Sunderland v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Ron Manager]

I'd love to see Bent and Benteke upfront together if we're playing two up top, they showed promise against Swansea.

Agree 100%.

[Ads]

If we score first, we win.

I would start Bent with Benteke and Ireland in the hole. I thought he played well last night. He is never going to fly into tackles, but he is easily the most accomplished attacking midfielder we have.

I hope Baker is back.

Midfield is a worry. Unfortunately Delph has to start. I think Holman will too. If Clark is fit I would play him central.

Saying that, I wouldn't be averse to a 433 with Gabby wide to give Johnson something to think about.

[Tom_Mc9?]

Oh I don't know, it's too hard to predict how we'll do nowadays. I'll stick with lose or draw though, as those seem to be more reliable predictions nowadays. Hope we put in a good effort and not some half-arsed nonsense performance though.

[Mister E]

If we score first, we win.

I would start Bent with Benteke and Ireland in the hole. I thought he played well last night. He is never going to fly into tackles, but he is easily the most accomplished attacking midfielder we have.

I hope Baker is back.

Midfield is a worry. Unfortunately Delph has to start. I think Holman will too. If Clark is fit I would play him central.

Saying that, I wouldn't be averse to a 433 with Gabby wide to give Johnson something to think about.

Well, Delph doesn't have to start if we go with your front three of Bent, Benteke and Ireland. Behind them, we could have KEA, Herd and Holman; which is reasonably solid. All depends who's fit and whether PL wises up and sees Herd as a holding MF.

I think the real challenge will be dealing with the likes of Larsson, McLean, Sessignon and Johnson in defence. Based on Norwich's wing-play, we could get a new one ripped out for us on Saturday.
Based on which, if I was PL I would be playing Holman and Delph wide (tenacious and pacy) to cover the fullbacks and KEA and Herd in CMF (some aggression and positional nous).

But it all depends who is fit for CB duties. And, PL probably won't play Herd in MF.

(I suppose it also depends who's refereeing as to whether Herd or Delph plays, cos they're both a potential red card).

[levico]

Back to reality. 1-0 to Sunderland. Late winner, heart broken, 4 hour return journey. Thank you very much.

[Quiet Lion]

Sunderland are utter shit. Sadly though they are considerably better than us.

1-0 home win

[Matt Collins]

Kea is suspended and herd an injury doubt so I really can't see delph not starting

[Matt C]

Watershed moment in our season - Villa win 0-1.

[SoccerHQ]

The build-up to include every broadsheet doing a feature on Villa post-O'Neill, the BBC live feed to be full of Twitter posts about how we shouldn't have sacked him, OptaJoe to say 'Villa finished sixth three times under O'Neill, but haven't since. Backwards', and Steven Fletcher to score a header on the hour with their worst chance. Media world to have collective orgasm, O'Neill to say they were terrific, Bent to be captured sulking on the bench and Lambert to say 'we go again'.

My take on it aswell!

I think it will be 1-1 though. Benteke again.

[eamonn]

Davy, out of interest, what's happened to Sessegnon? Is MON playing him out of position or changed his game at all? I can't remeber the last time he scored, he normally weighs in with a few, which i noticed he did just after MON first got there. He'll score on Saturday now i've asked you this.

As for your season, i was surprised that you went out last night, MON's normally got a good record in the League Cup. Overall i think you'll be fine.

Don't know what's happened with Sessegnon's form, he was a revelation last season and the type of player we could have done with.

We did get knocked-out by Championship teams under MON aswell - QPR and Leicester.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Routine win for the Villa. I have no idea why I am so optimistic given our injuries and current form but I am. Its probably the drink.

[silhillvilla]

We'll probably win the first half and then lose the second half hopefully by not too many goals.

[Mister E]

Kea is suspended and herd an injury doubt so I really can't see delph not starting

Ah; good point, Mr Collins.

[preston28]

My first trip to the Stadium of Light!
This gme hs drw written all over it but I'm going for Villa's first away win of the season!
0-1 Benteke.

[damon loves JT]

Mmm, Gorgonzola.