Aston Villa v Sheffield United Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

The fuss has been created by people deciding he'd given up on the FA Cup, which was never the case and has been proved to be completely wrong.

No.  The fuss was created by a Premier League manager saying he could do without the FA Cup.  He dropped a bollock there and invited pressure on himself.  There's no shame in that though, I expect he was caught a little off guard given the news about Kozak.

I hope there's as much fuss made over every other manager who will have dropped players as has been made over Lambert then for lying to their fans expecting a full strength line up today. I imagine many sides will be holding post Europa league style dinners.

[eamonn]

I fancy Albie and the Beast to rip their Sheffield scrotums to shreds.

[paul_e]

How bizarre.  All that fuss midweek and he puts out a strong side.  Good to see of course; I wonder whether changed his mind at some point over the last couple of days?

It's only bizarre if it was interpreted as it was by some, as opposed to what he actually meant by what he said.

No, it's bizarre because all that fuss could have been completely avoided by giving his customary straight bat answers.

If he's given a straight bat answer there'd have been all the usual 'oh look he said we go again' crap, damned if you do damned if you don't, In which case I'd rather he tell it as it is than do the Mourinho/Pellegrini  shit of saying they're taking it seriously whilst resting half a team.

[hilts_coolerking]

I hope there's as much fuss made over every other manager who will have dropped players as has been made over Lambert then for lying to their fans expecting a full strength line up today. I imagine many sides will be holding post Europa league style dinners.

Good grief man.  He gave an unguarded answer which he probably later regretted and caused a short-lived fuss over the proper level of respect for the best cup competition in the world.  People make mistakes sometimes.

[hilts_coolerking]

If he's given a straight bat answer there'd have been all the usual 'oh look he said we go again' crap, damned if you do damned if you don't, In which case I'd rather he tell it as it is than do the Mourinho/Pellegrini  shit of saying they're taking it seriously whilst resting half a team.

Fair enough but if he's going to do that I want him to say after our next game "Why can't that bunch of useless ****** pass the fucking ball to one another?"

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

No Gary Gardner 

[paul_e]

If he's given a straight bat answer there'd have been all the usual 'oh look he said we go again' crap, damned if you do damned if you don't, In which case I'd rather he tell it as it is than do the Mourinho/Pellegrini  shit of saying they're taking it seriously whilst resting half a team.

Fair enough but if he's going to do that I want him to say after our next game "Why can't that bunch of useless c***s pass the fucking ball to one another?"

Yes, that would be excellent for our young squad.  There was a manager in the league recently who liked to single out his players for bad performances, how many games did he last again?

[paul_e]

On topic, happy with that team, Weimann and Benteke both need a goal so happy for them to start.  I'd like to see 2 of donacien, tonev and Helenius get at least half an hour unless we're in trouble.

[Smirker]

Any streams for this?

[hilts_coolerking]

Yes, that would be excellent for our young squad.  There was a manager in the league recently who liked to single out his players for bad performances, how many games did he last again?

Whereas 'we could do without the extra few games in the FA Cup (and remaining chance of silverware this season) because we want to stay in the Premier League' is really going to lift everyone's spirits.  Jeez.

[Dave Cooper please]

No pictures as I'm at work.

Commentary from 5Live Sports Extra

Vitriol, whingeing, ecstacy and inane bollocks about biscuits from you fuckers on here.

Let's do it.

[Nelly]

I love the team selection. Makes a mockery out of the crap that's been written in the media. Anyway, come on Villa. Lets do this.

[onje_villa]

Bizarrely I would have preferred to see a less strong team. Would've liked to see Helenius and Donacien get some game time.

[olaftab]

Hoolahan not in the Norwich team.

[Dave]

Looks like a full-strength Sheffield Utd team based on the players they've used for their last couple of matches.