Written by Luke Fenn

Bristol City certainly need to change their ways before next season after a dismal season in the Sky Bet Championship finishing 17th on 55 points. The Robins will be looking for a fresh start in the 22/23 season under Nigel Pearson. Pearson has managed the club for a season and a half and if the Robins have yet another mediocre season, Pearson will make his way to the exit door. Regarding players Callum O’Dowda has left the club on a free transfer to Cardiff. The Irish wide man made 160 appearances for the club in a 6 year span scoring 8 league goals. O’Dowda only managed one goal last season which could be a factor in the Robins wanting to bolster their attack. 47 players at the club (including u23s) will be retained for the 22/23 season, including Andreas Weimann who had a productive season in the championship scoring 22 times and picking up 10 assists as he was the stand out attacker for the club. 4 more players will depart the club along with O’Dowda. Only one of them made an appearance for the club.

Moving Forward: Bristol City will need to strengthen if they are even to challenge for mid-table let alone play-offs next season with wide players and the midfield needing to be the areas to strengthen. They are certainly doing exactly that in this transfer window signing 3 players so far at the moment of writing. 24 year old midfielder Mark Sykes joined from league one side Oxford on a free transfer. Sykes scored 8 goals and assisted 5 last season being an important player in the league one side.

The most recent signing was full back Kane Wilson who joined on a free from recently promoted league two side Forest Green Rovers. Wilson was a critical player in defence and in the attacking aspect of the Green devils’ promotion scoring 3 goals and picking up 13 assists. Whether he can perform to them standards in the championship is of course unknown but on paper it seems like an excellent pick up for the Robins. The most notable signing of the 3 is Luton Towns Kal Naismith who joined on yet again a free transfer meaning the Robins spent 0 pounds on 3 good signings. 30 Year old defence/midfield player Kal Naismith scored 2 goals and managed 8 assists in the Hatters play-off campaign starting 44 of the 48 games (including play-off semi-finals).

This has so far set up the Robins for a potentially solid championship season which is what their fans will certainly be hoping for after last season. In my opinion I am optimistic for the Robins and a top half finish would be a great improvement. Wether they finish the season with Nigel Pearson in charge is unclear, but if they are not at least mid-table by the half way point then Pearson should be looking to the exit door.