The Exiled Robin

Stuart Radnedge returns with a post-Reading view on matters and an interesting angle on whether geogrpahy affects the calibre of player City can attract - something I've certainly felt for a number of years. "I realised quite a few things when I heard ex-Gashead Jason Roberts had scored against us on his debut for Reading on Saturday.  And it wasn’t anything to do with my hatred for him being reignited. I began reflecting on footballing situations. Roberts is one of many former Premier League (he did somehow get that far!) footballers who take a step down a league and ply their trade in the Championship.  But why is it that these players always seem to join other clubs aside from us? Is it the London, Manchester, Midlands factor? Players join a club near those areas because they’ve already set up home nearby and are hoping to stay at the club, like Reading, or alternatively play well and then move on to another not too far away? Maybe. But by that ratio...

Following a vastly improved performance and result for City against relegation rivals Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, Stu Radnedge returns to The Exiled Robin with this post-match view and what the future holds for star striker Nicky Maynard. (ER - written prior to City's announcement that Wigan had been given permission to talk to Maynard) From the despair of last weekend’s result against Brighton came a stellar performance and victory for the best team in Bristol on Saturday as City recorded Derek McInnes’ seventh victory in his time as manager.  The victory saw new signing Chris Wood and Kalifa Cisse score well-orchestrated goals in the first half – mounting pressure on the lowly visitors, Doncaster Rovers, who replied with a goal in the second half.  No more so due to them having to play with ten men after Habib Beye was sent off in the inciden that led to City netting their second goal. But, more interestingly for me was the noted absence of one player who was rested ...

The announcement this morning that City had given permission for Nicky Maynard to talk to Wigan was not unexpected, given that it had been rumoured online and in the press overnight, but still caused a fair amount of consternation and discussion amongst the Ashton Gate faithful.   Many have been quick to jump to understandable but slightly high & mighty remarks surrounding the possible destination.  " Wigan, ha ha! Not the dream move he'd hoped for - see you next season " is a fairly succinct summary of many views and with Fulham, Everton, West Brom and Swansea having been linked in recent weeks it is a reaction that has some grounds.  However the truth of the matter is this appears to have been the only official bid received and with only seven days left of the transfer window, this could turn into the only resolution possible for club and player.   Let's also remember the news today is simply that City have given permission to talk as discussions over...

My latest article from Bristol City's matchday programme, Red Alert : Doncaster, Jan 21st Whilst fans of many clubs were looking forward to the new year with anticipation and excitement, Darlington fans went into their first match of 2012, away at Barrow, believing it could be their last. Ever. Having been placed in administration for a third time, it seemed as if the Grim Reaper was finally catching up on the Quakers.   At the time of writing they have gained yet another, miraculous, short stay of execution but the future looks bleaker than ever. Many clubs have been in trouble before but I admit it hasn’t always struck the chord that Darlington’s situation has.   Maybe Plymouth’s near-miss woke me up to the fact that clubs I’ve watched City play at were going out of business.   Clubs we’ve had rivalries with and classic matches against. But the reason this one has hit me is this stunningly emotional piece from Darlington fan, Richard Heslop ( @MKDarlo ) who wrot...

City’s most successful manager in a generation finds himself back where he made his name He’d often wait.   Letting the initial cheers on the final whistle subside and pausing whilst the players walked towards the tunnel, milking the deserved acclaim, shaking each one of them by the hand as they made their way off the pitch.   Then, this short, round, lovable, chirpy Cockney would start making his way over.   Occasionally he’d break into a little jog and as he got nearer the wide, delighted but cheeky grin became more evident and told you all you needed to know.   He’d tease the fans, pulling his arm back slightly before letting it rest back by his side.   Again and again whilst the fans’ “Woooooahs” reached a crescendo and then the big arching swing of the arm, back as far as he could manage before launching into a ferocious upper-cut punch of the air as the fans cheered and he was lauded, smothered in adulation by the long-suffering supporters. Poss...

The recent signing of Chris Wood on loan from West Brom for the rest of the season was seen as something of a coup for City boss Derek McInnes.  After all, Wood had just completed a successful loan spell at Birmingham where he scored eleven goals in all competitions for the Blues, who were believed to be trying to entice him back for a further spell, whilst Portsmouth were trying to off load Dave Kitson to accommodate the young Kiwi. An impressive spell on the South Coast at Brighton last season, where he helped them to the League One title with eight goals in 22 starts also bodes well and, at just 20 years old, he's got everything to prove. Tall, strong men born in Auckland don't often make it into football, but Wood has been living the dream in England for nearly four years now, attempting to join an exclusive club of players from New Zealand to make the grade on these shores.  Rory Fallon and Chris Killen have had good careers, whilst Ryan Nelson has ...

At the start of a busy week for the Exiled Robin, Stuart Radnedge returns with this post-mortem on a desperately disappointing display from the Robins at the Amex Stadium at the weekend.   A 2-0 defeat only tells half the tale as City were sorely missing any sort of rhythm and mustered only a single, injury-time shot on target on the south coast. “Taking positives from disappointing results has become something of a past-time for City fans this year. However under McInnes’ leadership fortunes have changed a little and, more importantly for me, we clearly have a manager who won’t beat around the bush too much in saying what the problems are. Tempo. The boss said on the City website after the match that we have to try and generate a tempo that allows us to win games more often than not. Personally I believe the man is right.   We have general belief from the crowds and the Bristol City Family on Twitter but there has been something amiss again this season – ...