Aston Villa v Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[avwebby]

Maybe I had a few too many last night, maybe it was the dog barking at the scouse postman but I'm going for a 2-0 win Stan again and Collins header in the 90th minute. That or a volleyed own goal from mrs downing would do me

[brontebilly]

A win here is the kind of result that would really kickstart McLeish's reign. However we wont win if we play Emile Heskey as then we will be effectively be playing with 10 men. Liverpool arent great but Dunne and particularly Collins are likely to struggle with Suarez. Hope Liverpool start with Carroll as Dunne and Collins will be well able for him and Suarez hates playing upfront with him anyway.

Id go with
----------------Guzan
Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock
-----------Herd, Clark--------------
Albrighton, Petrov, Nzogbia
--------------Bent-------------

Almost certainly McLeish will go with Heskey though.

[SoccerHQ]

When on form they have looked half decent and create decent chances - when they have looked poor they have looked really shit and we could get the measure of them

As long as AM changes Gabby for a striker and sticks with 442 then i fancy us - isolate Bent up front and we are in for a depressing day

Heskey then I presume as I really can't see us starting Fonz or Weimann.

I'd go 4-3-3 for this with 3 narrow central midfielders as Liverpool are actually short of them at the minute as Spearing, Lucas and Gerrard all injured so the only two they have are Adam and henderson.

Think I'd go with Bannan although he's not at his best in the advanced midfield role, keep Zog and Albrighton wide and get the crosses in for Bent.

[The Laughing Policeman]

2 - 2. And that nice Mr. Downing will go down with "flu" on Sat. night and have to stay in bed, I don't think he has the bottle to face the abuse he'll get. Oh and those things they used at the Manure match to fire t-shirts into the crowd, any chance we can get hold of them and if Downing comes any where near the Holte we could fire turds at him.

[Concrete John]

A win here is the kind of result that would really kickstart McLeish's reign. However we wont win if we play Emile Heskey as then we will be effectively be playing with 10 men. Liverpool arent great but Dunne and particularly Collins are likely to struggle with Suarez. Hope Liverpool start with Carroll as Dunne and Collins will be well able for him and Suarez hates playing upfront with him anyway.

Id go with
----------------Guzan
Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock
-----------Herd, Clark--------------
Albrighton, Petrov, Nzogbia
--------------Bent-------------

Almost certainly McLeish will go with Heskey though.

Thing about that team is we'd be trading a striker for a defender playing in midfield, and I'd like to be more attacking than that! Bannan's not a bad shout, but I'd again fear for Bent getting isolated as he has been at times this season.  For me, it's a reluctant nod to Heskey as it keeps the rest of the team shape as much the same as Bolton as possible.

[Rick_avfc]

Having read about our performance against Bolton and the number of chances created for Bent, I think we need to play 4-4-2 with the same line up except for Gabby.  I think Heskey will probably be the replacement for him but i'd like to see Weimann being given a game as I think he is talent.  Not sure about Fonz, I just dont think he is good enough.

[eastie]

A win here is the kind of result that would really kickstart McLeish's reign. However we wont win if we play Emile Heskey as then we will be effectively be playing with 10 men. Liverpool arent great but Dunne and particularly Collins are likely to struggle with Suarez. Hope Liverpool start with Carroll as Dunne and Collins will be well able for him and Suarez hates playing upfront with him anyway.

Id go with
----------------Guzan
Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock
-----------Herd, Clark--------------
Albrighton, Petrov, Nzogbia
--------------Bent-------------

Almost certainly McLeish will go with Heskey though.

Bit too negative at home that team for me, i would also pair heskey with bent , he is far more effective as a striker than out wide or in midfield and id like to see a 442 system, with 2 wide men in charlie and marc and stan in midfield alongside herd.

[SoccerHQ]

The worry though is that Liverpool would then outnumber us in the centre as they'd probably just tell Downing and Kuyt/Henderson to drift in from wide positions and then Johnson and Enrique would bomb on from full back.

[Ads]

Hutton to smash Downing into the New Year.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

I can't stand Downing.

I can't stand "King fucking Kenny".

I can't stand Liverpool.

I really hope we win this.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

1-0 Villa. Hutton to take out Downing in spectacular fashion.

I'd settle for a 1-0 Villa win with Hutton kicking both ball and Downing into the back of the net from 35 yards.

That would work very well and even better if Hutton gets sent off in the dying minutes and we can play someone else as left back for the next three games :-))

[Rick_avfc]

This is the one game I'm getting behind Hutton 100% to smash downing into row Z.  I also dont mind Hutton getting sent off late on in the game but only if its a foul on downing.
Really looking forward to this game!

[PeterWithesShin]

I wonder if Downing actually knows the level of animosity he's going to face?  The players are so hidden away from the real world these days it's plausible he'll think he might get a mixed reception at worst. 

I wonder if he saw the reception Ash got and thinks "that's the same as i'll get".

[Concrete John]

Really looking forward to this game!

I think most of us are!

And I hope McLeish and the players realise that, as a good performance/result while the fans are going to be so heavily behind the team could really boost our season.

[Dr Butler]

I can't stand Downing.

I can't stand "King fucking Kenny".

I can't stand Liverpool.

I really hope we win this.

I'm with you all the way Marlon.

UTV
The Doc