Former Blues midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has admitted that he and boss Mick McCarthy weren’t on the same wavelength when it came to utilising the 22-year-old’s talents during his time with Town. The ex-Arsenal youngster left Portman Road for Bristol City this summer in a swap deal which saw Paul Anderson move the other way.
Emmanuel-Thomas, who scored one and created one on his Robins debut, Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bradford, told the Bristol Post: "Mick McCarthy and I did not really click on the football pitch. We had different ideas and that is why I came to Bristol City.
"I wanted to be somewhere where I knew I would be given a free role to play football. Having played for [City manager] Sean [O’Driscoll while on loan at Doncaster] in the past, I knew what he would want from me"
The Londoner is viewed more as a withdrawn striker at Ashton Gate, a position he appears to relish more than the wide right role he usually occupied at Town where he was expected to be more involved at both ends of the field.
"I've come here to score goals and to create goals, it's as simple as that,” he said. "There will be games when I see a lot of the ball and other games when I don't see so much of it.
"Whatever the situation, I see my job being to make sure things happen in and around the box. I'm here to make and take chances.
"I do have some defensive duties, but getting on the ball and hurting the opposition is my main job.”