Aston Villa v Sunderland Pre-Match Thread

[supertom]

I think its two things, fitness and confidence (which are linked).  He needs one to go in off his shin/ear/arse etc and suddenly the confidence will soar.  He is thinking about playing for another team alright, they are called Belgium.  I honestly dont think its anything else.

It'll help getting back to our first choice attacking 3 again. The space Gabby and Weimann can create for Benteke will make things a little easier for him too. It just doesn't seem to work when he plays up top with Kozak.

[Chipsticks]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Luna
Westwood
KEA        Delph
Bacuna                    Agbonlahor
Benteke

I'd go with that.

Actually think Kozak was better v WBA than Benteke, but I'm still not sure Benteke is 100% fit and seemed to be a lot deeper.

People keep saying that Benteke isn't 100% fit, but he's had a good few games now under his belt and he's looked a shell of his former self. He rarely wins headers, struggles to hold up the ball, and often runs into nowhere when he does keep it. Based on this, I'd say Lambert has to start Kozak, and I hope he does in keeping with his policy of not being afraid to drop players. The only thing stopping him would be how good we know Benteke can be, but based on his current form I'd keep him on the bench as a back-up in case of disaster.

Either he's not fit, or he reeks of a player who doesn't want to be here.

So do you think another transfer saga is going to unfold in January ? Or is he just out of form ?

Part of me thinks we would have been better off with £20 million for him in the summer while we could. That's the sort of over-reaction statement that I really hope to be proved wrong on, though. If he doesn't improve soon, he must lose his place to Libor. Playing them both doesn't work.

[Mortimer's Bear]

4-0 home win

Gabby (3), Vlaar

[Simon Ward]

2-1 home win.

Gabby and Tonev

[not3bad]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Luna
Westwood
KEA        Delph
Bacuna                    Agbonlahor
Benteke

I'd go with that.

Actually think Kozak was better v WBA than Benteke, but I'm still not sure Benteke is 100% fit and seemed to be a lot deeper.

People keep saying that Benteke isn't 100% fit, but he's had a good few games now under his belt and he's looked a shell of his former self. He rarely wins headers, struggles to hold up the ball, and often runs into nowhere when he does keep it. Based on this, I'd say Lambert has to start Kozak, and I hope he does in keeping with his policy of not being afraid to drop players. The only thing stopping him would be how good we know Benteke can be, but based on his current form I'd keep him on the bench as a back-up in case of disaster.

Either he's not fit, or he reeks of a player who doesn't want to be here.

So do you think another transfer saga is going to unfold in January ? Or is he just out of form ?

Out of form is my guess, as has happened to Lowton, Weimann and Westwood.

[Simon Ward]

Albrighton recalled from Wigan apparently! Surely he is not in line to play on Saturday?

[fredm]

Coming back from injury; not up to full fitness/sharpness yet; second season syndrome; other teams now being aware of him and making plans accordingly; not having Gabby and Andi alongside who he knows their game; playing with a new partner who he hasn't seen before this season; playing as a 2 man attack; playing as a 10 (or that's how it looked for periods on Monday).

Add a bit of everyone of those into the mix and I think you see the CB of the last couple of games.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

People are actually saying we should drop Benteke? He offers us much more than just goals. Besides, he could've had a few vs Cardiff if our players chose to pass the ball to him.

[supertom]

Albrighton recalled from Wigan apparently! Surely he is not in line to play on Saturday?

He's got games under his belt for them, played well. I think he'd be a useful option on the bench and he'd be the most capable in our squad of getting good delivery into the box for Benteke.

I doubt he will, but I certainly think he warrants being on our bench at the minute. I'd be surprised if we don't send him back to Wigan at some point though.

[Chipsticks]

Albrighton recalled from Wigan apparently! Surely he is not in line to play on Saturday?

Confirmed by Sky Sports

Good news I think, we need more width and I've always rated him. Plus our squad is considerably lacking depth at the moment.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Albrighton recalled from Wigan apparently! Surely he is not in line to play on Saturday?

Really? I think he's a distinctly average player he, for a short period, looked like he could be good. You can never questions his attitude, but his ability leaves a lot to be desired for. Sylla has more ability on the ball, and NRC probably had better ability than Sylla.

[CJ]

That report says Lambert has recalled Albrighton ahead of schedule - the loan was to last til the end of November (Saturday) and Wigan don't play til Sunday this weekend, so hardly an early recall.

[rob_bridge]

That report says Lambert has recalled Albrighton ahead of schedule - the loan was to last til the end of November (Saturday) and Wigan don't play til Sunday this weekend, so hardly an early recall.

Correct. In a world of lazy lazy journalism this is the laziest of recent times. I assume he isn't can't/won't play tomorrow in Europa League so no point in keeping him for an extra 2 days.

To me aside from a few games in 2010-2011 don't think he is up to it.

[ChicagoLion]

Albrighton is better than Tonev.

[rob_bridge]

Albrighton is better than Tonev.

At the moment he doesn't look up to it. He has had less time than Albrighton though, in a brand new environment so will reserve judgement.