Pre-match thread: Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa

[Gregorys Boy]

Sure they will, espically if its largly a young side with much to prove.  However these things are very rarely straght forward.  A draw, as long as we score should stand us in good stand for the second leg.

[rogfromb6]

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

Going to be some set piece bearing in mind that Dunney's suspended for this one.

[Gregorys Boy]

Didn't know he was suspended, was he booked on Saturday or something.

[Toronto Villa]

Didn't know he was suspended, was he booked on Saturday or something.

it's a European suspension so it must have carried forward from his time at Man City

[JUAN PABLO]

Of couse the team is good enough..

More or less 22 million in defence and 12 million and 8.5 million pound players in Downing and NRC... 

MOM Albrighton ...

..and Heskey on 60k a week, of course they are good enough....

well other the last part.....    lets say a young keen brummie striker up front raring to go...

[Matt Collins]

Hmm, doesn't fill me with optimism. I'm surprised we're weakening the squad like this. Playing youngsters is great, putting a load in at the same time together is more of a risk. Anyone know how bad Carew's injury is? What are the chances he and Gabby will be fit for the weekend?

I'd hazard a guess at:

FRIEDEL - BEYE, DAVIES, CLARK, LICHAJ - NRC, WARNOCK - ALBRIGHTON, WEIMANN, DOWNING - HESKEY

But I haven't got  a clue really! Isn't Salifou a logical option for holding midfield? Doesn't seem to be in the squad?

[MattW]

It seems that the club has decided that it doesn't mind too much about progress in the Europa League. Given the thinness of the squad and the importance of key players, I am not sure that I am too perturbed by it. We are poorly positioned to make a judgment on what is going on behind the scenes, and I'm happy for them to manage the squad.

What is less clear is when or if we will have a squad considered to have enough depth to have a dip in these kind of games. We've had a 'small squad' for quite a long time now. What is required before that level of investment will take place?

[Matt Collins]

I think normally we could make wholesale changes from saturday and still put out a decent side actually:

GUZAN - CUELLAR, COLLINS, DAVIES, LICHAJ - SIDWELL, NRC, DELPH - GABBY, HESKEY, FONZ / WEIMANN / BANNAN

That would be 11 changes from the team that played, and still no sign of Osbourne. I reckon that team would be fine too.

In terms of the side we will play, centre mid seems the trickiest area. Not sure if Bannan in a midfield two is right for this sort of away game?

[Shrek]

I remember Martin a few months back Saying Europe will be a good chance for the kids this season!

[The Situation]

Urgh, this is going to be quite a tricky test now that our star players won't be playing (although it'll be great to see the youngsters have a real go at it), but it's imperitive we score an away goal so we don't end up in the same position as we were against Rapid Vienna last year. Hopefully we can nick this 0-1 despite not having our best players available, but if we can get a 1-1 draw I'll be pleased enough.

[Holtenderinthesky]

Just been to 3 Irish pubs in Vienna that are normally popular with away fans and seen NO Villa fans at all.  We have apparently only sold 183 tickets and I have been all over the city today and seen no Villa at all.  Gutted.  Absolutely gutted.

[The Situation]

Just been to 3 Irish pubs in Vienna that are normally popular with away fans and seen NO Villa fans at all.  We have apparently only sold 183 tickets and I have been all over the city today and seen no Villa at all.  Gutted.  Absolutely gutted.

183? How many Villa fans got tickets last season?

[Toronto Villa]

Even though I am little concerned, the manager picks the players he feels best for the job at hand, so we have to have some faith in that. He can't consult fans on all team selections now or in the future, and neither should he. We wanted squad rotation and we've got it, so we have to trust KM, Sid and Tony McAndrew are making the best decisions given suspensions, injuries and other games coming up. We can't beat MON with this stick because he's gone, so whoever is now "manager" we have to have some faith in him about the choices he makes. We all to a man was heralding KM's efforts after the weekend, so by the same token we have to trust that he's doing the right thing here. This is nothing like Moscow and it's a declaration of faith in the players that he has with him.

[pauliewalnuts]

In fairness to MON, we got plenty of squad rotation in Europe with him as well.

It wasn't in Europe that it was the problem.

[Holtenderinthesky]

Just been to 3 Irish pubs in Vienna that are normally popular with away fans and seen NO Villa fans at all.  We have apparently only sold 183 tickets and I have been all over the city today and seen no Villa at all.  Gutted.  Absolutely gutted.

183? How many Villa fans got tickets last season?

Not many but slightly more than 183 I think.  I asked a barman in one of the main pubs and he said there were only 6 Villa in there last year.  I am staying with Vienna fans and have brought my missus to her 1st European away game and I am quite embarrassed at the number of fans.  I know about the tough economical times and all that but surely we have more than 183 people with the means and time to come and support the team.  Would Spurs, Everton or City take so few?  I seriously doubt it. Just feels rather humiliating.  Let's hope the result is not.