Shipshape and Bristol fashion?

Bristol City are on their 11th season in the Championship and hav have always fallen short of promotion: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2025/01/parachute-payments-make-life-difficult.html

Owner Steve Lansdown* is getting increasingly frustrated and has indicated his willingness to sell up.

For a city of its size Bristol has punched below its weight in football terms.   It does have two clubs, although when Charlton negativists say we are a laughing stock, the Gasheads always come into mind.

What strikes me is that the fans of both clubs are a bit odd.   There has been trouble between Charlton and City fans in the past.   Some years ago a Gashead I know slightly offered me a lift to a midweek fixture against Charlton.   I declined being pretty sure we would win and he would take it badly.   We won 5-1 and he confirmed that he would have left me in Bristol.

Of course, Bristol is in a strong egg chasing area and Bristol City are also heavily involved in rugby union.

Four Four Two reckons they will finish 12th.   They think City have an energetic squad but lack the top end quality hat would secure them a play off place against richer rivals.

Having said that, City beat Sheffield United 4-1 away last week, although I suspect that was as much a story about the Blades post Chris Wilder as ir was about City, although they were keen to avenge their play off semi-final defeat there, losing 6-0 on aggregate.   Neither defence looked solid in last weekend's game.

This is a big test for Nathan Jones and his side, but we will do well to get a point.   At least moaners will be able to come up from under their stones.

*Of Hargreaves Lansdown, the Bristol-based  funds supermarket.   I have been a client since the 1980s and have been very satisfied.