Often Partisan

Ryan Shotton next to come in?

It has been widely reported today that Derby County defender Ryan Shotton is due to become the next signing at Blues following yesterday’s capture of Diego Fabbrini.

The 27-year-old defender has made just seven appearances in the league for Derby this term and with Head Coach Paul Clement looking to trim his squad it appears he has been deemed surplus to requirements. Shotton can play either right-back or centre back and will provide cover in place of the unlucky Neal Eardley who saw his season come to a premature end due to injury.

I think reports that Shotton has already signed are a little bit premature of the mark but I have heard rumours from many good sources that confirm that the former Stoke player is having a medical prior to the move today.

Knowing that Rowett likes to bring in players primarily to improve the team rather than just as bodies makes me wonder if Shotton’s arrival means more time back on the bench for Paul Caddis. While going forwards the Scot has been impressive he has struggled when I have seen him in defence – Ryan Fraser of Ipswich giving him a torrid time last Saturday being a recent highlight.

Shotton is a player Rowett has looked at before and I think represents another capture of a player Rowett has long admired. Whether it turns into something more permanent remains to be seen but it for me it helps to add to what is a depleted defence with a player with Premier League experience – which for right now is a good thing.

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90 Responses to “Ryan Shotton next to come in?”

  • Jonathan says:

    Great signing (if it comes off) 6ft 3 can play right back and centre half,and has even been utilised on the wing and up front, so he must be quick, possess a long throw, too,apparently,another shrewd piece of business by GR

  • Tmsblues says:

    According to sky he’s passed medical and signed on loan this pm
    Very good signing but still think we need a left footer at back that gives an option for grounds to play left side cb

  • Strettonbluenose says:

    I work in Derby and am surrounded by sheep botherers. They reckon Shotton’s pretty good but has a mistake a game in him. I’m sure the gaffer can build his confidence and get the most out of him.

  • Pods says:

    Let’s give Gary Rowett another round of applause, as far as I know from a good sauce Ryan Shotton is exactly what we require at this vital time of the season.
    Bristol City will prove a hard but to crack, remember they best Middlesborough recently.

    KRO

  • StaffsBlue says:

    On Twitter, there’s a pic of Shotton signing (timed at half an hour ago.)

  • Swedish Bluenose says:

    Things are getting better and better. We sold our most valuable asset, that is Dimmi Gray, and after that the team goes out and performs some of the best matches so far in the season with two 3-0 wins against strong promotion or play-off contenders such as Derby and Ipswich. Looking forward to follow the remaining season. We could definitely, with Fabbrini and Shotton aboard, be able to make the play-offs or even higher.
    KRO

  • rhees says:

    Very pleased with this indeed well done Garry happy with January signings this yr and very impressed kro

  • Big Al says:

    If that is the end of that, it would suggest GR is happy with the situation at left back.

  • Andrew says:

    Push comes to shove we have hancox at left back

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Official on BCFC.com now.

  • Mark H says:

    Shotton the Villa!

  • Goodie says:

    Let’s hope rowett plays him at centre back and not full back

  • Dave Mann says:

    He will . KRO

  • Woodlands says:

    Is this a better line-up?
    Against Derby in March 2015 we had Darren Randolph (Now Kutschak). Caddis. Kiernan (Now Morrison). Spector (Now Shotton). Grounds. Cotterill. Tesche (Now Kiefenbeld). Dyer (Now Maghoma). Davis. Shinnie (Now Toral). Novak (Donaldson substituted). On the Bench we had Doyle (Now Ledzgkins) Gray (Now Buckley). Thomas (Now Fabbrini). Reilly (Now Solomon Otabor). Robinson. Zigic (Now Vaughan).

    Improved? I think so though its not yet the finished article – Evolution not revolution!!!

  • Rkboosh says:

    Nice comparison Woodlands. Glad to see that GR has once again won round any doom mongers. The man is a legend. Just hope the guys can keep up their good form to the end of the season and give us all an exciting run in. kro

  • Muzzy says:

    I agree rkboosh most hadn’t even gave the bloke time to do the deals lol
    I could understand if window had shut and not signed any1 . But rowett knew he was adding and backed that’s why he stayed… Have more faith

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Good interview with Shotton on YouTube. I like the fact that he’s up for a permanent move too if everything goes well.

  • Micko says:

    Do I detect that there is a buz in the air??? Now the problem is – who to play up alongside the Don from Toral, Fabrini, Buckley, Maghoma, VSO and Cotts when fit and who to play at the back from Caddis, Morrison, Robbo, Grounds, Specs and Shotton – nice problem!!! I love it !

  • ziggy signs says:

    hancox should be in for grounds

  • Dave Mann says:

    And as got better since Gray left as he doesent have to do his defending anymore … No changes for me for Bristol City though the bench will be as strong as its been for a few years now . KRO

  • Dave Mann says:

    Fabbrini , Soloman, shotton, Spector, Vaughan , maghoma and the goalie propably but will it be 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 which will make a difference to be bench ? KRO .. and remember we are only guessing because our manager could change things.

    • Shirley Blue says:

      Fabbrini might be on the bench tomorrow but he hasn’t paid £1.5m for him to sit on the bench. My guess is that it will settle to be 4-2-3-1 with Fabbrini, Toral and either Buckley or Maghoma being in the 3. Davis will probably drop to the bench in time.

    • StaffsBlue says:

      Probably the strongest bench we’ve had for 4 or 5 years I would think.

      I feel Rowett will switch back to 4-2-3-1 for the away game. We shouldn’t need to open Bristol up, they’ll come on to us hopefully and we’ll pick them off.

      • Dave Mann says:

        That’s also fair. KRO

      • ChrisG says:

        I think it could be all change tomorrow 4-1-4-1 with Shotton in for Caddis, Buckley & Mags out wide, Torel & Fab behind Don & Kieftenbeld in fron of the back 4. If GR does do something like that I just hope we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot.

        • Dave Mann says:

          Not knocking it Chris but highly unlikely , Rowetts not one for changing formation or personal having won 3-O last week but in time who knows ! KRO

          • ChrisG says:

            I think it would be unfair to the players that have done so well Dave if he did do something like that, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were wholesale changes, but I think maybe Mags will return & possibly Shotton coming in with Buckley & Caddis dropping to the bench. Looking forward to tomorrows game, i’m glad I got my ticket early!!

        • Shirley Blue says:

          I don’t think there is any chance of that after two 3-0 wins. Possibly Maghoma or Fabbrini will come in for Davis.

          • Dave Mann says:

            Yes Chris , me the wife and my son will all be on our way tommorow to Bristol , really looking forward to it and I hope that the playoffs become more of a probability than a possibility after the game but Ime thinking banana skins , I hope Ime wrong and we’re celebrating at 5pm onwards on the way home . KRO

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Gary has to be congratulated on his deals this month.
    Vaughan in, Lowry out….Financially neutral.
    Shotton in, Shinnie out…..Financially neutral.
    Fabbrini in, Gray out……..Financially plus £2.25m.
    Maxwell in, Financially minus £75k.

    Summary:- 4 in 3 out profit £2.175m.

    More deals?

  • Dave Mann says:

    Still some money for another defender then? KRO

    • Shirley Blue says:

      Despite GR saying Hancox is left back cover I can see him and Thomas getting loaned out and use the wages to get a left back in probably on loan. Sorry to go on about it but we should also get an offer in for Tesche who is out of contract in the summer. Forest just might be tempted to get some money for him as they have little chance of getting in the play-offs or being relegated. A left back and Tesche and its all bases covered for me. If we did get a run of injuries or suspensions we would have great cover for all positions.

  • Graham says:

    Think the players we have now will get us to the summer, if we get promoted GR probably has targets for that too and won’t want too many surplus to requirements so he may forego any last minute buys now.Unless a 20 goal striker lands in his lap.lol

  • Mitchell says:

    Word of warning for tomorrow. Play Davis and MK together to start. Freeman and Tomlin no mugs. Plenty of bottle for first hour-then go for it. Draw not on for me. Toral and Don.up top with Maghoma over Buckley. Fab.and Buckley during second half. If Robbo.starts-no more than 60 mins. Shotton and Morro.from then on.

    • David L says:

      Entirely agree. The ‘other’ BCFC are in a false position. Any team that records a century of points winning a league can’t be daft.

      For whatever reason it didn’t click in the Championship early on, but they’re not a hit’n’hope team

      New manager, recent win over Middlesboro’ they’re on a bit of a roll too.- lets not underestimate our opposition.

      Of course we need to be confident in our ability and recent form – but we’ve got to impose ourselves on the game first.

      I’m hugely confident that our management team know this – and a steady 1-0 win would do for me.

  • Dave Mann says:

    I think it shows how much stronger the championship is now compared to league one , as Bristol proved against Middlesbrough they maybe in a false position but the league never lies and in this division any team at the bottom can beat any team at the top home and away and I think it’s out on its own in world football as the most competetive of leagues , by the way I would take 1-0 also but as I said earlier this could be a banana skin and if we lose its not the end of the world . KRO

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I totally agree Dave. The Championship, for me, is the most competitive league anywhere in the world. Any team can beat any team in this division, which makes it much more interesting/exciting than the 3 or 4 horse race of the premier. I also like the fact that almost a third of the teams change every year, with promotion and relegation… it freshens things up.

  • Womble Joe says:

    Almajir if Blues got promoted to whom would the Sky money go and who would manage that fund?

    Thanks

  • Shirley Blue says:

    I have just been told that Buckley’s loan has been extended to the end of the season. Its been a very good week.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I hope Mr Rowett has plenty of paracetamol on hand. He’s gonna have a headache picking a team for tomorrow’s game. How long has it been since we could say that?

    • Dave Mann says:

      I think tomorrow’s team picks it self staffs , after Bristol City then the headaches begin because win in style then why change ? .. Lose then why make multiple changes , he’s the manager and that’s why he gets the bunce . KRO

      • StaffsBlue says:

        Personally, I would agree with that. Never change a winning team (except for injuries/suspensions.) But it’s not beyond the manager to throw a curved ball or two. He’s known who his transfer targets were for a while obviously, so he must have thought about personnel and formations to accomodate them too. It’ll be interesting to see what he comes up with… let’s face it, no one saw the 4-3-3 coming.

    • Hillfield Blues says:

      Our last away game we hammered Derby so I can’t see him deviating too far away from that team/formation tbh.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Gary Rowett: “I tell you what, I’ll handle five players for three positions’, knowing that two of those players can come on and win you the game in the last 20 minutes,” said Rowett. “And knowing that any one of those five players can start in the three positions and give us something on a day-to-day and match-to-match basis.

    “What I’ve got to make sure is that there is still continuity of that front line and people still get that three or four games where they’re growing in their performances and that’s going to be a challenge for me.

    Like I said, a headache, but a good one to have. :)

    • Hillfield Blues says:

      That’s a philosophy that reminds me of Ajax’ “total football”of the 70/80s.
      They basically trained a lot of their players to be able to play in different positions.

  • Dave Mann says:

    That’s why in my opinion it will be 4-3-3 tomorrow .
    Kuszczak
    Caddis Morrison Robinson Grounds
    Davis Kieftenbeld Gleeson
    Toral Donaldson Buckley/ maghoma
    Fabbrini and shotton I think will be on the bench .
    After tomorrow’s game then it could all change but the players from last week and the week before should be involved in my opinion . KRO

    • StaffsBlue says:

      My only change, would be Maghoma in for Davis, in a 4-2-3-1.

      Kuszczak
      Caddis Morrison Robinson Grounds
      Gleeson Kieftenbeld
      Buckley Toral Maghoma
      Donaldson

      Subs: Legzdins, Shotton, Spector, Davis, Fabbrini, Solomon-Otabor, Vaughan.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Either formation or team should be good enough to beat Bristol City so I would be happy with both line ups to be honest . KRO

  • Womble Joe says:

    Just had a cheeky fiver on Blues 2-1, Fabio first scorer @ 66-1 with BetFred

    You never know

    KRO

  • Dave Mann says:

    That’s a great bet at 66/1 but that’s because Fabbrini will start on the bench and coming on late and scoring the first of three goals is the reason why but best of luck womble ! KRO

  • StaffsBlue says:

    The more I think about it, the more I think Shotton might be utilised, primarily to add height to our defence. With Aiden Flint bombing in at free kicks and corners, we’re going to need someone to cope with his 6 feet 6 inch frame. Shotton is now our tallest defender.

    • Shirley Blue says:

      He would either have to leave out Caddis or Robbo then to bring Shotton in. I thought Caddis and Buckley worked well together down the right in the first half against Ipswich. Caddis got exposed as the game went on as Buckley got tired though. I don’t think he will leave Robbo out,

      • StaffsBlue says:

        I’m just wondering if Morrison and Robbo can cope with high balls in to Flint. I’m not necessarily advocating starting Shotton but, like most teams, if we’re in front during the second half, Bristol may resort to high balls to get back into the game, that’s when Shotton would be useful.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Shotton when selected plays centre half because that’s where we need him most . KRO

  • Dave Mann says:

    For Bristol …… Worth concidering but don’t change a winning team . KRO

  • atko says:

    I don’t see many if any changes to the lineup tomorrow. Remember GR brought players in that will have a point to prove as they were all unfancied where they were at. Buckley, Fabbrini, Shotton all lacking first team football. Robbo at 37 & the Don only having played a few games from a long layoff. For me it’s too much of a gamble playing anyone who isn’t match sharp it’s not like we are in a panic station mode, we’re 5 unbeaten, only 1 loss in nine. I think Buckley will start, Fabbrini & Shotton on the bench. With Fabbrini on the bench we have the luxury of him replacing Toral, Maghoma, Buckley, etc take your pick.

    • Hillfield Blues says:

      As much as we’d all like to see Fabrini straight into the side this isn’t the ideal game to blood him.A cagey away trip where Blues need to defend at the foremost and hit on the counter as they have done brilliantly so far. Let him loose in our home game against Sheff Wed.Cant wait for that one.A draw wouldn’t be a disaster tommorow.

      • StaffsBlue says:

        If we go 4-2-3-1, I’d bring Maghoma in for Davis. If we use 4-3-3, I’d detail Davis to keep a close eye on Tomlin. Either way, we have to be really tight tomorrow, because Brizzle have a lot of skill and trickery with Freeman and Tomlin.


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