Robert Atkinson - Now Signed (Merged)

[Phileas Fogg]

8 hours ago, BOSRed said:

Doubt we’re shopping in those Foreign markets anymore. We barely have any scouts in the field to do the due diligence

We'd be foolish not to. Scouting doesn't always have to be an official 'Bristol City scout based in Spain/Belgium/France' - some act as consultants who may tip us off (as well as a few clubs) about potential gems. 

[AshtonYate]

10 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Kodjia came from French 2nd Tier (albeit promoted), Knockaert too.  All about finding the nuggets.

You're a nugget

[JoeAman08]

15 hours ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

I don't think it impossible that Kalas will be sold. Whether or not NP would then be happy with a Cundy/Atkinson (if we get him) partnership I don't know. Big enough to be aerialy dominant at 6'5" and 6'4" respectively and perhaps good enough on the ground. Lack of Championship experience may go against yes but Swansea have made the play-off final with two 20yr olds at CB. 

Yea I am not saying that is game 1 pairing. Just that I like the idea of two cbs of that ilk. Big and strong. Right foot left foot combo. Young and making their way through the game.
 

Swansea is a good example of what can be done with a young pairing. Sometimes I think it just takes courage to go through with it. Interested to see who we sign this summer

[Davefevs]

28 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

Yea I am not saying that is game 1 pairing. Just that I like the idea of two cbs of that ilk. Big and strong. Right foot left foot combo. Young and making their way through the game.
 

Swansea is a good example of what can be done with a young pairing. Sometimes I think it just takes courage to go through with it. Interested to see who we sign this summer

I like that comment.

Thats how I think about things.  No such thing as a best eleven, because in reality, injuries, suspensions, form, fatigue etc play a part.  It’s a squad game these days.  So we need at least 4 CBs (if playing a back 4).  It’s unlikely they will all be 1st choice, that’s the nature of a squad.

[JoeAman08]

19 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I like that comment.

Thats how I think about things.  No such thing as a best eleven, because in reality, injuries, suspensions, form, fatigue etc play a part.  It’s a squad game these days.  So we need at least 4 CBs (if playing a back 4).  It’s unlikely they will all be 1st choice, that’s the nature of a squad.

Yep and you can find minutes for CBs I think as well. 46 games is a long season as you said. Not only injuries and suspensions but you can change formations and personnel.

If for example we signed Atkinson, we could use him LCB of a pairing or of a 3 with Cundy and Kalas. We might want to be a bit stronger aerially in a game and use Kalas as RB and Vyner in midfield. 

I think NP is clever enough to be able to move pieces around but still get performances from players. Round pegs in round holes is ideal but not always possible over a championship season. 

[Taz]

28 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

Yep and you can find minutes for CBs I think as well. 46 games is a long season as you said. Not only injuries and suspensions but you can change formations and personnel.

If for example we signed Atkinson, we could use him LCB of a pairing or of a 3 with Cundy and Kalas. We might want to be a bit stronger aerially in a game and use Kalas as RB and Vyner in midfield. 

I think NP is clever enough to be able to move pieces around but still get performances from players. Round pegs in round holes is ideal but not always possible over a championship season. 

Agreed, and that's been a huge issue with us for many years- square pegs in round holes. Players that CAN play in a couple of positions are fine, so long as it is the exception, or as emergency cover.

For too many years we've had too many Marley Watkins type players who can cover a few positions but not specialise in one particular position.

That needs to change. 

[BritAbroad]

16 hours ago, James54De said:

I’d love Atkinson and Whatmough 

Me too. Maybe even offer Oxford Tyler Moore on loan for a season, to sweeten the deal.

 

[Coxy27]

17 hours ago, Harry said:

Buendía came from the Spanish 2nd division and Sarr was at a mid table French team. 

Sarr cost £30m so it's a bit irrelevant.

Buendia hasn't been cheap for Norwich either after add-ons they've paid (cheap compared to what he's worth now, however).

[Bristol Oil Services]

33 minutes ago, BritAbroad said:

Me too. Maybe even offer Oxford Tyler  Moore on loan for a season, to sweeten the deal.

 

She's definitely experienced, if a bit of an "ageing" - well, dead, to be accurate - player. Hundreds of appearances under her apron, er, belt, and Dick Van Dyke though highly of her, but "liked a drink" towards the end, apparently, so that, and the fact that she's dead, it's a no for me. And from Oxford too, I would think.

[BritAbroad]

23 minutes ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

She's definitely experienced, if a bit of an "ageing" - well, dead, to be accurate - player. Hundreds of appearances under her apron, er, belt, and Dick Van Dyke though highly of her, but "liked a drink" towards the end, apparently, so that, and the fact that she's dead, it's a no for me. And from Oxford too, I would think.

Haha. Typo from me.

[Harry]

28 minutes ago, Coxy27 said:

Sarr cost £30m so it's a bit irrelevant.

Buendia hasn't been cheap for Norwich either after add-ons they've paid (cheap compared to what he's worth now, however).

Quite. 
Which makes the posters comment even more redundant. 
He basically said we shouldn’t sign league 1 players and should look for a Sarr or a Buendia!! Which is pretty much nonsense. 

[Bristol Oil Services]

7 minutes ago, BritAbroad said:

Haha. Typo from me.

Been calling him "Mary" for a while now, so I enjoyed your typo ...

[Davefevs]

47 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Sometimes a centre back pair will play nearly every minute of every game together all season. Atkinson and Moore for example. Moore played every single minute. Atkinson nearly played every game.

Our promotion season I think our back 3 pretty much played every game. I think Cunningham might have played instead of Williams once or twice at left centre back. Can't remember Osbourne playing other than coming on up front!?

So would be great if our best centre back pairing could be fit all season. Obviously that could mean no opportunities for whoever our back ups are. But that's fine by me if the starting 2 are doing well. Maybe go with the others in the cup games.

I think with Rennie as the main fitness guy or head physio, whatever he was at Leicester, a huge part of that title winning season was how few injuries they suffered.

Totally agree….it’s something I like to see, but we don’t have that sort of squad to do that at the mo’ do we?  We don’t have Flint and Baker like in second half of 15/16 or large parts of 17/18.  That’s not to say the two who start game 1 next season might not play every game if it goes well.  It’s just a pragmatic view that you can’t get by with just 2, and typically you’d want 4.  But theory and practice are often very different.

[maxjak]

I see Liverpool are looking to loan out Rhys Williams..........commanding centre half, and only just 20 years old   Get on that phone Nige?

[chinapig]

8 hours ago, maxjak said:

I see Liverpool are looking to loan out Rhys Williams..........commanding centre half, and only just 20 years old   Get on that phone Nige?

I would describe Nat Phillips as commanding, in the air at least, but not Williams, who is rather skinnier.

Good young player of course but I'm not sure if he is the type Nigel wants.

[cidered abroad]

9 hours ago, maxjak said:

I see Liverpool are looking to loan out Rhys Williams..........commanding centre half, and only just 20 years old   Get on that phone Nige?

I would imagine that NP wants a more experienced central defender, ball winner, leader. We have Cundy, Vyner, Moore, Fowler as our young guns plus Kalas.

[DT The Optimist]

Ok then. Seems like Cundy will feature or might this season, we are looking at bringing in  central defenders as well…is TM going to be moved on, seems far down the potential pecking order ? 
 

[BritAbroad]

12 hours ago, maxjak said:

I see Liverpool are looking to loan out Rhys Williams..........commanding centre half, and only just 20 years old   Get on that phone Nige?

My question is... how much are going to want for us to improve their player? 500k with a guarantee of playing X number of games, regardless of how bad he plays?

[Dynamite Red]

1 hour ago, BritAbroad said:

My question is... how much are going to want for us to improve their player? 500k with a guarantee of playing X number of games, regardless of how bad he plays?

I would avoid loan players if we can, we need to build solid foundations and a team bond. Recruit players who are on board with the project long term.

Lets take some gambles on talented young players but also add some experience. We can look at the loan market later if still struggling. 

[City1984]

42 minutes ago, Dynamite Red said:

I would avoid loan players if we can, we need to build solid foundations and a team bond. Recruit players who are on board with the project long term.

Lets take some gambles on talented young players but also add some experience. We can look at the loan market later if still struggling. 

Bang on DR!

 

 

I think this is exactly the way we should look to do things. 
 

NP signed a 3 year contract and took on the project. Let’s start that project properly and with purpose. No more fighting fires , panic buys , unnecessary loans, squad fillers , clubs in the bag or short term fixes. 
 

please for the love of all that is holy (Bristol City FC), let’s have a plan , an ideology and style that befits who we are and what sort of club we aspire to be.  Let’s then look to build as best we can from our current baseline, a genuinely strong close knit squad of players and staff who all know their roles and strive to exceed expectations, who fight for and help one another throughout this exciting new chapter. find those that want to be part of something and mould them into a team they want to be in and one we can be proud of. 
 

Got no issue with a loan player here and there for emergency cover or that bit of gold dust we simply could not afford or have any other way but don’t want pathway blockers or wage leeches. 
 

simple

[BritAbroad]

2 hours ago, Dynamite Red said:

I would avoid loan players if we can, we need to build solid foundations and a team bond. Recruit players who are on board with the project long term.

Lets take some gambles on talented young players but also add some experience. We can look at the loan market later if still struggling. 

I would agree to avoid loans, unless it's with an option to buy (or covers an injury)

 

[Dynamite Red]

2 hours ago, BritAbroad said:

I would agree to avoid loans, unless it's with an option to buy (or covers an injury)

 

Fair point. I agree as there is commitment to establishing them into the team longer term if successful. 

[Jerseybean]

Latest media coverage suggests, unsurprisingly, that we aren’t close to agreeing a fee of £2m: 

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/key-stumbling-block-emerges-as-bristol-city-consider-22-year-old-transfer/

 

[Lrrr]

Just now, Jerseybean said:

Latest media coverage suggests, unsurprisingly, that we aren’t close to agreeing a fee of £2m: 

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/key-stumbling-block-emerges-as-bristol-city-consider-22-year-old-transfer/

 

Wonder if we decide Cundy needs a full season at league 1 whether that would knock much off the asking price, saves needing to find an immediate replacement for them and cash in the bank.

[Jerseybean]

1 minute ago, Lrrr said:

Wonder if we decide Cundy needs a full season at league 1 whether that would knock much off the asking price, saves needing to find an immediate replacement for them and cash in the bank.

Interesting thought.

[GrahamC]

17 minutes ago, Lrrr said:

Wonder if we decide Cundy needs a full season at league 1 whether that would knock much off the asking price, saves needing to find an immediate replacement for them and cash in the bank.

Also wondered if we might see if they were interested in Taylor Moore as one way of bringing the fee down.

Certainly no way we will be offering anything like £2m, doubt we want to go above half that.

[Supersonic Robin]

43 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Also wondered if we might see if they were interested in Taylor Moore as one way of bringing the fee down.

Certainly no way we will be offering anything like £2m, doubt we want to go above half that.

Good points re Cundy/Moore.

I also wonder whether the quoted £2m will actually stand for the duration of the transfer window.

- Could it be Oxford trying to highball Championship clubs and see if anyone bites?
- Could Oxford buckle and accept a lower bid later in the window? (I imagine £1m or so may be a lot of money to a L1 club right now)
- Might Atkinson push Oxford to accept a lower offer and allow him a move to play Championship football?

(admittedly, some of this is me just wanting to find a way for it to happen)

[JoeAman08]

We are in serious trouble if we can’t pay 2m for top L1 performers. That is the discounted covid price too. They sold dickie for closer to 2.5m and I hear at least the fans rate Atkinson more. It would be seriously disappointing if we miss out on an Atkinson when we have been signing players like Palmer, Wells and Kalas for 3m, 5m and 8m over the past couple seasons. 

[SnozRobin]

18 minutes ago, JoeAman08 said:

We are in serious trouble if we can’t pay 2m for top L1 performers. That is the discounted covid price too. They sold dickie for closer to 2.5m and I hear at least the fans rate Atkinson more. It would be seriously disappointing if we miss out on an Atkinson when we have been signing players like Palmer, Wells and Kalas for 3m, 5m and 8m over the past couple seasons. 

Out of interest, what do you think our asking price would be for Taylor Moore or Zak Vyner in the current market? Wouldn’t think it’d be as much as £2m despite more championship experience than Atkinson. I get we would be paying for potential but...

 

Feels to me like £2m is too much on a league one centre back.

[cidered abroad]

A lot will depend on who/what NP intends to have as part of his final squad this season.

Too many fans are a bit quick to write off some of our squad. Sometimes for valid reasons in their opinion but we don't see those players in training and in the dressing room. We have to remember that NP is in the process of building a squad upon whom he, NP, will get 100% loyalty, and 105% effort. He is looking for leaders or those who can be coached/educated to become such. Players with the right attitude and dedication to the cause.

As the squad will be smaller, he will also be hoping to have some who are capable of changing field positions not only for injuries and suspensions but during matches.

We may even still be surprised at a couple or three more departures as he seeks to ensure that the first year of building gets a good set of foundations.