Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Pre-Match Thread

[JJ-AV]

1-0 Villa. Bent, 18.

[gervilla]

5-0 to us and a rousing chorus of ..." It's just like watching Brazil ", feck it I'll even go for Emile to score .
Bent(2), Heskey, CN'Z, Collins.

[JUAN PABLO]

2-0


early Bent goal     and Zog second in second half ....   

[l_mckay]

2-0 villa! Bent and Collins scoring

[VancouverLion]

3-0 the lads! Bent 31, 55 Gabby 78

37,112
Hopefully good atmosphere!!

[aevillain]

This has 0-0 written all over it.

[brontebilly]

we need to win this badly. blackburn I reckon are certainties for the drop this season. Would prefer to see Bannan and Ireland in for Heskey and Gabby but know it isnt likely to happen.

Id like the team to be something along the lines of:

given
young, collins, dunne, warnock
Ireland, Petrov, Delph
Bannan, Bent, Nzogbia

[pedro25]

Agree with the above team, away from home Gabby's pace and Emile's height and selfless workrate may be useful, but at home we need craft and guile to open teams up, especially the likes of Blackburn who will come to park the bus.  I'd even have Makoun over Petrov, the ability of Makoun, Delph, Bannan and Ireland to pick a pass and set up Charles and Benty should be good to watch.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Expect a home win although maybe not as comfortable as some expect. I spoke to a Wolves fan who went to Ewood park last week and he said that Blackburn had the look of a relegation side, so with that we could really do with a win ahead of our game against Wolves.

2-0 a goal mid-way through the first half and another towards the end of the game to ease the pressure.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

A comfortable 2/3-0 win.

However, it's this sort of game where a lot of fans won't be happy with the result. If we don't do it whilst playing like Barcelona, they'll be moaning anyway.

That's the problem facing AM, a lot of fans want results AND great performances, which is a very difficult thing to do, let alone doing it in your first season in charge. Most managers get the chance to get a few good results under the belts and worry about performances later.

[Le Lapin]

We should have enough to take these guys, the only thing that worries me is that they will be playing to save their managers skin.
I'd like to see how we'll play with Albrighton on the wing and maybe push Gabby or Heskey/Ireland to play behind or beside Bent. If Heskey and Gabby are going to be keeping Albrighton out of the team, well then I predict a very long season.
1-0 to us, an early N'Zog goal.

[Dave]

the only thing that worries me is that they will be playing to save their managers skin.

I'd be very surprised if they give two shits about what happens to Steve Kean.

[Le Lapin]

the only thing that worries me is that they will be playing to save their managers skin.

I'd be very surprised if they give two shits about what happens to Steve Kean.

You are probably right. He'll get the bullet and they'll bring back Sparky.

[CJ]

Or MON will take over as he also thinks he can get them into the Champions League. We could sell him Habib Beye as his first buy

[The Laughing Policeman]

Reading through this thread it's surprising how many (including me) are tipping Collins to score. Come on Big Eck if you're reading this maybe it's time to play him along side Bent.