Twentieth, on 49 points with 71 goals conceded. That is how Saturday’s opponents Huddersfield Town finished last season in the Championship. 12 months later Carlos Corberan’s side have finished third with 82 points, conceding only 47 goals and go into the play-offs full of confidence and with a very realistic chance of reaching the Premier League.
Our 3 Peaps In A Podcast Bristol City fans' show has a segment called “Lee’s 3 words” provided by City fan and regular contributor Lee Williams, and Lee’s words for the game were “Huddersfield provide example”.
I had expected Nigel Pearson to give the likes of Tommy Conway, Duncan Idehen and Josh Owers some game time. As it was only Idehen out of the three got on the pitch as a 77th-minute substitute for the injured Timm Klose.
Joe Williams was ruled out with an Achilles injury and so in came Han-Noah Massengo for what could very well be his last appearance in a Bristol City shirt. Han is out of contract next summer and hasn’t signed the deal on the table, by his tearful reaction and that of his teammates at the end of the game, it certainly looks as if he will be playing his football away from BS3 next season.
Going into the game unbeaten in five and having played some decent stuff recently, I’d hoped that we would continue the unbeaten run and would come away from the John Smith’s Stadium with at least a point. Unfortunately, on the day, the Terriers were too good for us and deservedly ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.
City didn’t play badly, Carlos Corberan’s side just had more about them. We struggled in the middle of the pitch and didn’t create enough for our front three. Defensively, we got pulled around the pitch and Huddersfield always seemed to have an overload out wide.
If Nigel Pearson wants to play a similar style next season, we need energetic wing-backs who can get forward and back and when in advanced positions deliver better quality into the forward players, as well as contributing with goals.
Pipa and especially Harry Toffolo were excellent for Town, with the latter getting the opening goal. Andi Weimann, Chris Martin and Antoine Semenyo have been excellent this season, but we have been too reliant on them for goals and assists, other parts of the team have to contribute more.
Huddersfield’s midfield of Duane Holmes, Carel Eiting and in particular Jon Russell ran the show. Massengo and Matty James struggled to get into the game and when we did get the ball, we were wasteful.
Central midfield is definitely a position that we need to strengthen in the summer, even if Massengo does unexpectedly sign the new contract. We need a physical and dominating presence in there, something that I don’t think we have had since Marvin Elliott.
I’ve said before that I think James is a good professional and someone I would have in the squad but just isn’t quick enough for the top end of this division. Williams has a huge pre-season ahead of him, but his injury record continues to be a real concern. We need at least two but maybe three midfielders in the window. Andy King is out of contract, albeit we have an option for another year but for me again with his age and injury record, I don’t think that deal makes sense.
We know that a right-back/right wing-back is a position that we have to recruit and with Klose and Robbie Cundy out of contract and Nathan Baker potentially not coming back, the centre of defence also needs looking at.
This is a massive summer, possible one of the most important in many a year. In addition to those mentioned, Callum O’Dowda is out of contract and there are a number of players the likes of Kasey Palmer, Tyreeq Bakinson, Taylor Moore and Zak Vyner who don’t appear to be in Nigel’s thinking. Nahki Wells may also look for a move away for more football.
Potentially getting money in for Massengo and getting some of the others of the wage bill will allow Pearson to recruit in the areas that he wants. We need more energy and dynamism in the team.
Our final 3 Peaps In A Podcast ratings were: Daniel Bentley 6, Robbie Cundy 5, Timm Klose 6 MotM, Rob Atkinson 5, Jay Dasilva 5, Alex Scott 5, Matty James 5, Han-Noah Massengo 5, Andi Weimann 5, Chris Martin 5, Antoine Semenyo 5. A team average of 5.18 for the game. For Nige it was a 5, I would have liked to have seen Tommy Conway get some game time and would have had Josh Owers in the squad rather than Andy King.
Overall, for the season the average score for the team was 6.11, which is slightly higher than I would have expected, bearing in mind that we had expected a finishing position of 13th or 14th. The average for Nigel for the season was 5.73.
Interestingly, while our stats had Andi Weimann, Antoine Semenyo and Han-Noah Massengo with the most MotM’s, with 5, across the season the highest average points scorers were Antoine Semenyo, Robbie Cundy, Timm Klose, Rob Atkinson, Tomas Kalas and Dan Bentley.
Aside from Antoine, all defenders, in a season where we have conceded 77 league goals. It has been our attackers that have really kept us from relegation trouble. Stats are just that though and our defenders have had to get through a lot of work and there have been some improved scores in the last couple of months.
Thanks to everyone who has read this column. Thanks to those that have taken the time to comment online and whilst I know that you don’t always agree with me, I love to read what fellow City fans think. It’s a game of opinions and as a season ticket holder and a fan who travels away to every game when I can, all I ever do is pass on my thoughts on the game and on our club.
At the end of the day, we all love Bristol City, and we all want whoever is Manager to be successful. Let’s hope for a positive summer and just maybe we can replicate the Terriers turnaround.
The final three words for the season go to Lee Williams: “Rebuilding requires patience”.
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