Stoke City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[royvilla949]

The key will be to score 1st in this game - stoke are not great going forward and are there to be beaten 0-2 villa win!

we always score first, its the second half we give it away

[neo_Villan]

Remember also that Stoke are usually home and dry by this time of the year. Thus they always finish the season poorly. This is the first time I can remember that there is a lot of pressure on them in the run-in. We are better away and the pressure is more on them IMO. Plus they are lowest scorers in the league aren't they? A result is there for the taking as far as I'm concerned.

[PeterWithesShin]

Them 1 Us 2

My first away league game for donkeys years so we are guaranteed to win.

[Pete3206]

Long ball, clearance, long throw in, clearance, corner, clearance. Repeat for 90 odd minutes.

0-0

[UK Redsox]

Them 1 Us 2

My first away league game for donkeys years so we are guaranteed to win.

A defeat and you might be walking back

[martin o`who??]

A glittering feast of fluid fooball no doubt.

[adrenachrome]

Very few our players have the physique for the sort of crypto-sumo wrestling which is required for all dead ball situations against Pulis's Sterk. Expect a new record for the time is in the air or out of play.

Dig tunnels deep, hide grain everywhere and do not try to establish hegemony.

 

[SoccerHQ]

This will either be 0-0 or a last minute Stoke win judging by our previous 4 games up there, it won't be pretty that's for sure. Tempted to give CNZ a start if Weimann dosen't recover, it's a tight pitch so we need some pace in the centre of midfield to run at their back 4.

I'd take a point tbh as I think we can beat Fulham. 8 points from Stoke, Sunderland, Fulham and Norwich is what we need in the run in.

[black pearl of inchicore]

Should be a thriller...with two teams who play the BARCELONA way, 6-5 to Villa with Lionel Bannan scoring 4 in the last 10 mins.

[Matt Collins]

I think we need cylla and baker at left back, to cope with their only threat. We can do this I am sure

[Ron Manager]

1-1  Stoke seem to have gone back a lot since Rory Delap threw in the towel (and the ball)and moved to Barnsley.

Nathan Baker should be able to deal with Jerome or Jones who are pretty basic and Crouchy hasnt scored for ages.

Midfield of Westwood/Delph/Sylla  with Carruthers and after this weekend Robinson on the bench.

Benteke will need to be at his strongarm best. I cant see him getting much help up front.

[Lobsterboy]

I'll go 1-1; Jones for them and Agbonlahor for us

I know they're on the slide but tough to beat at home so would be happy with a hard earned point

[l_mckay]

I nervy 1-0 win for us. Benteke to score

[SoccerHQ]

Their take on things:

http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/211300/why-stoke-beat-villa

Has Chris Jameson bumped off all the stoke fans who used to post on here?

[PaulWinch again]

Need to win.