Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Dave on September 11, 2014, 10:43:56 AM
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We should really have one of these by now.
13th September, 17.30
2-0 defeat.
Balotelli and Gerrard. Two people who always score against us.
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2-2. As above but I reckon we will give a pre match shock announcement of Benteke being fit and subsequently going on to bag a brace.
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I've stuck a few quid on us at 10-1. This is the kind of game we often do surprisingly well in.
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Would take a point right now. If Sanchez and Westwood/Cleverley can keep Lallana and Stirling quiet who knows ......
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Where's the poll??
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Where's the poll??
Fear not he's retired.
I'm also going for 2-2, simply because we do seem to give them a game up there more often than not.
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Any chance of a poll? I'm going for a backs to the wall 1-1 draw.
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I've enjoyed watching us against Liverpool for the last few seasons, sadly I've got a bad feeling about this one. Hope we give a good account of ourselves, if we keep it tight at the back 1-1 would not be out of the realms of possibility!
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What's the latest on Roncrete ?
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I won't even bother trying to predict by how much we'll win, because I can't count that high.
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I won't even bother trying to predict by how much we'll win, because I can't count that high.
What, you can only count on one finger?
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I won't even bother trying to predict by how much we'll win, because I can't count that high.
What, you can only count on one finger?
I lost the rest in an embarrassing accident.
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5-1. Cleverley with the debut hat-trick, including a bicycle kick from 40 yards out.
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Balotelli to score and glare at the Villa fans for chiding him.
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0-0
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There is something within me which prevents me ever predicting Villa to lose. I just can't.
So, 1-0 to Villa.
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3-1 them
Why always him x2
Sterling
Weimann for us
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solid point 1-1. The Gabster
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I'd take a point but fear they'll be too strong for us. 2-1 to them. Just want to get the next 4 games out of the way - someone was clearly taking the piss with the fixture computer when they put these games on the bounce.
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Hard fought draw. Delph to stand out over an aging Gerrard and average Henderson.
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2-0 Villa.
Delph & Weimann.
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There is something within me which prevents me ever predicting Villa to lose. I just can't.
I'm exactly the same. I think/hope this will be 1-1.
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Them 2 - 2 Us
Harrison and Starr for them. Lennon and McCartney for us.
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Fancy a 1-1. Gabby to get the first and then after a lot of presure they will score to leave the game a draw.
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1-1, Olney for us and Beardsley for them.
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What's the latest on Roncrete ?
Late fitness test I read somewhere I think
One word for me here will dictate this - Balotelli. His home debut and if he is 'on it', he can almost tear anyone apart single handedly as we have discovered to our cost in the past. The thought of him up against Baker makes me feel quite ill
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2-0 Liverpool.
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1 nil win with a late pen.
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It wouldn't suprise me to see Lambert go with five at the back for this one.
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I can get 60-1 on a 2-0 win for Villa. Strangely tempted. I have a good feeling about this.
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10/1 is taking the piss. So is 5/1 for a draw in some online sites.
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A gripping something-something win, draw, or loss. I have no doubts about this.
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Should be a very competive and first pace affair, but I think they might just edge it 2-1 with super mario getting a late winner.
Delph doesn't score often enough for us so I will go with him to get our goal. This is a game where we could nick a draw or maybe more as they do have weakinesses to explict, and we tend to do better away to them than at Villa Park. Then again, they do tend to have their fair share of luck when playing us, so we will see I guess.
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I wqas going to say 0-0 unti lI saw Legion had gone with that.. 1-1 instead.
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If it was a Saturday 3pm I'd fancy us for a result. As it's on tv I can see us being turned over by a dodgy ref.
0-3 loss.
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If Suarez was still there I wouldnt fancy our chances much. But he isn't!
0-0 or 1-1 Weimann for us.
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Every season we go there as underdogs but we often surprise them.
I'm sitting on the fence with a 1-1 draw.
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Sturridge injured?
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We are going to win this one 2-0.
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Sturridge injured?
Out for at least 3 weeks.
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0-0 or 1-1.
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2-2 draw.
Ian Ross, Alun Evans for us.
Tarby and Doddy for them.
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1-0 them Ballotelli, booo
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It's amazing the mental effect in football. We often go to Merseyside and play brilliantly and yet we're utter rubbish season in season out in Manchester.
Last year we were having a really poor run over xmas and out of nowhere we probably produced our best performance of the season at Anfield, a game we should've won. That was when Liverpool were smashing everyone out of sight aswell.
Anfield has been really good to us in recent seasons but I fear it will come to an end and our back 4 might be found out in this one as not sure how good they are against pace.
2-1 defeat but a good battling performance which I'd be happy with going into the Arsenal game.
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A valiant effort and a 3-0 defeat.
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Might be a good time to play them. No Sturridge and a few other injury doubts,might just disrupt them a bit.
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Surely the big news here is that Paul Lambert is evidently trying to emulate Roy Keane's quite brilliant beard.
Good luck with that, Paul.
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Can't see us continuing to perform well at Liverpool. 3-0 and the start of run of losses.
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I think a lot depends on whether Ron is fit. If he is, 2-1 to us. If not, 2-1 to them.
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Sturridge, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Skrtel all out apparently. Still be very happy with a draw mind you.
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Plopers 2 - 1 Villa
Johnson
Johnston
Curbishley for us
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Famous last words, as usual with my predictions, but I can't see this one remaining scoreless.
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5-1 Gray 2, Deehan 2 & Little with some non entity scoring for the Redscouse.
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Out of the country for this one. This gives me the option , on return,of deleting the recording without watching if necessary.
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Out of the country for this one. This gives me the option , on return,of deleting the recording without watching if necessary.
I like it. The old 'pretend it didn't happen' tactic. Pretty sure I did that when Chelsea beat us 8-0, didn't watch Match of the Day or go and stayed clear of football-related websites for a good few days.
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Sturridge, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Skrtel all out apparently. Still be very happy with a draw mind you.
Also Ballotelli has been away from training for the last day or 2 due to illness
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5-1 Gray 2, Deehan 2 & Little with some non entity scoring for the Redscouse.
And there'll be no cameras there.
(Well there might be as it kicks off at 5:30 and is on SKY.
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Sturridge, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Skrtel all out apparently. Still be very happy with a draw mind you.
Also Ballotelli has been away from training for the last day or 2 due to illness
He's such a random player I'm not sure that's a good thing or not.
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We'll win this 2-1. don't care who the scorers are but Weimann may well be one of them.
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Balotelli and Delph punch-up seems on the books.
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Sturridge, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Skrtel all out apparently. Still be very happy with a draw mind you.
Also Ballotelli has been away from training for the last day or 2 due to illness
That would be a huge bonus, he tends to play well against us.
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We are a whopping 10/1 to win. Whilst i don't see it that's too good to ignore.
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I like our chances tomorrow of being solid defensively yet being able to play a bit ourselves and get behind their defence. The one thing we know is their back line isn't outstanding and can be exposed. What we must do is keep the ball and p[lay ourselves and get them on the back foot. Irrespective of their injuries they can still hurt us from various positions if we allow them time and space. For me this is a very interesting test to see how much of Roy Keane rubs off on the players. He never backed down from any confrontation and the rivalry with Liverpool was always intense. He'll like nothing better than to get one over on them at Anfield.
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Delph to score first and Villa to either win 2-1, or draw 1-1. 125-1 on Sky Bet. That's worth a tenner I reckon.
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Despite living only a few miles from Anfield this is my first game there to see the Villa in a fair few years - I am going for the customary 3-0 defeat I have witnessed there for most of my life - one great exception was the November 5th victory back in the day with Andy Gray scoring in a 2-1 victory. A repeat of that would be nice.
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Obviously we will win 2-1 thanks to a Balotelli own goal.
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Gerrard to score from either penalty or dodgy freekick at some point. 3-1 defeat.
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When I took my son to his football training on Wednesday there were four different age groups there and there were at least 20 of them wearing Liverpool kits and the same amount of Man United kits as Villa, one.
I so hope we beat them so my son can lord it over the glory hunting little sods next week at training.
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Despite living only a few miles from Anfield this is my first game there to see the Villa in a fair few years - I am going for the customary 3-0 defeat I have witnessed there for most of my life - one great exception was the November 5th victory back in the day with Andy Gray scoring in a 2-1 victory. A repeat of that would be nice.
Welcome back VCTM, hope all well, do I detect a rediscovering of your appetite for all things Villa? That's good if so!
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When I took my son to his football training on Wednesday there were four different age groups there and there were at least 20 of them wearing Liverpool kits and the same amount of Man United kits as Villa, one.
I so hope we beat them so my son can lord it over the glory hunting little sods next week at training.
I shall watch this in the pub in Chichester with a whole load of their equivalent glory hunting big sods no doubt and will have to glue my lips together not to say anything when they start their usual patronising comments about us. I'm not good in such situations I have to admit
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When I took my son to his football training on Wednesday there were four different age groups there and there were at least 20 of them wearing Liverpool kits and the same amount of Man United kits as Villa, one.
I so hope we beat them so my son can lord it over the glory hunting little sods next week at training.
My lad has the same thing at his club. He takes great pleasure telling them all that he has seen their teams in the flesh more times than they have.
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I think it will be a close game with Liverpoo just edging it 1-0
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Things have been going far too well for Villa fans this season versus last 4. Change of transfer policy, Roy Keane, experienced newbies doing well, Grealish, Delph for England. Therefore, deploying the law of averages, Liverpool will run up a cricket score.
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We tend to do one of two things up there, get twatted or get a good result. I'm going for good result tomorrow, 1-1.
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Hope Ron's fit for this.
If he is we will not lose!
We were cheated out of 2 points here last season...
time to get even!
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I think it will be a close game with Liverpoo just edging it 1-0
That's my take on it. The close game part at least, but I think I'd opt for a goalless draw.
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Seems vlaar is a doubt still which is a massive blow if he's still out.
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He would make a big difference, that's true.
Done it without him, though.
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Fingers crossed he makes it.
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Absolutely.
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Finger's crossed, I'm at a wedding tomorrow and hope to hear good news when I get back.
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2-2
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1-2 us. Weimann, Delph
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Hard to call until we know if vlaar is playing. There doesn't seem much comment on this which makes me suspicious.
Would keep the 433. Think I might put Richardson in n'zogbia's position and then either cleverley or sanchez in midfield. Depends who's looking ready and fresh in training.
If vlaar is out I do wonder if he'd go 532. Could work against a diamond
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I can see 352 even if Vlaar does play.
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Possibly. We all thought we'd see it this season before now. It's bit exactly worked for other premier league sides this year
But it could throw a bit of a curve ball. Lambert has outwitted Rodgers tactically a couple of times. You'd have to think the wing backs would get a lot of space.
But we've looked solid how we're playing so I'd rather stick with that
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Liverpool 1 Villa 3. Nurse!
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Lallana just back to fitness, and needs time to bed in, even if he does play. Skirtel out. No Sturridge. 2-0 Villa.
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Hope Cissokho doesn't get any jitters on his return.
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Wonder if Sanchez might play in an attempt to nulify Sterling. Sanchez is that bit quicker and a bit more mobile than Westwood, so it might be an option. If Vlaar doesn't make it, I hope Okore is ready and we don't see either Baker or Clark.
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I think Westwood will play, Cleverley too.
First time in ages I'm actually looking forward to see who starts and the formation.
UTV!!!
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Liverpool have their own pacy wing backs either side. Ripped spurs apart.
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Being forced to live and work in scouseland , this is my least favourite fixture of the year. If we can nick it 1-0 with a flukey breakaway goal , then I will be delighted!!!
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Getting very nervous already! Let's just give a good account of ourselves and see if we can nick something against what is, let's be honest, a much better side. Hope they miss Sturridge badly and Balo has a nightmare!
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Hope Cissokho doesn't get any jitters on his return.
I hope he bloody nails it and rams it right back down those twats' throats
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Suggestion on twitter that vlaar was out last night in Brum. There was also oddly no real mention of whether he's out or not in the press
I really can't see us getting a result at anfield with no vlaar or benteke. But who knows
Would be good to see Okore if he's fit. Tough test though.
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When I took my son to his football training on Wednesday there were four different age groups there and there were at least 20 of them wearing Liverpool kits and the same amount of Man United kits as Villa, one.
I so hope we beat them so my son can lord it over the glory hunting little sods next week at training.
My lad has the same thing at his club. He takes great pleasure telling them all that he has seen their teams in the flesh more times than they have.
Billy does the same, his best mate is a Liverpool 'supporter', he usually comes round on a Saturday after they've done football training but I've warned my other half not to invite him round today. I actually got wound up by a 10 year old last season when he was round for the 2-2.
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Suggestion on twitter that vlaar was out last night in Brum.
Really cannot see that being true.
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I'd have expected the whole squad to have travelled yesterday so unless Vlaar is definitely out with a long-term injury he would have travelled. There again, the long-term injured don't tend to be swigging back lagers around Broad St on the eve of a match. Especially your captain.
I'd flood midfield for this one and leave just one up top. Could do with Benteke or Kozak for this one so we could use Gabby's pace wide on the counter as they will come out all guns blazing. I'd also like to see us target Gerrard like we did last season. He couldn't cope with player swarming all over him.
I'd go
Guzan
Hutton
Vlaar/Okore/Baker
Senderos
Cissokho
Sanchez
Westwood
Cleverley
Richardson
Weimann
Gabby
Sanchez, Westwood, Cleverley to act as a deep lying midfield 3 with Cleverley expected to be the link player and to break forward - he is known for his decent engine from what I've read. Richardson, Gabby, Weimann breaking forward in a triangle at every opportunity with Cleverley linking it up. Depending on the situation the defending Liverpool players when we nick the ball off them (place on the pitch, number of defenders) then Westwood or Sanchez could also join an attack.
Clearly this is a 7-0 humping now.
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I'd have expected the whole squad to have travelled yesterday so unless Vlaar is definitely out with a long-term injury he would have travelled. There again, the long-term injured don't tend to be swigging back lagers around Broad St on the eve of a match. Especially your captain.
I'd flood midfield for this one and leave just one up top. Could do with Benteke or Kozak for this one so we could use Gabby's pace wide on the counter as they will come out all guns blazing. I'd also like to see us target Gerrard like we did last season. He couldn't cope with player swarming all over him.
I'd go
Guzan
Hutton
Vlaar/Okore/Baker
Senderos
Cissokho
Sanchez
Westwood
Cleverley
Richardson
Weimann
Gabby
Sanchez, Westwood, Cleverley to act as a deep lying midfield 3 with Cleverley expected to be the link player and to break forward - he is known for his decent engine from what I've read. Richardson, Gabby, Weimann breaking forward in a triangle at every opportunity with Cleverley linking it up. Depending on the situation the defending Liverpool players when we nick the ball off them (place on the pitch, number of defenders) then Westwood or Sanchez could also join an attack.
Clearly this is a 7-0 humping now.
Is Delph injured?
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I'd have expected the whole squad to have travelled yesterday so unless Vlaar is definitely out with a long-term injury he would have travelled. There again, the long-term injured don't tend to be swigging back lagers around Broad St on the eve of a match. Especially your captain.
I'd flood midfield for this one and leave just one up top. Could do with Benteke or Kozak for this one so we could use Gabby's pace wide on the counter as they will come out all guns blazing. I'd also like to see us target Gerrard like we did last season. He couldn't cope with player swarming all over him.
I'd go
Guzan
Hutton
Vlaar/Okore/Baker
Senderos
Cissokho
Sanchez
Westwood
Cleverley
Richardson
Weimann
Gabby
Sanchez, Westwood, Cleverley to act as a deep lying midfield 3 with Cleverley expected to be the link player and to break forward - he is known for his decent engine from what I've read. Richardson, Gabby, Weimann breaking forward in a triangle at every opportunity with Cleverley linking it up. Depending on the situation the defending Liverpool players when we nick the ball off them (place on the pitch, number of defenders) then Westwood or Sanchez could also join an attack.
Clearly this is a 7-0 humping now.
Is Delph injured?
No, just got massive hangover after challenging Big Ron to a lager race.
Never compete at drinking with the Dutch!
;-)
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I'd have expected the whole squad to have travelled yesterday so unless Vlaar is definitely out with a long-term injury he would have travelled. There again, the long-term injured don't tend to be swigging back lagers around Broad St on the eve of a match. Especially your captain.
I'd flood midfield for this one and leave just one up top. Could do with Benteke or Kozak for this one so we could use Gabby's pace wide on the counter as they will come out all guns blazing. I'd also like to see us target Gerrard like we did last season. He couldn't cope with player swarming all over him.
I'd go
Guzan
Hutton
Vlaar/Okore/Baker
Senderos
Cissokho
Sanchez
Westwood
Cleverley
Richardson
Weimann
Gabby
Sanchez, Westwood, Cleverley to act as a deep lying midfield 3 with Cleverley expected to be the link player and to break forward - he is known for his decent engine from what I've read. Richardson, Gabby, Weimann breaking forward in a triangle at every opportunity with Cleverley linking it up. Depending on the situation the defending Liverpool players when we nick the ball off them (place on the pitch, number of defenders) then Westwood or Sanchez could also join an attack.
Clearly this is a 7-0 humping now.
Is Delph injured?
I don't rate him. Sorry.
I actually looked at the team and thought NZog was the only player I missed. Then on another thread and someone mentioned Delph...Delph for Westwood.
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I'd have expected the whole squad to have travelled yesterday so unless Vlaar is definitely out with a long-term injury he would have travelled. There again, the long-term injured don't tend to be swigging back lagers around Broad St on the eve of a match. Especially your captain.
I'd flood midfield for this one and leave just one up top. Could do with Benteke or Kozak for this one so we could use Gabby's pace wide on the counter as they will come out all guns blazing. I'd also like to see us target Gerrard like we did last season. He couldn't cope with player swarming all over him.
I'd go
Guzan
Hutton
Vlaar/Okore/Baker
Senderos
Cissokho
Sanchez
Westwood
Cleverley
Richardson
Weimann
Gabby
Sanchez, Westwood, Cleverley to act as a deep lying midfield 3 with Cleverley expected to be the link player and to break forward - he is known for his decent engine from what I've read. Richardson, Gabby, Weimann breaking forward in a triangle at every opportunity with Cleverley linking it up. Depending on the situation the defending Liverpool players when we nick the ball off them (place on the pitch, number of defenders) then Westwood or Sanchez could also join an attack.
Clearly this is a 7-0 humping now.
Is Delph injured?
Not that I know of and England played Monday so there is no reason for him being that tierd.
I think him and Westwood, plus a holding player ideally Sanchez can give us a decent balance in the midfield, but will still need the pace down the flanks and good delivery. Because of this I would start Grealish as I think this the sort of game is he can sink his teeth into and try and explict some of their defensive weaknesses.
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would take a point right now but any type of win would be great.....
anything nil to the Villa and another clean sheet :)
UTV
The Doc
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On the Vlaar thing, there was an interview earlier in the summer where he said he doesn't drink, and I can't imagine anyone wanting to be out in Brum on a friday night and not drink so I'm gonna file that one under bullshit.
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Remember folks, if it's on Twitter....
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Vlaar strikes me as the consummate family man. The last place I expect he'd be is out on the lash on a Friday night.
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Carling are doing the sky sports pass again.My lad can have the 10 cans of piss.
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I hope there's a bit of proportion if we lose. It won't mean we're doomed, just that we're not title contenders.
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I just want a performance.
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Doogan was tweeting pics yesterday of the lads at the Forest of Arden after golf. That may have been from earlier in the week though perhaps ?
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1-1. Weimann for us.
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Vlaar out
Baker in
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I hope there's a bit of proportion if we lose. It won't mean we're doomed, just that we're not title contenders.
It will really depend on how we lose. Little point burying our heads if we're absolutely crap. Hopefully we'll get in their faces, let them know they're in a battle and try to play ourselves. Anything more will be a bonus.
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Oh dear, Baker's in...
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Vlaar out
Baker in
Gulp.....help
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Vlaar out
Baker in
Nzogbia out Cleverley in.
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Cleverley in, no Sanchez
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Baker in for vlaar
Chance of winning declines by about 80%. Can't see it
Liverpool with a threatening front line today. But no Sturridge or sterling is encouraging. Lallana, markovic and to a lesser extent continuo are a threat behind balotelli
I'm just not sure baker is good enough to cope with the movement we'll face today
Richardson wide right in a 433?
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Vlaar out
Baker in
Confirmed on R5.
Also, Cleverley starts.
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Baker in for vlaar
Chance of winning declines by about 80%. Can't see it
Liverpool with a threatening front line today. But no Sturridge or sterling is encouraging. Lallana, markovic and to a lesser extent continuo are a threat behind balotelli
I'm just not sure baker is good enough to cope with the movement we'll face today
Richardson wide right in a 433?
I'm now withdrawing my 'win' forecast ....
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Nice to see a much stronger bench for us with options for different things
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Guzan, Hutton, Baker, Senderos, Cissokho, Westwood, Delph, Cleverley, Richardson, Agbonlahor [c], Weimann.
Mignolet, Manquillo, Moreno, Lovren, Sakho, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic, Lallana, Balotelli
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At least all our relegation rivals are losing or only drawing! ;-)
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Why Baker not Okore?
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Why Baker not Okore?
Okore plays on the right, Baker on the left. Not sure if Okore is fully fit. Strange that Clark can't get a look in.
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It's a bad thing that's happened
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Baker? Bollocks. At least we have some options on the bench to change things.
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It's a bad thing that's happened
Ha! That's the great thing with the Villa, you never know what to expect. We could end up stuffing them today or losing 4-0.
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Match thread is now open ladies and gentleman. Finish your drinks and make your way to the next thread.
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Why Baker not Okore?
isn't Okore slightly injured?
I'd have been tempted to give Sanchez a game in front of the weakened back four. Perhaps he'll come on after we've taken the lead ...
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I find it very odd that Baker is ahead of Clark in the pecking order.