Pre-match thread: Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa

[Toronto Villa]

I'm concerned that we are missing some key players, but I hope KM and the players that have travelled there have more trust and faith than some on here. Bloody hell, talk about waving the white flag. I bet you the players think they can win.

[cdbearsfan]

If we can't beat Rapid Vienna with a few players rested we we won't beat the top sides full strength. Show some faith in our younger players.

Petrov needs a rest... he's too old to play in Moscow, Birmingham, Vienna and Newcastle in the space of 12 days.

Dunne's suspended.
Young is vital to us, but not undroppable as we have two good wingers in Downing (if he plays like he can) and Albrighton.

Carew was rubbish on Saturday but we still won, so we can do without him.

Lichaj has played well in reserve / pre-season and deserves a chance. It's a better chance to blood him and other youngsters than in the faster-paced Premier League.

[regular_john]

First 11 could very well be...

---------------------Friedel---------------------

Beye------Clark-------Davies------Warnock

Albrighton----Bannan----NRC----Downing

------------Heskey-----Delfouneso------------

Not a bad side, one that I think could get a result, even if it was just a score draw. The only real concern I'd have is playing Bannan in the middle, not too sure who else could go there though, definitely not Osbourne!

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only comfort I can find from that squad is that Kevin Mac knows his players. Let's hope they don't let him down.

[fredm]

For pete's sake - people are always saying that this youngster and that youngster are good enough for the 1st team and should be given a chance and then what happens when they "might" get a chance - all hell breaks lose!!

Wasn't Clark good enough against Fulham last year and West Ham on Saturday?  Wasn't Albrighton good enough last saturday?  Isn't Fonz worth a chance?

A defence containing possibly Friedel (or Guzan); Beye, Davies and Warnock should be able to hold their own in the PL so why aren't they good enough for this match?

I don't for one minute expect the team to contain all youngsters - give KM some credit please. 

And all those coming on here saying it's a crap team and we have given up why not just wait and see 1) what eleven take the field, and 2) how they get on.

Personally I have faith in KM to know what he is doing and also faith in the team he selects to do a job for us.

[Matt C]

Its a brave selection I'll give him that. If MON had made it I suspect he'd be getting a slightly different reaction.

I personally can't get my head around the notion of fighting to get into a European competition for nine months and then sending a vastly weakened team out at the first stage but there we are. Good luck to them, as others have said KM knows the majority of those lads better than anyone.

[carlos the third]

Anyone know why Dunne is suspended? Might be just me being stupid but i can't think of a reason.

[achilles]

Have faith!

[mrbrightside]

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing some of those youngsters get a game tomorrow, remember they did exceptionally well in the Peace Cup last year.

Bearing in mind the formation we played against West Ham, i would like to see

Guzan
Lichaj
Clark
Davies
Warnock

Albrighton
NRC
Osbourne
Bannan
Downing

The Fonz

I think Bannan could play a similar type of creative role that Ash did at the weekend and I actually think Osbourne is a player with potential and would work well alongside NRC in a deep lying role. One of the reasons he often looked poor under MON was because he played him out wide rather than centrally.

Up the Villa

[gervilla]

We surely have to bring Carew seeing as Gabby is out. Oh well Heskey up front on his own it is then. Brilliant.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

The players arrive home in the early hours of friday.
I assume sometime saturday afternoon they travel to Newcastle for a 1.30pm  kick off the next day.
I calculate its about 66 hours between walking off the pitch in Vienna and kicking off at Newcastle.
With the travel required, rest and recovery time so that the edge is not taken off players performance I would say he has got the balance about right to try to achieve good results in both games.

[gervilla]

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing some of those youngsters get a game tomorrow, remember they did exceptionally well in the Peace Cup last year.

Bearing in mind the formation we played against West Ham, i would like to see

Guzan
Lichaj
Clark
Davies
Warnock

Albrighton
NRC
Osbourne
Bannan
Downing

The Fonz

I think Bannan could play a similar type of creative role that Ash did at the weekend and I actually think Osbourne is a player with potential and would work well alongside NRC in a deep lying role. One of the reasons he often looked poor under MON was because he played him out wide rather than centrally.

Up the Villa

I dont see any potential in Osbourne I'm afraid. Not as a footballer anyway.

[bertlambshank]

Anyone know why Dunne is suspended? Might be just me being stupid but i can't think of a reason.

Goes back to when he was playing for Citeh.

[Gregorys Boy]

I will go 1-1 also with Dune scoreing from a classic set piece.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

There is a quiet confidence about Macdonald that makes me feel the players have a lot of respect for him and will give their all ....................