Hull City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Goldie.7]

Draw @ 2/1 sounds good to me.

[Toronto Villa]

3-5-2 might not be a bad system as a temporary measure at VP. I expect tomorrow we'll revert back to 4-3-3, Gabby replacing Baker to play on the left of Kozak. We'll have too much for Hull on the break, 3-1 Gabby, Delph and Kozak

[Weedy]

I've gone for the draw - 28 games since our last 0-0 ?
We seem to breaking a lot of our long standing sequences this season so it could be time.

Some stats from the DM:-

Hull City have won back to back Premier League games for the first time since October 2008.
 
Aston Villa have kept only one clean sheet in their last 28 league games, but this did come in their last away trip in the competition.
 
Only on six occasions this season has a side won a game despite conceding the first goal – two of these occasions have seen Aston Villa achieve the feat.
 
Aston Villa have the lowest average possession figure in the Premier League this season (39.9 per cent), Hull have the second lowest (42.7 per cent).

There have been just four goals scored in the three Premier League games at KC Stadium this season, three of which have been scored by Hull.
 
Hull have the chance to win back-to-back home matches in the Premier League for the first time in their history.
 
The Tigers have conceded only one goal in their last four top-flight home games.
 
Villa have won five of their last eight away games in the Premier League (L2, D1).
 
Aston Villa have not won three successive Premier League matches since April 2010.
 
15.7 per cent of Aston Villa’s passes have been hit long (35 yards or more) this season; a league-high ratio.

[Gregorys Boy]

I thought Hull would be one of the whipping boys of the division this year, but they've started quite well and are in good form at the moment.

Getting Gabby back would be very useful.  Also might be worth going back to the 4-3-3 and regular away tactics.

Difference this time his job is just to keep his team in the diverison and it looks as if there might be enough there to do that.

1-2 to Villa.

This is one of those games where if we got an early lead we could go on and get a few and win easy, but if not it could be a tense afternoon.

It will be a tricky game because of their start and them being at strong at home, if we can keep the crowd quiet and control the pace of the game then I think we should edge it.

1-2 win to the Villa!

That's Steve Bruce all over though. He starts well but in the end everything goes tits up and he gets the sack.

[eastie]

Gary Gardner-
@22Gards: More news on my back injury today hoping to be back in 3 to 4 weeks been very frustrating for me but now it's time to work hard and get back

[supertom]

Gary Gardner-
@22Gards: More news on my back injury today hoping to be back in 3 to 4 weeks been very frustrating for me but now it's time to work hard and get back

Real shame for GG with his injury record. With the luck he has, if he fell in to a barrel of boobs he'd come out sucking his thumb. It's one reason why I think he may well struggle to make it. He may get shipped off before he's had the chance to establish himself. Delphy had the benefit of a long contract and it took him a while to establish himself, but he finally did it. It's rare players get that much time at this level.

[Gareth]

I think you'll find it happens quite a lot when you comeback from a nasty injury to get niggly knocks for the next 6-12 months - particularly in youngsters and the clubs kind of expect it - for me there are spots alongside Fabian to be played for and a fit Gardner has the opportunity to compete for those when he is fully fit.

[SoccerHQ]

Delph should be a good example for Gary continuing to preserve from these setbacks.

Once fit though I'd send him on loan until xmas.

[paulcomben]

This is the sort of match that requires a humdrum low scoring away win, which seems unimportant at the time but then clinches one place higher in the league for big benefits at the end of the season.

[Louzie0]

I'll go 0 -7 to the Villa, then. We don't do humdrum!

[eamonn]

The rain falls hard on a humdrum town, this town has dragged you down (Hull?)

[villan from luton]

I am going for 3-1 win, but the reasoning behind it is lager, cider, wine and vodka. There again I did suggest it to Villa mate on Friday morning

[brontebilly]

ladies and gents is gabby fit?

[PeterWithesShin]

Can't believe i'm up this early on a Saturday to go to smegging Hull. The things we do for the Villa!

[Clampy]

Can't believe i'm up this early on a Saturday to go to smegging Hull. The things we do for the Villa!

Yep, me too. We're off at quarter past 8.