Aston Villa v Stoke City Pre-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Win today Villa please.

[Ads]

Villa win and a savage blow to the forces of football darkness, with us chalking up some good football in the process.

I would love us to smash this strangling, turgid outfit into next week.

[russon]

who's the ref today? a lot will depend on whether we have one who pulls Stoke up for their many indiscretions or one who sees forearm smashes and wrestling as 'part and parcel of the game'

[eastie]

Not really got the usual match day buzz - something about a home game with stoke that is very depressing. I think we all expect a scrappy dour game but lets hope we can sneak a 1-0 win.

[UK Redsox]

who's the ref today? a lot will depend on whether we have one who pulls Stoke up for their many indiscretions or one who sees forearm smashes and wrestling as 'part and parcel of the game'

Referee: R East;
Assistants: G Beswick, H Lennard;
Fourth official: C Foy.

[CJ]

who's the ref today? a lot will depend on whether we have one who pulls Stoke up for their many indiscretions or one who sees forearm smashes and wrestling as 'part and parcel of the game'

Referee: R East;
Assistants: G Beswick, H Lennard;
Fourth official: C Foy.

According to this he's new to the prem this season. 3 matches, 4 yellows, 2 reds.  Could be a help given Sturk tactics

[maidstonevillain]

Pearls of wisdom from Lawro

Aston Villa keep ticking over - they are picking up points, like they did in last week's draw with QPR, but don't have the quality to score the goals they need to win games.

What they need are more people chipping in from other areas like Brett Holman did against Rangers.

There is nothing wrong with Villa's organisation or application but what they need is some inspiration.

They are up against a Stoke side who are on a good run - they don't score many goals, but they concede even fewer - and I can see this being a very tight encounter. I don't think anyone should expect a goal fest.

The difference between the two sides is that Stoke have kept hold of their better players, while Villa have sold theirs. You can see what effect that has had from where the two teams are in the table.

Match preview

Prediction: 1-1

The last paragraph is laughable.I wasn't aware Man City and Man U have been queueing up putting bids in for millions for the likes of Robert Huth

He makes a lot of sense until that last bit.

I know Lawro generally gets lambasted on here for his Villa predictions. But he is normally pretty much on the money with his comments, until the end where he always seems to have to have a final dig.

[cheltenhamlion]

Everything points to a dire, low scoring game, that we will get out muscled in. I therefore predict a comfortable Villa win.

[danlanza]

who's the ref today? a lot will depend on whether we have one who pulls Stoke up for their many indiscretions or one who sees forearm smashes and wrestling as 'part and parcel of the game'

We will just set the Beast Benteke on them and they will become quivering wrecks. Benteke will match any of their physical tactics, not so sure of our defence though unless Vlar is back to match fitness.

[maidstonevillain]

Bit sickening that this is our pre Xmas home fixture
I can't imagine anything less christmassy than Stoke, we should put Fred West on the programme cover

I always travel up to the last home game before Christmas, and combine it with the family Christmas present/card run. Suffice to say, I think this year there may be some family members waiting until the New Year for their Cristmas presents.

Of course the plus side to that is that I can buy them in the sales when they are half price.

[johncvilla88]

Gutted Stuart Attwell got depromoted to the football league could of done with him this season 5 wins out of 5 he's refereed and haven't conceded in any of his games! scored 11 and given 2. penalties. GREAT REF!

[Mazrim]

Lawro calls Villa a selling club version 3023063045.284a

[*shellac*]

Wonder what he thinks of Arsenal then?

On second thoughts, nah.

[PaulWinch again]

I'll be out when this starts, hoping to come back in to see us winning 3-0.

[silhillvilla]

If we can win today it would go down as our best result in a couple of years in my book.
Very tricky fixture this.