Aston Villa v Marseille NextGen Combined Match Threads

[Legion]

2-0 home win.

Gardner 23
Carruthers 32

Wednesday 25.1.12 7pm KO at VP

Turn up and support our future stars.

[fredm]

Will they play Gardner?  He played for the reserves midweek, then virtually all match yesterday and we have the FA Cup next Sunday.  Could it be a bit too much of an ask?

[berneboy]

I'm sure Gardner won't play.
He will need the rest and space,

[luke25]

2-0 the babbies, would love to go but at work till 9 unfortunately.

[Chipsticks]

I might turn up actually, how much are tickets?

I reckon 2-1 to the Villa, Carruthers and Johnson to score.

[Legion]

£3 on the door.

[villajk]

I might turn up actually, how much are tickets?

I reckon 2-1 to the Villa, Carruthers and Johnson to score.

Free to season card holders but you have to order in advance.

£3 otherwise.

[Dave Cooper please]

Will probably pop down for this one. Pre-match sharpener anywhere anyone?

[Matt Collins]

Interesting to see what they do with Gardner. Would make it much harder to win if he doesn't play - haven't we got a 100% record with him in this competition and a 0% record without him?

Perhaps Gardner plays in this one but doesn't start v Arsenal. Petrov to start v Arsenal but rested for QPR? I'm pretty sure I'd only play Petrov in one of the two games.

[villajk]

Gardner has been excellent in this competition.  He scored a hat trick in the last game.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

I'm sure Gardner won't play.
He will need the rest and space,

Gardener has to play. They are taking this competition very seriously and he's been head and shoulders above everyone else so far.
And as already pointed out, we haven't dropped a point when he's played.

[Matt Collins]

I was just watching the reserve game v wolves on villa tv. The standard of the reserve league is very poor indeed and so this competition is a really good opportunity to test our kids. I worry that they don't get tested enough as they progress.

More generally, watching that game made me think we really need to get these kids involved in the first team or as many out on loan as possible, like spurs do. Can you do that and allow them to come back for these games?

[Mazrim]

The standard of the reserve league isn't always poor at all.
It varies from game to game. Sometimes there's a lot of quality on display and sometimes not so much.
It depends on the teams involved and what other fixtures they have with their first teams and also the strength in depth of their squads.
 
Obviously though, it would be good to get these kids experience on loan somewhere but perhaps not too early and every individual is different. Loan spells are not always required by proxy.

Its just as important in their development that they stay under our guidance as long as is needed.
Few clubs have our facilities and infrastructure at youth level so we need to make use of it.
Also these kids are playing together regularly, so if they get the chance to break through into the first team as we are currently seeing happen, they are already familiar with eachothers game.

[olaftab]

I'm sure Gardner won't play.
He will need the rest and space,

He is 19 no need for rest! Any way it's the most important match we have this week.

[darren woolley]

I will say 2-0 to us.