There are plenty of players due back in the next month or two (Diedhiou, Pisano, O'Dowda etc), but a signing or two could be the difference between us keeping up with the pace-setters or battling just to make the playoffs. It seems as though LJ has suggested that we're looking at loans rather than permanent signings, which might be fine if they're the right characters. Many might suggest that we need someone experienced, but I would place a higher importance on players that can fit in with the group & style of play (it's worked so far!). There were links with Finnish international midfielder Robin Lod, who read well. Also, am I crazy to think it wouldn't be the worst idea to offer David Cotterill a short term deal? He knows the club/players, did well on loan & offers squad depth (as well as allows Brownhill to play centrally). Another striker might be nice, though they'd need to be special to make it worthwhile. Any thoughts?
Won’t get a proven goal scorer on loan as they will be used by their parent clubs. The only one that I could think of will be someone older like Peter Crouch. Benik Afobe would be good but with 9 league appearances this season suggest he’s in their plans somewhere.
January isn't often a good time to sign established stars, unless they're out of contract in the summer or in a lower division and pushing for a move. Looking to the continent for signings might be sensible to get value for money. Now that we're in the mix for promotion & have boosted our profile by beating Man Utd, we may be more capable of persuading better talents to join us.
Clubs like Chelsea and presumably all of the big boys have such massive squads, that our best bet might be to look for any budding Tammys out there. Chelsea let 32 of their more junior players go out on loan last year which tells you the depth of talent they have at their disposal.
I'd be inclined to agree, though with the caveat that anyone who could make a genuine contribution would likely have signed up for a season long loan in the summer most likely, maybe? Leko started pretty well for us but has struggled a bit since.
Having rubbed shoulders, and beaten, some supposedly higher classed teams than ourselves this season might give us a leg up with those teams as an ideal spot to hone some of their fringe player's skills? I have seen many groans about how can certain teams have obtained players from the upper echelons (Man Utd/Preston in the Ferguson eras is a prime example) and I wonder if we have opened up enough of the right eyes to bring in some classy talent? In the past I have often questioned why any ambitious player would want to choose Ashton Gate as the base to build their career, but now I think is fast becoming a place that is more prominent in player's thoughts when making their decisions. An opportunity to turn the tide of footballing public opinion is in our grasp and if we let it slip we could be having the age old discussions as to why we are amongst the also rans over and over again. We have to believe that the top brass know all this and have discussed it till the cows come home, and the subsequent decisions will reflect how Bristol City fare in the future stakes.
