Living out here does leave me a bit in the dark about the daily happenings at Bristol City and I rely a lot on you guys to keep me updated through this site but by my reckoning, and our official site, nothing is going on. Now we all know in the past that we supporters have been treated like the proverbial mushrooms, but given our dismal season I would at least expect something, other that Sean's sailing exploits, to be posted on the official site. However, just like the past nothing of any note is being let loose from the ivory towers at Ashton Gate and please don't give me the old party line of nothing is being posted until it is fact. My cynicism say's that nothing is really happening and we are spinning our wheels in the vain attempt to lure some poor unsuspecting footballer to sign his life to Bristol City, and based on our previous history in attracting players then I get really concerned. Lots of if ands and buts doing the rounds but no real substance, and if you look at the overall picture why would you want to come here when it hasn't exactly been on the best seller list for some time. Very concerning in my eyes but let's hope someone is paying attention to the job at hand and not just phaffing around doing the politically correct things because that would be even more frightening.
Mike, I posted something similar under "Deja Vu" and this is a good reply from "Premiershiporbust" which is probably a good precis of what is going on. Also bear in mind that we have 23 players under contract for next season, plus Carey and Nyatanga, if they accept new contracts and we must get two keepers in. That would make a squad of twenty seven, which allows no room for new recruits unless some move on. Much as we'd like to get it all done by mid June, the realistic likelehood is late July or even mid August.
Yes Mike you have missed something the paint is drying in the locker rooms absolutely fascinating watching that happen but it seems that again we have to wait and see who is going before we see who is coming, apart from a CB and Keeper I rather expect any signings will be young players 19-21 age group until we know who is going. That is in the main because we don't know if we are going to have to replace Davies, Baldock, Cunningham as well as Adomah. Plus one or two more Pos Elliott, Moloney, Nyatanga, Fontaine and Kilkenny who could all be off if the right offers come in for them from the championship. So we might have to brace ourselves for another pos 9 people leaving. Mind you that would have one really good thing would give the club a clean slate to start again and of that lot really it is only Cunningham and Moloney I would miss, Davies and Baldock never been fit enough to play together often enough for me.
CA we only have 21 under contract thus far or perhaps only 20 as no one seems to know Holloway,s status
I agree that the club are probably hamstrung by not knowing whether some players will be leaving or not. Plus, it's still only early June, with the window open until the end of August. The obvious problem is if some of our likely sales don't happen until August, which would leave us in the same old situation of chasing signings as the sands of time run out. But I WOULD like to hear some positive news sooner rather than later about getting the much needed CB and one or two GK's - whatever happens with Albert, Baldock, Cunningham etc, we need to get bodies into those positions. I fully appreciate that behind the scenes, they have to juggle the monies, consider the FFP rules, and balance buying now against possibly not selling some of the more "valuable" players - it would just be nice (as I've said before) to see or hear that the club is being more proactive than in previous summers.
I think they have made some bids but probably we have to be careful not to get ourselves embargoed. The first sanction the football league can do if we go over budget is refuse to allow us to register players, which would also mean we would not be allowed to bid on players either. Bloody catch 22 situation.
I fully understand our financial drawbacks and why we have to wait to bring in the new blood we so desperately need, however it always seems to be that we are the last to the table when most, if not all, of the good stuff has gone. As a club we have had consistent problems bringing in new players and bigger problems shipping the others out so why is that? Haven't we been talking for years about this problem and as yet we have not been able to sort out the issue and subsequently balance the books for the FFP regulations. As supporters we fully understand our plight and yet nobody at Ashton Gate has been capable of getting it sorted so now we must rely on Sean where many others have failed. I wish him all the luck in the world and hope that all the background nonsense that has apparently stopped others in their tracks don't get in his way because we deserve better.
We will be able to sign younger players as wages for players in the development squad are not included if the wage cap so what we might see are the younger players signed up first(the ones who might or might not be our first team players but are young enough to look like development players) then any Older obviously first team players as people leave thats only a guess though thinking of a way round the rules.
Are you sure Hawk? I know Academy costs are not included but the Under 21's are not Academy but in old fashioned terms a "Reserve Team" and are surely included in the "60% wages bill"?
I think Reserves are included but Development squads are classed with Academy at least that's what it appeared to say. I wish the Football league would take lessons in plain English.
