The Wednesday perspective will appear on the trust website www.bristolcityst.org.uk
What kind of form are
I think that you'd have to say that this is City's second slump of the season, they've struggled to create much in front of goal in recent games. Byfield is City's top scorer but four of them have come in stoppage time and the view is that he's better as an impact player whilst Trundle has been working hard for the team but not managed to display the goal-scoring ability he's shown in lower leagues.
The work-rate and commitment is still there and Johnson will be hoping that the signing of Adebola will help us to better retain possession up front, he was unlucky not to score on his debut, hitting the post against QPR. That game was lost by half-time as Johnson dropped right-winger Ivan Sproule to accommodate new signing Nick Carle who is a talented attacking midfielder but not effective on the right side of midfield. He also arguably picked the wrong centre-back pairing, choosing the tall pairing of Vasko & McCombe who were unable to cope with the pace and movement of QPR's attack. Most fans would prefer to see City play with one up front and Carle in the hole and this formation has worked well for us in the past.
The previous game had seen us beat
What style of play do City use?
City are capable of playing good passing football and when on song are a joy to watch. Frustratingly they tend to revert to long ball when under pressure with Orr and McCombe often guilty of looking for the long option. For most of the season McIndoe and Sproule have played on both flanks providing a good balance to the team.
What are City's strengths and weaknesses?
City's run to the top of the table was built around excellent team spirit, high fitness levels and commitment and they all remain, but as mentioned creating chances and scoring goals has been a problem all season. Captain Louis Carey has been absent with an Achilles problem for recent games and has proved to be a big loss with our defence not looking as solid without him. When partnered by him, Liam Fontaine has looked capable of playing in the Premier League but other partnerships have been less effective.
Which players should Wednesday fans watch out for and why?
Recent signing Nick Carle is an Australian international capable of scoring spectacular goals and has excellent control as you'd expect from someone who played a lot of Futsal early in his career.
Probably our most consistent player has been Brazilian keeper Adriano Basso. A devout Christian, Basso is widely known for his mantra 'Always Believe' and can often be seen pointing his gloves towards the sky. City plucked him from the obscurity of Woking and he's improved and improved since making the number one shirt his own and would love to make the
What's your opinion on Gary Johnson, is he doing a good job?
Johnson is our best manager for 30 years if not ever and must be applauded for his ability to uncover talent that has been overlooked by others and for sweeping away the soft culture that had inherited the dressing room under Wilson and Tinnion where too many players were taking it easy.
When we lost nine in a row soon after his appointment most fans were worried but the follow-on has been extra-ordinary with automatic promotion gained the season after and a memorable return to Championship level irrespective of how the season ends.
Signings such as Elliott who had gone stale at Millwall, Basso from Woking, Noble from Boston and McCombe for £5k from Lincoln have all worked out well whilst Nick Carle looks like good value at £500k. For those who don't follow the Australian League he won player of the year and goal of the year last year.
City now have excellent fitness levels and a good dressing room with new players being chosen as much for their mental abilities and contribution to the team ethic as for their ability on the pitch.
What are City's prospects for next season?
City were quieter than many hoped during the transfer window, including Chairman Steve Lansdown who has stopped asking Gary Johnson whether he wants money to buy new players. Lansdown has pledged to make money available for any players Johnson wants to sign but he would rather wait until the close season when more players are available and for less rather than make panic signings.
If we can recover our earlier solidity and improve a little up front then the play-offs look a good bet and with sixteen games to go it would be a disappointment were we to fade away. Next season I can see the Championship being wide open again.
There's no reason why City can't continue the progress of this season and if Johnson can retain the services of existing players whilst adding a goal scorer I'd expect us to be in the top ten.
What was your impression on the previous game between the two sides.
Having 34% of possession and just one shot on goal City were fortunate to gain all three points. That game set the tone for the season with the victory based on a solid defensive display and a man of the match performance from our keeper Basso. Wednesday didn't look like a team that was going to struggle although Deon Burton has never been the greatest of strikers and the fact that you've signed Showunmi from us hint that your not blessed up front.
Showunmi is a good player at League One but now surplus to requirements at City. No-one can question his commitment but he is weak in the air and muscled off the ball too easy for a big-man. Relatively well-liked by City fans, I hope he does a good job for you.