BCFC

First off, great result against the Albanians and the Welsh - up against the big boys now ! And Ruddy is a very decent keeper - did us a huge favour when he joined us on a friday night for a game at Carlisle next day. We had to win that game to keep the pressure on others with about 4 games to go for promotion to the championship. He was outstanding and helped us win - always be remembered by us. And I think he kept 11 or 12 clean sheets on the trot for Stockport setting a league record. Anyway, David Clarkson... Fitted in very well, scored a few pre-season so far (against minor teams other than Braga from Potugals premiership) and looks like he's going to be playing a bit deeper than the other striker linking up with midfield. Works hard and puts a tackle in, but looked like he had a head shaped like a 50p when putting a couple of headers off target. Not seen any evidence of not staying on his feet yet - if he starts that, Johnson will be on his case as he hates it and there are very few divers in the championship, they're all in the EPL. Low key start but he's finding his feet down here, I think he'll be more than ok and score a few for us. Saw something on another thread re McCormack and how he's twice the player that Clarkson is - MY ARSE. He scored about 8 goals in open play last season - Cardiff had 15 penalties awarded and McCormack scored 10 or 11 of 'em and a couple or three free kicks. Ended the season on the bench. We got the better all round team player in Clarkson which is what we are all about. Best of luck for the season, we'll be looking out for your results and I'll come back later into the season to let you know how Clarkson is doing - whether you want me to or not !

The chairman is getting a return on his money mate and we aint a selling club. Ashton Gate is being sold for 20m. He has bought over 40 acres of land for the new stadium and 350 new houses, and raised 47m for it by selling shares in his company (not 28m as mentioned by another red earlier). Thats over 60m he's raised for the stadium and players. All money wrapped up in land and property which he will get back in spades. There is no chance he will pull the plug on the club, none at all, it's in a very healthy state and so is his finances. He is Bristol born and bred and Bristol City through and through. 6-0 against Ipswich was the season before last not last season, when we got to Wembley for the playoff final so it didn't really affect us did it. These results happen now and then - a bit like Rhyl eh ? You may well be right about us being mid table, who knows in the championship where about 16 clubs are more than capable of promotion and every team is capable of beating any other. But one thing is crystal clear, BCFC is a very stable and well run club which is building itself up for the premiership and that will prove successful in the medium term. More so than the shit or bust style of Cardiff. That's why we're after hungry and hard working players like DC and not "names" who are only interested in money. I'll leave you all in peace now, I think we've taken up enough space on your forum ! Best of luck in the SPL this season and I hope you do well in Europe.

That was exactly the situation we had with Meteb last season. Meteb played in a game two days after agreeing terms, so Johnson told him to get stuffed and walked away from the deal. I'm sure it's Tuesday latest or it's off. Hopefully (from our perspective) he'll sign for us, but we'll definitely know by Tuesday at the latest.

The arc ? Understandable that he wants to explore all his options, but he really does only have Monday or Tuesday to sort this deal. He either wants it or not and that's what he'll be told on Monday by Gary Johnson, because that is how he works. He told Mifsud to get stuffed last season because he felt he wasn't 100% committed to the deal, and also told Meteb (Egyptian) the same. We lost both of them (just as well as it turned out) as well as a few others like Jermaine Easter (didn't like his attitude and was proven correct in that). Believe me, he'll either sign very early next week or not at all.

He flew down here on Thursday and everything was sorted except the medical which will get done on Monday or Tuesday (he has a wedding to attend this weekend apparently so can't get it done before then). He's taking the weekend to think it through. It's a 4 year contract and the fee is 600k up front with another 200k based upon goals, appearances and promotion. Max 800k which is a good deal for your club given he's out of contract at the end of this coming season.

Hello there - Bristol City supporter here. Interesting to read your take on Cardiff v BCFC - Hmmm... I'm not going to bore you all with a "we are better than they are" rant because only time will tell that, and I don't want Cardiff and BCFC fans arguing on your board - but the stability of the two clubs are poles apart and, whilst both clubs are very ambitious, BCFC can actually finance their amibition internally. There are no 29m loans hanging over us and there is money available to fund a realistic punt at the premiership and finance the new stadium without selling any of our squad. I hope we sign your man, he sounds like what we need to compliment what we have and with others in the pipeline, he could do a lot worse in the championship - we aint there to make up the numbers and last season was a big disappointment within the club and with supporters, but it was also a season of consolidation. We aint going in the wrong direction with new 42,000 stadium, training complex, and an ambitious chairman and manager. David Clarkson could do a lot worse than come to us at this time. By the way, you will beat Llanelli very very easily - you are miles in advance of their standard. Best of luck in Europe (wish we had a chance like that) and in the EPL this season.