Aston Villa v Norwich City Pre-Match Thread

[Clampy]

Gabby's pace in itself creates openings for others. And he adds to the team even when he's not scoring.

But does he? I don't even think his pace creates as many problems as it used to.

The best he's ever been for us was when he was up front on his own in the 4-5-1 MON used to play. It really suited him, especially away from home.

[sonlyme]

Aston Villa win        91 (66.4%)
Draw                     29 (21.2%)
Norwich City win    17 (12.4%)

I'm so glad that like 66.4% of the rest of you - I feel a win coming.

Then again - tbh - I always feel that way before the Villa play.



Come on you Lions eat that Canary.

[tarzansbrother]

I would bring Given back in. Spine of senior players - Given,Vlaar,Ireland,Bent.

[sonlyme]

I shall be interrupting the otherwise continual joy that is my holiday to watch this in a bar on the sea front tomorrow.

The bar that shows the football was full of fans of Ajax, Real and Borussia Dortmund when I was there on CL night the other day. Tomorrow lunchtime I imagine it'll be just me, a tutting Mrs Walnuts aggressively turning the pages of a copy of Grazia and a family of Norwich fans fingering each other and singing "We are Premier League"

Probably the most accurate description of off-season resort football watching ever.

ps - don't get into conversation with anyone in yellow - or who has a smelly finger.

If you got a spare mo' b4 the match - read this...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1526081/Norfolk-folk-are-sicker-because-they-are-inbred-says-local-MP.html

Cheers.

[cheltenhamlion]

I watched a Blues away match in a little taverna in a sleepy part of Rhodes once. It was just me and the wife, a couple of locals who like Premier League football and another couple with no interest in football who were there for lunch.

It was no score until 5 minutes from the end when Gabby popped in the winner and I took off out of my seat wailing like a banshee.

The couple had finished their meal and made a sharp exit. The wife gave me that disappointed eyebrow look thing.

The locals simply stared on agog at the previously mild mannered customer who was now running circuits round the little square in front of the restaurant, punching the air and shouting out all manner of expletives.

Not necessarily my finest hour but I enjoyed myself.

[PeterWithesShin]

Time to head off to the game, come on you Villa boys, lets twat these feckers today! UTV

[Lambert and Payne]

I watched a Blues away match in a little taverna in a sleepy part of Rhodes once. It was just me and the wife, a couple of locals who like Premier League football and another couple with no interest in football who were there for lunch.

It was no score until 5 minutes from the end when Gabby popped in the winner and I took off out of my seat wailing like a banshee.

The couple had finished their meal and made a sharp exit. The wife gave me that disappointed eyebrow look thing.

The locals simply stared on agog at the previously mild mannered customer who was now running circuits round the little square in front of the restaurant, punching the air and shouting out all manner of expletives.

Not necessarily my finest hour but I enjoyed myself.

I'd love to see that on cctv, I was at the game and strangled the biggest bloke I've ever seen on the row in front of me

Back to today, COME ON YOU VILLA BOYS!!

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Stephen Fry is a thoroughly disagreeable overweight stuck up gay pseudo intellectual twat and  QI is the worst most unfunny programme on TV.
Booooooo.

UTV.

[Risso]

Well said Andy, well said.

[silhillvilla]

Bent dropped is the rumour

[Percy McCarthy]

Shhh! Some people who don't read the papers haven't heard yet.

[Nev]

Bent dropped is the rumour

I know it's early but decisions like this will have a huge bearing on the rest of the season. Now is not the time for posturing, we need goals and he is the only proven scorer we have.

I retain faith in the manager but I do fear that we are about enter the darkest point of our season, I am confident that things will pick up, but at the moment I am rather fearfull.

Draw.

[Nev]

VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar (c), Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph, Herd, Albrighton, Holman, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

[Percy McCarthy]

Herd right-back I s'pose. Surprised Albrighton's in, suggests maybe him right-wing, Gabby left, three in centre-mid. Looks good on paper to me.

[ez]

Bent dropped is the rumour

I know it's early but decisions like this will have a huge bearing on the rest of the season. Now is not the time for posturing, we need goals and he is the only proven scorer we have.

I retain faith in the manager but I do fear that we are about enter the darkest point of our season, I am confident that things will pick up, but at the moment I am rather fearfull.

Draw.

Dropped to the bench. I think it says more about Lambert's opinion of the midfield supplyline than it does about Bent, who is a proven goalscorer.