Is Bristol City move right for England keeper?

Earlier today England keeper David James completed a move to Championship side Bristol City.

The veteran keeper has signed a 12 month deal with an option of a further 12 months.

He left Portsmouth earlier this summer after his contract with on the South Coast expired.

Offers

James told Sky Sports: “I’ve had offers to stay in the Premier League but it is more important that I play football – which I love – for the right club and be a family man.

“I had a long conversation with the chairman Steve Lansdown yesterday and I liked what he said about the club and his ambition. I know all about the plans for a new stadium and desire to win promotion to the Premier League.

It seems that whatever Lansdown told James convinced him that the club would be battling for promotion next season. I’m not so sure. They are a good solid Championship side but I don’t think they quite have the squad to challenge for promotion just yet.

New Boss

The Robins have appointed experienced boss Steve Coppell. The lure of playing for the well respected boss must have helped to persuade James to sign for the club. Coppell is a manager who knows what he likes and likes what he knows. I bet there isn’t much he doesn’t know about the former-Villa stopper.

He also has obvious ambition for his new club. The signing of James is a real coup for the former-Reading boss. James could prove the bargain of the season.

First Team Football

James has stated that one of the reasons he has moved to City is to get regular first team football. He probably would have sat on the bench at most Premier League clubs but he also had the opportunity to join SPL side Celtic. At nearly 40 he can’t afford to waste the remainder of his career on the bench. He will certainly be Bristol City’s number one next season.

International Career

The move to the Championship could mean his international career is likely to end, a lot of people would say not before time. I really can’t see Fabio Capello picking him if he’s playing in the second tier of English football. Second division players don’t tend to get into the England team, even if they were previously first choice players.

Intelligent

The England keeper is not the typical footballer. He paints portraits and collects art. He is more intellectual than most footballers. He has obviously put in a lot thought about his next move and weighed up the pros and cons. It does seem a strange decision but who knows he could be proven right and the Robins could be up at the top of the Championship come the end of the season.

Attraction

The signing of David James won’t just attract more supporters to Ashton Gate but could also attract more high profile stars to join the Robins. Even at nearly 40 James is still a major attraction and still a good player.

He has still has his occasional moments of madness but he is usually solid enough when called upon. He was still judged good enough to be England keeper at the World Cup, so he can’t be that poor a player.

This move could prove a wise one if the Robins prove to be as ambitious as their chairman thinks they are. I hope it works out for the club and the player.

Is a move to a Championship side a wise one for David James?