He’s a big black guy but that’s where the comparison ends pretty much. He’s an exciting player though- the sort that gets the crowd enthused when a goal down and he comes on even if more often than not it doesn’t work his presence on the pitch will push teams back ten yards. Obviously he’s young and can improve but there’s been little evidence of real Championship-level ability but he’ll have moments. Most likely off the bench which is probably the plan.
I’m assuming this is it now, apart from either Twine or someone similar, and Conway either leaving, or being confined to the under 21’s or similar. Personally can’t see we are stronger than last season, other than Manning has had a preseason with them. Which begs the question, why would we expect to finish any higher than last season?. As usual I’ll leave judgment till 10 games or so into season. But at the moment my best guess is another mid table season.
The decision to send Tommy Conway to train with the U21s has sparked disagreement among Bristol City figures. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/b...-made-as-rangers-continue-to-monitor-forward/ Liam Manning addresses Tommy Conway's future as Bristol City striker trains with U21s Bristol City striker Tommy Conway has rejected the Robins' most recent contract offer and becomes a free agent in 2025 https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/manning-tommy-conway-bristol-city-9424610
As long as it’s handled correctly and the player understands the reasons behind the decision I’ve no problem with the approach taken. We’ve got to concentrate on the players that are going to be here next season, ones that are FULLY committed to the cause, which TC isn’t if he wants to move on. It’s his prerogative to choose to not sign a new contract, but equally it’s the club’s prerogative how we chose to deal with that choice. If Manning would rather use FULLY committed players, that’s fine by me.
I think the gap between top half and top 6 is getting bigger. We have to accept we are unlikely to compete financially with those sides. A top 8 finish would be good progress this season as it likely means we were sniffing around the play-offs. Even in our big spending days, we were still dwarfed in the wages we can afford to pay. At that time Kalas was our top earner on £27k, most clubs in the top 6-10 had 4-5 or more players on way more than that.
all this contract nonsense is a rather bitter pill to absorb into the game ... £bn's is lost to it being helpful to clubs. Mainly driven by agents most of the top 2 division ones are multi millionaires!? An agent tells a player I can get you a contract with so and so when yours is up so just play it out ............... and more and more do. Some of the bigger teams are wise to this and sign longer deals .... have they sussed it? sign player for 4 years and he plays down his contract ...so lost £50m so sign for 7 years and sell for £40m after 4 years only lost £10m how soon will 4 years and option for 2 come along! OR if there is a contract on the table better than the one they are on then there is no free transfer as a fee will need to paid at least equal to the value of the gross amount to the player..............
That is a fair comment and probably correct but Brentford, Brighton and Bournmouth are surviving, Norwich, Burnley, Southampton and Sheffield Utd have been there, surely our day must come soon?
Supcon Are there wage statistics to confirm your view. Aren't the opposition wages now still far above our budget ? Wouldn't our budget in LJ/MA's tenure be closer then than where we are now in relative terms ?
I haven’t studied the figures, but I suspect you are correct - we were CLOSER - but I suspect that we were still way below what some clubs were paying. I GUESS that we were probably about upper mid-table in the wages department back then - and we are now just below mid-table. Just my guess. So if my guess has any truths about it, spending mid-table and getting just outside the playoffs is not terrible. Neither is paying just below mid-table and achieving mid-table.
There were some way back when, perhaps Wiz put them up… I recall Ayew at Swansea on reported £80k a week, I guess a hangover from their PL days, but highlights the problem. I’d say we’re more likely closer now than then, I’d question if any Championship player is on that salary now, even if relegated from the PL
https://www.capology.com/club/bristol/salaries/2021-2022/ https://www.capology.com/club/bristol/salaries/ https://www.capology.com/club/bristol/payrolls/ Just some rough comparisons hope it's of some help..
That shows what we have been paying our own players Wiz, but not what the likes of Wolves, Sheffield U etc were paying theirs. I suspect more. My goodness I’d like Wells’ salary - just one year would set me up for life!!!!
