Aston Villa vs Fulham Championship Play-Off Final Pre-Match Thread

[kippaxvilla2]

Bruce was on the radio this morning.  Only injury concern is Elmo.  Also they had to stop the training session early yesterday as they were all kicking lumps out of each other.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Really concerned about not having Elmo. He would be marking arguably their most dangerous player. Bree is a decent young player but his lack of experience in such a crucial game is worrying. Saying that nearly all their team have never played at Wembley .....

[villan from luton]

Really concerned about not having Elmo. He would be marking arguably their most dangerous player. Bree is a decent young player but his lack of experience in such a crucial game is worrying. Saying that nearly all their team have never played at Wembley .....

Maybe Hutton will mark him if that is the case. Bree did well last week after a nervy start I thought and the experience we have in the team should help. I really am hoping that experience will be the telling factor in us winning the game

[eamonn]

Already?

All ready. Let's do this.

[Pat McMahon]

I realise its on the pitch that counts.

but I think weve won the battle of the stands.

looking at their selling page

quite a number of Villa now in the Fulham end.

I thought they had sold out?

[Damo70]

Really concerned about not having Elmo. He would be marking arguably their most dangerous player. Bree is a decent young player but his lack of experience in such a crucial game is worrying. Saying that nearly all their team have never played at Wembley .....

Don't worry about Bree. The game is on May 26th. The script is written for a young Villa player lacking experience to be the man of the match.

[Tony Erdington]

I realise its on the pitch that counts.

but I think weve won the battle of the stands.

looking at their selling page

quite a number of Villa now in the Fulham end.

I thought they had sold out?

Your right, they sold there tickets but Fulham thinking their from the smoke are all trying to turn in to Delboys , "and knock em out to some stupid Brummies"

Fulham football club acted irresponsibly allowing that to happen, but then they are small time.

[Chris Jameson]

What is "small time"?

[PeterWithesShin]

There's a difference between being a small(ish) club and being small time. Small time is invading the pitch after Boro

[Tony Erdington]

There's a difference between being a small(ish) club and being small time. Small time is invading the pitch after Boro

or Derby perhaps, or looking to maximism sales when you know you've got what 18000 fans.

[olaftab]

Any suggestions for venues showing game. Requirements are suitable for kids and predominantly villa fans?

Wembley and West side safe for Villa fans. (Sorry)

[itbrvilla]

Any suggestions for venues showing game. Requirements are suitable for kids and predominantly villa fans?

My wife and uncle are watching it in the Northfield British Legion

[PeterWithesShin]

There's a difference between being a small(ish) club and being small time. Small time is invading the pitch after Boro

or Derby perhaps, or looking to maximism sales when you know you've got what 18000 fans.

They are fully entitled to sell their allocation how they like. I don't necessarily agree with it but they are a smaller club maximising their sales from an allocation they are entitled to, which is very different to being small time.

[brontebilly]

Trying to be somewhat rational here but is our best chance dependent on Fulham freezing?

Concerns

- Snodgrass won't be as well suited to covering their dangerman (Sessegnon) as AA did in the semi with Traore
- Fulham are far more mobile in the middle than any of our options, particularly the likely duo of Jedinak and Hourihane
- leadership aside is there any technical reason for playing Jedinak, Fulham won't be hoofing too many long balls onto Mitrovic. Would Bjarnasson offer us a bit more and help keep the ball better
- have we anyone likely to stop Cairney dictating the play
- lack of options maybe but Grabban isn't likely to offer too much as an option for getting us up the pitch, we don't seem overly suited to a counter attacking game
- Bree/Elmo at left back for most of the game won't be ideal in terms of keeping the ball or defensively.

Positives

- Davies did a great job of containing Mitrovic in the first leg. Terry and Chester should be capable of the same.
- Hutton to dominate Sessegnon, though he is a far better player than Traore..
- We have Grealish and plenty of goal threat in midfield.
- Grabban will always get a chance or two.
- We might have the edge on them for attacking set pieces.
- Far more experienced side

[frank black]

Davies was spitting blood, turned inside out by Mitrovic, his poor shooting was the only reason he didn’t get a couple.