Aston Villa v Bradford City Pre-Match Thread

[eastie]

@MatKendrick: Nathan Baker is out injured, but Andi Weimann is available and Fabian Delph and Shay Given have a chance of being fit to face Bradford #avfc

Dunne has just returned to training after months off so i expect he will need some games to get anywhere near match fit.
Wouldnt expect to see him this month .

[Mazrim]

                                Given

Lowton         Vlaar               Clark         Bennett

           Bannan          Delph          Ireland

                               N'Zogbia

                Agbonlahor         Benteke


I know it looks light in midfield but just keep the ball and use it. Take half a quarter of the chances we create and we'll give them an absolute hiding. Get an early goal and their arseholes will start twitching.
Hopefully the players will feel hurt by the first leg and be after some payback.

Give Ireland one more chance. If he plays like he can we can get the ball to the front 3 at will.
Its a very passing orientated set up. I can understand playing Herd instead but I reckon we have to be bold.
Plus I think they'll be very defensive.

I'll be there roaring them on of course.

[Mister E]

I think it could be a mistake to throw too many forwards on as that doesn't necessarily mean you get a balanced attack.  It can mean too many players trying to make the same runs and leave a gap between your midfield and attack.  I'd be thinking:-

Given
Lowton - Vlaar - Clark - Bennett
Bannan - Delph - Herd
N'Zogbia - Benteke - Gabby

I think Bradford will pack the midfield, so we must guard against getting outnumbered in there.  Save Bent and/or Weimann for if and when we need to go gung ho in the last half hour. 

Herd is our for  weeks isnt he?

Well, I'd like to see Herd back in midfield where he belongs, and this would be a good game to re-instate him if fit. He's also good at defending set pieces which is once again our achilles heel this season.

Lucky the tie is in B'ham: here in North Yorks it's chucking it down with snow. VP's groundstaff should ensure that the game is played (although with our injuries a strategic postponement wouldn't be a bad thing).

[eastie]

Lambert said last week herd would be out for a few weeks so i think we can forget him - no doubt the game will be on.

[Mister E]

                                Given

Lowton         Vlaar               Clark         Bennett

           Bannan          Delph          Ireland

                               N'Zogbia

                Agbonlahor         Benteke


I know it looks light in midfield but just keep the ball and use it. Take half a quarter of the chances we create and we'll give them an absolute hiding. Get an early goal and their arseholes will start twitching.
Hopefully the players will feel hurt by the first leg and be after some payback.

Give Ireland one more chance. If he plays like he can we can get the ball to the front 3 at will.
Its a very passing orientated set up. I can understand playing Herd instead but I reckon we have to be bold.
Plus I think they'll be very defensive.

I'll be there roaring them on of course.

Close to the reality I suspect, although I'd be playing Delph on the left, to cover Bennett.

[Mazrim]

5-0 and damn their impudence.

Even the bookies say we're favorites to qualify, so you can't really call it impudence can you?

It's the over confidence of so many villains that will cost you. Going into the ground so full of confidence expecting a walk over (as you did 2 weeks ago) is going to cost you.

It wasn't over confidence (last thing we have this season). It was missing a shitload of chances and defending like a pub team that cost us (so far).
If we can't be confident of beating you 2-0 at Villa Park then something really is wrong.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

weed herd would be out for a few weeks

Bit harsh.
If he's injured, he's injured.

[adrenachrome]

weed herd would be out for a few weeks

Bit harsh.
If he's injured, he's injured.

Needs to pack in the weed, though.

[Chris Smith]

5-0 and damn their impudence.

Even the bookies say we're favorites to qualify, so you can't really call it impudence can you?

It's the over confidence of so many villains that will cost you. Going into the ground so full of confidence expecting a walk over (as you did 2 weeks ago) is going to cost you.

Don't mistake bravado for confidence. After the last couple of seasons we've learnt not to raise our expectations too high.

It will be a tricky game for both sides but things have changed for you. Whereas before you had little to lose, now you can sniff Wembley. Do you stick or twist? Can you rely on us missing so many chances again? From our point of view we have no option other than to go for it but your manager has a choice to make. First goal wins it I reckon.

[bratfud_lad]

It wasn't over confidence (last thing we have this season). It was missing a shitload of chances and defending like a pub team that cost us (so far).
If we can't be confident of beating you 2-0 at Villa Park then something really is wrong.

2:0 just takes it to extra time. We didn't play Saturday & last Tuesday we played a weakened side against Crewe so I can't see why you would want to take us to extra time. As for penalty shoot outs we have the best record in England having currently won 9 in a row so what you actually NEED is 3:0 in 90 mins. One goal to City really puts the ball in our court.

Personally I think it will be a highscoring game, you have to chase the game giving us the chance to counter. It could easily be 3:1 either way or 4:4

Looking at your defence this season I'll say we'll definitely score at least one

[levico]

Lucky the tie is in B'ham: here in North Yorks it's chucking it down with snow. VP's groundstaff should ensure that the game is played (although with our injuries a strategic postponement wouldn't be a bad thing).
[/quote]

Well I wouldn't give up yet on the possibility of a postponement. I've got about a foot of snow on my garden in Selly Oak and its just started snowing again. I'm sure they can get the pitch ready but its the surrounding area and car parks that'll be the big H&S problems.

[Mazrim]

Away goals don't count?

[Chrisupnorth]

It's also reassuring to know the world's proudest Yorkshireman, Boycott, is a Man Utd fan.

And hasn't lived in Yorkshire for years. To be honest I don't know anybody who actually likes him.

I do. I know's a bit of a knob but I can't help but be fond of him. He's a character, a dinosaur and when he's gone there won't be another like him.

On the contrary, there will still be plenty of other woman beaters to take his place!!!!

[Legion]

Away goals don't count?

Only after extra-time.

[JUAN PABLO]

5-4 on agg to Villa