Stoke City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Lawro has predicted our customary 2-0 defeat, so all is alright in the world.

[danlanza]

Lawro has predicted our customary 2-0 defeat, so all is alright in the world.

Lawro is a dick.

[fbriai]

I've got the feeling that we'll either get thumped or win convincingly. No half measures.

That said, we'll probably draw 0-0.

[PaulWinch again]

Stoke City chief scout Lindsay Parsons says he advised manager Tony Pulis to sign Cheick Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba, and suggests that he disagrees with the club's long-ball style.

"We have loads of disagreements because I don't like the way they play and I will never change on that," he is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.


All is clearly not well at Stoke, seems like there's lots of in fighting.

[maidstonevillain]

Pulis for the sack if they lose this one?

[eastie]

Pulis for the sack if they lose this one?

No -maybe if they go down but not at this stage of the season.

[David_Nab]

I'd have Ireland on the bench ahead of KEA ..Infact pretty much anyone over 16 who can play CM at the club I would have ahead of him.

[curiousorange]

I looked at the match report I wrote for the Villa Park fixture earlier in the season, and the frustration was that when we played our game, we looked fantastic. But when Stoke dragged us down to the long-ball rough and tumble, we lost impetus. There's no need to keep lumping the ball to Benteke; Stoke are clodhoppers who will try to stop the game with free-kicks and set-pieces so we should be looking to tease the life out of their defence. If we're going to have constant stoppages, at least make sure they're in our favour more often than not.

[Shrek]

-----------Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Baker-Bennett
------Westwood-Delph
----Weimann-Sylla-Gabby
-----------Benteke

2-0 Villa

[villan from luton]

Same team as Shrek and if we can keep them at bay for first 20 minutes, we can win this game and am going for 3-1

[rob_bridge]

We can win this one. They are running on empty and at least we still create chances.

Let's have it lads

[neo_Villan]

Anybody else have that feeling that Stoke will do their best to injure Benteke? If he gets a serious injury, our season is as good as over.

[N'ZMAV]

Anybody else have that feeling that Stoke will do their best to injure Benteke? If he gets a serious injury, our season is as good as over.

they won't get near him. He's far too good for an underperforming Huth and Shawcross.

[brontebilly]

draw isnt much use to us. we arent capable of playing a cautious, tactically aware game anyway so no point in us playing a defensive line up.

Stoke will be nervous as they are getting dragged into a relegation battle that they shouldnt be near and I expect Pulis hasnt long left at the club in any case. They have only won once in the league since Xmas and that was a home win v Reading. Their goals have dried up since then too.

We will need a minimum of 2 goals to win and as in recent games I can see us creating plenty of chances. I fancy us scoring twice to be honest provided the team is picked correctly and we play with the right attitude.

Decisions - left back? Bennett has actually done well in the last couple of games. Wont be any use defending the rugby they play but he isnt as likely to give away stupid freekicks out wide like Clark and Baker would. Id go with him and see how he gets on against Walters.

Centre half - Baker or Clark? Clark is the better footballer but in this case will give Baker a hesitant shout ahead of him. Better in the air which could well be crucial.

Midfield - Delph is a certainty to come back in. Less certain is if Sylla will retain his place. He is doing alright but nothing too hectic so far. But what options are there to replace him? Kea and Holman are muck. Nzogbia would mean we are playing we have 4 players doing nothing when we dont have the ball. Bringing Ireland back from the cold is the same risk but worth bringing him back on the bench imo. I think Lambert will give Bannan a shot further forward. Might not be a bad call with Sylla to come on in the second half maybe.

Bent back on the bench is a big boost. Particularly if we need a goal in the second half, the option to go 442 is there. Clark, Ireland, Nzogbia, Sylla options on the bench too.

We have been playing well away from home for a while now. Our key player I believe is Delph. We cant afford the likes of Nzonzi to bully our midfield and Delph's discipline will be key. He cant afford to get involved in running battles and giving away ridiculous free kicks like his push on Suarez last weekend. The lack of presence and/or pace Bannan and Westwood possess has seen us get overrun badly at times all season. Delph in there at his best can improve us hugely here.

I'm strangely confident of us winning. If Id to pick a game for us this weekend, it would be Stoke away. I fancy us to win. 2-1. Gabby and Benteke.

[Ads]

I'm convinced we'll win tomorrow.

Me too, most confident ive felt all season before a game .

I am too.

I think its the way Stoke have been talking "we can afford to lose this game" and "its not defining".

They're their to be beat.