Pre-match thread: Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa

[Simon Ward]

Confirmed, no Dunne, Carew, Ashley Young or Petrov.

[toplad4u]

I'd go for:

Guzan
Lichaj Davis Clark Warnock
Albrighton Reo-coker Downing Bannan
Weimann Heskey

Subs:Friedel, Beye, Baker,
Lowry, Osbourne, Hogg/Collins Jnr,
Delfouneso,


Spare: Collins Jnr or Hogg

[apercus]

Hope the lads will take it seriously enough ...don't underestimate Rapid's power round the spirit of
Saint Hanappi even if the home leg will be an easy game.
Big teams and names failed there in history. Hope Weimann plays he'd score as he knows the ground

[boboonthecorner]

Confirmed, no Dunne, Carew, Ashley Young or Petrov.

Fucking ridiculous. Save everybody's time and effort and just tell UEFA we don't want to partake rather than mess the paying fans about....

[gerags]

Just had a text from my mate to say that Luke Young has boarded his train to London at Birmingham International.

Perhaps they didn't tell him he wasn't selected until he got to the airport.

[Monty]

Confirmed, no Dunne, Carew, Ashley Young or Petrov.

Fucking ridiculous. Save everybody's time and effort and just tell UEFA we don't want to partake rather than mess the paying fans about....

Dunne had a knock which he shook off for internationals and the opening day. The others, who knows, but we should have enough anyway. Disappointed about Petrov especially not playing, though, you'd have thought he'd be the key continous link in the team.

[Clampy]

I'm in two minds about this. Taking into account we have 3 games in the next 9 days, i can
understand the thinking behind it. Then again, the way we played on Saturday, i would
have thought he'd have wanted to keep the momentum going.

[Concrete John]

So, who comes in for the missing players?  NRC for Petrov is a natural change.  Maybe a straight 4-4-2 with Fonz and Heskey for Ash and Carew?  Sidwell for Milner isn't great, but I'd go with it.  My main concern would be Dunne's replacement, unless Cuellar, Davies or Collins are fit it's Beye, and a CB pairing of Clark and Beye worries me.

This will be a good test of Kevin Mac's credentials if he can get a result with this weakened squad!

[Dave P]

A non inspriring but very efficient 1-0 win.  Ash with the goal.

[Namaste]

A non inspriring but very efficient 1-0 win.  Ash with the goal.

Ashley Young? If so he's not travelled with the squad.

We should have enough even though we have left a few behind but this could be tricky, again!

[dave.woodhall]

It's taking the piss again. This is not right.

[villa_cads]

Does anyone know if the game is being covered on the radio? Gonna be travelling... gutted!

[Concrete John]

So, after all the debacle of Moscow, do we still blame Martin for it now it's happening again and he's gone?

Hard hat on and awaiting the barrage......

[toplad4u]

BBC WM

[toplad4u]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009d67y