‘Bristol City: greatest team in the country’

It would be remiss of me to not start a footballing blog in this week of all weeks without mentioning the wonderful exploits of Leicester City. Congratulations must, obviously, go to Ranieri and his impressive side.

A different blog would now see me go on to highlight the experience within that squad that saw them over the line, experience that had, mostly, been gathered from years of playing in the Football League, most notably Wes Morgan who didn’t play in the top flight until he was thirty.

But, as we know, this blog is about the greatest team in the country, not Leicester City. I would like to thank that side, Bristol City, obviously, for turning the final home game of the season from what could have been a drab affair into a celebration of the year’s achievements and even gave a few youngsters a run out. The game also maybe witnessed the goal of the season at Ashton Gate. 

Lee Tomlin’s borderline arrogant goal, his sixth for the club, left fans purring at the sheer audacity of his effort. I was actually working the next day and upon arrival to my workplace I gleefully replayed said goal for a few of my Barcelona-supporting Spanish colleagues thinking this piece of skill would rival the likes Messi and Neymar. They didn’t seem too enamoured by the effort and were more concerned by Huddersfield’s lacklustre defending, a valid point I conceded. 

Johnson has this week thanked the quintet of loan signings that have contributed so much to this year’s survival, and rightly so, but what is the likelihood that any of them will be pulling on a City shirt next season?

If I could pick say two of the five to keep it would have to be Baker and Tomlin. The latter has said this week that he feels he has the quality to play in the Premier League and although I’d say this remains to be seen, he certainly deserves to be doing more than fighting Championship relegation next season. Can we convince him we are genuine contenders for promotion next time round? I am not so sure.

My guess is Villa will want to keep hold of Baker who has acquitted himself really well at this level and with them joining us next year he would seem to be a good place to start in the rebuilding of their much beleaguered squad. 

Alex Pearce, Adam Matthews and Peter Odemwingie have all contributed in varying levels and would seem the more likely to join next season but who knows. Time will tell.  

Anyhow, we look forward to a final jolly this weekend away to once-favourites for promotion Queen Park Rangers. They have had a topsy-turvy season so it will be interesting to see what side they choose to field from a squad still littered with Premiership quality. 

For me personally this weekend will be quite a special one. I am going to the game with my elder brother who emigrated to Australia just over five years ago and who is currently visiting his former home.

We have not watched our beloved City alongside one another in those intervening years so please: Dear team, concentrate on the task in hand and delay those thoughts of beaches and Las Vegas until around 3pm when the season is done and dusted. Regards.