http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Jay-...tory-19489314-detail/story.html#axzz2YQisMnd1 JAY Emmanuel-Thomas is today set to complete a move from Ipswich Town to Bristol City. The former Arsenal prodigy will sign for the Robins in a straight swap deal that will see winger Paul Anderson move in the opposite direction. After nearly a fortnight of hard negotiating, a deal has finally been struck between the two clubs and it remains only for Emmanuel-Thomas and Anderson to agree personal terms and pass medical examinations. ​ London-born midfielder Emmanuel-Thomas is due at Ashton Gate for talks today, while Anderson is set to hold discussions with Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy at Portman Road. Although City head coach Sean O'Driscoll was reluctant to lose Anderson, finance forced his hand when it became evident an exchange deal was the only way to push the transfer through. And the East Anglian club have also had to compromise, agreeing to pay off the remaining year of Emmanuel-Thomas's contract after City officials stood their ground over the weekend. Despite the complicated nature of the deal, both players want to move and agreement should be reached later today. Emmanuel-Thomas is eager to rebuild his career after McCarthy made it clear the 22-year-old no longer figured in his first-team plans, while former Nottingham Forest winger Anderson is keen to return to the Championship after suffering relegation in his first season with City. Eager to try and recoup the £1.4 million they paid Arsenal for the midfielder's services two years ago, Ipswich were holding out for a player-plus-cash deal, but had to compromise when it became clear City's director of football Keith Burt and managing director Jon Lansdown were not prepared to give way. As a result, City are now able to recruit a player with a confirmed Championship pedigree on League One wages. And O'Driscoll is hoping the powerful Emmanuel-Thomas can become the goalscoring midfielder City have badly lacked in recent seasons. The Midlander signed the Londoner on loan from Arsenal during his time in charge at Doncaster Rovers in 2010 and Emmanuel-Thomas ripped City to shreds, scoring twice and making another two goals as the Yorkshire outfit won 5-2 in a Championship fixture at Ashton Gate three years ago. Concerned by his team's lack of goals, both last term and in pre-season, O'Driscoll feels Emmanuel-Thomas will help address a lack of firepower in the middle of the park. Although Anderson will be missed, his replacement is a more versatile performer and can play anywhere across the midfield as well as up front. Meanwhile, it appears unlikely City will offer Martin Woods a contract and his trial is expected to come to an end in this week. A free agent after being released by Doncaster Rovers at the end of last season, the 27-year-old midfielder joined up with City for pre-season training on June 27 and featured in friendly fixtures against Ashton & Backwell United and Clevedon Town. Although Woods scored in a 2-1 defeat against Clevedon Town at the Hand Stadium on Saturday, O'Driscoll is in no position to offer attractive wages to a player who is 27 and arguably no better than others already on the books. He said: "Martin has other options and I've advised him to explore those fully. "I know what I need to know about him as a player and the only question mark is over his fitness. "It is possible we may be in a position to offer him something, but he will probably only be with us for another few days." http://www1.skysports.com/football/...cott-Wagstaff-to-have-medical-at-Bristol-City Sky Sports understands former Charlton Athletic midfielder Scott Wagstaff will undergo a medical at Bristol City on Monday. Wagstaff is available on a free transfer after he was released by Charlton at the end of last season after making over 140 appearances for the club. The 21-year-old now appears to be on the brink of securing a new club and will be assessed by the Robins' medical staff on Monday. Robins boss Sean O'Driscoll is trying to build a squad capable of winning promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt. Trialist Martin Woods will spend a few more days with the club after scoring in Saturday's friendly defeat by Clevedon Town, while a decision is due to be made on goalkeepers Kelle Roos and Reice Charles-Cook.
Alistair Durden ‏@alidurdenBBC 11m Jay Emmanuel-Thomas swap deal with Paul Anderson now agreed between #BristolCity & #Ipswich. JET due in Bristol for terms and medical today. Alistair Durden ‏@alidurdenBBC 8m As well as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, a reminder of yesterday's news that #BristolCity hope to complete signing of Scott Wagstaff on a free today.
Good news, we get the creative goalscoring CM we have craved for years, as well as a free transfer winger to replace Anderson, all at no cost except wages. This must now be pretty much all the business concluded now unless people leave, as we must be approaching our wages ceiling under these crazy new rules. I just hope SOD can motivate JET to reproduce the ability that is only seen fleetingly on a consistent basis, and L1 should be just the place. This sign of intent in terms of signings may just persuade the likes of Albert,Cunningham, Baldock and Davies to stay and give it a red hot go (Aussie saying) next season!!
The midfield will be hard to chose from! JET Reid Adomah Wagstaff Wynter Elliott Kilkenny Pearson Kelly
It looks like there will be a couple more people leaving Adomah and Baldock seem most likely although I keep seeing mentions in odd local papers when I'm trolling the net about people interested in Cunningham.
PS if JET does arrive that will be the end for Kilkenny as S O'D will have the attacking midfielder he wants who is not scared of tackles. Plus if Kilkenny goes and we can get Pearson out as well with Adomah expected to leave that would mean we could sign Woods who seems to have done well on his trial and seems to be fit. Wagstaff on the right JET plus Elliott/Winter/Kelly in the middle and Woods on the left if a 4 is being played should give us plenty of goals from midfield, up front there is a problem though if Baldock is leaving we need a goal scorer to replace him but if as rumoured he is going for £1M which is what we paid for him that does free up some money to go for someone.
Lets stop the talk and walk the walk. signings please JET will be a incredible signing will be one of the shining stars in league 1
I was hoping that we'd move to a 4-2-3-1 to accommodate all of our midfield signings (assuming Adomah was going), but with Wagstaff being a right midfielder I can see us playing a 4-5-1 with wingers if Adomah doesn't end up going in this window.
I think the influx of Midfielders and lack of any leaving plus no strikers signed up, it is looking dead set that 4-5-1 will be SODs favoured formation.
Most of my Cardiff supporting mates were excited when JET was there on loan, but they all said soon afterwards he was not up to much. Lazy is the one word they all come out with. Hopefully SOD can get the best out of him as they have worked together before........jury's out for me on that one.
"And O'Driscoll is hoping the powerful Emmanuel-Thomas can become the goalscoring midfielder City have badly lacked in recent seasons." RECENT SEASONS???? We haven't had one since the days of Murray & Tinion, and that was bloody ages ago!
The important factor with JET is the skill and talent is there,it just needs the right manager/coach to bring it out of him. SOD has done it before,they seem to want to work together again,hopefully to the benefit of Bristol City FC.
Its these sort of signings that make or break managers and their reputations, so let's hope the transfer is in the interests of everyone.
Well to be honest the side needed a shake up. JET has talent - let's hope SoD can get the best out of him Wagstaff a good age with plenty of experience
JET is an interesting one that he has played everywhere across midfield and as a striker so it is unclear where he will play. I have a feeling he will play just behind a lone striker but could also see him playing on the left with the current players available but would be wasted out there as his best game is through the middle. I think every City fan is happy with the number of players coming in but I think at the same time we are also wondering when players will be leaving as there must be something in discussion as we have to reduce the wage budget yet we have increased it by bringing more in with hardly any leaving.
Perhaps Fielding Moloney Flint Williams Cunningham Adomah Kelly Waggy JET Baldock Davies Oh my.... looks ****ing quality
