Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ExclDawg on January 03, 2018, 04:40:43 PM
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Still trying to follow Villa over here in the States, although admittedly it's much harder now that the team is in the Championship and Sky wants to block all highlights from being shown. Admittedly, I'm not as versed on the team as I should be, but I do what I can do reading this forum from time to time and trying to view whatever highlights I can manage to poach from YouTube and other far shadier sites.
This year it seems we've had a few injuries and others haven't played up to the level they have in the past. Trying to get more up to speed on the team here while in the transfer window, I figured I'd put the question up to our panel of experts (aka: everyone that posts here other than me). Having just put 5 past Bristol, one might think that would be our best starting 11, but I know there's a few that will be coming back from injury soon.
So, you're the manager. Who's our best starting eleven? And who would you have on the bench? And finally, you have 10+ million pounds (my american keyboard won't let me do the symbol), what one position would you upgrade?
Just so you can point and laugh ... in my limited knowledge, I would stick to something similar to the Bristol lineup:
G: Johnston
RB: Elmo
CB: Terry (no injury)
CB: Chester
LB: Hutton
CDM: Jedinak
M: Adomah
M: Grelish
M: Snodgrass
M: Hourihane
S: Kodjia (no injury)
On the bench:
- Andre Green: Seems like he'd be my first guy in, but I didn't know who to take out to start him.
- Samba: Sounds like Elphick has been doing better lately, but Samba would be the safer option.
- Elphick: Because he's been doing better lately
- Davis: Not sure about bench strikers though. I remember Davis having some good games earlier, but no so much recently.
- Onomah: I remember him doing well earlier as well, but haven't heard a lot since.
- Hogan: I could probably go with some of the younger guys here, but he had a good last game. What the heck.
- Steer: Not that I would know a whole lot about bench keepers.
I have no idea what position would be at the top of the needs list. Just curious what you guys think?
Thanks!
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For me I would say;
Johnstone
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Hutton
Jedinak
Snodgrass
Hourihane
Grealish
Adomah
Kodjia
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I'd have to think about this but ExclDawg, I think you're the one stalwart from the Browns posse that stayed with us through the Lerner years and beyond. Respek'.
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Just fyi ExclDawg if you can afford it AVTV is pretty good for catching the games, the full match replays in particular are gold for us in the USA. Now we are past the mid point is a bit cheaper and you get access to the the vault of all the games.
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4-4-1-1
Johnson
Hutton
Chester
Terry
Taylor
Snodgrass
Whelan
Hourihane
Adomah
Grealish
Kodjia
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Johnstone
Hutton Chester Terry Taylor
Jedinak
Snodgrass Grealish Hourihane Adomah
Kodjia
Which still leaves:
Steer
Elmo Elphick Samba De Laet
Whelan
Onomah O'Hare Lansbury Green
Hogan
and I still haven't found room for Davis, Bree, Doyle-Hayes or Bjarnason, let alone Gabby or Richards. Not a bad squad at championship level, I'd say. Which is why it is not unreasonable to expect a place in the top two...
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Johnstone
Hutton
Chester
Taylor
Terry
Jedinak
Grealish
Onomah
Kodja
Davis
Adomah
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Johnstone
Elmo
Chester
Terry
Hutton
Jedinak
Hourihane
Grealish
Kodjia
Davis
Albert
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For me I would say;
Johnstone
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Hutton
Jedinak
Snodgrass
Hourihane
Grealish
Adomah
Kodjia
Same for me.
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Can I be funny? A team of Paul mcgraths please
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Can I be funny? A team of Paul mcgraths please
Go on them we are waiting :)
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Johnstone
Hutton Chester Terry Taylor
Jedinak
Snodgrass Grealish Hourihane Adomah
Kodjia
Which still leaves:
Steer
Elmo Elphick Samba De Laet
Whelan
Onomah O'Hare Lansbury Green
Hogan
and I still haven't found room for Davis, Bree, Doyle-Hayes or Bjarnason, let alone Gabby or Richards. Not a bad squad at championship level, I'd say. Which is why it is not unreasonable to expect a place in the top two...
According to Bruce on Talksport this morning, Kodjia is likely to be out for the rest of the season, so I still think we might be short a central striker (given up hope on Agbonlahor). A loan signing until the end of the season would be fine.
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Johnstone
DeLaet
Chester
Terry
Hutton
Jedinak
Grealish
Adomah
Hourihane
Hogan/Davis
Kodjia
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We showed we can score 5 goals playing one up front at home. I think it’s a horses for courses thing. I’m in agreement with Drummond on his 4-1-3-2. In a 4-1-4-1 I’m adding a fit Andre Green down the left, putting Albert on the right.
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Depends on who the opposition is, but my starting 11 - working with those who are fit, or soon to be fit, to play - would probably be:
Johnstone
Elmo, Hutton
Chester, Terry
Jedi, Hourihane
Adomah Grealish, Green
Davis
And, I'd hope that the following would have a part to play:
RHM, O'Hare, Doyle-Hayes, Snodgrass, Elphick, Taylor, De Laet, Hogan, Whelan, Steer
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Just so you can point and laugh ... in my limited knowledge, I would stick to something similar to the Bristol lineup:
G: Johnston
RB: Elmo
CB: Terry (no injury)
CB: Chester
LB: Hutton
CDM: Jedinak
M: Adomah
M: Grelish
M: Snodgrass
M: Hourihane
S: Kodjia (no injury)
This would be my best 11 too. As Kodjia is out we need a decent striker on loan to fill that gap. Davis and Hogan will be useful subs but not good enough to start every week IMO.
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I think you need to pick and mix for home and away games. With the exception of Derby Whelan has been one of the best performers away from home. You then have to look at Onomah who is either terrific or pants nothing inbetween.
Then there is IElmo to take into consideration. It's not easy!
For a one off game though I would have to go with:
Johnstone
Hutton
Taylor
Chester
Terry
Jedinak
Adomah
Grealish
Hourihan
Snodgrass/Elmo - difficult to work out who is more effective
Kodja
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I'd have to think about this but ExclDawg, I think you're the one stalwart from the Browns posse that stayed with us through the Lerner years and beyond. Respek'.
I've survived a Villa Relegation and non-promotion and the Browns getting 1 win in two years. I have a hard time picking out which fan base suffers more.
I'm considering rooting for Chelsea and Pittsburgh and using my powers for good instead of evil.
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I'd have to think about this but ExclDawg, I think you're the one stalwart from the Browns posse that stayed with us through the Lerner years and beyond. Respek'.
I've survived a Villa Relegation and non-promotion and the Browns getting 1 win in two years. I have a hard time picking out which fan base suffers more.
I'm considering rooting for Chelsea and Pittsburgh and using my powers for good instead of evil.
32. We
31. Should
30. Stop
29. Trying
28. To
27. Predict
26. The
25. Order
24. Of
23. The
22. 2019
21. Draft
20. Because
19. The
18. NFL
17. Is
16. So
15. Wildly
14. Random
13. And
12. Teams
11. Can
10. Turn
9. It
8. All
7. Around
6. In
5. Just
4. One
3. Off
2. Season
1. Browns
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Bumping this as needs discussion after yesterday and the shock.
Something said for players for the particular match.
And also something said for trusting squad and all players to do a job and compete for places as well as competence when selected.
A concern with Bruce can be his old school same 11 approach without rotation. Reactive not proactive. Needs to be aware of the idea modern squad match players slot into system. Hearing his interview and blaming mistake for not changing and freshen up he has no excuse. The excuse is that team won 4-1 how can he change it? Quite simply. He has squad and good enough players to involve them. I think he doesn't grasp this and indeed focus on best 11.
We can argue or discuss that yesterday 11 was first choice. It looked like that was a first choice team after the 4-1 epic beating of wolves but the best 11 needs to be context to an extent.
The next line up that starts v Bolton will be very interesting.
One thing would like to note is that Bruce has to upset a few players at times and withdraw them keeping same shape or at least make more positive moves but keeping balance.
Grabban is my first choice striker at this moment and the defence is the defence but its midfield positions that most need flexible in change and being recognised as who is 100% automatic something not necessarily needed.
So in discussion it may be said that it's not simply best 11 players but best team to play given context of match.
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good point skillz and for Bolton, I think I would give Ange a go for starters
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Could do worse.
What about hourihane at left back.
Taylor is weak and possibly injured.
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Hourihane can't tackle
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Taylor can't cross the ball.
Skillz comment was about horses for courses. Maybe its an option in certain situations?
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He has to better than Jedinak there WTF was Bruce thinking?
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James Bree? In a left back role maybe adapt that position? I mean what's happened to this guy?
I just like to see Bruce utilise the squad and not have to hear 'I got it wrong'.
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Impossible to say, some players have not been available, others have not been given any opportunity.
I don’t think Bruce knows either.