Aston Villa v Arsenal Pre-Match Thread

[Rudy Can't Fail]

On the day my son was born in 2007 we beat boro 3-0 at their place. My daughter to be is currently being coaxed out, I hope she brings similar luck.

Pff!!! All mine were born a few months before a Villa Cup Final.

[Matt Collins]

VILLA: Guzan, Hutton, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock; Petrov, Clark, Ireland; Albrighton, N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor.

Subs: Marshall, Delfouneso, Weimann, Bannan, Collins, Delph, Williams.

Presumably Collins injured, though on the bench, rather than dropped?

Interesting that Ireland starts ahead of Bannan. I thought Bannan was poor at the weekend.

About as good a side as we could pick I reckon, but still won't be good enough I suspect.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

That team looks better good to see Cuellar starting and the biggest oaf in our defence dropped.

Now let's see if there is any sort of attacking intent for a change.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

Also like to see Gabby up top on his own against these guys he tore them apart at the Emirates a few seasons ago.

[Matt Collins]

We do seem to chop and change our midfield a lot don't we. It must be hard to get into any sort of rhythm, which can't help.

[Toronto Villa]

Blimey, that's a young bench. Based on what's available that's a decent line up though. We have to go at them and Gabby has proven himself very capable up top on his own. They need to believe. We need to believe.

[eastie]

No complaints about that team selection -lets have a go and if we do get beat at least show some pride rather than lie down and let them walk over us-bring it on!

[supertom]

Who's Williams? I did think Sam Williams at first but surely he left ages ago.

[Macho Man Randy Savage]

That's certainly quite an attacking team we are putting out.

[Matt Collins]

Derrick, apparently. I think he's a centre back. Not sure what's happened to Baker?

[Matt Collins]

That's certainly quite an attacking team we are putting out.

Is it? 433, with Clark in midfield. Less attacking than the weekend, where we played 4 attacking players surely?

[supertom]

It might be a forced hand but that's a positive line up. Good choices. Clark and Cueller deserve game time, and if we're ever gonna see the best of Ireland, then surely we need to give him a few games. I don't think his work ethic has been a problem this season or no doubt, we'd have heard from him, and he'd certainly have a moan himself. It seems like he's getting on with things so lets give him some game time.

Gabby up top on his own is a good move. With how poor we've been I don't think we can carry Bent at the moment. If we're not gonna get him the service he needs, there's no point.

[TonyD]

Apart from Ireland in and Bannan out - a good side.   Carlos and Clacker should put a bit of resolve in the team.  AM has been reading this forum.

[brian green]

On the basis that Liverpool should have beaten us 6-0 I will take anything less than a 5-0 defeat as an improvement.

Biggest Villa talking point will be what McLeish says after the game.   If he uses the word "giant" again he can expect the undercurrent of resentment towards him to become a torrent.

The one thing he had been getting right and it was the only thing was his ability to avoid fan inflaming gaffes.   He even bolloxed that up last Sunday.

[Matt Collins]

What's all this fuss about the 'giant' comment? Seems like a storm in a tea cup to me.