Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers Pre-Match Thread

[WikiVilla]

I really hope he keeps Bradley & Pires away from the pitch, really not a game for either of them, which means he'll probably start them both

Good call re Beye & Warnock, we have little option. I would also drop Friedel

Walker Cuellar Baker Warnock

or

Walker Cuellar Beye Warnock

or

Walker Cuellar Baker Delph

[VillaAlways]

Lawro speaks :

Wolves are unbeaten in three and they were really impressive against Tottenham last time out. While they are still in the bottom three, I've got a sneaky feeling they might just be all right. They're good in wide areas and create enough chances - it's converting those chances into goals that has been their undoing all season.

It would appear Villa might have some internal problems after Richard Dunne and James Collins were disciplined over an incident last week, and that's the last thing you need at this stage of the campaign.

But they're at home, Wolves don't have a great away record and, although it'll be a West Midlands derby with no quarter asked or given, I think Villa should win this one by a couple.

Prediction: 2-0

Lawro is obviously oblivious to our defensive problems

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Lawro hasn't got a clue, otherwise he wouldn't put us down for a clean sheet.

[WikiVilla]

The curse of Lawro !!!

[peter w]

Ideal game for Wolves you'd have thought. We're under a cloud at the back on top of being shaky there anyway. With Jarvis on one side, and plenty of movement up top, then we need to be at our very best. That means whoever we have at our disposal needs to used.

I wouldn't want to see Delph at left back and have to mark Jarvis. He'd do okay but is not a left-back for a reason. His best work is in midfield and so, although it is also a risk as he's not played for a while - if he is fit, then Marnock needs to be given a chance to save his career, and reputation.

Walker is obvious for right-back and then its Cuellar and whoever else is free of injury. I wouldn't trust Beye but simply because I never have. So, if not Beye/Cuellar, then who is free? Baker? If so, then so be it. As long as Cuellar talks to him.

Difficult game for us and whoever is protecting the back 4 needs to be our man of the match defensively. Hopefully the MoM will be one of the forwards, though, for obvious reasons.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

We need Cuellar to play out of his skin.

(Not literally, that would be hideous)

[Mr Diggles]

Lawro is obviously oblivious to our defensive problems

As well as a number of other things.

[WikiVilla]

As long as Cuellar talks to him.

In Spanish 

[nick harper]

Ideal game for Wolves you'd have thought. We're under a cloud at the back on top of being shaky there anyway. With Jarvis on one side, and plenty of movement up top, then we need to be at our very best. That means whoever we have at our disposal needs to used.

I wouldn't want to see Delph at left back and have to mark Jarvis. He'd do okay but is not a left-back for a reason. His best work is in midfield and so, although it is also a risk as he's not played for a while - if he is fit, then Marnock needs to be given a chance to save his career, and reputation.

Walker is obvious for right-back and then its Cuellar and whoever else is free of injury. I wouldn't trust Beye but simply because I never have. So, if not Beye/Cuellar, then who is free? Baker? If so, then so be it. As long as Cuellar talks to him.

Difficult game for us and whoever is protecting the back 4 needs to be our man of the match defensively. Hopefully the MoM will be one of the forwards, though, for obvious reasons.

It's a tough game as its a local derby but Wolves have picked up 5 points in 14 aways games and scored 10 goals in the process. We may have problems at the back but they're not good either.

[peter w]

No, they're not good. That's why they are where they are. Sadly, neither is our defence, which is why we are always one poor display away from being dragged back into the relegation scrap.

[Chris Smith]

No, they're not good. That's why they are where they are. Sadly, neither is our defence, which is why we are always one poor display away from being dragged back into the relegation scrap.

Not expecting us to keep a clean sheet but I think we will out score them.

[peter w]

That's the thing with us right now. We are simply trying to do a Keegan type thing of trying to just score more than the opposition and lets just hope the other end stays tight.

[damon loves JT]

I agree with Peter, this chap Marnock seems our best option at left back. Whoever he is.

[peter w]

Note to self


RE-READ EVERYTHING. THINGS WON'T BE ALLOWED TO SLIDE BY HERE.

[SoccerHQ]

After some consideration, I'd pick Heskey at CH.

I think he's played there a couple of times for Wigan so it's not a completely strange position for him.

Just tell him to win everything in the air and Carlos will cover and track Doyle. Would pick Baker over Delph at LB although in fairness I think either are going to struggle big time against Jarvis.

The good news is Wolves can't defend either, even with their first choice back 4 so think we'll win 3-2.