Bristol City snap up ex-Crystal Palace striker Aaron Wilbraham on free transfer. please log in to view this image New Bristol City signing Aaron Wilbraham in training today. Bristol City have completed the signing of experienced striker Aaron Wilbraham on a free transfer. The former MK Dons, Norwich City and Crystal Palace forward trained with the Robins this morning before passing a medical examination and penning a one-year rolling contract. City manager Steve Cotterill’s fifth signing of the summer, the 34-year-old target man is looking forward to renewing his deadly strike partnership with City captain Sam Baldock in League One next season. The pair featured in the same MK Dons side in the third tier between 2005 and 2011, scoring a combined total of 83 goals in 280 appearances, and have remained firm friends ever since. Eager to reunite Wilbraham and Baldock in a classic big-man little-man partnership, Cotterill approached the former following a chance meeting on holiday in Dubai last month. The pair met subsequently in Bristol for talks and Wilbraham, who had offers from a number of other clubs, opted to join City in order to team up with Baldock once more. Revealing his latest acquisition immediately following the first training session of pre-season, Cotterill told the Bristol Post: “The last time Aaron played at this level, he scored goals at the rate of one every three or four games. “He had a great partnership with Sam Baldock and they have remained good friends since then. I know he scored a few goals himself and set up many more for Sam and that is what people will focus on. “It certainly helps that those two are good friends and have had a good partnership before. All of those things combined, made it a pretty easy deal to do. “To be fair to Aaron, he wanted to come down last night and he didn’t want to miss the first training session. That is a real credit to him and says a lot about his attitude. “I was really relieved when he didn’t get injured before he’d signed!” Released by Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis at the end of last season, Wilbraham wants a return to playing regular first team football after spending much of the previous campaign on the sidelines at Selhurst Park. Frustrated by a lack of opportunity towards the end of his stay in South London, the Cheshire-born striker was offered two-year deals by a number of other clubs. But he opted to drop two divisions and join City in order to team up with Baldock once more and become part of a club that appears to be on the up after several years in the doldrums. Cotterill said: “It shows the pulling power of this football club. Aaron has come out of the Premier League, where he was a third or fourth striker. “He has also been a number two or three striker in the Championship, so he didn’t have to drop down to League One. That shows how good a club this is.” Wilbraham has signed a 12-month deal initially, but there is a clause that will automatically trigger a contract extension, providing he makes a certain number of appearances next season. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BREAKI...ystal-Palace/story-21318427-detail/story.html
This signing of players who like each other has to STOP now before we build up some club camaraderie and start to achieve things. Unity will not be tolerated -lol.
Please can I just say what I said when Cotts was appointed - lets give the guy a chance I've seen some stuff on other forums and would like to remind everyone that we are in LEAGUE 1 So let's treat the guy with a bit of respect (he trained today in theory for nothing) and support him
What you've just expressed is the very reason for this thread, I thought the article said a lot of things none of us knew, personally I think good luck to the guy, I'm an impressed old stager....
I said elsewhere that I am underwhelmed. Two 34 year olds signed for this coming season. And he has an option of a second year if he makes enough appearances. Does Wade Elliott have the same deal? And how much are we paying these 34 year olds? Must be a tidy sum. Mr Wilbraham can't be short of a bob. On holiday in Dubai in June knowing he was out of work in July? Wish I could afford such holidays! Hope I am proved wrong by his performances, but somehow not expecting twenty goals this season from him. We'll be lucky if he gets five!
When you have Baldy and JET alongside you, maybe you don't need to score every game if you are fulfilling a vital function. Like hold the ball and tee it up for those 2. The next Neymar will be along shortly (chortle)
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Aaron-...-Sam-Baldock/story-21322089-detail/story.html There is some good stuff in this article as well - looks like we are getting someone with a great attitude
From a Crystal Palace fan mate of mine - quote: 'He's a big target man. He's struggled at our place but he does a job. He's honest and works hard. Needs to score more goals though'
This is what my mate from Norwich had to say about him: I think it’s important to get the key signings made early to allow the team time to gel in pre-season. Wilbraham always put in a good shift at Norwich. He’s not a prolific goal scorer but brings others into game well.
Would have preferred us to sign jake Cassidy who was on loan at Tranmere from wolves last season and they are looking to loan him out again for the season to a leading division one side, he scored a great goal against us at the gate last season, was tall, molile and strong and would have been a great addition.
