Aston Villa vs Stoke City Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar, Clark, Richardson, Sinclair, Sanchez, Delph, Gil, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

Subs: Given, Westwood, Cissokho, Weimann, Cleverley, Bacuna, Okore.

[VinnieChase84]

Only question mark for me is no Aly!

[Toronto Villa]

He's gone more attacking with Richardson for Cissokho, two forwards, and two wingers. Okore will be disappointed but it does have more balance with Clark on the left

[Reuben]

What?  Cleverley HAS to play because of that loan clause doesn't he? 

Oh

Strong bench

[Tuscans]

That says one thing to me..."Attack, Attack, Attack, Attack, Attack"

[supertom]

Positive side. He's clearly going for it. Looks to be either a 4-4-2, or perhaps a 4-2-3-1. Rico in at LB shows the attacking intent too, as he'll undoubtedly offer more going forward, possibly at the expense of defensive solidity, but we're at home, we've got to win games, we might as well go for it.

[Monty]

Either 4-3-3 with Sinclair and Gabby wide or a 4-4-2 with Sinclair and Gil wide. If it's the latter I hope they'll be 'inside-out' types cutting in, otherwise we'll be very exposed in the centre.

Attacking though. And seeing no Tom Cleverley in the team is like a hit off a crackpipe to me.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Now I'm nervous. We really need Sanchez to return to pre-Arsenal form to hold that lightweight midfield together.

[Matt Collins]

Looks like a 442 to me

About as attacking as it could get

Big emphasis on delph and Sanchez today. If Ireland has one of his normal days we'll be fine bit there's an obvious risk that he continuously gets free as the spare man in there

We need intensity and to be on the front foot. We're not good enough to go anything like gung ho tho

[silhillvilla]

Dropping cissoko in a game like this makes sense
The bloke offers nothing offensively

[Toronto Villa]

Either 4-3-3 with Sinclair and Gabby wide or a 4-4-2 with Sinclair and Gil wide. If it's the latter I hope they'll be 'inside-out' types cutting in, otherwise we'll be very exposed in the centre.

Attacking though. And seeing no Tom Cleverley in the team is like a hit off a crackpipe to me.

Or this

[OCD]

With the exception of the left back position, its the team that I thought he would go with. Certainly a lot more attack minded. The pattern of play will be interesting - hopefully they'll have more of an idea of what they're doing and look more creative.

[ez]

Big game for Gabby today. I don't think he can be lazy under Sherwood.

[David_Nab]

Dropping cissoko in a game like this makes sense
The bloke offers nothing offensively

Agreed

[Legion]

Fingers crossed...