Aston Villa v Norwich City Pre-Match Thread

[CJ]

It worries me that when Mcleish was talking about Jenas in relation to this game he said the wages are still astronomical and need to be brought down. How on earth can that be?

Now that really is worrying. It suggests that even if, as aftab suggests, we lose the likes of Beye and Heskey (say combined £100k a week, £5m a year) we're unlikely to be able to recruit anyone else. Our squad is paper thin as it is and if we can't replace any departing senior players it looks like we're in for some hard times. I accepted this season as a transitional one. It looks as though it could be more long term

[Brian Taylor]

If he does the current Owner's bidding then he is there for the longterm and we are in for a very marginal season. Janurary window forget it with incoming players, other than the Irish lad. Outgoing who knows. Anyone on more than £45k a week? With declining crowds maybe £40k a week. Cheap French and African players is all we can expect. All we can hope is the Euro goes tits up and the pound is more attractive. But that ain't football!

[cheltenhamlion]

The head said one all at the start of the week but am now saying two one to us for no other reason than that I have started my journey to the game.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think we'll lose and it'll be the beginning of the end for McLeish.

I've a horrible feeling about today as well.

Although someone posted the goals from that 3-3 with Norwich in 1990 the other day, which probably stirred my doom.

[Greg N'Ash]

Just hope we come out looking to attack. The lack of shots on target or even off target is worrying

[eric woolban woolban]

Aston Villa 3 (Bent 37, 44. Agbonlahor 77)

Norwich 1 (Hoolahan 7)

[supertom]

Norwich have played well this season and been a little unfortunate at times. We've been dull as dishwater, only beaten the two shittest teams in the league, and been lucky to have got points in the majority of our drawn games, so I've a feeling that though on paper, we should be winning this, it'll be a struggle. I don't think they'll score, but I can't see us doing much either.

Probably 0-0, or Gabby or Bent will nick us a goal.

[Monty]

Aston Villa 3 (Bent 37, 44. Agbonlahor 77)

Norwich 1 (Hoolahan 7)

If we concede the first, especially early, I'm not sure we'll register today.

[Phil from the upper holte]

How can we bring down wages any more? obviously getting rid of Heskey & Beye but if either left i'd be hoping to bring better players in to be honest. This club gets more depressing by the fookin minute

[eastie]

How can we bring down wages any more? obviously getting rid of Heskey & Beye but if either left i'd be hoping to bring better players in to be honest. This club gets more depressing by the fookin minute

My worry is whether we willl keep hold of bent if a decent bid comes in , certainly the ambition has really dropped at the club in the last 18 months and if randy feels our kids are good enough im afraid he is in for a shock-today we need a win as already i fear we will be dragged into a relegation scrap.

[berneboy]

Norwich v Villa: Ruddy, Martin, Johnson, Morrison, Holt, Pilkington, Houlihan, Bennett, Barnett, Tierney, Naughton. Subs: Rudd, Crofts, Jackson, Surman, Fox, Wilbraham, Delaet.

: VILLA v Norwich: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Petrov, Herd, N'Zogbia, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Bent. Subs: Guzan, Jenas, Ireland, Delph, Albrighton, Clark, Cuellar.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

Norwich v Villa: Ruddy, Martin, Johnson, Morrison, Holt, Pilkington, Houlihan, Bennett, Barnett, Tierney, Naughton. Subs: Rudd, Crofts, Jackson, Surman, Fox, Wilbraham, Delaet.

: VILLA v Norwich: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Petrov, Herd, N'Zogbia, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Bent. Subs: Guzan, Jenas, Ireland, Delph, Albrighton, Clark, Cuellar.

Bannan not even on the bench!!

Good idea to make him sweat for another week.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Do we really need 3 central midfielders and two strikers on the bench? No forwards on the bench either, No Wieman or Delfouneso on the bench?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Having three centre forwards on the pitch was probably the logic behind the selection.