Bristol City (a); The Preview

Andy – Let’s kick off with Lee Johnson. Everything seemed so rosey with the League Cup semi and a great run in the league, and then it seemed to all fall apart. However, as an outsider, he appears to be doing a very reasonable job. What’s your take?

Stanley (One Stream in Bristol) – I also think he is doing a very reasonable job. I’m not sure that the rest of the Bristol City fanbase would agree however.

Despite losing our 3 best players in the summer, many of our fans wanted an improvement on last season’s finish of 11th. Our chairman, Steve Lansdowne, also agrees.

Despite the majority of our fans predicting us to have a bottom half finish we’re somehow discontented with our current points tally, which is possibly down to the fact our style of football is not as expansive and exciting as it was last season.

Fan expectations are the bane of so many clubs. We had the same thing ourselves last season, but the club’s patience is now paying off. What do you think he needs to change to get fans back on side?

I think it’s the fans that need to change really. I think the Bristol City fans have grown impatient with Lee Johnson at a time where we’re trying to adjust to a very impactful summer window.

I think we’ll slowly start to move up the table and people will eventually then come to terms with the style of football we are playing.

As much as I am behind Lee Johnson the fact he’s signed 47 players since he arrived is a worrying statistic. But if anything, it reflects the nature of our transfer policy more than anything. I think we’ll start to see the love for Lee Johnson increase over the next few months as people become used to our new style.

That said, if he drops Jamie Paterson I think everyone will stand up and applaud.

One of those 47 was our old mate Marley. It would be fair to say there were a not insignificant number of our fans who would gladly have driven him round the M25 and down the M4 themselves after last season…

I think there would be a few Bristol City fans who’d happily drive him back.

However, Bristol City wingers have had an atrocious goalscoring record in recent years and Marley Watkins seems to be different. Perhaps he doesn’t fully suit our game due to lack of technical ability but to have 2 goals already this season is an accomplishment when you compare him to the goalscoring records of Callum O’Dowda or Niclas Eliasson.

He’s been injured recently and while he’s been away the appreciation for him has gone up. We’re happy to see him back in the squad as he adds a physical, hardworking presence and can sometimes pop up with a goal.

I think all the roads between Bristol and Norwich are closed sorry.

Your experience of him almost perfectly chimes with ours. Not technically good enough for how we play. However, if my memory serves me correctly he only scored once for us, so you’re 100% up there. Good work.

How about the rest of the side? What’s good for you and what might be good for us?

Despite 7 points from 3 games a few City fans are a bit worried that our performances didn’t warrant such a return.

While we haven’t created many chances, we have nullified the opposition through having the bulk of the possession.

I fear our patient build-up will struggle to maintain itself with the fast-paced nature of Norwich. The way you guys seem to counter teams does strike me with a bit of fear.

I think if we can impose ourselves on the game and slow down the tempo we maybe be able to create chances.

We like to hog the ball a bit ourselves, so it could be an entertaining affair.

Last time we spoke, we touched on the redevelopment of Ashton Gate, is that work all finished now and how much of an improvement has it made to the matchday experience?

Yes Ashton Gate’s development is done for now. The recently got planning permission to build a basketball arena with roughly 4,000 seats just across the road from the stadium.

The matchday experience is actually very good now. Lots of stalls and very spacious. Many people drink in the concourse.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere has worsened over the last few years as the traditional standers and singers are spread out. We have a singing section in the corner who make most of our noise.

Norwich fans will be in the only stand not to be updated, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that the stadium elsewhere has improved.

It’s good to see something being done to try and arrest the decline in atmosphere. How has the singing section been received? Is it popular? We have trialled one in cup games, but it’s not possible in the league due to a lack of space in the ground (humblebrag).

We’re keen to do as much as we can here to help our own atmosphere, so have crowd-funded to buy flags etc, what else do you think can be done to generate more of the atmosphere’s of old?

Most people appreciate the singing section and its importance. Some see them as slightly more vociferous than the rest of the stadium but I think that’s just because they actually make noise at all.

I think ticket pricing at Ashton Gate has been overpriced in recent years and if it went back down we would see an increase in overall noise and attendance.

I think soon we will see the singing section expanded and given proper rail seats. I hope the club are really thinking about the atmosphere and ways to improve it as I do fear for it with the way things are going.

Safe standing is definitely the way to go for me. It’s been really refreshing to see Norwich trying to push this forward and leading the way.

Let’s finish off with a specific prediction. I am going 3-1 Norwich. We’ll take the lead through a Mo Leitner penalty, then Pukki will bundle one in off his shins. Marley will turn Messi to pull you back into it with a howitzer, but Jordan Rhodes will climb of the bench and seal the win late on…

I’m in agreement with you that there will be goals as I’m predicting a 2-2 draw. Pukki capitalising on a loose defensive pass to put you ahead. A header from Diedhiou to equalise. A tap-in from Diedhiou to give us hope of 3 points only to be cancelled out immediately by a Leitner screamer. We’ve not conceded any goals past 75 minutes this season and I hope that trend continues.

We seem to only score goals after the 75th minute, so there’s something to look out for…