Aston Villa vs Blackpool Pre-match thread

[brontebilly]

3-0 win at least. Blackpool are a joke.

Agree that Benteke should play, he doesn't deserve a break. Robinson up top with him. If Baker is fit give Clark a break, otherwise

----------------Given,
Lowton, Okore, Clark, Richardson
Bacuna, Herd, Gardner
-------------Grealish-------
----Robinson, Benteke-----

[Legion]

Robinson is cup-tied.

[Clampy]

3-0 win at least. Blackpool are a joke.

Agree that Benteke should play, he doesn't deserve a break. Robinson up top with him. If Baker is fit give Clark a break, otherwise

----------------Given,
Lowton, Okore, Clark, Richardson
Bacuna, Herd, Gardner
-------------Grealish-------
----Robinson, Benteke-----

Robinson is cup tied. I'm not sure i'd play Herd, Richardson or Gardner either.

[Chris Jameson]

Has anybody done the 'I fancy a cup upset' one yet?

I think we'll score a goal.

[PeterWithesShin]

Paul Lambert has warned his players that Blackpool will come to Villa Park with real freedom.

Lambert says the Tangerines will be unburdened by the shackles of Championship survival struggles as they arrive in B6 for the third round encounter.

And the Villa boss says his team must be wary of that as they look for progress in the world's most famous domestic knockout competition.

Lambert has several injury and suspension problems affecting the likes of Ron Vlaar, Nathan Baker, Fabian Delph, Philippe Senderos and Libor Kozak.

But he promises he will go as strong as possible for the tricky tie with former Blues boss Lee Clark's men, who currently lie at the foot of the Championship table.

He said: "I think it's a good opportunity to get through. That's what we will try to do - we will go as strong as we possibly can to get through.

"It gives everyone a break from the league, which is really, really tough.

"It's been a hard period - the Christmas and New Year period is hard - but the Cup game gives us an opportunity to get through.

"I will go as strong as I can to get through. There was losing Ron and Fabian will still be out so there's still ones who will probably have to play again come Sunday."

Asked if he was wary of the Seasiders, he continued: "Yes. You have to be.

"There's nothing to lose for them. They will come out and give it a go.

"I am pretty sure they won't sit in.

"It's a Cup game so it will probably be a breather for them from the league.

"They are having a hard time in the league and Lee has gone in at a difficult time.

"It's a tough match. You'd like to think they will come and give it a game.

"I don't know Lee that well. I have spoken to him a few times but I know Alan Thompson really well. He's a good friend from Celtic.

"But for us, we just have to make sure we get through."

[RussellC]

Reading a Lambert interview is a bit like watching an American tv show, where they're continually showing you previews of what's coming up later in the show. In the same way that they manage to turn 10 minutes footage into 30, Lambert has this incredible knack of turning 2 sentences into about 3 paragraphs.

[Dave Cooper please]

Might wander over for this one if my man-flu is a bit better tomorrow.

[CT]

I think we'll score a goal.

You mad, crazy fool you!

[walsall villain]

I think we'll score a goal.

You mad, crazy fool you!

Well we do get about one per month so you never know.

[TheTimVilla]

3-0 win at least. Blackpool are a joke.

Agree that Benteke should play, he doesn't deserve a break. Robinson up top with him. If Baker is fit give Clark a break, otherwise

----------------Given,
Lowton, Okore, Clark, Richardson
Bacuna, Herd, Gardner
-------------Grealish-------
----Robinson, Benteke-----

Well, Lambert said that Benteke needed ten to twelve games to get back to top level. Therefore, with his suspension, there is no way he should be rested...

[walsall villain]

3-0 win at least. Blackpool are a joke.

Agree that Benteke should play, he doesn't deserve a break. Robinson up top with him. If Baker is fit give Clark a break, otherwise

----------------Given,
Lowton, Okore, Clark, Richardson
Bacuna, Herd, Gardner
-------------Grealish-------
----Robinson, Benteke-----

Well, Lambert said that Benteke needed ten to twelve games to get back to top level. Therefore, with his suspension, there is no way he should be rested...

Herd is on international duty, Robinson cup tied. Perhaps give Cole a start?

[rob_bridge]

0.0

We were excellent.

[pauliewalnuts]

0.0

We were excellent.

I don't really believe in stats, but someone's just told me we had 105% possession out there today, so I've decided to believe in stats. I thought we were excellent, really excellent out there, I have no complaints

[Damo70]

Has anybody done the 'I fancy a cup upset' one yet?

I think we'll score a goal.

I wonder what the odds are on us winning the FA cup without scoring a goal from open play? I fancy a bet that would mean if we won the cup by relying on penalties all the way by May Villa would be FA cup winners and I would be a millionaire.

[danno]

We'll score from a corner.