of the trip to Humberside.
Will we see more of Kane Wilson at left wing-back, given the 22-year-old had the final 30 minutes against Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City there and may just need a few more experiences in that role? If Kalas isn’t going to be back for a few weeks, does Kal Naismith need another game with Zak Vyner who, at the moment, is City’s fourth-choice centre-back, to build some degree of familiarity, as was the case against Forest Green?
We know by now that Andi Weimann and Chris Martin click as a duo, is it time therefore to bring Nahki Wells alongside the frontman to work at that relationship? If Cam Pring has been able to train properly this week, does he need 90 minutes under his belt?
They are just a few examples of some of the more micro elements within the team that may not be relevant for kick-off on July 30, but could transpire over the course of the 90 minutes or in subsequent fixtures with no room to manoeuvre once the season gets going.
Handling midfield duo with care
As an extension of that, we can pretty much guarantee that, should they be healthy this time next week - Joe Williams and Matty James will be anchoring City’s midfield against Hull.
They’ve been a starting partnership against Cheltenham, Portsmouth and Forest Green, and that was a continuation of the end of last season where they looked to be developing a strong understanding after a ships-passing-in-the-night-type scenario throughout much of 2021/22.
Bournemouth should be a good test for them; the Cherries have some clever technicians in the heart of their midfield and, as a possession-heavy team, should move the ball around at tempo and with invention.
But, do they need to play? Is there anything gained from James and Williams pressing and harrying for 60+ minutes, seeing little of the ball, when we know their capabilities and, by now, have established they can play together and be effective.
We don’t want to tempt fate here but they had their injury issues last season and it would be disastrous to lose either of them before true competitive action begins. We can probably expect the Cherries to have 55 per cent, if not more, of the possession and that is going to be a considerable strain on hamstrings and other muscles in those areas that don’t necessarily need to be tested.
Yes, we get it - if they can’t do it now, what’s the point during a season? But in the Championship there won’t be many teams with the same zip of pass as Bournemouth, giving Williams and James time on the ball.
Other than building fitness, we’re not sure what City will learn from having James and Williams out on the field other than, presumably, building up that chemistry and understanding with other parts of the field. In particular, Naismith whose role in the middle of the defence is very much relevant to their own positioning and availability in possession.
Pearson and his medical staff will ultimately know and assess the loads placed on them over the week - and they both played 90 minutes against Forest Green just four days ago - and whether it’s a game they have to play in, or can afford to maybe sit out. It would, however, be surprising to see either play for the full contest.
Sykes’ latest litmus test
It was three years ago when an energetic, quick and exciting young forward made a significant impact in pre-season, as a secondary attacking runner from deeper positions, only to be fielded against a Premier League side and look a little lost.
We’re talking of course about Sammie Szmodics against Crystal Palace, and while it’s often unfair to compare players - and Mark Sykes is making less of a jump up the pyramid than the former Colchester man was at the time - there are obvious parallels, if only in terms of the situation.
There’s no doubt that Sykes has looked every inch Nigel Pearson’s conception of what he wants a Bristol City player to look like: adaptable, energetic, busy on both sides of the ball, fast, direct and with quality in possession, plus carrying something of an understated air about him - he just gets on with the job.
The way he dovetailed with Weimann and Martin against Forest Green was exceptional at times. All three looked on the same page, already recognising the movement and decision-making of the other, and that is no mean feat after such a relatively short space of time together; although that does tap into the idea of getting new signings in as quickly as possible so you can work on them from the earliest possible point.
But this, and Sykes other fine displays against Pompey and Plymouth, as substitute, were against League One sides - the very teams he was performing against for Oxford United - and this is a Premier League outfit, representing a step up in challenge and quality of individual.
If Sykes plays in that attacking pocket between opposition defence and midfield, he’s likely to be watched by Jefferson Lerma, a defensive midfielder of international repute and considerable skill and combative nature.
The signs so far have been that he’s pushed himself right into the equation to start against Hull City. How he performs against the Cherries could usher that decision through Pearson’s brain, or make the manager place it on hold as he considers other options.
Sustained minutes for Scott
Alex Scott has elevated his status among City fans by not even kicking a ball for the club this summer, with his performances in Slovakia and the success of the England Under-19 side at the European Championship generating a considerable sense of pride, but also excitement at what’s next to come for the teenager.
In the churn of a Championship season it’s sometimes difficult to stop, pause, think and comprehend matters but what Scott achieved in his first senior year of professional football was remarkable, highlighted by the fact that no player in that England squad this summer played more minutes than him in 2021/22.
He is increasingly among the top of his class in that age group and City have one hell of a prospect on their hands; if prospect is even the right word given how quickly he’s adapted to football at this level.
Seeing him take to the field against Exeter in midweek was a joy, with Scott having returned to pre-season on Monday after being granted an extended break. Even though he was initially back at wing-back, the way he glided so effortlessly around the pitch, demanding the ball, winning fouls and making clever little inside passes, even going close to scoring, was fantastic to see.
In a similar vein to the Williams-James debate, only the City medical staff will know what level of match fitness Scott is at but he certainly didn’t look rusty against the Grecians, physically and mentally. He was as sharp as ever, if not more.
Given how he’s spent much of his City career ahead of schedule, whereas previously - as insinuated by Curtis Fleming at the start of the month - the Robins want to be careful in managing his return, his cameo on Tuesday could have thrust him into Pearson’s thinking for July 30 (we’re guessing here, of course).
But because he looked so ready in his first pre-season outing, there’s every chance he could start against the Cherries to build up that match fitness - if it even needs that - and also perhaps put himself firmly in the conversation to start at Hull.
It’s also worth noting that Bournemouth are among the many top-flight teams monitoring the City starlet, and a few weeks on from his European adventure, he’ll certainly be keen to test himself once more amongst Premier League-calibre players.
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