Hartley's experience will be key, says Bristol City boss Johnson
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson last night explained that veteran midfielder Paul Hartley will add valuable experience to his side's Premier League promotion bid.
Scotland international Hartley, 32, put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal with Bristol City yesterday after being released by Celtic last week.
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And Johnson has labelled his latest addition as a 'great signing' after fighting off competition from Greek club Iraklis Saloniki, Scottish side Hearts and Championship rivals Ipswich Town and Cardiff City to secure his services.
Johnson said: "We don't tend to sign players over the age of 30 too often, but Paul's got a 27-year-old brain.
"He's got a good work-rate in his game, adds vital experience in midfield and to the squad, and he's still a Scottish international. He's also a winner. I think he's a great signing for this football club both on and off the pitch."
Hartley is predominantly expected to play as a deep-lying midfielder – based on the manager's pursuit of Barnsley's Anderson da Silva earlier this summer – but Johnson was keen to stress that he can be used in a variety of positions across the middle of the park.
"Celtic preferred him defensively-minded because they gave Scott Brown the licence to bomb forwards," the manager added.
"At Hearts he was the attacking prong in a three-man midfield and I think he can play in a two and three-man midfield well. I still like the attacking side of his game and I certainly see him as a central midfielder, although he can play wide in a certain type of role but not as an out-and-out winger.
"We'll see how pre-season goes and I'll put the round pegs into the round holes."
Hartley has made over 400 appearances in a career that has taken in Hearts, St Johnstone, Hibernian, Raith Rovers, Millwall and Hamilton as well as Celtic.
"It's a very young team here and the manager has stressed to me that he was looking for someone with experience, to help them come along and improve players," Hartley said. "The manager is ambitious and wants to see the team progress.
"We know the Championship is a difficult league, but everyone's aim here is to reach the Premier League.
"There are a lot of quality teams at this level, but you've only got to see how Bristol City have performed to realise it's a club that's up-and- coming.
"It's happened really quickly. The manager rang up my agent and I came down to speak with him last Sunday.
"I was very impressed with everything he had to say and I'd made my mind up by the middle of last week."
Johnson, meanwhile, has confirmed that Vitesse Arnheim midfielder Anduele Pryor is on trial.
Pryor, 24, made just one appearance for the Dutch club last season after falling down the pecking order, but Johnson said: "He had a fantastic campaign two or three seasons back but has lost his way a little bit since then.
"We're still having a look at him but we need to make a decision soon."
Michael Mcindoe's proposed move to Sheffield United has yet to be completed.
Talks were held with Blades boss Kevin Blackwell over the weekend but McIndoe is understood not to be part of the Sheffield United party travelling to Malta for a pre-season training camp today. He could travel separately if the deal is concluded in the next few days.
Oldham's highly-rated young wideman Chris Taylor, 24, is being touted as a possible replacement for the Scotsman at Bristol City.
11 Comments
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by Marc, Wiltshire
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 10:36AM
“Whats the problem? I said he was a top signing, so whats with the herd behaviour and childish comments?
Johnson has been guilty of playing his son in the past regardless of form so It's fair to suggest he'll do the same next season and play Lee in the middle even though we now blatently have 2 far superior players in this position. Three if you included Gavin Williams as I would.
If Lee starts the next campaign in the middle it will just confirm the nepotism currently on going down the Gate! Let's hope Gary has learn't some lessons from our woeful end to last season and plays the best players in their best positions. Only then will be see a successful City side at Championship level.
Yes we did well the first season, probably more to do with the confidence and momentum from the previous seasons promotion as well as the fact we were an unknown quantity.
This will be our thrid season and teams have sussed us out and know what to expect, hard work and organisation is not enough any more so quality players is the order of the day.
Regards”
by steve, clevedon
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 2:37PM
“Good catch Gary, then he is the brother of J.R. Hartley!”
by Craig, Portishead
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 2:10PM
“Marc , Wiltshire we are all bored of your pathetic comments, GJ has taken us into the championship and 1 game from the prem with a small budget, he has our full support and anybody like you who blatently rarely goes down to the gate to watch any games just have to be so negative - Johnson has been succesful at Yeovil and City and were lucky to have him! great signing GJ along with Clarkson, get rid of mm hes trouble..”
by CityT, Bristol
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 1:07PM
“Marc the kind of fan every club needs.......................like a hole in the head! He is a serial naysayer and will find a negative in anything! Its so dull and boring to listen to "fans" such as him, i can only assume his life is extremely unfulfilling! Paul Hartley, great player, great coup, great signing. Theres more to come! Well done GJ and SL Up the Reds!”
by fatrich, norwich
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 12:51PM
“marc from wiltshire maybe you should apply what you preach? is it not a little childish to mock people who have not been privately educated. i was lucky enough to have been privately educated so i guess that gives me the god give given right to air my views without receiving your scorn!. again i ask name a more sucessful bcfc manager than GJ in the last ten years?”
by Amy, Bath
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 11:15AM
“Marc, Wiltshire is a Swindon fan.”
by Mike, Staple Hill, Bristol
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:34AM
“Marc Wiltshire, your views are about as balanced as a one legged toddler.
ACTUAL die hard fans appreciate how far Gary Johnson has taken us and trust his judgement..Nothing to do with our heads being up his backside (Very grown up argument that - Your Mum must be proud).
What on earth has possessed you, to make you think that you know the game better than Gary Johnson?”
by Marc, Wiltshire
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:05AM
“What great example of state education you are.
Try again- this time try contructing a point of view or create a counter argument rather than accusing die hard City fans of being Gasheads just because they don't have their head lodged so far up GJ rear they can't see the wood for the trees. .
I love the irony that I get excused of dragging City fans down with my honest balance views then loons like you come on and post nothing other than childish insults against fellow supporters of the same club and this makes you some kind of super fan!?.
Some advice- if you have nothing to say, which seems the case, then I would suggest you say nothing at all !
Have nice day and get back to class...”
by I can pretend I am a city fan, really a cuckoo gashead
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:38AM
“Obsessed gasheads zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
....you still here?”
by Marc, Wiltshire.
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:21AM
“Thats more like it Gary, a top signing-albeit a little old Im sure he'll add some much needed qulaity to the middle of the park assuming you don't do the usual trick of playing him out of position to accommodate LJ!
Marvin Elliott and Paul Hartley have to be the two in the middle.”