Aston Villa v Small Heath Alliance Pre-Match Thread

[Concrete John]

This one is going to be very close.  The most hungry and physical team will win.

We'd best play Dunne then.

[JUAN PABLO]

After having a slow start to his Villa career , I have a feeling Ireland will score and do him a would of good .

 would be funny if Sidwell did score after being 99% useless in his Villa career...  It would be he is  shit but we still  love him at Villa then ;-)

can see one of these scoring in a tight 1-0 ...  or 1-1   ...     butterflies started already

[TheBarneyArmy]

1-0, Downing with a Heskey lay off. Oh, and a late red card for the prince of darkness love child Gardener, to great delight of all. It'll no doubt be a very poor game, it's no surprise that it's not been chosen for TV based on the two games last season.

[Sister of Top Cat]

I'm too nervous to hazard a guess.

[jembob]

After last night's performance by Sidwell I'm very nervous about our ability to win the midfield battle even though I do think that Burnley are better than the Blues. Still going to go with a win for us.

[Bad English]

It's Hallowe'en on Sunday, and Small Heath Alliance is an anagram of 'A claimant heals hell' and 'He shit canal all lame'.

So 0-1 to the Blues.

[levico]

I never look forward to this match but can't remember when I was so convinced that we will lose.

[nick harper]

We've lost a bit of mental toughness and self belief since O'Neill left - not surprising really. This is one game where that will make all the difference. We need to score the first goal.

[Ads]

I don’t think that is the case at all. The main issue with the side is goals, which isn’t helped with our biggest goal threat being out injured at the moment.

Its a question of whether we’ll take our chances on Sunday. Heskey and Downing are in great form, as is NRC. I’m hoping that with more games Ireland will get better, he shows flashes every now and again, but its clear that he’s not 100% at the moment.

As long as we put the chances we create away and I’m talking about gilt edged chances that we’ve missed against Chelsea, Sunderland and Burnley, then obviously we’ll be fine.

[glasses]

                 Friedel
Cuellar Dunne Collins Warnock
             NRC Ireland
Young                        Downing
              Delfouneso
                Heskey

2-0 win Young with both.
             

[Ads]

 I think Sidwell should start. Last night he did well with the combative style of things and for the first 30 minutes he got forward well and played some good passes through too. He seemed to shrink in confidence though, which was bizarre and he should have scored with that header.
 

[BedsVillain]

               Friedel
Beye    Clark  Cuellar  Warnock
          Collins  NRC
   Young   Ireland  Downing
               Heskey

Subs: Guzan, Dunne, Lichaj, Bannan, Sidwell, Carew, Delfouneso

I'd like to see Collins bought forward as a DM, think he has the temperament and distribution to play that role. Will give NRC the chance to push forward and support the front 4.
It's going to be a tight game, have a bad feeling in my stomach, but then again I always do, even the morning of the 5-1 mauling!
 

[BILL DE VALL]

I wouldn't be surprised if GH plays Dunne to mark Zigic
his lack of pace should not be exposed by a lamp post

Sidwell will probably get another chance -we don't have much else in the way of options-Bannan may be judged by Gh to be too small for what promises to be a physical game

I hope Big john is fit although I expect 'Ivanhoe' to start upfront with a 5 man midfield Ash Ireland NRC Sidders Downing with Ash and ireland taking turns to link in with Emile
a nervy win for us i think(hope)

[j66acd]

The last two home games against these lot I have been out the night before and got really pissed, then I have turned up with a terrible hangover feeling like shit, after the game in April I was sick walking back to the car.

Going out Saturday night, anyone think I should get on the double brandys and coke? Just wanted to warn anybody who sits in L4 that they might get the contents of my stomach over their back.

0-0

[Concrete John]

I never look forward to this match but can't remember when I was so convinced that we will lose.

It's quite worrying as I have exactly the same feeling!