Aston Villa v Wigan Athletic Pre-Match Thread

[N'ZMAV]

I am treating my girlfriend to this match (£5 ticket) aren't I a great boyfriend??

[TonyD]

It should be a lovely day.

[Pete3206]

3-0 win

[Chris Smith]

I am treating my girlfriend to this match (£5 ticket) aren't I a great boyfriend??

The game to take her to would have been the Wolves. Too expensive, no goals and only about 20 minutes of entertainment. She'd never want to go again!

[Pete3206]

I am treating my girlfriend to this match (£5 ticket) aren't I a great boyfriend??

The game to take her to would have been the Wolves. Too expensive, no goals and only about 20 minutes of entertainment. She'd never want to go again!

20 minutes?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It's most certainly a game AM can't afford to lose and despite our poor record at Villa Park against Wigan, it's not an excuse that will hold water. Three points and a great show will give him some breathing space; defeat and he may as well walk out now.

Despite Wigan's current league position, Martinez still has them playing some decent football and it's important we match them on that front. If we hoof it they'll do what they normally do and pass it around us. It's vital that we build on the second half of the QPR game, which is why I wouldn't be recalling Heskey, even if he does give us a bit of strength in midfield. We need all our midfielders to be strong, get at them, not allowing them the space they enjoy. Everton got in their faces and had a comfortable 3-1 win at Goodison, Spurs backed off last week and got away with a 2-1 win, despite being 2-0 up.

I really hope AM has them fired up for this one, there's plenty of competition for places in midfield so no excuses for anybody not giving less than 100%. The other obvious point is improving the supply to Bent and for that I'd be tempted to include both Bannan and Ireland in the starting line up. As Henry Winter pointed out the other day, it's time to unleash the team and those two, both appearing to be full of confidence, can help us create the changes. If Jenas is fit and had a good week in training, bring him in, if not Stan needs to sit back more and work with Delph, not leaving him exposed.

Tough choice with N'Zogbia but I'd drop him. He just hasn't done enough to warrant a place in the team and AM can't afford any passengers in a game he must win. Three points and a convincing win, especially at Villa Park, will give everybody a much needed lift.

I'm going for a convincing 2-0 win and a few surprised but happy faces come Saturday evening.

[cdbearsfan]

It's Wigan at home, we'll lose or draw.

The game up there will be postponed before we win the re-match.

[TopDeck113]

2-1

N'Zobia to get his first for us against his old club  The immutable law of the ex, and all that.  Gabby the other. 

[Villanation]

It's most certainly a game AM can't afford to lose and despite our poor record at Villa Park against Wigan, it's not an excuse that will hold water. Three points and a great show will give him some breathing space; defeat and he may as well walk out now.

Despite Wigan's current league position, Martinez still has them playing some decent football and it's important we match them on that front. If we hoof it they'll do what they normally do and pass it around us. It's vital that we build on the second half of the QPR game, which is why I wouldn't be recalling Heskey, even if he does give us a bit of strength in midfield. We need all our midfielders to be strong, get at them, not allowing them the space they enjoy. Everton got in their faces and had a comfortable 3-1 win at Goodison, Spurs backed off last week and got away with a 2-1 win, despite being 2-0 up.

I really hope AM has them fired up for this one, there's plenty of competition for places in midfield so no excuses for anybody not giving less than 100%. The other obvious point is improving the supply to Bent and for that I'd be tempted to include both Bannan and Ireland in the starting line up. As Henry Winter pointed out the other day, it's time to unleash the team and those two, both appearing to be full of confidence, can help us create the changes. If Jenas is fit and had a good week in training, bring him in, if not Stan needs to sit back more and work with Delph, not leaving him exposed.

Tough choice with N'Zogbia but I'd drop him. He just hasn't done enough to warrant a place in the team and AM can't afford any passengers in a game he must win. Three points and a convincing win, especially at Villa Park, will give everybody a much needed lift.

I'm going for a convincing 2-0 win and a few surprised but happy faces come Saturday evening.

Agree with this, after this we start to get down to the business end of teams coming up with Man City next, we lose or even draw this one and the start we have had takes on a whole different look, well project yourself forward to this time Saturday night and we have just been beaten or yet another draw and you'll begin to get the picture.

All that said..............No chance.

Win win situation.

[Lobsterboy]

3-1 to the Villa

Bent, Gabby and Jenas to put us 3 up before a defensive fuck up on 80+ minutes allows them to grab a consolation

[The Man With A Stick]

4-0 to Villa - and a James Collins clearance to take Dave Whelan's head off in injury time.

[KRS]

I predicted 4pts from QPR and Wigan, so its got to be a Villa win...and about fcukin time!

AMs commented after last weeks game that a lot of players are underperforming and need to step up to the mark...I couldnt agree more and this weekend is the time to do it. Hopefully he's rammed that message down their throats, got them working harder in training and make them perform in front of the home crowd. Losing isnt an option but AM needs to stop thinking draws are.

[Villanation]

4-1 Villa, bring em on....

[PaulWinch again]

I see N'Zog has been commenting that he'd be better playing on the right and that he's struggling with our directness. I do agree we need to play more of a passing game to get the best out of the players availaible.

[KRS]

A passing game is fine if you have the players capable of doing it consistently. How many times have we seen attacking moves break down already this season due to misplaced passes...it was particularly bad against QPR and Bolton. For a brief spell in the 2nd half against QPR they showed that they are capable of free flowing attacking football, just very frustrating that just 10 minutes later they can look so poor all over the park.