Bristol City's strongest line-up after Neto Borges' arrival and summer transfer deadline day

Bristol City and Gerhard Struber made five additions to their squad over the course of the summer transfer window

Dan Carter is the Bristol City reporter at Bristol Live. He joined the title in November 2024 having previously been a football reporter at Breaking Media. Before that, he was a sports journalism student at the University of Gloucestershire where he also covered the Robins whilst on placement. In his role, he wants to keep supporters informed with the latest news in and around Ashton Gate whether that be on matchdays, during transfer windows or everything in between.

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber and his players at Derby County’s Pride Park(Image: EFL)

With the summer transfer window finally done and dusted, both Bristol City supporters and Gerhard Struber now know exactly what assortment of players they will have at their disposal for the next four months at least.

While the Robins were by no means one of the Championship’s busiest sides, especially in the final knockings of the window, they did make a handful of changes to their playing ranks over the course of the summer as a whole. Three permanent additions arrived through the Ashton Gate door, as did two loan signings, while the likes of Nahki Wells, Kal Naismith, Ayman Benarous and Marcus McGuane left BS3 for pastures new.

In the opening month or so of the campaign, fans have seen all of Adam Randell, Joe Lumley, Emil Riis and Radek Vitek in competitive action at one point or another. At the time of writing, the only summer signing yet to make a competitive appearance for the Reds is Neto Borges, who arrived in south Bristol on loan from Middlesbrough the day before deadline day.

Under the guidance of Struber, and with the aid of their new signings, City have started the campaign on the front foot. Heading into the September international break, the Robins are unbeaten in the Championship, sit sixth in the table and have scored more goals than anyone in the league – bar Coventry City.

Naturally, that good start has ensured there is a sense of optimism and positivity amongst supporters. Although one more summer addition wouldn’t have gone amiss, most fans appear to be of the opinion that Struber’s squad is in pretty good shape at this point in time.

With all of the above in mind, we’ve taken the chance to pick what we think could be the Robins’ current strongest team over the next month or so, following the end of the transfer window…

It hasn’t taken us too long to make the first alteration to the team we put together a little under two months ago. At that point, it was unclear just how long Max O’Leary would be ruled out by his ankle injury, and the majority of Bristol City supporters didn’t even know who Radek Vitek was.

However, in the opening month of the season, the Czech stopper has gone from strength to strength following his loan move from Manchester United at the end of June. His performances against each of Sheffield United, Charlton, Derby, and Hull City were superb, and have ensured that he has remained ahead of Joe Lumley in the current pecking order.

Given the way in which Gerhard Struber has spoken about him so far this term, we would expect Vitek to keep his place between the posts even once O’Leary is fit again. Hopefully, United won’t ruin the good thing City have going by recalling him in the winter.

CB – Zak Vyner

When we last did this piece, we were unsure just what sort of defensive system Gerhard Struber would employ as Bristol City boss. Now, with six games played, it seems as though the Austrian believes a back-three is the best fit for this current crop of players.

On the right side of that three, Zak Vyner still feels like the Reds’ best option. City did incredibly well to keep him at the club amid some late interest in the summer transfer window, and the fact that they were so desperate to ensure he remained a Robin shows just how highly he is valued within the walls of the High Performance Centre.

While he’s fit and available, it feels like that spot in the backline is his to lose.

Zak Vyner has been an ever-present for Bristol City(Image: Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)CB – Rob Dickie

Now, while we’re not paying too much attention to injuries with this piece, we have opted against including Luke McNally in this side, as the Bristol City defender is still a fair way away from returning to the fold following an ACL injury sustained in February last year.

With that in mind, we have given Rob Dickie the nod at the heart of defence. As has been the case since he made the move to BS3 from QPR, the 29-year-old has been reliable so far this season, especially against physical strikers such as Carlton Morris and Oli McBurnie. Yes, he isn’t the quickest, and that can be exposed sometimes given the high-line, but he more often than not ensures that isn’t an issue.

CB – Rob Atkinson

While there is a chance City fans could see the Reds’ most recent summer signing Neto Borges start as the left-sided member of the Robins’ back three over the coming weeks and months, Rob Atkinson remains, for our money at least, the best option at Gerhard Struber’s disposal.

Having returned from his loan spell with Portsmouth over the summer, the former Oxford defender has been excellent in each of City’s first four league games. The question that remains, however, is whether he can play two games in a week? He hasn’t so far this term, and both Struber and the supporters will hope that changes after the international break.

RWB – Ross McCrorie

Perhaps one of the more straightforward choices in this team. You would be more than within your rights to claim that Ross McCrorie has been Bristol City’s best player over the last six months or so. The Scotsman helped fire the Reds into the play-offs last term and has picked up where he left off this time around.

Although he has proven to be just as effective on the left flank, City’s late business and hopefully, the return of Cam Pring in the coming weeks, should allow him to return to his favoured position.

CM – Jason Knight

Another one that I imagine most supporters, and Gerhard Struber for that matter, would agree with. Jason Knight has been an ever-present in all competitions for Bristol City this season and for good reason, with the Robins’ skipper regularly conducting games from the middle of the park.

‘El Capitano’ – as he was branded by Struber – is widely regarded as one of the first names on the teamsheet, and the summer transfer window and opening weeks of the season will have done little to change that.

Jason Knight celebrates his opener in Bristol City’s win over MK Dons(Image: Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)CM – Adam Randell

In truth, Gerhard Struber has a wonderful headache when it comes to just who partners Jason Knight in the middle of the park. In Adam Randell and Max Bird, the Bristol City boss has two completely different, but excellent, options to pick from.

While on his day, Bird is as good as any player in this current City squad, we’re going to give Randell the nod based on form alone. The former Plymouth Argyle man has started the new season like a house on fire, with his displays against both Derby County and Hull City, in particular, superb.

No doubt, there will be certain games that will suit Bird more than the 24-year-old. Having the luxury to chop and change between those two – before you even throw Joe Williams back into the mix – is something most coaches would relish.

LWB – Neto Borges

You would be more than within your rights to suggest that Cam Pring should be the man to get the nod at left wing-back, but we’re going to work on the basis that the academy graduate will do well to be involved in the matches leading up to the October international break if he’s sidelined for the 12 weeks Bristol City initially suggested.

With that in mind, we’re going to give new signing Neto Borges the nod. While Ross McCrorie, Yu Hirakawa, and even Mark Sykes can all do a job on the left flank, if and when required, the Middlesbrough loanee is a natural on that side of the pitch and will have been brought to BS3 to start matches.

Whether that remains the case when Pring is fit, only time will tell. For now, though, Borges feels the most obvious option at left wing-back.

AM – Scott Twine

Perhaps the player who has surprised supporters most in the opening weeks of the new campaign? When we first picked our ‘strongest team’ back in June, we did have Scott Twine down as the Robins’ best option at number 10, but we didn’t expect him to have quite as impressive a start as he has done under Gerhard Struber.

Three goals and three assists in five appearances in all competitions is an excellent return. Although the return of Max Bird has increased the competition in that advanced midfield role, Twine – when fit – feels like the best player currently available just behind their centre-forward.

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AM – Anis Mehmeti

We’re at risk of repeating ourselves, but like Scott Twine and Adam Randell, Anis Mehmeti has started the season in a brilliant fashion, even if some have still pointed to a perceived lack of consistency over the course of the first four league games.

What has been clear, so far, is that Gerhard Struber is a massive fan of the Albanian international. He has started in all but one of City’s six matches in all competitions so far this season, and on the only occasion he began on the bench – against Fulham in the Carabao Cup – he was introduced after 14 minutes. At his best, he can be unplayable and for that reason, expect to see a lot of him after the September break.

ST – Emil Riis

Through a combination of his brilliant start to life in red and white, and the fact Bristol City were unable to secure an additional striker signing in the final days of the summer transfer window, it is hard to suggest anyone other than Emil Riis would lead the line in the Robins’ ‘strongest team.’

The Dane was brought to Ashton Gate over the off-season to provide a consistent source of goals as a proven Championship forward. While it took him a handful of games to get off the mark, he’s now up and running after his brace against Hull City and he’ll no doubt be looking to kick on.

It will be down to Fally Mayulu, Sinclair Armstrong, and Harry Cornick to offer an alternative option between now and the January window at least, following Sam Bell’s loan move to Wycombe.

Bristol City’s strongest line-up after Neto Borges’ arrival and summer transfer deadline day

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