Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: N'ZMAV on November 06, 2012, 08:48:33 AM

Title: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: N'ZMAV on November 06, 2012, 08:48:33 AM

From what I've seen so far this season I think this would be our strongest line up. a 4-1-3-2 style formation.

Guzan

Lowton
Vlaar
Clark
Lichaj

KEA
Ireland
Holman
Bannan

Benteke
Agbonlahor

The strike partnership seems to be working. And Ireland and Bannan are clever midfielders who should create enough chances. Holmans work rate is excellent and KEA's passing and reading of the game is excellent.
Lichaj has been more solid than Bennett, who I think isn't ready yet.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Darlo Dave on November 06, 2012, 09:01:32 AM

Would like to see this side get a run out. Weimann and Holman rotate, depending on how attacking / defensive we need to be.

__________Guzan__________

Lowton__Vlaar__Clark__Bennett

_____Westwood__KEA______

___________Ireland_________

Weimann/Holman______Gabby

___________Benteke________

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: johncvilla88 on November 06, 2012, 10:27:25 AM

Exact same teams as Darlo Dave for me except Weimann in my team every time for me! You can't question that in the 5/6 games he started we won and haven't lost with him in the starting line up!

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: olaftab on November 06, 2012, 10:31:52 AM

I noticed that Clark and Bannan made the BBC team of the week. That is great for our youth system.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: PaulTheVillan on November 06, 2012, 10:32:36 AM

I would go with this (at the moment)

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Bennett
KEA
Bannan Ireland
Holman.....................Agbonlahor
Benteke

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Monty on November 06, 2012, 10:37:50 AM

It's tough to tell, but I think the team that played last time would be hard to drop. Westwood coming in looked as good as KEA has at any stage this season.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: eastie on November 06, 2012, 10:39:47 AM

Difficult choice really and I guess a lot depends on the opposition - I thought lambert got it bang on at Sunderland but against man utd maybe would bring kea back to provide more midfield cover and leave Weimann out , it's good that we now seem to have options though.
Westwood impressed me hugely on Saturday and I would hope he will get a decent run in the team, a future captain I feel.

The squad is taking shape and once the injuries clear up we will have a pretty strong bench too.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: paul_e on November 06, 2012, 11:25:01 AM

Bannan has to play for me.  He's got a bit of a reputation for playing hollywood passes on here but the reality is he's easily our most effective player in midfield and this year we've looked a much better side when he's started.

I also hope that saturday will serve towards stopping people questioning Clark's ability to play at this level.  At the start of the season Clark was the only player in our defence with more than a handful of premier league appearances (Lichaj) so there were going to be problems but lowton and Vlaar are now looking established and solid and hopefully Bennett will soon as well.

For Man Utd I'd go with the team from Saturday (I guess Bennett won't be fit so Lichaj to start at leftback) but bring KEA in for Ireland at the start and play Bannan a little further forward.  Keeping Weimann and Gabby forward is important as United have had a lot of joy from their fullbacks this year, then keep the midfield 3 tight and harry them defensively.  Benteke is an animal and can hurt their defence but we need to keep it solid at the back first and foremost as they have a very strong attacking 'unit' in RVP, Rooney and Valencia as the supply line.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: tomd2103 on November 06, 2012, 11:49:46 AM

Quote from: Darlo Dave on November 06, 2012, 09:01:32 AM

Would like to see this side get a run out. Weimann and Holman rotate, depending on how attacking / defensive we need to be.

__________Guzan__________

Lowton__Vlaar__Clark__Bennett

_____Westwood__KEA______

___________Ireland_________

Weimann/Holman______Gabby

___________Benteke________

I think that looks like the best formation and team we could field at the moment.  The only current dilemmas for me would be a choice between Bannan / Westwood and Holman / Weimann. 

If the likes of Gabby and Ireland can produce on a consistent basis then we only really need to add a dominant central midfielder and a wide forward who can score (although I still hold out hope N'Zogbia could do that for us) to make it a stronger starting XI.     

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Hookeysmith on November 06, 2012, 12:02:33 PM

Bloody hell i had forgot about N'Zogbia - says it all i suppose

Intersting how a week or so ago most on here was clamouring for Bent to be a starter - now it seems that it has faded and i honestly can see why. Movement and goals are the key and Benteke is proving to be a really good find

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: QBVILLA on November 06, 2012, 12:05:23 PM

With everyone fit and available...

Guzan

Lowton Vlaar Dunne Lichaj

             Herd
Holman  Ireland Bannan

Bent   Benteke

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Ryu on November 06, 2012, 01:07:51 PM

There's a miserable idiot by me who shouts an ironic 'Hollywood' almost everytime bannan makes a pass. But I think he's been good when he's played this season, and he's usually been in the side when we've performed better this season.  Also, a friend messaged me a stat today that he has the fewest minutes on the pitch per accurate cross (19) and the higest rate if accurate crosses overall (52%) of anyone in the top European leagues.   So its him, ireland and KEA or Westwood in midfield for me. 

I agree with darlo Dave that Holman and Weimann are the best options on the right at the minute, depending on who we're playing. 

So basically lambert had our best team out on Saturday. 

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: N'ZMAV on November 06, 2012, 02:10:01 PM

Interesting points on Weimmann, he looks so lively, always a threat.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Concrete John on November 06, 2012, 02:39:13 PM

I find it hard to disagree with Darlo Dave's team also!

I like KEA and I like the look of Westwood, so think they would provide a fine central pairing.  I'm also a Bannan fan, but would like him further forward, so see him as in competition for Ireland's spot at the moment.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: not3bad on November 06, 2012, 02:52:44 PM

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Lichaj
KEA
Bannan Ireland
Holman.....................Agbonlahor
Benteke

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Merv on November 06, 2012, 04:53:15 PM

If we're looking at our strongest team this season based on player performance, and the results certain players have helped achieve, you can't look too further away from not3bad's X1 there. Ireland and Bannan started the Newcastle game, Swansea and Sunderland. Our midfield seems to perform better with them in it.

Westwood has promise but not shown enough yet to dislodge KEA (or anyone else in CM), while Lichaj has generally looked steadier than Bennett. The toughest decision, for me, is including both Holman and Weimann, because I think both deserve to start but it's fitting them in. I still think Holman could be an option instead of Ireland on occasion.

Be interesting to do this again in another dozen games.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: gabbythelegend on November 07, 2012, 05:03:58 AM

Guzan

Lowton
Vlaar
Clark
Lichaj

Westwood
KEA

Weimann
Bannan
Agbonlahor

Benteke

I do like Ireland, but I think Bannan could be a great no.10, and I'd like to develop him there. Scottish Messi blahblahetc.

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Matt Collins on November 07, 2012, 07:13:26 AM

I don't think bannan will be effective in the no 10 role. He doesn't have the running power. I tend to agree 4231 with benteke up front. I've been a big fan of Holman but not sure he's suited to the wide right role as his main quality is his sheer hard work and I think that's more effective centrally. You'd have to hope n'zogbia could take the place on the right in a fairly fluid formation with him and gabby able to interchange with Ireland behind benteke.

I think the only way bent can play in that 4231 is if we improve pretty massively in midfield, to the extent that we don't need to play off a front man. I see this as being some way off!

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: Villadam on November 07, 2012, 08:43:27 PM

2 strikers is a thing of the past now and with benteke being far better than bent holding the ball up, flicking the ball on i just dont see a place for bent. how west wood played against sunderland i think he should be in the next game and keep his place if he can continue form. I also think lichaj is far too slow to play full back in the prem and if bennett injured give stevens the push.

Guzan
Lowton - Vlaar - Clark - Bennett/Stevens
KEA - Westwood
Weimann/Nzogbia - Ireland - Gabby
Benteke

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: olaftab on November 07, 2012, 08:50:18 PM

Guzan
Lowton, Vlaark, Clark, Anyone
KEA, Bannan, Ireland, Holman
Weimann, Benteke

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: pedro25 on November 07, 2012, 09:08:40 PM

               Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Bennett
        Westwood KEA
    Bannan Ireland Gabby
               Benteke

Subs (in order of closest to 1st 11) Holman Weimann Bent N'Zogbia Given Lichaj Delph

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: pedro25 on November 07, 2012, 09:26:10 PM

Sorry too much time on my hands.

2nd eleven

                Given
Lichaj Dunne Baker Stevens
           Herd Delph
 Weimann Holman N'Zogbia
                 Bent

3rd eleven
                         Marshall
              Hutton Williams Warnock
Albrighton Gardner Petrov Makoun Carruthers
                  Bowery Delfouneso

Subs Grealish Johnson Burke etc

Title: Re: What do you think is our best line-up?
Post by: peter w on November 08, 2012, 09:40:50 AM

I don't know and it's possible that Lambert doesn't either. Injuries and suspensions give him the chance to put in players who may not have been in his first team plans, and if like Bannan and Westwood they grab their chance and it works then it looks like a master stroke.