The rumour mills abound and we see other teams bringing in new players by the shedload and yet we appear to be stagnant, rather like previous years. So where does that leave BCFC? The term "unfashionable club" has been bandied around Ashton Gate and the league for many seasons, so how true is that unwanted tag? If you look back over our history we have had some great players at AG and we still haven't really a lot to show for our efforts have we? The game has changed, for the worse IMO, and we have to mould ourselves to the new reality (lyrics by Rush) facing clubs at this level and unless you know a wealthy chicken farmer ready to drop a few eggs on AG then we have to accept what we currently have, and that is Derek McInnes. Just look at the supposed managerial superheroes that have been unmasked as frauds, willing to bet the future of their clubs for their own self-satisfaction usually working for owners that are pretenders at our game - at best. Where we are is most likely where we should be and until I see positive proof that something is going to change I am quite happy. Of course we all hope that Derek McInnes is the new shining light in BS3 and that he will bring us better fortune but if you look at the probable contenders he has a very difficult job in front of him. We should all wish him well in his endeavours, however I believe his biggest problem is convincing potential new players that Ashton Gate should be the only destination to be considered. As I said, he has an uphill task but I truly think he has the pedigree to show us better days, perhaps not this season - but soon. Good luck son!!!!
one of the problems is the city of bristol itself its under advertised and has been for years players like to go somewhere their family will enjoy and yes somewhere that pays you more but if you don't like the place hard to give it 100% del can do his best to sell the club but unless he got someone with him who can sell the local area which i think scotty can do its gonna be tough
I think we may to blame for that, had you have won at Wembley back in May, 2008, you may have been in our position and vice versa. Not that you would have had ridiculously stupid owners who bought unknown players for stupid prices or injured players on substantially high wages *cough* BULLARD *cough*. But I think, the teams in which the Championship is beginning to consist of, it is becoming incredibly difficult to prosper in. Relegated Premier League sides are coming down and staying down, teams from League 1 are backed by good owners and cause mayhem in the League too. Unfortunately unless you have the backing, the appeal for players to join your club, steadily decreases. We were very lucky that we had a local wealthy business man who was willing to pump £50million into the Club to save us from liquidation but not all Clubs have that possibility. The way McInnes will prosper in this League, is if he has some good scouting eyes in his backroom staff, in which he can snap up an unknown player, who is willing to make the step up to the Championship. Barnsley are a great example. **** Club, **** fans, **** Ground but stay up every year... However, they manage to bring in players that are their catalyst and get them to that magic number of points with games to spare, i.e. Hammil and Vaz Te. The loan market would be a good move for McInnes this Season, but anyway, might see a lot of you when The Tigers make the trip to AG this Season, good luck Robins!
Mike, I hope DM has his signings lined up"fingers crossed" His article on the main site shows him positive. Let's hope he can bring the quality required in. If not another hard season awaits us.
Thanks for the condolences GodTiger on your thoughts that your team predicated our demise in recent seasons. I heard from good sources that an incident occurred between 2 of our players in the lead up to the final that probably de-stabilised our lads in the dressing room. Don't know how reliable my source was but it appeared to a lot of outside folk that the inmates were running the institution rather than the reverse, which will always lead to club instability and cliques being formed that destroy the integrity of the word "team". Those years of discontent have created a bad aura around Ashton Gate and I would guarantee that a lot of our previous players have not had a good word to say about the organisation. Bad karma is a negative thing to have hanging around especially when Derek is doing his utmost to rebuild a team from the rubble that was, and the diplomacy and belief that we should be, and will be again, a choice of quality players must be high on our agenda. Once we can show that we won't be taken lightly anymore will be the time when all true believers will reach the promised land. Sorry went off a bit there - medication now taken.
McInnes has done a great job IMO. He'll keep you in the Division safely. I'd say from your performances towards the end of last Season with the additions of a couple of transfers, you'll be a mid table side this Season. As I mentioned before, I like going to Ashton Gate, nice place I've always respected Bristol fans. You go elsewhere and everyone is looking for a fight! Especially Leicester and The white ****e. Hopefully there's many more Seasons of me going there!
I think that this season some of us will get dissapointed with the signings. I have stated on another thread that we have been on a slide for the past 4 seasons only just escaping relegation by the last but one game last season. We are in limbo as to the ground and compared to a lot of grounds in the Championship ours is not great. We are also one of the lowest paying in wages compared to the others. So what can we offer a player?? We should just let Del get the backroom staff and a few additions on loans or perhaps ageing premiership players looking for a season before retiring get through next season mid table then we will be more attractive to aspiring young players. With a decent back room and medical staff we could achieve with most of the players we already have. Just need a goalkeeper to either take the number 1 spot or at least back up to Gerkin. A left back with maybe a youth like Edwards on the right challenging behind the new addition. Central defence Fontaine and Wilson with Carey and Nyatanga as back ups plus we have the tank Stewart still there. Midfield at the moment aint that bad Skuse, Elliott Adomah Bolasie Pearson I dont rate Kilkenny, think he has it in him just he likes to do his own thing. Morris, Reid and Bryant are also there. so 7 or 8 midfielders already Up front Stead Taylor and Pitman if we can get another on loan or if possible new signing all the better. Or as I said many times use Adomah in a more central attacking role. If we sell Pitman then we have the funds to get another. So I would be happy with a goalie, a left back a forward and if we can get a play maker all the better. But to get the players that some of us want we would have to sell some of the above. I hope that our medical staff have improved to help with all the injuries we have had in the past. Del is obviously thinking the same with getting the players in during pre season as he said on BCFC site. I think most of us would agree a fully fit Wilson could go onto to be one of the best we have had. So this season I am going to be patient and wait to see what bargins Del can find to add to a squad that went unbeaten for the last 8 games to prove they can stay in the division. Next season when the ground is sorted our stability in this division will be the turning point, so a good selection of loan players this, no long term contracts like we have had in the past and then kick on from next year.
City's expenditure spent on wages is not amongst the lowest, it has been towards the top eight. The overspend v income is one of the heaviest, even the worst in the division.
I never knew that, I just presumed that because we are cutting the cost that we would be one of the lowest.
There are a lot of similarities between Hull City and Bristol City. Both are fairly big cities who've not had the best of fortunes over the last 100 years and who have both underachieved hugely when compared to much smaller and unfashionable locations Both have large catchment areas and have spent a meagre amount of seasons in the top flight. When you think of Wimbledon, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Wigan and co, Hull and ourselves could (and probably should) both have top flight teams.
City are cutting costs due to re-adjusting to financial fair play rules and I hope because of good sense. Fans may be shouting "spend, spend", but the club is amongst the worst in the UK at spending beyonds its means. Much is made of Cardiffs debts but v income City spend more money the club does not have. SL turns the debt into shares. Blackpool spent a lot less to get promoted, Norwich got promoted on a wage bill not so far off Citys, Sheffield utd were relegated spending a lot more than BCFC. City have recruited very very badly.
The money that has been wasted is huge Trundle,Stewart,James,sick note from Bolton the list goes on and on.
Tbh, Tiger, I really dont think that is the problem. Bristol compares favourably with many important cities in the UK, and has a homely feel for such a big and powerful city. It has its share of up market and down market areas, same as elsewhere, but is geographically well placed in the sexy south, just 2 hours up the road from London. No, I think it comes down to hard cash, and the fact that in over a century a Bristol club has never won a major football competition. Footballers like to think that at some point in their career they will have winners medals to show their kids, and a decent standard of living which marks them out as 'successful'. Its up to McDel to convince them that he can break the mould and take the club upwards to provide the players with those things. Certainly, today's news about our new left back is a step in the right direction, and the more promising young talent he can bring through the door the easier it will be to attract them
Bristol I would say is one of the nicest areas in England to live,hence many top players have stayed in the area after finishing their football careers.
I dont think other clubs have been signing by the shedload - yeah, there's been quite a bit of activity with certain clubs but lets be realistic. Most clubs bust their ass trying to bring in fresh blood and have problems but there are sooooo many factors that could affect someone signing i.e. transfer fee not met, clubs can't agree, club wants part-exchange we're not willing to give (or we do but the other player doesnt want it), player doesnt want to move, player wife/girlfriend doesnt want to move, higher wages offered elsewhere, has mates in another city blah blah blah - the list goes on! I would imagine that a player moving to a club would also check out fans forums to get an idea about what the general feeling is with the club and the fans. Wouldn't be surprised if some players have been put off by signing because of the considerable lack of support for our players, manager, board, and our kit! Remember City are on a strict budget at the moment (along with most clubs) - we cant expect to compete with the likes of West Ham etc in terms of transfer activity. Our best bet is finding a gem in the lower leagues but they are very few and far between. And lets face it most of us would end up moaning because its not a 'big signing'. Personally I'm pleased with who we've got in so far, pleased with who we've shifted out, pleased with the prospect of bringing in a couple more players in July/August, pleased with the friendlies we've got lined up, and pleased with the kit! And confident we'll end up in the top half of the table. But hey, I'm just a positive guy I guess!
Del has said he is only looking at players in the top two divisions only. hopefully more quality to arrive.
It's not really true as some have tried to make out that other Championship clubs have been signing shedloads of players. As far as I can see, maybe only Blackburn have. Yet one of their big name signings, Nuno Gomes, was a good player but at 36 and definitely on the way down, I feel is a very poor alternative to Yakubu. He's been used to playing in the warmth of Portugal for most of his career, not cold wet miserable days at Barnsley, Middleboro etc. So let's not get carried away by quantity of signings especially if they are veterans. That was how we wasted too much money before DMc arrived. He will get us quality, a lot younger and with ambitions to create a future in the game.
"Del has said he is only looking at players in the top two divisions only" Albert didn't come out of the top two divisions? Theres plenty of quality around lets just trust the bloke to go find it, where ever it may be!
