Looks like Diogo and Helder may be struggling. If so, I guess the biggest questions are do we stay with 3-5-2 and if so, who plays up top with Raul? Ruddy Bennett, Coady, Boly Doc, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Jonny Cav, Raul Or Ruddy Bennett, Coady, Boly Doc, Dendoncker, Neves, Jonny Traore, Raul, Cav Fairly certain Ruddy will still start.
Don’t start ruddy . He is awful. We can’t afford to gift them a minimum of 1 goal Same team as today if possible, if not due to jota , Cav in for in. Only point in playing Traore is if we play 3 4 3 and he goes wide right. To be honest that formation wiped the floor with the champ last season so could do that gain
I think most of us are going to be dissapointed, Jota picked up a Knock, Im sure i saw Raul limping at various times during the game last night, and Joao was clattered a few times to, and he doesnt stay down for the fun of it, I will be surprised if any of them start the game. Having said that i would like to see us play our strongest available team.. but suspect we will see Cav, Traore, Saiss, Ruddy, Gibbs White, and Costa depending on his fitness, because he to picked up a knock.
Let's not turn this into a slanging match. Really looking forward to a weekend in Bristol and what is a big game. Win this and we're one game away from Wembley. Ruddy Bennett Coady Boly Doherty Neves Dendoncker Gibbs-White Jonny Jota Jimenez Norris Vinagre Saiss Moutinho Cavaleiro Costa Traore If Jota isn't quite fit enough to start then Traore instead. The key for me apart from the obvious back five is keeping Dendoncker in there. He's such a nuisance at both ends. And obviously having Jimenez start with somebody alongside him, ideally Jota, so we have a focal point. If we play two up front without Jimenez we may as well not bother because the ball won't stick. And he'll be up for it after being pretty poor by his high standards last night. Let's also not forget that Bristol City really, really can't afford to pick up any knocks etc. given where they are in the league. They're really having to perform every game to get in that top six. I suspect they'll be making changes from their usual starting XI.
After watching last night i am a bit concerned about fatigue/ injury for Jota and Jiminez over the season.
None of Jota, Jiminez and Costa will feature ...they were all struggling last night . Yous aw Costa badly limping , Jota asked to be subbed, Jiminez looked like he was limping too at the end. So it it will be Traore and Cavaleiro up top. However, why not play Ennis in his natural position? Sorry, fear the worst in this one without the J's
Agree mate, hope we can brush off a few of the knocks and get Jiminez, Jota and Moutinho out there. Don't think there is a team in better form than Bristol City right now
I'm not going to flip-flop on my preference for a strong side because of an error by Patricio last night- our half-strength side would be well-beaten by a red-hot Bristol City team. I'm also confident the two forwards will be able to shake off their knocks in time for Sunday: Patricio Bennett---Coady------Boly Doherty------------------------------------------Jonny Dendoncker-------Neves Moutinho Jimenez---------Jota Subs: Ruddy, Saiss, Vinagre, Gibbs-White, Traore, Cavaleiro, Costa.
Hope the various knocks are ok. This is where we will regret not signing some competition for Jimenez if he isnt fit.
Would like to see Traore start, I get the feeling he’s starting to find his mojo and will tear them apart.
I don't think Jimenez had a knock. He just looked tired. He'll be fine. Jota is a different matter though as he asked to be subbed. Similar to above, the last few appearances from Traore have been really promising, so maybe now is his time. Even with changes we're still the stronger side. Just got to go out there and show it.
Horrible suspicion that it will be a minimum of six changes. Bristol City are a cracking cup team of late, on a roll of eight or so consecutive wins and my outsiders to get to the final. Even with our best available X1 I reckon they will turn us over.
Don't forget not to go all Victor Meldrew on us if we are losing. Remember what happened at Shrewsbury
Patricio Bennett-Coady-Boly Doherty-Moutinho-Neves-Dendoncker-Jonny Jimenez-Traore If Jota is unfit that is. I want strongest possible lineup at Ashton Gate.We will need it.
I'm telling you now, Moutinho needs to start. He will be the gulf between the two who will calm us down and unlock them. This will be as tough as any Prem game. He needs to start 100%.
Agree 100% If we play the same team we played against Shrewsbury IMO we will get beat Hoping we field the team you have said but I just can't see it as I think Nuno might have one eye on 3 league games (2 of them away) in a 7 day period starting 6 days after the Bristol game. Would love to be in the quarter final draw
They conceded from a rebound from a header that came off the post. But seem to have come back in a wolves style!!
We play a weak side and we will get turned over. They have some very decent players and are on a roll. In fact even with our strongest side out this will be a really tough game on Sunday.
What I'd like: Patricio Bennett Coady Boly Doherty Neves Moutinho Jonny Dendoncker Jimenez Jota What I think: Ruddy Bennett Coady Boly Doherty Saiss Neves Vinagre Traore Cavaleiro Costa
I don't think Jota will play, and as far as I'm aware he's the only concern in terms of fitness? With that in mind, I'd play the team that started last night but with a free roled Adama in for Jota. As I mentioned on another thread, if we include the likes of Ruddy, Gibbs-White etc we'll be playing with fire in what is the best opportunity we've had in a generation to really do something in this competition. Just imagine how gutting it would feel when the QF draws comes round and one of AFC Wimbledon or Millwall are left as potential opponents and we're left twiddling our thumbs because we decided to rotate.
Rui, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doc, Neves, Dendonker (or Saiss), Jonny, Moutinho, Raul and Cav (assuming Jota is not fit). Need to go strong or we are out. BCFC at Ashton Gate will be some game!
We shouldn’t even be second guessing this. We’re 4th favourites to win the cup and a win would make us 3rd favourites with 1 more game to win before Wembley after Sunday. If Nuno doesn’t go full strength for this game, you write of winning the cup full stop and it just becomes an unwelcome distraction as we will be swapping and changing our cup 11 every game and it won’t be enough against the Prem teams left. It’s full strength and try and win the thing or pussy foot around and just focus on the league.
Bristol City are not going to win the cup, and have their best chance in a while to push for promotion this season. The only side who should even consider rotating and resting players is them.
Think Jimenez will start for this, the big decision Nuno has is whether to stick with 3-5-2 or go back to 3-4-3. Well, that and whether to play our cup keeper or our best keeper. It will be a strong side, maybe Vinagre and Saiss to come in, Cav with Jimenez if it's two up top, Cav, Jimenez and Traore if it's a three but that still leaves a side more than good enough to do the job no matter how you look at it
Bristol are on some run. Are in amazing form. But are they playing for cup? Wouldve thought they are going for league but saying that we should learn from Shrewsbury and start with strongest 11 then if comfortable bring Jimenez and Neves off.
