Aston Villa v Wolves pre-match thread

[Eigentor]

2-1. Comfortable from the start. Slightly dodgy in midfield, but then we go two up. Then we relax, concede and let Wolves back in before a nervous end to the match.

[Villanation]

I'm going for a 3-1 Villa win, I just have the feeling Gabby is due a hat trick from somewhere, maybe not this one so I'm going Gabby 2 and Collins 1.

The only problem i see is if we slowly let them into the game, half time 0-0, that kind of thing, think then they could nik it 1-0 maybe.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

I think it'll be a draw.  Wolves have started well and they already look much better than last season.  It's a bit of a bugger we're playing them this early, actually.  They seem to be relishing not being relegation favourites, for a change, and they've bought pretty well too.  We, meanwhile, are pretty steady, without yet threatening to do anything jaw-droppingly brilliant or Ridgewell-awful.  So I'll go for 1-1, with a 37th minute Collins set-piece header cancelling out an eighth-minute jinky thing from Doyle (the same goal he always scores).  And I think we should be pleased with that, what with it being a local derby early in the season.  I also predict Mick McCarthy will be sent to the stand for spilling Yorkshire Tea in the technical area, Dunney will need treatment after kicking the ball into his own face and Heskey will be booked for going in late on nothing after nothing tripped him up in the centre circle.   

[UK Redsox]

Considering Wolves' start to the season, a point wouldn't be a bad result.

I expect 0-0

Talk about low expectations. A point at home to Wolves and you'd be happy??? What is the world coming to...

Always be pessimistic and you'll never................... etc etc

[Rudy Can't Fail]

At least AM has a good understanding of the Midlands rivalry and the importance of this game to the fans.

I wonder about the last part, "importance of this game to the fans". Does anybody give a shit about Wolves? Bit of a nothing club in my eyes, a bit like Leicester but geographically closer. The only reason I can think of that the term 'Midland rivalry' can be used is because the hate us. The game means a hell of a lot more to their fans than ours.

Saying that, I hope Villa's chosen few there tomorrow will get behind the lads from the first minute and the team do us proud. I'm more concerned with the 3 points and developing a winning habit, especially at Villa Park than winning to a team from the other side of West Brom or where ever.

Do 'em good Villa and send our lot home happy.

[N'ZMAV]

Still got a crap gut feeling about this one. 0-1 Wolves.

[KRS]

At least AM has a good understanding of the Midlands rivalry and the importance of this game to the fans.

I wonder about the last part, "importance of this game to the fans". Does anybody give a shit about Wolves? Bit of a nothing club in my eyes, a bit like Leicester but geographically closer. The only reason I can think of that the term 'Midland rivalry' can be used is because the hate us. The game means a hell of a lot more to their fans than ours.

Saying that, I hope Villa's chosen few there tomorrow will get behind the lads from the first minute and the team do us proud. I'm more concerned with the 3 points and developing a winning habit, especially at Villa Park than winning to a team from the other side of West Brom or where ever.

Do 'em good Villa and send our lot home happy.

Its a local Midlands derby game whether you hate them or not. Some hate Blose more than Baggies, some hate Baggies more than Blose, and the Baggies vs Wolves rivalry is probably the strongest...but beating Wolves is and should still be important to us.

I've got a feeling that twat Johnson will score, so 2-1 Villa.

[Richard]

Has anyone else received the email from Villa Direct entitled "Get the New 2011/12 Look - Villa vs Wolves, Saturday 30th August, 3pm, Villa Park‏" !?

You then open it up to see a pic of Gabby and the date has changed but the kick off is still at 3pm

Drives me mad such poor marketing !!

2-1 to the Villa anyway (Bent, Charlie)

[Rudy Can't Fail]

At least AM has a good understanding of the Midlands rivalry and the importance of this game to the fans.

I wonder about the last part, "importance of this game to the fans". Does anybody give a shit about Wolves? Bit of a nothing club in my eyes, a bit like Leicester but geographically closer. The only reason I can think of that the term 'Midland rivalry' can be used is because the hate us. The game means a hell of a lot more to their fans than ours.

Saying that, I hope Villa's chosen few there tomorrow will get behind the lads from the first minute and the team do us proud. I'm more concerned with the 3 points and developing a winning habit, especially at Villa Park than winning to a team from the other side of West Brom or where ever.

Do 'em good Villa and send our lot home happy.

Its a local Midlands derby game whether you hate them or not. Some hate Blose more than Baggies, some hate Baggies more than Blose, and the Baggies vs Wolves rivalry is probably the strongest...but beating Wolves is and should still be important to us.

Still don't buy it, beating them has never been "important to us". The norm, yes but "important", never.

The only Villa fans that may see the fixture as "important" are those that have to live or work with the Dogheads. File with Coventry, Leicester and Stoke.

[KRS]

May be "important" is the wrong term to use as winning tomorrow is no more important than beating Baggies or Blose in the league (and cup games have their own "importance"). For me, all local derby games have an extra something about them and its always a no win situation for us as we are expected to win. Coventry, Leicester and Stoke arent really classed as "local" derby games.

[PaulTheVillan]

I want to beat Wolves because I hate them. Why? Can't really say, I just do, so I want us to win big stylie.

[Damo70]

2-1 Villa, Wolves have gone away from Villa Park with something for the last two years but not this time. Do the people predicting us to lose realise it's Wolves we are playing not West Germany? Yeah, I know they don't exist any more but it was the first decent side beginning with W that I thought of.

[levico]

Sorry to say this but it's too early in the season to be playing an in form Wolves. Suspect they will roll us over 2-0. Only Gabby will appreciate the local derby dimension.

[DBTW]

Tomorrow is the match I absolutely dread. Living in Wolverhampton you reslise what an inbred bunch of gravy dribbling nutters this lot really are, and they hate us.

[brontebilly]

looking forward to this game to be honest. Not likely to be a tactical masterplan that will win the game just good honest competitive exchanges between the two sets of players.

I think Wolves are beatable and Id fancy us strongly if Heskey was dropped for a midfielder. As that is unlikely Id say we will line out unchanged as will they.

I think Gabby if fit could get a lot of joy from Richard Stearman whom Ive thought for sometime is one of the worst players in the league. A fully fit Nzogbia would be even better but he isnt firing properly yet.

The key battle will be in the centre of the park. If our duo Petrov and Delph win the battle there we will win I feel Big game for Delph, needs to outplay O'Hara in particular there and be the dominant centre midfielder. Id prefer if we dropped Ireland or Bannan in there too as I feel we would definitely outplay the Wolves duo then but thats highly unlikely.

Hunt isnt the most skilful player in the world but is a pretty effective one. Last thing we need is the Warnock of last season diving and giving away frees against him. Wolves will be targetting set pieces. Other side is Jarvis. Imperative that Luke Young in particular doesnt go walkabout and diving in unnecessarily as he seems to of late. Just stay on his feet and be in the correct position and he should have enough for Jarvis. If Young doesnt make it, Id give Lichaj a chance but suspect Beye will be given a shot at redemption. The same applies to both anyway but Lichaj all or nothing approach will need to be toned down.

I certainly dont think we will be beaten. Already seems a better spirit about the side than last season. Likely only be the one goal in it, certainly dont think Darren Bent will get many chances. Someone like Gabby with the winner and 1-0 would be a very solid day out.