The Exiled Robin

My latest article from Bristol City's matchday programme, Red Alert : Birmingham, Oct 23rd With more and more people using Twitter, reading blogs and viewing a tranche of news websites, finding what you want to online can be an arduous, confusing and time-consuming process.   To help you out if you’re just stepping into this labyrinth, or just want to explore further afield, I have identified some of my favourite destinations and will run through these today, and in some future editions.   BLOGS Part 1: As you can imagine there are a copious number of blogs and no-one could read them all.   I’ve excluded any Premier League specific blogs for the simple reason I don’t really read them.   There’s more than enough space dedicated to the behemoth of English football as it is, so instead I’ll focus on four of the most interesting, varied and well written sites that concentrate on the Football League and its members: The Two Unfortunates ( thetwounfortuna...

"This time next year...." Never mind Del-boy's famous quote from Only Fools & Horses, a week is a long time in football.   Seven days ago there was still an expectancy of Dave Jones, Billy Davies or even Gianfranco Zola being appointed as the next manager of Bristol City and few were talking seriously about Derek 'Del' McInnes.   Those that had him on their radar were mainly saying “Derek Who?” and accusing the board of taking the cheap option by looking at him.   They wanted a big name, and they wanted them quick.   Check out my views on those excessive demands here: http://exiledrobin.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-new.html Since it became evident that McInnes and former City player Mark Robins were the shortlisted two it appears Wikipedia has taken a battering from eager City fans desperate for information on the man soon to be installed as Keith Millen’s successor. The reaction since 5pm tonight has been remarkable.   Widespread ...

The latest publication of my 'On the Social' column from the Bristol City matchday programme, Red Alert : Peterborough, October 15 th 2011 This week I’m privileged to welcome Peterborough Chairman and regular Tweeter Darragh MacAnthony (@DMAC102 ) to ‘On the Social’ as he gives his views on tweeting, rows with fans, blackmail, lawsuits and getting the truth out into the public domain. You are one of only a handful of football club Chairman to use Twitter. Did you have any doubts as to whether it was a good idea? I have never been a big fan of social media sites such as Facebook, Myspace or even Twitter. My wife loves that stuff as do many millions of people. It was actually an employee who is trying to help rebuild my online reputation who insisted I give it a go. She thought that my honest and direct views would give people an idea who I was and that the nonsense written about me online wouldn’t be so easy to believe. I started using Twitter whilst away for 20 day...

If you’re a football fan using Twitter and you follow fans of your club you may occasionally get frustrated at the opinions of others with regard to players, the manager, the tactics being used or even the best pub to have a pre-match cider in. However, the last two weeks has seen interaction like never before if you’re a Bristol City fan.   Heart-breaking defeat against Reading and abject capitulation at Blackpool inside five days caused a huge groundswell of calls for Keith Millen to be sacked.   The natural impatience of the modern-day fan meant that when news wasn’t forthcoming by the Sunday morning, many were getting frustrated.   By Monday morning the announcement was made and thoughts naturally turned to who the new man might be.   What has followed has been fascinating and intriguing. The way many fans would see a club go about appointing a new manager is incredible, with a whole number of criteria (some are listed at the bottom) apparently more importa...

Ever since Liverpool’s glorious reign in the 1970’s and 80’s under a succession of managers appointed from within the club there has been a romantic view of the old boot-room.   A dingy, cramped room with a grey painted floor, a garish unevenly painted wall and discarded mud pulled from studs all over the floor.   I envisage a shower room with half the taps not working properly and the rest producing only cold water.   There is a blackboard in the corner with chalk lines and circles all over it, depicting the previous match tactics and detailed perusals on the opposition.   There a couple of balls lying around, a few shin-pads and probably the odd pair of used underpants. Above all there is a musty smell, but it’s a comfortable smell.   An aroma that personifies consistency, loyalty and a feeling of comfort.   Why bring in new people, new ideas and a fresh outlook, when all you need is right under your roof? When Bristol City appointed from within th...