Hull City v Aston Villa Pre-match thread

[SamTheMouse]

It's been a while since I've been this scared going into a game. FFS.

[brontebilly]

I wouldn't be surprised if we go 3-5-2 tonight.  Hull have set-up this way a few times this season, and it would allow Lambert to bring Vlaar back-in without having to drop Clark or Okore.

I just hope that, if we do, Cleverley is the fall-guy and we deploy Gil as an an-and-out Number 10 (as I like to call them).

Dont think there is any point bringing Vlaar in and going with 3 at the back. For one, Hull are far from a fearsome attacking outfit so we would have an additional centre half on the pitch when a midfielder would be better but secondly there is no point playing Cissokho as a wing back so really Richardson would also need to come back in. Thats two changes for not much benefit imo.

Reckon Hull might bring Jelavic back in after resting him against City with Brady pushing further forward and Robertson coming back in on the left. Will be a war zone in midfield tonight and we need guys in there who are going to be up for a physical battle. Cant afford to have Westwood and Cleverley starting together as a result.

Still Hull are below us in the league for a reason, their likely side tonight is a poor one. Pub player Davies seems to have been dropped.

---------------McGregor
---McShane, Dawson, Bruce
Elmohamady---------------Robertson
----Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore
------Ramirez/Brady----Jelavic

[PaulWinch again]

This really is getting towards must win territory.

[l_mckay]

Really close to call this! Going to be  1-0 either way.praying its villa way.

[curiousorange]

0-0 with a sitter missed and a wonder save in the 88th minute a la Cardiff away last season.

[St AustellAVFC]

5-1 villa. A thumping victory and the season begins.

[Mossie Hennebry]

I think Lambert has made it difficult for himself with respect to Cleverly after the noises he was making about him yesterday. If he wasn't undroppable before, he is more so now.

I think he'll go:

Brad

Hutton Okore Clark Aly

Sanchez

Sinclair Delph Cleverly

Gil

Weimann

Christ, there's not much balance there. Might be better to go three at the back if Vlaar is fit, with Hutton and Aly as wing backs. That might allow lads to get into the box and get on the end of things. Play Weimann upfront and have Sanchez and Delph anchor the midfield. Let Sinclair and Gil ping in a few tasty balls or get a run at McShane and Bruce

[Des Little]

It's been a while since I've been this scared going into a game. FFS.

Scared? What's the matter with you? Are you a man or....oh.

[Brend'Watkins]

It's been a while since I've been this scared going into a game. FFS.

We're just waiting for the whistle that says we are going over the top.  It's not so bad as we've been here before, we're used to it. 

[joe_c]

It's been a while since I've been this scared going into a game. FFS.

We're just waiting for the whistle that says we are going over the top.  It's not so bad as we've been here before, we're used to it. 

Hmm...

Melchett:
 Field Marshal Haig has formulated a brilliant new tactical plan to ensure final victory in the field.

Blackadder:
 Ah. Would this brilliant plan involve us climbing out of our trenches and walking very slowly towards the enemy?

Captain Darling:
 How could you possibly know that, Blackadder? It's classified information!

Blackadder:
 It's the same plan that we used last time and the seventeen times before that.

Melchett:
 Exactly! And that is what is so brilliant about it! It will catch the watchful Hun totally off guard! Doing precisely what we've done eighteen times before is exactly the last thing they'll expect us to do this time! There is, however, one small problem.

Blackadder:
 That everyone always gets slaughtered in the first ten seconds.

Melchett:
 That's right. And Field Marshal Haig is worried this may be depressing the men a tad. So he's looking for a way to cheer them up.

Blackadder:
 Well, his resignation and suicide seems the obvious choice.

Melchett:
 Hmm, interesting thought. Make a note of it, Darling.

[paulcomben]

I like 442. Whatever happened to 442? We could go Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho - Gil, Sanchez, Delph, Sinclair - Benteke, Gabby or Andi & Bench: Given, Lowton or Richardson, Vlaar, Bacuna, Cleverley, Westwood, Gabby or Andi

[ADVILLAFAN]

I do think the nerves get dulled over the years of ineptitude.

We're used to being at the wrong end of the table, a bit like Coventry used to be each year.

Pleased that Diame is out for them, although Jelavic has played well against us in the past.

[Oscar Arce]

We have to try and win this game and I think Benteke will be back.
Guzan:
Hutton Okore Clark Cissokho
Westwood Delph Cleverly
Gil Benteke Sinclair

Subs: Given Vlaar Sanchez Weimann Agbonlahor Cole et al

[PaulWinch again]

Benteke will still and rightly so, I just hope not starting at the weekend gave him a kick up the arse.

[pav]

Could do with a stream tonight