Martin Era: Game 1 - Blackburn Rovers

Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
This time two years ago I was full of woe and opined bitterly on the forum that Cooper, or Andy Pandy as he become known, was not going to be what we wanted.

We are about to start on what I have called Swanselona 2.0. Who's to say how this will unfold, but I'm not full of dread, instead optimistic and eagerly looking forward.

It's interesting ... and I wonder why ... there have been no videos of our new leader putting the players through their paces in training. I find this unusual. Usually the Club is quick to show "the new guy" and the players getting along and working hard.

We know what we got on Saturday against Soton ... basically an Andy Pandy encore. How will we line up against Rovers. What will Martin have learned in his first few days that will cause him to make adjustments. Will we see a shift in performance metrics from any impact he may have had drilling the players at a new level with different drills.

Looking forward.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Yankee_Jack said:
This time two years ago I was full of woe and opined bitterly on the forum that Cooper, or Andy Pandy as he become known, was not going to be what we wanted.

We are about to start on what I have called Swanselona 2.0. Who's to say how this will unfold, but I'm not full of dread, instead optimistic and eagerly looking forward.

It's interesting ... and I wonder why ... there have been no videos of our new leader putting the players through their paces in training. I find this unusual. Usually the Club is quick to show "the new guy" and the players getting along and working hard.

We know what we got on Saturday against Soton ... basically an Andy Pandy encore. How will we line up against Rovers. What will Martin have learned in his first few days that will cause him to make adjustments. Will we see a shift in performance metrics from any impact he may have had drilling the players at a new level with different drills.

Looking forward.
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So am I. I think it will take time though for us to adapt our style of play to something cohesive once again. We've been two seasons playing God knows what style and we won't get back to Swanselona overnight. I'm prepared for us to take a season to get back somewhere near to where we were although if the players and Martin gel quickly we might surprise a few this season. Gonna be interesting.
 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
I remember the impact that Britton had when he assumed command for a few games - I forget who had got fired. The first game was against City, and we put on a remarkably good show, flashing elements of good times past. Let's see if Martin and his assistants have been able to sprinkle some fairy dust.
 
Jackflash

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Yankee_Jack said:
This time two years ago I was full of woe and opined bitterly on the forum that Cooper, or Andy Pandy as he become known, was not going to be what we wanted.

We are about to start on what I have called Swanselona 2.0. Who's to say how this will unfold, but I'm not full of dread, instead optimistic and eagerly looking forward.

It's interesting ... and I wonder why ... there have been no videos of our new leader putting the players through their paces in training. I find this unusual. Usually the Club is quick to show "the new guy" and the players getting along and working hard.

We know what we got on Saturday against Soton ... basically an Andy Pandy encore. How will we line up against Rovers. What will Martin have learned in his first few days that will cause him to make adjustments. Will we see a shift in performance metrics from any impact he may have had drilling the players at a new level with different drills.

Looking forward.
Click to expand...
Me too.
Even considering we have lost some key players the feelings seems to be looking at a relatively successful season.
I think Martin will have a far better understanding of the squad, there's a lot of talent in there and I feel he's the man to synchronise it, this guy seems to have a footballing brain, rather than picking a team out of a hat. I wouldn't be too surprised to see some reasonably permanent first team changes in the next few games.
 
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Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Korey Smith ….
“It’s been great to welcome the gaffer and his staff. It has brought a buzz to the place, and training in the last few days has been intense,”

“There have been some changes here and there, which we’re working hard to adapt to”

Change and evolution is underway
 
Jackflash

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Looking good, as he says, "every ones starting with a clean slate". They all now have something to prove, maybe there is talent in the locker that Coopers been missing, after all he wasn't the most articulate of talent spotters we've had.
 
CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
Russell wants to sign Jamie Paterson who is a free agent.
Paterson's stats are pretty good for an attacking midfielder, though he didn't play much last season.

 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Another ex-Brizzie ! If all these players we keep getting from Bristol were soooo good that we have to have them, how come Brizzie isn’t in the Prem already.

bulding a squad from other clubs rejects and throw aways, especially when that club is rank average, doesn’t seem like a very strong strategy. Haven’t we learned our lesson with that over the years. When we were in thePrem we would go bargain hunting for players at clubs that just got relegated …. If they were soooo good how come their old club got relegated.
 
Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
It’s a done deal. Paterson is added to our payroll …. But what’s the true cost. At 29, what is he going to do for us that Cullen and WhittKer and Lowe can’t. As the new toy, he’s going to be given minutes to prove he’s a dud.

Last season he featured for Derby … where they only played him 10 times … look what happened to them. He’s thought of so highly by Bristol that not only did they ship him out in his prime to Derby on loan but they didn’t renew his contract. And Derby thought he was so fucking great, they didn’t bother to sign him themselves after taking a good look. Neither Derby nor Bristol are a brain’s trust, but neither did they fall off the back of a turnip yesterday.

WTF people. We are trying to replace Ayew and an open #10 slot … and this is what we come up with. Is the larder really that bare. The only redeeming factor I could think of is that he will play for a can of Bud and a bag of crisps and he’ll wash his own kit.

We hire Martin and the first thing we ask him to do is polish a turd.
 
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CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
Yankee_Jack said:
At 29, what is he going to do for us that Cullen and WhittKer and Lowe can’t.
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Paterson is an attacking midfielder. A position where Dhanda plays, and we need an upgrade there.


Yankee_Jack said:
Last season he featured for Derby … where they only played him 10 times … look what happened to them. He’s thought of so highly by Bristol that not only did they ship him out in his prime to Derby but they didn’t renew his contract,
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Bristol City fans call him magician, and he was one of their favorite players.

Here is what Bristol Post say about Paterson.

"He's experienced, true to his playing style, an up and down time at Ashton Gate; from being a vital and influential member of the 2017/18 vintage to his rather strange loan to Derby County at the start of 2019/20, a kick-up-the-backside move by Johnson who then recalled him in January for Paterson to produce some of his very best displays in a City shirt over the next 12 months."

"Unfortunately for him injuries have gone against him this season after he's suffered calf and groin trouble which has meant he's been unable to showcase his talents to Pearson."

"For fans, he may well retain semi cult hero status due to a combination of how aesthetically-pleasing he is to watch, with a lovely balance in his movement and weight of pass..."

Let's wait and see what happens. Some players need a new manager, new club and new style of play to blossom. And it's only one-year contract.
 
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Yankee_Jack

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Two clubs have seen him up close inside and out for at least two full seasons. They know his body. They know his mind. They know how he plays. They know how he works. They know how he trains. They know how he complies with nutritional and health requirements. They know how he responds to adversity. They know his work load tolerance and susceptibility to injury. They know how he responds when they ask him to do something. They don't want any part of him.

I'm not interested in what the fans or the news reporters say. The inside people that really know him don't want him. Why? Who is it that they have that is superior? What is it that they know that we don't .... yet.
 
CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
Yankee_Jack said:
I'm not interested in what the fans or the news reporters say.
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I am interested what fans say. Think Woodman. Highly praised by Cooper at every opportunity. And not only by Cooper.

Yankee_Jack said:
The inside people that really know him don't want him. Why?
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A new manager? A new style of play? Why did Barcelona get rid of Suarez? Too old and terrible financial situation. Then he went to Atletico Madrid as a free agent and won La Liga.


Yankee_Jack said:
Who is it that they have that is superior?
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At Derby they had Tom Lawrence.

In 2019/20 season Paterson played 2000 minutes (22 full games), scored 7 goals, and had 4 assists. At this rate that's more than 14 goals and 8 assists over the course of a Championship season. These stats are excellent for an attacking midfielder. If he can score 10 goals in 46 games for us I would be over the moon.

At a club where Yan Dhanda is no. 10, Paterson could be a serious upgrade. I'm not saying he will be but his stats point in this direction. Let's wait and see.
 
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