Aston Villa v West Bromwich Strollers Pre-Match Thread

[Brend'Watkins]

We will win and as per usual their lot will claim some sort of moral victory.

[JJ-AV]

2-2.

[The Laughing Policeman]

2-0. Gabby and Ireland. Ireland has shown signs lately that he is becoming sane again. This could be the game when he finally comes up with the goods.

[TonyD]

I think it will be a draw.

[sg]

1-1  (Bent, Scharner).

We're at home so we'll start slow, concede a shit goal, equalise early in the 2nd half and throw everything at them but game will finish a draw. 

[ozzjim]

1-3

Pathetic loss.

[Simon Ward]

The most nervy bum clinching 1-0 win ever!

[Dave Cooper please]

The most nervy bum clinching 1-0 win ever!

Whose bum will you be clinching?
Where are you sitting, if it's near me I'll be braced.

[Witton Warrior]

We will win and as per usual their lot will claim some sort of moral victory.

The bestest fans in the Midlands don't y'know...

They are like Wolves fans, feign disinterest until they win and then suddenly it is the most important match of the season...

Destroy them!

[Matt Collins]

I wonder if we'll revert to the diamond? I imagine so in order to play gabby up top. I don't really like the diamond but it's hard to see how we play 2 up front any other way. 

[Vanilla]

I think we should play Jenas in the . . . oh, we can't can we.

Good business that, bringing in an injury prone player who hasn't played consistently, who then, shock horror, immediately get's injured. This, with Makoun shipped out has left us a man down for two months worth of games so far.

Also, did anyone else find todays Birmingham Mail slant on the managers comments about the defending at Citeh a bit disconcerting? They are basically saying the manager thought we were awful, but will 'cut last weekend's culprits some slack', because they were playing a strong team. What message does that send to the players? 'Don't worry lads, you can put your feet up this week as we are playing _________ (Insert: Manure, Arse, Yelsea or the red scousers where appropriate).'

Or perhaps thats the approach you have to take with a relegation scrap in mind.

[Concrete John]

Or perhaps you're reading too much into it and trying to spin an anti-McLeish slant on it?

[Concrete John]

I wonder if we'll revert to the diamond? I imagine so in order to play gabby up top. I don't really like the diamond but it's hard to see how we play 2 up front any other way.

Pretty much agree - not a fan of the diamond formation, but so far we've played our best football using it.  Also, we may be able to use N'Zogbia at the tip of the diamond?

[garyshawsknee]

I think we should play Jenas in the . . . oh, we can't can we.

Good business that, bringing in an injury prone player who hasn't played consistently, who then, shock horror, immediately get's injured. This, with Makoun shipped out has left us a man down for two months worth of games so far.

Also, did anyone else find todays Birmingham Mail slant on the managers comments about the defending at Citeh a bit disconcerting? They are basically saying the manager thought we were awful, but will 'cut last weekend's culprits some slack', because they were playing a strong team. What message does that send to the players? 'Don't worry lads, you can put your feet up this week as we are playing _________ (Insert: Manure, Arse, Yelsea or the red scousers where appropriate).'

Or perhaps thats the approach you have to take with a relegation scrap in mind.

I agree with you on the Jenas,Jean the second problem. It seemed short sighted and penny pinching at the time. We were and are short of midfielders,and I can't believe that Petrov Makoun partnership wouldn't bring more reward than Petrov and Delph,who definitely needs to be taken out the team for a bit.

[Dave Cooper please]

Also, did anyone else find todays Birmingham Mail slant on the managers comments about the defending at Citeh a bit disconcerting? They are basically saying the manager thought we were awful, but will 'cut last weekend's culprits some slack', because they were playing a strong team. What message does that send to the players? 'Don't worry lads, you can put your feet up this week as we are playing _________ (Insert: Manure, Arse, Yelsea or the red scousers where appropriate).'

Or perhaps thats the approach you have to take with a relegation scrap in mind.

Well I read it as "Yes we were defensively poor against Man City but they have been mostly very good so far this season so I won't be slagging them off for one bad match against a very good attacking team."

But each to their own (agenda).