Aston Villa v Bradford City Pre-Match Thread

[Chipsticks]

My suggested/predicted team:

                  Guzan
        Dunne Vlaar Clark
Lichaj                            Bennett
             Delph Bannan
                  Ireland
Gabby                       N'Zgobia
                 Benteke


If Delph is injured, then swap him for Clark, and bring Lowton into Clark's place at CB.

[villan from luton]

Surely we need to go two up front like yesterday

[Chipsticks]

Surely we need to go two up front like yesterday

To me it was more of a 3 up front; Gabby got out wide a lot.

[LeeB]

A word of advice. That bloke who said stick to Broad Street and Edgbaston was talking shite. Your pubs are also better than ours and your curries aren't.

our pubs are better? all the city centre pubs are dives but all bcfc pubs so we dont mind if i came from another town i dont think i would be very impressed! where did you go for a curry? some are disgusting but a couple really are top notch
[/quote]

See Dave, I told you.

Even they think it's a shithole.

[dave.woodhall]

A word of advice. That bloke who said stick to Broad Street and Edgbaston was talking shite. Your pubs are also better than ours and your curries aren't.

our pubs are better? all the city centre pubs are dives but all bcfc pubs so we dont mind if i came from another town i dont think i would be very impressed! where did you go for a curry? some are disgusting but a couple really are top notch
[/quote]

A place next to the Beehive, which is a great pub.

[Des Little]

Bradford, avoid Broad St like the plague (you may well catch it there) and stay in the city centre. My advice FWIW is to drink on Bennetts Hill, a couple of proper pubs there or thereabouts and you're across the road from New St to hop on the rattler round to the real VP!

As for the game, it's first goal is the winner, simple as that.

[Legion]

There's always the Barton's Arms if you wish to be civilised. Alternatively, closer to the ground the Witton Arms and the Yew Tree cater for away fans.

[Ads]

We need to start with the same zip and aggression as we did in the first leg. We will create a lot of chances, its just whether they will be taken.

The way Gabby and Benteke took theirs yesterday leads me to suspect Bradfords goal wont lead such a charmed life.

If we can get an early goal, then this will give us a huge lift.

[old man villa fan]

A word of advice. That bloke who said stick to Broad Street and Edgbaston was talking shite. Your pubs are also better than ours and your curries aren't.

our pubs are better? all the city centre pubs are dives but all bcfc pubs so we dont mind if i came from another town i dont think i would be very impressed! where did you go for a curry? some are disgusting but a couple really are top notch

A place next to the Beehive, which is a great pub.
[/quote]

The name 'Beehive' brings back memories of a drink in the Cabin and jumping on a Villa Special.  Coming back and being dropped off outside The Beehive Store.  Night games were something special.  Just hope Tuesday is.

[villan from luton]

Surely we need to go two up front like yesterday

To me it was more of a 3 up front; Gabby got out wide a lot.

ok, sorry about that. I would play the same formation if possible as yesterday but Baker will obviously be out, Westwood cup tied and Delph must be a major doubt. Feel we need to give N'Zogbia the free role as he will cause damage

[danlanza]

We will be going to Wembley.

[eastie]

Assuming baker and delph are out injured id go with


                   Guzan

Lowton.     Vlaar.   Clark.    Bennett

     Holman        Bannan.   Ireland

     Gabby.     Benteke.     Nzogbia

[Jimbo]

I'd advise our Bradford chums to eschew the city centre hostelries, and opt instead for a short excursion to one of the charming suburban villages on the outskirts of the town, such as the historic Castle Vale settlement, the Royal seat of Kingstanding, or perchance the fetching Wyrley Birch country estate. They will be assured a warm welcome at the inns and coach houses therein.

Forget the balti establishments of Birmingham, though. The real, no frills balti houses of yore have all but disappeared (most of them having been 'upgraded' to feature such pretentious flourishes as table cloths and cutlery) and what remains will be no better than the curry houses of Bradford.

As far as the game goes, you'd think that some of us would have learned a lesson from the first leg. Hubris and complacency may well have contributed to our undoing on that occasion. Personally, I'll just keep my fingers, toes and testicles crossed and hope for the best.

[ChrissyPrice]

Absolutely. I can't stand these 5-0 predictions. Pride before a fall and all that...

[Northern Fried Bantam]

You will batter us, we are under no illusions and 40k of you lot will frighten our 4th Div shower of shite.