Aston Villa v Blackpool Pre-Match Thread

[Villa'Zawg]

I'm getting a bit fed up with conceeding goals to straightforward arial crosses into the box. Drop Warnock, move Luke to LB and bring back Cuellar with Dunne and Collins in the centre, it was the tightest defensive formation in the league last season.

3-0

[TonyD]

What odds at the bookies would you get for villa 3.2 win with the Hare scoring 1st goal?

[pedro25]

I think Albrighton needs the added support of Luke behind him and helping out, Cuellar would not offer this.

[pauliewalnuts]

What odds at the bookies would you get for villa 3.2 win with the Hare scoring 1st goal?

150/1 at Victor Chandler.

[Simon Ward]

Against my better judgment I'm going to beleive the dream I had where we won 4-2 in this one!

[garyshawsknee]

I'm getting a bit fed up with conceeding goals to straightforward arial crosses into the box. Drop Warnock, move Luke to LB and bring back Cuellar with Dunne and Collins in the centre, it was the tightest defensive formation in the league last season.

3-0

The simple thing to do is to swap them around when were defending a cross coming from left to right towards the left back area.
 On the game,though im far from panicking,we really need to win,Blackpool should allow us to play and create chances,a tight 2-1 win.

[Bosco81]

If you give the opposition's best header of the ball a free header you'll struggle not matter who is picked.

We miss Cuellar defensively but obviously not going forward, you can't have both.

[Simon Ward]

Gabby on the bench according to WM! At last a glimmer of good injury news.

[Merv]

So..... is Steve Sidwell now out for six weeks following a decision to have an op on his Achilles? I've read that but as the only source seems to be from the Mirror, I'm not sure it's accurate...

[CheeriOneill]

2-0 then bring on the Mancs!!

Looking forward to turning them over in front of one of my customers I am taking to the game. Assuming he make it up in time from KENT!!

[TonyD]

What odds at the bookies would you get for villa 3.2 win with the Hare scoring 1st goal?

150/1 at Victor Chandler.

Has to be worth a fiver!

[mr-villa]

Uh Oh

Lawro has only gone and predicted a 2-1 win for us, is that the kiss of death?

Aston Villa v Blackpool

I saw Blackpool the other week, and the thing you can always say about them is that they start really well and go for it, but their problem is that they can't soak up pressure, and Villa will be able to pick them off.

 
Despite the absence of big-name players like Gabby Agbonlahor and John Carew in the 1-1 draw at Fulham, Villa should have won. Gerard Houllier's counter-attacking approach is perfect for playing against a team like Blackpool, who just go for it. Other teams may know how to deal with it, but against Blackpool, I think it'll be enough.

Prediction: 2-1

[eamonn]

What is is with Lawro and ''Houllier's counter-attacking approach''? We took the game to Fulham on Saturday after a sluggish start. It was your old mucker O'Neill who loved the counter-attacking approach yet.

[nick harper]

That over-used cliche "must win game" is trotted out far too often but this is a must win game with the fixtures we have coming up.

Agree that it will be an open game which will be better for our creative players. I just worry about our finishing.

It won't be comfortable.

[timeoutbigbar]

5-2 Villa, with a shocking start leaving us 2-0.  Back level by half time and steam roller them second half.

Friedel
L.Young
Collins (1)
Dunne (would prefer carlos but it won't be him)
Warnock
Albrighton
Bannan
Clark
Downing (2)
Ash    (1)
The Fonz (1)

Subs:  Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Ireland, Gabby, Lichaj, Hogg