Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Pre-Match Thread

[Rioch is King]

It going to be great... surprisingly upbeat atmosphere as the villa faithful get right behind the team which lifts the players from the negativity and doubt they have picked up from stands recently and we'll beat Bolton quite comfortably 2 - 0.

[eamonn]

0-1 - A miss-hit shot in the opening 90 seconds by Kevin Davies bounces off Collins's ballsack and finds its way into the corner via Dunne's shaft. Even the normally outstanding Given is foxed by the double deflection. The following 89 mins is possibly the dullest in the entire history of Aston Villa, most of the several thousand in attendance having to be woken after the final whistle.

Chortle. Such outstanding imagery.

[ASHTONVILLA]

Voted villa win by FT, more in hope than expectation.

If the injury list really does include Warnock, Cuellar, Herd, Baker, Clarke, Petrov, Jenas, and  Bent then it's a bit of a worry. However I think one or two of that lot will play (fingers crossed they do).

If that lot are all out, then expect to see something like

---------------------Given-------------------

Hutton------Collins-----Dunne----Lowry

---------------------Delph-----------------

------------Bannan-------Ireland--------

Albrighton-------------------------N'Zogbia

-----------------Agbonlahor----------------

I hope Warnock and either Petrov or Jenas can start though.

Bolton are on pretty ropey form, I expect Gabby to score, and maybe N'Zog to finally find some form. 2-1 to the Villa.

[Damo70]

2-0 with Bannan and Albrighton having blinders.

[UsualSuspect]

0-1 - A miss-hit shot in the opening 90 seconds by Kevin Davies bounces off Collins's ballsack and finds its way into the corner via Dunne's shaft. Even the normally outstanding Given is foxed by the double deflection. The following 89 mins is possibly the dullest in the entire history of Aston Villa, most of the several thousand in attendance having to be woken after the final whistle.

Chortle. Such outstanding imagery.

I think a little too much attention was made to "ballsacks" and "shafts"

[PaulTheVillan]

2-0 with Bannan and Albrighton having blinders.

Albrighton needs a blinder.

[Pete3206]

3-0 win

[Vanilla]

According to the Mail, we seem to have nine injured players. With that in mind, is it worth risking players like Given for such a game this evening?

[Matt C]

I can't bring myself to talk about 'resting' players for a cup tie Vanilla, I think we should be playing our strongest possible team and that includes Given. However, I bet you're right and Guzan will start.

[Holtenderinthesky]

Anyone know if VillaStreams will be showing this?  Or anyone else for that matter?

[eastie]

Highly unlikely that there will be any streams to this game tonight, id like to see gardner get a start but in all honesty i just cant see us winning this game : 1-2

[UsualSuspect]

I can't bring myself to talk about 'resting' players for a cup tie Vanilla, I think we should be playing our strongest possible team and that includes Given. However, I bet you're right and Guzan will start.

I posted this yesterday

This is our best chance of Silverware (although our run has already been more difficult than Small Heaths last season) and I would hope AM would go all out to win it.

That would involve putting the strongest 11 out barring injuries.

I think our CM is going to be very weak 2nite

[eastie]

Agreed this our best chance of a trophy no doubt but its still a long shot and i think as soon as we play a half decent team we will be out.
The big 6 as they are now seem to play strong sides as they progress closer to wembley and i dont think we can match them.
I have sympathy for mcleish in many ways as his hands have been tied by the owner and faulkner .

[Holtenderinthesky]

Agreed this our best chance of a trophy no doubt but its still a long shot and i think as soon as we play a half decent team we will be out.
The big 6 as they are now seem to play strong sides as they progress closer to wembley and i dont think we can match them.
I have sympathy for mcleish in many ways as his hands have been tied by the owner and faulkner .

I think we could scrape through if we met Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs or Everton at home but the 2 Manchester clubs and Chelsea would put us out with relative ease, home OR away.  Still, we may get lucky and avoid them altogether, therefore we should play our strongest 11 in this competition as it really is our only chance of success every year.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Have not enjoyed a single game so far (was on hols for Blackburn game)- Not coming down tonight (going to see Dean Saunders` Wrexham at Southport).

I bet we end up winning 5 -0 or somthing similar.

Hopefully for all those going its a good`un.

Give `em a shout for me and junior.