Aston Villa vs Stoke City Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

Them

Begovic; Bardsley, Wollscheid, Wilson, Pieters; Nzonzi, Whelan; Walters, Ireland, Moses; Diouf

Subs: Butland; Teixeira, Adam, Shenton, Sidwell, Arnautovic, Crouch.

[ez]

Top scorer on the bench?

[Monty]

There's a concern that Nzonzi and Whelan could stamp on us in midfield. Then again, Stephen Ireland.

[Toronto Villa]

There's a concern that Nzonzi and Whelan could stamp on us in midfield. Then again, Stephen Ireland.

I think we have a better than even chance with Sanchez and Delph vs those two. Plus he's gone for the "let them worry about us" approach and will push Gil and Sinclair into attacking positions behind the front two as they cut in. Gabby is the interesting one. He's playing down the middle in this set up it appears which is far better than him playing outside, where he is literally no longer effective.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

There's a concern that Nzonzi and Whelan could stamp on us in midfield. Then again, Stephen Ireland.

Apparently Whelan has been very poor according to the clayheads. If we can't beat that Stoke team we may as well give up. The two central defenders are there for the taking, so let's hope Gil and Gabby can run at them. I really hope we don't play with wingers, I'd like to see us more compact in the midfield and use the space rather than give it to them through the middle.

[Monty]

But it'll be two strikers high up the pitch, with two deep midfielders in the way of our midfielders, with Ireland behind them with acres of space if the defence don't get there. We're outnumbered, and so are playing an extremely high-risk formation. Risks can come off, of course, but I'm not sure about it. I remember in the MON-era screaming at the TV when we were outnumbered in midfield and had one striker uselessly to spare up front.

Then again, as TSOV says, Whelan is rubbish. And Ireland can be really rubbish. I agree on the wingers point: if Gil and Sinclair are played right and left respectively, cutting infield to become attacking midfielders more than wingers, I think we'll dominate them.

[Tuscans]

Whatever happens it's going to be better than the last dross we had.

[KevinGage]

Bit nervous, seeing that line-up.

Not sure about the midfield, and the left flank is there for the taking.

Also, Stoke's bench looks quite strong, despite them supposedly being decimated by injuries.

Arnautovic caused us quite a bit of bother last season. Him coming on in the last 20 mins could be problematic.

[Matt Collins]

But it'll be two strikers high up the pitch, with two deep midfielders in the way of our midfielders, with Ireland behind them with acres of space if the defence don't get there. We're outnumbered, and so are playing an extremely high-risk formation. Risks can come off, of course, but I'm not sure about it. I remember in the MON-era screaming at the TV when we were outnumbered in midfield and had one striker uselessly to spare up front.

Then again, as TSOV says, Whelan is rubbish. And Ireland can be really rubbish. I agree on the wingers point: if Gil and Sinclair are played right and left respectively, cutting infield to become attacking midfielders more than wingers, I think we'll dominate them.

I completely agree with the analysis. That's why you hardly ever see 442 any more. And perhaps it won't be

I do think we need more directness, even if it means we will end up ceding possession to them. Stoke should fancy themselves to have a decent amount of the ball today with that midfield against ours. Gil can help with the numbers in the middle. Gabby will need to drop deeper, but he's not exactly blessed technically

It's probably more or less the team i'd have picked tho.

[OCD]

But it'll be two strikers high up the pitch, with two deep midfielders in the way of our midfielders, with Ireland behind them with acres of space if the defence don't get there. We're outnumbered, and so are playing an extremely high-risk formation. Risks can come off, of course, but I'm not sure about it. I remember in the MON-era screaming at the TV when we were outnumbered in midfield and had one striker uselessly to spare up front.

Then again, as TSOV says, Whelan is rubbish. And Ireland can be really rubbish. I agree on the wingers point: if Gil and Sinclair are played right and left respectively, cutting infield to become attacking midfielders more than wingers, I think we'll dominate them.

He does have the flexibility to make in-game changes if we're not getting enough of the ball. In that case, Gabby can play wide and Carlos can move into the centre to make a 3. My concern would be if Richardson gets exposed because I've seen him ball watch and someone has snuck in and scored because of it.

[Matt Collins]

Yeah I'd have definitely played cissokho. Walters is under rated

[PaulWinch again]

Win please Villa, we badly need a win.

[Tuscans]

The warm up is apparently a lot more energised and pacey than it was before.

[CT]

The warm up is apparently a lot more energised and pacey than it was before.

Noticed that last week, the warm up was high-intensity and we started the game on the front foot as a result.

[Matt Collins]

In two hours time, I suspect thousands of people will have decided that we're either definitely staying up or definitely going down