BRISTOL CITY: Loan signings unlikely claims Robins boss Steve Cotterill. please log in to view this image Nathan Baker, Liam Moore, Elliott Bennett and Callum Robinson have all joined Bristol City on loan. BRISTOL City boss Steve Cotterill insists he is "not anywhere with anything" when it comes to the loan market. Cotterill has publicly stated his desire to recruit a central midfield player, initially on a short-term basis with a view to completing a permanent deal in the future. But the deadline for emergency loan signings is due at 5pm tomorrow and, as things currently stand, City's manager will not be adding to his squad. Asked after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Championship leaders Hull City whether he was any nearer recruiting another player on loan, he replied: "We are not anywhere with anything." Of course, things could quite easily change during the next 24 hours and the possibility of a new arrival ahead of Saturday's trip to Rotherham United cannot be ruled out altogether. Although Cotterill already has five loan signings – the maximum permitted by Football League regulations in an 18-man match-day squad – he is quite prepared to exceed that number should the "right players" become available. That said, Cotterill was at pains to stress he is not in the business of bringing players in for the sake of it when he addressed the media at his weekly pre-match press conference at the club's Failand training headquarters recently. He said: "There is nothing on the horizon at this moment in time. We are always looking and we are always fielding calls and doing all the things other managers are doing up and down the country. "It might only be if someone potentially comes to our attention, who we did not know was available. "I'll only take someone if something comes up. I won't be taking in anyone unless they can make us stronger and I certainly won't be taking anyone for the sake of it." Cotterill is quite prepared to wait until January to replace back-up goalkeeper Ben Hamer, who returned to parent club Leicester last week. please log in to view this image Teenage stopper Max O'Leary was promoted to the substitutes' bench last weekend and will, in all likelihood, continue to provide cover for first-choice Frank Fielding until the transfer window reopens in January. Cotterill revealed: "First and foremost we don't know if we will replace him (Hamer).We have a young goalkeeper in Max O'Leary and we will see how we go on with that. "If we find someone who is more experienced than Max, we may do, but it is important for it to be the right one. Maybe before January, but it just depends what is out and about." Cotterill has no plans to send any of his players out on loan right now. Academy products Wes Burns and Bobby Reid spent productive spells at Cheltenham and Plymouth last season, but are needed at Ashton Gate to provide first team cover for the time being. BRISTOL CITY'S LOAN SIGNINGS THIS SEASON: please log in to view this image Callum Robinson: Recruited on a season-long loan from Aston Villa in July, the 20-year-old forward has made just seven appearances. He last featured in a 1-1 draw against MK Dons on October 3, since when he has failed to make the first team squad and turned out for the under-21s. please log in to view this image Ben Hamer: Signed on a season-long loan from Leicester City in August, the 27-year-old goalkeeper deputised for the injured Frank Fielding when he first arrived, making five appearances. Unable to dislodge Fielding thereafter, he returned to his parent club earlier this month. please log in to view this image Nathan Baker: Has made a huge impact since coming in on loan from Aston Villa, helping to bolster a defence that has improved markedly in recent weeks. City have kept four clean sheets in the 10 games in which the 6ft 4in centre-back has featured. please log in to view this image Liam Moore: Signed on loan until January to help bolster a defence that was conceding goals at an alarming rate, the Leicester centre-back has spent much of his time at Ashton Gate warming the bench. Has been hampered by injury, but now fit and offering good-standard cover. please log in to view this image Elliott Bennett: Recruited from Norwich in October, he has been an ever-present, clocking-up seven appearances at right wing-back and contributing in a major way to City's recent improvement. please log in to view this image Simon Cox: The much-travelled striker has made one brief substitute appearance since arriving from Reading in October. Question marks over his fitness have prevented him playing a bigger part to date. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTO...ims-Robins/story-28231342-detail/story.html#1
Surely with 3 months pre - season, 4 months of loan and league play, Cotts must have some idea of a player he could sign for us and an answers like '"We are not anywhere with anything." is pure crap and is it a case of here we go again.?
The reinforcements that have been brought in, especially Baker and Bennett have made a big difference. IMHO we need a replacement for Pack, and I'd also rest Freeman for a few games if we had decent cover. He's lost his spark a bit, and is struggling at this level. A point at least is needed on Saturday.
Agreed but they'll be on a high after winning at dirty Leeds. No game at this level is a foregone conclusion. Just look at recent results.
Elliott Bennett and Nathan Baker would be fantastic if they signed permanently, both proving to be great loanees Callum Robinson I would give a go in Freemans role for a game or two to see if he's any good if not maybe release back to Villa Liam Moore be interesting to see if he gets any game time before January With Agard back fit and Wilbraham as a back up, do we really need Cox if he's not fit?
Why do things never change at Bristol City? For many years we have been hearing the same old reasons "why not", but for some other reason we never act on our words which to me stinks of not being able or capable to get the job done. Back in the heady days of GJ (did I really say that?) many on this site screamed that we needed a midfield general to possibly nail down our survival in the Championship, and even promotion to the Premiership, and here we are still asking for the same Christmas present that will never arrive. Is there something in the psyche of Bristol City that demands that we don't compete, or at least make a viable attempt, at a level that the entire city deserves or is it something in the water? It has been happening on too regular a basis for it to be our imagination so when I see statements coming from the bowels of Ashton Gate like this one it makes me want to give up on my beloved club. Have you noticed the extreme lack of news releases coming from our team and that to me only smacks of lack of interest by the club for their followers Getting the occasional player to say something about anything just to satisfy the punters is a clear indication of having nothing to say which generally means nothing is happening. Saying that you are constantly looking for that special player is a copout because obviously you are not prepared to spend any money to reach your goal and hoping that Ronaldo will fall off his perch is like sticking your head in the sand or even somewhere more smelly. I don't really think our club is capable of knowing what it wants and if they ever do please wake me up.
Simon cox not getting a sniff very strange. A replacement in the middle for pack required. A goal keeper required. I can not believe we are not after replacements for these two.
Happy with Fielding but reckon we need better cover in case of need- Midfield-- Pack is ok but no more than. Smith has improved a lot lately. Early days, he was dwelling far too long on the ball. I would still like to see him be more positive going forward though- Freeman is a bit of a worry for me- Clearly very one footed, and defences and midfield at this higher level are aware of that. Keep the ball on his right side and he is far less effective- Goals have also dried up- Bryan seems short of confidence, confirmed by his recent omissions from the first team sheet. Bennett has been a good find. Trouble is, we do not have adequate replacements- Personally, I would send Moore and Robinson back so that we can have another loan signing.
