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

[pav]

Looking forward to it myself ,which best boozer for pre match ? Got both my sons with me ...16 & 9 year old

[silhillvilla]

Wollscheld & Texeira at CB ??
We really have to win this game

[SoccerHQ]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/20/aston-villa-stoke-city-match-preview

The guardian's predicted line ups are pretty hopeless but the link above does reveal the injuries stoke have at centre back. If they line up like that i'd really hope we could cause them a few problems with some relatively direct play and good movement

We spent ages bemoaning MON style football but I think that could be the order of the day tomorrow

Wilson and Pieters trained today so think they'll both play although Pieters ain't featured since January 10th so won't be match sharp.

There are good and bad times to play teams in seasons and this is a good time to play Stoke so I see this as crucial we get a win and get the ball rolling for Sherwood.

If we don't win then that puts pressure on us to get 7-8 points from Sunderland, Newcastle, WBA and Swansea. If we're not on 30 points by end of March I struggle to see us staying up with the fixtures we have left to play after that.

Still new manager syndrome and all that, 2-0 us.

[Malandro]

Looking forward to it myself ,which best boozer for pre match ? Got both my sons with me ...16 & 9 year old

You need a very slack landlord!

[SoccerHQ]

Looking forward to it myself ,which best boozer for pre match ? Got both my sons with me ...16 & 9 year old

Better to go to a restaurant which lets families in.

That Hungry horse in Stockland Green isn't too far away from VP.

[silhillvilla]

Looking forward to it myself ,which best boozer for pre match ? Got both my sons with me ...16 & 9 year old

Villa Tav lets kids in

[pav]

Was thinking Aston tavern next to leisure centre

[Toronto Villa]

Tom Cleverley and Ashley Westwood axed as Tim Sherwood stamps his mark on Aston Villa
New manager wastes no time shaking things up at Villa Park as his race for Premier League survival begins
      
John Percy
10:30PM GMT 20 Feb 2015

Tim Sherwood has instantly displayed his ruthless streak by axing Ashley Westwood as he prepares to begin a new era at Aston Villa.
Westwood was one of previous manager Paul Lambert’s key players but the midfielder has been dropped for Saturday’s Premier League game against Stoke, with Sherwood insisting his team need more height.

Tom Cleverley is also understood to have been told he will be on the bench in a clear message that Sherwood will take no notice of reputations in his bid to save Villa from relegation.

Villa are in the bottom three but Sherwood is determined to build on his brief spell at Tottenham, in which he secured the best win ratio of any manager in the club’s Premier League era.

Despite the favourable statistics, Sherwood’s reign lasted less than six months before he was dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy and his appointment at Villa is still viewed in some quarters as a gamble.

But he insists his achievements at Spurs deserve more respect and still stand up to scrutiny, largely due to his work with young players including Harry Kane.

“I think [Mauricio] Pochettino has done a really good job there, but my record is still up there to be shot at,” he said
“He’s inherited a good bunch of young players who were developed by myself. It’s good for me - I left a bit of a legacy there with those young players.
“If I hadn’t resisted the club wanting to loan him out last January, he wouldn’t be Harry Kane now.

“But all I’m concerned with now is Villa and doing well here. I want to be a success - not only for this football club but for myself, but perhaps because there's a few other chairmen that might give young managers an opportunity.

“The football club has found itself in a difficult situation at the moment. But the lads are up for the fight to get the club out of it.”

Try telling the players and staff at Bodymoor Heath this week that Sherwood’s appointment has been a gamble. His presence has had a galvanising effect on the squad, removing the stench of failure that had permeated Bodymoor Heath, and it is impossible not to be impressed by his positivity.

Earlier this week Westwood ironically claimed training sessions have been “electric” while another admitted he felt “ten feet tall” after a one-on-one chat with the new manager.

The return of Kevin MacDonald as Sherwood’s No 2 also appears a masterstroke while Tom Fox, the chief executive, told a Villa supporters’ meeting on Thursday that Sherwood ticked all the boxes for the short and long-term aims of the club.

Ron Vlaar, Villa’s captain, said: “Since the new manager has come in the energy level of the squad is higher, for obvious reasons; everybody has a new chance.

“Everybody feels like they can get into the team if they do well in training and that has been really good. Every manager wants things done in a different way so we have been learning this week how the manager wants things done.

“Sometimes new things are good for the mind, it brings some freshness and it can help the mentality of the players.

“When a new manager comes in and makes changes you need to learn what he wants you to do so communication is a big part of that. He talks a lot and tells us what we should be doing.”

Sherwood has certainly had a constructive week. On Monday, hours after his first press conference, he drove to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium to watch Villa’s under-21s lose against Derby County.

The following day he met chairman Randy Lerner for the first time and then held a number of one-on-ones with his players.
But he has been counting down the hours until 3pm on Saturday, when he starts his revolution against Stoke.

He spent much of his final weeks at Spurs sat in the stands, so will he be in the technical area?

“I’ll look at the weather and see what’s what but no, I’ll be in the dugout. I’ll slip in there after a 100 yard walk down the touchline. I can’t exactly duck in, can I?

“That walk from the dug-out to the tunnel must feel longer when you lose. I am worried about losing but I’m the only one who can be – not those players.

"We know we're running out of time and we need to get the best out of this group as soon as possible and that's what we intend to do.”

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Looking forward to it myself ,which best boozer for pre match ? Got both my sons with me ...16 & 9 year old

For an hour before the game go to VP.
The kids can enjoy the VP experience a bit more, you can have a beer for about £4 and the kids can have snacks/drinks etc. Expensive I know, but at least you are already there and you and the kids can take in the Villa experience - the approach by Aston Park itself is pretty unique. Part of being a Villa fan. Depending on which stand you're in the pre-match experience differs. I love the views over the pitch from being in The Holte concourse area. From the Trinity you see nothing until you are in the "auditorium" itself.
Have a great day pav!
Bring good fortune with you!
UTV!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Was thinking Aston tavern next to leisure centre

£3 to get in mate!

[FrankyH]

Tom Cleverley and Ashley Westwood axed as Tim Sherwood stamps his mark on Aston Villa
New manager wastes no time shaking things up at Villa Park as his race for Premier League survival begins
      
John Percy
10:30PM GMT 20 Feb 2015

Tim Sherwood has instantly displayed his ruthless streak by axing Ashley Westwood as he prepares to begin a new era at Aston Villa.
Westwood was one of previous manager Paul Lambert’s key players but the midfielder has been dropped for Saturday’s Premier League game against Stoke, with Sherwood insisting his team need more height.

Tom Cleverley is also understood to have been told he will be on the bench in a clear message that Sherwood will take no notice of reputations in his bid to save Villa from relegation.

Villa are in the bottom three but Sherwood is determined to build on his brief spell at Tottenham, in which he secured the best win ratio of any manager in the club’s Premier League era.

Despite the favourable statistics, Sherwood’s reign lasted less than six months before he was dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy and his appointment at Villa is still viewed in some quarters as a gamble.

But he insists his achievements at Spurs deserve more respect and still stand up to scrutiny, largely due to his work with young players including Harry Kane.

“I think [Mauricio] Pochettino has done a really good job there, but my record is still up there to be shot at,” he said
“He’s inherited a good bunch of young players who were developed by myself. It’s good for me - I left a bit of a legacy there with those young players.
“If I hadn’t resisted the club wanting to loan him out last January, he wouldn’t be Harry Kane now.

“But all I’m concerned with now is Villa and doing well here. I want to be a success - not only for this football club but for myself, but perhaps because there's a few other chairmen that might give young managers an opportunity.

“The football club has found itself in a difficult situation at the moment. But the lads are up for the fight to get the club out of it.”

Try telling the players and staff at Bodymoor Heath this week that Sherwood’s appointment has been a gamble. His presence has had a galvanising effect on the squad, removing the stench of failure that had permeated Bodymoor Heath, and it is impossible not to be impressed by his positivity.

Earlier this week Westwood ironically claimed training sessions have been “electric” while another admitted he felt “ten feet tall” after a one-on-one chat with the new manager.

The return of Kevin MacDonald as Sherwood’s No 2 also appears a masterstroke while Tom Fox, the chief executive, told a Villa supporters’ meeting on Thursday that Sherwood ticked all the boxes for the short and long-term aims of the club.

Ron Vlaar, Villa’s captain, said: “Since the new manager has come in the energy level of the squad is higher, for obvious reasons; everybody has a new chance.

“Everybody feels like they can get into the team if they do well in training and that has been really good. Every manager wants things done in a different way so we have been learning this week how the manager wants things done.

“Sometimes new things are good for the mind, it brings some freshness and it can help the mentality of the players.

“When a new manager comes in and makes changes you need to learn what he wants you to do so communication is a big part of that. He talks a lot and tells us what we should be doing.”

Sherwood has certainly had a constructive week. On Monday, hours after his first press conference, he drove to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium to watch Villa’s under-21s lose against Derby County.

The following day he met chairman Randy Lerner for the first time and then held a number of one-on-ones with his players.
But he has been counting down the hours until 3pm on Saturday, when he starts his revolution against Stoke.

He spent much of his final weeks at Spurs sat in the stands, so will he be in the technical area?

“I’ll look at the weather and see what’s what but no, I’ll be in the dugout. I’ll slip in there after a 100 yard walk down the touchline. I can’t exactly duck in, can I?

“That walk from the dug-out to the tunnel must feel longer when you lose. I am worried about losing but I’m the only one who can be – not those players.

"We know we're running out of time and we need to get the best out of this group as soon as possible and that's what we intend to do.”

"Tonight Mathew I am going to be John Gregory"

Hope he has the same effect, if only for the short term to see us over the line.

[FrankyH]

I was thinking today about when the 11 first team players know that they have got the nod.I always presumed it was at about 1:30pm in the dressing room.I am not sure Sherwood would tell the press who he has dropped the day before a game.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

So he's announced his team 16 hours before the game?
Why would he do that?
Not saying it won't happen, but.....

[dave.woodhall]

John Percy certainly does seem to have his ear.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I stopped reading after "my record is up there to be shot at".