‘Time to indulge in more trivial matters than Bristol City’

So, it’s that time of year again when we hang up our football-watching-selves for a few months to concentrate on spending more time with the family, completing the DIY tasks we’ve been putting off for an age and in general indulging in matters more trivial and meaningless than following our beloved Bristol City.

Last Sunday saw the curtain fall on what has been an eventful season for the BS3 faithful. The disappointing end to the season should not cloud people’s minds to the progress Lee Johnson’s men have made over the last nine months or so.

As this is the last article of the season, the authors of this column, Joe, Stan and I, thought we’d share our thoughts on the squad’s performance over the 2017/18 campaign.

Goalkeeping and defence

The season’s good points:

Stan: Aden Flint and Nathan Baker looking like an excellent centre back pairing for the first half of the season. Joe Bryan at times looking like a Europa league player. Lloyd Kelly seemingly already replacing Bryan as our star left back.

Joe: Flint packing on millions to his price tag – and I don’t think he’ll leave. Joe Bryan coming on leaps and bounds. Kelly had a couple of great games that will send him forward.

Dave: Like the other guys, I have to look at the performances of Flint and Bryan as the biggest positives. I’ll add Baker to the mix too.

Bad points:

Stan: Eros Pisano returning and becoming half the player we once thought he was. Nathan Baker looking like he simply couldn’t be bothered as the season drew to a close.

Joe: Letting leads slip – this is something we’ve always struggled with. Joe Bryan looking completely absent for the latter part of the season. Frank Fielding’s distribution.

Dave: Inconsistency in general – we missed Baker and Flint when either one of them were gone. We played most the season without a recognised right-back, and to answer the next question a little early, this is where we need to make a priority to buy in the summer.

Where do we need to strengthen?

Stan: Right back, goalkeeper, possibly centre-back too if the transfer gods dictate.

Joe: NEW GOALKEEPER. PLEASE.

Dave: Please see above.

Midfield

Good points:

Stan: Marlon Pack continuing his year-on-year improvement. Callum O’Dowda was electric until his injury.

Joe: Pack has come on a lot – most people probably consider him the non-rolling central midfielder now. We look lost without him at times. I’ve also got a lot of love for Josh Brownhill, he’s come on a lot since last season and I think he’ll go far. I’d like to see him adopted as a central attacking midfielder.

Dave: I’m in full agreement with the guys here. I think we all fell a little more in love with Marlon Pack this season. Brownhill was also a consistently above average performer.

Bad points:

Stan: The embarrassing signings of Leko and Kent. Both slowed down the development of Niclas Eliasson.

Joe: Patterson being largely absent for the latter half of the season. We’ve also struggled to find a consistent midfield line-up, constantly chopping and changing. Smith has struggled going forward (apart from *that* moment).

Dave: As Joe says, the constant chopping and changing of the wide players has not helped us at all.

Where do we need to strengthen?

Stan: Another winger is needed, perhaps a solid number 10 who can perform on a more regular basis than Patterson can.

Joe: I would like to see us go in for a proper ‘muck-or-nettles’ Championship midfielder to go alongside Pack – someone with bags of experience. Possibly even a high-profile central attacking midfielder to replace Patterson.

Dave: I fear we may lose Pack over the summer, and if we do, replacing him will be a tough task. I’d also like to see that experienced central midfield operator, someone like Gary O’Neil but less injury prone perhaps.

Up front

Good points:

Stan: Bobby Reid and Famara Diedhiou. The highest-scoring duo in the division. Both excellent in their first season up front for us. Diedhiou will be a big player next season.

Joe: Reid and Diedhiou have both been outstanding. Reid for the obvious; I won’t go on about him too much. Diedhiou has been largely underrated by many fans and it’s completely undeserved. His goal tally is good given the time he’d been out injured, and given Reid’s dominance. His first touch is wonderful and I just love him.

Dave: I read the other day that the pairing of Reid and Diedhiou was the most prolific strike force in the Championship this season.

Bad points:

Stan: Lois Dion(ke)y and Cauley Woodrow were two very disappointing loan signings. Why not Engvall?!

Joe: We’ve struggled to get goals a couple of times, mainly when Diedhiou was out or when we’ve tried to play long-ball. But I think that’s mainly a midfield problem.

Dave: The first choice two did well but pretty much every other player who filled that role for City this season has question marks over their future at the club – bar Djuric and maybe Taylor.

Where do we need to strengthen?

Stan: With Reid certainly off we need to find Diedhiou a playmate. Djuric, Diedhiou and mystery new striker should be our three next year.

Joe: If Reid goes we need a replacement, simple.

Dave: What Joe said.

Player of the season

Stan: Bobby Reid, inspirational effort from the guy. Hope he succeeds at Bournemouth or wherever he ends up.

Joe: Bobby Reid.

Dave: Has to be Bobby Reid.

Young player (under 23)

Stan: Josh Brownhill. It’s about time he pushes for a central midfield role. He’s got the ability he just needs to show consistent performances in order to take it away from either Smith or Pack.

Joe: Josh Brownhill.

Dave: Brownhill for me too with Callum O’Dowda in a close second.

Signing of the season

Stan: Nathan Baker. Despite his poor performances of late you cant deny that he made us look much more solid in the first part of the season. To get him in our team in my opinion constitutes some sort of coup for the club. I hope he and Flint can return to their best next season as they will both be vital in any sort of promotion push.

Joe: Diedhiou

Dave: I think Baker just pips Diedhiou for me, mostly down to the fact he played more games.

Best and worst team you saw at Ashton Gate this season

Stan: Best team by far was Bristol City. When you think of some of the football we played against the likes of Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday, we really do look like a beautiful outfit of flowing football. The worst team by far was Bristol City – silly joke I know but I honestly think I saw some of our worst ever performances this season. It was an embarrassing contrast. I’m hoping for consistently slightly-above-average performances next season.

Joe: The best was probably Leeds based on viewings (I missed a few high-profile games). Worst team: Sheffield Wednesday.

Dave: I like Stan’s answer – and echo his sentiments – but I will answer the question properly, unlike him. The best team has to be Manchester City. It was a privilege to watch the Premier League Champions at the Gate. Worst team I think was right back to the start of the season: Barnsley. They were terrible and unsurprisingly went down.

So, that’s it for another year. I’d like to thank Joe and Stan for helping me out this season. If you haven’t already please check out their wonderful Bristol City podcast: One Stream in Bristol. I will be back with you in August to discuss all things Bristol City. Have a good summer and let’s hope England can have a decent tournament in Russia.