West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[villan from luton]

I think it sends the wrong message if we drop Okore or Clark, but I do think Vlaar will start tomorrow with Okore dropped, although for me it would be Clark if either were to be left out.

Hope I'm wrong, as both should keep their place.

It will be a disgrace if Okore is left out, he has been superb. Likewise Clark.

[pauliewalnuts]

I dunno about disgrace, bit strong, but I too wouldn't drop either of them.

We slag them off when they play badly, but the flip side is that if they start to show they can play well with any consistency, it would be very harsh indeed to drop them.

[Boz]

We should beat these, anything less than a win is unacceptable in my eyes. They're a really poor side. I expect Benteke to continue his good form, couple of goals would be nice!

Now that it looks like we'll have a decent midfield to choose from I agree. Would have accepted the draw based on the injuries.

Like Leicester last week, they are there for the taking

Whilst I agree we should beat them, it's not always as easy as it should be, especially local derbies. It wouldn't shock me if it ended in a draw.

Local derby draw a major possibility. Hope Lambert follows the old adage that you don't change a winning side, injuries apart of course.

Definately the wrong message to drop Okore and Clark, specially if Ron is likely to be off next month. I expect him to be on the bench though. Delph's a shoe in if he's fit enough to start and Cleverley is a doubt.

[Toronto Villa]

I think Vlaar will be on the bench tomorrow, but I also expect Clark to sacrificed in the near future when he gets back to proper fitness (cue joke here about never being fully fit). At the end of the day he's the club captain. Now, if he does regain fitness I think it also pushes him closer to the exit seeing as the transfer window will open soon so it might be a moot point anyway about whether or not he starts for us again.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Any idea who the ref is for this game? So long as it's not Dowd I'll be fairly happy.

[tomd2103]

I think Vlaar will be on the bench tomorrow, but I also expect Clark to sacrificed in the near future when he gets back to proper fitness (cue joke here about never being fully fit). At the end of the day he's the club captain. Now, if he does regain fitness I think it also pushes him closer to the exit seeing as the transfer window will open soon so it might be a moot point anyway about whether or not he starts for us again.

Reading today's Evening Mail, the general feeling is that Clark and Okore will keep their places.  It will be a test for Clark, as he's struggled against physical players like Anichebe in the past.  I've been a critic of him, but I must say I've been really pleased for him over the past few weeks.   

[SashasGrandad]

If Delph and/or Cleverley not fit enough - he could add Vlaar to make 3CB - push the full backs into a 4 man midfield with Sanchez plus whoever is fit (Delph/Cleverley) then have Benteke plus 2 from Gabby, Weimann, Grealish, Robinson up front.

If we had a tactically astute manager who knew how to get a team playing this way we could push a team like the Tesco Baggies back and let Benteke enjoy himself with 2 playmates to help him.

But .....

[adrenachrome]

Daily Heil

Ron Vlaar is not guaranteed his starting place back despite being Aston Villa captain due to form of Ciaran Clark and Jores Okore

• Ron Vlaar could return from injury against West Bromwich Albion
  
• Aston Villa captain has not played since the draw at West Ham United
  
• But he is not guaranteed to return straight into the starting line-up
  
• Ciaran Clark and Jores Okore are impressing and could retain places
  

By LAURIE WHITWELL FOR MAILONLINE

Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar is not guaranteed his starting place back even when fully fit because of the form of stand-ins Ciaran Clark and Jores Okore.

Manager Paul Lambert insists the Holland defender has a ‘fight’ ahead to earn selection given Villa have not lost since the deputy centre backs stepped up.

Clark, 25, and Okore, 22, have started the last four Premier League games due to calf injuries to Vlaar and Philippe Senderos, as well as Nathan Baker’s knee problem.

Draws with Southampton and Burnley were followed by wins over Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

Vlaar, whose last game was the draw at West Ham United, is back in training and in contention for Saturday’s game against West Bromwich Albion - but he is by no means a certainty once he is 100 per cent fit.

‘You earn the right then you’re in the team,’ said Lambert. ‘Your job is to stay in it. Those two lads have been playing really well now.

‘I’m sure Ron, Philippe and Nathan will know that there’s a really big fight on for them to get in the side. You need that competition for people to play on top of their game.

‘Ciaran and Jores have been absolutely excellent for us and have struck up a good understanding. They’re in form and there’s a good little partnership developing there.

‘In the four games they’ve played together they’ve been outstanding, the two of them. Sometimes you just stumble on things and it works.

‘To be fair to Jores, he had 14 months out before he played Southampton and that’s a long, long time out of football.

‘To come in and perform the way he has - his standards have been exceptionally high. And Ciaran seems to be thriving on the responsibility, helping him through it.’

Lambert will set two personal records if Villa win at The Hawthorns. Villa have not gone six games unbeaten under his stewardship, nor won three games on the run.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Worth pointing out that if you're thinking of heading to the game early to avoid congestion and so on an grabbing a drink at the ground, they don't sell alcohol.

Or at least they didn't last year.

[silhillvilla]

If vlaar is playing for a move he could put in 3 or 4 WC like stormer between now and Jan. With that in mind it may be worth playing him .

[pooligan]

The referee for tomorrow is due to be Mike Dean ,so expect a red card and a few yellows .As for the match ,i can see it being the usual hard fought battle with it being a 1-1 .Lescott for them and Benteke for us

[Toronto Villa]

I think Vlaar will be on the bench tomorrow, but I also expect Clark to sacrificed in the near future when he gets back to proper fitness (cue joke here about never being fully fit). At the end of the day he's the club captain. Now, if he does regain fitness I think it also pushes him closer to the exit seeing as the transfer window will open soon so it might be a moot point anyway about whether or not he starts for us again.

Reading today's Evening Mail, the general feeling is that Clark and Okore will keep their places.  It will be a test for Clark, as he's struggled against physical players like Anichebe in the past.  I've been a critic of him, but I must say I've been really pleased for him over the past few weeks.   

I look at Clark a bit like Curtis Davies. If you ask him to do too much he gets found out. Put him next to someone physical he can look really good cleaning up because he does read the game well and looks calmed an assured in that specific role. Just don't give him any significant responsibility. Now granted Okore ain't no Laursen, but he is able to handle the meatier stuff so to speak. Does he have the experience and savvy at this point to handle it week in week out in the PL? He's learning and getting better and they are starting to look a decent partnership at least against lower table opponents, so tomorrow might be ok.

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