City ready to do transfer window business - CEO
BRISTOL City CEO Richard Gould has said the Robins’ decline in results over the last five weeks has caused the club to re-assess their transfer strategy for January.
City have lost five of their last six and have fallen to 19th in the table, with concerns re-emerging about the potential for another winter of relegation-related discontent. That’s also against the backdrop of uncertainty around Nigel Pearson’s future at the club.
Earlier this week, Gould said: “We are lower down the table than we would expect to be and therefore we will be looking to strengthen the squad if that opportunity arises.”
Having maintained modest targets in the summer, Gould’s assertion that they are open for business, has given a message that City, while not necessarily wanting to, given the tight financial situation amid the pandemic, simply have to do business, to avoid relegation. There are difficulties to recruiting in the winter window. However, City must at least try to address their weaknesses.
We have identified three positions and types of players the club could look to bring in.
A physical central striker
You can’t say Chris Martin hasn’t put in the effort this season - 1,478 minutes on the field and that’s having started 17 consecutive Championship games as he’s turned 33.
The former Derby striker has now competed 284 headers - 92 more than the next highest in the Championship - and has been productive with five goals and three assists.
He’s been performing a role in the City team that no one else is capable of, at least in Pearson’s mind, as he wants that physical, focal point others can play off.
Martin has done what his manager wants and stayed fit, but it’s also potentially having an adverse effect on his own consistency and is limiting to the team overall.
Put simply, there has been no alternative to, “play Chrissy Martin through the middle”. That’s not to slam the tactic but by having just one man able to do it, it’s making the Robins pretty predictable.
City need another striker to give competition and variation to Martin and enable him to rest, and just offer something a little different.
As we know, there’s a high level of uncertainty around Pearson but, working on the assumption he will be back, he will want his “type” of striker. That will almost certainly be a 6ft+ hold-up player, strong in the air, who can occupy defenders physically but also bring others into play. A Chris Martin with a bit of extra height and pace, perhaps.
A dynamic winger
It was notable at the start of the season that Pearson was putting a big emphasis on crosses.
There were several drills displayed where players were encouraged to whip the ball in early - and not necessarily always in the air - to hopefully catch defences out of shape. What’s been a major issue for City in this wretched run is their inability to get any sustained possession or at least pressure in the final third.
Speaking purely anecdotally, everything has seemed to be a little sideways and stuck in the middle. That can work, but it does make everything too predictable.
City rely too much on George Tanner, 21 and in his first Championship season, and Cameron Pring, of similar experience, and an out-of-form Jay Dasilva to make those gains up the pitch and it’s simply not working.
The only player in the Robins squad who can be considered an orthodox winger is Callum O’Dowda and the Republic of Ireland international was injured for the first five weeks of the season and then has been in and out of the side since, either due to his form or because of system requirements.
City need a right-sided O’Dowda who can stay fit and, be a good presser out of possession and offer defensive protection to his full-back. They must be adept at taking on defenders and spreading the field, opening up space for runners, and be strong crossers.
A ball-winning defensive
midfielder Numbers-wise, and probably quality-wise, City are well stocked in central midfield, when everyone is fit: Matty James, Andy King, Tyreeq Bakinson, Han-Noah Massengo, Joe Williams and then Kasey Palmer and Alex Scott in advanced roles. It’s a good complement of players.
James and King offer stability, structure, leadership and organisation - and their absence has been keenly felt of late - Bakinson is a good passer, while Massengo and Williams bring energy and box-tobox ball-carrying.
What is missing, however, is that aggression at the base of midfield - a player who can consistently win the ball back and stop the opposition. Massengo could become that player one day, but he’s still not positionally or tactically disciplined enough.
James is combative but he’s better as a continuity passer, keeping possession flowing. Williams could well be that player, once he has a good run in the side, but given his injury issues it’s difficult at this stage to say that with any great reassurance.
City need a player whose going to do more than go around kicking people, he must have high attributes on the ball, evidently, but possessing a figure to help screen the defence and start killing opposition momentum would be a major bonus.