Adam Webster in: The best Bristol City XI using Robins players from the year 2000 to the current day

01/02/2023 17:05

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… Bristol City have spent the majority of the 21st Century going between the Championship and League One. The Robins highest highs came in the mid-2000s when the team reached the play-off places in the second tier, with another pursuit of a top six finish coming another decade later in 2018-19. But relegation in the time between then also showed the precarious nature of the EFL. During this period, plenty of exciting players have come through Ashton Gate one way or another. FLW’s City fan pundit Jack Phillips has revealed what his best starting XI from this century would consist of. Here is how Jack would line up the best Robins players from the last 20-odd years…  GK – Adriano Basso Basso spent five years with City from 2005 to 2010, playing over 150 times between the sticks for the club as they competed in the Championship. The now 47-year old was a commanding presence during his time with City, before ultimately departing at the end of his contract. RB – Bradley Orr Orr spent six years with City from 2004 to 2010, making over 220 league appearances for the club in that time. The defender signed from Newcastle United and became a consistent presence in the team during his six years at Ashton Gate. CB – Adam Webster The now Brighton defender had just one season with City before earning a big move to the Premier League. But in that one campaign he showed just why he became a top flight regular, becoming a key member of the team in a short space of time with the Robins. CB – Louis Carey Carey has been chosen as Webster’s centre back partner due to his performances with the club from 1995 to 2004 and then 2005 to 2014. A one-year stint at Coventry City was the only period in which the defender wasn’t a key player for the Robins for nearly 20-years. LB – Mickey Bell Bell takes up the role on the left flank, having earned that role in the side for eight years from 1997 to 2005. The now 51-year old appeared nearly 350 times in all competitions for the club during this period. RM – Scott Murray In midfield, Murray was another consistent presence in the side during his two stints with the club. The wide player initially joined the club in 1997, departing in 2003, before re-signing from Reading after just one year, leading to another six-year stint with the club. CM – Korey Smith Smith signed for City from Oldham Athletic in 2014, competing with the team for six years. The midfielder made 196 appearances for City during this period, playing a role in the team’s promotion back to the second tier following their 2014 relegation. CM – Josh Brownhill Brownhill is currently part of league leaders Burnley’s pursuit of promotion back to the Premier League. He made 145 league appearances during his four years at Ashton Gate. LM – Brian Tinnion Tinnon arrived at City in the 1990’s, signing for the club from Bradford City in 1993 to begin a 12-year stint with the Robins. The now 54-year old made over 450 appearances for the club before becoming player-manager in 2004. He currently holds the role of Technical director at City. ST – Tammy Abraham Abraham enjoyed a very successful loan stint with City from Chelsea in 2016-17, in which he scored 21 goals in 41 Championship appearances. The forward has gone on to compete in the Champions League, Premier League and Serie A, where he helped Roma to the Europa Conference League in 2022. ST – Bobby Decordova-Reid Decordova-Reid emerged from the club’s youth academy as an exciting young prospect. The forward lived up to high expectations, peaking with a season consisting of 19 goals and seven assists in the league in 2017-18 before departing for Cardiff City. Source