West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Steve R]

Injuries permitting I'd go with :-

Given
cuellar, collins,baker,lichaj
herd, warnock
ireland
agbonlahor heskey nzogbia

weimann, clark, carruthers, hutton, guzan, gardner, albrighton

A reasonably strong team on paper. I thought on Tuesday the younger lads felt the pressure a bit after we went behind. On the plus side Warnock looks a far better midfielder than he is a fulback and Emile continues to look effective.

Albion are adept at keeping possession in midfield but are a bit suspy at the back.  Their away record is better than their home record - where they have only scored as many as we have and have lost more.

We need to compete in central midfield and have a go at them down the flanks. We just need to keep our nerve, we can take them.

1-0 to Villa (Emile, 65 mins)

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Confidence of the team has gone. Despite the owner's and CEO support McLeish must be dreading walking out onto the pitch. Moreover he has no plan or wherewithall (indeed never has had!) to get the team to perform and break the downward spiral we are in.

Going for a 2-1 loss I'm afraid.

I honestly believe he should've walked out in shame by now.
His tactics, team selections, decision making and interviews have been embarrassing. I can only think that other managers must be sitting at home thinking "Now if that was me I would....."

I'm hoping he's hanging on for the pay off.

Ever the optimist we are gonna surprise everybody and nick the 3 points! ;-)

[achilles]

Defeat I am afraid, as I have even given up predicting draws after Wednesday's showing!

[Greg N'Ash]

hopefully the manager's learnt his lesson and stopped listening to the fans. Draw if he does, loss if not.

[tomd2103]

Injuries permitting I'd go with :-

Given
cuellar, collins,baker,lichaj
herd, warnock
ireland
agbonlahor heskey nzogbia

weimann, clark, carruthers, hutton, guzan, gardner, albrighton

A reasonably strong team on paper. I thought on Tuesday the younger lads felt the pressure a bit after we went behind. On the plus side Warnock looks a far better midfielder than he is a fulback and Emile continues to look effective.

Albion are adept at keeping possession in midfield but are a bit suspy at the back.  Their away record is better than their home record - where they have only scored as many as we have and have lost more.

We need to compete in central midfield and have a go at them down the flanks. We just need to keep our nerve, we can take them.

1-0 to Villa (Emile, 65 mins)

Reports suggesting that Dunne is going to be returning to full training this week, so maybe he could be an option if fit.  Can see McLeish putting him straight back and if that was the case I would probably move Baker over to LB in place of Lichaj.  I think the rest is about right, though I can see him putting Weimann out wide instead of N'Zogbia.

[The Left Side]

2-0 to the bogeyes, boooo

[luke25]

I fucking forgot Ridgewell plays for them now, nailed on to score from a set piece.

[David_Nab]

Dunne could make this game and I have a feeling they will risk him and Collins if they can.Herd and Warnock were ok in midfield ,Ireland along side them would be solid enough then Heskey with nzog and gabby playing off him.

[ian c.]

More in hope than expectation I'm going for a draw. 

[Nastylee]

I'd take a point right now. Think 1 or 2 more should be enough with Rovers probably gone already. QPR are the key, hopefully their run is about to end.

[tarzansbrother]

Draw would be a fantastic result as long as Chelsea beat QPR. Has to play Nzogbia nearer the front, I would have him up front with Heskey. Ain't gotta clue who will play at the back. 1-1 with us losing the lead again.

[PaulWinch again]

We badly need something from this game, please get a result Villa.

[LeeB]

This will be the first local derby in all my time watching the Villa where I'm worried because our opponents are better than us.

Anyway, 3-1 Villa, Gabby to remember that where the goal is three times.

[Jimbo]

A loss. We just don't know what we're doing.

[Rick_avfc]

personally, i'd take a point from this game and a point from the Norwich game.  2 pts puts us on 38 points and i think we will be safe....just