BRISTOL CITY: Robins to go back in with improved bid for Fulham striker Matt Smith a_stockhausen BRISTOL City are set to table a new and improved bid for Fulham striker Matt Smith. As revealed by the Bristol Post last Thursday, former Oldham and Leeds forward Smith has emerged as a prime target for the Championship strugglers. The Robins went in with a first bid over the weekend, only for the West London club to reject their initial overture. But the Robins are not prepared to take no for an answer and are lining up a second bid for the 26-year-old centre forward, who enjoyed a hugely successful three month loan spell at Ashton Gate last season. If City's opening bid was intended to test the water, they are now prepared to pull out all the stops to sign the striker they feel they need to secure their Championship status. Interim manager John Pemberton, chief operating officer Mark Ashton and director of football Keith Burt are currently working hard behind the scenes to pave the way for Smith to return to BS3 on a permanent basis. Even if City meet Fulham's valuation of a player who joined them from Leeds 18 months ago and who has a similar period remaining on his Craven Cottage contract, the situation is complicated, owing to the transfer embargo imposed upon the Londoners earlier this season. While Fulham are at liberty to sell players, their ability to sign replacements during the January transfer window remains in doubt. But as things stand, Smith does not appear to feature in Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic's plans and the big man was only named in the squad for last Saturday's home game against Hull owing to the illness that ruled out top-scorer Ross McCormack. Although the futures of McCormack and teenage forward Moussa Dembele have been the subject of heightened speculation this month, Jokanovic was at pains to inform journalists at the weekend that neither is for sale. Providing Fulham are able to retain the services of their first-choice strikers, the chances of them allowing Smith to leave during this window are enhanced. For their part, City urgently need additional firepower to help revive a team that has scored just nine times in 15 games since early November. Smith netted 13 goals in 23 appearances for the Robins last season, in the process endearing himself to the Ashton Gate faithful. Any move to bring him back to BS3 would be widely welcomed by the fan base. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTO...lham-striker/story-28606417-detail/story.html
Must admit, although he may do a bit of a job for us.....I'm not over excited, bit of a backward step in my opinion..
I think he will enjoy the prospect of returning to Ashton Gate and playing regularly. He will be a good knock down target for feeding Kodjia but let's hope our over eagerness doesn't bump up the price beyond reason. Honestly think a new start might be to our mutual benefit but something in me wants to say mmm I'm not sure on this one.
He can't be any worse than what we already have - our current strikers are hardly setting the world alight. I bet Smith wouldn't have wasted a golden chance like Flint got against Leeds on Saturday........
i feel he would be a great help and partner up front for jimmy, but he doesnt need 4-5 chances to score a goal either, i think he would be a great buy imho. As for price, im not sure, if Jimmy was worth 2.2m an unknown from france, what does that make Smith worth?? Also will there be anything in an exchange deal with Agard? who knows?
The plot thickens but I don't much like the tone of our planning, or lack thereof. Would I be so wrong to make the statement that Bristol City always seem to make the difficult become impossible?
Matt Smith could be the man to finally put the ball in the onion bag on a regular basis. I,kojak needs 6 chances to score one.think he would be a better winger. 2,wilbs is struggling at championship level,not enough goals. 3,agard just not able to score in this league. 4,Burns just not able to score again better on the wing. He would be my main man up front if we could get him.
Win win for us then, if he comes good it replaces Wilbs. But if they don't sell because they sell them two even better for us and would make them sweat out the season.
But only providing we can beg, steal, or borrow a decent striker from someone if a deal for Smith is a non starter.
In that case Smith will presumably stay at Fulham unless they have a replacement for Dembele lined up...?
Surely Fulham are aware of this aren't they? so surely they have a replacement in place in principle. No disrespect to Smudger, but i dont think he's a direct same for same quality as either mcCormack or Dembele is he?
but apparently the deal is to loan him back to Fulham to the end of this season (or that is what Fulham want) - a bit like Dele Alli stayed at MK Dons. This suits everyone and will hopefully mean that the deal can be done (although I still have a few doubts about Smith's effectiveness at this level)...
