image: http://www.bcfc.co.uk/cms_images/player/williams43213-3272724_613x460.jpg please log in to view this image Derrick Williams Image by: jmpuk.com Defender heads north to end three-year stay at Ashton Gate. Williams joins Blackburn for undisclosed fee Defender spent three years at Ashton Gate The 23-year-old made 135 appearances for City Derrick Williams has joined Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year deal. The 23-year-old defender had just begun his fourth season at Ashton Gate after signing from Aston Villa in the summer of 2013. The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was quick to establish himself in the City first team, making 48 appearances in his debut season and scoring his first senior goal against Tranmere Rovers. The following year, Williams was an integral member of the double-winning squad, contributing 55 appearances and three goals on the left side of City’s three-man defence alongside Aden Flint and Luke Ayling. Williams initially remained a regular starter in the Championship. This season, the 23-year-old’s only action has come in the EFL Cup ties at Wycombe Wanderers and Scunthorpe United. Williams made a total of 135 appearances in a City shirt, scoring five goals. The club would like to wish Derrick all the best for the future. Read more at http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/williams-joins-blackburn-3272649.aspx#2imvCOxy3wbgx642.99
A very good buy, for us and then for Blackbum. He looked very accomplished at Scunny apparently. Magnusson, Moore a step up in quality. Expect other members of the successful side of 2014 to be upgraded as we go along. All good
I hope it works out for Williams - I do for every ex player who gave their all but not just up to the level we require.
We should always remember the players that got us here along with a magic day at Wembley and for that we owe him some thanks and wish him well. The revised package is starting to look like we want to change the whole package one piece at a time and that is what we have wanted, in some form or another, for many years. Most of us realised that the 3 games against Norwich, Newcastle and Aston Villa would be the test of our mettle and all in all we have come through the first 2 somewhat pleased with our efforts despite the lack of a point. I still think we are in the honeymoon period with the new look bunch and without injuries or suspensions it may be another 4 to 5 games before we see the expected boost in performances.
I think this is a bad decision personally. He's a good solid Championship defender that can compete for a place in our team and has been here long enough to know the club and city very well. No doubt an important person to have in the Lockeroom. Far too much chopping and changing for my liking now. rather than building on what we had, we are buying new, demolishing what we had and buying replacements again. We can talk about good individual signings that add quality to a team, but sooner or later too many signings and departures from the team just leave individuals playing, and you won't even get close to a very good team Spirit like we had 2 years ago. Not without an exceptional talent of a manager, which LJ is yet to show anyone he is yet.
Ibody - I disagree that Williams is a 'solid Championship defender'. If Moore is anywhere near Caulker then he will be a great signing. SL has given Junior unprecedented backing - it's time for Junior to step up to the plate. Personally I don't think the professional ship jumper is up to it, time will tell.
Looks like to me we're clearing out the deadwood and building an extremely solid championship team. Football is based too much on sentiment.. However I agree I wouldn't of got rid of Williams, squad depth is great in football but I'm sure LJ and MA will have identified a player who is an improvement on Williams.
Will look forward to seeing what Moore is about but why are you so excited by him like he could be the next Caulker? Are you as excited by Vyner being a potential Caulker? As they are the same age as one another and Vyner has more experience at a higher level of football and playing in this country. But have never seen you get giddy over him being the next Caulker. Presumably like most of us you have never heard of Moore before he signed, so expecting Caulker'esque quality is a huge hope/presumption to have in my book. As they look like VASTLY different players to me. I think we are now light in defence, very little experience as well in this league in our back line. I'd rather have had Ayling and Williams as backups than an unknown highly inexperienced pair of 19 year olds.
For me Williams was one of the weak links,hence he has been shipped out. I am led to believe our young England captain is different gravy.
Williams did ok in League 1, but struggled a bit in the Championship LJ did not fancy him Still a young man at 23 so could still prove him wrong He always gave 100% for City, so Good luck to the lad
Ibody - I'd love to see Vyner come through. Or any other of our Academy. However, Moore unlike Vyner has played for England 19s. Tammy Abraham also played in that England side. If Moore is as good a defender as Abraham is a goal scorer then I can't wait to see him. If Vyner is good enough he'll get his chance when he's fit again.
Seems a starnge one, LJ on record saying we are light defensivley, so gets Moore in, then lets Williams go. I assume he may have an eye on bringing somebody else in. Unless DW asked to leave for 1st team football we may have weakened our overall squad balance with this departure.
I just don't think a handful of games at school boy and lower league French football says a great deal about a player. I agree Williams isn't a first pick anymore, but is more than adequate cover. We now need to buy someone new, take a gamble on that someone, hope they can adjust quickly in a very tough league with little game time and be content with being 3rd, 4th, possibly 5th choice. So with that in mind id rather have stuck with what we had, rather than risk unbalancing the squad as whole or upturning the apple cart morale wise with players being frustrated that they have moved to a new club to play a bit part role.
All about personalities sometimes. Some guys get on, others don't Not saying it was necessarily a factor here, but who knows. Good luck oooop North Del and thanks, apart from when you play us that is !
