Where In The Squad Do We Need More Quality.

[Redcliffe 78]

Left back, target man, leftside midfield?

[_Bristol-City_]

Left back, target man, leftside midfield?

It wont work, look at Chris Ilewumo and Marehoffer. Didnt work then. We need pacey strikers at the gate.

Left back? Yes, then get a left sided midfielder.

[Guest Tom_BcFC]

We really don't want a target man! Haynes and Maynard partnership seems to be working

Left Midfielder most deffinat

I believe we need another right back, Orr's not bad but his final ball can be pretty abysmal

[22A]

Left back, right back, left wing and another striker.

In that order of priority.

Having won the lottery last night, following your order of priority, I won't rush out and buy Messi for City then.

[Kid in the Riot]

I believe we need another right back, Orr's not bad but his final ball can be pretty abysmal

We've got one, Christian Ribeiro.

[SC_Red]

An experienced centre half - Carey is going backwards now age is catching up with him.

Switch Orr and Ribeiro in a 352 to see how it works as Ribeiro is the better player in posession.

Haven't seen anything of Sawyer yet so I'm not sure how we make a decsion on him or whether we need a better left sided option. I understand he lacks pace so might not be one to take us up a level.

I expect Hartley to go to Boro in the summer (nearer home under Strachan and a bigger club) so we'll need a midefielder in that mold to replace him.

I think we'll get another striker in too as we dont have much when Maynard isnt firing.

[Redcliffe 78]

Having won the lottery last night, following your order of priority, I won't rush out and buy Messi for City then.

You wouldn't be able to buy Messi right boot let alone his left boot with that money.

[_Bristol-City_]

We've got one, Christian Ribeiro.

Yep

[tinman-is-god]

A dominant centre-half to replace Carey, who has had a mediocre season.

A left-back.

A winger (either right or left as we could use JCR in LW or RW)

A striker who can provide Maynard with space and balls. In this sense, I think it is more important we buy someone to give Maynard space and room and bully the centre halves rather than purchasing a poacher.

All your Steve Lansdown!

[Alex_BCFC]

Left Midfield, Centre Back, Left Back are the most needed. Could do with general improvement throughout the squad though.

[Nibor]

Left back, left midfield, and a centre half with experience (basically Louis mins five years). I wouldn't mind seeing a keeper and a powerful centre forward in the Brooker mould come in too, and if Williams, Sno and LJ move on this summer we'll need a ball playing midfielder.

[internetjef]

If we stick with the wingbacks formation Millen uses then we dont need a great deal extra anywhere, other than a commanding centre back to replace Carey. Thats presuming JCR will be groomed into a wingback. And we wouldnt need a target man so haynes/maynard/clarckson should be enough up front

If we shift back to a more regular 4-4-2 with wingers lookign to get crosses in then we would prob also need a target man, a left back and a versatile winger

annoying thing is i imagine any manager that comes in prob wont go with wingbacks as it seems to be pretty rarely used these days, even though it does suit the players we have the best

[Kingswoodactor]

Left back, left midfield, and a centre half with experience (basically Louis mins five years). I wouldn't mind seeing a keeper and a powerful centre forward in the Brooker mould come in too, and if Williams, Sno and LJ move on this summer we'll need a ball playing midfielder.

Agree with all of that except the keeper. I think with Gerken and Henderson, we are ok in that department. Would like to see someone like Darren Ambrose join the club as that goal scoring attack minded midfielder. Bet he goes to QPR in the summer though...

[Lita For Congo]

Personally would like to see a leftback, center back, central midfielder(if Sno, LJ, Williams leave), left midfielder/winger and presuming we have Maynard, Haynes, Clarkson, Akinde or Plumber i think were okay up top.

[Robbored]

Definately need another centre back with Carey coming to the end of his career. Another left back, possibly Sawyer. If Hartley goes and Sno goes back as well then a quality midfielder or two is essential. Up front with Maynard, Haynes and Clarkson looks decent enough but with injuries/suspensions the cover is thin, so another striker would be a sensible purchase.

Another 4 or 5 additions over the summer, with maybe the same number leaving AG.

[Kingswoodactor]

A few people have mentioned the possibility of Hartley not being here next season, I would be most upset if he left. Any truth in these murmurs??

[Redcliffe 78]

A few people have mentioned the possibility of Hartley not being here next season, I would be most upset if he left. Any truth in these murmurs??

Strachan/Celtic nearer Jock land maybe. I really hope these are rumours & not the truth.

[CiderHider]

A full back better than Macca, a Centre half better than Carey, a midfielder better than Hartley and a striker better than Maynard.

No point buying players who are no better than what we have, I would prefer a 2 or 3 class signings than 5-6 good ones.

[Keith_Lemon]

Need: Replacement for Orr, Replacement for Mcallister, Replacement for Campbell-Ryce, Left Winger, and a left footed central midfielder

[Redcliffe 78]

JCR, explain your reasons i think he has had a half decent start in the colours.

[Keith_Lemon]

JCR, explain your reasons i think he has had a half decent start in the colours.

Personal reasons are

Do not think he is the sort of player that will help us progress through the league into the top 6. Struggled to get into the Barnsley side, which says alot. Dosent take his man on and seems to go pass backwards to Mcallister/Fontaine rather than take his man on and beat him.

Just feel we need a bit more of a quality winger than him

[Evy11_BCFC]

Our current squad;

Goalkeepers;

Dean Gerken - Keep

Stephen Henderson - Keep

Steve Collis - Release, never going to play first team football here.

Defenders;

Bradley Orr - Keep

Jamie McAllister - Keep

Liam Fontaine - Keep

Jamie McCombe - Sell, done a good job for us in the last couple of years, but time to move on.

Louis Carey - Keep

James Wilson - Keep, would like to see him play the last couple of games.

Christian Ribeiro - Keep

Brian Wilson - Release/sell, not quite good enough for this level and injury prone.

Lewin Nyatanga - Keep

Gary Sawyer - Send back, won't be signed if he can't get a game before the end of the season.

Joe Edwards - Loan out, needs a loan spell at a League 1 or 2 club before challenging for a first team place.

Midfielders;

Marvin Elliott - Keep

Lee Johnson - Not sure, good squad player, but wouldn't surprise me to see him leave. Don't think he'll go to Peterborough.

Cole Skuse - Keep

Gavin Williams - Release - Out of contract, hasn't shown enough to warrant a new contract.

Ivan Sproule - Keep

Frankie Artus - Release

Evander Sno - Not sure, good player, but likely to be too expensive and will therefore probably leave.

Paul Hartley - Keep

Jamal Campbell-Ryce - Keep

Ashley Kington - Loan out, needs a loan spell at a League 1 or 2 club before challenging for a first team place.

Strikers;

David Clarkson - Keep

Nicky Maynard - Keep

John Akinde - Keep

Lee Trundle - Release, finally off the wage bill

Tristan Plummer - Release, several unsucessful loan spells, don't think he'll make it here

Danny Haynes - Keep

Patrick Agymang - Send back, please don't return

Peter Styvar - Sell

Marlon Jackson - Loan out again, promising first loan spell, another season loan spell would do him good.

Squad of;

.....................................Gerken/Henderson..................................

Orr/Ribeiro........Carey/Fontaine/Nyatanga/J.Wilson........McAllister

Sproule...............Elliott/Skuse/Hartley/Johnson?/..................JCR

.........................Akinde/Clarkson/Haynes/Maynard......................

Looking at that I would like to see;

A commanding centre half, something we've lacked for the majority of the season

Competition at left back, preferably somebody more attacking if we were to use the current formation with wingbacks

A left footed central midfielder/left midfielder, to give the midfield more balance, creativity and competiton out wide if needed.

A striker, doesn't have to be an out and out target man, but somebody who will win a fair amount in the air.

[Donald]

First 11 isn't too bad (apart from the left side) It's the quality of the players on the fringes that are the problem.

Sno if available on a free with the right salary, I'd snap up. He's another player who's been misused under the previous manager and too many times played of out position and rarely played in a his natural holding midfield role which he impressed so much in the Ajax game, he's young and will get better. For the right deal - Good signing.

A few people have mentioned the possibility of Hartley not being here next season, I would be most upset if he left. Any truth in these murmurs??

Much as there was rumours spread to creative negativity against Johnson by some people, there was also rumour spread to backup management decisions generally each time coming through the differeing supporters club/trusts, sometimes they are created by someone with a grudge othertimes they are passed to a group to defend other people.

Hartley doesn't have any problems that didn't exist when the he joined. His family were always going to be staying in Scotland and he was always going to do some commuting when there was free time, a number of rumours were created against Hartley to justify his "rotation" out of the team, be it his age, fitness or travelling home for son's b'day. My PERSONAL view is that Hartley on hour flight to Scotland to see family is no different than other players driving "home" to London too see friends and family for a couple of days, let alone Dele driving daily from the midlands without comment.

[Redcliffe 78]

Personal reasons are

Do not think he is the sort of player that will help us progress through the league into the top 6. Struggled to get into the Barnsley side, which says alot. Dosent take his man on and seems to go pass backwards to Mcallister/Fontaine rather than take his man on and beat him.

Just feel we need a bit more of a quality winger than him

Whilst i don't agree respect to your opion. Onwards & upwards mate.

[Redcliffe 78]

First 11 isn't too bad (apart from the left side) It's the quality of the players on the fringes that are the problem.

Sno if available on a free with the right salary, I'd snap up. He's another player who's been misused under the previous manager and too many times played of out position and rarely played in a his natural holding midfield role which he impressed so much in the Ajax game, he's young and will get better. For the right deal - Good signing.

Much as there was rumours spread to creative negativity against Johnson by some people, there was also rumour spread to backup management decisions generally each time coming through the differeing supporters club/trusts, sometimes they are created by someone with a grudge othertimes they are passed to a group to defend other people.

Hartley doesn't have any problems that didn't exist when the he joined. His family were always going to be staying in Scotland and he was always going to do some commuting when there was free time, a number of rumours were created against Hartley to justify his "rotation" out of the team, be it his age, fitness or travelling home for son's b'day. My PERSONAL view is that Hartley on hour flight to Scotland to see family is no different than other players driving "home" to London too see friends and family for a couple of days, let alone Dele driving daily from the midlands without comment.

Good post, apart from the Sno thing he just not done it or look like doing it for me. We have been waiting all season for a performance like he did in the friendly, also the Dutch top division is not of the greatest qualtiy & it looks like he's surpless to requirements there.

[CiderHider]

Our current squad;

Goalkeepers;

Dean Gerken - Keep

Stephen Henderson - Keep

Steve Collis - Release, never going to play first team football here.

Defenders;

Bradley Orr - Keep

Jamie McAllister - Keep

Liam Fontaine - Keep

Jamie McCombe - Sell, done a good job for us in the last couple of years, but time to move on.

Louis Carey - Keep

James Wilson - Keep, would like to see him play the last couple of games.

Christian Ribeiro - Keep

Brian Wilson - Release/sell, not quite good enough for this level and injury prone.

Lewin Nyatanga - Keep

Gary Sawyer - Send back, won't be signed if he can't get a game before the end of the season.

Joe Edwards - Loan out, needs a loan spell at a League 1 or 2 club before challenging for a first team place.

Midfielders;

Marvin Elliott - Keep

Lee Johnson - Not sure, good squad player, but wouldn't surprise me to see him leave. Don't think he'll go to Peterborough.

Cole Skuse - Keep

Gavin Williams - Release - Out of contract, hasn't shown enough to warrant a new contract.

Ivan Sproule - Keep

Frankie Artus - Release

Evander Sno - Not sure, good player, but likely to be too expensive and will therefore probably leave.

Paul Hartley - Keep

Jamal Campbell-Ryce - Keep

Ashley Kington - Loan out, needs a loan spell at a League 1 or 2 club before challenging for a first team place.

Strikers;

David Clarkson - Keep

Nicky Maynard - Keep

John Akinde - Keep

Lee Trundle - Release, finally off the wage bill

Tristan Plummer - Release, several unsucessful loan spells, don't think he'll make it here

Danny Haynes - Keep

Patrick Agymang - Send back, please don't return

Peter Styvar - Sell

Marlon Jackson - Loan out again, promising first loan spell, another season loan spell would do him good.

Squad of;

.....................................Gerken/Henderson................................. .

Orr/Ribeiro........Carey/Fontaine/Nyatanga/J.Wilson........McAllister

Sproule...............Elliott/Skuse/Hartley/Johnson?/..................JCR

.........................Akinde/Clarkson/Haynes/Maynard......................

Looking at that I would like to see;

A commanding centre half, something we've lacked for the majority of the season

Competition at left back, preferably somebody more attacking if we were to use the current formation with wing backs

A left footed central midfielder/left midfielder, to give the midfield more balance, creativity and competition out wide if needed.

A striker, doesn't have to be an out and out target man, but somebody who will win a fair amount in the air.

Yeah I would agree with most of that, Not sure Akindie has what it takes, but worth giving him some more time out on loan, but if he's not setting league 1 alight then he aint gonna be much good to us. Whoever comes in will hopefully identify our current talent and fill in the gaps we've all suggested.

[luke_bristol]

Shocked to see criticism of JCR, I definitely did NOT want him here but I think he has done very well for us

[Guest Chiva]

Every squad in every league needs more quality everywhere

[Redcliffe 78]

Every squad in every league needs more quality everywhere

Barcelona?

[Chivs]

Barcelona?

Could do with a big target man, in the Agyemang mould, up front. They sometimes fail to run down the clock when holding on to the 4-0 lead....

[Redcliffe 78]

Could do with a big target man, in the Agyemang mould, up front. They sometimes fail to run down the clock when holding on to the 4-0 lead....

The Swede is quite big cost a few quid aswell.

[stroudy]

Think it is a difficult question, for starters if/when we get a new manager in he may have a totally different idea of formations and IMO until you know what formation he is gonna play it is too hard to say where we need beefing up.

[Redcliffe 78]

Think it is a difficult question, for starters if/when we get a new manager in he may have a totally different idea of formations and IMO until you know what formation he is gonna play it is too hard to say where we need beefing up.

Agree with what your saying but the managers who SL have shorlisted would be doing there homework already on the current squad. Not themselves at the ground but coaching/scouting network that every new manager brings with them. Millen is going to be no 2 whoever comes in. If this time next week Millen is confirmed as manager i will be very surprised, then again you never know what happens in football and this is the reason we all love the game so much.

[stroudy]

Agree with what your saying but the managers who SL have shorlisted would be doing there homework already on the current squad. Not themselves at the ground but coaching/scouting network that every new manager brings with them. Millen is going to be no 2 whoever comes in. If this time next week Millen is confirmed as manager i will be very surprised, then again you never know what happens in football and this is the reason we all love the game so much.

Spot on Fella

[GrahamC]

Left back, left midfield, and a centre half with experience (basically Louis mins five years). I wouldn't mind seeing a keeper and a powerful centre forward in the Brooker mould come in too, and if Williams, Sno and LJ move on this summer we'll need a ball playing midfielder.

Those are certainly the first three players that we need and I'd be very pleased if Matt Hill returned to us to be the left back.

The keeper situation will be clearer by season's end as if Henderson has 3 more sound games I'd be content with just having him and Gerken competing for the no.1 spot.

We could do with adding a target man like Iwelumo too, but I'd be happy with just one midfielder coming in even if LJ, Sno and Williams do all go, provided he was;

a) left footed and b) scored goals.

[Guest mxjunky137]

we need a new left side both defense and midfield

[Dynamite Red]

I would really like to see how James Wilson does at centre back when he is fit, Ribeiro and Henderson have proved that we should give youth a chance. If he is not ready then maybe consider recruiting a centre back and sending out on loan again.

We need a left winger who is naturally left footed who can compete with JCR who is right footed so he could fight to play either left or right wing. We need a left back to compete with McCallister

I am still unsure about Gerken and think a quality stopper would really help us push on with Gerken as back-up and Henderson going on loan for a season at a LG1 club.

Possibly a striker and send Akinde on loan for a season to a LG1 club.

Maybe Something like this:

Keiren Westwood (GK Coventry) Top goalie will be in the Prem eventually.

Matt Hill (LB Wolves) Can play left back and centre back, Bristol boy returning home.

Ross Wallace (LW Preston) Naturally left footed can play wing, left back and wing back.

Billy Sharp (ST Sheff Utd) Available for £1.5m, terrier like striker who scores goals.

OR Julian Speroni, Andy Keogh, George Boyd. Just a few suggestions.

[Bris Red]

Tthe first bit of business we should do is without doubt to get in a quality centre half. I know its rare to spend big money on defenders but i think we need to splash out in that area big time.Then as others have said a left footed winger and a left full back.

Other than that i think we have enough in other areas, the strike force should be left alone assuming Maynard stays. Dont agree with all this target man rubbish either, 1 ''big'' striker is enough imo and Akinde fits that bill.

[Redcliffe 78]

Tthe first bit of business we should do is without doubt to get in a quality centre half. I know its rare to spend big money on defenders but i think we need to splash out in that area big time.Then as others have said a left footed winger and a left full back.

Other than that i think we have enough in other areas, the strike force should be left alone assuming Maynard stays. Dont agree with all this target man rubbish either, 1 ''big'' striker is enough imo and Akinde fits that bill.

You don't have to be big to be a target man, but IMO we've lacked someone to hold the ball upfront especially in the games we were wining with seconds to go. Centre back totally agree. Onwards & upwards.

[I BELIEVE]

A commanding Centre Back with pace

[Guest always hoping]

It is early days with Ribs though - he is a very young lad still.

Oh dear hope he doesn't get to read this. Sounds like the previous era has returned.

He's 20 years old and has shown us how he can play. If he still not ready for City it is probably best he looks to ply his trade elsewhere. Sure there would be a couple of options for him.

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

Our current squad;

Goalkeepers;

Dean Gerken - Keep

Stephen Henderson - Keep

Steve Collis - Release, never going to play first team football here.

Defenders;

Bradley Orr - Keep

Jamie McAllister - Keep

Liam Fontaine - Keep

Jamie McCombe - Sell, done a good job for us in the last couple of years, but time to move on.

Louis Carey - Keep

James Wilson - Keep, would like to see him play the last couple of games.

Christian Ribeiro - Keep

Brian Wilson - Release/sell, not quite good enough for this level and injury prone.

Lewin Nyatanga - Keep

Gary Sawyer - Send back, won't be signed if he can't get a game before the end of the season.

Joe Edwards - Loan out, needs a loan spell at a League 1 or 2 club before challenging for a first team place.

Midfielders;

Marvin Elliott - Keep

Lee Johnson - Not sure, good squad player, but wouldn't surprise me to see him leave. Don't think he'll go to Peterborough.

Cole Skuse - Keep

Gavin Williams - Release - Out of contract, hasn't shown enough to warrant a new contract.

Ivan Sproule - Keep

Frankie Artus - Release

Evander Sno - Not sure, good player, but likely to be too expensive and will therefore probably leave.

Paul Hartley - Keep

Jamal Campbell-Ryce - Keep

Ashley Kington - Loan out, needs a loan spell at a League 1 or 2 club before challenging for a first team place.

Strikers;

David Clarkson - Keep

Nicky Maynard - Keep

John Akinde - Keep

Lee Trundle - Release, finally off the wage bill

Tristan Plummer - Release, several unsucessful loan spells, don't think he'll make it here

Danny Haynes - Keep

Patrick Agymang - Send back, please don't return

Peter Styvar - Sell

Marlon Jackson - Loan out again, promising first loan spell, another season loan spell would do him good.

Squad of;

.....................................Gerken/Henderson................................. .

Orr/Ribeiro........Carey/Fontaine/Nyatanga/J.Wilson........McAllister

Sproule...............Elliott/Skuse/Hartley/Johnson?/..................JCR

.........................Akinde/Clarkson/Haynes/Maynard......................

Looking at that I would like to see;

A commanding centre half, something we've lacked for the majority of the season

Competition at left back, preferably somebody more attacking if we were to use the current formation with wingbacks

A left footed central midfielder/left midfielder, to give the midfield more balance, creativity and competiton out wide if needed.

A striker, doesn't have to be an out and out target man, but somebody who will win a fair amount in the air.

That's pretty much spot on if you ask me - except I wouldn't think twice about releasing Sno, and I wonder how much progress Akinde is likely to make next season.

[Kingswoodactor]

It is early days with Ribs though - he is a very young lad still.

I cant believe that comment. Have you actually watched the games he has recently played in for us? Probably one of the best players on the park... Maybe he should just go and make it in the prem, as I'm sure there are a few clubs that would look very closely at him.

[Evy11_BCFC]

You serious??

He's fking terrible!

Why would we get rid of our only left sided player in the squad?

[Alex_BCFC]

Why would we get rid of our only left sided player in the squad?

Cos we can buy better ones?

[Evy11_BCFC]

Cos we can buy better ones?

Lets do that first and then I might agree.

[Nibor]

Cos we can buy better ones?

I'd prefer we wait until we have got those better players in and seen them play for a while or we could end up with another McIndoe situation.

[SE23Red]

To improve the first XI:

First ball defender to partner one/two of Carey/Fontaine/Nyatanga/Ribs/Wilson

Left sided midfielder in the Tinnion mould who can tuck in and provide midfield balance with a more attack minded RW in Sproule/JCR/Haynes in a 4-4-2.

To improve the squad:

A striker capable of holding the ball up.

Another left-sided option.