Johnson is happy with new Bristol City arrivals
Gary Johnson was relieved to welcome three new faces to Bristol City's squad in time for the start of pre-season training yesterday.
Scotland striker David Clarkson, former Colchester United goalkeeper Dean Gerken and young left-back Andre Blackman have all put pen to paper at Ashton Gate.
-
Bristol City boss Johnson is hopeful of adding at least two more faces in the next few days and he said: "It is a relief because it is important to have the lads you want in as quickly as you can at the start of pre-season.
"You want them to be here for the first day and I have been really pleased with the three signings we have made. They are good personalities and they all have got that sort of ambition I like to see.
"It is great to have new faces and it is something you need to do at times to liven things up."
Blackman arrives from Portsmouth carrying an ankle injury but Johnson believes that, when he is fit, supporters will know 'very quickly' why he moved to snap him up.
Gerken is likely to start the season as Adriano Basso's understudy but is expected to offer stiff competition.
Johnson labelled Scotland international Clarkson the 'best-known' of the three and added: "David broke his hand at Motherwell last season and still managed 14 goals in 30-odd games.
"He has improved and grown in stature and if we waited any longer we would have had to pay out a few million to get him."
11 Comments
View all
by Marc, Wiltshire
Friday, July 03 2009, 10:08AM
“Dear Jo(h)n.!
Your excited that we have signed a young kid no one has heard of and yet to make his pro debut and a number 2 goal keeper to deputise for Basso!
You should get out more Jo(h)n!
You're going to be rampant and hysterical if we sign a genuine player of quality!
Marc”
by CityT, Bristol
Thursday, July 02 2009, 3:54PM
“Again here we see miserable Marc being his usual doomy self. I have seen other people like this, and what gets me is they always imply theu know more and others are simply blind or ignorant to such matters. What they fail to understand is the concept of support. He clearly hasnt watched City for as long as he claims, sure he may have been a "fan" for that time, but had he sat in the stands a few years back when we were getting walloped by the likes of Southend or Chesterfield at home he would surely appreciate whats happening now, the fact is that he doesnt therefore i assume at that time he was probably not even bothering with City and probably was supporting Man Utd or someone ,because if he is unhappy now what on earth was he like then? Its fans like him that give this club a bad name, they expect way too much and their constant bleatings make City fans look jumped up and ungrateful.”
by Jon, Perth (for a while)
Thursday, July 02 2009, 3:20PM
“Marc,
(with a 'c' which indicates such class), why are you slagging off city's best manager in years on both post stories? You may be grown up enough to be bitter but we are still moving forward. I feel the signings we have made so far are an exciting prospect for next year. Coupled with a good left winger, a centre mid and a striker we'll be in a far better position than we were last year.
Stop moaning and have the decency to show some positivity, or support Swindon.”
by Red, Bristol
Thursday, July 02 2009, 3:13PM
“Well done Marc, well done.
Support? pfft”
by Marc, Wiltshire
Thursday, July 02 2009, 2:49PM
“I hope you're man enough to say 'sorry' next May Red when you'll see I'm right.
I've watch City for 20 years + and have absolutely no intention of watching that shower north of the river.
The thing is Red Im a grown up and write what I feel rather then just towing the line.”