This coming season will be a fascinating Championship, with strong clubs all the way through the league. The additions of the underachieving Newcastle United, Roy Keane’s bearded frown at Ipswich Town and the ever entertaining Ian Holloway at Blackpool surely enhance what will be a well fought, captivating title race with no one safe from relegation and everyone capable of a promotion push.
Uncle Gary, our most successful manager for a long, long time, has turned Bristol City from League One serial bottlers into a well respected Championship club. Just like at Yeovil Town, promotion came easy for Johnson on a tight budget and he became everyone’s jovial, witty yet hard lined manager.
Finishing fourth in our first season in The Championship for nine years, despite only having a top scorer of 8 goals in Darren Byfield, followed by the anguish of (yet another) Wembley loss was a sure sign that Bristol City were a team on the up. Despite the naysayers, the 08/09 season was another positive one, with a strong 10th placed finish, which could have been drastically improved had we not ended the season so abysmally, with draws at home and losses away an all too regular occurrence.
Losing player of the season Dele Adebola is a blow almost as powerful as one of his own, as his bustling centre forward play offered something different from the other options we had up front. As well as Big Del, we lost Stern John, David Noble, Scott Murray and Chris Weale.
This close season however, we have brought in youth and potential - Danny Haynes, Dean Gerken, Andre Blackman, Lewin Nyatanga and David Clarkson all arrive at Ashton Gate with points to prove, as well as the experience of tough tackling Scotland international Paul Hartley from Celtic who will use his intimidating scowl as enforcer and protector of the young Robins.
Early signs have not been too promising, a 4-0 loss to Ajax, followed by a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham does little for inspiration, but these pre-season games mean little when compared to the all action, hard fought Championship fixtures, of which all 46 are difficult to predict and damn exhausting to watch. We have a new look side, which is what we needed, as it became apparent last year we had become all too predictable. Personally, I can’t wait for Saturday, August the 8th for our match at Preston North End, a long trip well worth making.
Despite a strong summer of purchasing, as well as holding onto influential players such as Marvin Elliott and Michael McIndoe (just) we are only 33/1 on to win the Championship. Gary Johnson knows that this season’s line up is tougher than ever, but with the City faithful there to ‘Bounce around the ground’ in support of our team and the improved squad at Ashton Gate; I may just place a bet on The Robins and come out £33 pounds richer… I’m an optimist, not a risk taker!
Uncle Gary, our most successful manager for a long, long time, has turned Bristol City from League One serial bottlers into a well respected Championship club. Just like at Yeovil Town, promotion came easy for Johnson on a tight budget and he became everyone’s jovial, witty yet hard lined manager.
Finishing fourth in our first season in The Championship for nine years, despite only having a top scorer of 8 goals in Darren Byfield, followed by the anguish of (yet another) Wembley loss was a sure sign that Bristol City were a team on the up. Despite the naysayers, the 08/09 season was another positive one, with a strong 10th placed finish, which could have been drastically improved had we not ended the season so abysmally, with draws at home and losses away an all too regular occurrence.
Losing player of the season Dele Adebola is a blow almost as powerful as one of his own, as his bustling centre forward play offered something different from the other options we had up front. As well as Big Del, we lost Stern John, David Noble, Scott Murray and Chris Weale.
This close season however, we have brought in youth and potential - Danny Haynes, Dean Gerken, Andre Blackman, Lewin Nyatanga and David Clarkson all arrive at Ashton Gate with points to prove, as well as the experience of tough tackling Scotland international Paul Hartley from Celtic who will use his intimidating scowl as enforcer and protector of the young Robins.
Early signs have not been too promising, a 4-0 loss to Ajax, followed by a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham does little for inspiration, but these pre-season games mean little when compared to the all action, hard fought Championship fixtures, of which all 46 are difficult to predict and damn exhausting to watch. We have a new look side, which is what we needed, as it became apparent last year we had become all too predictable. Personally, I can’t wait for Saturday, August the 8th for our match at Preston North End, a long trip well worth making.
Despite a strong summer of purchasing, as well as holding onto influential players such as Marvin Elliott and Michael McIndoe (just) we are only 33/1 on to win the Championship. Gary Johnson knows that this season’s line up is tougher than ever, but with the City faithful there to ‘Bounce around the ground’ in support of our team and the improved squad at Ashton Gate; I may just place a bet on The Robins and come out £33 pounds richer… I’m an optimist, not a risk taker!
