Aston Villa v Stoke City Pre-Match Thread

[zlatans bicyclekick]

I would play 4-3-3
Guzan

Lowton
Vlaar
Clark
Baker

Bannan
Westwood
Herd

Holman
Benteke
Agbonlahor

Baker at LB to cope with Stokes high balls in the box, Herd to put som bite in midfield.

[Simon Ward]

Dire game in front of a largely silent crowd, 1-1 scoreline.

[Monty]

We need to win but Stoke are on a good run at the moment particularly away from home. Nzonzi and Adam are much stronger than our midfield. Thankfully Stoke don't use midfield that much. Again Bent is made for this game up with Benteke. Sick of watching Gabby. I'd say Delph or Kea may get a start ahead of Bannan for this one. Maybe worth going with three at the back. Need Vlaar, Clark and Baker in the side so unless Baker is starting at left back we need to go with 3 at the back.

We don't want to over-think the opposition though. If we try to play them at their own game we will lose. We need to focus on zipping it about and keeping it well away from them. If we can dominate the ball we could tire them out and limit their opportunities to gain territory as they might put it.

Agreed. Nzonzi can get about the pitch but if the mobility-vacuum Adam is his only partner we can out-manoeuvre them in the midfield for sure. We must try and counter their threats, obviously, but to attack with longer balls and pvert physicality would be a huge error. We have to go three against two in midfield, try and stretch their wide midfielders and defenders with the full-backs and wing-forwards to create space in the centre and to utilise Gabby's pace on the break, because that might be where they're at their most vulnerable.

[Concrete John]

Not got a great feeling about this one as I can see our young side getting getting firstly bullied by the physicality of Stoke and secondly caught out by their 'old pro' approach of drawing them into fouls to create their set piece chances.

I'd actually take a point as it would at least not totally destroy the momentum we've started to muster.

[andyh]

My boss is a baggies season ticket holder and is generally quite level headed about football matters.
He told me on Monday that he will never, ever go to another baggies game when they are playing Stoke because of the sheer lack of football they tried to play on Saturday....mind you it was probably just sour grapes.

Anyway, we will burst their bloody bubble.
2-0 Villa     

[Tom_Mc9?]

You know what you're going to get with Stoke, but we can't all play like Barcelona can we? I don't mind them - they know how to play to their strengths and do so. Good for them.

As for the game, 2-1 Villa and a sigh of relief before a run of difficult games where we will beat Chelsea but struggle against the other lot.

[Eugene Fraxby]

'Only Newcastle (76) play more long balls per game than Aston Villa (67) in the Premier League.'

http://www.football365.com/f365-features/8306960/Premier-League-Numbers-And-Stats...

Not sure what the definition of a long ball is but this is slightly surprising

[Monty]

You know what you're going to get with Stoke, but we can't all play like Barcelona can we? I don't mind them - they know how to play to their strengths and do so. Good for them.

I don't mind them, but their style wouldn't be anywhere near as successful if referees didn't give them preferential treatment. Just because you know they're going to be more physical, shouldn't mean you give them more license to back in, hold back, climb on, clatter etc., and refs definitely do give them that.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't agree with the criticisms of the likes of Wenger when they get outmuscled and beaten by Stoke - he seems to moan that they're not trying to play the same (far more watchable) style of football that Arsenal do - and at which Arsenal would murder them 99 times out of 100.

It is Stoke's prerogative to play any way they like.

However, personally, I find it really horrible to watch. It's border-line not actually football, and more about gamesmanship, with all that fucking ball towelling.

I will defend their right to play it as much as they will themselves, I just detest having to watch it, and hope they get relegated with it at the earliest possible time.

[Gareth]

They...like us are a bunch of average footballers...unlike us they have a system that they are drilled in playing (which is good if you like watching that type of football)...however, the biggest mistake we can make is to pick our team to negate them, we have to pick our best team to get us on the front foot.  Too many teams pay them too much respect and wait for them to bash them around.

[TonyD]

My best friend's great uncle is a baggies fan and he was at the Stoke game on Saturday. He has been going down since before the war.  He said it was worse game of football he had ever seen.  He has sent back his season ticket, binned his scarves and has not spoken of it since.

[Mazrim]

The baggies are having one of their best seasons in living memory and he threw his season ticket/scarves away because of one game (which was largely due to the opposition)?

Owshty bowsh.

[l_mckay]

1-1. Benteke scoring

[Witton Warrior]

We are looking forward to the moment Barry Bannan nicks the ball of Peter Crouch by running between his legs...

[PaulTheVillan]

Got a feeling the Stoke defenders will handle Benteke fine