Aston Villa v Crystal Palace Pre-Match Thread

[sirlordbaltimore]

if Villa won these next two home games we would all feel so much better and be 5 wins from safety with half the season to go.

couldn't agree more with the first part, sadly the second bit just shows how far we have fallen. both on the pitch and in terms of expectations

[JUAN PABLO]

off to Villa with my Palace season ticket holder father in law . He lives in Hinckley so a local one for him , so hes happy .

he thinks they are hopeless up front , hopeless at the back , I think we are hopeless at the back and midfield  so expect a 2-1 Villa

[Chipsticks]

2-0 home win, Libor and Weimann to score.

[Brian Taylor]

Gotta, gotta win!  Benteke will be scrambling for an early exit if we don't. Could be anyway! Stop faffing about in mid-field and pass it up to him. Simple remedy based on forlorn hope but try it..Might work? Not much else does!

[Matt Collins]

Gotta, gotta win!  Benteke will be scrambling for an early exit if we don't. Could be anyway! Stop faffing about in mid-field and pass it up to him. Simple remedy based on forlorn hope but try it..Might work? Not much else does!

A) he's injured b) I didn't realise we'd been fannying about with it and refusing to just hit him when he was playing

[Monty]

I think too much faffing around in midfield is hardly our problem. If only our midfield did a hell of a lot more faffing, we might average more than 42% possession this season.

[pauliewalnuts]

I think too much faffing around in midfield is hardly our problem. If only our midfield did a hell of a lot more faffing, we might average more than 42% possession this season.

Exactly.

I'd go as far as to say the launching it upfield at Benteke has been proven to be a tactic which doesn't work.

[timeoutbigbar]

Surely nothing but three points against the worst side on paper in the league is a must.  2-0 villa

[David_Nab]

I wonder if we will go all out with Gabby / Albrighton wide and Kozak / Weimann upfront AKA the Keegan approach

[glasses]

I wonder if we will go all out with Gabby / Albrighton wide and Kozak / Weimann upfront AKA the Keegan approach

I'd go for that, but would swap Benteke for Kozak if he's fit. I just think the team looks better with him in the side.

[Ads]

Westwood sitting, Sylla playing centrally, with Delph given more freedom to do what he does best.

Gabby and Marcy-Marc and the Funky Bunch eitherside of Kozak giving us width.

The Defence is a problem; I don't rate Baker at all, but Palace are a Championship side at best, so he will find his level. Lowton at full back, with Clark back centrally. I'd rather see Herd at left back than a centre half out of position.

[Legion]

Westwood is out aswell, I think.

[Ads]

KEA in for Westy then.

[Legion]

I'd like to see Gardner given a chance.

[glasses]

I'd like to see Gardner given a chance.

Gardner and Delph in the centre. Gabby and Alby on the wings. Kozak/Benteke and Weimann up top.

Done.