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

[tomd2103]

Guzan
Vlaar
Clark
Hutton
Cissokho
Delph
Cleverley
Sanchez
Gil
Sinclair
Benteke

That's the team I'd go for. Vlaar is better than any of our defence at bringing the ball out of defence, Clark has been in form and also I forward to seeing another tackle where he rearranges the oppositions anatomy. Sanchez and Cleverley to do the midfield donkey work. Cleverley came out the 2nd half a different player he deserves a shot. Delph pushing right on and Gil and Sinclair to get wide and also play off of Benteke. Westwood gives away too many free kicks in dangerous positions and against these fuckers I'd rather not that.

Any ideas on the formation Sherwood favours?

[tomd2103]

from OS:

Agbonlahor and Gil both missed the FA Cup win over Leicester with tight hamstring and tight groin issues respectively.

But both players are available again as Mark Hughes's team come to B6.

Nathan Baker and Philippe Senderos are the only doubts.

Boss Tim Sherwood said: "Carles and Gabby are fit. "Gabby was on fire today. Everyone is flying and can't wait to get started. "They just all want to play and it's great to see. "Nathan is not fit. Philippe didn't train today either. Everyone else is raring to go."

There was positive news on long-term injury casualty Libor Kozak. Kozak has been out for over a year with a broken leg but now the striker is back in training with the U21 group. Sherwood suggested the forward could return to the fray before the end of the campaign. He added: "Libor is back in training. "It's non-contact and it's with the U21 squad. They are tailoring the sessions for him, which is good. "We are bedding him in nice and slowly. He has that get the confidence up because it was a nasty break and didn't heal as quickly as everyone wanted. "We are looking forward to seeing him, perhaps before the end of the season which would be good."

Great news about Kozak.

[silhillvilla]

I have a feeling Given may keep his place after that world class save last weekend. As will Clark after that tackle (okore needs to regroup himself).
Great news about Gil and even Gabby.
I think Sinclair will score the winner in this.

[Tuscans]

Gabby is "on fire" in training today so expecting several scuffed passes and a bent corner flag come Saturday.

2-1 Villa

[Dave]

Can't start with Guzan,Given is a far better keeper and after Sunday deserves another start.Lamberk fucked him off after one mistake.He is still a top class keeper

That's one of the craziest things I've seen posted on here.

[aj2k77]

I'm a big Guzan fan, I read one of his stats regarding crosses collected and it was head and shoulders above EVERY other keeper in the division but he hasn't been in the best form this season, he's still the number 1 but cannot take it for granted. One of the best things about a new man coming in is that there are no positions locked down anymore, everyone has a chance and has to take it, no more swanning around the pitch.

[Villa in Denmark]

Hear what you say I have never had much confidence in Guzan.He had a poor game against Arsenal(As did the rest of the team) He would just not be my choice

Bloody hell, if you were dropping people on the basis of being crap against Arsenal, we'd be back with Tommy Docherty's washing line with 11 shirts hanging on it.

[pauliewalnuts]

Last week we saw the best and worst of Given.

That world class save, then that scrambled fumble he just about got away with.

[Legion]

Guzan > Given

[Gregorys Boy]

Given is a good back up option but that is all.

[SamTheMouse]

Given looks good diving about for the cameras, but Guzan still looks the all-round better bet to me.

[Matt Collins]

Sherwood tended to play a 442 at Spurs. And not too many defensive midfielders. I wonder if he'll go down that route. Something like

Guzan - Hutton vlaar Clark cissokho -  cleverley Sanchez Delph Gil - gabby

People seem pretty optimistic about sherwood and I think he may well give us the gee up we need. But let's remember this is a guy with almost no managerial experience, reputed not to be a great tactician or coach, without his trusted coaches and recruiting coaches with pretty minimal experience instead. And we've won two games out of 21

We really need to pick up quite a few points in our next five games or we're in a lot of trouble

I'll be at a wedding full of villa fans and I really think this is a massive game. Hoping for a good crowd

[Ozzjim]

I woould go with Sinclair up top with Benteke, Gil floating around behind and Cleverley, Westwood, Delph making a midfield 4. Vlaar Clark Hutton Cissokho picks itself. Anyone other than Stoke i would have kept Shay in, but Guzan should come back in for his command of the box.

[Matt Collins]

I woould go with Sinclair up top with Benteke, Gil floating around behind and Cleverley, Westwood, Delph making a midfield 4. Vlaar Clark Hutton Cissokho picks itself. Anyone other than Stoke i would have kept Shay in, but Guzan should come back in for his command of the box.

I think sherwood would go for width over a diamond

Just looked at the fantasy football site for stoke. They've got massive injury problems in defence. Only four defenders rated as fully fit and I've not heard of two of them. Shawcross definitely out

Could be the perfect game to get back to some football basics. Not particularly sophisticated but gabby and benteke up front. Maybe bacun a wide to get crosses in with Gil the other side. If he's feeling adventurous we could see Delph and cleverly who must have impressed v Leicester

Could all go horribly wrong tho. Stoke are strong in midfield and give lie to the view that it would have been impossible to produce a better side without splashing the cash

[Malandro]

I'd like to see two out of Westwood, delph, cleverly and Sanchez. I'd prefer Sanchez and delph.