The issues facing Nigel Pearson at Bristol City

At the beginning of the season, it felt like a new dawn for Bristol City. A new manager in Dean Holden and a healthy-looking squad after a few years of heavy investment. 

You’d be mistaken to think Bristol City were prime contenders for the play-off race. Fast forward to present day and it hasn’t been the season the hierarchy or fans had in mind. They sit 13th and are on course of setting their lowest points tally in the Championship since the 2015/16 season.

A heavy injury record had pulled the rug from under Dean Holden’s feet. Couple that with an unbalanced squad, problems in attack, a leaky defence and it’s a recipe for regression. With Holden being sacked and Nigel Pearson coming in, it seems the new manager bounce has worn off after back to back defeats.

The issues do not stop now with Pearson’s appointment. In fact, there’s an argument to say this decline started under Lee Johnson. the former Leicester and Watford boss has his work cut out to push Bristol City up the table and turn them into play-off contenders. But what are the issues? 

Lack of attacking threat

The attack this season looked promising. Boasting a forward line of Famara Diedhou, Nahki Wells and Chris Martin, Bristol City had themselves an experienced Championship strike force. However, with just 23 goals between them, they’ve been less than impressive. 

But is it the supply? Again, with the likes of Jamie Paterson, Antoine Semenyo being the creative forces going forward, as well as Jack Hunt and Jay Dasilva at full back, on paper there should be plenty of distribution and chances being made. 

But that’s not been the case. According to WhoScored, Bristol City sit bottom when it comes to average shots per game, sitting below the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Birmingham City who are the three lowest scoring teams in the division. That’s a worrying trait as it could reinforce The Robins aren’t making enough chances.  

Coinciding with losing Andi Weimann to injury, Jamie Paterson struggling for fitness and not replacing top creator Niclas Eliasson, it was always going to be an issue that needed addressing sooner rather than later. 

Leaky defence

Injuries haven’t helped this department. Only four players have managed over 2000 minutes this season showing that Bristol City have had to rotate fairly often. And that’s certainly not ideal when trying to get a settled defence and spine.

Injuries have meant the likes of Alfie Mawson, Jay Dasilva, Steven Sessegnon and Joe Williams have only made 23 appearances between them this season. This has meant getting a settled defence and spine of the team has not been achievable. 

But regardless of who plays at the back, defending has to be better and the finger can be pointed at the outgoing coaching staff for those issues. Bristol City have conceded the joint third-most in the division this season, as well as conceding the second most shots per game, behind the worst defence in the league, Wycombe Wanderers.

Coupled with conceding the most goals from set pieces this season and the third most from open play, this Bristol City is just too easy to play against.

How about the squad?

The catalogue of injuries has highlighted the lack of quality in the squad and back up options for first team players. 

For example, the team boasts three strikers over the age of 30. This means that resale value on the trio just isn’t there and that’s only made worse when you know their Famara Diedhou is likely to leave at the end of the 2020/21 season when his contract expires. 

Antoine Semenyo is knocking on the door, but with any young attacker, patience is needed to bed them in and let them express themselves. Hard for a team with aspirations of chasing the Premier League. 

Not only that, but the team has seven central midfielders. Henri Lansbury is a newcomer, Liam Walsh, Han Noah Massengo, Joe Williams, Adam Nagy, Tyreeq Bakinson and Kasey Palmer. The overloading in the centre of the pitch has meant investment in other areas, such as centre forward and the wide areas isn’t there. 

Recruitment has been positive in previous years, with the club operating a buy low/sell high policy of late. It wasn’t long ago that Brighton paid over £20m for Adam Webster, as well as high fees for academy graduates Bobby Decordova-Reid and Joe Bryan. But looking at the squad now, there aren’t many players that look like they are hitting their peak. 

There are plenty of things that need ironing out at Bristol City. The club has invested heavily over the last five years and that’s yet to have yielded even a finish in the play-offs. 

With Nigel Pearson coming in until the end of the season, making a decision for the long term is an important step into getting these issues sorted.

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