Aston Villa v Q.P.R. Pre-Match Thread

[brontebilly]

I think it is really tough for McLeish to get the balance of our side right in fairness to him, mainly due to having the previous regimes crap and then the Houllier buys which as good as they were, were not fitting to his style.

But there are fundamentals which sit in place. Given, Dunne, Petrov, Bent basically run through the core of the side. For me, home against a side who will defend well, Keane is a must having seen him play twice now. He looks up, finds space and leads well. I wish he was here longer.

So Keane plays. Then it is filling in around them, and for many positions it is either a case of shoe-horning square pegs into round holes, or upsetting fans favourites, or both. And it is a really tough thing to get right. At home, we have to get on the front foot though.

My side would be

Given

Hutton (until Lichaj is ready to play games)
Cuellar
Dunne
NZogbia

Petrov
Clark
Ireland
Keane
Gardner

Bent

The three behind Bent can interchange between being wide without the ball and coming narrow with it, but the idea is that Hutton and NZogbia would give you a lot of attacking width from full back.

Worth a punt, we have lost how many at home.

that the issue, no matter what way McLeish tried to configure the midfield we are still going to be unbalanced. Defo would give Nzogbia a shot left back but more than a good chance he will sulk if he is put there. He did well as a wing back at Newcastle a few years back.

Clark has to be in the middle. Keane and Bent are certainties. But Ireland is at his best where Keane plays. You simply cant play Ireland centrally in a 2 man midfield nor Gardner.

Id try something like this but again good chance we will have no width. Could see us keeping the ball well though.

--------------Given
Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Nzogbia
----------------Clark---------------
------Petrov------------Gardner------
-------Keane-----Ireland
---------------Bent-------------

[eamonn]

Anyone know why all of the other games tomorrow kick-off at 8pm and ours doesn't? Or why there's always a couple of midweek non-tv games that kick-off at 8 and not at the usual 7.45? But never a Villa game. Do you have to play sexy football to start later or what?

[dave.woodhall]

Anyone know why all of the other games tomorrow kick-off at 8pm and ours doesn't? Or why there's always a couple of midweek non-tv games that kick-off at 8 and not at the usual 7.45? But never a Villa game. Do you have to play sexy football to start later or what?

Games always used to kick off at 7.30 (except in London, which was 7.45), then post-Hillsborough 15 minutes later became the norm. Now it's either 7.45 or eight, depending on preference, I suppose in the way some clubs play on Tuesday and some Wednesday.

[SoccerHQ]

If Albrighton was fit tommorrow, I'd have left Gabby out for this one but think he'll play so it will probably be the same team as Sunday (although I have a hunch Gardner might start).

Surprised QPR are signing all these strikers, their central defensive options don't look that great to me....Fitz Hall, Clint Hill, Ferdinand, Gabbidon/ Suppose Onouha will probably play there.

Main worry is SWP will have his annual field play against us by simply just running at Warnock whenever he gets a chance.

[TonyD]

God I hope we win.   A draw is not good enough.  We have the squad to beat these.  Not sure if we have the manager to do the job.

[VancouverLion]

Nervy 2-1 win. Don't care who scores or who plays where as long as win!!!
Can't imagine what it'll be like at Villa Park if we draw again or worse lose.
Badly need to win this, COME ON YOU LIONS!!!!

[Matt C]

I'd bring N'Zogbia back for this one.

1-1. Bent for us, Cisse inevitably for them.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Let's hope the players don't see it as a case of having nothing to play for anymore. Are they happy enough to challenge for a mid-table finish?

[JUAN PABLO]

Let's hope the players don't see it as a case of having nothing to play for anymore. Are they happy enough to challenge for a mid-table finish?

Id be sacked in my job with that attitude

[pedro25]

Collins in for Cuellar only change for me, be nice to see N'Zogbia and Albrighton on the bench though to give us some options.

2-1 Villa, Bent and Bannan.

[CJ]

Anyone know why all of the other games tomorrow kick-off at 8pm and ours doesn't? Or why there's always a couple of midweek non-tv games that kick-off at 8 and not at the usual 7.45? But never a Villa game. Do you have to play sexy football to start later or what?

Games always used to kick off at 7.30 (except in London, which was 7.45), then post-Hillsborough 15 minutes later became the norm. Now it's either 7.45 or eight, depending on preference, I suppose in the way some clubs play on Tuesday and some Wednesday.

What annoys me more is the fact that there's no highlights of tonight's games on the Beeb. Five games last night, another five tonight, but they ran MOTD last night because the top 5 teams were playing, rather than run it tonight to show all 10 games. Almost as bad as ITV. Looks like AVTV or Leeg link after I've thawed out tonight

[Matt C]

Collins and Albrighton both out.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Let's hope the players don't see it as a case of having nothing to play for anymore. Are they happy enough to challenge for a mid-table finish?

Id be sacked in my job with that attitude

As would anyone. Footballers live in a different world to us peasants though.

[Villanation]

Can't see how we are not going to win this tonight, QPR and Wolves have to be a couple of the easier sides to take 3 points from and at home, they may have a new manager and they may have made a couple of new signings, even so, I think our lads will want to prove a point tonight, don't think for a minute they will be all despondent and down after the weekend, think we will put in one of the best performances this season tonight. 

[Brian Taylor]

If we go two goals up again please keep bent out of defence. I watched the Arse game from the 'Clock End' and was in shock at the way we disintegrated under pressure. Keane and Bent work very well together ably assisted by Gabby and can take any defence apart; as long as they get the ball passed to them.  Backpassing to Given to hoof up the pitch in the hope of getting to the forwards is so laughable it is almost pathetic.
We can win tonight if the dustbins like Warnock get stuck in and, perhaps, even move around.
I was ecstatic during up to a few mins into the 2nd half. What were we doing attacking at that stage? Total confusion reigned and we were done for! Please not again! If I can, then the opposition can also see our gaping flaws. I just hope we learnt something from Sunday's game!