Bristol City in talks to sign midfielder Brian Howard please log in to view this image A free agent after having his contract cancelled by League One strugglers Portsmouth, the 30-year-old midfielder is holding talks with the Robins regarding a short-term deal until the end of the season.The Championship club hopes to conclude a deal on Friday and Howard could be available for Saturday's Severnside derby against Championship leaders Cardiff City in the Welsh capital. He has now opened talks with City officials and head coach Sean O'Driscoll confirmed: "I suppose the phrase we should use is 'on-going'. "He has two offers on the table and, from his point of view, he has to make a decision. "Negotiations are on-going and, hopefully, we can sign him. "He knows the Championship, he is a good personality and he will add to the group." O'Driscoll had hoped to see Howard play in an Under-21 FA Development League game against Millwall at Bromley on Tuesday, but the fixture was postponed owing to snowfall in London. He admitted: "Signing him without having seen him play is not ideal, because I like to do due diligence. "But we've lost two midfield players and we could do with getting one in." Bristol City head coach Sean O'Driscoll wants to send some of the club's brightest young players out on loan. Joe Bryan, Wes Burns and Bobby Reid have all featured in the first team squad this season, but are unlikely to be used on a regular basis while the Robins mount a desperate fight for npower Championship survival. "We've been really impressed with Bobby, Wes and Joe, but we could really do with getting them playing somewhere. If they are going to be the long-term future of the football club, then the more experience they get playing games, the better. "A couple of clubs have asked about them and, if we can get them out, then great." Bryan, Burns and Reid have all come through City's Academy system and represent the future of the club. O'Driscoll said: "There are no ifs, buts and maybes, these players will be the future of the club. Given the way the football club is going to evolve, we will use them. "The days have gone where the club is going to spend big transfer fees and big wages. They just cannot afford it any more. "That means we have to develop our young players to add to the squad and these young lads will definitely be a part of it." http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/BREA...tory-18148014-detail/story.html#axzz2KgfBiToG http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/story-18148041-detail/story.html#axzz2Kso81HdU
ATM with the lack of strikers don't want burns going anywhere and joe is useful as he can play lm or lb bobby I can see him going on loan to league 1 I rate him but he unlikely to get in with the midfielders we got now
I wouldn't let Burns go out unless the rumours are true that Boothroyd is joining on loan. But like Pinky says we are one injury away from using Bryan I know we can have a recall on him but would be a concern if Cunningham has a slight injury keeping him out for one or two games will we recall Joe then send him back?
From Bullshit Express * 13 Feb 2013 00:15:12 jay bothroyd to join bristol city on loan Heard this too, from a qpr fan, looks certain. He has family in wales still and will get on well with odriscoll I have been hearing this for a few weeks, great if there is anything in it, but can't help but wonder if its just a rumor that has gathered steam after being made up. 14 Feb 2013 17:23:31 Lots of talent, less endeavour. Fab for a team that is able. To carry a luxury player. In city's position I'd rather not
Only from what I've seen on TV, he appears to be "lethargic" perhaps a bit like Pitman. May be OK in a winning team but will he work like Stead or Taylor? We need grafters with skill rather than skilled players what don't want to do a shift.
We still need Burns while Taylor is injured and Sam can't shake off his calf problem. But for Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid it may be better to play some League One football so long as it's not one of the strugglers. I want them to get more game time than they are at the highest level possible so they are ready to really bang on the first team door next season. If Cunningham gets an injury while Joe is out on loan, Foster can play left back.
O'Driscoll said: "There are no ifs, buts and maybes, these players will be the future of the club. Given the way the football club is going to evolve, we will use them. "The days have gone where the club is going to spend big transfer fees and big wages. They just cannot afford it any more. "That means we have to develop our young players to add to the squad and these young lads will definitely be a part of it." That is the best bit of news I have heard from the club for a while. The lads need to get battle hardened and it means that they can go and get the experience confident in the knowledge that they have a future at the club and not wondering if they are surplus to requirements. Got to be a "win, win"...!
Prem you've read it the way I did, it's brilliant news and guess who started the message, don't answer mate but you're right..
We've seen the ability of Bryan, Reid and Burns and it looks bloody GOOD! We now have another youngster Kevin Krans 19, Striker, Who is being scouted by Chelsea. We're trying to offer a professional contract which would suggest we may well see him play some part maybe this season and defiantly next. We're building for the future definitely and its looking promising with these 4 youngsters along with a few others, One to mention Joe Morrell captain on the wales under 17's Theres also Toby Ajala who is getting great reviews at Wimbledon.
Very comprehensive comments about our most promising youngsters, Shiny. These five lads if they are given the right coaching and the right opportunities in the side or on loan at good level, are going to be the basis for the future success of our club. One can hopefully include keeper Lewis Carey and maybe the defender Jones who came from Celtic. Add this very promising talent to most (#) of the names that you highlighted in red earlier in the thread "Do we have enough of the right players to survive?" and with the two new central defenders that we've needed for four years, there appears to be the basis of a very good squad. (#) I personally would not keep Gerken - not good enough IMO or Louis Carey - too old now. Even if the worst happens this season, I believe we will rise up again quickly with SOD and as outlined above, a good solid first team squad.
I would keep Louis Carey at Bristol City in some capacity coaching youngsters especially the defenders after all the ones that have come through recently haven't exactly covered themselves in glory, although injuries might have accounted for some of them. Also he might be able to instill some of his love for the club into the youngsters.
I have high hopes for young Burns - what impresses me is that he is already making "right decisions" on the pitch - bodes very well for the future if he "trains on"
I'd rather see Reid on the Bench and let Kilkenny go out on loan but first team football for Reid wont be a bad thing. Whether I agree or not with citys current policy on using the youngsters for the rest of the season I guess least SOD has been clear that he will not be using them and instead look to bring in players with experience like Howard until the end of the season. I guess Greg has shown enough fitness recently that they can send Joe out to the end of teh season with a recall clause and not worry. Plus if Greg was to get re-injured whos to say SOD would pick Joe and not opt to play Foster or Nyatanga at full back even though we all know Joe at left back is as good as Greg most weeks this season. We as City fans have watched for players for years and even though we differ on some players we can see who the dross is. for SOD hes just come in and gone with who he knows and whos impressed him on teh training field. With the youngsters having a low profile in their career it will be harder. but SOD seems a fair man so places are up for grabs in teh team next season.
