Stoke City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[whydelilah]

2-1 Stoke.

I'd settle for that!!

[Griffy1987]

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.

Warnock has, in my opinion, Upped his game since the Newcastle debacle... Probably something to do with him getting rid of those white boots!!

But i wouldnt drop him..

Up The Villa!!

[SoccerHQ]

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.

[whydelilah]

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.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I just hope Kevin Mac has learnt a thing or two since the Newcastle game otherwise we'll get bullied again. NRC needs to start with either Albrighton or Downing dropping out. It's going to be a very tough game but I really hope we get the win, apart from the obvious reasons, I'd like to see us give a performance Kevin Mac deserves for all the hard work and effort he's put in this last month.

[Ads]

I don't see why we'd need five at the back.

[Matt Collins]

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.

but e
I think this would be a big risk, and would possibly just invite pressure. I think we should seek to keep the ball as the best means of defence. So I'd agree with 3 in midfield - NRC, Petrov, Ireland  - and I'd play Young and Downing wide, but be ready to bring Albrighton on for Downing if he's too wimpish inthe first half.

[The Situation]

You've just got to look at Stoke's midfield to see how crap it is... Whitehead, err who? We should overrun them if we play 5 in the middle, but the best tactic is to take loads of shots at Sorensen when given the oppotunity; its about time he has an A+ fumble.

[richard moore]

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

[Legion]

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

A team selection hoping to prove a point to their watching new manager? A squad trying to impress and get picked to play on a regular basis?

[avfc_1874]

Sceptical about this one. 2-0 Stoke.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I would play:

....................................Friedal.................................................
Young............Dunne..........Collins.............Warnock.................
........................Petrov........Reo-Coker.....................................
Albrighton....................Ireland......................Young.................
.......................................Gabby...............................................

Play them off the pitch and forget their long bastard throw ins.

[Bunny@Stoke]

come on folks, expected better thanshit football...long throw...anti football etc we get from every other set of support.

The 3-2 was a great game
the 2-2 we were hammered and got out of jail
the 0-1 we deserved at least a point with Tuncay the best player on the pitch
the 0-0 was dreadful.

We've earned the right to be where we are. A bit of respect etc......


1-1 for me.

[Ads]

Well what do you expect? The last game had more in common with the First World War, such was the endless and monotonous barrage of throw-in, after throw-in, after throw-in... We’d all essentially paid £30 to watch Delap throw the ball and Richard Dunne head it away.

[luke25]

You've got respect, your a bloody hard team to play against and are rightly were you deserve to be, having said that last seasons game was just woeful, which was mainly down to the constant long throws from both teams, we were just as guilty as you on that one, i can't remember ever going to a game with so little talking points, literally nothing happened for 90 minutes