TALKING POINT: Do Bristol City need strengthening? It is invariably an encouraging sign when a team is still able to find a way to win without playing well. Arsenal managed to do exactly that when coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Emirates yesterday and Bristol City emulated their feat to claim another three-point haul at the expense of Colchester United. Although there is undoubtedly a sense of renewed optimism inside Ashton Gate these days, further fuelled by back-to-back League One victories over Sheffield United and the U's, City's management, players and fans will acknowledge a side comprising six new signings is yet to find top gear. It will take time for the new arrivals to settle in and fully integrate and it seems reasonable to expect further improvement as the weeks and months go by. But all the available evidence after two games suggests the squad may still require bolstering in a couple of key areas and manager Steve Cotterill has identified a need for another "three" players. He has a fortnight left in which to carry out further recruitment before the transfer window closes on Monday, September 1, and he is clearly scouring the market for a goal-scoring forward. Cotterill is also looking to strengthen in other areas and a goalkeeper and another defender could feature on his wanted list, albeit further down the line. Now that City fans have seen their team in action and had an opportunity to formulate opinions, which areas do you feel need strengthening before the window shuts. Is the manager right to prioritise the acquisition of a striker or should be looking at other areas? What would you, the fans, like to see happen during the days that remain in August? Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/TALKIN...tory-22758829-detail/story.html#ixzz3AfWhzxvi
Dream: Nosworthy, Agard, Moore Reality: Will probably bring in a goalkeeper who hasn't played for 4 years
Central defence again. Same as last season. At this level City have players far above the norm in all the thirds except defence. The team does not play fluently through the thirds from the back due to its central defenders taking too many touches, playing too slowly, or lamping it. The spending shackles are off so Mr Cotterill can buy in.
Moore is a clear no go. Would be very surprised if we got him. Noswrothy whilst I would like, just think if Cotterill was interested we would have got him in before the season started. Agard, I honestly think we'll sign him....... On Deadline Day...
A goalie for definite, not that I dislike Fielding as I think he must have a great attitude. But he worries me with his decision making. I'm growing to be impressed with Flint, he got injured early on when Cotterill arrived, and watching some of his recent play I think he follows orders well and I like the argumentive side coming out on him when he thinks someone is in the wrong. We need another forward but we all know that this is probably a lean spell Baldock is going through and once he gets his first then a few will follow. I would like to see someone challenging for the two places, but barring injuries our front two are pretty nailed on at the moment.
A goalkeeper to push Fielding. But perhaps a number one, the sort who will gain us five to ten points in the season with "impossible" saves on days when we are under the cosh away from home. Fielding is competent but not one like have described. Definitely another striker. Two is not enough. What the hell do we do with JET?
Defence too much hoofing going on and goal conceded this season are already from mistakes. Only thing apart from injury that might hold City back from automatic promotion.
Fielding has good parts to his game, but his distribution is slow, one dimensioned and easy to read, meaning all too often we do not build from the back and lose possession. That's a confidence thing as much as anything and one would have hoped the coaches would have worked on. Back up is needed at least in this position. El Abd has shown improvement in the last 2 games and it would be great if he could fulfil the promise that was expected. Wilbraham looks like he could be a real find, but at 34, he is not going to be long term and a striker I would say is essential.
Central defence. Every time the Flintsone and Bad El pass the ball or dribble out of defence Andy Stockhausen starts exercising his fingers just in case. Forward. Two and one who wants to do it his way instead of his in charges way is not enough.
Same for me bring those three in and that will guarantee promotion The goalkeeper i have no confidence what so ever,how cotts has is strange.
At least one Forward, and competition for Fielding and El-Abd who both scare me to death, always waiting for Fielding to drop a clanger and El-Abd to get left for dead by a nippy forward, hope it doesn`t happen on tuesday against a pacy Orient.
The keeper is a no-brainer. A quick nippy forward. I would like to see a left sided defender who can maybe play left wing back.
The more I think about this, and particularly after Saturday, is defence- We ground out a win which would have most likely been a draw last season or even blown it at the end- We are stronger now, but promotion is usually won by teams sometimes grinding out an ugly 0-1 away win when not playing that well.- We need to keep clean sheets more (which at least guarantees a draw) and I am not confident that we will do this often enough. We simply cant rely on the basis that we will outscore the opposition each time( albeit, a necessary criteria) as we wont always.
Defo a keeper and Centre Half. After that not to sure, we have a nippy forwad in Burns, he just never gets a chance. If another forward does come in, then we probably need to shift JET on as I suspect that will be too many luxuries to afford in L1, wha with FFP and all.
I like Fielding. The guy just needs some consistent game time to get his confidence back. He'll be shaky for a while, but will grow into the role and could become a solid keeper in time. I think we need to strengthen in defense, like everyone has already said. I also think that we could use a decent holding midfielder. Someone that could, ideally, play as a defender at a push, and is good at linking the defense to the midfield. City tend to struggle with what to do with the ball once we regain the ball from defense. This is where I'd like to see us sign an experienced player that is maybe losing his legs, but has played as a high enough level to be able to teach our defenders how to progress with the ball and hold up attackers.
