If I remember correctly, a number of players will be on their way out of Ashton Gate this season after the long contracts they signed under Gary Johnson come to an end. McInnes has already had the balls to get rid of a few faces, so who else is likely to leave, and who else do you think he'll push off to League 1? Given McInnes' reputation, I can definitely see him having a large clear-out to start building his own team. It'll be the first time in years that a manager has had a clean state to build on and this is exactly what we got McInnes in for, to build a team worthy of competing at the top end of the table.
Leaving - Jamo, McAllister, Nyatanga, Ribeiro, Campbell-Ryce, Clarkson, Jackson, Stewart plus the loanees Maybes - Carey, Cisse, Woolford, Taylor - also I'm not sure he rates Pitman
Are they all going over to the mem, or just some of them? Be as interesting an off season as has ever been witnessed at Ashton Gate and I have one request of Derek. Can we please have some pre-season friendlies against real teams rather than the so-called pushovers that we have continued to play in past years? Incidentally our record against these very weak teams is extremely weak.
Out of contracts... Jamo, Ribs, Carey, Cisse, JCR, Macca, Pearson, Clarkson Loans ending - Amougou, Ephraim, Wood, McGivern, Keinen. I hope also leaving - Stewart, Jackson, Elliot (depending on if Pearson & Cisse stay) Hope both Cisse & Pearson stay but otherwise get rid of the others.
As smhbcfc says, I wouldn't be surprised if Pitman left. But then we'd need 3 new cfs which might be a big ask..
Someone pointed out that Del likes hardworking players, don't think Pitman falls into that mould? I really don't want to guess who he will keep or who he gets shot off, he did say that he don't want to be in this position again, so in his eyes the players here got themselves into this position. So I think we could be in for some shocks. We are all saying who we think should go or stay, but only the barroom staff will have an idea on what they want. We are in for some interesting times I think. But I suspect first he will be thinking about Saturdays game, we are talking like the season is finished
Well we have already lost Bikey and Spence. Hope he makes an offer for Bikey - the guy turned us into a Championship team. Soon to go will be McGivern and Ephraim. Hope he makes an offer for Ephraim, but I cant see the guy leaving QPR. McDel has shown he can attract the right players, and he has strong ideas on what kind of player he wants to sign, so we await the action with interest. Standby for a few strange, new faces....
Says he with a picture of a mutant on his profile. Calls himself Bluebaldee when he actually got hair. Bet you have 6 fingers as well
There are several similar threads on the future of our club so here are some thoughts on what may or may not happen over the summer months. Firstly we should get a finality one way or the other about the TVG at Ashton Vale. If it's positive for us that's great because it gives Derek McInnes a couple of seasons to build a squad with class and determination to make a real push for the Promised Land (or Great and Greedy League) But if not, then I presume SL has a Plan "B", probably to redevelop Ashton Gate. Should this be the option, let's hope our Blue brethren have theirs in place for us to borrow while the Gate is totally reconstructed. Yes I know it's against our religion, but the only other sensible / viable alternative is to share with Cardiff City! Enough said! Secondly, I hope SL realises that few supporters have any confidence in the current chairman. I'm also a Gloucestershire CC fan and the crowd there had a similar opinion of him to City fans. As everyone is aware, we have a big number of players out of contract so who will go and who will stay is a guessing game that some will get right and plenty will get wrong. So instead, I want to say a very big thank you to all of the lads who wore the red shirt this season and especially those who became the core of the team in the last couple of months. And without joining the prediction game, to pick out some worthy mentions; Louis Carey and Jamie MacAllister; neither of you have ever shirked anything in your time here so if you leave, you do so with our thanks and best wishes. The same goes for one or two others who I suspect may be surprise departures. Martin Woolford who in spite of not being many fans favourite, worked his socks off during the recent run. Dean Gerken for sitting on the bench for almost two years without ever showing anything but total committment. John Stead for his work rate, quality and goals when finally given the chance. And I am looking forward to seeing who DMc brings in to find the stability that we need for the next couple of seasons. Having realised before he came here, that DMc is a winner, I think we will have an interesting summer Any City fan with half a brain knows where the weaknesses are in the current squad and DMc is even more aware of this than we are because he sees them in training every day of the week. Don't get carried away with the loan players we've had, however much some may have impressed us. Any big centre half worth his salt could have managed that. Don't forget that they came on loan, not because DMc and Doc targetted them especially. They came because we needed bodies and they were available! FINALLY, FORGET PROMOTION WHETHER AUTOMATIC OR VIA PLAY OFF'S FOR TWO YEARS AT LEAST. We need to build a top ten team with a winning mentality among the playing staff and the supporters. Ashton Gate is not known for the noisiest fans in the country, but DMc has repeatedly stressed in 99% of his interviews, how important it is for the noise and support at home to help make it Fortress Ashton.
Well said Cider Just like to add to that player list Foster and Pearson, who settled quickly into their new club. And for me, running Steady close for POTS is Cole Scuze, who has produced the best form of his career to date, to heave us clear of Div 1. Now your standard has been set Mr Scuze, dont fall below it next season. Then we'll really see where your career takes you
