Aston Villa v Arsenal Pre-Match Thread

[Ads]

You all do know we'll win this. In ugly fashion and much to the dismay of Wenger and some Villa fans, but we will end up beating them.

[andrew08]

Going to be a long night. Back in the day, like Sunday, a two goal early lead for the opposition would have seen me in the pub before half time. Can't do that these days with the little un in tow and one of these Super Big Boys are going to absolutely muller us one day..... could be tonight.

But you never know...a draw or a narrow defeat will make my Xmas !

[N'ZMAV]

I cannot make this match tonight, devastated isn't the word.

[Hookeysmith]

I watched the Blackburn / Bolton game last night. Although the quality of player on the pitch was not very good (which is the blame of the owners not supporting the manager) at least both teams went for it in an open, decent game.

My point being even if the team are filled with inferior players, how they are set up and motivated means everything

We know our players are not shit (Heskey apart) so it has to be the way they are coached and managed

No escape - McCliesh out!

[Ads]

I don't know what game you were watching Hookey. Blackburn were awful, with the exception of the young lad Hoilett, while Bolton just sat back.

The fans are getting like some of the players.

I think something has changed, Dunne was clearly losing the plot with a lot of them and hopefully dishing out some slaps in the dressing room.

They'll stand up and be counted tonight.

[Matt Collins]

they do seem very lacking in character. It seems Gardner has that character. I wonder if he'll be tempted to bring him in soon. Cov seem to have confirmed he's coming back, but Mcleish didn't mention him so I expect him on the bench.

I imagine Clark would play DCM, but I guess Gardner is an option to add some bollocks in there at least, albeit a very different player. Petrov would hold presumably.

[brontebilly]

id go with
Guzan
Hutton, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock
------Herd, Clark------------
Nzogbia, Petrov, Gabby
----------Bent-------------

If Bent is out Albrighton on left.

If Herd is out Ireland in midfield.

Fuck even at that its such a shit team.

No Delph, Collins and Heskey please.

[pauliewalnuts]

they do seem very lacking in character. It seems Gardner has that character. I wonder if he'll be tempted to bring him in soon. Cov seem to have confirmed he's coming back, but Mcleish didn't mention him so I expect him on the bench.

How do we know Gardner has that character?

Also, he might have had it in the reserves, but showing it in the PL is a different thing.

Don't get me wrong, I too am looking forward to see him getting a game soon, but I think we are in danger of bestowing upon him strengths and attributes that we don't actually know he has.

[London Villan]

How would a lower league team have a go against Arsenal in a cup tie. As we are playing one of the giants of the game we should adopt these tactics...

[orkneyvilla]

Dunno if its been mentioned yet but from the OS - Herd, Bent, Heskey all out injured - with Collins (knee) probably needing a fitness test.

[manic-road]

0-3 Can't see us getting much of the ball, and when we do we cant pass to fellow teamates anyway.

[PaulWinch again]

I used to look forward to Villa games, now I just dread them. It's not just about results it's about performance. I wouldn't expect us to necessarily beat Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal etc, but I expect us to have a go.

[Matt Collins]

i agree on the risks of bestowing Gardner with some kind of cult status.

But I do think he's got character, based on what people say. For example, the way he insisted on taking the ball for the free kick he scored for the under 21s - taking it off £20m Jordan Henderson.


Not going over board, but I suspect he'd impose himself a little more than Delph. He may also get sent off I suppose!

[pauliewalnuts]

Not going over board, but I suspect he'd impose himself a little more than Delph. He may also get sent off I suppose!

He can't be more of a red card risk than Delph, who managed to go in two footed (and fortunately miss his man) twice in the first ten minutes or so on Sunday.

[pedro25]

2 nil Arsenal.  Would like to see

Guzan
Hutton Collins Dunne Warnock
Albrighton Petrov Delph N'Zogbia
Ireland
Gabby

Subs Marshall Stevens Clark Cuellar Gardner Bannan Weimann