Predicted Bristol City XI: Bentley; Vyner, Moore, Kalas; Hunt, Weimann, Massengo, Paterson, Dasilva; Wells, Diedhiou Bristol City expected XI to face Coventry City: Tomas Kalas fit to play; few changes Our City writer gives his predicted XI to play the first Championship game https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-expected-xi-face-4506347
Williams injured and I think Brunt said he is a week or 2 away from fitness. Martin I would not be surprised if he plays. Hunt plays because it’s his shirt to lose I suppose. And it wouldn’t surprise me if they are wrong on Vyner over Mawson. Morrell I would think will play as he should be match fit as also Nagy.
But play them to their strengths and it could be a good team. We always thought we should of been better than what we was.
Agree don’t see a lot different from last season same issues. Get the new boys on the pitch @BristolCity @Coventry_City running the show at present
Disappointing last 44 minutes of the 1st half, poor going forward, giving the ball away too easily, poor defending for Coventry goal, too much backwards movement, very frustrating
So what did we learn today? Most importantly if you pick a weak midfield, then you will be punished. The first half apart from the first 20 seconds was shocking and the 2nd half was going the same way until the substitutions. The substitutions of Diedhiou and Massengo was the turning point, Martin and Bakinson were excellent. Martin is everything that Diedhiou is not, Martin is clever with a football brain, he is strong and holds the ball up really well and brings others into the game. Bakinson looked everything that Massengo is not YET, strong, confident on the ball and uses the ball really well. If Holden sends him out on loan then he is mad, if anyone would benefit from a loan that is Massengo. The introduction of Martin and Bakinson increased our possession rate from 36% to 48% by the end of the game and it finally allowed Paterson the freedom to do what we know that he can do. If we are to get the best out of Paterson, then we have to build a midfield around him that can do his tackling and tracking back, because 1. Paterson is not good at that and 2. it blunts him as a creative outlet. Weimann is not and will never be a midfielder. We need to play specialist midfielders in midfield otherwise playing Paterson is a waste of time and will serve to weaken the team. Weimann will be a great impact player from the bench. Personally if Diedhiou goes, as long as we bring in a replacement, I will wish him all the best. As for Holden poor original team selection, the clues were there in midfield from the Exeter game, a game where we failed to dominate in midfield. 2 great substitutions that totally changed the game, I think that Mawson at the back and Vyner replacing Hunt and obviously DaSilva to eventually replace Rowe and Morrell or Brunt with Bakinson in midfield (until Walsh and Williams are both fit) and that should improve things.
'Anonymous in the first half' - Bristol City player ratings against Coventry City Our City reporter's take from Ashton Gate Dan Bentley - 7 Unnecessarily pushed Ostigard's header out into a dangerous area just before the break that could have resulted in a goal. Great save after 53 minutes to deny Ostigard however, and several other good saves too. Zak Vyner - 6 Tortured at times in the first half as Giles and O'Hare ran down his flank. However, not along in being unable to stem the barrage of attacks down that side of the pitch. Picked up a silly booking just after the break but put in a superb block with 10 minutes to go to deny Godden. Tomas Kalas - 8 Started well winning most of his duels but seemed to lose confidence as he sliced several clearances and almost inadvertently played Godden in on goal at one point. His header was well placed into the corner of the goal on 82 minutes to crown his up-and-down display as the new skipper. Taylor Moore - 7 We're not too sure why he didn't play centrally like the week before but had a horror moment in the first half when he ran the ball up the pitch only to pass it to a Coventry man. Did better in the second period as the home side got on top. Jack Hunt - 7 Dispossessed dangerously once during the game - the same amount of times as Rowe; the only Robins to be caught in possession - and grew into the game as it unfolded. Several dangerous crosses in the second half. Andi Weimann - 7 Almost played Wells in on goal during the second half and his running from deep was more effective in the second period after failing to get in the game in the first 45 minutes. Hit the bar late on with a drive. Tracked back well late on. Han-Noah Massengo - 5 Anonymous for large parts of the first half and lacked the snap to effect the midfield at times as Hamer and Kelly dominated centrally early on. Taken off after an hour for Tyreeq Bakinson who had more of an impact in the first half. Jamie Paterson - 8 Took just 18 seconds - as adjudged by the scoreboard in the ground - to get the season truly underway against his home town. A solid finish, though there was not a lot of his usual invention after that. Set up Kalas' header however - after a tussle with a MarathonBet carpet in his way by the corner flag. Finished with a goal and an assist. Tommy Rowe - 6 Several early passes went astray and Dasilva's replacement was caught out positionally a few times. Looked a little rusty at times although finished strongly, volleying at goal from inside the box late on. Nahki Wells - 6 Few real chances of note but won the ball brilliantly just after the break to set up Diedhiou and one smart turn in the first half showed his class, though the resulting cross was overhit. Replaced by Semenyo late on. Famara Diedhiou - 4 Hauled off before the hour mark after a dreadful first 50 minutes that saw him pass to as many Sky Blue shirts as red ones and squander two great chances: one a Vyner long pass, and another from Wells' cutback just after the break. Substitutes Chris Martin (57' for Diedhiou) - 6 Won free-kicks and kept the ball flowing forward. Helped distarct the markers on Kalas' goal-scoring corner. Tyreeq Bakinson (57', for Massengo) - 6 Marauded through midfield at times with those long legs and went close with a drive at goal on 70 minutes. Antoine Semenyo (77', for Wells) - n/a Got the final 15 minutes as the Robins look to win the game. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport...s/bristol-city-player-ratings-captain-4510661
Of course, there are lessons to be learnt from every game, but the first few games of every season are 'bedding in' and I don't think we should make big decisions on selection quite yet. Yes, it might be the right thing to do - or not, but we won. I'd be more upset if I were a Cardiff, Forest or Derby fan then I am now - but I'm sure those 3 teams won't be in their current positions for long. I guess what I'm trying to say is 'no need to panic - it's only the first game'.
