Manchester United v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Damo70]

I can't see why Ferguson would play a weakened side as some have mentioned. I believe he has stated that they are trying to beat Chelsea's record PL winning points total.

[Lastfootstamper]

No fixture backlog, involved in no other competitions, just a league game every weekend til the season's end. I can see no reasoning as to why they'll not go out and attempt to twat every side that presents itself before them.

However, I find it awfully bad form whenever any team gets one over on my mighty Aston Villa, so I have no choice other than to forecast a bloodied nose for those dastardly northeners, and a well-deserved three points returning down the A34.

[villa `cross the mersey]

If we can get through it without conceding a shedload i'll be happy. The goal difference between us and Wigan is only 1 now.  Could be crucial

Good point -  Us miserablists and pessemists   will stick together on this ....... perhaps a 2-1 loss would almost be a "moral victory"

1-1 against Chelsea though Clive...what ya reckon?

I`d take that now young man !

[villa `cross the mersey]

Out of interest who is the ref tomorrow?

I wonder if Lerner has still got Siralex`s letter of recomendation for the Scottish Manager? If so could he take it out of his safe and reuse the envelope - send it back to Siralex stuffed full of £50`s - approx £1m) on the understanding that we "stick to the current arrangement of forgoing six points per season plus the odd cup tie - excepting tomorrow of course when a "below par Utd performance sees them dropping a point at Disney Manchester - do you think that would work?

[Legion]

Anthony Taylor. No, I've never heard of him either.

[olaftab]

Anthony Taylor. No, I've never heard of him either.

Fergie signed him up a few years ago from League 2 refs and has patiently developed him up to this level! Hope is he will eventually replace Dowd.

[peter w]

In all likelihood we will lose. With that in mind a 1-0 defeat wouldn't be a bad result. 

[Toronto Villa]

I know that we are a pessimistic bunch at times but fuck me have some balls lads. We are playing better than under previous managers, have been on a decent run and are in no way the team that got battered repeatedly over Christmas. We play better away from home and will be up against a defence that are hardly lighting quick especially through the middle. We are going there to get a result and while it will be tough there's no reason why with serious graft and dedication we can't pinch something. The one thing for sure is that this Man Utd team will allow us to have our chances. We have to take them when they are presented. If we do we will make a game of it.

Tomorrow is much about the performance as the result. It will be a gauge of our mettle for the balance of the season. We can get a result and I'm looking forward to how we go about it. Tomorrow in no way dictates how the rest of the season will pan out but it will help massively for our confidence to put in a solid display. There will be loads more twists and turns for all teams in the danger zone beyond tomorrow and the game at Wigan.

[paulcomben]

Anthony Taylor. No, I've never heard of him either.

Referees who have not been noticed are a very good thing. Apart from Howard Webb, noticeable because he is good, the only noticeable referees are of the Dowd ilk.

[danno]

I don't think it helps when before the game the TV/Radio. mention who the days officials are.
How many reds/pens they've given at that ground before etc.

They should be as low profile as possible.

[john2710]

Anthony Taylor. No, I've never heard of him either.

Fergie signed him up a few years ago from League 2 refs and has patiently developed him up to this level! Hope is he will eventually replace Dowd.

Very good :-)

By the way he's from Manchester! Supports Altrincham, apparently ;-)

Nice to know they have a back-up plan, if needed.

[paulcomben]

Anthony Taylor's past Villa games http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/aston-villa/schiedsrichterdetail/verein_405_847.htm and ManU games http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/manchester-united/schiedsrichterdetail/verein_985_847.html

Pleasingly bland!

[KRS]

I know that we are a pessimistic bunch at times but fuck me have some balls lads. We are playing better than under previous managers, have been on a decent run and are in no way the team that got battered repeatedly over Christmas. We play better away from home and will be up against a defence that are hardly lighting quick especially through the middle. We are going there to get a result and while it will be tough there's no reason why with serious graft and dedication we can't pinch something. The one thing for sure is that this Man Utd team will allow us to have our chances. We have to take them when they are presented. If we do we will make a game of it.

Tomorrow is much about the performance as the result. It will be a gauge of our mettle for the balance of the season. We can get a result and I'm looking forward to how we go about it. Tomorrow in no way dictates how the rest of the season will pan out but it will help massively for our confidence to put in a solid display. There will be loads more twists and turns for all teams in the danger zone beyond tomorrow and the game at Wigan.

Personally I have no doubt that we may give them a good game and may even score a couple of goals...but I also have no doubt that they have the quality to score at will particularly when we sit back and try to defend our lead for the last 20 minutes. If we are 2-1 up with 15 minutes to go, how many of us would be genuinely confident of us taking any points from the game?

[cdbearsfan]

Anthony Taylor's past Villa games http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/aston-villa/schiedsrichterdetail/verein_405_847.htm and ManU games http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/manchester-united/schiedsrichterdetail/verein_985_847.html

Pleasingly bland!

He was atrocious in the Blackpool game, disallowing a perfectly good Fonz goal. Luckily, we still won.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Man U now go into tomorrow nights game knowing a win will secure the league.
A help or a hindrance to us ?