I’m pretty sure I heard a few weeks ago that around three quarters of transfer deals are done in the final week of the transfer window, and as we enter that week, City look set for a busy few days leading up to September.
It’s been a little over an hour since Liam Fontaine’s proposed million pound move to Southampton has broken down but it could be the first sign of the selling mentality the board have insisted upon if City are to not only cut debts, but to bring in fresh faces.
Apart from Maynard, which the board are very clear on, City now look set to sell on first team players if the money is right and ‘although every player has his price’ , it’s probably the first time since we have come up that City have looked so willing to sell a first team player. Even when Elliott was linked to clubs like Wolves there was always a feeling that City could afford to reject a bid for a star player – however I’m sure with a squad the size of ours a bid for Marvin Elliott now would be taken very seriously.
And that’s something we might have to get used to – but it might not be a bad thing. The Fontaine move was a good opportunity for City to break up a spine of a team which has been going nowhere for quite some time. Players such as Fontaine, McAllister, Carey, Johnson and Skuse should probably all move on, or certainly should have by now. If we haven’t gone forward in the past few seasons with these then we’re certainly not going to in the next few. I leave out Elliott because I do feel that he’s probably the only one from the Wembley season we wouldn’t have to carry.
A breath of fresh air would do the squad good and would also make the team Millen’s own, it’s still very much a Gary Johnson looking side to me and especially at the back. It would also cut out the comfort zone certain players are in, which is also leading to very average performances. But we are as we were.
The obvious reason the move broke down is due to Liam’s latest ankle injury, although it appears he had passed a medical, according to the Evening Post, Saints officials were obviously concerned with the reoccurring injury due to the money involved. Hopefully he can come back and remain focused and he won’t dwell too much on this falling apart.
It also looks like Leicester might make one final bid for Nicky Maynard, completely ignoring the fact that they fall under one of the type of clubs City will not sell to – a Championship club. It’s still a very confusing situation, yet City repeat the terms on who they’ll talk to and with noise on Wigan forums we could finally see a Premier League club enter the race in this final week.
If he does have to move on hopefully City are lining up players they need in the required positions, much like today if City aren’t prepared or ready to improve the squad when losing regulars then it will be a good 4 to 5 months before they can sign those players up which will not only look like amateur business but also pose a real threat to survival.
If City had plans in reinvesting the money into a left back and centre back then I feel today’s result isn’t the best for the club, Bristol City isn’t the most exciting place at the moment and it feels more and more samey, and looking at the attendances over the past few seasons there are many who feel the same. Hopefully this week the club can raise some funds elsewhere to put some colour back into a dull Aston Gate.
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