But OâDriscoll will almost certainly go with the players already at his disposal as he plots a path to Championship safety between now and the end of the season. The former Nottingham Forest and Doncaster boss last week addressed a lack of cover in central defence by offering Matthew Bates a short-term deal until the end of the season. . And with Louis Carey, Cole Skuse and Sam Baldock all back in training after long-term injury, OâDriscoll will only add to his squad if he can improve it. But with money in short supply as City bid to cut costs ahead of the onset of Financial Fair Play later this year, the head coach says the chances of finding that kind of player at the right price at this stage of the season are slim. He told The Post: âIt has to be somebody who is better than what Iâve got and who is available at a price I can afford. âI can take a young kiddie from a Premier Division club or I can take a player who is not in the first team from somewhere else. âThe problem with that is I have to start again with that player to get him up to speed with everyone else.â OâDriscoll has spent six weeks drilling his players in a certain way of playing and is loath to have to begin that process anew with any potential loan signing. Even star winger Albert Adomah has struggled to break back into the side since returning from African Nations Cup duty with Ghana earlier this month. OâDriscoll explained: âAlbert was going to be the saviour. He has come back and, all of a sudden, the difference between him and the rest of the players in terms of where they are in respect of playing for the team is apparent. âThat is no disrespect to Albert. He has been away and still needs to catch up with the rest.â Unlike a loan signing from outside, Bates was already familiar with Cityâs players, having been at Ashton Gate since former manager Derek McInnes offered him a two-month co9ntract back in November. The former Middlesbrough defender was not only available, but also came at a price City could afford. OâDriscoll confirmed: âMatthew has been here all the time and we needed another defender really. He has stuck around and been patient. âHe played in an under-21 game against Brentford last week and I watched him. âMatthew knows the players and knows the division and that gives him an advantage over anyone coming in from outside. âHe was already in situ, and he was available at a price we could afford.â Interesting stuff. Clearly knows what he wants, team shape will be relentlessly drilled into current players. Adomah not up to mark so far [ and he has not been!!].
Only modest funds available = No room for error like there has been. A case of we go with what we have, it is a team game and all must, and will train hard for their role. Bloke impresses me.
I fully understand where SO'D is coming from with these comments. He is trying to instil a discipline into the squad and for any newcomers, it would be like joining a foreign language course, after missing the first six months. But how will the squad cope later and especially after the March transfer deadline? With our injury record we could really struggle and the lack of bodies could be our undoing. So I wonder; How many of the Under 21 squad who are not allocated a squad number, are actually training with the first team squad? Or if not are all the Under 21's being organised / coached in exactly the same way as the first team squad? I know SO'D is reluctant to involve the U 21's in our present predicament but he may be forced to if injuries and any suspensions kick in.
The only thing that worries me with the above is what will happen in the summer. Obviously funds will be tight and we probably wont see many players coming in. Expect a lot of lower league players.
Not necessarily Shiny. It is pretty obvious that wage levels in the Championship are already having "a reality check" and thus even those for example like Neil Danns, are unlikely to be able to get contracts that get anywhere near their existing wages. But getting in good players from lower leagues with a determination to succeed will probably see more reward for City than over-priced, overpaid as we've had for the last five years.
I love SODS attitude ,he really sums it up,you play the way i want, or as Albert has found out you do not. The guy has transformed us in such a short time,very happy indeed. His way is clearly the the right way,onward and upwards.
SOD tells it how it is, he's honest and can't find fault in any comment or decision he's made so far. 'But how will the squad cope later' - I don't know, how can we tell the future. However, I am sure is there is not another manager in England I'd want other than SOD to keep BCFC in the Championship. And beyond.
I agree with what you guys have said. SoD is open and honest (a good man) - his programme notes are very informative about how he is trying to play/organise etc What he says about the loan market makes sense - it also says to our group that he thinks they are good enough to get us out of this mess
Well I hope he can bring something else to the table that previous managers haven't because to me We are just making the same mistakes over and over again. That group of defenders have consistently proved themselves as not good enough for this level, they may be having a bit of new manager bounce now but I strongly suspect they will revert to type as soon as SOD new methods begin to bore them.. If we DO get relegated This is the issue that will be to blame! We will have had ample time to rectify it! If we Don't get relegated, you have to wonder why this group of players have been taking the piss for so long if they were so capable after all? Time will tell...
The messages coming from Sean are pleasing in some respects but I fear that they are also an indication that we are in serious financial straits. The amount of money that has been drained from our club by non-committed players is beyond belief and does not give us the flexibilty to negotiate in any kind of player market. Let's just hope that Sean has a good handle on things and can keep us up, and if he does then next season could be an educating time for us all.
No, surely it's LJ? Isn't that why we were so **** we could only finish in the playoffs, followed by mid-table next season? Thank god we got rid of him to move onwards and upwards.... Oh .... Wait ... Where are we since? Oooer!!!
We need something at Blackpool on Saturday and our away form and standard hasn't been good under SO'D although we've had some tough fixtures. Looking at it sensibly and with games running out, this is a match that we should be aiming for get 3 points from, if we are serious about avoiding the drop. Blackpool aren't in great form so come on City, show us what you can do on the road.
can we compare LJ with Hartley. I would say Noble was more creative since then we have had Carle and Hartley. Its obvious we need that creative player but not this season. We're scoring just the defence is shocking. Could have won 6-0 on Saturday! p.s Just repped you all
Goals were conceded saturday because midfield players did not track runners e.g primary cause of second goal was players not attempting to get goal side to retain shape leaving players 2:1 elsewhere. That has been a problem all season. Midfield players as Sean O'driscoll says have to do one and half jobs. Attack and get in shape. If they do not defenders will be exposed. Barnsley could have also won saturday such was the amount of chances they had.
'midfield players did not track runners' And great in the air, lightening quick,fantastic tackler, never passed the ball back or sideways,brilliant goal scoring record............... Yep - Besides killing Marv - Junior had the lot.
LJ MADE Marv. Elliott hasn't been the same since he left - and neither have the whole team. RP I respect 99 percent of your views on football and don't doubt your commitment to the cause one bit, but on Lee I'm afraid I totally disagree and so do the stats: goals conceded, passed completed, position in the league achieved, I could go on quoting stats. Now I am not stupid enough to say that was all down to one player - of course not - but if you really think lee was as crap as you say on here - plus preventing Marv from playing too - then I'm afraid you are either mistaken or obsessed. That would suggest we got to Wembley with 9 men. Listen to yourself mate - that's plain SILLY. Utter bolder dash. We need to regain that sense of brotherhood - and where we are in absolute agreement is that SOD is talking - and doing - more sense than I have seen at the gate since GJ (since Hartley arrived and 'killed' GJ). If anyone can save us he can.
