Aston Villa v Swansea City Pre-Match Thread

[Damo70]

The beauty with PL is that he will change his teams around to suit the game plan / opposition - that i like. Under MON you could of (barring major injuries) pick the team 6 months in advance!

Guzan - because he deserves it

Lichaj (RB) - I think he attacks better than any other in that position
Clark
Vlaar
Bennett - i like specialised players in their correct positions

KEH
Holman
Herd
Ireland

Gabby
Bent

Bench:

Given
Bentake
Bannan
Weinmann
Baker
Lowton
Westwood

Not picked:

N'Zogbia
Dunne
Albrighton
Delph

Already the squad although inexperienced is starting to look a lot healthier

That would be exactly the team I would pick except for N'Zogbia instead of Westwood on the bench. If we can handle Michu we will win. He must be the steal of the summer. Top scoring midfielder in La Liga with a struggling team for that money.

[villa `cross the mersey]

It shows how far we have slipped and how much our opponents have improved when we are happy with a draw against the mighty Swansea

[tomd2103]

The beauty with PL is that he will change his teams around to suit the game plan / opposition - that i like. Under MON you could of (barring major injuries) pick the team 6 months in advance!

Guzan - because he deserves it

Lichaj (RB) - I think he attacks better than any other in that position
Clark
Vlaar
Bennett - i like specialised players in their correct positions

KEH
Holman
Herd
Ireland

Gabby
Bent

Bench:

Given
Bentake
Bannan
Weinmann
Baker
Lowton
Westwood

Not picked:

N'Zogbia
Dunne
Albrighton
Delph

Already the squad although inexperienced is starting to look a lot healthier

Not sure I agree with the selection of Lichaj and Herd in your line up to be honest.  Lowton has done OK so far this season and I really can't see what Herd would bring to the midfield at the moment.  In terms of changes from the line up against Newcastle, I would think about bringing Bennett in ( could be a tough debut against Nathan Dyer) and would definitely start Gabby alongside Bent.

I find it a real positive that there is now competition for places and that the bench will look a lot stronger than it has for a long time.

[Dr_Fegg]

Would love to see an open, attacking game of football between two sides bringing a breath of fresh air to the premiership and think we might.......

...but i'll happily take a scrappy 1-0 win to banish the lingering memories of TSM

Heart = 4-1
Head 1-0

[garyshawsknee]

Taking my missus and nephew to their first Villa games,so hopefully it'll be entertaining. 2-2.

You hope it will be a draw?  Why don't you hope Villa win, do you have a foot in both camps?  I'd settle for a draw for sure, but I can't say I'm hoping for one?

Sorry,that was bad punctuation,I hope we win,but I think it'll be 2-2.

[Matt Collins]

Swansea have a few worries at the back, with injuries and suspensions ruling out their first choice left back and centre half. I've never heard of any I the players who might come in.

This reinforces my view that we should be playing a high intensity pressing game and really disrupting their passing into midfield from the back.

Feeling pretty confident bout this one. I reckon we're gonna get 3 goals or potentially more.  And I'm not one of yer ever optimistic types.

Benteke and n'zogbia to come on for the last half hour to cap it off

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Think Nzogbia will be given a supply role when used to feed Benteke. Do not think he has shown enough passing ability for Lambert to use him to feed Bent alone but putting the ball in with pace is one thing he can be very good at. Michu is my main concern and it will be interesting to see how Lambert deals with his threat ...........

[l_mckay]

Got a sneaky feeling for a win here. Going 2-1 villa win!

[tarzansbrother]

For once we play a team with injury problems and best defenders out. Swansea playing well tho and may well score. 3-1 Villa.

[Hookeysmith]

The beauty with PL is that he will change his teams around to suit the game plan / opposition - that i like. Under MON you could of (barring major injuries) pick the team 6 months in advance!

Guzan - because he deserves it

Lichaj (RB) - I think he attacks better than any other in that position
Clark
Vlaar
Bennett - i like specialised players in their correct positions

KEH
Holman
Herd
Ireland

Gabby
Bent

Bench:

Given
Bentake
Bannan
Weinmann
Baker
Lowton
Westwood

Not picked:

N'Zogbia
Dunne
Albrighton
Delph

Already the squad although inexperienced is starting to look a lot healthier

Not sure I agree with the selection of Lichaj and Herd in your line up to be honest.  Lowton has done OK so far this season and I really can't see what Herd would bring to the midfield at the moment.  In terms of changes from the line up against Newcastle, I would think about bringing Bennett in ( could be a tough debut against Nathan Dyer) and would definitely start Gabby alongside Bent.

I find it a real positive that there is now competition for places and that the bench will look a lot stronger than it has for a long time.

Lichaj - naturally right sided full back so is he plays thats where he should be (My comment about specialist players being in their natural postions ref Bennett) He can defend, has good energy, can tackle and gets forward well, in fact he has an assist and a goal to his name last year vs Chelsea - my thoughts are he is the best RB at the club

Herd - not technically gifted but is a very good grafter and with him and Holman PL has the energy to play the high pressing game and allowing then the ball players (Ireland / KEH) to do their thing in linking up back to front

My only concern would be how / where Gabby would play as i don think a basic 442 will work against a possession team like Swansea - in fact i might even be tempted to go with another in MF and have Gabby off the bench if needed

[stubbsyandy]

It shows how far we have slipped and how much our opponents have improved when we are happy with a draw against the mighty Swansea

We are where we are so lets look forward and stop regretting the last three years...

[CJ]

Had an extremely vivid dream about this game last night and we won 2-0, with the second goal coming after Gabby rounded the keeper and hit the post, followed by Albrighton hitting the other post and Holman scoring a screamer on the rebound.  When I woke up I realised there were 4 things wrong in my dream - Albrighton's injured, I was in the team, the match was played on my old school's sports field, and other than their keeper there were no other Swansea players on the pitch.  These are minor details and we will win 2-0.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

It shows how far we have slipped and how much our opponents have improved when we are happy with a draw against the mighty Swansea

We are where we are so lets look forward and stop regretting the last three years...

Yes agree. We have done enough looking back it certainly is time to look forward. Think Benteke will be used for last half hour, either to hold up the ball and protect a lead or search for a badly needed goal. He look tired second half of last nights game and will only have a couple of days rest/training. He certainly can have an impact, particularly from corners .......

[Shrek]

-----------Guzan

Lowton-Vlaar-Clark-Bennett

-------Westwood-Kea

---Bannan-Ireland-Gabby

-----------Bent

We need to be able to keep the ball and this team is in my opinion our strongest passing side.

Maybe Holman instead of Westwood.

[ozzjim]

3-1 win. Think we will do well, and work as hard as we did at Newcastle, but put away the chance. Bennet in for Lichaj for me but that would be my only change.