Not expecting much from this.....probably too early for Gerard To influence anything.
2-1 Stoke.
2-1 Stoke.
Although Stoke are an obviously phsyical side I want us to line up with Ireland and Stan in the middle. They hardly play through midfield so it shouldn't bother us too much.
I'd drop Warnock, move Luke to LB and bring Cuellar in for the additional height though.
Friedel
Cuellar - Collins - Dunne - Young
Albrighton - Petrov - Ireland - Young
Gabby - Carew
Would be my team.
2-2.
I'd think about playing a back 5 tbh so Carlos, Collins and Dunney all starting to combat their long throws.
Also last year on their small pitch our wide men made little impact so I'd rest Albrighton as I fear he might get lost in the land of the giants, have Ireland, NRC and Petrov as a midfield trio and Young in the hole behind Carew or Gabby if Big John dosen't make it.
2-2.but e
I'd think about playing a back 5 tbh so Carlos, Collins and Dunney all starting to combat their long throws.
Also last year on their small pitch our wide men made little impact so I'd rest Albrighton as I fear he might get lost in the land of the giants, have Ireland, NRC and Petrov as a midfield trio and Young in the hole behind Carew or Gabby if Big John dosen't make it.
Stoke to win this 2-0 for me I'm afraid...got bad vibes about this - on the telly, a demotivated temporary manager and their new signings
thought Carew was the best attacking player on the pitch in last season's bore-fest at The Brit (where Cuellar chucked it long as many times as Tessa/Fatima).even though you've signed some good technical players recently I still think you'll adopt the physical approach for this game, Tony Pulis is a coach I rate and he would've noticed how we got totally bullied up at Newcastle and embarrasingly crumbled, i fully expect you to play the same way
His height is also useful at both ends of the pitch too.
I've changed my opinion on the score. We might be stuck between two footballing stools after buying better quality.
0-1 sh** game. >:(
Ireland is out for this game isn't he? Anyway, 1-1. Gabby to equalise late on.
So who is actually in charge for this game? Is MacDonald acting on Houllier's instructions or is he doing it all himself?
So who is actually in charge for this game? Is MacDonald acting on Houllier's instructions or is he doing it all himself?
I expect the general state of limbo the club are in will be reflected on the pitch. God knows what MacDonald must be thinking about the situation he's still in - probably feeling sulky and lacking motivation.
No idea whether Ireland is fit, but we will be in serious trouble if he plans to play the same side as he would have done if Ireland hadn't gone lame pre-match against Everton.
2-2.
I'd think about playing a back 5 tbh so Carlos, Collins and Dunney all starting to combat their long throws.
Also last year on their small pitch our wide men made little impact so I'd rest Albrighton as I fear he might get lost in the land of the giants, have Ireland, NRC and Petrov as a midfield trio and Young in the hole behind Carew or Gabby if Big John dosen't make it.
There's a good chance Delap will be on the bench.
Ireland is out for this game isn't he? Anyway, 1-1. Gabby to equalise late on.
Ireland out ??? News to me ...............
Are there any tickets left?allocation was 2,900, and they're still advertising it on the official website so not sold out yet I think.
To be honest, Stoke is the sort of place that we ought to be going to with complete confidence that a win is very do-able by now.
2-2.
I'd think about playing a back 5 tbh so Carlos, Collins and Dunney all starting to combat their long throws.
Also last year on their small pitch our wide men made little impact so I'd rest Albrighton as I fear he might get lost in the land of the giants, have Ireland, NRC and Petrov as a midfield trio and Young in the hole behind Carew or Gabby if Big John dosen't make it.
There's a good chance Delap will be on the bench.
I can't remember the last home game when he's been fit Delap actually hasn't started with how narrowe the pitch is at the Brit, a few away games you left him out but can't remember a home game he didn't start last season.
Big boost for us imo if you don't start him, you can defend 99% of throw ins well, switch off for one and lose the game as we found out to our cost two years ago.
The chance to go third and send a message out to the rest of the League - points to a defeat doesn`t it
Anyone know if theres any tickets remaining and if there will be any on sale at Stoke tonight? Can't get through to the ticket office.
Cheers mate. I agree, a lot of our fans like to think we've got the best away support in the league but we aren't even close, we can't even take 3000 fans an hour up the road, we couldn't shift 2300 tickets at Newcastle first away of the season, we can't sell out at Wolves which is even closer than Stoke and we've only got 1700 for Spurs when they bring 3000 here every season. Shit support my lord...Anyone know if theres any tickets remaining and if there will be any on sale at Stoke tonight? Can't get through to the ticket office.
Yes there are BV. Very poor turnout for this one. A good couple hundred tickets are still left for what is a trip that even with the speed cameras and even with rush-hour, will still only take an hour at the most to make.
Shit support my lord...
QuoteShit support my lord...
I'm really sorry if I've got the wrong person here ( and I'll happily delete this post) but are you the same BCV who was on here earlier in the year, telling us we were all mugs for paying money to watch Villa and that you preferred watching us in the pub with your mates?
Anyone know if theres any tickets remaining and if there will be any on sale at Stoke tonight? Can't get through to the ticket office.
Yes there are BV. Very poor turnout for this one. A good couple hundred tickets are still left for what is a trip that even with the speed cameras and even with rush-hour, will still only take an hour at the most to make.
Play three in the centre of midfield, with Ash, Gabby and young Albrighton up front and we should be lethal on the break!
Really difficult one to predict, what with all that's gone on.
I don't think it's going to be pretty and I think it'll be a draw. 1-1
Really difficult one to predict, what with all that's gone on.
I don't think it's going to be pretty and I think it'll be a draw. 1-1
The Britannia is nowhere near as tough a place to go as people think. They’ve got a similar myth going as the Pashtun’s have over Afghanistan and how “you can never win there”, which is of course nonsense as people have done and will continue to.
However, the fact they’re without a point and that we haven’t drawn yet leads me to agree with you that there can only be one result and that will be a share of the points.
The big question is whether this will live up to the classic that was last seasons 0-0 thriller?!
3-1 Stoke. We will get a battering there, make no mistake. Collins has to be fit and firing if we are to have any chance, but I am not too hopeful.
Would play the same team as PTV, although if Collins is fit he has to start with Dunne.
Downing is not a player who you should consider to start at Stoke.
3-2 to the villa. Surely on this seasons early form we can win this one.
No confidence at all tonight.
GH isn't even watching, so there's no new manager to impress & Kmac isn't likely to be too fired-up for it either, given his forthcoming demotion. Also, his naivety at Newcastle was scary & Stoke will play a similar way to them, but with better players
2-0 Stoke
See you there!
He's already off the mark.
Ireland, Carew, Collins & Sidwell all fit for consideration apparently.
If we pick the right team we'll win, if he does it without any regard to the opposition again we'll get stuffed.If that's your way of saying drop Downing for this one, I'd agree. It's going to be a tough battle and we can't afford to carry any passengers, nevermind a dead donkey.
Our bench is awful. Stoke's bench is far better than ours. Shocking.
22 Guzan, 23 Beye, 24 Cuellar, 47 Clark, 09 Ireland, 50 Hogg, 18 Heskey
01 Begovic, 03 Higginbotham, 28 Wilkinson, 06 Whelan, 16 Pennant, 07 Gudjohnsen, 10 Fuller
Anyone agree?
Our bench is awful. Stoke's bench is far better than ours. Shocking.
22 Guzan, 23 Beye, 24 Cuellar, 47 Clark, 09 Ireland, 50 Hogg, 18 Heskey
01 Begovic, 03 Higginbotham, 28 Wilkinson, 06 Whelan, 16 Pennant, 07 Gudjohnsen, 10 Fuller
Anyone agree?
Where is the Fonz?Our bench is awful. Stoke's bench is far better than ours. Shocking.
22 Guzan, 23 Beye, 24 Cuellar, 47 Clark, 09 Ireland, 50 Hogg, 18 Heskey
Wheres the Fonz?
01 Begovic, 03 Higginbotham, 28 Wilkinson, 06 Whelan, 16 Pennant, 07 Gudjohnsen, 10 Fuller
Anyone agree?
Yes
It would have been 0-2 to Villa, but I did not start the thread...