Time For City to Cut the Wage Bill, Starting with Jamo

David James should be cut off Bristol City’s wage bill as soon as possible.

With the £11.45m losses for the year ending 31^st May 2010 that were reported at the end of November, serious action needs to be taken, starting with reportedly the highest earner at the club, being cast aside. It is time to bring in a ‘keeper that may mean forking out a transfer fee, but more efficiently, on a longer contract, 

who doesn’t demand the weekly fee that the ex-England stopper does.

I understand that he isn’t the only high earner at the club. Nicky Hunt is laughing at what he is earning no doubt, after being signed from Bolton by Steve Coppell back in the summer of 2010 with after reaching the century milestone of appearances for the Trotters, enhanced a reputation of a consistent right back. After his poor performances and drop from the first team I’m sure he enjoys every minute of his drive to and from the training ground in his Bentley with his wage packet tucked away in his back pocket. 

Other pieces of unused deadwood such as Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Lee Johnson are also clogging up a wage bill, which is a problem that needs to be addressed in the summer. Thankfully these two, alike over 50% of the current squad, are out of contract in the summer, a summer where action needs to be taken, sooner rather than later, with cutting Jamo off of the wage bill being a number one priority.

To make myself clear, wanting a James dismissal is nothing to do with his age. I am one of the firmest believers of the cliché; ‘age is only a number.’ His athleticism week in week out justifies this, with recent top performances. The win at St Mary’s and the home triumph over Millwall stand out for me, where vital points in our quest to Championship survival were earned with outstanding reflex saves, not forgetting the two penalty stops at the Madejski against Reading.

When Steve Coppell brought the former Liverpool and Manchester City man into the club back in 2010, Ashton Gate was rejuvenated, firm belief that we’d pulled off a massive coup surrounded the vast majority of the West Country faithful, with national and international media turning up to see the man who had just been England’s number one for the World Cup in South Africa.

Throughout his time at the club, I believe he’s been impressive between the sticks, particularly the way he’s commanded his box and if it wasn’t for our shoddy defensive unit under Keith Millen, more clean sheets would be visible on the 41-year old’s record.  

So who could replace the man who has been increasingly impressive?

Reports of Watford ‘keeper Scott Loach flew around in December, but would he be the right man to take over as our new number one? At 23 years of age and having made 146 appearances for the Hornets, Loach is now experienced enough and costumed to the Championship. Those of you who were with me at Vicarage Road back in November may be thinking “really?” after his ‘Steve Phillips against Wolves/Paul Robinson against Croatia-esque’ miss kick, but every keeper makes a mistake like that. As a bright young keeper, a sizable transfer fee would be demanded by the Hertfordshire outfit, but with the amount of wages demanded not being half of what Jamo is on, surely it would worth a small delve into Steve Lansdown’s pocket?

Current back-up to James, Dean Gerken, hasn’t always impressed me. Uncertainty with knowing when to come out of his area and clear the ball seems an obvious weakness for what is a crucial part of a ‘keeper’s game.

I for one was disappointed when Stephen Henderson was let go to Portsmouth last summer. An impressive shot-stopper and an imposing figure between the sticks, he could have been the answer this summer, fighting for a place with Gerken under Derek McInnes. With Pompey’s current financial crisis; how about a cheeky bid for the Irishman in the summer to bring him back to the Gate?

All being said, after McInnes’ first couple signings it wouldn’t surprise me if the former St Johnstone manager had a Scot in line for Jamo’s eventual departure from the team. Whoever does eventually come in to be our new number one, it is vital that the correct coaching is in store, and with all of Jamo’s experience, it would be massive if perhaps he would stay on as a goalkeeping coach for a few years to come, passing on his 23 years playing experience to the new addition.

Dogged City Unfortunate at the Madejski

Bristol City fell to defeat at the hands of Reading thanks to a solitary goal from Jason Roberts despite being impressive at times in an even game at the Madejski Stadium.

The big talking point came on the 58^th minute of the match, when Louis Carey was sent off for a foul on Jason Roberts in the box.

Roberts, making his debut after arriving in Berkshire from Blackburn Rovers in the week, saw his penalty kick saved by David James, but within a couple seconds had converted the rebound.

Albert Adomah came closest for City, hitting the woodwork before James pulled off another penalty save in the dying minutes from Jobi McAnuff’s kick.

Derek McInnes made one change from last weekend's winning side against Doncaster Rovers.

Ryan McGivern came in for Neil Kilkenny to fill the left-back slot which was void after Richard Foster had moved to right-back in place of Cole Skuse who was on midfield duty.

Adomah and Yannick Bolasie once again supported lone front man Chris Wood after the system worked ever so well against the Yorkshire club.

The away team started the brighter of the two sides. Chris Wood went close with a headed effort after McGivern’s cross but ex-Robin Adam Federici did well to tip the ball over the bar.

On the seventh minute the Reds went close again, Stephen Pearson's drove low but Federici was on hand again to turn wide.

James was called into action for the first time soon after when Michail Antonio shot into the ‘keeper’s feet before Alex Pearce and McAnuff both headed wide of the mark in a frantic start.

Reading grew into the game and started to spray the ball around at more ease thereafter. Noel Hunt went close after the lively Antonio's right-wing cross before City switched the momentum again.

Albert Adomah reminded the host’s back line as to why he has been linked with Premier League club’s this transfer window after an acrobatic effort in which Federici did well to reach.

The first half then died down, with the crowd and players alike resorting to parity before the action heated up again just before the interval.

Wood and Adomah both had long range efforts watched wide for the reds either side of Roberts heading wide from McAnuff's cross.

Hunt then theatrically fell inside the box right in front of the travelling 1700 plus travelling City fans who took no liking to the forward’s embarrassing attempts to win the home side a penalty.

Jem Karacan had the last chance of the first half snatching at an attempt at a James-less City goal after the keeper punched away a McAnuff corner before the referee brought an impressive 45 minutes for both teams to a close.

Bolasie started the second half brightly creating a chance for Wood only to once again find Federici at his best.

The open contest continued as this time Karacan headed straight at James as both teams were wondering what it would take to beat the in form men between the sticks before the all important moment of the match.

Carey was penalised for hauling down Roberts after the striker had began to pull the trigger. The decision to award the penalty seemed the right one but to then send the experienced defender in for an early bath with at least two defenders covering the away side’s goal, seemed harsh to say the least.

Roberts dusted himself down to take the spot-kick and with James initially guessing the right way to save the weak strike, the ex-Bristol Rovers man bundled the rebound into the empty net.

The unfortunate Bolasie was the man sacrificed to allow youngster James Wilson to take Carey's place at the heart of City's back four, while Skuse was handed the captain's armband.

The lively five minute spell allowed the previously quiet Reading’s fans to find their voices but this didn’t spark their team into more promising passages of play.

Instead it was the away side that rolled up their sleeves and put in a ‘backs to the wall’ performance for the remaining minutes.

A man down, City surprisingly seemed more comfortable in possession and a quick break away allowed Wood to lay the ball off to Adomah, but his curling shot unfortunately did just too much to bend against the inside of the post and somehow stay out.

Nicky Maynard and Kilkenny replaced McGivern and Kalifa Cisse, with the former’s arrival receiving a mixed reaction from the away contingent after spending all season turning down new contract offers from the club.

Cisse was warmly applauded off of the pitch by both sets of supporters after impressing for Reading in his near three year stint at the club, but the two changes didn’t change the outcome of the match, despite City putting everything into the remaining minutes.

There was still time for James to impressively save Reading’s last-minute penalty – his second penalty save of the game – but the 41 year old’s heroics to deny McAnuff’s effort did little to lift the spirits in the camp who should hope for better luck next week against play-off contenders Leeds United at Ashton Gate.

Reading: Federici Griffin Pearce Gorkss Cummings Karacan Tabb McAnuff Antonio (Cywka 82) Hunt Roberts (Church 77)

Substitutes: Andersen, Harte Cywka, Le Fondre, Church

Bristol City: James Foster Carey Nyatanga McGivern (Maynard 85) Skuse Cisse (Kilkenny 88) Pearson Adomah Wood Bolasie (Wilson 58)

Substitutes: Gerken, Wilson, Kilkenny, Maynard, Pitman

Ref: Miller

Att: 17,825 (1,720 Bristol City fans)

City Lack Cutting Edge as Brighton Take All Three Points at The AMEX

Bristol City were beaten at the American Express Community Stadium by a Brighton and Hove Albion side to remain within touching distance of the npower Championship relegation zone.

Inigo Calderon’s wonder strike broke the deadlock on the 37^th minute before Will Buckley put the nails in the Robins’ coffin half way through the second period.

With the game lacking real goalmouth action throughout, Brighton’s clinical edge in front of goal proved vital.

Derek McInnes made three changes to the team that were deservedly beaten at Crawley Town in the FA Cup third round seven days ago.

Less than two days after signing on the dotted line, on loan West Bromich Albion centre forward Chris Wood was put straight into the starting eleven, replacing injured danger man Albert Adomah and partnering Nicky Maynard in attack with City shifting to a 4-4-2 formation. Other new signing, Richard Foster from Aberdeen started at right back in place of James Wilson.

Marvin Elliott returned to the side in place of suspended Stephen Pearson in the final change, with Cole Skuse being forced to play in an unusual role on the right hand side of midfield.

Without really creating a chance, the Seagulls started brightly. Only a couple minutes into the contest, City’s left back Ryan McGivern was cautioned after a cynical challenge on Buckley, in front of the raging Brighton manager Gus Poyet on the touchline.

Poyet has visibly installed a passing mentality into his side, who looked to be enjoying playing in their brand new stadium, passing the ball about at will in the first 10 minutes, leaving City chasing shadows.

However the Uruguayan was forced into two changes early on. First, lively striker Craig Mackail-Smith fell in the box after being unintentionally caught in the eye by Lewin Nyatanga. He was replaced by former Bristol Rovers front man Will Hoskins, who was predictably jeered by the 2,000 plus away fans.

Secondly, Jake Forster-Caskey was removed in place of fellow midfielder Alan Navarro in a start to the match in which City would have hoped would hinder the home side.

In fact it was Navarro with the first major chance of an uneventful first half. Following good wing play from Matt Sparrow, who comfortably beat City midfielder Neil Kilkenny’s weak attempt to block his cross, Navarro arrived on the edge of the box, only to put the ball high over the bar where perhaps taking an additional touch would have been the better option.

City were passing the ball patiently around their back four, without much pressure from the home side’s front men, but as soon as any of Foster, Louis Carey, Lewin Nyatanga and McGivern attempted to push the away team forward, City’s midfielders and front men struggled to retain possession.

This contrasted massively to the recent away performance at league leaders Southampton, where ball retention looked a lot more comfortable with five men in the middle of the park.

Recent regular Pearson was missed as City needed an extra man who was comfortable on the ball and able to thread through balls to Maynard who was rarely involved, as playmaker Kilkenny was forced to sit further back to aid Elliott’s defensive midfield duties.

Eight minutes before the break, Brighton skipper Inigo Calderon opened the scoring with a wonder goal from 25 yards for the south coast side.

The Spaniard picked up the ball from Liam Bridcutt before pulling the trigger to arrow an unstoppable shot past former England goalkeeper David James into the top right hand corner of the net with the first shot on target of the match.

In the final moments of the half, James was called into action again. This time, the stopper once again showed he hasn’t lost his class that seen him wear the three lions’ jersey 53 times, as he brilliantly tipped over the bar from Sparrow's 20-yard drive.

15 minutes into the second half, Yannick Bolasie was introduced, replacing Martyn Woolford. With Adomah’s absence, sufficient wing play was at a premium and City were crying out for an outlet on the wing,

Bolasie was straight into the action. After running the ball out of play following a darting run on the left wing, he switched to the right and after beating the full back for pace, his deep cross to Wood was unluckily headed against a defender. The man signed from Plymouth in the summer caused havoc down the right hand side for the remainder of the afternoon, creating more opportunities than anyone else in a red shirt.

Kalifa Cisse entered the field of play nine minutes later for Elliott, playing a holding role so that Brett Pitman could join the attack in place of Kilkenny.

As City stepped up the gas pushing for an equaliser, they were caught on the break. 17 minutes from time, Buckley ran on to a through ball and beat Louis Carey before rounding James to tuck into the net before the angle became too acute and effectively wrap up the three points for the Seagulls there and then.

Maynard somehow evaded an inviting Pitman cross in the dying stages where any sort of touch would hope given the reds a consolation, and when Pitman’s free kick was held by Brezovan in the 95^th minute, referee Keith Stroud brought the game to a close, leaving City to head back to the West Country with glum faces and serious work to do on the training ground before next week’s clash with Doncaster Rovers at Ashton Gate.

Bristol City: James, Foster, Carey, Nyatanga, McGivern, Skuse, Elliott (Cisse 70), Kilkenny (Pitman 77), Woolford (Bolasie 61), Maynard, Wood

Substitutes: Gerken, Wilson, Cisse, Clarkson, Pitman

Brighton and Hove Albion: Brezovan, Dunk, El Abd, Calderon, Vincelot, Sparrow, Bridcutt, Buckley, Forster-Caskey (Navarro 28), Barnes, Mackail-Smith (Hoskins 25)

Substitutes: Ankergren, Hall, Navarro, Vicente, Hoskins

Referee: Stroud

Attendance: 20,398 (2,152 Bristol City)