The Exiled Robin

Tu esday night sees the visit of the surprise team of the season in League One – or perhaps any league, and any season – when ex-Yeovil manager Russell Slade brings Leyton Orient to Ashton Gate. A mere 80-or-so places separate the two clubs if form in all of 2013 is taken into account across all four divisions, and whilst City have largely floundered, been relegated and struggled to adapt, the O’s have put a remarkable run together, coming close to ambushing the play off party last season, whilst being seemingly unstoppable this time around. Their success has been put down to stability and consistency, something which as we’re finding out is easy to say when things are going well, less easy to stick to if they’re going wrong, but another tale to draw on for those who insist longevity and a settled management team are key to long-term success. Stu Radnedge picks up the story with Matt Simpson , author of a book on Leyton Orient’s greatest players and the man who runs the O...

Those of you who have followed my blog for some time, or perhaps once-upon-a-time may have perused my ramblings in the City programme, may recall this week’s guest as I featured his Blades blog in this piece  a couple of years ago. Ian Rands, host of ‘A United View’  has had a highly successful couple of years, with a series of interviews with ex-Blades  and one particularly thoughtful post about his son’s exposure to the dark side of football  helping him to be shortlisted for the 2012 Football Supporters’ Federation Football Blogger of the Year award and going one better to take The Two Unfortunates award of the same distinction. Thus I’ve been looking forward to welcoming Ian to this feature since the fixtures were announced as I knew I’d get an insightful, balanced, thoughtful and detailed view of life at Bramall Lane – and he’s delivered just that. Sheffield United have suffered an even worse start to the season than City and new boss David Weir pai...

Over to Lewis Hancock for this week's preview... Finally, a turn in the road for City leading towards a more upbeat and more optimistic future! Well, perhaps anyway. Sean O’Driscoll’s ‘transitional phase’ has started to come together of late and with seven points from nine and a relatively comfortable victory over Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup, City are beginning to quash any qualms that some fans may have. But some of the jury are still out at the moment and a trip away to Tranmere will not be the easiest of tasks. Rovers take up the final spot in the drop zone with City merely a place above on goal difference and a win at Prenton Park could be what is needed to climb away from relegation scrap. However, Tranmere have more concerning internal matters to deal with at present. Midfielder Joe Thompson has begun his six-month long chemotherapy after contracting cancer at just 24-years-old, something that really puts football and life into perspective. I’ve spo...

Although performances may have been less eye-pleasing, the last two weeks have seen City break a number of hoodoos; the first clean sheet since April, the first home win since March, indeed, the first win of any sort since March and the first away win in almost a year under Sean O’Driscoll’s tutelage. Earlier in the season we finally tasted some cup success after a number of barren years with victories over Bristol Rovers and Crystal Palace particularly noteworthy, so now it’s time for the last remaining true hoodoo I can think of, progress in the F.A.Cup.  Now it should be noted we’re entering at an earlier stage than at any point in the past seven years, but even so, we’ve still managed to find some way of losing out to mediocre opponents, especially at home, year after year. Saturday sees League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge visit Ashton Gate for the first round of the F.A. Cup as the Daggers become the latest team to attempt to inflict cup misery on the BS3 faithf...

After four points from two games in which, for once this season, the points tally has bettered the performances City have an opportunity to pull out of the bottom four as they play their game in hand against Steve Coppell-directed Crawley Town, their first league match against the relative newcomers. Stu Radnedge has spoken to Steve Hollis  who covers Crawley for Sussex-based ‘The Argus’ to get his take on the Bonfire Night visitors to Ashton Gate. The match was due to take place on Oct 12 but was cancelled due to City having international call-ups. At the time, City's form was pretty woeful and Town's was very good. But as of late there have been three straight defeats for the Red Devils. I'll guess you would have rather played the match on the original date, but what has happened the last couple of weeks that could explain the change in form? Yes, Crawley would have preferred to have played on the original date as they were...

A couple of months ago one Nottingham Forest fan said to me on Twitter something along the lines of "I imagine you’ll sign Simon Gillett, he fits perfectly into a Sean O’Driscoll team and system and would be the glue to help it all stick together” Well, now the glue has arrived and it will be interesting to see how he’s used, and for who.  Bobby Reid probably needs some rest but he’s playing well and is our key creative force in the middle of the park.  Marlon Pack has been made captain following the replacement of Sam Baldock and plays a key role, adding height to the midfield (notice how many headers he wins just in front of the back four) and is probably one of the most composed ball retainers in the XI. Scott Wagstaff has added a goal threat recently to his unquestionable endeavour and effort. Wherever he fits in, he’s undoubtedly going to do so somewhere. We wouldn’t be paying Championship wages (or at least a portion of) for someone to come and sit on the bench ...