Aston Villa v Small Heath Alliance Pre-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Feeling reet nervous. Can see a dunne mistake. We look weak in central midfield too. Can see us struggling until we adjust things to move young behind heskey. But with ash, downing and heskey in good form we still pose a threat. Would be a great day to start putting away our chances

[The Walshmeister]

Either we will win 3 - 1 (because of the date..think about it)

Or

We will lose 0 - 4 (long story but had a dream/nightmare on Wednesday night). I was in goal for some reason though, so aint too worried!

[lukey27]

Warnock could have been another midfield option as he played there for a year at Blackburn but we've got no cover left back so that's out of the window. Sidwell has to play, whether in a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, because Houllier won't under any circumstances play two strikers and Young and Ireland. It'll be low scoring and very tight, could go either way, unfortunately.

[deero83]

Well he's miles better than Dunne!

[pedro25]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-manager-Gerard-Houllier-has-asked-Steven-Sidwell-to-delay-surgery-because-of-injury-crisis-article615429.html

I wouldn't risk him, 4-4-2 with Carew in, with the option of taking him off and dropping Barry in to help out the midfield if we are really struggling.  Carew usually gives them a torrid time.

[pedro25]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Aston-Villa-v-Birmingham-Stephen-Carr-doesn-t-regret-his-infamous-gesture-to-Villa-fans-because-it-s-made-him-a-cult-hero-article615895.html

Plonker.

[TimTheVillain]

"I can't play football - that's what I'm really good at"

[N'ZMAV]

He's a twat.

[N'ZMAV]

[hipkiss92]

I refuse to make any prediction regarding the match.

However, I will predict that all Blues fans, players, boardmembers and any other related people will continue to be twats.

[PeterWithesShin]

Has any quote summed that club up better than "But Carr has since had countless Birmingham fans congratulate him on his crude actions."

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Villa 3 Blues 0     Heskey(34)  NRC(62)  Young pen(73)       Att: 41457     Man of the Match   Downing

                                Villa           Dog Shit
Possession               55%          45%
Shots on target        8               2
Shots off target        7               4
Corners                    8               3
Fouls                        9               16
Bookings                  2               4
Sent Off                    0               1

Can you mark the referee please ?

Certainly, the referee is generally poor but gets the big decison right sending Gardner off for bringing down Young in the box and getting a second yellow.  6/10.
There will be scattered showers, a high of 10 celsius, and light variable south westerly winds (resulting in a vague smell emanating from the north stand/witton lane corner).
You heard it all here first, place your bets ladies and gentleman.

[Fergal]

I just want to beat the fuckers.  Beating them 6-0 will be brilliant, beating them 1-0 will be great I don't really care just so long as we win.  Anything other than a 1-0 is just icing on the cake.

[curiousorange]

Cup draw + derby match in exactly 23 hours 30  minutes = cat among the pigeons

[lovejoy]

I haven't lived in Birmingham for 10 years. Nobody at work can even name any Blues players (in fact to them Blues are Chelsea) let alone supports them. The Fulham game next week means more to me. The local media in W Mids will big up the game but in reality the rest of the country ignores it. Sky for instance have chosen to show the Georgdies vs Makkams. The league this season is a write off - I'd rather win the cup game.