Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[stubbsyandy]

From express and star
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/aston-villa-fc/2012/03/02/do-we-go-for-long-or-short-term-gain/

There is a lot of sense in this article

[pedro25]

Most of the press reports are predicting Ireland and Gabby up top in place of Bent and Keane and McLeish seems to be hinting at this.  I'd be very happy with this and see it as the best way to go for sure.  The interesting part will be midfield, with Gabby going up top McLeish must be tempted to put Heskey back in, but this would be a poor call, I really hope he goes for N'Zogbia, but frankly I think it's anyone guess as to which combination of Heskey, N'Zogbia, Bannan, Albrighton, Gardner, Herd and Petrov make up our 4 man midfield.  I think Herd is more of a steady eddie than Gardner so you could therefore play 2 wingers, whereas Gardner is more of an attacking threat so maybe Bannan in place of Albrighton would give the central guys a bit more protection in that case.  On balance I'd probably go N'Zogbia, Gardner, Petrov, Bannan, with Albrighton and Herd on the bench and Heskey in the stand.

[Jon Crofts]

Can't believe I just voted for a Blackburn win, almost as a told you so kind of cathartic moment.  Hope I'm wrong, it's going to be scrappy & I'm not convinced we have the minerals for a fight right now.

[mrfuse]

Surely it cant be worse than last week?

Lets hope Heskey misses the coach....theirs a joke in their somewhere!

 I dont make a practise of berating our players but if its 0-0 with 20 minutes to go the last thing i want to see is Heskey getting ready to come on.

[Matt C]

Gabby central with Albrighton right, N'Zogbia left and Ireland as an advanced midfielder in support would be my choice - hope we go for it and try to win the game rather than trying not to lose it.

[andrew08]

I think making sure we don't lose IS vital. A win will very much be a bonus after last week. They have an in form striker so you would expect them to score at least one and that Scandanavian fella , who is usually shite,always has a good game against us.

But it feels better with Gabby up front, although I don't think I could take another 'final throw of the dice' Heskey appearance late on in the game. Although he is due an hilarious miss hit last minute winner which should earn him a new contract.

[He wears a magic hat]

At what time will the villa faithfull launch into our first anti Mcleish song of the day.

I'm going for 68 minutes - just over halfway into 2nd half when despite trailing 1-0 since half time we still won't have mustered a single effect on goal.

68 minutes of support followed by 22 minutes plus stoppages of launching into the manager.

Scraps in the ground at half time and on departure. Can't wait

[garyshawsknee]

Gabby central with Albrighton right, N'Zogbia left and Ireland as an advanced midfielder in support would be my choice - hope we go for it and try to win the game rather than trying not to lose it.

Hopefully with Albrighton getting back into some sort of form,he's been putting in some good shifts recently,but i wonder if he hasn't created much due to the manager asking him to perform defensive duties first and helping out Hutton. Something of course the manager would be the first to deny.

[JUAN PABLO]

Ireland in his right position and Heskey left at home in his millionaire mansion please.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Gabby central with Albrighton right, N'Zogbia left and Ireland as an advanced midfielder in support would be my choice - hope we go for it and try to win the game rather than trying not to lose it.

Hopefully with Albrighton getting back into some sort of form,he's been putting in some good shifts recently,but i wonder if he hasn't created much due to the manager asking him to perform defensive duties first and helping out Hutton. Something of course the manager would be the first to deny.

I think the problem is more to do with Hutton playing a more advanced role than Albrighton. Both can cross a ball but Albrighton is forever having to cover when Hutton goes walk about.

[villadelph]

Gabby central with Albrighton right, N'Zogbia left and Ireland as an advanced midfielder in support would be my choice - hope we go for it and try to win the game rather than trying not to lose it.

Hopefully with Albrighton getting back into some sort of form,he's been putting in some good shifts recently,but i wonder if he hasn't created much due to the manager asking him to perform defensive duties first and helping out Hutton. Something of course the manager would be the first to deny.

I think the problem is more to do with Hutton playing a more advanced role than Albrighton. Both can cross a ball but Albrighton is forever having to cover when Hutton goes walk about.

What about Kyle Walker last year though, it's not like we were worrying for cover for him. Precisely because we actually played offensive and kept the opposition honest. Now we just sit back and take a pounding, without exposing the others team's defense at all. Offense is the best defense, and we don't got it.

[Shrek]

-------------Given

Hutton-Collins-Cuellar-Warnock

---------Petrov-Herd

Albrighton-Ireland-N'Zogbia

-----------Gabby

We would definatly win with this team, one problem though... Heskey will start because Mcleish is a negative manager who only cares about not losing instead of trying to win.
The fact Heskey has scored more goals against Blackburn than any other team won't help either.

So please Alex prove me wrong and pick the best team to try and win the game.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Gabby central with Albrighton right, N'Zogbia left and Ireland as an advanced midfielder in support would be my choice - hope we go for it and try to win the game rather than trying not to lose it.

Hopefully with Albrighton getting back into some sort of form,he's been putting in some good shifts recently,but i wonder if he hasn't created much due to the manager asking him to perform defensive duties first and helping out Hutton. Something of course the manager would be the first to deny.

I think the problem is more to do with Hutton playing a more advanced role than Albrighton. Both can cross a ball but Albrighton is forever having to cover when Hutton goes walk about.

What about Kyle Walker last year though, it's not like we were worrying for cover for him. Precisely because we actually played offensive and kept the opposition honest. Now we just sit back and take a pounding, without exposing the others team's defense at all. Offense is the best defense, and we don't got it.

Walker had so much speed he'd just sprint back. Hutton looks shagged after his aimless charges up field. I reckon I'd beat him over 100m.

[Mister E]

-------------Given

Hutton-Collins-Cuellar-Warnock

---------Petrov-Herd

Albrighton-Ireland-N'Zogbia

-----------Gabby

... is the  right answer! Defo the team to start, with Weimann and Gardner as possible replacement after 60 minutes (depending on the direction the game's been taking).

[TimTheVillain]

-------------Given

Hutton-Collins-Cuellar-Warnock

---------Petrov-Herd

Albrighton-Ireland-N'Zogbia

-----------Gabby

We would definatly win with this team, one problem though... Heskey will start because Mcleish is a negative manager who only cares about not losing instead of trying to win.
The fact Heskey has scored more goals against Blackburn than any other team won't help either.

So please Alex prove me wrong and pick the best team to try and win the game.

That's the team I'd play.