Target Practice #4

This week sees the arrival of Town’s new CEO, Mark Ashton. Arguably the most popular man in Bristol, Ashton arrives with a remarkable pedigree and a hunger for a new challenge. His overall demeanour may be akin to marmite, but I imagine that reputation comes with the territory when you’re in a position of power. Despite Bristol City fans celebrating his departure, he has been a major contributor to their recent years of success, with a lot of that success being owed to his ability to strike shrewd deals both on and off the pitch.

In this addition of ‘Target Practice’, it’s a Mark Ashton special, in which we take a look at three players that could reunite with the former Bristol City CEO at Portman Road, and turn familiarity into favourable results.

Nathan Baker

Standing at 6ft 2′ and boasting Premier League pedigree, Baker could be the exact calibre of player needed to take Town forward. Since joining Bristol City in 2017, Baker has played 87 times for The Robins, scoring a single goal from his preferred centre-back role.

Baker’s career began at Aston Villa where the dominant centre-half began making a name for himself at a relatively young age. By the time Villa were relegated in 2017, Baker had already played 79 Premier League games, invaluable experience for someone dropping into England’s second-tier. Baker enjoyed an extremely successful loan spell at Ashton Gate before signing permanently, and it seems that most Bristol City fans define his time at the club as a relative success.

The big gamble for Baker is fitness. The 30-year-old only made 2 League appearances last season owed to a hamstring injury that ended his season prematurely. However, there is no doubt that the former Aston Villa defender is more than capable of dominating from the back when fully fit. His height, strength and overall intelligence allows him to dominate games, something Town will require if they are going to mount a serious promotion push.

Bristol City had a large exodus of players this summer, with Baker being one of them, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Town turned their attentions to the 30-year-old defender. His wage demands will be dwindling and his career will be in desperate need of revitalisation; where better than Portman Road for Baker to start again and become a part of something special?

Joe Morrell

Born in Ipswich, blooded in Bristol and a recent successful spell in League One, a move to Portman Road almost seems written in the stars. It’s worth prefacing this entry by saying that this deal is more likely to be a loan than a permanent. By all accounts, despite struggling with a heel injury for most of last season, Luton officials are keen for Morrell to be a real success at Kenilworth Road, but that doesn’t mean a temporary switch isn’t possible.

A dynamic midfielder with a touch of class, Morrell is exactly the kind of player that Town could use in their side next season. Able to operate as a central midfielder, or sit slightly deeper, the 24-year-old has all the credentials to be part of a successful side in England’s third-tier. In fact, Morrell enjoyed the best spell of his career at this level with Lincoln City during the 2019/20 season, where he played 29 times and provided four assists before covid curtailed the season.

A player familiar with the area and well-known to Town’s new CEO, Morrell possesses the qualities required to take Town forward. With Cook’s 4-2-3-1 system operating with two pivots, Morrell could become the more dynamic of the two, spreading passes to the wide men, as well as being able to break up play.

Morrell’s pedigree stretches to a fledging international career with Ryan Giggs’ Welsh team, with fourteen senior caps currently to his name. Lincoln fans awarded him the ‘player of the season’ award during his spell at Sincil Bank, with his intelligence and class shining through. Town could use a player like Morrell and I’m sure it won’t be the last time his name is mentioned this summer.

Jamie Paterson

We always leave the best, and arguably most ambitious, until last and this week is no different. Town are crying out for a silky attacking midfielder to seamlessly slot into Cook’s 4-2-3-1 system, and their may be no better options than Jamie Paterson.

Recently released from Ashton Gate, much to the disappointment of Bristol City fans, Paterson is hard-working, intelligent attacking player that can operate anywhere across the front three. Operating slightly deeper than usual this season, Paterson has played 15 times as a central midfielder, scoring three times and providing two assists. His all-round game is incredibly accomplished, boasting impressive pass completion and dribbling statistics.

Paterson has played 157 times for Bristol City across all competitions since joining in 2016 and has become somewhat of a fan’s favourite. Paterson scored 23 goals in that time and was a key part of the Bristol City side that had a memorable run in the 2017/18 Carabao Cup (or whatever it was called at that time!) Full of tricks and possessing a wand-like right-foot that can cause havoc from set-pieces, Paterson is the kind of player who would light up League One.

Paterson has a wealth of experience playing in England’s second-tier and whilst the Coventry-born attacker may be keen to stay in the Championship, I’m certain that Town could offer a lucrative pay packet that may lure the 29-year-old into becoming of the key figures of Town’s new American revolution. Available for nothing and coming into his primitive years, Town would do well to act quickly on this one.

And those are my picks! Feel free to let me know your thoughts and get in touch if you have any recommendations for players that you would like to see become part of Town’s new look side for next season! Thank you for taking the time to read this piece; I’ll see you again soon!