We have got 2 wins and 2 draws in the last 4 games. The big difference and a factor I believe for this is Skuse has come back from injury and has been put back in to midfield and has been our best player over the last 4 games. For me Skuse should be captain for next season. I think the other stand out player has been Bikey who apparently is out of contract end of season with Burnley so hopefully we can sign him as he is what I would call a very smart defender who reads the play well and organises the defence. A type of player we have been crying out for, for years and if we can get him for free even better. Just a shame he cant play in the last game of the season against his parent club. Most improved player for me has been Foster who looks a shakey in defence when he first joined and showed that he can get forward when he played in midfield but over the last few games he has played well at right back, just a pitty he was bought to play out of position at left back. The way I have looked at our current squad (2 players per position) and what we need for next season. Shows that DM needs to strengthen the left hand side of the team with players who naturally play in that position. We also need a consistant goal scorer. I was hoping we would see more of Clarkson under DM but I guess he got injured at the wrong time. GK Dean Gerken GK LB LB RB Christian Ribeiro RB Richard Foster CB James Wilson CB Liam Fontaine CB André Amougou (Bikey) CB Louis Carey RM Yannick Bolasie RM Albert Adomah LM Martyn Woolford LM CM Cole Skuse CM Kalifa Cissé CM Stephen Pearson CM Marvin Elliott FW Jon Stead FW Brett Pitman FW FW
I agree about signing Bikey - if not go for Mcmanus We need a creative midfielder, left back, keeeper and pacy forward
LEFT BACKS! I too think we need two, Crainey from Blackpool has been banded about again and he'd be decent. Quite happy with the Centre-Mid's but need an out and out goalscorer. Shaun Goater still playing? I reckon he'll get the striker from St Johnstone and possibly one or two more from there on free transfers. Don't think he'll have much cash personally...
i still mcgivern is worth having around he kept vaz te quiet last night shame about the shot and he's still young
Certainly seems to have added a better defensive attitude from the team and hopefully he has enjoyed his brief, but successful , stay enough to sign on the dotted line for next season. Do we need to look for a creative midfielder to boost the package, perhaps on the left side as has been stated by several posters on this site? Let's get the important job done before we really list our priorities for next season because we all know a win on Saturday is all that matters right now.
well of all the loans we had this season id like to see back Bikey McManus Ephriam the rest thankyou for what you done but i like the 3 above, Ephriam could be a great addition and can slot in behind the 2 strikers next year
GK Dean Gerken GK LB LB RB Joe Edwards RB Richard Foster CB James Wilson CB Liam Fontaine CB André Amougou (Bikey) CB RM Yannick Bolasie RM Albert Adomah LM Martyn Woolford - last chance saloon LM Joe Bryan CM Cole Skuse CM Kalifa Cissé CM Stephen Pearson CM FW Jon Stead FW Brett Pitman FW FW The ones I'd like us to have next year, Ribeiro is out of contract and I'd be surprised if he stayed, same with Carey.
Bikey would be an excellent purchase, think Fontaine has improved but a McManus Bikey partnership would be good. Just think a few weeks ago, we all said not Woolford. I wonder if he gets affected by the crowd as he seems to play better away? The players are starting to play with belief, and I wonder if Del has broken down whatever the problem was there before. Pitman I wonder if he is a 90 minute man, plays better as a sub but has got a decent pass on him, maybe drop him back into midfield if I remember correctly Paul Scholes started of as a striker. He knows where the net is useful at free kicks and so on bring an out and out greedy bastard striker. Someone like Rhodes bound to be more of them out there. I would also be tempted to get Woods as he is a goal scorer and still only 20, and have this horrible feeling that polished up he could become a really good player. And we will talk about another one who got away. Micheal Kightly could be worth a try?
'Amougou (Bikey) needs to be our first signing of the summer' You lot are getting carried away. He just happens to be better than the likes of Nyatanga. Watch the West Ham goal again - he misjudged a cross from 40 yards, he's also on the shortest of Fuses. Disaster waiting to happen. We are short of real quality at Keeper, LB, CH, CM and Front Runner. ps - Is Wood the worst CF ever to put a red shirt on.
Harsh, definitely harsh - it has clearly escaped your notice that since he arrived:- a). the number of FREE HEADERS for the opposition has dramatically reduced b). the number of goals conceded is 7 in 6 ( far cry from the 3 or more per game we were shipping not long before) c). the most important stat, WE ARE UNBEATEN SINCE HIS ARRIVAL No coincidence. He might have missed the header for the West Ham goal but this was probably the only one he has missed since he got here... As for temperament, we don't have any mean and nasty defenders that hussle, nudge and generally knock the forwards about out of their stride to let them know that they are not going to get a free ride. I would say that he is exactly what we need...
Redprintt, we were all aware of what Bikey was like before he came here, but it's hard to deny that he's stepped up like most have. He's come straight in and in every game both home and away he's gone all out. Can't ask much more than that in a relegation battle. Would I take him for next season? Maybe not, especially over McManus. But who knows. We might have someone brought in who'll be a great fit, be a fair bit younger and doesn't command such a high wage, like Foster. That said, he has been masterful at bringing in players with experience who haven't been getting playing time at their clubs.
Bas Savage yes... Trundle still has the most technical ability of any player I have ever seen at Ashton Gate.
I reckon Bikey and Mcmanus would be a great partnership for City's defence. I also think Louis is worth another year as cover. Left back really is about will McGivern stay here, with Foster as cover, or will we need to look for another. Right back is Ribs next season, with Foster and Scuse as cover. Midfield is all good, although we may want to bring in Bobby Reid from Bristol City (!) Adomah and Bolasie have proved themselves, as has Woolford to a degree. I agree Pitman might be a good option in a deeper role, but there is definitely room in the squad for a young genius especially in attack. But then a young genius would be welcome in any position. Only genius's and The Young need apply
Is Wood the worse? He scored two goals in his last four games when played central and not as a left midfielder like he was again used against west ham but as stead first touch was poor in the game DM swaped them and played Wood central who held up the ball better. Two goals in four games compared to Pitman's two in six. Wood has averaged 1 goal in 3 games in the championship this season compared to Pitmans 1 in 5 so does that make pitman even worst then? I dont think Wood is the answer for city as we dont use him correctly like Brighton or Birminham did who got goals out of him on a regular basis but I also dont think Pitman is consistant enough to score 20+ goals a season which is what we need in a striker. There is a reason we are yet again one of the worst goal scoring teams in the entire football leagues. Used to say it was down to a lack of service but in the last few games the midfield have put a lot of balls into the box that have not been turned into chances
In answer to your questions, Bikey does what is asked, he hustles their forwards out of the game and as stated on here already we have improved since he came here. Could be that James has been dropped and the rest of defence have gained confidence. A partnership between him and McManus in MY opinion would be good. And Woods we know YOUR opinion which you are entitled too, but mine is that he has a decent goal scoring record, he is young and I just have a gut feeling that given the correct guidance could end up being a decent player.
I dont rate wood at all, he slows play down, he isnt confident on the ball and that really showed tuesday night, ive never been so pissed off at a player when stead played a ball to him outside the box and he didnt shoot he just shuffled it with his feet and lost the ball, his hold up plays good, but overall ive not been impressed
Wood is a good player. Not the finished article by any stretch, he's the same type of player as Stead. Wood wins so much in the air but we don't have anybody fast playing off of him so a lot of flick ons don't actually go anywhere. Same as most strikers, Wood needs decent service which has been our problem for a while.
