Bristol City won't bring in Britt Assombalonga as they already have their 'new striker' Exclusive: Our City reporter explains why the Middlesbrough striker won't be arriving in BS3 Bristol City have reinforced their forward ranks - by recalling starlet Antoine Semenyo from Newport County and rejecting Chelsea's advances for the 19-year-old. Our Robins reporter Gregor MacGregor explains the background to the move, how City have fended off Premier League giants, and why Britt Assombalonga and other forwards have not arrived at Ashton Gate in the latest episode of our Robins On The Wire Bristol City podcast. Lee Johnson wanted a striker with power and athleticism - and now he has one. And Bristol City haven't had to pay a penny for him. The club intends to give their young players a chance over the next years, with the example being of Lloyd Kelly breaking through and taking the place of the departed Joe Bryan. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/bristol-city-wont-bring-britt-2493398
Some might be disappointed by that, but I say fair enough. We have good options & won't need to empty the coffers. It'll be interesting to see what kind of impact Semenyo can have with the opportunities he might get - if you're good enough you're old enough.
I can see the sanity of not emptying the coffers but if you read the attached link and view position of our top goalscorer, he is not even in the top 20, does anybody think we have a chance of top six this season let alone promotion. We have still got a few hours left, I'm sorry but I do feel very disappointed especially when you see the efforts Sheffield Utd, Norwich, Aston Villa, Derby and Leeds are making. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/top-scorers
Yes, but last season we had Reid who was up there, whereas Cardiff had no-one & were promoted. I'm not saying that there isn't scope for a new striker, just that as long as the goals come, I'm happy for them to be spread over the team. We're very much in the hunt for the top 6 & I don't think we're destined for that to change if we don't sign anyone.
Yes but we all know LJ has always accepted the plaudits that he converted Bobby to a number 10 Attacker/Striker.Historically we have always had a high scoring Striker, look at the last 5 years, I fully realise 2 of those years we were in League 1. 13/14 - Sam Baldock - 24 league goals 14/15 - Aaron Wilbraham - 18 league goals 15/16 - Jonathan Kodjia - 18 league goals 16/17 - Tammy Abraham - 23 league goals 17/18 - Bobby Reid - 19 - league goals 18/19 - Fammy Diedhiou - 8 league goals (So Far) https://www.transfermarkt.com/bristol-city/toptorschuetzensaison/verein/698 It'is obvious to me we needed urgently an out and out class striker if we have any ambition to progress, we need sombody to score a large percentage of 12 to 14 more goals this season and with all the will in the world I can't see Semenyo,Eisa, Taylor or Diedhiou achieving this.
So far this window ain’t been too bad. No players out one class player on loan and someone recalled who held his own against 2 Prem teams with Chelsea & Manure chasing him. Imagine if Semenyo was already a Chelsea or Manure player and we got him on loan, after recent reviews? We would of been saying brilliant signing.
You're entitled to your opinion Wiz, but I think you're over simplifying things, as well as use the old 'ambition' buzzword as code for 'splash the cash'. There's many ways to skin a cat (i.e. get promoted) & not all teams that have done so did it with a twenty+ goal striker. I won't go off scouting the Internet just yet so we'll go back to Cardiff last season who only had one player reach ten goals! Fammy's already reached eight & missed the opening six matches - maybe he would have reached a total suitable for you if he had been available? I also see that Middlesbrough have no-one on this seasons list, despite being in the playoff spots and despite owning the £15m Assombalonga on massive wages, who would show the affore-mentioned 'ambition' if we signed him. Derby also have just the one player on ten goals - hardly leaps & bounds ahead. Good thing Brentford have Neal Maupay firing them to promotion with his fifteen goals... The point I'm making is that whilst we'd all like a player of Assombalonga's quality here, it's not at any cost. If the value isn't there, walk away, if the right alternative isn't available, walk away. We've come this far with what we have & we do have depth that we didn't have before. Choosing to throw excessive money in a deal that doesn't add up could well make matters worse.
I prefer to leave it there Nick, I just think we are missing out on another chance yet again, we have been here before but there you go, we all have and will have our own dreams. Up the City.
Whilst I agree RR, I can see Nicks point, we aren’t involved in the negotiations so can’t possibly know what has been tried , & what costs are involved either, there’s no point spending money you don’t have . I do worry though if anything happens to Fam how we will manage.
As I said in an earlier comment we don't have to empty the coffers but if we can afford to splash cash on Engval, Diory, Eisa and Kent and sell on Hordur Magnusson which in total must amount between £5m and £6m we could afford say £12m to £13m on a sure fired winner.
amazing we chased a couple of youngsters a while back ….. dack didn't get due to EDINBURGH! who got sacked a bit later on! and Zak thought grass was greener .. now on loan at Rochdale! relegation zone of Div 1
Matty Taylor? Just the other day you were saying you were happy with him, Weimann & Casey as well as Fammy. I even liked the comment because I thought you were talking sense. Are you actually criticising the club for not spending maybe £15m and handing out a £50k a week contract? Obviously we don't know the exact figures but not an unreasonable assumption as to the kind of figures involved. Was your thought when the club posted a £24m loss 'that ought to be over £40m if we were really ambitious.' Another hit for the buzzword 'ambition' too. The whole time we out-perform clubs like Villa & Forest who have wasted cash doing the kind of things you suggest proves you wrong. We're achieving above our standing because we have sensible, well-informed people doing things the right way.
