Bristol City boss Lee Johnson lays all bare in most honest transfer window discussion yet. In a brave attempt to be honest with fans, Lee Johnson admits he will more than likely have to rob Peter to pay Paul in the January transfer window. City's head coach is determined to recruit at least a couple of players with the quality to go straight into his Championship starting line-up and make an immediate impact. But he is warning supporters not to expect the Robins to compete with bigger and wealthier Championship rivals. City will instead adhere to their long-held principle of financial prudence and shop in an altogether more modest market than the likes of Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa. Johnson told the Post: "We have to shop smart and this is why we need understanding. Our supporters don't need educating, but I want to be honest and open with them, so they understand where we are as a football club. "We have a great club because of the ownership we have. It is consistent, it is steady, it is passionate and it is understanding. As a head coach, I'm trying to deliver the philosophy of the ownership and give them what they want. "I see it as a spiral. There are always going to be little dips in the progression and that is when you have to stay strong as a playing staff and as supporters, because that is our way of getting to where we want to be. "We cannot go and spend £50m in one transfer window – we have to do it our way and that means shopping in a different bracket." Although City tabled multi-million pound bids for the likes of Andre Gray and Dwight Gayle in 2015, they are no longer prepared to spend over the odds in an inflated domestic market. Then manager Steve Cotterill lost his job, in large part, because his recruitment strategy did not accord with the club's, and Johnson was brought in earlier this year to do things differently. Aided and abetted by chief operating officer Mark Ashton and chief scout Des Taylor, City's head coach will again be scouring the market for value-for-money additions who can further improve a team that is making steady if unspectacular progression. Johnson confided: "We will always have to give up on something. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. When you have an unbelievable pot of cash and can sign anyone you like, you don't have to give up on anything. "Top echelon Premier League clubs like Manchester City will see a top-quality 6ft 2in footballer with experience at the level and they will go out and get them. Even then, it doesn't always turn out rig "We might have to give on experience for talent, we might have to give on physicality for technical ability or me might have to give on technical ability for physicality. "Any good side is a jigsaw, a collection of different attributes that have to be carefully put together. That is what we are trying to do. "We've lost our way a little bit over the last seven games, but if you break down statistics and performance, there are signs there that we can be a good side. If I'm lying, tell me. "There are micro steps we are making on the pitch, only it does not feel like that to any of us right now because of results." http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristo...scussion-yet/story-30003025-detail/story.html
It just tells me that there is nothing but a cascade of waffle coming out at the moment, are you preparing us for something or are we being set for a fall ? Just get on with your job and remember you work for the fans as well as the Lansdowns, you owe us..
He's telling us what we already know; SL wants us to play in the premiership by getting there on cheap home-nurtured talent that nobody else has heard of. He isn't going to throw money at us because it didn't work before. I just hope we learn from Luke Ayling and choose what needs to give way very carefully.
NOT LYING? ..WE LOSE EVERY WEEK NOT LYING? .. SPIRAL DOES NOT HAVE DIPS CONSTANT UP OR DOWN OURS IS DOWN NOT LYING? ... WE ARE UNSPECTACULARLY SLIPPING DOWN THE SPIRAL ..24TH IS THE BOTTOM NOT LYING? .. GOSH HE ISNT IS HE ! FROM 1ST TO 16TH NOT LYING? ... DUBIOUS ONE THIS, WHAT SIGNS? CERTAINLY NOT WINNING .. NOT LYING? .. WOULD AGREE, MAKING MICRO STEPS WHEN THE REST ARE ARE MAKING NORMAL OR BIG ONES LEE "If I'm lying, tell me" WHATS THE POINT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PRESS AND PRE MATCH COMMENTS ALREADY TOLD US " NO POINT" I AM DOING IT MY WAY
He asked for 3 Transfer Windows. Number 1 has gone, with mixed results. Number 2 is nearly here and number 3 starts in around 6 months time.
I think it's quite an honest statement, but needs the players in this transfer window to show progression otherwise the few impatient fans we have, will become a majority.
Let's not forget that the vast majority of us were applauding him for an amazing transfer window back in September.
I keep hearing this .. but I thought it was the back room boys that sorted it all and lee was "advised" last minute ... maybe 1 reason he wont play a couple of them ?
i feel a tad sorry for the bloke, he speaks out its a cascade of waffle, says nothing hes a tight lipped miserable barsteward- o"driscolls secret lovechild, really hes damned if he does and damned if he doesnt.
Am i reading the above correctly,in other posts you practically say we should not expect SL to spend. Famous saying you gets what you pays for in most cases.
Yes I don't expect SL to spend - unless he gets a return. He had his cheque book out last window, but got everything he spent and more back when Kodjia was sold. I would expect that pattern to continue.
I won't tell you what I think because when I do I get lambasted by the rose coloured glasses squad who tell me I can't possibly know what is happening because I never see any games. You know what I t
Standard cliche answer to the same old boring questions. Telling us what we already know, because what we don't know is the only stuff worth knowing.
Was that a dig shiny? Why have you taken exception to my comments suddenly or am I looking in the wrong direction? We are all entitled to our opinion on an open forum.
I am sure that SL is not stupid enough to realize that if things continue on the same course fans will vote with their feet and revenues will drop. Down playing the transfer market could be a strategy to save money. Whilst I do not expect a nine million pound striker to come in the door, it would not surprise me to see a couple of purchases in the 2-5 million bracket and maybe two on loan. We have got the dosh (over 20 million in - Kodjia, Bolasie, Adomah, Agard, Ayling), but do not want to be held to ransom by other clubs and greedy agents by shouting about it.
Play the game our way and see what falls from the trees I guess then Red Hub? It could be one of the more intriguing windows from a City aspect for years and yet.........
I'm assuming Shiny meant the press conference question/answer Mike He's right - we never get told the real truth in those (and that applies to any club)
They cannot afford to get this one wrong otherwise we will be lucky to escape relegation, on current form.
