Bristol City midfielder Wade Elliott has said he is determined to win promotion in his first full season at the League One club. please log in to view this image The 35-year-old has signed a permanent deal at Ashton Gate following a successful loan spell from Birmingham City last term. He is now hoping to secure the third promotion of his career after going up with both Burnley and Bournemouth. "I want it straight away," Elliott told BBC Radio Bristol. "I can't plan for promotions two or three years down the line. "I can't afford to look at long-term plans. For me it's about getting up and running as fast as we can. "I'll be pestering the boys to get at it and have a right good go at next season." Wade Elliott factfile Born: 14 December 1978 Position: Midfield Clubs: Bashley, Bournemouth, Burnley, Birmingham City, Bristol City Career appearances: 664 Career goals: 78 Bristol City dropped down to the third tier last summer and were tipped to go straight back up to the Championship. However, they struggled for early form under former boss Sean O'Driscoll and were sitting 22nd in the League One table when he was sacked in November. Steve Cotterill was drafted in as manager and he led them to a 12th-place finish - with only one defeat in their last 13 games. Cotterill has now started to build his squad for the forthcoming campaign, with Elliott arriving alongside Oldham's Korey Smith, Stevenage's Luke Freeman, Peterborough's Mark Little and former Crystal Palace striker Aaron Wilbraham. And Elliott, who played under Cotterill at Burnley, can see the promise in the team. "The first few days of pre-season have been so promising," he said. "They've come back in great shape and they've got the bit between their teeth to really attack this season. Now we have to go and justify it on the pitch. "The gaffer has signed people who want to go out and forge a career. This is a fantastic club for them to be at. "If I was a 23 or 24-year-old and I pitched up here, I'd want to get stuck into it and be part of what they're trying to build."
"If I was a 23 or 24-year-old and I pitched up here, I'd want to get stuck into it and be part of what they're trying to build." Was this just a comment or aimed at someone who wants to leave?
Hes admitting he isn't anymore but still has the drive and desire of someone the same age.. it's a compliment to the club..
We need to keep our feet firmly on the ground, we've had all the hype before and ended up looking like idiots. Yes it's exciting that we're signing new players (and keeping the good ones from last season), but they need to gel and get results from the off, and have both discipline a will to never give in, and the correct mind set for 46 league games. We also need to make the Gate a place where away teams fear to come to as they know they'll leave with nothing, which we've not done for several seasons.
In football just the same as life, there are leaders and followers. Wade Elliott is one of the leaders. I can see that Cotterill is doing what no City manager has done since GJ. He is recruiting good quality players but more importantly, leaders on the pitch. Sam is a superb captain because he leads by example and appears to be a thoughtful, intelligent person. But now we have some other members of the squad who will be doing as much to lead and encourage everyone in the team. Elliott and Korey Smith are two. Who else do you consider belongs to the group of officers rather than privates?
It doesn't count for much but only 5 teams lost fewer games than us last season (that being the top 5). Our problem was all the draws. If we turned half of our draws into wins then we would have finished 5th on 85 points. More confident this season heading into it with Cotterill over SOD.
Angelic is spot on......same hype every year and look where it gets us. Granted, more optimistic after the end of last season but let's see what happens opening day against Sheff Utd. That will be one of the tougher tests and if we come back with something, then may....just maybe, this year might be different. Come home with a good battering and same old, same old?
Much the same as the young England, we need to learn how to win when playing badly, and win well when playing well
You can't judge a whole season on the strength of one result - thats daft What happens if we win and then lose our next ten ? You sound over-cynical Tampa Don't tell me you are one of these jokers who thought we'd win the world cup
If we get beat against Sheffield united it will be what I fully expect. It won't determine our season as im pretty sure we lost in the 2007/08 season at Bramall lane and we finished 4th in the championship and were 90 minutes from premiership football! I'd like to think with the squad we have at the moment we are good enough for a draw on the opening day. We have apparently signed one of the best players in league 1 with Luke Freeman and according to Yeovil fans we now have one of the best defenders in Ayling (still to be confirmed I know). I'm feeling a lot more confident about this season than I was last. Simply because we were terrible last season but had the best strike partnership outside of the prem (3rd best in England) and if you take away the 3 promoted teams from last season Only 1 team lost fewer games than us (Leyton Orient) We have every right to be optimistic but no right to be confident.
Well said Shiny And keep saying it It may rub off on others who think we belong in the Premiership by some weird divine right
