Aston Villa vs Sunderland Pre-Match Thread

[damon loves JT]

I prefer it when Lawro predicts us to lose

[Phil from the upper holte]

We will crush the slimy fascist and his team of unspectacular journeymen.

Lambert will run onto the centre circle at full time, point to the villa fans in all four stands and then point to the skies, then point at the Sunderland fans and do a wanker sign, followed by a camp Hitler salute and pushing out of lower lip with tongue at Di Klanio.

I would absolutely love it if that happened.

[pauliewalnuts]

Every time I so much as think about this game, I get butterflies in my stomach, and the beginning of a sense of nausea washing over me.

Must win.

[brontebilly]

Honestly I don't think anyone's put in a decent performance against Di Canio yet, and on our night we can take anyone apart. I think our attack will be too much for their defence.

I didn't watch their game against the Barcodes but I did see a completely useless Everton side lose at the weekend. How Everton think they can qualify for Europe playing with no strikers, a half arsed Felliani in defensive midfield and a team that only turned up in the last few minutes is beyond me.

Sunderland worked hard, lots of hoofing up to the front, they love heading tennis, Johnson can once again beat a man but his final delivery is still shocking. Up front I was surprised they scored, they lack any real threat. They're not a bad side, certainly better than under the clueless MON but as long as we match them in effort, I don't think there's too much to worry about.

Di Canio will probably go for the point and hope for a bit of luck on the break. Their defence is nearly as bad as ours so I'd expect all our three strikers to have plenty of chances. As long as they improve their finishing which has been poor these last few games, I think we'll win comfortably. If they go for an open game, I think we'll score a shed load.

It all comes down to matching their effort, something Everton didn't even come close to.

The old Roy Keane mantra  (although like much of his "quotes" he probably robbed it from somewhere else) of matching them for effort and making our extra quality count rings true here. We absolutely need to match them physically though and stop them scoring first. If we score first, we could give them a bit of a hiding. They have some hideously average players in their team, as do we in fairness but their centre halves in particular are crying out to be taken to the cleaners if we can get behind them.

I watched the north east derby and the 3-0 scoreline really doesnt tell the story of the game. For one Newcastle had played midweek and were naturally a little flat to begin with. Sunderland took advantage of this and Segessenon cracked in a great goal. But from then on Newcastle took over, had a shocking offside decision against Cisse when they were in total control and looking like they would go on and win the game. Sunderland's other talented but hugely inconsistent attacking player Adam Johnson shot in the crucial second soon after against the run of play. Vaughan had another goal soon after but the game was done at that point anyway. Johnson and Sessegnon have ability but bit like Nzogbia are far too inconsistent to be playing at a better side than Sunderland. Di Canio has got them playing a bit better but the side has incredibly average players scattered through it.

Colback is a below average championship standard midfielder playing right back. Cuellar and O'Shea are done at this level but getting by with Sunderland defending so deep these days. Both are abysmal on the ball and hoof the ball back to the opposition routinely. Benteke has been muck the last couple of games but this is the kind of game he could finish one of those two careers at this level. Larsson is average personified in centre midfield providing decent set pieces and nothing else. McClean has regressed alarmingly this season while Graham has looked lost up there so far. What we need to guard against is Johnson and Sessegnon on the counter attack, Larsson's set pieces, Rose breaks forward pretty well at left back. NDiaye provides them with a decent physical presence in midfield. Graham caused us a lot of problems at Swansea earlier in the season and our centre halves arent up to much. We havent a midfielder that is comfortable in picking up someone like Sessegnon playing off a front man. Any winger worth their salt will fancy their chances against our full back duo, Lowton particularly. But on the evidence of the last 2 games, Sunderland dont hold onto the ball long enough to exploit our weaknesses, if we press 3 of their back four or their 2 centre midfielders we will get the ball back pretty quickly.

Both Weimann and Benteke seem to have gone off the boil. El Ahmadi probably did enough to earn a start last time out but isnt the kind of man marking midfielder needed really. Id go with Nzogbia and Gabby for the wide positions. Gabby up against Colback should be easy street for him. Bent for me deserves a start this time around but there isnt a chance of that happening. Really hope we are really positive in our play and push for the win. Expect both sides will settle for a draw though. 1-1 with a turgid second half.

[Jimbo]

We're going to have to score at least two.

[PaulWinch again]

Every time I so much as think about this game, I get butterflies in my stomach, and the beginning of a sense of nausea washing over me.

Must win.

Same here. I've said 'must win' before, but this really really is must win. We need to take the three points regardless of what Wigan do. If Wigan win then they'll be level with us with a game in hand, so we need to open that gap. If they fail to win it's an opportunity to put some breathing space between us and them.

[VillaAlways]

"Sunderland made the choice to bring in Paolo but I know how good a manager Martin is because I worked under him for five years."-PL

I'm hoping he'll be extra desperate to beat them because they sacked"the gaffer"

[Ron Manager]

Honestly I don't think anyone's put in a decent performance against Di Canio yet, and on our night we can take anyone apart. I think our attack will be too much for their defence.

I didn't watch their game against the Barcodes but I did see a completely useless Everton side lose at the weekend. How Everton think they can qualify for Europe playing with no strikers, a half arsed Felliani in defensive midfield and a team that only turned up in the last few minutes is beyond me.

Sunderland worked hard, lots of hoofing up to the front, they love heading tennis, Johnson can once again beat a man but his final delivery is still shocking. Up front I was surprised they scored, they lack any real threat. They're not a bad side, certainly better than under the clueless MON but as long as we match them in effort, I don't think there's too much to worry about.

Di Canio will probably go for the point and hope for a bit of luck on the break. Their defence is nearly as bad as ours so I'd expect all our three strikers to have plenty of chances. As long as they improve their finishing which has been poor these last few games, I think we'll win comfortably. If they go for an open game, I think we'll score a shed load.

It all comes down to matching their effort, something Everton didn't even come close to.

The old Roy Keane mantra  (although like much of his "quotes" he probably robbed it from somewhere else) of matching them for effort and making our extra quality count rings true here. We absolutely need to match them physically though and stop them scoring first. If we score first, we could give them a bit of a hiding. They have some hideously average players in their team, as do we in fairness but their centre halves in particular are crying out to be taken to the cleaners if we can get behind them.

I watched the north east derby and the 3-0 scoreline really doesnt tell the story of the game. For one Newcastle had played midweek and were naturally a little flat to begin with. Sunderland took advantage of this and Segessenon cracked in a great goal. But from then on Newcastle took over, had a shocking offside decision against Cisse when they were in total control and looking like they would go on and win the game. Sunderland's other talented but hugely inconsistent attacking player Adam Johnson shot in the crucial second soon after against the run of play. Vaughan had another goal soon after but the game was done at that point anyway. Johnson and Sessegnon have ability but bit like Nzogbia are far too inconsistent to be playing at a better side than Sunderland. Di Canio has got them playing a bit better but the side has incredibly average players scattered through it.

Colback is a below average championship standard midfielder playing right back. Cuellar and O'Shea are done at this level but getting by with Sunderland defending so deep these days. Both are abysmal on the ball and hoof the ball back to the opposition routinely. Benteke has been muck the last couple of games but this is the kind of game he could finish one of those two careers at this level. Larsson is average personified in centre midfield providing decent set pieces and nothing else. McClean has regressed alarmingly this season while Graham has looked lost up there so far. What we need to guard against is Johnson and Sessegnon on the counter attack, Larsson's set pieces, Rose breaks forward pretty well at left back. NDiaye provides them with a decent physical presence in midfield. Graham caused us a lot of problems at Swansea earlier in the season and our centre halves arent up to much. We havent a midfielder that is comfortable in picking up someone like Sessegnon playing off a front man. Any winger worth their salt will fancy their chances against our full back duo, Lowton particularly. But on the evidence of the last 2 games, Sunderland dont hold onto the ball long enough to exploit our weaknesses, if we press 3 of their back four or their 2 centre midfielders we will get the ball back pretty quickly.

Both Weimann and Benteke seem to have gone off the boil. El Ahmadi probably did enough to earn a start last time out but isnt the kind of man marking midfielder needed really. Id go with Nzogbia and Gabby for the wide positions. Gabby up against Colback should be easy street for him. Bent for me deserves a start this time around but there isnt a chance of that happening. Really hope we are really positive in our play and push for the win. Expect both sides will settle for a draw though. 1-1 with a turgid second half.

Excellent post Brontebilly!.More or less sums up how I see it. Sessegnon is their most dangerous player. He has fast skills which are hard to deal with. I accept Lambert will not play Darren Bent as he thinks wingers went out with the Dodo. Which also means Jack Grealish (he of the Waddle skills) might have a little think about his future and move on in the next couple of years.

Carlos and O'Neill are not a top class pairing so its time for Benteke to return to his best form and tuck a couple away.

This waiting to Monday night is awful.

[Seb_AVFC]

Simon Mignolet texted a Belgian physio asking him if Benteke is fit to play on Monday. Picked up a minor injury of late apparently.

[Simon Ward]

Have we said it is a "must win" game?

[Damo70]

I am quite glad it is on Monday night. A Wigan defeat on Saturday would be a huge boost going into the game. If there were two teams I wouldn't want to play between now and the end of the season it would probably be Spurs and Arsenal.

[not3bad]

Villa 0 Sunderland 3

Sessignon 2, Gardner

[saunders_heroes]

Feel sick just thinking about this weekend. We must win. No excuses.

[VillaAlways]

Villa 0 Sunderland 3

Sessignon 2, Gardner

Brimming with optimism then?

[Clampy]

I am quite glad it is on Monday night. A Wigan defeat on Saturday would be a huge boost going into the game.

I don't think it's too much of an advantage that we're playing on Monday. We need to win the game regardless but i know what you're getting at.