‘Lee Johnson is the man to take us forward’

Bristol City’s 0-0 draw away to Nottingham Forest last weekend confirmed what many of us had suspected for some time: City will not be competing in this year’s Championship play-offs.

I remember writing back in December that anything less than a top-six finish would constitute a disappointment this season, and although that assertion was made at a time when anything but the play-offs seemed a distant possibility, I think there was some credence to my statement – with one important caveat: finishing tenth would only be a disappointment given our start was so good.

So, there is my distinction. Overall I don’t think we could call the season a disappointment but given where we were in December I get why some have a bitter taste in their mouths. However, I’ll repeat what I have said again and again this season: Lee Johnson is the man to take us forward and anyone who thinks differently isn’t looking at the bigger picture.

As to why things went so badly wrong for the second-half of the season, fans can only speculate. But for what it is worth, here are my top five reasons as to why I thought we capitulated:

1. The injury crisis that engulfed the club can no doubt be blamed, in part at least, for our loss of form. With the likes of Diedhiou and O’Dowda missing for large chunks of the season, the starting XI that saw us through pretty much all of December were always going to run out of steam at some point.
2. The Cup runs. In years to come the abiding memory of the 2017/18 season will no doubt be our historic run to the semi-final of the League Cup. I will treasure that victory over Manchester United until the day I die but whether it was the emotion of it all, or the fatigue it induced, it clearly affected us.
3. The signings. Fans have discussed this at length so there is little more to say on the matter other than I think Walsh will turn out to be a top player for us.
4. Johnson himself. It is easy to forget that he is only 36, which, as we all know, is extremely young for a manger. At times maybe his tactics (for example, trying to improve our goal difference against Sunderland) and team selections were a little naive but I can forgive him for this as long as he learns from these mistakes.
5. Perhaps we were over-achieving in the first half of the season. When you look at the teams that currently sit in the top-six, it is clear that they all have far greater resources than ourselves to spend on both players and wages.

If rumours are to believed, Sunday’s home clash to Sheffield United could be the last chance the City faithful get to see Bobby Reid play in the colours of his home town club. I have long been a fan of our attacking midfielder-turned-striker and wish him well should be leave us for the bright lights of Premier League football.

It would appear City fans are going to be in for a rough ride over the summer given that the vultures will no doubt swarm in to pick off the starlets from our squad that impressed so many earlier on this season. Should the likes of Bryan and Flint go, we know we have potential replacements in the shape of Vyner and Kelly but replacing Reid’s goals may prove a tougher task.