With the swap deal involving Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Bristol City winger Paul Anderson growing more likely, I have had a look at Bristol City forums to gather their thoughts on the proposed exchange.

Reading through the threads, it was clear that the majority of Robins were initially against the idea, but this has softened to an even split in opinion in later postings. They are as unsure about this deal as we are.

“I rather keep Anderson. He's a hard worker with a bit of class”

“It would be a shame to lose Anderson as I don't think we've seen the best of him yet, but I can understand why he would want to stay at Championship level”.

“I would be gutted to lose Anderson.” His supporters constantly praised his work rate and attitude.

“It looks like this deal is happening and for one I say good luck to Anderson. He’s too good for League One. I still can’t believe we picked him up on a free transfer.” “Anderson will be another [Yannick] Bolasie [who also played for City] if he leaves. It is a shame Anderson was never used correctly.”

“We know what we've got with Anderson. A winger who was extremely competent at the level above we will be playing and gave 100% in all his games. It's interesting to speculate how many extra points we might have collected had [former manager Derek] McInnes remembered he was a member of his squad, earlier on in the season.”

“It would be a shame to see Anderson leave as I think he is a good little player with a great work rate and a touch of quality.” “I would prefer to keep Anderson. We actually have a quality player in him who will give his all and were willing to swap him for a player with a bad attitude, high wage demands and a lazy demeanor. No thanks.”

“Anderson has hardly set the world alight here though”

“Don’t really get the love in for Anderson. I think he’s okay, but he hardly set the world alight. He’s an average Championship winger. Would probably do well for us this season but there's no guarantee he'll even be playing much.” He was criticised for his lack of flair.

“He had a few decent games when he finally managed to get into the team and he is full of energy, but he also had more than his fair share of innocuous games and I certainly don't hold him in the same regard that it appears some do. I would certainly say that JET playing at his best is a much more exciting prospect, the issue of course being how often he plays at his best.”

“No no no no no no and no some more”

JET’s impending arrival has set a few alarm bells ringing. “There is a reason why he is on the transfer list at Ipswich. I'd rather keep Anderson, who is a much better player.” “No thank you. JET was a huge talent in his younger days and has progressed into nothing.” “Obviously JET has ability but he is a bit lazy and has a bit of an attitude problem.”

“Not a JET fan at all. Seems to me to be a player that will never achieve what he could have done. He may be one of those players who will click for a manager but I wouldn't want to gamble on that being the case.”

“JET isn't poorer. JET is better but not as consistent.” Laziness and lack of consistency were recurring themes. “JET has not improved in two or three seasons. He is and will always be a lazy player! Yes, he may score more than Anderson but will come up short every day in the work rate department.”

“If we get the JET that played for Doncaster, 'YES'

“If it's the one that turns out for Ipswich, 'NO'.” “If Sean O'Driscoll can get Emmanuel-Thomas to play like he did against us on that day they beat us 5-2, I'll be happy! Just a shame we'll lose Anderson in getting him.” “I remember when Emmanuel-Thomas beat us on his own in that match.”

“One good game, come on!! He's 22 and lost his way.” “It's not one game though is it? He slaughtered us at Ipswich season before last before Mick arrived there. So, in two out of two he's been brilliant against us.” “I was there. Every time he got the ball he showed he was a class above everyone else on the pitch and frightened the what’s-its-name out of us.”

“This looks to me as a wage cutting exercise”

“Anderson is obviously on Championship wages, and if JET accepts a contract offer from us, it will be on League One wages. I see no other reason why this would happen. I would much rather keep Anderson than have JET.” “I just wouldn't want us dishing out a two-to-three-year contract on a big-time Charlie who looks likely to waste his talent.”

“It seems clear he is planning on using a system without wingers”

Many Robins pointed out that the swap would make a great deal of tactical sense, given Mick McCarthy’s love of wide players, and O’Driscoll’s history of shaping his teams around a fluent passing game.

“I trust SO’D's judgment and if he believes he can get the best out of him then fine. If he has no intention of using a formation with wingers it's pointless having wingers so although I like Anderson, if he's not going to play, it's best for all concerned.”

“So does JET play as a striker these days then?”

“Can JET be the creative midfielder we had all been wanting for so long?” “Haven't people said before that SO'D tends not to use wingers if he gets his style of play into a team?” Most Robins see JET playing for them as an attacking midfielder.

“I don't think we will be playing with any wingers next year. It more likely a 4-3-3 system with three midfielders and one attacking player that sits behind two strikers to link up play. JET could well be this player.” “I'd imagine he'd play off a striker in a 4-4-2 or as an attacking midfielder in a 3-5-2.”

The Big IF

“I completely trust SO'D's judgment, but if Anderson goes in exchange I will be gutted.” “It will be so gutting to see Ando leave us but if SO'D can bring out the best in JET again, it should be a good thing. Fingers crossed.”

“I know he has somewhat gone off the rails to an extent, but surely we can still find an awful lot of encouragement in his signing if he did join? After all, would we not all be moaning if we went out and signed another 29-32 year old bit of deadwood?”

“He may not have had the best of times recently. However I think it might be worth noting that under Jewell and McCarthy, he hasn't been playing under managers with reputations of playing the fluent passing football he would have learned at Arsenal. SO’D got the best out of him at Doncaster playing a similar style. If he could get that out of JET again he would tear League One apart.”

“This is the crux of it. IF SO’D can get JET playing to his potential again then we would have a very good player on our hands. Big IF though!”

A last word from Mick McCarthy

One Robin came across this: “Love this quote from Big Mick. Even better when said in his grumpy northern accent! "He's Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to me. I've told him I'll call him JET when it looks like he has got a rocket up his backside. Until then it will be Jay to me.”

The best website I found was http://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/forum/31-football-chat/.

Nthsuffolkblue added 22:15 - Jun 30 Excellent, Harry, thanks. Seems like there is a feeling this could work out for both parties with both players suiting the tactics at the prospective new clubs. I suspect we will have to help out towards JET taking a cut in wages.
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AlexGreen added 11:34 - Jul 1 I'd like to have both! JET behind the striker(s) and Anderson on the wing, but I think ME's had enough of throwing money at us on big transfer fees, and probably fair enough, who was the last signing over £500K that we actually sold on for any money at all, let-alone made any profit? I really appreciate all the insights you provide us with Harry, thank you.
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Blueray added 11:52 - Jul 1 ditto previous mail. I love the insight into other forums in connection with potential signings and what they think of us. Well worth reading!
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MathieandMarshall added 12:30 - Jul 1 Good work Harry. Useful info as always
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Hiltzkooler added 17:30 - Jul 1 Thanks Harry - excellent read as ever...makes a welcome interlude at work!...good point about how JET is deployed and how Jewell and MM may not have played to his strengths...this is the bit that is missing for me...but another good point by the Bristol lad...what is the point in having someone (especially a high earner) if you are not going to play to his strengths...better to get something out of it than nothing.

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HarryfromBath added 20:55 - Jul 1 Many thanks everyone for the kind feedback. I must say that I was struck by the neat tactical switch which could benefit both teams when it was pointed out on their site. It would have suited both teams comfortably. However, as I type this, Phil has put up in the news section the twist in the story about Bristol possibly wanting to keep Anderson and merely add JET to their squad. The Robins have clearly seen the merits in Alex Green's point above. The transfer market is ten times worse than the housing market in many ways. I think that the switch would still make for very neat progress for both clubs, but I would be glad in any case for JET if he makes a positive choice and ends up at a club which will progress his career.

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