Aston Villa v QPR Pre-Match Thread

[levico]

Villa never win back to back matches. Can't see a win I'm afraid.

[PaulTheVillan]

Villa 3-1 QPR

Benteke, Gabby (Finally) and Weimann.

Samba for them. Header from a corner.

[N'ZMAV]

Fucking hell I hope to god we don't lose this one. I really don't want to see Harry Redknapp marching over the pitch to wave his fist in the air at the QPR fans. In addition to this I don't want to read any more shite about 'Arry and this great escape. I'm already sick of it. I'm desperate for us to beat them.

[peter w]

I've said elsewhere but I'll also post it here - I think we'll win if we get a big crowd.

[Doorbell]

I've gone for the villa win, playing counter attack at home.  It'll be a shit your pants game with us nicking either a 2-1 or 3-2 win.

[brontebilly]

Both teams are sure to defend very deep for this one. No way Redknapp is going to have the likes of Clint Hill holding a high line against Agbonlahor. On the opposite side of the pitch, our equally slow and cumbersome back four wont be pushing too far past 20 yards from goal considering the danger of Howlett and Remy getting in behind our defence. With that scenario there will be a lot of space in midfield and its imperative we play three players in there against the 2 from QPR, Park and Mbia. The absence of Delph robs us of choice in that section. Kea has never done anything of note in a Villa shirt and is struggling with injury in any case. The lightweight duo of Bannan and Westwood with Sylla on the right of the three, gave us a healthy dominance in midfield albeit against a very poor Reading duo last time out and must be retained from the start.

Its been a long time since Gabby has done it in a home game for Villa. Even though he scored last time out, with the certainty QPR are going to defend deep I really think Nzogbia coming in would be the correct selection for this game. This would allow added flexibility in the front three with Weimann and Nzogbia able to switch positions when we are in possession. While Gabby played well last weekend for sure he will be up against better full backs this time around. The ability of Nzogbia to link centrally with the trio in midfield would help us keep the ball longer. I expect there to be a nice bit of space between the QPR midfield and their backline at the weekend which is where Nzogbia can add more threat than Gabby.

Where QPR will undoubtedly seek to target Villa is in our full back positions. By all accounts Hoillet gave Gardner a bit of a roasting last weekend and he is facing a player in poor form in Lowton next weekend. Id have taken Lowton out of the side about a month ago due to his poor form and he was frankly appalling last weekend. The half fit duo of Zamora and Remy up front will present problems but Id prefer to see QPR going with 2 up top than bringing in a third man into midfield. The longer the game goes on the more the QPR forward line will struggle due to lack of games this season. Its the kind of game in which if we score early on I think QPR might struggle to get back into it. However Weimann, Nzogbia or Gabby dont provide the greatest of protection out wide to our full backs. Neither Bannan or Westwood have an ounce of presence or bite without the ball and our centre halves are poor in the air. Expect QPR to shove all counterattacks out to their widemen and try to get crosses into our box.

Can definitely see a high scoring game. If they go with 2 up top we should be able to monopolise possession. When he have the ball we seem a decent side and if Benteke keeps his form up, I can see the likes of Weimann getting into great positions again. However we are criminally weak defending crosses into our box and a clean sheet is most unlikely. 3-2 to the Villa, with a late QPR goal giving us a right scare late on having being the superior side for the majority of the game. I think many of us are overrating QPR quite a bit. They are below us for a reason, have injury problems throughout the side and if we get ahead I'm not sure too many of them are that bothered.

[eamonn]

Nice analysis. If it was on the A-Level curriculum for Sports you'd be A*ing it to Oxford.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think some of the worst Villa performances I can recall were at home against QPR. The Beelzebub hat-trick springs to mind

I can still see bloody Peter Eastoe scoring for them in the League Cup semi final 2-2 draw in 77.

For the first time this season I think I'll avoid the game, my nerves just won't take it. I don't see us winning it, despite a recent overall improvement we still look very frail in defence and I'm expecting QPR to capitalise on it.

0-2 defeat.

[Concrete John]

I don't think they're good enough to win three on the bounce and we're shit enough not to win two on the bounce.

Draw for me - 1 all with Weimann getting ours and then them late on to send us home miserable.

[eastie]

@MatKendrick: Trouble and strewth: Chris Herd's #avfc season is over because his fractured foot requires surgery 

[Mark H]

I have gone with a win for them for reasons that if I put us down to win we have no chance , think its going to be a stressfull game for us all

[Quiet Lion]

Villa 1 Twitchy Bagpuss & Gang 2

[darren woolley]

2-1 to us Benteke and Weimann scoring.

[peter w]

Maybe go 3-5-2? We know the balls going into the box so get 3 centre-halves in there. I reckon Baker is the best in the air anyway so sticking him out wide makes little sense. Lichaj on one side with Bennet on the other. Sylla, Westwood, Bannan/N'Zog and Gabby - Benteke up front.

[Dr Butler]

Sadly

us 1 - 'onest 'arry 2

the bandwagon trundles on for the 'arry loving media..

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