For me:- O'leary Sessegnon Vyner Mawson Moore Rowe Morrell (if fit) Bakinson Palmer Diedhiou Semyeno Still a good team but Sunday's game far more important.
Wouldn't play Mawson if we can help it. He's been a bit fragile over the last 12 months so we don't want to overuse him. Rowe played centre back versus Exeter so he can fill In there with Eliasson or Brunt playing left wing back. Brunt will probably start this game somewhere
To be honest I forgot about Nagy, I sort of have the feeling that him, Diedhiou and Eliasson are moving on, maybe wrong, all fairly big earners, I don't think Nagy has ever fully settled with us, the squad certainly needs a bit of trimming.
Do we have a choice with Kalas and Baker out injured? I suppose Bakinson could fill in there, allowing Nagy back into midfield. A bit worried about burn out for Bakinson Pretty much the same situation for Rowe with DaSilva injured, unless he plays Eliasson as a Wing Back.
When we did so well in this competition last time, we played a more or less reserve team and they beat Watford, Stoke and Palarse before we brought our own ‘big guns’ in vs Man Ure (apart from the GK) We should employ the same policy imho. Whatever you think of LJ he got it right on that occasion.
I gave you the choice in my post, Rowe played there against Exeter and in some friendlies. Eliasson can play wing back as he did against Northampton or Brunt
Aston Villa Predicted XI vs Bristol City: ‘Immense talent’ starts, £11m man recalled https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/09/...-city-immense-talent-starts-11m-man-recalled/
WATCH: Pre-Aston Villa training | Failand Uncut 005 Wednesday, September 23rd 2020 https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/watch-pre-aston-villa-training-failand-uncut-005/
Bristol City v Aston Villa – The big match preview http://www.avillafan.com/32586/bristol-city-v-aston-villa-the-big-match-preview/
Bristol City (3-5-2): Max O’Leary; Zak Vyner, Alfie Mawson, Taylor Moore; Steven Sessegnon, Adam Nagy, Kasey Palmer, Chris Brunt, Niclas Eliasson; Famara Diedhiou, Antoine Semenyo Bristol City's expected team to take on Aston Villa with Kasey Palmer and Chris Brunt set to start Bristol City welcome Aston Villa to Ashton Gate on Thursday in the third round of the Carabao Cup https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-citys-expected-team-take-4544497
Seems a logical lineup given our injury list. A shame really, as without so many injuries, we could have put out a stronger side to give Villa a real run for their money if they don’t approach the game correctly, this side probably still can to be fair.
'In goal, having started Max O’Leary against Northampton it would seem unfair to then drop the 23-year-old for regular No1 Dan Bentley just because of the strength and reputation of the opposition. It wouldn’t be a great endorsement of O’Leary’s skills and while there is argument for maintaining continuity between goalkeeper and defence, City’s No2 will surely get a second outing of the season. Villa also evokes memories of O’Leary’s star turn in April 2019 in which he produced a string of dazzling saves in a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park.' Copied from the Post.
Really looking forward to this. I wouldn't usually care about this cup until the latter rounds, but we have some interesting new players to see, and also I really can't stand Villa and their fans. Such a strange, arrogant set of supporters. I'd love to beat them tonight.