Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: olaftab on January 26, 2026, 01:06:33 PM
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What: Europa League Match day 8
Where: Villa Park
When: Thursday 29 January 2026, Kick Off 20:00
Salzburg are struggling in the Europa League having lost 5 out of 7 so far and they will not progress to the knockout stage. So it's a dead match for them but we still need to win to secure a top 2 finish. No doubt we will rest a few players. Rogers should be rested and Youri is likely to be out due to injury. Would like to see Hemmings playing full 90 mins.
At the weekend Salzburg had a rest. They last played on 22 Jan and won 3-1 versus Basel and are top of the Bundesliga, so no mugs.
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They have to win to try and get in the play offs for the round of 16, we have to win to try and stay in the top 2 and have home games second in the knock out rounds.
Bizot
Cash
Lindelof
Mings
Digne
Onana (if were comfortable get him off and wrap him up)
Bogarde
Beundia
Watkins
Rogers
Sancho
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3-1 (Watkins, Rogers, Onana)
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Would like to rest key players but not sure we have a big enough squad to do so wholesale. Would pick Bizot, Garcia, Lindelof, Hemmings and Guessand. Can't risk Onana as we have too few central midfielders.
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Draw, 1-1.
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4-0
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None of our regular starters should start this match. We have replacements in all positions so go with those if it isn’t achieving the victory we bring on the heavy guns. Yesterday has encouraged me in as much that the whole squad are bought into the system with not much drop off in performance. Yes, there may be a drop in individual level of quality but that’s to be expected.
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Ideal chance to hopefully manage minutes for some players.
Bizot
Garcia
Lindelof
Mings
Digne
Onana
Bogarde
Sancho
Rogers
Buendia
Watkins
As soon as we’re 2-0 up get Onana and Rogers off. Hemmings and Jimoh Aloba to see it out.
Already looking forward to Fridays draw.
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Salzburg are struggling in the Europa League having lost 5 out of 7 so far and they will not progress to the knockout stage.
That's not accurate, is it? If they win, they will be on 9 points, the lowest team in a knock-out place right now is on 8 points. There are several other teams on 9 points with similar goal difference.
I would like it if the game meant nothing to them, but it doesn't appear that is the case.
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8-0
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Salzburg are struggling in the Europa League having lost 5 out of 7 so far and they will not progress to the knockout stage.
That's not accurate, is it? If they win, they will be on 9 points, the lowest team in a knock-out place right now is on 8 points. There are several other teams on 9 points with similar goal difference.
I would like it if the game meant nothing to them, but it doesn't appear that is the case.
Yeah, they need help elsewhere but they definitely have a chance of qualification if they win.
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Are Bailey and Tammy cup tied? Don't think we have any option but to ring the changes and leave the cavalry in reserve.
Bizot, Garcia, Lindelof, Mings, Digne, Bogarde, Sancho, Hemmings, Elliot, Guessand, Watkins
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There is no "cup tied" any more, but neither would be eligible to play until the knockout stages as we have to stick to the squad we selected at the start of the League Stage until its conclusion.
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I would say they have very low to zero chance of qualifying.
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If they win and Young Boys lose at Stuttgart, Ludogorets fail to beat Nice, Feyenoord fail to win at Betis and Basel fail to beat Plzen, they probably qualify.
None of those sound completely outlandish possibilities. Certainly, there's more than enough reason for them to at least give it a go. Even if there wasn't the prize money means makes it worthwhile trying to win, anyway.
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There is no "cup tied" any more, but neither would be eligible to play until the knockout stages as we have to stick to the squad we selected at the start of the League Stage until its conclusion.
In that case I think we have to use one of Elliot's spare games. Can't risk Rogers or Buendia gettinv injured in a bit of a nothing game. Cash and Onana are critical now too.
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Having to go for the win might also mean they have to open up rather then leave 10 behind the ball and hoping.
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My guess would be that they will try to keep it tight and go for it if still level with twenty minutes left. I have never seen them play so this is the guessiest of guesses.
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If they win and Young Boys lose at Stuttgart, Ludogorets fail to beat Nice, Feyenoord fail to win at Betis and Basel fail to beat Plzen, they probably qualify.
None of those sound completely outlandish possibilities. Certainly, there's more than enough reason for them to at least give it a go. Even if there wasn't the prize money means makes it worthwhile trying to win, anyway.
If only Wolves had won 16 more games they would be top of the table :D
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I'd go;
Bizot
Garcia, Lindelof, Mings, Digne
Bogarde, Hemmings
Guessand, Buendia, Sancho
Watkins
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I appreciate this wont be a popular idea and it disrespects the fans who have bought tickets but should we really risk critical midfielders for a game which at best will dictate home/away chronology of the knockout games?
I doubt they will go strong either so hopefully our Bs can win and if not so be it. I'd have Onana, Rogers and Watkins nicely rested.
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They will definitely go strong, why wouldn't they? I agree we shouldn't be risking more essential players than we have to. I wouldn't pick Onana.
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I imagine a much changed midfield at least, and Garcia starting at right back. Sir Victor of Lindeloff will give an imperious performance in defensive midfield.
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I'd go;
Bizot
Garcia, Lindelof, Mings, Digne
Bogarde, Hemmings
Guessand, Buendia, Sancho
Watkins
I like this but would put Guessand in place of Watkins and Elliott out on the right. Cavalry on the bench wrapped in wool.
Let's see what Guessand can do as striker and Elliott deserves a chance.