Red alert! The Bristol City players whose futures need resolving this summer Our City writer on the cases to be sorted this summer The futures of several Bristol City players must be resolved in what is looking to be a busy summer for the Robins, whether they secure promotion or remain a Championship side. Credit where credit is due, club CEO Mark Ashton has managed to sign up the core of Lee Johnson's squad to long-term deals and, theoretically, there will be no need to make big sales like last summer, when Bobby Reid, Aden Flint and Joe Bryan all departed the club. With the extended gap in the fixture list and the relentless nature of the Championship calendar calming for a couple of weeks until Sheffield United on March 30, it gives the Robins hierarchy the chance to consider their options and start to form their summer plans. Head coach Johnson is likely to tinker with his group and may have to countenance the odd sale, should a substantial and financially-prudent offer be made, but here are the senior men needing their futures sorted in the coming months. Callum O'Dowda please log in to view this image Callum O'Dowda of Bristol City scores and celebrates (Image: Phil Chaplin/JMP) The 23-year-old winger had a one year option in his contract activated and his deal currently runs through to the summer of 2020. We understand from our sources that there are Premier League teams watching the developments with O'Dowda, which follows on from Leeds United's interest in the last window. It means that a big decision awaits both the player - and arguably the club in the summer. Either the Republic of Ireland international agrees a new contract, the club negotiate a sale after the conclusion of the season as his value will only continue to drop or, and most unlikely, he sees out the remainder of his deal and leaves on a free. Matty Taylor please log in to view this image Matty Taylor of Bristol City cuts a dejected figure at the final whistle (Image: Nizaam Jones/JMP) The popular forward has just over a year left on his deal and has been linked with moves over the past three windows. Lee Johnson has not given Taylor the run of starts that his form on the pitch deserves, although the 28-year-old has been unfortunate with injuries over the past two years - just as he has looked set for an extended run in the first team injury has struck. Unfortunately he has impressed as an impact sub at times this campaign - in terms of being effective, with the forward not having played more than 45 minutes since the start of November, despite a match-winning cameo against Bolton Wanderers in January. Sold or see out the last 12 months? As it stands, a new deal looks unlikely. Bailey Wright please log in to view this image Bailey Wright of Bristol City competes with Jack Harrison (Image: Nizaam Jones/JMP) The club captain will only have a year left to go but surely - as he's only 26 and given his status in the Robins squad - he will surely be tied up to a new longer-term deal in the summer or soon after. Interest from other clubs might complicate that, however Wright is highly likely to remain in BS3. Frank Fielding please log in to view this image Goalkeeper Frank Fielding of Bristol City has his shot blocked by John Ruddy of Wolverhampton Wanderers (Image: Getty Images) The much-loved goalkeeper has been at Ashton Gate since 2013 and successfully seen off several other keepers in that time as well as being part of Steve Cotterill's double-winning side of 2014-15. He's out of contract in the summer although there is an option to extend the deal by a year. We understand that the club have not yet taken that up and there is a good chance that the 30-year-old, who is out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury, may have played his final game in BS3. If that is the case, we hope that club pay suitable tribute for one of the last remaining members of that special Cotterill team, with Marlon Pack and Korey Smith the final remaining members. Niki Maenpaa please log in to view this image Niki Maenpaa of Bristol City saves a penalty from Benik Afobe of Stoke City (Image: Rogan Thomson/JMP) Maenpaa signed last summer on a one-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months. The goalkeeper has impressed in his time at Ashton Gate with the only question marks regarding the 33-year-old's injury issues. However, this looks a no-brainer that the club will extend the Finnish goalkeeper's time in BS3. Eros Pisano please log in to view this image Eros Pisano of Bristol City in action (Image: Nizaam Jones/JMP) The Italian full-back is out of contract in the summer and is another playing for his future at Ashton Gate. We spoke to Pisano earlier in the season and he confirmed that he would love to extend his time with City having arrived from Verona in 2017 . However, Pisano turns 32 later this month and Bristol City will obviously take that into consideration. An extra year might suit all parties, however. Stefan Marinovic please log in to view this image Stefan Marinovic warms up (Image: Dougie Allward/JMP) The New Zealand goalkeeper is on a short term deal until the summer. Can he earn himself a longer stay? Even though there were question marks on his debut, and in mitigation it was his first competitive appearance for four months, for the Robins to bring in an international player on a free contract until the end of the season, at this stage of the campaign, is pretty smart work. Korey Smith please log in to view this image Korey Smith of Bristol City is closed down by Ben Watson of Nottingham Forest (Image: www.jmpuk.com) The key central midfielder would have been out of contract in the summer, but the club have now handed him an extra year. That was a nice touch from Johnson and his team as they helped take the pressure off the 28-year-old as he makes his way back from a long-term knee injury having not played since August, 2018. But City may look to give Smith a longer term deal in the summer if he can work his way back to full fitness. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/red-alert-bristol-city-players-2647614
Interestng period ahead from the list above these are my choice to keep and lose~ Keep...........................Lose Callum O'Dowda ..............Matty Taylor Bailey Wright ....................Eros Pisano Niki Maenpaa....................Stefan Marinovic Korey Smith.......................Frank Fielding Some good names there but time for a change
I would keep Frank as well. Don't have a problem with other choices. Really don't understand why people have a problem with Frankie. Not perfect but good at our level (imho).
Its a simple one for myself. He is good to average at shot stopping and? The majority of a Keepers game is played with the feet and he is not highly skilled in that aspect of Keeping. This will always affect the team tactically. Marinovic's lack of foot skill affected the team negatively Tuesday. The same happens with Frank Fielding.
It will be a difficult summer, MARONOVIC IS A STOP GAP ...NO PUN INTENDED so is not on a contract, although an international GK needs to show some sign of brilliance if given the chance ...just been here 2 weeks and usually " the consensus of the core of us on here is need 8-10 games to get sorted " he doesn't have that time …… young Max is in the groove with players and team methods must be good points on the scale of "to be picked as GK"....
Bailey Wright -go-No right back and behind Webster,Kalas,Baker for central defender spots. Eros Pisa-keep-Best right back at present. Niki Maenpaa-keep-Top keeper Stefan Marinovic-Go-Shocking Korey Smith.-keep-Top player when fit Frank Fielding-Go-Not good enough Matty Taylor-Go-not given a fair crack needed to score more goals. Callum O’Dowda-Go wants away
Unlike last year if they all left it would not be the end of the world O'Dowda does have potential and hit a good patch of form recently - but has been missing in the last 3-4 games Korey is one of my favourite players - will depend if he is part of LJ's plans going forward
