Bristol City: Boss Keith Millen keen to bolster squad before window closes
BRISTOL City boss Keith Millen was today involved in a race against time to further bolster his squad before the transfer window closes.
Millen is in the market for a left-sided player and a defender and has not ruled out bringing in another new face on a permanent deal ahead of tomorrow's deadline.
Should he run out of time, Millen says he will wait until the loan market re-opens for business the following week.
Full-backs Jamie McAllister and Tom Williams remain the only naturally left-sided players on the Ashton Gate staff and that particular imbalance within the squad has not been addressed since Michael McIndoe left to join Championship rivals Coventry City 12 months ago.
Millen said: "There is still a need to bring in someone who can play on the left and we are looking into it at the moment.
"It is an area we have talked about strengthening for a long time now and we have been trying hard to bring the right one in. But it has been difficult.
"We are looking at defenders and there have been a couple of deals going on for a while now.
"We have the two-week international break coming up now, so it will not be the end of the world if we cannot get someone in before the close of business on Tuesday."
City had hoped to sign England Under-21 left-back Ryan Bertrand on loan from Premier League champions Chelsea during the close season, only to lose out to Nottingham Forest in the race for the 20-year-old Londoner.
Former Peterborough and Birmingham City left-back Tom Williams was subsequently engaged on a short-term contract to provide cover for McAllister, but City's squad still lacks a naturally left-sided midfielder.
Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road further convinced Millen he needs to act to shore up a defence which has now conceded nine goals in four Championship outings this season.
Two blunders from goalkeeper David James handed Roy Keane's team all three points, but the manager was again critical of City's inability to defend as a team.
He said: "Some of these lads have had a few games in which to show me what they can do, but we are still letting in too many goals and I have to do something about that.
"I've tried to keep a settled back four, but individuals have to perform. If they don't perform then they will be out of the team and someone else will get their chance. We need competition for places and we haven't had that.
"We have a few coming back from injury finally, but we may also need some more help from elsewhere."
Now that some of City's walking wounded are returning to fitness, Millen is likely to want to trim his squad by sending players out on loan. Striker John Akinde agreed a short-term move to neighbours Bristol Rovers on Friday and at least two others look set to follow him out of Ashton Gate in the next 24 hours.
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, midfielder Gavin Williams and striker Marlon Jackson all failed to make the squad at Ipswich on Saturday and could now be made available.
Millen declined to name names, but admitted: "There could be a couple going out by Tuesday. We have a few of the injured lads back now and, when everyone is fit and available, our squad will be too big."
11 Comments
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by Fred, Weston
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 12:16PM
“KM clearly failed to do what he set out to do.
That can only mean more disruption & uncertainty for the next 2 weeks. Great management!”
by Rooster Booster, Clevedon
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 5:35PM
“Firdt we are told no need to strengthen the squad.
Then in recent days talk about signings to bolster the defence.
Now it's wait till 7 September.
No sense of urgency with KM is there? 'Manjana Man'.
When will he sort himself out and stop sending out the wrong signals. Maybe he has managed to confuse himself too. Wonder what the players are thinking of him now?”
by Ms.Mart, Ukraine
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 12:50AM
“Yes, I almost agree with redferryman.
I do not have high expectations.
Just want to see a reliable and wise keeper at the gate. I mean D.James.
I'm nervous and anxious, but I believe that the squad will rise up.
"..adequate left-sided full-backs available at this late stage transfer" (¿) Haw-haw :-(”
by redferryman, BS2 0JB
Monday, August 30 2010, 10:45PM
“Guess it's 'better late, than never'. It a great relief that Millen has recognized the obvious left-sided weakness in the squad which has been exploited since the start of the season. But why has it taken so long to realize this glaring omission? One can make allowances for one or two suspect performances by McAllister, but when these same performances become the norm, then we need to act promptly by seeking out an alternative - p.d.q.!!! I only hope that there sufficiently adequate left-sided full-backs available at this late stage in the transfer window! But, the most important aspect of all is the fact that Millen is addressing the problem! We're going to be OK....”
by DOUGLAS, BS6
Monday, August 30 2010, 9:30PM
“John Swineford, Nick Bedminster & Steve Bristol, all three of you seem to forget the Clubs staff has all been turned upside down in the last couple of months, just shut up and give them all a chance.”
by George, LONDON
Monday, August 30 2010, 8:32PM
“I don't know who writes these articles however, whilst I agree that the squad is as unbalanced as the day SC arrives....and said it was unbalanced, we have other left sided players in Fontaine & Nyatanga and the clue in knowing that is the fact that both have played left back!!!!!
Rose would be a good signing as a left winger and I think, having watched him he could play LWB, certainly in home games.
With Nyatanga out for another two months at least, a quality central defender, preferably left sided, would be useful.
If we revert to the formation that Millen tried when he first took over from GJ,then we need an attacking/creative central midfielder in the Brian Tinnion mould.
At that point our squad would be strong enough to let 3-5 players move out on loan.
Vokes is due back in 3-4 weeks and Carey, Skuse,Ribiero & Haynes will be vailable for Scunthorpe.
Only Nicky Maynard is a long term casualty, probably back in Jan 2011.
Keith has to trust his judgement, do what he did last season when he took over and we'll be fine.
I'm convinced Steve Lansdiown will back him.”
by steve, bristol
Monday, August 30 2010, 5:49PM
“Held out buying the season ticket this season, fearful that Millen would be given the job, gave in at the last moment. Wished I'd waited another few weeks. All that optimism has evaporated after only 4 games and I can't see anything other than a relegation battle already!!! Millen is not the man for me.”
by john, swineford
Monday, August 30 2010, 11:20AM
“NICK. YOU ARE SPOT ON. KEITH WAS No 2 TO GARY SO WE CAN'T EXPECT MUCH FROM HIM EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW HE WILLGIVE 100%.WITH Mr LANDSDOWN HANDING OUT LONG CONTRACTS I JUST CAN'T SEE A WAY OUT.”
by Bob, outer Bristol
Monday, August 30 2010, 11:09AM
“"The Spine" still remains the basis of a good team.
We seem to have a striker centre half (still under review) and a goalkeeper, but where is the midfield playmaker?
The right one is going to cost a lot of money OR an element of luck!”
by Nick, Bedminster Down
Monday, August 30 2010, 10:24AM
“Last week didn't Keith say he was not looking to bring any new players in.
We need a new player maker centre midfielder.
What concerns me is that we are now running out of time to sign new players when he should have known the weakest of the team the momment he took over. Why is it only now he wants to strenghen these positions. I'm sorry to say it does look like Kieth doesn't know what he is doing.
The preformances this season have been dreadful. When he took over last season we played well and got a few good results was it a case that the players was just happy that GJ had gone and was playing without pressure.
When a Manager goes after losing the dressing room the next manager sometimes have a bit of a honeymoon period so judging KM last season successful little run should have no bearing on him getting the job but got some reason Mr Lansdown gave him the job without even waiting 24 hours and it must have been partly on last season preformance.
Will Keith go the same way has Brian Tinnion and Jimmy Lumsden well that remains to be seen but his first couple of weeks have been less than impressive let's hope he can improve other wise we could be playing a Bristol derby next year.”