The Exiled Robin

Last week an email popped into my inbox from my Dad, who had decided to pick up the virtual pen and key some thoughts on the start to City's season.  Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to upload this until now, so some comments (especially those on the transfer window) are a touch out of date, albeit, ultimately prophetic!  Over to Mr Binning Snr... "Gary Johnson always used to say that you have to wait for ten games to assess how you are  doing in a new season, and then reassess in ten game blocks. Well as we are fans we don't  need to wait ten games, do we?  We now have an international break after five games and I am  off to the sun (hopefully!) for a week, so that I don't miss a City match. Having seen every minute of every League game so far, I think that four points from five games is  harsh, when set against our performances so far. I suppose it could be a bit of a  reality check that in this much tougher D...

A more traditional ‘Inside Line’ returns following last week’s Lee Johnson interview , and I’m delighted to welcome Andy - @OrientMeatPie on Twitter – who gives us the insight into the season’s surprise package, Leyton Orient, ahead of our delayed trip to the East End. Leyton Orient are the story of the season in League One...no, in English football in fact, this season.  What's the secret to the success you're having and how has it felt to be an Orient fan this last year? Russell Slade puts it down to picking good players and keeping the squad together that has gradually gelled into an excellent unit over time. We have a good blend of youth and experience and it’s really paid off this season.  We’ve finished 7th twice in the last 3 seasons, so it we’d hoped to make it into the top half, although Orient have typically had a poor season following a good season the year before. We’re normally slow starters too, so our remarkable first half of the season h...

Lewis Hancock introduces the latest ‘Inside Line’ : City’s five-match unbeaten run came to a halt on Saturday and sees us remain a languishing ‘sleeping giant’ in League One’s relegation zone.  The defeat to Wolves was unsavoury but regrettably anticipated by many in BS3 considering City haven’t won at Molineux since 1931! But what better way for Steve Cotterill to refocus the squad with a match just three days later, you might say?  Unfortunately, it doesn’t come much tougher than a team unbeaten in 16 league matches – including an amazing 14 wins – league leaders, Brentford. Since the last encounter between the sides, the Bees’ are under new management in Mark Warburton following Uwe Rosler’s departure to Wigan, and their rich vein of form has seen them climb to the League One summit. If last season’s near-miss is anything to go by, it comes as little surprise to supporters of League One clubs to see the West London club challenging for promotion. ...

With every passing day City's season gets closer and closer to crisis point. Yes, there are still thirty-plus games remaining, more than enough to climb the league and get comfortable - at least - and if you tracked 'form' I believe we'd still be on an upward trending curve.  But another game without a win, or a point even, at Gresty Road on Saturday means City are now rock-bottom, their lowest position in 30 years. Tuesday night sees City welcome one of the pre-season favourites, Brentford, to Ashton Gate for the first in a short series of fixtures that look like they'll prove pivotal to the future of the season, if not the club. So what can we expect from our opponents? Until he recently joined Twitter , I'm sure many weren't aware that Bristol Post's City correspondent Andy Stockhausen was actually a Bees fan. It came to light for me with a response to an accusation about having an affinity to the Blue Few in the north of the city! Although now ...