Stoke City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

Benteke is like that slot machine that you keep putting coins into and it hasn't paid out yet. But you know it's going to.

[pooligan]

Sadly,i fear 2-0 to Stoke

[Ron Manager]

Good point. Kozak and Weimann hardly inspire confidence at the moment and I'm a big fan of Andi.

I think Kozak is improving each game he plays. Weimann I would agree with. Total waste of space at the moment and seems to be more than a little burly this season.

[Legion]

I'd like to see Helenius given an opportunity.

[Ron Manager]

So would I as quickly as possible.

[Lsvilla]

Benteke is like that slot machine that you keep putting coins into and it hasn't paid out yet. But you know it's going to.

Agreed - just need to hold your (our) nerve.....

[eastie]

Stoke City are hopeful of having Ryan Shawcross fit for Saturday's visit of Aston Villa.

The defender suffered a groin injury in Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup quarter-final at The Britannia.

While the Potters sweat on the fitness of Shawcross, they will definitely be without fellow centre-back Robert Huth as the German continues to struggle with a knee injury.

Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters are also doubts with their respective groin and ankle problems.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Benteke is like that slot machine that you keep putting coins into and it hasn't paid out yet. But you know it's going to.

Definitely.

[silhillvilla]

Thought Kozak played very well at Southampton, could do with another run tomorrow.

[Clampy]

Benteke is like that slot machine that you keep putting coins into and it hasn't paid out yet. But you know it's going to.

That's a good way of putting it. I've left him in my dream team because I know the day I take him out, he'll start knocking them in.

[Steve kirk]

Just to break the habit of a lifetime, Lawro has got us down to lose.

Right, well I'll be betting on us winning then. Cheers Lawro.

Sure I read that Lawro's 38 game predictions last season if correct would have had us relegated with 24 points so what the fuck does he know?

[Mouse Potato]

Benteke is like that slot machine that you keep putting coins into and it hasn't paid out yet. But you know it's going to.

That's a good way of putting it. I've left him in my dream team because I know the day I take him out, he'll start knocking them in.

Well take him out FFS ;-)

[PeterWithesShin]

I took him out my team a few weeks ago in the hope he'd start scoring. Worked better for me than it did the Villa. Or Benteke.

[SoccerHQ]

HairyHands on VT who seems to be in the inner sanctum of Villa Park just said Benteke won't play at Stoke, could be out for 2 weeks aswell.

Guess we're looking at a front trio of Albrighton-Kozak-Weimann. The best we've got really and one of those is woefully out of form. We really needed Gabby for this, can't see us creating much at all tomorrow.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'd start The Gladiator. He really can't be any worse than Andi has been in some games this season.