Stoke City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[neo_Villan]

I am pessimistic about this one. I think we will lose 2-0. They will bully our fragile defence into submission.

I can see where you're coming from, but, they tried that at Villa Park and failed.

Difference is that they came to VP with the intention of parking the bus for the draw. They'll be after the win this time. Crowd behind them too. I usually don't like us scoring early (gives the opposition more time to inevitably equalise) but an early goal here might just be perfect for this game.

[eastie]

I am pessimistic about this one. I think we will lose 2-0. They will bully our fragile defence into submission.

I can see where you're coming from, but, they tried that at Villa Park and failed.

Difference is that they came to VP with the intention of parking the bus for the draw. They'll be after the win this time. Crowd behind them too. I usually don't like us scoring early (gives the opposition more time to inevitably equalise) but an early goal here might just be perfect for this game.

I think the natives are getting restless , if we score first then pulis will come under pressure from the crowd - i see it going like the game at Albion but without stoke coming back .

[Des Little]

We simply have to start the game on the front foot a la Albion...if we try and contain them we'll struggle.  I too believe that if we get two goals up (which we will need), they won't catch us.  Attack! attack! attack!

[PaulWinch again]

We just cannot sit back and defend, we physically cannot do it. Our strength is attacking and we should focus on that.

[neo_Villan]

I think the natives are getting restless , if we score first then pulis will come under pressure from the crowd - i see it going like the game at Albion but without stoke coming back .

Agreed. As I said before, they are usually safe by this time of the season and not used to this kind of pressure. We've been under pressure all season, so strangely enough we have a bit of an advantage mentally over some of our rivals for the run-in.

[eastie]

Go for their throats from the start - we will beat them !

[neo_Villan]

We just cannot sit back and defend, we physically cannot do it. Our strength is attacking and we should focus on that.

You'd have thought that the QPR game would have shown Lambert that our only hope is to outscore the opposition. It's not like this mentality is new to him either, given that is how Norwich approached most games too.

[Ron Manager]

We just cannot sit back and defend, we physically cannot do it. Our strength is attacking and we should focus on that.

Yes thats true Paul. But we will still have to pay attention to their winger Matthews. Hes a tricky Bugger!

[eastie]

We just cannot sit back and defend, we physically cannot do it. Our strength is attacking and we should focus on that.

Yes thats true Paul. But we will still have to pay attention to their winger Matthews. Hes a tricky Bugger!

That banks in goal aint bad either

[eastie]

@MatKendrick: Mark Clattenburg will referee Villa's game at Stoke on Saturday #avfc

[john e]

i think if we can score first we will hang on for the win
 but only if we score in the 3rd minute of extra time with 3 minutes showing on the flashing number board

[Meanwood Villa]

We will win and we will stay up. Believe!

[eastie]

Bring it on - bunny we are coming to give your boys a good thrashing !
Where is bunny ? He is usually here a week before the game giving the stoke angle .

[Des Little]

We will win and we will stay up. Believe!

Do you believe in the Villa?  Ohhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Rigadon]

I have no idea why, but I fancy us to win big.