I am livid. I’m not livid at our performance or the shocking way that we conceded two soft goals, gifting Stoke City three points on Saturday. No, I’m livid at manager Nigel Pearson’s post-match comments and arrogance on BBC Radio Bristol in response to Alistair Durden’s questions.
Ali asked about playing Andy King in the middle of the three at the back, and the fact that King could have won the header for the Stoke equaliser has it given Pearson "food for thought about his role in that position?"
Pearson said no, no that it hadn’t and the fact that he is "picking a midfield player ahead of centre-backs tells you how he views the squad at the moment and to, make of that what you will... I don’t care".
Pearson said that there is "a lot about trust and that Kingy gives us everything that he can and that if players aren’t in the side at the moment, then you need to start asking different questions because you are not asking the right questions".
Ali quickly asked about Rob Atkinson not being in the squad and why was that? Pearson’s response was that other players were ahead of Rob, "simple as that and there you go". When asked if that was in terms of what was being given on the training pitch, Pearson said it was in terms of "trust as it is with every other player"... "if players aren’t selected that’s their fault not mine".
When pushed on Atkinson by the written press on what he needs to do to work his way back into contention, the manager said that "he needed to be more enthusiastic and work harder. Pretty normal isn’t it for any player? Any player that doesn’t make the bench, we either do it tactically but there are players that are ahead of him."
Unbelievable! What sort of man management is that?
What does that do for Atkinson’s morale? And it’s not the first time that the manager has done this with players, throwing them under the bus. At various times, Atkinson, Tomas Kalas, Timm Klose, Nahki Wells, Cam Pring and Jay Dasilva have all faced similar treatment. I just do not understand calling players out like that.
Constantly playing a player out of position who was at fault for both goals and not considering that decision - I don’t believe that Pearson responding in the way that he does is conducive to generating the right atmosphere in the squad. It can’t feel like we are all in this together, all in the trenches and willing to fight for each other. In any walk of life, in any job having a manager publicly calling you out is just wrong.
When asked about the January transfer window and whether he expected it to be busy or would like it to be busy, the manager said that it doesn’t matter, and we will see what it is and that you can make your own mind up about that.
I cannot stand the arrogance, the churlish way he responds. I expect him to be disappointed even angry at the result but show some respect to an excellent journalist doing his job.
Pearson continues to play players out of position, shoe-horning Andi Weimann into the side, who actually had a decent game. Playing King over the likes of Atkinson or Klose - players that he has signed. In fairness, King played well against Watford and Rotherham United, but you will only get away with it for so long. When does the manager take any responsibility himself? Seriously, when does he ever say I got that wrong? It’s always about the players.
Of course, if King wins the header, if Weimann’s shot goes in rather than hitting the post, if Antoine Semenyo puts his chance away, then the atmosphere and this column is different. But they didn’t and we lost another game at home.
We created enough chances to get something out of the game but in truth I was bored in the second-half and after Stoke scored what was to be the winner, I never felt that we would get anything. I spoke to three mates after the game all of whom said that they will not be renewing their season tickets next year as they are falling out of love of watching City.
The result sees us drop to 18th place, three points above the relegation places. At the halfway stage of the season, we are on 27 points, exactly the same as this stage last season. What progress have we made where it matters most, on the pitch and with results?
We know that there is likely to be a huge turnaround of players in the summer, with so many out of contract but can Pearson be trusted to regenerate the squad? Does he even want to? When I hear him talking about not caring what we make of his views of the squad and constantly saying we are where we are and it is what it is, I get so angry.
Show me that it matters to you Nigel, show me that you are up for the fight and have the energy and drive to get this club where we want it to be.
We have just over a month until Richard Gould leaves and while I think the Brian Tinnion appointment is a great one, we have heard nothing on the CEO role. Owner Steve Lansdown’s silence is deafening, and we have heard nothing from chairman Jon Lansdown. There seems to be an air of apathy around Ashton Gate.
On Boxing Day, we face a resurgent West Brom side, a side in relegation trouble when their new manager came in, a new manager working with the same squad of players who has seen his team win their fifth successive Championship game.
I sound like the Grinch who stole Christmas but like I say I’m livid. All of that said, I would like to wish every Bristol City fan and football fan a Merry Christmas.
Our 3 Peaps In A Podcast Bonus show ratings were: Max O’Leary 6, Zak Vyner 6, Andy King 4, Kal Naismith 5, Cameron Pring 6, Andi Weimann 6, Alex Scott 5, Matty James 5, Joe Williams 5, Nahki Wells 7 MotM, Tommy Conway 6, sub Antoine Semenyo 5 (subs have to have come onto the field before the 60th minute). A game average of 5.50 and a season average of 6.22. For Nigel it’s a 4, start to take some responsibility.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
