Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers Pre-Match Thread

[Villanation]

Anybody see the Udinese/ Arsenal game last night and Udinese's Armero, that's how to use a player with pace, he cut through the Arsenal defence like a knife through butter, his pace was stunning, he seemed to leave any Arsenal player behind within the first few Mtrs of having the ball, have to say in spite of the fact they got hit with the early goal by Arsenal I thought Udinese where very easy on the eye, real modern football, fast tight and not lumping the ball into the centre for the big geezer to try and convert in the old centre forward traditional style.

Point is we have players with that kind of pace but we just don't use them right.

&feature=related

[Hookeysmith]

what worries me reading this thread is that the assumption in the majority of cases is that they are shit and doomed for relegation and its how many we will score

I am more concerned with the fact that if it is the same team as at Fulham then we will not break them down and they would more than settle for a point
Am early goal is critical in this game so we have to start with an attacking line up

And i am not sure he has the nous to do that - hope i am wrong

[brontebilly]

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.

We dont have the personnel to play with two in the middle of a 442. Whenever Gabby or Heskey played up front with Bent last season they got in his way. Nzogbia needs to play on the left, Salgado had a mare against Wolves and should be targetted. I fear for McLeish if he goes with Heskey and Gabby as we will be playing into Blackburn's hands then and will struggle to break them down. He will deserve every bit of abuse he gets if we start hoofing it to Heskey when Blackburn are so weak.

Id play Ireland deeper alongside Petrov and Delph to get him into the game early. He was lost playing in the hole last season and we need to build his confidence back in an area where he will get the ball a lot. I wouldnt mind Albrighton starting either in a 433 with Bent and Nzogbia but would give Bannan a chance instead in this game.

[russon]

routine victory against relegation contenders. 2-0 and Bent will score both

[Chipsticks]

This is such a banana skin.

I have a dodgy feeling McCleish may go defensive again, he knows he can't afford to lose this.

[JJ-AV]

Given
Young - Collins - Dunne - Warnock
Makoun - Stan - Delph
N'Zogbia
Gabby - Bent

[Ger Regan]

Isn't Given touch and go due to a groin strain? If he's doubtful i hope they don't risk him to be honest.

[Chipsticks]

                                                   Given
                                   Young - Collins - Dune -Warnock
                                               Petrov - Clark
                                                   Makoun
                                 Albrighton ----------------N'zogbia
                                                     Bent

[Concrete John]

Isn't Given touch and go due to a groin strain? If he's doubtful i hope they don't risk him to be honest.

No disrespect to Blackburn, but this should be one of our easier home games this season.  As such, if there is a game to be missing our No1 keeper for it would be better being this one than risking him and then losing him for 3 or 4 tougher fixtures.

[Chris Smith]

This is such a banana skin.

I have a dodgy feeling McCleish may go defensive again, he knows he can't afford to lose this.

I think he'll be fully aware of how important a win is as he tries to convince the doubters. We've already beaten them once and he will expect to do it again.

[Ger Regan]

No disrespect to Blackburn, but this should be one of our easier home games this season.  As such, if there is a game to be missing our No1 keeper for it would be better being this one than risking him and then losing him for 3 or 4 tougher fixtures.

Exactly.

[garyshawsknee]

                                                   Given
                                   Young - Collins - Dune -Warnock
                                               Petrov - Clark
                                                   Makoun
                                 Albrighton ----------------N'zogbia
                                                     Bent

That's pretty good,I'd like to see wee Barry in for Clark,push Jean the second back a bit.Either way I think Makoun must start.

[Merv]

Blackburn look poor, though there didn't seem to be much between us and them when we played them a few weeks ago, which was pretty competitive for a pre-season game. I think we'll win, but a fairly tight affair: 2-1 to us. Bent and... well, it really does feel like the kind of game Collins will head in from a set-piece. Weird.

Again I'd like to see Makoun and Delph in midfield, with a trio of Albrighton, Bannan and N'Zogbia ahead of them.

[pedro25]

No disrespect to Blackburn, but this should be one of our easier home games this season.  As such, if there is a game to be missing our No1 keeper for it would be better being this one than risking him and then losing him for 3 or 4 tougher fixtures.

Exactly.

I thought it was the series of cup matches against Blackburn 2 seasons ago where Guzan struggled badly and hasn't recovered properly from since.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Don't forget Blackburn don't play bullyboys tactics under big Sam anymore, now they are toothless team.