1. Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

Williams is Back and Ready for the Cause.

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by wizered, Jul 25, 2021.

  1. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2011
    Messages:
    33,398
    Likes Received:
    5,983
    Joe Williams delighted to be back in the Bristol City midfield and praises Dave Rennie's work
    Former Wigan midfielder endured a frustrating 2020/21 season but the 24-year-old got 45 minutes on Saturday

    There's a lot more to come from Joe Williams. The summer 2020 Bristol City signing who Dean Holden wished to build around at Ashton Gate played in just one Championship match last year.

    So this new season hopefully marks something of a fresh start, with places in midfield up for grabs as manager Nigel Pearson assesses his squad and looks to build a side capable of promotion.

    When we were invited to a visit of the Robins High Performance Centre recently, and had lunch next to the players in the canteen, one visitor remarked on several nasty scars on Williams' leg, no doubt following surgery earlier in the year.

    So it was a huge boost for the club and supporters to see Williams back involved in training recently and playing the first half aganst the Dons.

    "It was good to just tick 45 minutes off after a long time out," explained Williams to Robins TV following the final whistle, going on to discuss City's pressing of the opposition in midfield.

    "It was a tough] but it's where we just have to communicate with each other. Because you want to go half and half to tempt the press, but we want to be a team who are on the front foot, pressing teams.

    "But we also don't want to be going in ones and twos all the time. I thought we set up in the right way. And when we went most of the time we all went together. That was a good sign.

    "The gaffer was happy with that at the end," said Williams.

    The Liverpudlian lined up next to Adam Nagy with the pair holding the midfield central areas, and Williams was pivotal in setting the press at times.

    The former Evertonian also praised the work of City's new head of medical performance.

    "For me it [the game] was perfect because obviously we've had so long out," added Williams. "I haven't played a minute with Callum [O'Dowda] on the pitch yet.

    "I can't wait to play with him. The same with Chrissy [Martin] and players like that. We've been working so hard in the gym, Dave's [Rennie] come in and been brilliant with us, and I think we're all just really, really ready to go now, and can't wait for the season to start," he said.

    Next weekend could be a special one for Williams: playing in front of the Bristol City fans for the first time.

    A tough pre-season is drawing to an end and real matches are on the horizon.

    "It'll be brilliant. I've never played in front of them only against them when they give you a bit of stick," he said with a laugh.

    https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...s/joe-williams-delighted-back-bristol-5697524
     
    #1
  2. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    8,310
    Likes Received:
    2,611
    Our midfield is certainly looking stronger in-depth than last season, an area we all know needed improving significantly. I do think we are a proven striker at Championship level short to complete the squad. If anything happens to Wells or Martin, it's hard to see where goals will come from. Weimann will get some, but Semenyo, Bell and the other kids is a big ask for them.
     
    #2
  3. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2020
    Messages:
    3,675
    Likes Received:
    1,275
    Conway looks the best bet for me, feisty and quick + hopefully Britton will break through another feisty type of striker, but we do need the option of a target man and one that can actually hold the ball up and not spend most of his time on his arse.

    The midfield is shaping up nicely.
     
    #3
  4. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    3,435
    I'm hoping, with his undoubted talent, a solid midfield and 'talks' with Pearson we finally see the best of Kasey Palmer.
     
    #4
    Angelicnumber16 and Supcon72 like this.
  5. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2020
    Messages:
    3,675
    Likes Received:
    1,275
    Well he has started the main games so far.
     
    #5
  6. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,359
    Likes Received:
    2,788
    Was always a decent player, needed other decent players around him to shine....same goes for Massengo
     
    #6
  7. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2020
    Messages:
    3,675
    Likes Received:
    1,275
    Decent players? where have I heard that before?
     
    #7
  8. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    3,435

    He wasn't always decent, in fact he was poor at times and gave more penalties away than anyone.
    However he's always had the talent.
    That's totally different.

    If you'd watched more and not kept that tenner in your pocket you'd understand.
     
    #8
  9. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2020
    Messages:
    3,675
    Likes Received:
    1,275
    I agree with onefer, who obviously now realises that our squad was not decent.

    You either build your team around players like him (something BCFC have been crap at doing), try to turn into more of a team player and lose the flair or ship him out.

    And I have watched every game for 4 years.
     
    #9
  10. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,359
    Likes Received:
    2,788
    For your information, I didn't miss many, doesn't cost me a tenner either :emoticon-0103-cool:......but maybe my talent spotting outshines yours RP........you just need a bit more time!! <laugh>
     
    #10

  11. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    3,435
    Of course players improve with better players around them.
    Palmer has undoubted talent, with an upgrade in midfield and Pearson's guidance I think/hope we'll see Palmer have a greater influence this season.

    Nothing is certain in football though and admit I worry about Palmer's 'attitude' to football. Some have so much ability that the game in their eyes is too easy. Palmer wouldn't be the first or last to make that mistake.
     
    #11
  12. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,359
    Likes Received:
    2,788
    Is that the decent players that are still at the club with a few additions? :emoticon-0105-wink:
     
    #12
  13. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2020
    Messages:
    3,675
    Likes Received:
    1,275
    Aided by the release of the 'decent' 11 or so players (one third of the squad) most of whom have not found clubs, whereas a few have found their true level at either a crappy Turkish club or league 1.

    And if it improves Palmer, win/win I would say. It's about time that football decisions were made by football people and not CEO's and puppets.
     
    #13
  14. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,359
    Likes Received:
    2,788
    Aided by the release of the 'decent' 11,................ of which most hardly featured for us last season...Let's hope the changes improves the dreadful 2nd half of last season, which shouldn't be hard TBF!!
     
    #14
  15. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2020
    Messages:
    3,675
    Likes Received:
    1,275
    Hardly featured for a reason, they were not good or consistent enough and weren't good enough when they were signed.

    I agree with the last sentence but at least we have a manager who can f**** it up on his own and not aided and abetted by a CEO.
     
    #15
  16. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2011
    Messages:
    33,398
    Likes Received:
    5,983
    I watched City against Exeter, it was not a classic but this team are bonding, they looked happy and every one gave all they got, they obviously enjoy playing for Pearson and it surely can only get better, good luck to the 'decent' 11 they have all moved on and so have we.

    Plymouth tonight, lets hope for some more good football.
     
    #16
  17. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    8,310
    Likes Received:
    2,611
    What makes you say think this? I would say they all looked like they enjoyed playing for our recent previous manager as well most, if not all of the time. I don't recall any dissension in the ranks?
     
    #17
  18. Redprintt

    Redprintt Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2011
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    3,435
    Steady on Supcon.
    Wiz said something positive.
    Nothing about anything else.
     
    #18
  19. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2011
    Messages:
    33,398
    Likes Received:
    5,983
    It's obvious to most of us, things have vastly improved, confidence, smiles and a firm belief in their new boss.

    please log in to view this image


    Tonights team~
     
    #19
  20. oneforthebristolcity

    oneforthebristolcity Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2011
    Messages:
    8,359
    Likes Received:
    2,788
    mmmm see a few LJ signings in there, no can't be <laugh><laugh><laugh>
     
    #20

Share This Page