Aston Villa vs Fulham Pre-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

I really think we'll lose this. I had that feeling anyway but without benteke and perhaps gabby I can't see us functioning as a team at all. I can't see holt offering much, but lambert likes a big man and we haven't got another.

[UK Redsox]

Are Helenius and Bowery out on loan or in trainee bomb squad mode?

I wouldn't mind seeing Helenius get a game

[supertom]

Are Helenius and Bowery out on loan or in trainee bomb squad mode?

I wouldn't mind seeing Helenius get a game

Isn't Bowery back now? I think Donny wanted to keep him but they had to prioritise a defender for their last loan so couldn't extend his loan till May. Last I heard anyway, it may have changed.

[Mortimer's Bear]

4-0

Delph, Vlaar, Weimann (2)

[Villafirst]

Shocking luck with longterm injuries this season....N'Zogbia, Okore, Kozak and now Benteke. Still think we'll nick it..2-1

[Mazrim]

I'd spring a surprise and throw Robinson in.

[VancouverLion]

Think we'll win 4-1 same score we lost the last two.

Benteke hat trick 8, 25, 78 Delph, 90
Hangeland for them 51

Safe for another season yippee UTV!

With the big man now out I need to revise my prediction.

2-1 to us, Weimann, Delph.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Play Helenius? Just to convince me I didnt dream we signed him.

[ciggiesnbeer]

God knows. I am assuming a defeat though. Hopefully KEA will be fit. Last two games have shown how much we miss his pressing imho.

I agree but don't you think in his absence Lambert could have played Lowton and moved Bacuna into KEA's higher pressing role.  For me this would have been much better than having Sylla in there or leaving Delph and Westy on their own and shunting Alby up top with the other forwards?

Totally agree.

[bobdylan]

Have him on the bench then, I'd quite like to push Bacuna on as one of the three forward and just have as much pace as possible running at Fulham's back 4.

Me too, maybe something like

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Bennett
Delph Westy Bertrand
Bacuna Andi Alby

Subs
Steer Baker Sylla Luna Holt Tonev Robinson

[Tony Erdington]

The stage is set for Grant to score in front of the Holt, I myself am not overly concerned at the lose of our Chritian, as I have seen Villa play without him this season and imho I think the players step up, I want to see what Grant can do, I know he's wiley and will hold the ball up which we can use to our advantage, Andreas playing off him I am optimistic, we have players with something to prove, true Andreas has got to leave everything on the pitch, as Grant aint going to be running balls down, I want Bennett back in because I thought he had a motm performance against Chelsea, and could we ask for better opposition than to get life without Benteke started.

Villa win by at least 2

[Damo70]

Are Helenius and Bowery out on loan or in trainee bomb squad mode?

I wouldn't mind seeing Helenius get a game

I would like to see Helenius play but I'm not holding my breath. Holt and Weimann might do a half decent job together.

[Steve kirk]

A nervy 1-1 draw but its so difficult to predict what Villa will do, cmon Villa cheer us up after the Benteke news.

[Ads]

Fulham are a very poor side and need to score 3 to even draw most games. They're as good as down and I think we will beat them pretty handily.

I would bring Lowton back in and push Bacuna into midfield if Gabby is out. They cannot cope with pace at all.

I'd have Westwood anchoring the midfield, with Delph and KEA (who I think has played pretty well of late) more advanced. Bacuna and ALbrighton wide with Andi up top. Plenty of width and more than enough pace to see us knock three or four past this utter shower.

As an aside, I would revert to Gabby up top on his own at Palace and for all remaining away games.

[Richard E]

I suspect Gabby will play some part in this game.