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Good Bye, Farewell & Exit 13 plus.

Discussion in 'Bristol City' started by wizered, May 15, 2021.

  1. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    Ode to Pato, Walsh's exit, few goodbyes - what next for Nigel Pearson's Bristol City
    Reaction to a busy and eventful day at Ashton Gate as a new CEO was announced as well as 12 departures.

    Nigel Pearson doesn't mess about, does he? With results and performances not going his way, the Bristol City squad had the guts ripped out of it on Friday. It's official.

    A squad of 39 was down to roughly 25 by the end of the day, as we predicted, and it will be interesting to see if any of the players leaving now end up at Ipswich. Or indeed rejoin former head coaches Dean Holden at Stoke City or Lee Johnson at Sunderland.

    (The Potters dispatched scouts for the final games of the season at Ashton Gate if you want to add fuel to the fires of conspiracy: with head of scouting/performance analysis Andy Cousins and head of recruitment Alex Aldridge taking in the 2-3 loss to Luton town. Watching Tommy Rowe, Jack Hunt, Henri Lansbury or others who played in that one?)

    No doubt Liam Walsh and Famara Diedhiou will be of interest to many clubs. But wages are predicted to be a big factor this summer according to many scholars. Diedhiou was already being distanced from a Boro move because of his wage demands according to reports in the north east immediately on Friday evening.

    As reported on Friday morning, do not rule out the effects of the pandemic alongside the wishes of Pearson to rip it all up and start again. It could be a different summer for footballers and that may impact everywhere.

    Play up, Pato
    This writer will miss the brute physicality offered by Nathan Baker, when Bakesy was available to play; the centre-back was probably too brave at times. And also the characters that were Marley Watkins and Famara Diedhiou.

    But most of all Jamie Paterson. The attacking midfielder has not always been every City supporter's cup of tea but Pato was technically excellent, most defintitely had the stamina for the battle and proved people wrong time and time again.

    He was a fighter and showed strong character. When he was in and out of the side, with few campaigning for him to be in Lee Johnson's starting XI, myself and Michelle Owen called for his inclusion regularly on our Robins On The Wire podcast. Paterson became a mainstay of that 2017/18 vintage and he was instrumental in the run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, playing behind Bobby Reid.

    Then despite Johnson trying to get rid of him and sending him off to Derby County on loan, and we're not sure if a dodgy WhatsApp message may have inspired that, the former Forest attacking midfielder came back and forced his way back into the starting team selection once more, after a superb display off the bench to help City to victory at Wigan Athletic last season.

    On to Dean Holden and a new role - as one of two no.10s, with Andi Weimann - behind Chris Martin and Nahki Wells this season. Paterson's skill and determination saw him bouncing back repeatedly. We admire that.

    It was clear that he was a clown, in the very best way, of the dressing room, making people and supporters laugh, and able to keep it light but still hold respect.

    Paterson struck up a great relationship with Scott Murray and the pair set about doing Zoom calls during the lockdowns as COVID-19 set in, as the pair kept youngsters entertained with their stories and antics around the club. The 29-year-old is the sort we would construct a dressing room around, but an ill-timed injury has not helped. We heartily wish him well.

    Contract negotiations go on
    While new contracts for Andi Weimann and Danny Simpson are worked on, Bristol Live has been told that it's not definite that Weimann will stay. Those negotiations continue with a possible extra two years to be agreed, but it could yet end in another departure. Given that City hold a contract clause option, it's more likely he remains in BS3 however.

    Simpson looks a more strightforward contract extension, with Pearson preferring the ex-Leicester City defender to Jack Hunt.

    Liam Walsh departs
    Bristol Live understands that the Robins and Walsh were unable to agree a new contract, so in effect it was Walsh's decision to depart BS3. The Robins will be due compenastion when Walsh joins a new side, although it is likely to be very, very little as compensation is decided upon the contract he was on previously and more.

    (There is a fine guide on EFL compensation here, with the example of Curtis Nelson used, who raised £200,000 initially for Plymouth when leaving Argyle at 23 years old.)

    The midfielder played only 124 minutes last season, and started just 18 Championship games over his three and half years at Ashton Gate.

    Lee Johnson called him a 'lovable rogue' but packed him off to Coventry for a season on loan, after a year sat mostly on the sidelines, before 2020/21 was wiped out by injury. Dean Holden had hoped to build a side around the diminutive playmaker but the head coach left before that could happen.

    With Walsh's close pal Joe Williams also disrupted for more than a year, and both players represented by the same agency and even agent, it's perhaps no wonder that Walshy might opt for pastures new given the meagre playing time.

    The comments of CEO Mark Ashton - that he was confident the player would sign a new deal having looked him in the eye - might smell a bit whiffy although the backdrop is the reduction of wage offers across the EFL. What happens from here and elsewhere may show the truth of the matter.
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    Perhaps the emergence of young talent Alex Scott, the wage demands made in this window, and the injuries this season were factors against the club making more of an effort to keep Walsh.

    There will no doubt be interest in the playmaker from elsewhere in the Championship, despite that appalling appearance record. Watch this space.

    Welcome Richard Gould
    As covered in the week, Gould was always a contender for the hot seat at Ashton Gate, and according to our sources outside of the club he looks a good fit and is a sound appointment.

    Will he now bring any staff with him? Certainly City need him to, or to recruit, as they look to bring in a head of recruitment or director of football, with Aston Villa talentspotter Rob Mackenzie linked in midweek but not offered a post, as we understand it.

    For those who follow the communications at Bristol City, there was some classic strategy in action on Friday. Bury the bad news immediately. The retained list containing news of some long-serving club servants departing, and the disappointment that Walsh was off, was published just an hour before the news on the new CEO was released, ahead of a full afternoon of U23s updates. No dwelling on the fact that a previous club-record signing was leaving BS3 for no compensation at all.

    Textbook PR sidestepping that we hope to see the forwards displaying next season.

    Farewell Fam
    So far, so few goodbyes from the Bristol City old guard. Let's see what happens over the next days but nothing much has so far come from those leaving.

    Pato posted three tweets - including saying that he hopes Bristol City can get back to the family feel that it used to - but at the time of writing, nothing from Jack Hunt, Nathan Baker, Famara Diedhiou, Tommy Rowe, Adrian Mariappa, Liam Walsh, Henri Lansbury or others.
    https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/ode-pato-walshs-exit-few-5417781
     
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  2. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    It looks as though Diedhiou and Walsh are being unrealistic with their wage demands especially under the present difficult circumstances.

    It's certainly being reported that Diedhiou and Middlesborough are miles apart on his wage demands.
     
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  3. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    Many OOC players may find it difficult to adjust to post pandemic wages which are likely to be much lower than they are used to. I hope it doesn’t prevent us bringing in new blood quickly, although I fear it might.
     
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  4. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    I doubt that it will be such a problem for us, we don't need to replace all 11 players released, because some of the younger players will be promoted into the squad, so given that and that some of those released were high earners, we should have some wiggle room for the right players.
     
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  5. AshtonRed

    AshtonRed Well-Known Member

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    I hope you are right
     
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  6. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    it's difficult to know, but we are not in a very different place to pretty much every other championship club, most have had double figure numbers of players either run or allowed to run their contracts down, but we don't have a transfer embargo for the first month of the window.
     
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  7. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    Looks like Pato to Stoke, Walshie to Swansea, god knows where Fammy is off to, some to Ipswich, others to Sunderland, makes life interesting.
     
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  8. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    Yep Paterson has had a big offer from Stoke, it was his decision to move rather than the club. In the right sort of midfield built around his midfield flaws he could be an asset.

    Apparently Swansea wanted Walsh at the start of this season but we triggered our 12 month option, I don't think he was ever happy that we triggered that option, I don't think that he wanted to be here, I don't believe Ashton's version of events.

    Diedhiou may have backed himself into a corner, China or gulf states beckons methinks.
     
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  9. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

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    Diedhou and his agent are away with the fairies, the guy is not good enough for the Championship, yet wants mega bucks..... He should go the Scottish Premiership, he will probably shine up there.
     
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  10. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

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    If he's on record as saying this, it has to be 100% true, right?
     
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  11. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    Cook is quite an abrasive character, whom it was deemed was not a right fit for us, I suspect him and Ashton will be marriage made in Devon.
     
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  12. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

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    Your post was about Ashton and Walsh. Where does Cook fit in?
     
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  13. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    Ummmm Cook is the manager of Ipswich, Ashton is the new CEO of Ipswich.

    My reply was about the general trustworthiness of Ashton.

    Ashton claimed that Walsh wanted to stay at BCFC, I don't believe that to be the case, Ashton claimed there was no truth in the rumour that either the club would not play Walsh or that Walsh was refusing to play, make of that what you will.
     
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  14. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

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    But Ashton said he did want to stay, he's on the record, so must be true was my point!
     
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  15. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    Why must it be true?

    After going along with prolonged we are looking to appoint a manager with a pedigree lie after LJ was sacked, why must we believe him?
     
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  16. realred1952

    realred1952 Well-Known Member

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    works both ways with twists! take Walsh new contract offer so was wanted! pandemic wages will apply to all except teams on parachutes … HOW GREEDY WAS WALSH BEING? [ TIC comment ] will another team offer more? well OOC means very little transfer fee … so can factor in say £2m over 3 years? = 12k a week minimum [ new club ] .. to replace him will cost £4-5m plus wages!

    same with Pato to replace will cost more than a pay rise ….

    these comments are based on us / media saying WHY get rid of ….
     
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  17. Supcon72

    Supcon72 Well-Known Member

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    Because when LJ said he had final say on transfers and some on here didn’t believe it, the response was if he said it, it must be true. So by that rule this must be true as well, or are their different rules for different people, to fit agendas?
     
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  18. Jiffie

    Jiffie Well-Known Member

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    I think you maybe somewhat confused again. No agendas, no rules all just very simple.

    What people were saying including me was totally different. They were saying if Ashton, LJ and Holden were all saying (as they did) that the manager had the final say on ALL transfers, either they were all telling the truth or they were all lying, there can be no other conclusion.

    So if you believe as I do that was not true, then they were all lying or towing the company line, it's that simple.
     
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  19. bcfcredandwhite

    bcfcredandwhite Well-Known Member

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    Over the last 5 or so years I’ve learnt to treat everything coming out of Ashton Gate with a pinch of salt.
     
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  20. wizered

    wizered Ol' Mucker
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    It's already been said but this is clear as crystal the man is full of waffle, he tells us Walshie was settled, wants to stay at the club and just play football, result Walsh has gone, I agree with r&w ,'Over the last 5 or so years I’ve learnt to treat everything coming out of Ashton Gate with a pinch of salt.'

    We all know who the ' Waffle Masters' are.
     
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