Mike Bassett: England Manager

[DeBierkoning]

It's 99% done by now, you might as well just wait for the results of the other teams.

Is there any other team sniffing around de Zwart or Kosiorek?

[Libertine73]

It's 99% done by now, you might as well just wait for the results of the other teams.

Is there any other team sniffing around de Zwart or Kosiorek?

No, no-one seems has shown any interest in those two lately.

I'm continuously rejecting bids for Myron van Brederode though.

[Libertine73]

We dominated this game, limiting the hosts to just one shot at goal. We were very wasteful at the other end, with prolific strike duo Ethan Allen and Rens de Zwart leaving their shooting boots at home.

Thankfully, Man of the Match, Ringo Meerveld, got on the end of a free-kick by midfield partner Maciej Kosiorek to head in the only goal of the game.




That was the victory we needed, to clinch the title.




The travelling fans are delighted.




As are the board.






Reputation

My domestic reputation has moved from 7th to 4th.




I remain 'Superb'. I think that greater honours would need to be won, to move up to 'World Class'. Having said that, Bruno Lage hasn't won any league titles. His only success was a Europa League Final win with Benfica, and the EFL Cup with Liverpool twelve months ago.

I'm pleased that domestically, I've moved above Eddie Howe to become the highest ranked English manager.

Howe is still above me in the World Ranking though.






Gareth Southgate is even higher, but his reputation is in decline. The 62 year old's club, Stoke City, look likely to be relegated from the Premier League this season.




Summary of the Season

There are still half a dozen games for us to play, but I'll be looking to see how some of our fringe players do in our remaining games. They could end up being future signings at whichever club I go to next.

Just under a year ago, I guided Coventry into the runners-up spot in League One after taking over in the September of that season, when the club were languishing in 18th place.

I was able to significantly improve the squad in the summer, and I came into the season believing that we had a realistic chance of automatic promotion or the title.

It wasn't always plain sailing.




After winning our opening three games, we hit a dodgy spell. We eventually recovered though, and by December we returned to the top of the table, and stayed there.

Meanwhile, we got some good results in the EFL Cup, to reach the last eight.

Once there, we were fortunate enough to face sides that put out weakened teams. We were able to take advantage, and got to Wembley. I couldn't believe my luck when I saw Everton's team sheet for the final, and we went on to smash them 5-0, to lift the trophy.

Since losing at Millwall on New Year's Day, we've gone fifteen league games unbeaten, and have won the last six. This has enabled us to clinch the Championship title with six games to spare.





As you can see, we have the best goalscoring record, and have conceded the fewest.




Players

There has been a nucleus of eighteen players that have started fifteen to thirty-nine games in all competitions. They've all played their part in our successful season, though some have obviously had a more significant impact than others.

I think that there have been six of those eighteen players that have particularly stood out.

One of those is Ruud Vermeulen.




Ruud started just over half of our league games - all as a central defender.

We lost just one of those games, and conceded just nine goals when he was involved.

Another player that did well was Ringo Meerveld.




Ringo was rather indifferent at the start of the season, but as the campaign has progressed, the midfielder has become more effective.

He hasn't had a huge amount of goal involvements, but has shown good consistency. No-one has started more games for Coventry than Ringo this season.

Only team-mate Maciej Kosiorek has won more tackles as a midfielder.




Another player to stand out was Rens de Zwart.




Rens was fourth choice striker at the start of the season. It wasn't until November that the player made his first start in the Championship. Once he got in though, he did amazingly well.




To have scored over twenty league goals - in less than twenty starts - is incredible. As part of a strike duo too.

Rens have scored three hat-tricks this season, and the most significant one was in that EFL Cup Final.

The fourth Dutchman that I'm highlighting is Myron van Brederode.




Myron has shown impressive consistency this season. He's been up there with our best players this season.




No player at the club has provided more assists, and he's amongst the best in the division.




My best signing last summer was Maciej Kosiorek.




Maciej was immense at the start of the season. He's tailed off a bit during the second half of the season, and has often finished games exhausted or in need of a rest.

His average tackles per game ratio is the best in the division, and he's contributed either a goal or an assist practically every other game.

If I have to stick my neck out and say who our best player has been, I'd have to say Ethan Allen.




Ethan has started a lot of games in a position where there is a lot of competition for places.

Six hat-tricks in all competitions have helped him to sit at the top of the goalscoring chart.




A superb player, who has remained professional by putting in excellent performances despite having been unhappy for quite a few months, about not being allowed to leave.




The Future

Scott Parker is doing fine as England manager, and they're on course to qualify for the World Cup next summer.




With this in mind, the earliest that the manager's job is likely to come up will be in fifteen months time, if England have a disappointing tournament.

I want to be ready for this scenario by taking a new job as soon as I can. I don't want a repeat of the past, where I'm out of work for several months, then take a job midway through a season, with no hope of achieving promotion.

I want to take a job this summer (or before), so that I can assemble a squad to hopefully emulate this latest achievement of winning the Championship.

This will hopefully either enhance, or at least sustain my current domestic reputation.

This is the current job situation.




It looks like quite a few vacancies could arise pretty soon.

Dan Gosling is under pressure at 12th place Arsenal. I won't want to manage in the Premier League as part of this story, though it would be nice to be offered it. If the job does come up, they may take someone else from the Championship, so I'd be interested to be that person's replacement.

Bristol City aren't very glamorous, but they are rich. I'll want to be sure they're safe though.

Peterborough look set to go down, otherwise I'd be interested in returning there.

Bolton are rich and safe. I wouldn't mind going back there.

Millwall are struggling financially. I'll only be interested if there's a takeover some time soon.

Brentford are in free fall under Robbie Keane, having been promotion contenders earlier in the season. They are rich, so I'd definitely be keen to replace Keane.

In the meantime, I'll attempt to break the save record of 101 points in the Championship, but will keep you posted if anything changes.

[Redknapp69]

Dutchies and Poles have been key - smattered with a big fat dollup of Ethan Allen!

What a season this is turning out to be - they'l be building a astatue soon

Lovely stuff on the rep

Meh - fecking England have an easy group like they have majority of the time IRL!

Some interesting options for future club on the horizon

[DeBierkoning]

Heartfelt congratulations on a triumphant season!

Do you have any players in your team with expiring contracts or with affordable minimum release clauses?

Did you also plan to restart from League One to try for double promotion again?

Have you thought about the possibility of generating a domino effect by resigning immediately?

[Libertine73]

Heartfelt congratulations on a triumphant season!

Do you have any players in your team with expiring contracts or with affordable minimum release clauses?

Did you also plan to restart from League One to try for double promotion again?

Have you thought about the possibility of generating a domino effect by resigning immediately?

Thanks.

All of the key players are signed up to reasonably long-term deals, with or without hefty buyout clauses. This is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, I wanted to protect myself from losing players in January, when automatic promotion was by no means guaranteed. On the other hand, it will make it difficult to sign some of those players for whichever club I end up at.

I plan to stay in the Championship, as I think that it'll give me the best chance of sustaining my domestic reputation.

I did consider resigning immediately. One possible scenario was that had I have left as soon as the title was clinched, I might have been replaced by a manager of a side that was competing for a Championship playoff place. I could have filled his boots, and potentially taken two clubs up in the same season.

In the end, I decided to stay for those remaining six games. Two reasons. I wanted to see how the fringe players performed in competitive games, and I also wanted to have a crack at breaking the Championship points record for this save.

[Libertine73]

Results




I made eleven changes for our first game after securing the Championship title. The visitors were promotion contenders Cambridge, and the side I sent out was mostly fringe players.

The lack of first-team action that this XI had, showed in the opening half hour. We created very little, and found ourselves 0-2 down after 28 minutes. Goalkeeper Ronald de Boer and central defenders Frankie Roberts and Michael McKendry were particularly culpable.

We were much improved in the second-half. In the 54th minute, pacy left midfielder Nikolaos Masouras received the ball from striker Gunnar Ani, then burst forward. He put a low cross into the box which found the run of midfielder Ross Taylor - who was captain for this game - to pull one back with a well-taken low shot.

Thirteen minutes later, Masouras took control of a loose ball, then delivered a low cross to the far post for right midfielder Matias Alaeddine - who found himself in space - to fire in an equaliser. 2-2.

I sensed that we could get a winner. Striker Maciej Kaminski forced a good save in the 72nd minute, and a Masouras corner was headed against the post by McKendry, two minutes later.

We were made to pay for missing those opportunities. de Boer made a good save in the 88th minute, but the visitors went back in front sixty seconds later, after our young keeper failed to hold onto an effort by Ross Brennan.

We almost grabbed what would have been a deserved injury-time equaliser through substitute Tom Egan, but his effort also struck the woodwork.

The full-time whistle blew, and our fifteen league game unbeaten run had come to an end, with our first home league defeat of the season.

Man of the Match: Nikolaos Masouras




The experienced Greek international had an outstanding game. He created three chances, and provided the assists for both of our goals. Without the ball, he pressed the opposition well, winning four tackles.

~~~

I continued with the mostly fringe players policy for the trip to mid table Brentford, and we came away with an emphatic 3-0 win.

We just about shaded the first-half. de Boer was only tested once, and we had a half-time lead after left midfielder Tom Egan headed in a corner from captain for the day, Ross Taylor.

I was pleased to see us dominate the second-half. Taylor and midfield partner Tim Randall were bossing the centre of the park, and finished up winning eleven tackles between them.

We created several chances, but was continuously thwarted by opposition keeper Tyler Hitchcock.

The second goal eventually came in the 80th minute when central defender Frankie Roberts headed in another well-delivered corner by Taylor.

Four minutes later, we scored a well-deserved third. Striker Maciej Kaminski found right midfielder Matias Alaeddine in space, and the Finnish international finished neatly to complete the scoring.

Man of the Match: Ross Taylor




An all-action display from our matchday skipper. No other player on the pitch got close to completing his fifty-six passes. He also won seven tackles and made four interceptions, along with providing the assists for our first two goals, with excellent corner deliveries.

~~~

We followed that result up with a narrow 1-0 win in a tough game at home to struggling Bristol City.

The first-half was very scrappy, with barely any goalmouth action.

The second-half was heading much the same way, so just before the hour, I switched from the flat 442 formation to the attacking version. This unsettled our opponents, and within minutes, Ross Taylor crashed home a loose ball following a corner, to score the only goal of the game.

I was very pleased with what I saw from teenage defender Bradley Stevens. He won six tackles and made four interceptions in a very solid display.

~~~

Our next game was a trip to mid table Newcastle, which was live on Sky Sports Friday Night Football.

The viewers wouldn't have been particularly entertained by the first-half performance. There was very little goalmouth action in those opening forty-five minutes.

We started the second-half brightly, but faded after failing to capitalise on our spell on top. In the 69th minute, I took off young midfielder Tim Randall and striker Maciej Kaminski, and replaced them like-for-like with Jayson Molumby and Tomasz Zyro.

This proved to be an inspired move, as with six minutes of normal time remaining, the two substitutes combined when Zyro found Molumby in the area, and the Irishman made space for himself to finish emphatically, with what proved to be the only goal of the game.

We were under pressure for the remaining few minutes. The hosts deserved an equaliser, but thanks to a crucial injury-time double save by Ronald de Boer, we held on.

~~~

Our final home game of the season was a solid 2-0 win over already relegated Peterborough.

The opening proceedings were reasonably close, but we took the lead in the 19th minute. Central defender Bradley Stevens hit a direct ball out wide to Matias Alaeddine. The right midfielder outpaced one opponent, skipped past another, then buried the ball in the top corner to give us a 1-0 lead.

The second-half was also close, but young centre back pairing Bradley Stevens and Frankie Roberts remained solid.

We got ourselves a two-goal cushion in the 58th minute, when Man of the Match, Gunnar Ani, was left with a simple finish after getting on the end of a knockdown by strike partner Maciej Kaminski.

We stayed solid to see out a victory that gives us the Championship points record in this save.

~~~

Our final game of the season was a trip to promotion contenders West Brom. The hosts came into this West Midlands derby on the back of a ten game unbeaten run.

The first-half was scrappy, with neither side creating many chances.

We were the better side in the second-half, but opposition keeper Kevin Keogh made a string of saves to prevent us from getting what would have been a deserved win.

One player that did please me in this goalless draw was Tim Randall, who has been a steady performer during this run of games I've given him since the club clinched the title.




You need players to get stuck in, in these derby games. No other player on the pitch won more than the five tackles he made. The young midfielder also won three of his four aerial duels, and made three interceptions.

~~~

Summary

A nice finish to the season. My (mostly) fringe players collected thirteen points from six games, to help us break this save's Championship points record.

These are the final standings.





Cambridge have done brilliantly to finish 3rd, but I'm tipping in-form West Brom to win the playoffs.




Job Offer

My stock is high, after achieving a Championship/EFL Cup double. Dan Gosling was sacked by 12th place Premier League side Arsenal just before the end of the season. They want me to replace him.




I'm flattered to be offered this job by such a big club. This is encouraging, with regards to my chances of eventually replacing Scott Parker as England manager.

This save is about NOT managing in the top flight though, so I turned it down.






Meeting With Chairman

Tim Fisher called me in for a meeting.

TF: Well done on taking the club up as Championship winners, along with winning the EFL Cup. It'll be great to have Premier League and European football at the club next season. I'd like to offer you a new contract.

MB: Thank you chairman. I've loved my second spell here. However, I've been thinking a lot about the world that we inhabit. It's either burning with heat, or drowning in floods. Something has to change. Mrs Bassett loves it up the Arsenal, but the reason why I turned their job offer down is because I've decided to have a break from management. I've decided that I'm going to leave Coventry, to become a full-time Just Stop Oil protester.

TF: Hahaha. If I didn't know you better, I'd have thought you were being serious.

MB: I am serious. We need to leave fossil fuels in the ground. I've always been an environmentalist.

TF: You've certainly proved to be a mentalist since I've known you. As for the environment, you only live twenty minutes walk away from the training ground, but drive that big 4X4 in every day!

MB: Well those days are over. After my holiday, I'm going to focus my energies on campaigning for green living.

TF: Right...So, where are you going on holiday?

MB: I'm getting a private jet to Kenya, then I'm hiring a jeep to drive around the country.

TF: (Shakes head in disbelief) But those fossil fuels should stay in the ground, right?

MB: Totally. It'll be hot, but there will be plenty of air-conditioning. Anyway, I've gotta go. Mrs Bassett wants a new wardrobe, then we're going to a Brazilian restaurant. Loads of meat! Bye.




Next Update

Will Mike Bassett take a long-term break from football, to highlight awareness of climate issues, or will a vacancy a a decent-sized Championship club lure him back into management? Stay tuned..

[Redknapp69]

Fine effort from the squad players in last few games

Congrats on the points record - smashing stuff

A very amicable parting of the ways this time!

Enjoy the break and lets see what doors open (bodes well Gunners offering)

[Libertine73]

Job Offer

Whilst on a trip to London to cause traffic chaos with my new Just Stop Oil pals - by blocking the roads around Aldgate - I received a phone call from my agent Wayne Kerr. I've been offered the vacant position at Premier League side Sheffield United, after Gary Rowett was headhunted by Man United.




I told Wayne that I'm full committed to winding up commuters, and have no intention of returning to football management for the foreseeable future.






New Coventry Manager

I've been replaced by Paul Tisdale.




Tisdale is an experienced manager, whose most recent achievement was to guide Rangers to back-to-back SPL titles.

If he can keep hold of the key players at Coventry, I can see them doing well in the Premier League, and could well be contenders for the Europa League.




Playoff Final

West Brom made the final, but were beaten on the day by 6th place Middlesbrough.






A Few Weeks Later

I've just been arrested. After spending several hours in a police cell after glueing myself to the M6, I've decided that this protesting malarkey isn't for me. I think that it's time that I made a return to football management after all.

This is the current job situation.




Bristol City just escaped relegation last season, and have recently sacked Gareth Ainsworth. Meanwhile, Hull City finished bottom of the Premier League last season, with a paltry five points, and have recently sacked Grant McCann.

I've applied for both jobs.





I'll keep you posted.

[trunky]

Got to be Hull then. Loads of deadwood to clear out and maybe a few gems hidden in the ranks.

[Libertine73]

Got to be Hull then. Loads of deadwood to clear out and maybe a few gems hidden in the ranks.

I'll probably go to whoever comes in first. Though I'll probably be under more pressure at Hull, to achieve an immediate return to the Premier League.

In any case though, rejecting one job in the hope that I get another, is something that I've already had my fingers burnt with in this save.

When I finished at Bolton a few seasons ago, I applied for the Wigan job. They offered it to me, but a more attractive job at Leeds came up. I knocked back Wigan and applied for Leeds. I was sure they'd want me. Like Wigan, Leeds were in League One at the time, and I'd just achieved my fifth promotion from that division with Bolton. I'd also just won the EFL Trophy, and took the club to the FA Cup Final.

Leeds gave it to someone else...I learned my lesson.

[DeBierkoning]

I did not expect such a performance from the fringe players, really a well-rounded team!

I thought your working relationship would end abruptly this time as well, an unexpected and very welcome turn of events!

I think the challenge of taking Bristol City to the Premiership can be much more fascinating.

[Redknapp69]

Wahahahahaha - the protesting side gig didnt last long then!

2 decent sized clubs there - should bag at least 1 of the jobs

Good that another PL club headhunted as well - bodes well for when the England job comes up

[Libertine73]

I'm pleased to land a job in the Championship well before the new season gets underway. There's currently a reasonable transfer fund available for me to start to immediately attempt to build a promotion winning squad.




As the season ticket money continues to come in, that transfer budget may even rise.

Anyway, a few details about Bristol City.

The club is decent-sized, and well run.




The chairman seems supportive enough...




...and there's a loyal fan base.




The club are well established in the Championship.




There's been a lot of fluctuations in league position in recent seasons. Gareth Ainsworth became manager six years ago, in the summer of 2027. They had just finished 6th when he took over. Ainsworth survived the sack when they slipped into mid table at the end of his first season, and kept hold of his job two years later when they almost got relegated.

They survived on the final day of last season, but it proved to be one relegation battle too many for the chairman, who sacked Ainsworth a few weeks after the season ended.

I'm not expected to make an immediate impact.




But I would like to get the club promoted at the first attempt, in case the England job becomes available around this time next year, after the World Cup.

To do this, I will need to overhaul the squad. My initial assessment is that there are a lot of players that simply aren't good enough. However, there are several players that could be reasonable squad members, and a handful that I like the look of.

Here are a select few.






There are currently forty-four players in the squad. One player will be arriving tomorrow, that Ainsworth arranged. I will look to offload as many unwanted players that I can, and will attempt to replace them with players that can challenge for promotion.

I'll provide details in my next update.

[DeBierkoning]

I am glad that you have taken the position at Bristol City!

There is a lot of work to be done, but you have the time and means available to succeed as early as this season.

I think Thompson is absolutely the best goalkeeper you've ever had in this story.

Warren is young and very promising!

[Redknapp69]

Keeper looks a belter even at 34 and you have to keep the "Pole"!

Big club, good crwds, bit of moolah, no expectations - seems prime for a Mike Bassett overhaul!

Wonder if anyone from Cov fancies a move......

[Libertine73]

I am glad that you have taken the position at Bristol City!

There is a lot of work to be done, but you have the time and means available to succeed as early as this season.

I think Thompson is absolutely the best goalkeeper you've ever had in this story.

Warren is young and very promising!

Thompson is definitely one of the most talented keepers I've had in this save. Time will tell whether he has the consistency to match his ability.

If I was constructing a Mike Bassett all-time XI, I'd probably stick Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.

Warren does indeed look promising. It's a pity that his value for Determination is so low, but I like his speed and flair. I'm hoping that his Crossing and Dribbling improve.

[Libertine73]

Keeper looks a belter even at 34 and you have to keep the "Pole"!

Big club, good crwds, bit of moolah, no expectations - seems prime for a Mike Bassett overhaul!

Wonder if anyone from Cov fancies a move......

There seems to be a hell of a lot of very good Polish players in this update.

There's just a handful of Coventry players that are interested in joining Bristol City, and they are the ones that were surplus to requirements during my time there. That may change as time goes on though.

[Libertine73]

Squad Changes

It's been a busy summer. I needed to completely overhaul the squad if I'm going to transform Bristol City from a side that were fighting a relegation battle last season, into a side that can challenge for automatic promotion this forthcoming season.

I've been able to offload no fewer than seventeen players that I've judged as not good enough to be part of a promotion challenging squad.

Players Out





This has brought around £17M into the club, and I've used almost all of it so far, to strengthen in every position.



Goalkeeper

I've signed one keeper, Elia D'Alessandro, from fellow Championship side Cambridge for £350K.




Elia has yet to make a senior appearance in his career, but I like the look of him. Very good values for Handling and Reflexes, along with Strength and Jumping. I also like his leadership qualities and determination.

Elia will be second-choice behind club captain Jared Thompson, but our skipper will need to show good form to remain as first-choice.

Elia has a four-year deal, earning just £75K annually.




Right Backs

I've signed two. First to arrive was Jamie Paterson from Northern Premier League side Boston United for £200K.




Jamie's values look quite ordinary, but I'm hoping that the 20 for Positioning will enable him to prevent too many crosses from coming into our penalty area.

The player is on a five-year contract, paying him £130K annually. He'll be second-choice to another new signing, Gary Corbett.




Gary arrives from Shabab Dubai for £1.9M. His 'Hot Prospect' status means that his wages are just £100K annually, on a three-year deal. We agreed a buyout clause of £3.8M.

I've previously not been keen on DRCs or DLCs playing as full backs, but players like Dalian Maatsen and Daryl Lupo have done well for me at previous clubs in this save.

I think that Gary certainly has the attributes to perform at right back, but I've got the option of using him as a central defender if need be.




Left Backs

I've also signed two left backs. First to arrive was Ryan Hurley from newly promoted Premier League side Middlesbrough for £2M.




I like the look of Ryan. Good crossing ability, good tackling ability and very good positional sense. I don't see any weaknesses there.

Ryan has a three-year deal paying him £775K annually. We've agreed a buyout clause of £5.5M.

Later in the summer, I signed Jordan Spencer from fellow Championship side QPR, also for £2M.




Jordan also has a three-year deal. He'll earn £825K annually, and we agreed a buyout clause of £4.6M.

I think that there is little to choose between these two left backs. Jordan will start the season in the side, but I expect Ryan to put him under pressure. They should keep each other on their toes throughout the season.




Centre Backs

I've signed four. First to arrive was Marcin Rakowski from Wisla Kraków for £1.4M.




I've been aware of Marcin for a while, but went for different options at my previous clubs. I decided to take the plunge this time. The key attribute is that 20 for Positioning, but I don't see any weaknesses otherwise.

Marcin has a four-year deal, paying him £425K annually. No buyout clause.

I then signed Devyne Rensch from Atromitos Athen for £1.7M.




My only slight concern is the low value for Balance. He might end up going to ground easily if things get physical with an opponent.

Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be any other weaknesses, and I'm hoping that the 20 for Positioning will make Devyne a key defender.

He'll earn £1.2M annually, on a four-year deal.

Marcin and Devyne will start the season as my first-choice pairing. My third and fourth choice centre backs were Tom Midgley and Jordan Randall, who were already at the club when I arrived.

Both were already unhappy before I arrived, about not getting first-team action. That situation wasn't going to improve with the arrivals of Marcin and Devyne, so I sold both Midgley and Randall.

This left me short on cover/competition, so I brought in Gerard Fernandes on a free transfer after he left Vitesse.




Gerard could prove to be an important player if Marcin and/or Devyne struggle, or pick up injuries and suspensions.

He's on a five-year deal paying him £400K annually.

I also signed Charlie Travis on a free transfer after he left League Two side Bury.




There are a lot of below average attribute values, but no weak looking areas with regards to playing as a central defender. I especially like Charlie's aerial ability, positional sense and tackling.

He should provide decent cover, and it will be cheap. Charlie has a three-year deal paying him £180K annually, and has 'Hot Prospect' status.




Centre Midfield

No fewer than five new midfielders have joined Bristol City since I arrived here. The first was Stephen Weir on a Bosman from fellow Championship side Sunderland.




My predecessor Gareth Ainsworth arranged this deal. I think that Stephen looks decent, but I wouldn't have given him his four-year deal paying him £1.5M annually.

If he doesn't get much first-team action by January, I'll probably look to move him on.

I then brought in Jack McCormack from Scottish League One side Ross County for £350K.




I think that Jack has good attribute values in all the right places, to be a decent all-rounder in the middle of the park. A team needs players with high values for things like Determination, Work-Rate and Teamwork. I also like Jack's stamina, and he could be useful at delivering set-pieces.

Jack has a four-year deal paying him £230K annually.

Lining up alongside Jack will be Dani León, who arrives from Premier League side Southampton for the considerable sum of £2.7M.




This could potentially be the best signing that I've made in this transfer window.

Dani looks as if he has enough about him to fulfill the defensive side of his game, but it's the attacking part that I'm most excited about.

Dani's passing ability is his main strength, but there are also good values for Decisions, Dribbling and Set Pieces, which will hopefully translate into assists.

I'm also hoping that Dani's good values for Finishing and Movement will mean that he gets amongst the goals himself.

Prior to playing for Southampton, Dani spent three seasons in the Championship with Ipswich.

During his time at Portman Road, he started 60 League games, scored 21 goals and provided 21 assists.

These are great returns, so hopefully Dani will resurrect his career here at Bristol City.

He has a three-year deal paying him £825K annually. We've agreed a buyout clause of £6.75M.

On the same day as Dani's arrival, I brought in Marc van Wijk from Utrecht for £100K.




It was the good value for Creativity that made me regard Marc as a midfielder, but I think that he could be equally comfortable playing at right back or central defence. I expect Marc to be a useful squad player this season.

Marc has a five-year contract paying him £825K annually.

I then signed the only player in this window, that I've worked with before; Bartlomiej Kafel, who arrives from Aston Villa for £600K.




Bartlomiej was an important member of my League One title winning squad at Villa Park. He started over half of our league matches, and averaged over three tackles per game.

Bartlomiej will be competing with Marc van Wijk and Jack McCormack, to play alongside Dani León. He has a three-year deal paying him £230K annually.




Wide Midfielder

In my previous update, I featured two wide men that are already at the club, Bartosz Kowalewski and Reice Warren. They are both two-footed, and can play on either side.

This means that there isn't a need to overhaul my wide options, so I've signed just one player, Dani Gómez.




I paid £800K to Girona for Dani, who previously played in England for Macclesfield.

The combination of very good values for Crossing and Dribbling will hopefully mean that Dani will provide plenty of assists. I'm also hoping that he'll use his aerial ability to get on the end of any far post crosses from the left.

Dani could also be useful in the centre, if his compatriot Dani León is unavailable.

He'll earn £725K annually, on a three-year deal. There's a buyout clause of £3.8M.




Strikers

There was a lack of quality target men in the squad, so that was a priority. I managed to bring in a couple. First to arrive was Szymon Wojciechowski from Watford for £650K.




Prior to playing for Watford, Szymon spent a season at League Two side Salford. He started 44 league games, and scored 27 goals.

I'm not convinced that Szymon is going to be prolific at Championship level, but he is an upgrade on what we had. He'll earn £375K annually, on a five-year contract.

I was then able to bring in a player that I think will do better than Szymon. I paid £350K to Admira Wacker for Matthias Fürstaller.




I would prefer his values for Bravery and Balance to be higher, but otherwise I think he looks decent.

Matthias has a four-year deal paying him £300K annually.

The final striker that I signed was someone to play alongside a target man, Troy Parrott.




I paid £1.1M to fellow Championship side Watford for Troy, and I've given him a three-year deal that will pay him £1.5M annually.

Troy was disappointing at Watford last season, but has previously scored 18 goals in the Championship during his one season at Aston Villa.

I'm hoping that the player's movement and finishing will make him a prolific goalscorer.




Finances

The club paid out £1.5M in signing-on fees last month, but I'm approximately £700K in profit in my transfer dealings. This means that our cash reserve hasn't taken too much of a hit with all this transfer activity.




The annual wage bill of £27M is the third highest in the Championship. This isn't ideal. The club has averaged around 25000-26000 during the past four seasons, but that is only average at this level.

There are currently forty-five players at the club. Three are surplus to requirements, and are on the transfer list. I'll look to do some more wheeling and dealing during the remainder of this transfer window, and then in January, in an attempt to both improve the squad and reduce the wage bill.




Expectations

I mentioned in my previous update, that the club only expects me to stay clear of relegation.

My own expectations are much higher, but we'll be hard pressed to get close to the 103 points that my Coventry squad won the Championship with last season.

That squad had a depth of quality that my Bristol City squad just doesn't have, particularly in attacking areas.

There have been a lot of new arrivals this summer. Along with the eighteen players that have joined since I took control at the club, my predecessor Gareth Ainsworth also brought in nine players this summer, before he was sacked.

I've already sold one of those nine, but there's only a couple of Ainsworth's summer signings that I'm happy with.

It may take time for these new players to gel, and having worked with only Bartlomiej Kafel previously, it'll take time for me to establish who I can rely on for consistency.

Although I've had a reasonable amount of money to spend, attracting players to unfashionable Bristol City seems to be an issue. It hasn't been easy getting the kind of target men that I'd like. Matthias Fürstaller and Szymon Wojciechowski aren't a patch on Rhys Hunt and Rens de Zwart, for example.

I'll keep trying to improve my options before this window closes, but as things stand, I'll be happy if we achieve a playoff place this season.

I could do with taking the club up to the Premier League this season though, as it'll be good for my reputation, with the England job potentially coming up next summer.

The January transfer window could be key to this.




Forthcoming Fixtures & Team News




Our first game is a trip to QPR, who were relegated from the Premier League last season. Ten players will be making their debuts, with club captain Jared Thompson the only player who was here last season.

Left midfielder Bartosz Kowalewski was one of Gareth Ainsworth's summer signings.






Next Update

I'll do this at the end of December, summarising the first half of this season.

[Redknapp69]

• Corbett looks a cracker for his age
• Spencer a belter
• You have some excellent players here
• Not fussed on Weir
• Leon surely a playmaker
• Furstaller will bang the goals in
• Parrot been a wonderkid for a while in update and same here – prob needs tuning down
• Done a real good job there to pretty much break even
• Nice pre season results

[Libertine73]

• Corbett looks a cracker for his age
• Spencer a belter
• You have some excellent players here
• Not fussed on Weir
• Leon surely a playmaker
• Furstaller will bang the goals in
• Parrot been a wonderkid for a while in update and same here – prob needs tuning down
• Done a real good job there to pretty much break even
• Nice pre season results

Yeah, Weir's wages are way too high for such an ordinary player. I'll offload him in January, unless he makes an unlikely impact before then.

I don't set playmakers with the 442 formation, but I'd expect León to see plenty of the ball anyway.

Parrott doesn't have a great history of scoring in this save, but I'm hoping that I can get the best out of him.

[DeBierkoning]

Great job on the transfer market as usual!

If I may say, good options especially for the defensive roles while
I see less quality for the more advanced ones.

I think some of the fantastic strikers you had at Coventry will end up out of the rotation and then on the transfer market: I would hazard a prediction by naming Hunt and de Zwart.

In any case, I think you have enough of a team to be able to aim for promotion without further purchases.

[Libertine73]

Great job on the transfer market as usual!

If I may say, good options especially for the defensive roles while
I see less quality for the more advanced ones.

I think some of the fantastic strikers you had at Coventry will end up out of the rotation and then on the transfer market: I would hazard a prediction by naming Hunt and de Zwart.

In any case, I think you have enough of a team to be able to aim for promotion without further purchases.

The strikers could be a problem this season. Best case scenario is that Wojciechowski and/or Fürstaller punch above their attributes, and that Parrott becomes prolific in a way that he hasn't been yet in his career.

I agree that Hunt could become available. Meanwhile, Coventry sold de Zwart to Premier League side Sheffield United for £13.25M this summer. Not a bad return on the £800K I invested in him twelve months ago!

[Libertine73]

Transfer News

With just days of the summer transfer window remaining after the season started, I did a few more bits of business before it closed.

The first was to bring in Chris Morgan-Smith on loan from fellow Championship side Derby County.




His finishing and movement are a little below what I'd like, and his low value for work-rate doesn't fit in with our high press.

However, Chris is speedy, powerful and has aerial prowess. He also has very high values for Balance and Technique, so I'm guessing that the ball will stick to him when he receives it.

He'll give me a different option if Szymon Wojciechowski or Matthias Fürstaller struggle.

I then signed Frank Walsh on a free transfer.




One of my scouts discovered Frank when carrying out a youth search. He was four or five star rated, I can't remember which.

Anyway, I especially like his physical attributes, along with his team ethic.

This is one for the future. I hope that I've taken Bristol City up to the Premier League before Frank fulfills his potential. It'll be my eventual successor that will reap the benefits.

I'll be keeping an eye on the player's development over the coming years though. He could end up being a useful member of the squad at any clubs that I manage in the future.

My final bit of business before the window closed was to bring in Michal Dabrowski from Jagiellonia for £550K.




Gary Corbett hadn't started the season particularly well, so I decided to bring in another right back. Michal looks decent enough defensively, and will hopefully give us something from an attacking point of view.

Michal has a five-year contract paying him £500K annually.




Results






After suffering an unfortunate opening day defeat at the hands of QPR, we then won eight games in all competitions in a nine game unbeaten run. This included a popular 3-0 victory in the first Bristol derby of the save, that saw us progress into the third round of the EFL Cup.

October was a bit dodgy. That unbeaten run came to an end at Hull, before we were eliminated from the EFL Cup by fellowship Championship side Newcastle following a penalty shootout. We then suffered our only home defeat so far, losing 0-1 to Millwall.

After that, we strung a fourteen league game unbeaten run together. Highlights were the 4-1 win in the second Bristol derby of the season, closely followed by coming from 0-2 down to beat Brentford 4-2.




The 4-0 thumping of a good Colchester side was the start of a run of six clean sheets in eight games, and we made up for losing at QPR on the opening day of the season, by beating the West London side 3-1 on Boxing Day.

That run came to an end in our most recent game, a 0-1 defeat at Leeds.

We find ourselves in an excellent position going into 2034.





There's still a lot of the season left to play, but those five consecutive victories in a busy December has put us in a commanding position at the top of the table.

Before the season started, I had concerns about the kind of firepower we had. I wasn't convinced that I'd found a suitable target man to play alongside Troy Parrott.

Any fears I had have been allayed, as we're currently the top scorers in the division.

I'm also pleased with how we're defending. Only Nottingham Forest have conceded less than us.




Players

So who has stood out? I've used twenty-six different players in my starting line-ups this season. Only five players have started seventeen or more league games.




You may recall that I had high expectations of midfielder Dani León and striker Troy Parrott.

Both players have had slow starts to their time at Bristol City. Dani received a straight red card on his debut in that opening day defeat at QPR. Since returning to the side, he's got amongst the goals and assists in the way that I hoped he would though.

Meanwhile, Troy failed to find the net in his opening five games, but has scored four goals in his last five games.

Out of the twenty-six players that have made my starting line-ups this season, twenty of those have managed to get on the scoresheet.

This is a good job, as my strikers haven't exactly been prolific. You can see from the image above that Chris Morgan-Smith and Szymon Wojciechowski have done reasonably well, but compare unfavourably to Ethan Allen and Rens de Zwart who both scored over twenty league goals for Coventry last season.

At the other end of the pitch, young Marc van Wijk has proved to be a reliable central defender.

There are maybe three players that have stood out so far.




Marcin has been worth every penny of his £1.4M transfer fee, and has been one of the most solid defenders in the division.




Meanwhile, the £350K that I paid for Jack McCormack is proving to be a real bargain.




Jack's average tackles per game figure is decent, but twelve goal involvements from seventeen games is an excellent return. Most of those assists have come from his excellent corner deliveries.




Our best player has been our ever-present goalkeeper Jared Thompson.




I said recently that I thought that Caoimhin Kelleher was the best keeper I'd worked with in this save.

Jared has eclipsed Caoimhin.

Our club captain has shown breathtaking consistency.

Hats off to my predecessor Gareth Ainsworth who paid £2.5M to Norwich for Jared on January 1st of this year.

Easily the best keeper in the division, so far.






Finances




Our monthly outgoings are much higher than our monthly income. Over £8M has been wiped off of our cash reserve since the beginning of August.

I will address this by transfer listing players that are surplus to requirements. Any departures will reduce our monthly wage bill, and transfer fees will provide a temporary boost to that ailing cash reserve.




England

Scott Parker guided England to qualification for next summer's World Cup, with a game to spare.




What he does in the actual tournament will be what matters the most though. I simply need to do whatever I can to put myself in a position to replace him if the axe does fall this summer.




Forthcoming Fixtures, Team News & Remaining Season Strategy




Our first game of 2034 sees us host one of my former clubs, Peterborough, who were relegated from the Championship last season, and are currently struggling in League One.

I'm resting key players for this game, whilst I have mixed feelings about the FA Cup.




On one hand, the club could certainly do with the financial benefits of a cup run. I've also reached two major cup finals in this save. It's exciting, and win or lose, has enhanced my reputation.

On the other hand, I don't want anything to distract us from our primary objective - to win automatic promotion to the Premier League - preferably as Championship winners.

I've seen how cup runs can affect league form. Some players seem to lose sight of what we're trying to achieve. Identifying those players at Bristol City will be vital.

After that we face a tough trip to Watford, before winnable fixtures against Sunderland and Oxford.

As for the remainder of the season, this forthcoming January transfer window will be key. Financial constraints permitting, there are a few bits of business that I'd like to do, to get us over the line.

Jordan Spencer and Ryan Hurley have both done well at left back, but should something happen to both of them at the same time, I have limited options.

Getting cheap, but decent cover in is a priority. The loan market is certainly an option.

Midfield is another area I want to look at. Dani León and Jack McCormack have started thirty-three league games between them. Combined, they have scored nine goals and provided twelve assists. This is excellent, but both players average less than three tackles per game.

Bartlomiej Kafel and Nathan Sweeney have slightly better tackles figures from games that they've started, but don't provide a brilliant goal threat. I'm looking for a bit of an all-rounder who can win tackles and provide goal involvements.

This may prove to be costly, but again, the loan market could be an option.

Finally, a target man.

I'm hopeful that Troy Parrott will continue his good recent form, but I'd like a better option than what I currently have alongside him. Szymon Wojciechowski and Chris Morgan-Smith have done well enough to get us where we are. Matthias Fürstaller has also done okay in the few games that he has started, but I'd like a top drawer target man to push us on.

Again, this could prove to be costly, and a loan signing might be the answer.

I won't be crying at the end of January if I don't get the kind of players that I'm looking for. We may well have enough within our ranks anyway. Other players may find their feet during the second half of the season, and the ones that have done well so far, may continue to do so.

I want to give the club the best possible chance though.

I'll probably do monthly updates between now and the end of the season, so we'll find out in the next one, whether I've been able to significantly improve our options.

[Redknapp69]

England - meh - lets hope the feck up in the tourney

Incredible last couple of months worth of results has really pulled you clear - must be big confidence in promotion now

Big up's to some guys punching above thier weight like the Pole at RB

Good idea keeping an eye on the young talents as well you are signing for future clubs