Skubala wants 'quick, exciting football'

Michael Skubala has promised Bristol City fans "quick, exciting football" as he prepares for his first game as manager.

The Robins face Walsall in the Carabao Cup first round on Thursday, with the former Lincoln City man imposing his own style on the team for the first time.

Skubala got the Imps promoted to the Championship last season despite having the lowest possession percentage in League One with 42.3 per cent, but were second only to champions Cardiff City for goals scored, with 89.

He has got seven new players in the squad that he inherited from interim manager Roy Hodgson, but Skubala said he will not allow possession stats to get in the way of his principles.

"Do I want the ball? A hundred per cent - every manager wants the ball," he told BBC Radio Bristol. "Do I want the ball over creating chances? No. I'd rather create more threat and more chances."

He added: "The team needs to [play a] fast, forward, aggressive, positive type of football, but within that be adaptable to change, to [opposition] teams, and to be a unit that's hard to play against.

"For me, playing quick, exciting football is the thing that gets fans off their seats, whether that's vertical at times, whether that's direct, that's OK as well."

Skubala confirmed that the club is still seeking further additions to the squad but said the plan is greater than simply building a squad to succeed this season.

"There's some really good talent in this squad and if it all clicks we'll be a really good team," he said. "That's not just the new players we've added to the team, but also those who have been here a few years.

"The first thing I want is a team that works hard. If I was a Bristol City fan sitting in the stands, the first thing I want to see is a team that cares for the badge, cares for the city, and cares for the club they're playing for. That comes through hard work.

"We've been really aggressive in the market for the first few weeks to get players in, not just for this season.

"So when you see someone like Lisav [Eissat] he is 21 years old, and we can keep improving him and developing him. He's a signing for now but also for the future.

"Some signings are for now to try to improve the team. Jed Wallace is probably along that line. We have to get the balance of that right.

"But I do still think we have to complement the squad with one or two more signings. For sure we are looking at certain positions, and I don't want to give those positions away.

"We need to add a bit more power to the team, to complement the technicians."