Timsherwoodsastonvilla v Stoke City Sat 21st Feb - Pre Match Thread

[tomd2103]

--------Guzan--------

Hutton Vlaar Clark Cissokho

----Westwood Delph----

--Sinclair Cleverley Gil--

-------Benteke-------

Just a couple of changes to that team for me:

 --------Guzan--------

Hutton Vlaar Clark Cissokho

----Cleverley Delph----

--Bacuna   Gil    Sinclair--

-------Benteke-------

[sirlordbaltimore]

4-4-1-1 for me

I think Gil is wasted out wide, stick him in the hole behind Benteke and let them work their magic.

----------------------Guzan-----------------------

--------Hutton Vlaar Clark Cissokho---------

----- Bacuna Westwood Delph Sinclair ----

-----------------------Gil--------------------------

-------------------Benteke-----------------------

[pooligan]

Play like we did in the first half last week and we will struggle,play like we did in the second half lat week and i think we will win. As always when we play these clayheads Crouch always worries me,keep him quiet and we will dominate the play .Villa 2 Stoke 1

[darren woolley]

I'm feeling positive about this so I reckon 2-1 to us.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

0-0

[CJ]

Really need to win this, and after initial reservations about Sherwood it's great to hear a Villa manager say the players are raring to go and he intends to play attacking, high tempo football, and if players don't give their all they don't play. It will be a very welcome sight compared to months of pedestrian possession with no purpose. I'm actually looking forward to going for a change.

[supertom]

Really need to win this, and after initial reservations about Sherwood it's great to hear a Villa manager say the players are raring to go and he intends to play attacking, high tempo football, and if players don't give their all they don't play. It will be a very welcome sight compared to months of pedestrian possession with no purpose. I'm actually looking forward to going for a change.

I particularly liked one comment he made, about telling our players not to be afraid of losing. We've got to set our stall out to try and win games. We rarely seemed to do that under Lambert, or McLeish for that matter. Play to win. It won't always pay off, but with the quality of player we have, I'd like to think we could establish a solid mid-table run of form.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm expecting Stoke to be very organised but the number of missing players will probably end up parking the bus as we pile in the pressure. An early goal for us could see us completely stuff them, so I'm expecting Hughes to try and frustrate us from the first minute.

Selection wish I'd like to see him go with 4-1-2-1-2, Guzan back, Hutton, Vlaar, Clark and Cissokho across the back, Sanchez holding, Westwood and Delph box to box, Gil in the hole and Benteke and Gabby in attack.

We can't leave Benteke up front by himself again. For too many games he's had two central defenders on him and we've made their lives very easy. Get Gil and Gabby running at their defence, going wide if necessary but always making sure we have at least 3 players getting in their box.

[silhillvilla]

The signs are good. I can't make the game which should point to a barnstorming home win.

[Toronto Villa]

I'm really intrigued to see how differently we will start the game versus how we had done so under Lambert. It pains me even to think about those games where 2 minutes in, and the position stats being 90:10 against you just knew the opposition goal was coming. Everton away immediately comes to mind for some reason.

Not only do I want to see us come out of the blocks quickly but get shots on goal and players following up. The fans are going to be engaged from off purely through a heightened sense of expectation, so the bubble will be burst quickly if for all the talk the team knock it about as we have of late and not create chances. I am also very curious as to how our midfielders get into the box to help, the role the wingers will play and ultimately the chances created for Benteke.

[IAmTheOneIanOlney]

I'm looking forward to this game and confident too - years since I've been able to say that. I'm confident mainly because it looks like we have a proactive manager at last, someone who'll make the changes if and when they need making and can still affect the course of the game.

[ciggiesnbeer]

My only concern is Sherwood seems to be openly telling Hughes in advance what our tactics will be. Not sure thats the smart move to be honest.

[silhillvilla]

We need to be patient. Rome wasn't built in a day. I'd take a scrappy drab 1-0 home win quite frankly .

[Toronto Villa]

My only concern is Sherwood seems to be openly telling Hughes in advance what our tactics will be. Not sure thats the smart move to be honest.

is he? Doesn't everyone know that we would want to get the ball to our best forward and attack Stoke? He's not revealing how we are going to do that specifically.

[passport1]

Stoke are probably the first team coming to Villa Park for some time that do not fancy their chances.

For that alone I am grateful.