JamesBCFC

Bloody hell.

Good play by Davis, put Rowe on his backside and gave El Ghazi a tap in. Villa started very well and we haven't been able to get a settled foot on the ball. Deserved lead.

Should have bought him instead of Martinez. That way he can't play against you.

Oh god. James Linnington as ref. Can guarantee some terrible decisions.

Rowe starting CB is a versatile player who really should be on CM, but covered LB for us last season while Dasilva had a broken leg. Eliasson at LWB is a winger though by all accounts has done well in training at LWB. Otherwise it is broadly an expected side. I'd have expected either Bakinson or Massengo to play, but Bakinson played so well recently he is probably starting on Sunday. 3 of the players are ones I'd have starting in our strongest possible line up out of players who aren't injured at the moment, so it is quite rotated. But I don't think there is a huge drop in quality between our starters and squad players.

I think this might be possible. Have just paid and it says it is available until October 2nd. Whether they will tell you the result before you get to the stream page is different though.

He has, but with mixed results. He'll find space well and break forward, then completely fluff the pass, or press players like a maniac (knowing the pressing triggers is why he was put there). Have to say I'm expecting Brunt to start as he hasn't started a game for us yet. Palmer was excellent in the last round, albeit against Northampton, but was dropped for Paterson in the league, so he'll deserve another game, which leaves one CM spot which will probably go to either Bakinson or Massengo. Bakinson made his full debut against Stoke and was MOTM contender, after being matched up against John Obi Mikel and completely outplaying him, is very relaxed on the ball and plays perhaps quite risky with his passing. He likes to play the ball close enough for defending players to think they can intercept, just just beyond them, which leaves very small margin for error, great when it works though. Massengo would be doing a lot more pressing than Bakinson, much more high energy. Good game intelligence for someone his age too, and will get his body between the ball and the opposition to draw out lots of soft fouls. Signed from Monaco last year, and has some kind of record for being young and playing in the Champions League, though I cant remember exactly what it was. Lots of potential, and was being scouted by the likes of Arsenal throughout last season. If Weimann starts I'd expect it to be as part of a front 2 with Diedhiou or Martin, but Semenyo has really earned his chance, so I think Weimann will be on the bench and instead start on Sunday.

If there is one area we can match you, it is injuries. Of 5 CBs, 2 are injured. 2 of the remaining fit ones have about 20 appearances in the Championship combined. We have 3 CMs injured, one of which was a new signing and would have absolutely been in the first team, another one having a handful of appearances, but has mostly been sent on loan. But after performances with Wales as MOTM over players like Bale and Ramsey he was expected to feature a lot. And the other was the POTY for Coventry last season and was expected to be involved a lot this year. LWB, we have one natural one, he is injured. And then there is Callum O'Dowda too, the one least likely to be involved much as he doesn't really suit a 3-5-2. Unless he converts to LWB or stakes a claim for a midfield role.

We'll likely make a large number of changes again. Made 9 changes for Northampton, and one of the 2 remaining players was then subbed off injured (no it wasn't Baker, he's already out until December) about 5 minutes in. Whichever side wins will certainly fancy their chances at making the Quarter final. I'd expect Max O'Leary to be in goal for us. Played as a CB until he was 15, then he was told he was no good and got shoved in goal. He was the one who had a blinder against you one of the last times we played each other. Vyner, Moore and Mawson as CBs, the only ones we have fit. Rest of the team is harder to predict, Semenyo will probably get to start, he deserves it. 2 goals and 3 assists so far in roughly 120 minutes of game time.

The both dived a similar amount, I'll grant you that. But I don't remember Grealish playing for Reading

Injured too often, otherwise... (Seriously though, Webster a class above Baker as a defender)

To be fair in the last 20 years there has been the likes of Nesta, Maldini, Cannovaro, Roberto Carlos and Adam Webster.

He's a quality goalkeeper. Was outstanding against us for Reading a couple of seasons ago, despite an awful haircut.

It's been the strategy taken since we got relegated in 2013. Bryan went for £6m, Reid for £10m Kelly for £17m, potentially hitting £25m plus sell on clause, all as academy products. Adam Webster was another £20m and Brownhill circa £8m iirc. Brownhill cost nothing and Webster was circa £3m ish with add ons based on appearances.

Eh? We have an average sized squad and midtable wage budget.

Preston are one of the only clubs with a worse playoff record than Bristol City. Or at least that was the case before they won promotion from League 1 through the playoffs in 2014/15. Think they were on something like 8 attempts and 0 promotions before then.

Are you also in favour of ring fencing? Your logic is saying to other clubs they don't deserve the opportunity to grow. Go back 80 years and it would have been "I'd much rather Glossop North End were in Division 1"

Think a draw is the best we can hope for realistically, even though we currently have better form than Leeds and WBA combined. One other thing going for us is that we are much better away from home.

The defeat against Birmingham more annoying now, a win there and we'd have been only outside the autos on goal difference (not that I think we'll go up, it's nice to be in the race though)

It worked for a whole minute!

Someone has to pour the cider

I'm at work

Walked past the Birmingham squad earlier. Completely blanked them. Mind games already started.

Stroud is an awful ref in general, but we also have a terrible record when he is in charge of our games. 3 wins in 22 games and 11 defeats. That's not to say he is biased against us or anything, just a combination of a bad record and Stroud being incompetent all around, and likes to be the centre of attention.

First time in 30 years we managed to win 4 games in a row with clean sheets. Probably won't be 5 wins on Friday, as it's Brum on tv with Keith Stroud as ref.