Sykes signs the one year extension - Bristol City squad update 02 February 2025 As we enter February, we would like to share our approach to the window during the last month. We approached the summer transfer window with a plan to bring in four players with an expectation there would be three departures. During that period, we ended up bringing in seven new players and there were two departures. This meant that we began the season with a larger squad than we would ideally operate with and, consequently, there have been fewer opportunities for home grown players than there might have been otherwise. In addition, following his purchase and subsequent loan back to Derby County last January, we also welcomed Max Bird to join up with the first team squad for the first time in the summer. After making a real push to sign Scott Twine and Luke McNally late in the summer – decisions we are pleased we made – alongside a couple of expected departures not occurring, we entered January considerably behind on our season budget. Although January is a time for the media to get excited, it isn’t the best time to do business. Whilst it is natural for fans to want additions, the most important thing for us coming into January was to keep the core of the squad together. This gives the group of players the chance to continue their progression and provides an opportunity to build on the solid platform created during the first two-thirds of the season. We have now managed to close the gap in our budget whilst minimising the impact on our first team. The players that have recently gone out on loan only contributed five league starts between them this season. Although we are not adding to the size of the squad – we are adding some certainty. We are delighted to confirm both that we have extended Mark Sykes’ contract until the summer of 2026, and that we will be making Yu Hirakawa’s signing permanent in the coming days. We are looking forward to the remainder of the season with real excitement and belief as to what our playing group and staff can potentially achieve. To provide further detail, here is some context on the players that have been loaned out: Rob Atkinson – after a long absence due to injury, it is vital for Rob to play some games to prove his fitness and give him the platform to impact our first team next season. Fally Mayulu – having only started three league games this campaign,it was important for both the club and player for him to achieve consistent minutes – at a high level – during the second half of the season. Kal Naismith – as he was entering the final months of his contract, Kal was keen to play regular first team football and earn himself a new contract for next season. Our three existing loanees Jamie Knight-Lebel, Josh Stokes and Seb Palmer-Houlden will remain with their respective clubs as we feel that the experience that they will gain will improve their chances of being part of the first team squad next season. Jamie Knight-Lebel – In what has been a breakout season for him, including a full international debut for Canada – Jamie has started 20 league games for Crewe this season scoring three times and keeping 9 clean sheets so far. Josh Stokes – after dealing with an injury, Josh has performed well for Cambridge United in League One and has contributed four goals and four assists in 12 starts in all competitions. Seb Palmer-Houlden – Seb has scored 8 goals in 29 appearances for Dundee so far this season and continues to build after a successful loan at Newport County last season. The support so far has been incredible, and we know the fans will get behind Liam, his staff and players during the rest of the season. Thank you for your brilliant and continued support. Always Believe.
We approached the summer transfer window with a plan to bring in four players with an expectation there would be three departures. During that period, despite our plan we signed four players, then quite unexpectedly another three signed for BCFC completely by themselves. It really was amazing, we opened the dressing room door and there were three extra players there.
I get that stance regarding permanent signings; however, with so many out on loan now, surely that frees up wages for a loan signing…..?
I still don’t think we’ll finish in the top 6, but yet again I feel myself questioning the desire to even have a go and have a punt on a loanee Disappointing but not surprised
Has any of the content in the press release actually improved the team because in my books I haven't seen much sign of it in our results. We still fall into the same old boring kind of football tippy tapping the ball constantly backwards towards a sometimes foolhardy goalie who can create havoc back there. Our attack quality in and around the opponents penalty area is woeful and anyone who seriously thought that Fally and Armstrong would fit the bill need their head examined as both are poor including Sinclair on whom we were warned that he was lazy and couldn't hit a barn door 90% of the time. We are essentially back to the same squad that saw out the last half of last season and I can't honestly see much difference except that we play slightly slicker but it generates few if any great scoring chances. At best we are a mediocre team bumbling our way along with little hope of doing something that gets the Gate buzzing with anticipation unless we change things up by getting that goal scorer who could take us to the next level of competitiveness and it doesn't look as if we are interested in a decent loanee to help us out as I suspect we don't get much of a look when the top teams want to send out a young player needing playing time to boost his career. Disappointed is my feeling when yet again we bypass the January transfer window when we could have found a player that could boost our chances but the wine and cheese crowd decided otherwise again.
You and me both, I’ve said it untold times, I don’t think SL wants the cost and grief of a PL team. We have seen this failing before, most notably under GJ when we needed a proven striker in the Jan window to get us to the PL, yet we got Dele Adebola…. Sadly, I don’t think our ambition, or ability to sign a decent striker has changed.
If nothing happens before tomorrow night it clearly tells every Bristol City fan where our owners sit. Boro are splashing it-how’s they do it they no bigger crowds than us.
How light up top is this plan! Take away thirty five year old Wells. Cornick won't play. Armstrong? Earthy? Yu is a winger and City have been using formations without wingers.
What a weedy, weak bunch we have at the top, after reading this post I resulted to our official web page, no official heading, no official senior management signing it off, weak,weedy. timid , cowardly, diminished and anonymous, typical BT & JL.
At least they’ve cleared a few things up, Mark Sykes, Rob Atkinson, Yu, the fact that the loanees aren’t coming back. It’s noticeable with Fally they stopped short of mentioning next season and beyond. However what they’ve failed to address is our lack of striking options, Fally who was meant to be our main striker this year is going out on loan and we are relying on Nakhi to be our only recognised striker. If we were mid table I could understand keeping their powder dry for the summer and next season, BUT we are within striking distance of the playoffs. I’m sorry but, when others around us are showing desire to try to make the top 6, we aren’t. That’s the bottom line and that’s Shocking.
I'm with you all the way on those comments AshtonRed and it's down to the shocking apathy our management when it comes to doing anything close to being right. We were told again that this season that we felt it was time we upped the ante if we wanted to get close to the finishing line in contention at least for a playoff position. Lo and behold we are right where we want to be and the powers that be decided, if indeed they can make any decisions, that nothing was needed to improve our chances of achieving some post-season football. When they said that we may go for it this time out obviously they included the new talents of Mayulu, Armstrong and Yu as the ones who were going to make the difference- oops how wrong they were on that one. The organization reeks of being unable to listen to the vibe around town and even if they did hear the roar of dissatisfaction they would do nothing to make things better - ouch!
I watched skysport transfer finale show on YouTube between 10 and 11pm last night, bit of a damp squid to be honest but it was interesting to see Darraghn Macanthony, the CEO of Peterborough United, ok their club is not having the best of times at the moment but what a pleasant, bright, humerous, open minded, intelligent guy he is, in contrast what rock has Junior or BT crept under, no where to be seen or heard, hiding away, all is we get is a scripted, non headed notation put up on the webpage, briefly giving weak excuses for non activity with second hand information which we already knew, not even bothered to sign it off with any authorised signature, it really makes me wonder why I still tread this journey.
since being a follower in 1952 thats 72 years.. with just 2 visits in 2024 I dont see me going again . so a follower from my armchair. Its exasperating to say the least, but I guess once a red always a red.
I stopped season ticket buying during COVID, haven’t started again since, probably won’t ever. I often get given a ticket for the Dolman, so have been several times this season and last. I’m going Sunday as part of a birthday present, Up in the gods that’s the upper Lansdown. It’ll be interesting to see how the day and time changes to accommodate SKY affect season ticket sales across the EFL. My guess is attendances will drop, but we’ll see, maybe it’s just me being a grumpy old git.
UUUUUUM! ... BUT sky and effect, it must have some adverse effect. Watching different attendances it sometimes makes me wonder how they actually do manage to give a "real" attendance. Do ST actually all count for each gate whether turning up or not? ... as we have had some gates where they just dont make sense !
These time changes are a pain in the arse especially Saturday early kickoffs. No consideration for away fans or home fans.
Take Blackburn for example, 20,000+ attendance apparently but in reality sitting in the dolman looked around 15,16 thousand. I think they just announce tickets sold, the upper tier lansdown stand is always basically half empty
