SKY BET CHAMPIOnSHIP
2019-20
LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP8thFACUPFifthRoundLEAGUECUP
FirstRoundTOPSCORERFamaraDiedhiou(13)LASTSEASON
PREMIER LEAGUE 18th FA CUP Third Round LEAGUE CUP
Second Round TOP SCORERS Victor Camarasa, Bobby Reid (5)48 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwo
BRISTOL CITY CARDIFF CITY
FFTVERDICT
5TH FFT VERDICT
3RD
Any Championship side who can
spend £8m on a defender has to
be taken seriously. Granted, they
got £13m from Bournemouth for
defender Lloyd Kelly, but invested
it in Tomas Kalas and a number
of other signings. This could be
the year they make the play-offs.The Bluebirds have been through
a difficult time since the death of
Emiliano Sala, but concluded their
Premier League campaign with
their heads held high and have
retained Neil Warnock, the master
of the Championship. They should
be there or thereabouts in May.The big talking point among the fans
is whether the club has the ambition
to make a real push for promotion.
This season will be different because
we’re starting the season looking up
rather than down.
Our most underrated player is Niclas
Eliasson [below], our best crosser. If
we get him the ball, he creates things.
Look out for young Antoine Semenyo,
a strong striker who did well on loan
at Newport and can scare defenders.
The best away ground is Boro’s – it’s
such a long way, but our loyal fans are
generally rewarded with three points.
The best away fans are Leeds’. Win,
lose or draw, they always follow their
team passionately in huge numbers.
The player I’d happily drive to
another club is Jonson Clarke-Harris,
from Bristol Rovers to Bristol City,
because it would be really funny.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Brentford’s Ollie Watkins.
We wanted to buy him from Exeter.
The pantomime villain will be
Mr Warnock, of course.
Our best celebrity fan is Baldrick:
Sir Tony Robinson. A man of great
intelligence, with a cunning plan.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be for us to actually buy some
of the many players we’re linked with.
Save the date for Sunday, August 4.
First game, home to Leeds, on Sky. It
could set the tone for the season.
The best club social media account
is @GeeMacGee, the Bristol Post’s
reporter Gregor MacGregor. Writes
informative and interesting articles.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at City is the stadium
redevelopment, which means there
are now places to eat, drink, listen to
music and watch the early kick-off.
The signature local dish is cider!
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that we’ve made forward progress
under Lee Johnson [above]. The big
question is whether we can kick on.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Chris Wilder, though Sheffield United
should stick with him.
We’ll finish 5th, hopefully; probably
8th, realistically.The big talking point among the fans
is who’s coming and who’s going:
players, manager, even the chairman.
This season will be different because
the league is eight games longer and
much more of a slog, but I’m looking
forward to it and the refs are better.
I won’t be happy unless we go back
up. Last time our promotion was, in
essence, a bonus. Now we’ve almost
stayed up, against all odds, and then
improved the squad.
Our most underrated player is Joe
Ralls, a gifted midfielder who keeps
things ticking over. Still only 25, too.
Look out for Cameron Coxe – the
Wales U21 defender has been linked
with Manchester City, which may get
him more first-team football for us.
The best away ground is Elland
Road. We tend to get three points.
The best away fans are Bristol City’s,
who usually make plenty of noise.
The pantomime villain will be Neil
Warnock! With retirement rumoursswirling, I hope the manager [below]
comes out swinging this season.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Brentford’s Neal Maupay.
Or more controversially, Swansea
forward Oli McBurnie.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be switch the red seats to blue- it’s a reminder of a miserable time.
Save the date for the derbies, as it’s
been a while since we played our little
brothers down the road and them lot
over the bridge.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at Cardiff is that there’s
a very lively and relatively friendly
city, just a quick hop from the ground.
Our key player will be Bobby Reid
[above]. Painfully underused last year,
he still scored some key goals. A classy
player, he needs to be our focal point.
The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is
that we’ll be building statues of him.
He took a divided shell of a club into
the Premier League.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Lincoln’s Cowley brothers, Lee Bowyer
or Barnsley’s Daniel Stendel.
We’ll finish hopefully in the top two,
but anywhere in the top six is good.
FAn FILE
PATRICK CONNOLLY
@bristolpat
FAn FILE
BEN JAMES
@ViewFromTheNin