Aston Villa v Crystal Palace Pre-Match Thread

[SashasGrandad]

                     Guzan

Lowton   Baker   Clark   Bacuna (have to find space for him in case we get a free kick)
                       Sylla
         Weimann       Delph
Albrighton                         Gabby
                       Kozak


Bring Gardner on for last 30 mins.

[Rigadon]

When was the last time we convincingly beat another premier league side at home?

[Ads]

Sunderland.

[Rigadon]

Yep, that's about right I reckon.  April 2013 (thanks google). 

[Tayls_7]

                     Guzan

Lowton   Baker   Clark   Bacuna (have to find space for him in case we get a free kick)
                       Sylla
         Weimann       Delph
Albrighton                         Gabby
                       Kozak


Bring Gardner on for last 30 mins.

You've selected Baker ahead of Herd? Has Herdy just tragically lost one leg or two? Are we bringing on Gardner exactly at the 60 minute mark or shall we see how things are progressing? I trust you implicitly.

[Clampy]

                     Guzan

Lowton   Baker   Clark   Bacuna (have to find space for him in case we get a free kick)
                       Sylla
         Weimann       Delph
Albrighton                         Gabby
                       Kozak


Bring Gardner on for last 30 mins.

You've selected Baker ahead of Herd? Has Herdy just tragically lost one leg or two?

I'd do the same thing. Herd is not a centre half.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't care, how but a win is what I want. In whatever fashion it arrives

[Tayls_7]

                     Guzan

Lowton   Baker   Clark   Bacuna (have to find space for him in case we get a free kick)
                       Sylla
         Weimann       Delph
Albrighton                         Gabby
                       Kozak


Bring Gardner on for last 30 mins.

You've selected Baker ahead of Herd? Has Herdy just tragically lost one leg or two?

I'd do the same thing. Herd is not a centre half.

Baker has been simply terrible recently. Yes I am on tender hooks when Herdy plays but he would get the nod over Baker all day.

[Brian Taylor]

Agree Toronto. Totally agree, Excruciating waiting for 'it' to happens. Back to the armchair tactical session. Gabby up the wing and cross to Benteke! In the goal!

[Legion]

I thought Benteke was out?

[Brian Taylor]

OK Weimann then..I am abroad. How t'f*ck did he get injured..ain't done much to bring it on. Groin again I suppose?

[supertom]

                    Guzan

Lowton,   Herd,  Clark,  Bacuna (agree with the above, in for his freekicks and because Luna is wretched at the mo).


               Sylla       Delph

Albrighton                     Gabby
                  Helenius       

                    Kozak

I'd also have Johnson and Robinson among the subs, along with GG.

[Brian Taylor]

May he be back soon! http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-lambert-rules-out-knee-6441200

[Matt Collins]

I just can't think of  a way of setting up defensively that doesn't fill me with horror.

Baker has been hopeless recently. Really bad. But so has Luna.

We might have to play a 3-5-2 just so that when our defenders are out of position, or get the wrong side, or miss the ball, it's more likely we'll have another player near the ball. The defence without Vlaar isn't even a decent championship level defence for me. I do think Clark has been the best of the rest by a fair distance this season though.

If we go 352 I think it'd be: Guzan - Herd Baker Clark - Lowton KEA Delph Luna - Albrighton - Gabby Kozak

If not, I imagine: Guzan - Lowton Herd Baker Clark - Albrighton KEA Delph Gabby - Weimann - Kozak

I've got a nasty feeling that the post-game Villa Park atmosphere is going to be a little poisonous.

[Brian Taylor]

Herd is going to be going in hard again then!