Injuries

[not3bad]

If Vlaar is able to return next match they could put him in central defence and play Clark as a defensive midfielder. Then there's Bacuna - I noticed he was very keen when he came on on Saturday.

[PeterWithesShin]

I reckon he will just bring in Richardson.

[Dave]

If Vlaar is able to return next match they could put him in central defence and play Clark as a defensive midfielder. Then there's Bacuna - I noticed he was very keen when he came on on Saturday.

I'm surprised we've not really tried Bacuna as a defensive midfielder at any point. He can pass, he's mobile, energetic and might even get the odd shot away.

His tackling can be a bit suspect, but then Westwood is hardly the new Roy Keane in that area himself.

[caster troy]

The one injury that always sticks out for me is Laursen. We pretty much disintegrated the season we lost him after the West Brom game (when we were 3rd), Moscow followed shortly after then came the draw against Stoke, 4 consecutive defeats and then three draws.

He was our captain and talisman, how many other teams have had to cope with completely losing such a player like that? Imagine if Liverpool had lost Gerrard in 2009 for example. We were doing so well that season till he got injured again. And then to lose Petrov as well not long after? Both were hammer blows.

[not3bad]

The defense was literally all over the place without Laursen that season.

[passitsideways]

If Vlaar is able to return next match they could put him in central defence and play Clark as a defensive midfielder. Then there's Bacuna - I noticed he was very keen when he came on on Saturday.

I'm surprised we've not really tried Bacuna as a defensive midfielder at any point. He can pass, he's mobile, energetic and might even get the odd shot away.

His tackling can be a bit suspect, but then Westwood is hardly the new Roy Keane in that area himself.

A big part of being a good defensive midfielder comes down to positional awareness and discipline though, especially when one lacks the physicality/athleticism capable of covering such deficiencies, and I've never felt Bacuna has had that kind of sense in him (obviously I'm not saying he's as thick as molasses though.)

Still, you're right in saying that Westwood was hardly pulling up trees defensively either, and if we're going to continue with this new-fangled "attacking" tactic on the weekend, having two quick, energetic midfielders in Richardson and Bacuna playing in front of Sanchez and capable of getting up the pitch to support Benteke looks useful, at least on paper.

[Ger Regan]

If Vlaar is able to return next match they could put him in central defence and play Clark as a defensive midfielder. Then there's Bacuna - I noticed he was very keen when he came on on Saturday.

I'm surprised we've not really tried Bacuna as a defensive midfielder at any point. He can pass, he's mobile, energetic and might even get the odd shot away.

His tackling can be a bit suspect, but then Westwood is hardly the new Roy Keane in that area himself.

A big part of being a good defensive midfielder comes down to positional awareness and discipline though, especially when one lacks the physicality/athleticism capable of covering such deficiencies, and I've never felt Bacuna has had that kind of sense in him (obviously I'm not saying he's as thick as molasses though.)

Still, you're right in saying that Westwood was hardly pulling up trees defensively either, and if we're going to continue with this new-fangled "attacking" tactic on the weekend, having two quick, energetic midfielders in Richardson and Bacuna playing in front of Sanchez and capable of getting up the pitch to support Benteke looks useful, at least on paper.

That's the selection I'd go with, too.

[saunders_heroes]

Westwood out for 3 to 4 weeks apparently.

[PeterWithesShin]

Beeb

Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood will miss three to four weeks  with medial knee ligament damage suffered during Sunday's 2-1 win over Leicester.

Westwood was injured towards the end of the first half of the Premier League match at Villa Park when he was fouled by Leicester forward Jamie Vardy.

The 24-year-old, who set up Villa's equaliser, had a scan on Monday.

"He wouldn't go down unless it was serious," said Villa manager Paul Lambert immediately after the match.

Before being stretchered off, Westwood provided the assist for Ciaran Clark to level after Leonardo Ulloa had put the Foxes ahead.

Alan Hutton's first Villa goal then secured three points for the home side that, coming on the back of the 1-0 victory away to Crystal Palace on Tuesday, moved Lambert's side up to 12th in the table.

[SoccerHQ]

Would be good to have Delph back for the Man. United game as its going to be Sanchez and Richardson in the middle otherwise.

Delph started non contact training last week apparently so it's an outside chance he could be back in contention.

[brontebilly]

Westwood is our most underrated player by a mile - at least by villa fans

All the independent pundits rate him. Jonathan Pearce has been touting him for an england call. Victim of the same mentality that means someone like carrick is underrated

When we get loads of time and space on the ball he can look decent.

However when things get physical or time and space is at a premium then Westwood is a passenger like at Palace.

The likes of Leon Britton and Leon Osman have had their cheerleaders before, Westwood belongs firmly in this camp imo

[Matt Collins]

I agree westwood struggled v palace and he's not been in great form of late. But he's one of our better players in my view

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I agree westwood struggled v palace and he's not been in great form of late. But he's one of our better players in my view

Agreed.
He does a great deal of fetching and carrying which is vital. Somebody has to do that job. He does it well - better, imho, than anyone else in the team.
He doesn't make Hollywood passes...great that Sanchez occasionally does!

[eric woolban woolban]

He's not bad for someone playing in league 1 a couple of years back.

[Matt Collins]

I'm guessing it will be sanchez holding with bacuna and richardson either side v west brom?