This is a DO NOT LOSE. A win is always needed but a draw would be acceptable given the state of the table. We need to start getting more points on the board, and our performances will get better with confidence from not losing week in week out.
Team for me (and DS lol):
Heaton
Elmo Konsa Hause Taylor
Guilbert Douglas Hourihane Targett
Grealish
Wesley/Kodjia
Think that side gives us defensive stability while offering us attacking options out wide with Grealish having a totally free role, I would like to see Kodjia play but it won't happen unfortunately!
Hope for a win but at least a draw, MUST NOT lose!
Team for me (and DS lol):
Heaton
Elmo Konsa Hause Taylor
Guilbert Douglas Hourihane Targett
Grealish
Wesley/Kodjia
Think that side gives us defensive stability while offering us attacking options out wide with Grealish having a totally free role, I would like to see Kodjia play but it won't happen unfortunately!
Hope for a win but at least a draw, MUST NOT lose!
That's the kind of team Alex McLeish might have picked. Four full backs !
If Mings is fit he comes back in. Targett to come out with Hause shifting over to left back for me. Given he got the winner, Hourihane will probably come back in but I'd move him further forward on the left of a 3 with Grealish and maybe Jota for a change. Drop AEG and Trez.
This is a DO NOT LOSE. A win is always needed but a draw would be acceptable given the state of the table. We need to start getting more points on the board, and our performances will get better with confidence from not losing week in week out.
Pearson will set them up to bully us so I hope Dean counteracts that.
Is it on Amazon prime again?
Stop Deeney and we'll win.You've spelt 'Deano' wrongly.
If Tyrone isn't ready, I'd go with Chester and put Hause at left back.
Based on the above I'd start Nakamba.Snigger
Thought Elmo did fine yesterday. But unfortunately Delefeou will have him on toast.I bet Pearson will have Delefeou up against Target, because you just know DS will start him.
Guilbert does have pace on his side it's whether he can play disciplined enough and not continually get caught really high upfield.
I would be tempted to look 3 at the back push the full backs (Guilbert and targett)further forward as they seem to be better attacking than defending. Have Douglas and Conor in the middle and jack behind 2 strikers of Wes and KodjSo would I, but it ain't going to happen, is it?
I am not sure what problem it is trying to solve.I would be tempted to look 3 at the back push the full backs (Guilbert and targett)further forward as they seem to be better attacking than defending. Have Douglas and Conor in the middle and jack behind 2 strikers of Wes and KodjSo would I, but it ain't going to happen, is it?
I'd like to see the following:
Heaton
Fred Konza Hause Taylor
Marv
Luiz Conor
Jack
Jota
Wesley
Solid in defence, industrious in midfield and creative up front.
If Mings is fit, bring him back and push Hause to left back.
El Ghazi can come on for the last 5 minutes.
We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?
We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?
Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.
Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.
We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?
Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.
Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.
Nakamba was impressive in some games earlier in the season, Liverpool at home in particular, but he has been awful for the last few games, not through lack of effort but just his first touch and decision making. Was totally culpable for southamptons 3rd which was unforgivable at that stage in the game and made virtually exactly the same mistake yesterday but got away with it. I think it was significant Smith hooked him literally a couple of minutes later.
I agree that Hourihane sometimes struggles in the same role and generally disappears from some games, but simply because of his goal threat and set piece ability he has to be in for me. When we’re not playing well a set piece could be a get out of jail card.
The winger situation is really concerning as AEG is so off form and Trez is looking like a headless chicken. Sticking with the 433 means Smith will have to play one of them and given that I think AEG has more ability. I think has great feet and can pick a pass but is so slow and lightweight he just can’t go with him on the wing. I think he could do a job just behind Wes but that would mean moving jack out wide again, which is a waste of his talent. The other thing he could do is play Hourihane on the left and Lansbury alongside Luiz, not the most thrilling prospect.
We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?
Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.
Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.
Nakamba was impressive in some games earlier in the season, Liverpool at home in particular, but he has been awful for the last few games, not through lack of effort but just his first touch and decision making. Was totally culpable for southamptons 3rd which was unforgivable at that stage in the game and made virtually exactly the same mistake yesterday but got away with it. I think it was significant Smith hooked him literally a couple of minutes later.
I agree that Hourihane sometimes struggles in the same role and generally disappears from some games, but simply because of his goal threat and set piece ability he has to be in for me. When we’re not playing well a set piece could be a get out of jail card.
The winger situation is really concerning as AEG is so off form and Trez is looking like a headless chicken. Sticking with the 433 means Smith will have to play one of them and given that I think AEG has more ability. I think has great feet and can pick a pass but is so slow and lightweight he just can’t go with him on the wing. I think he could do a job just behind Wes but that would mean moving jack out wide again, which is a waste of his talent. The other thing he could do is play Hourihane on the left and Lansbury alongside Luiz, not the most thrilling prospect.
And therein lies our problem; utter confusion; asking players to play in roles they're not used to and/or not effective in.
If Trez is a headless chicken, AEG is a headless peacock. Play him closer to Wesley? He missed the two biggest sitters of the season yesterday. Neither are wingers, neither give me confidence other than coming off the bench as they don't understand/can't play effectively for 90 minutes. When both start it's like starting with 9 men and we wonder why we're so poor.
As others have pointed out, Marv was great when he owned the defensive role. We then try and add Luiz or Conor to play alongside him. Why? Neither are suited for the role and we wonder why it all goes pear shaped. We should now be fine tuning rather than rebuilding the midfield every game. Look how shit SJM became during the season because we kept swapping and changing.
The same could be said for the defence though I'm more confident that is the easiest department to sort out. The only real doubt is who plays left back. Sort out defence and midfield and the attack will soon benefit and more importantly so will results. Dean needs to focus on where to play the players and stick with it. It's little surprise recently we look so often like a team that met for the first time 20 minutes before kick off.
We need to be right up for it tomorrow. Beat Watford and we've pretty much secured one of the relegation places. They'll understand the importance of the game. Will we? I bloody hope so.
I'm going to this (my 1st away of the ssn), so looking forward to it. Come on the Villa boys! If Mings is fit I'd play:
Heaton,
Freddy, Konsa, Mings and Hause.
Hause has proven he can play LB. Also he would add extra height and physical presence when defending set pieces. If Mings is unfit, Hause plays left CB and Taylor comes in. I don't think you can play Freddy and Targett in the same team away from home.
In midfield I'd play Luiz as DCM (he gets the nod purely for his goal line clearance vs Norwich) and hope for the best. I'd also play Hourihane and of course Grealish as a No.10.
In the wide positions I'd play Elmo on the right, so that there is obvious cover when Freddy inevitably goes on one of his marauding runs. I'd play ElGhazi on the left. Imo Villa are better with only 1 of Anwar or Trez in the team. Anwar gets the nod because he's been playing Smith's system longer and I think he likes cutting in and shooting from that position. He will feel more comfortable with a full back behind him that can hold their position. Obvs Wes plays as the lone striker only because Deano won't pick anyone else to play there at the moment.
This team hopefully would make us stronger defensively, but also by playing all our current top scorers with the exception of Trez (who is an obvious replacement for Anwar), we still have goals in us without having to rely on Wes to find the net. It also gives us a set piece threat ourselves especially if both Mings and Hause are playing.
A draw wouldn't be a disaster, but let's win this game! UTV!
New Manager bounce will see Watford working a lot harder than us. I hope I am wrong. I can't see us winning this, but hope for the best.Oh yeah, forgot about him! Can't see us getting anything out of today.
This one has Deeney written all over it. They interviewed him after the Sheffield Utd game, and all he kept mentioning throughout was the upcoming game against us.
Bluenosed tosser.
3-0 them.
No way should Jota be starting in my opinion. He’s far too slow and weak, and just not up to the job at this level.7
To be fair .......Jota is weak and slow and would be completely outrun and outmuscled today by a Pearson team - fight and spirit will be required todayNo way should Jota be starting in my opinion. He’s far too slow and weak, and just not up to the job at this level.7
Someone else you think is no good..theres a shock.
Is there anything you do like about supporting Aston Villa?
New Manager bounce will see Watford working a lot harder than us. I hope I am wrong. I can't see us winning this, but hope for the best.Oh yeah, forgot about him! Can't see us getting anything out of today.
I want see us press Watford. For the life of me I don't understand why the team is being told to stand off teams (especially at home like we did boxing day). We aren't good enough at the back to use a 'soak up pressure' approach.
Cold December day? It's beautiful, clear blue skies outside with the sun shining on down. Perfect conditions for football.