What can Bristol City expect as the season ends and the summer approaches?
BristolWorld reporter Joe Dixon analyses how he expects Bristol City to navigate the final few games of their Championship season, before the summer transfer window opens.
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00:00 It's a season where they're not going to be relegated, they're likely not going to make the playoffs.
00:08 So is it just a case of showing what they've got until the end of the season and then the summer will be where the build comes for next year?
00:16 It is, yeah. As you say, they can't go down, they can't go up.
00:21 So the last four games of the season now are just about ending it on a high, I think, going into the summer.
00:27 But there's still a lot to play for for individual players.
00:30 They have a few players that are out of contract, Matty James and Joe Williams in particular, two central midfield players that are playing for their futures.
00:37 So there is a lot to play for, even though not this season in the league, players still have a real reason to go out and perform.
00:46 It's obviously going to be Liam Manning's first transfer window as well.
00:50 And as mentioned, he's spoken all year about bringing in a striker. So Naki Wiles and Tommy Conway will be really eager to get on the score sheet in these remaining games to kind of send a message to Liam, I suppose, saying that, you know, I can be your main man next season.
01:04 So, you know, even though on the face of it, it might not look like Bristol City have a lot to play for, I can guarantee you they do.
01:11 I then asked Joe how Liam Manning would approach his first summer transfer window whilst in charge of Bristol City.
01:21 And finally, you mentioned the search for a striker there in the summer. What else will Liam Manning be looking for to develop his side if ambition is the aim at Bristol City?
01:34 Yeah, I think midfield is really going to be a big position. Obviously, like I mentioned, James and Williams are both out of contract. There hasn't really been any movement so far.
01:47 Liam Manning's kind of insisted that he'll have those conversations at the end of the season.
01:52 They have got Max Bird coming in from Derby County. And I think a lot of it depends on injuries.
01:58 They've really struggled at centre back with injuries this season. Rob Atkinson hasn't played once. He's been out all season with an ACL injury.
02:06 And Cal Naismith has just been sidelined, probably had four or five injuries all season, just hasn't been able to stay fit.
02:15 And he's not getting any younger either. So I wouldn't be surprised if they look to add a centre back in because at the moment, Dickey's out as well.
02:21 They've only actually got one fit centre back, which is Zach Viner.
02:25 So I think that other than the striker, the positions that Liam Manning will probably look to bring players in is at centre back,
02:32 potentially central midfield if Williams and James don't get offered new deals, and maybe a goalkeeper as well,
02:39 because Max O'Leary has been one of their best players this season, but they don't really have a number two.
02:44 It's kind of all on him. Stefan Bajic is the number two at the moment, but he hasn't featured really for Bristol City, just for the 21s.
02:53 So, yeah, centre back will be the priority other than the striker, I'd say.
02:57 Bye.
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