Aston Villa v Small Heath Alliance Pre-Match Thread

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I would go:

................................Friedal.........................................
...Young.......Cuellar............Dunne........Warnock.........
..................Reo-Coker......Collins.................................
...............................Ireland..........................................
...Young........................................Downing..................
..........................Lionel Heskey.....................................

[CJ]

Can't remember the last time I felt so pessimistic about playing SHA. Injuries and suspensions mean the team practically picks itself, with little or no prospect of anyone on the bench being able to come on and change things.  I think GH will play Sidwell and Ireland with NRC in midfield - and both need to step up their game after anonymous performances on Wednesday.  I've gone for a draw 2-2

[N'ZMAV]

A few people have suggested Collins midfield. Why?

[Dave Cooper please]

A few people have suggested Collins midfield. Why?

Because the alternative is Sidwell?

[Deano's Mullet]

2-2 draw with them scraping a 90th minute equalizer.

[Oscar Arce]

As usual this is a game I dread.
Will be doing all my usual pre-match rituals with increased vigour, including getting the wife down to Villa Park, as she only sees one match a year, and has never seen us lose in a derby match.
Having said that, I am not at all confident and have an awful feeling they are going to turn us over this time.
The stick I will get come Monday will be unbearable, I doubt the players really ever know just how much it means to win this one, there is a bloke at my gym who still walks around bragging about how they beat us twice in one season in 2003, and most of them are like that.
I'd take a draw at this stage, but pray god we can get the win, anyway and anyhow !
Come on the Villa boys, don't let us down !

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I would go:

................................Friedal.........................................
...Young.......Cuellar............Dunne........Warnock.........
..................Reo-Coker......Collins.................................
...............................Ireland..........................................
...Young........................................Downing..................
..........................Lionel Heskey.....................................

This looks very good for me. Collins over Sidwell in midfield would be a much better solution. Is L.Young fit though? Also, I think I'd have Clark over Dunne and let him score an overhead kick a la Cahill. (Does anyone remember the sloppy pass-back from Dunne that almost let Larrsson in last season? I fear that happening again if Dunne plays or something similar anyway).

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

A few people have suggested Collins midfield. Why?

Because Sidwell is possibly the worst player ever to have pulled on a Villa shirt and I think Bannan might be a little too lightweight at the moment.

Sidwell really is fucking awful.

[N'ZMAV]

Warnock played midfield a few times for Rovers.

[N'ZMAV]

Because Sidwell is possibly the worst player ever to have pulled on a Villa shirt and I think Bannan might be a little too lightweight at the moment.

Sidwell really is fucking awful.

Yes, I do agree with all those above points.

[Shrek]

We are talking about Collins in midfield because Sidwell has proved he isn't upto it and Bannon proved he is too lightweight.

Yes Warnock would be good but there is no cover for him.
With Collins in midfield we will be very strong defending and be stronger in attack.

I just pray that Houllier is thinking the same about Sidders, you never know subbing him for Collins against burnley might have been (although I think that was to close the game out)

[Olneythelonely]

A few people have suggested Collins midfield. Why?

Because the alternative is Sidwell?

Like that makes it less mental.

[j66acd]

Without getting banned or thrown off the site for suggesting this, but if Gardner was still with us he would no doubt be in the team on Sunday in front of sidders.

[Legion]

Without getting banned or thrown off the site for suggesting this, but if Gardner was still with us he would no doubt be in the team on Sunday in front of sidders.

Why would you get banned or thrown off for that? Sidwell is shit, Gardner is less shit.

[j66acd]

True, just hope Gardner has a nightmare this weekend and Sidwell has a stormer. Think he owes us one after his last few performances. Think he'll start, definitely don't think Collins will play midfield, somewhere he has hardly ever played in a feisty derby. Need him at the back to cover up for any of Dunnes slip-ups.