Aston Villa v Cardiff City Match Thread

[Monty]

Another surprising selection and an odd-looking team. Is Lambo's head getting in a muddle?

More like injuries to our key players are depriving us at the minute. No Gabby, no Delph, as soon as Benteke gets back they get injured so we never have a fully-fit team, no Weimann who, while out of form, has come alive for good spells in many games this season, no Luna or even Bennett eliminating our natural overlap on the left - it's fairly unlucky.

Maybe , but he still had option of bacuna in midfield and Lowton at right back rather than the pedestrian midfield he has chosen.

Bellamy and odemwingie will be dangerous on the break.

I agree, I would have preferred that, but he doesn't seem to fancy Lowton at the mo - and to be fair, Lowton was fairly pish earlier in the season.

[eastie]

I'd rather have seen Johnson, Robinson or helenius given a chance to impress - it's such a negative side he has chosen

This is Cardiff at home - should be looking to take the game to them .

[supertom]

That's a poor side. On current form and struggling for goals I honestly don't see us scoring today. Baker at left back is always a worry too. If Bacuna is having to bomb forward to provide most of our width, he'll leave gaps and I'd expect Cardiff to potentially exploit that.

It depends how quickly we re-act in terms of changes, and whether Benteke can produce a moment of Benteke magic from nothing, but a side that functional and ordinary isn't going to do much.
I honestly don't see why we'd play a side this poor looking rather than give Robinson and also Johnson a shot? Westwood and KEA have been poor lately. Either of them could make way for Johnson who's more mobile, just as tidy on the ball, and could potentially score goals from midfield too.

Robinson deserves a place over a struggling Kozak.

This side seems lopsided. I mean how will they line up? Lambert only knows (or does he???).

I think we're making this harder on ourselves. Granted we might now come out and turn them over, but honestly, I think Cardiff will nick the game on a set piece.

[Toronto Villa]

I think Benteke could be very good for Kozak today.

[Matt Collins]

I'm just about to try that lineup out on fifa . . .

[PaulWinch again]

I think Benteke could be very good for Kozak today.

Yep hopefully, I just hope we resist the temptation to go long. We are much better side when the ball is on the deck.

[eastie]

I think Benteke could be very good for Kozak today.

This does interest me - if they can hit it off together it could be very good but will they get the service is the worry?

[supertom]

I'd rather have seen Johnson, Robinson or helenius given a chance to impress - it's such a negative side he has chosen

This is Cardiff at home - should be looking to take the game to them .

I mean this is a McLeish selection almost. With such a lack of width and also midfield creativity, we're almost setting up to play hoofball.
Tonev could provide some width, but I suspect he'll play in behind. Baker will barely get over the half way line, so our attack on the left will be non existent (unless Tonev shifts there, or Tekkers pulls out, which he can do).

[brontebilly]

selection of a struggling manager I reckon

no width, dire midfield,cant see much constructive football from that side

if cardiff score first I dont expect us to get back in the game

[Deano's Mullet]

We need the result today, I don't care how we get it, we must get three points.

[supertom]

Benteke does have the ability to play a little wider, or dropped off. He's a clever player, but I don't think Lambert will do that. If anything he'd be more likely to shift Kozak, uncomfortably out to a wider spot. Though I suspect it'll be a straight up, two up front.

[taylorsworkrate]

I did fancy us to win today, but after looking at that line up, I'd take a point.

That is depressing

[supertom]

selection of a struggling manager I reckon

no width, dire midfield,cant see much constructive football from that side

if cardiff score first I dont expect us to get back in the game

I'm worried about Bellamy. He's still got a turn of pace, so he may well be waiting to exploit any gaps that Bacuna might leave going forward. Oik that he is, he's a clever player. Likewise Odemwingie, if he's playing wide too might be looking to exploit Baker. We've got to be careful because Whitts can put the ball on a six-pence from set pieces.

[Irish villain]

selection of a struggling manager I reckon

no width, dire midfield,cant see much constructive football from that side

if cardiff score first I dont expect us to get back in the game

Against Chelsea away weren't our fans calling Lambert 'the real special one' or some such?

I hope that he hasn't lost his way.

[PaulWinch again]

I did fancy us to win today, but after looking at that line up, I'd take a point.

That is depressing

Not a chance would I ever take a point at home against Cardiff.