Stoke City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[whydelilah]

Anyone know if theres any tickets remaining and if there will be any on sale at Stoke tonight? Can't get through to the ticket office.

Yes there are BV. Very poor turnout for this one. A good couple hundred tickets are still left for what is a trip that even with the speed cameras and even with rush-hour, will still only take an hour at the most to make.

One of the evils of Monday night football coupled with Sky coverage.

[Pants]

Loving some of the optimism on here but I'm afraid I don't share it. Stoke haven't had the credit they deserve the last couple of years, the media focus on the Delap throw in phenomenon and ignore that some of the other players ain't half bad.

Add the fact it's on the box and a night atmospahere at The Brit & I reckon a 2-1 defeat.

[ozzjim]

3-1 Stoke. We will get a battering there, make no mistake. Collins has to be fit and firing if we are to have any chance, but I am not too hopeful.


Would play the same team as PTV, although if Collins is fit he has to start with Dunne.

Downing is not a player who you should consider to start at Stoke.

[villajk]

Really difficult one to predict, what with all that's gone on.

I don't think it's going to be pretty and I think it'll be a draw.  1-1

[TimTheVillain]

Play three in the centre of midfield, with Ash, Gabby and young Albrighton up front and we should be lethal on the break!

As long as we finish.

Another subject entirely, but I do have some concern about our ability to score goals this season unless more come from midfield.

GH to address in January, he just has to.

Re. Downing, i've noticed he's being vocal again about KevMac being a top man etc.....Note to Downing - less creeping, more action.

[Ads]

Really difficult one to predict, what with all that's gone on.

I don't think it's going to be pretty and I think it'll be a draw.  1-1

The Britannia is nowhere near as tough a place to go as people think. They’ve got a similar myth going as the Pashtun’s have over Afghanistan and how “you can never win there”, which is of course nonsense as people have done and will continue to.

However, the fact they’re without a point and that we haven’t drawn yet leads me to agree with you that there can only be one result and that will be a share of the points. 

The big question is whether this will live up to the classic that was last seasons 0-0 thriller?!

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Really difficult one to predict, what with all that's gone on.

I don't think it's going to be pretty and I think it'll be a draw.  1-1

The Britannia is nowhere near as tough a place to go as people think. They’ve got a similar myth going as the Pashtun’s have over Afghanistan and how “you can never win there”, which is of course nonsense as people have done and will continue to.

However, the fact they’re without a point and that we haven’t drawn yet leads me to agree with you that there can only be one result and that will be a share of the points. 

The big question is whether this will live up to the classic that was last seasons 0-0 thriller?!

Last season's 0-0 bore was one of the worst games in living memory.

I'm also going for 1-1 tonight. If we can get 7 points from our next 3 games that will be fantastic. And its very achievable against Stoke, Bolton and Wolves.

[Bald Eagle]

3-2 to the villa. Surely on this seasons early form we can win this one.

[whydelilah]

3-1 Stoke. We will get a battering there, make no mistake. Collins has to be fit and firing if we are to have any chance, but I am not too hopeful.


Would play the same team as PTV, although if Collins is fit he has to start with Dunne.

Downing is not a player who you should consider to start at Stoke.

I'd be suprised if we "batter" you!!

[Brend'Watkins]

3-2 to the villa. Surely on this seasons early form we can win this one.

Showing the form of the last two games that outcome would be less than likely, unless Stoke are West Ham poor at the moment.

[TheSandman]

Any idea on ticket sales?

[Tony Boucher]

No confidence at all tonight.

GH isn't even watching, so there's no new manager to impress & Kmac isn't likely to be too fired-up for it either, given his forthcoming demotion.  Also, his naivety at Newcastle was scary & Stoke will play a similar way to them, but with better players

2-0 Stoke

See you there!

[VillaAlways]

No confidence at all tonight.

GH isn't even watching, so there's no new manager to impress & Kmac isn't likely to be too fired-up for it either, given his forthcoming demotion.  Also, his naivety at Newcastle was scary & Stoke will play a similar way to them, but with better players

2-0 Stoke

See you there!

GH will be watching at some point,so hopefully the team will  still want to impress.KMac is a true pro so hopefully will be just as motivated.That said I'm not feeling very positive either

[andrew08]

Given that our rivals for 4th have all started slowly this is a real opportunity to get ahead of 'em good and early. So in agreeing with some previous comments in that Collins must play well and Downing must not play at all I will say 2 or 3 nil to Villa.

COME ON !

[abc123cox]

2 - 0 to Villa!!

Downing and Ireland if fit!