David James insists playing for Bristol City in the Championship will feel like a breath of fresh air after his bitter experience at the World Cup. England's dismal showing at the finals, and early exit at the hands of Germany, came as a profound blow for goalkeeper James, who featured in three of his country's four games in South Africa after ousting Robert Green. While the post-mortem continues into the failure of Fabio Capello's team to live up to pre-tournament expectations, James is determined to move on and focus on the next chapter in a playing career that already spans four decades. And he reckons playing for Steve Coppell's Robins in the Championship is the ideal antidote to any lingering World Cup blues. "I thought the World Cup was boring," declared James, who met the media at Ashton Gate before being introduced to City fans ahead of Saturday's final pre-season dress rehearsal against Premier League newcomers Blackpool. I thought the best team won it but, apart from Germany, who defended well and scored lots of goals on the counter-attack against us and Argentina, it was not a tournament that will be remembered for its attacking football and flair."
Bristol Evening Post

David James' new manager has told him to forget about playing for England again after joining Bristol City. Goalkeeper James, 40 yesterday, hopes to make it cap No 54 in the friendly against Hungary next Wednesday. He is refusing to give up on England despite dropping out of the Premier League for the first time in 18 years. But Robins boss Steve Coppell said: "Considering what happened at the World Cup, I suspect there is going to be a sea change in the England squad. I'd not have thought Fabio Capello would use any of the old guard. The public and Press will demand changes be made. I would be amazed if David James is in the squad."
The Sun

Steve Coppell has warned Bristol City new boy David James to forget about playing for England again. James completed his shock move to Ashton Gate last week after Bristol City won the race to sign the keeper on a free transfer. The 40-year-old revealed at his unveiling that he planned to keep playing for his country despite dropping down to the Championship.
Sky Sports

Lewin Nyatanga headed the list of injury concerns collected by Steve Coppell during Bristol City's 2-0 friendly win over Blackpool.
Teamtalk

Spare a thought for Dean Gerken and Stephen Henderson, who have been completely overlooked amid the media fanfare that greeted the arrival of England goalkeeper David James. Having endured the rigours of pre-season in the belief they were competing for a place in the starting line-up to face Millwall in this Saturday's Championship curtain-raiser at Ashton Gate, the pair unexpectedly find themselves in a position where a seat on the bench is the best they can hope for. As if that was not bad enough, both were required to play a half in this final dress rehearsal, while the man who has been signed to replace them watched from the grandstand. To their credit, Gerken and Henderson did what was asked of them, keeping a clean sheet as City completed their friendly programme with a confidence-boosting victory over the Premier League newcomers.
Bristol Evening Post

Blackpool's pre-season has gone from bad to worse after Keith Southern suffered medial knee ligament damage during the friendly defeat at Bristol City.
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