Aston Villa v Manchester United Pre-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

With herd, baker, Bennett injured and lichaj suspended we are struggling at left back- Delph has played there as cover so I guess he is the option- Stevens looks well short of being ready to me.

              Guzan

Lowton.    Vlaar.  Clark.   Delph

             Kea.   Westwood

      Bannan.    Ireland.    Gabby

                Benteke

1-1 draw.

Seems logical with the Left Back crisis. Fortunately, Herd and Baker will undergo fitness tests and may be fit for Saturday with a bit of luck.

I think Bennett's problem is that the cut on his knee keeps opening up.  Hopefully he can still play on Saturday should they be able to find a way of stopping it opening up again. 

I would stick with the same formation we played against Sunderland and think that Weimann did enough to start again and if he doesn't, then Holman should play in that role.  As for central midfield, Westwood and KEA will do a similar job, whereas Bannan brings something a little different and also takes set pieces.     

[hawkeye]

no idea why KEA should play, why not stick with a winning team for once?

[silhillvilla]

no idea why KEA should play, why not stick with a winning team for once?

Agree fully, KEA offers very little to the team IMHO.

[robbo1874]

Hate to tempt fate and all that, but I've got a funny feeling about this one.

If we get the team selection and tactics right, the players turn up and we get a lucky break against these pricks for fucking once, I reckon we could sneak it.

If we go more than 1 behind though, we're fkd.

[eastie]

no idea why KEA should play, why not stick with a winning team for once?

Agree fully, KEA offers very little to the team IMHO.

Utd are a lot different to Sunderland - kea would provide added strength in midfield to help protect the back 4 - if a choice of either Westwood or kea I agree I'd stick with Westwood.

[Colhint]

Can't really think we'll win, just a lot more confident going into the game after the Sunderland match

[ciggiesnbeer]

Lets face it, this is a game we are likely to lose. All the pressure is on ManU.

We can just sit back and enjoy the game.

If we lose, Oh well, no big deal. If we get a sniff of an upset then...it should be a cracking atmosphere!

[Salsa Party Animal]

Villa to win 3-2 with 2 late goals from Benteke and Ferguson was left fuming.

[curiousorange]

I can't see anything but a Gloryhunter win, but I hope we give them a hard time achieving it.

[manic-road]

1-3, They have had decent record at VP for the last few years.

[Merv]

If we are struggling for left-back options, rather than drop Stevens, who doesn't look anywhere near ready, in or shoehorn Delph in there, why not try:

                         Guzan

           Lowton    Vlaar      Clark

                      Westwood

             Ireland    KEA     Bannan

          Weimann   Benteke  Agbonlahor

Subs: Given, Delph, Holman, Stevens, Albrighton, Bowery, Carruthers

[curiousorange]

While I'm yet to take any coaching badges, I think it'd be suicidal to play so narrowly against United.

[Merv]

Why? United often play narrowly themselves this season, they've been using a midfield diamond a lot of the time.

Besides, Lowton and Clark would play RB-CB and LB-CB in this formation - United will play with RVP as the lone striker, so Vlaar will pick him up and Westwood would drop deeper to keep an eye on Rooney. We've then got a midfield three to give us a good chance of getting hold of the ball and keeping it, because if we don't do that against United, we're finished before we've started.

Weimann and Agbonlahor would give us the attacking width.

That said, my preference would be retain the same formation as last Saturday but if Bennett doesn't recover, the thought of putting Stevens or Delph at LB frightens me.... SAF would tell Valencia to have a field day. It's a thought for a Plan B!

[N'ZMAV]

They'll be too much for us down the wings.

[curiousorange]

Because in that formation, they'll just bypass Westwood and get it to their wingers or let Rooney roam into the space our three at the back are trying to cover. I may be wrong but I can't see that formation working at all.