Aston Villa vs Stoke Post Match Thread

[Tony Erdington]

I think we are so deep in the mire that it isn't really about picking the magic formation now. It is about Sherwood getting it across to the players that we are in a desperate situation and identifying 11 guys who are willing to take responsibility and dig us out of this shit. The fact that in Vlaar's absence Lambert saw fit to hand Gabby the armband tells me all I need to know about the lack of leaders we have. Personally I'd rather be stewarded by a pineapple than that f**ktard. I can see a few players still with the passion to turn things around; Guzan, Clark, Hutton and, er, oh shit. I think that's why we'll go down. Too many players with their head in the sand deflecting responsibility. Held on to Lambert for way too long. The whole place must reek of failure.

unfortunately yes.

all them little flicks yesterday by a number of our players just shirking responsibility.

Gabby might be one of us but his never been good enough, and number 10 wiemann weak. if them two got contracts for championship teams . i think they would be doing well.

thanks to lots of inability we are closer to them two being in a division they may be able to perform in.

[olaftab]

I think if you put Westwood in that team instead of Gabby you have a lot more balance and solidity.

I think if you put a 70KG ballast instead of Gabby  in that team you would have far more balance and solidity!

[Toronto Villa]

One of Cleverley or Westy needs to start vs Newcastle for Gabby. I'd have Sinclair and Gil either side of Benteke and a midfield 3 behind. Maybe have Sanchez playing deepest, Delph and midfield partner in front.

[walsall villain]

One of Cleverley or Westy needs to start vs Newcastle for Gabby. I'd have Sinclair and Gil either side of Benteke and a midfield 3 behind. Maybe have Sanchez playing deepest, Delph and midfield partner in front.

That's what I am thinking. Yesterday we seemed to go from Lamberts over patient football to playing in a rush with no thought. The second half v Leicester was better with control of midfield plus long balls from time to time. Whatever we go with, Benteke, Gabby and Weimann need to improve dramatically, all were poor yesterday against a reserve defence.

[Malandro]

Senderos would pose more threat up front than agbonlahor, at least he has presence

[Rudy Can't Fail]

If we carry on hoofing it, that's probably not a bad idea.

[tomd2103]

      Given

Hutton Okore Clark Richardson (if fit)

Bacuna Cleverley  Delph  Sinclair

           Gil
                  Benteke

Yep, that's probably the team I would go with as well.  As we are getting fairly desperate now, I would consider Grealish in place of Bacuna. 

[Chris Jameson]

All Cleverley needs to do is not play and suddenly he becomes indispensable it seems. In the brief cameos I've seen of Grealish I don't see any reason to chuck him into a team in a relegation battle.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't think anyone is saying Cleverley is indispensable. That would be nuts. However relative to what Gabby offers he is Andrea Pirlo and we need him to make a more compact midfield.

[silhillvilla]

I'd play Weimann as an out and out nr 9, Sinclair and Gil on the wings and drop Sanchez and bring in Westwood who can move the ball so much faster .
Is Senderos anywhere hear fit ? If he is you play Okore Swiss Phil Clark and Hutton as LB

[claret and blue blood]

Nzonzi looked dominant yesterday and Ireland did more in 90 minutes than he did in his whole Villa career, and part of the reason was we had an ineffective Delph and a woeful Sanchez against them and they had more freedom than I bet they've had all season.It was like watching MON's teams when we played at home but no quality upfront, Sherwood himself was a tough sod in midfield and we need somebody like that in there, the only one remotely capable of playing that role is Clark, but he's our best defender and should be captain, any ideas because if we are going to fight our way out we need some grit in midfield. Sanchez looked for all the world like he was going to get a second yellow for the last 60 mins and Delph was nowhere.     

[villan from luton]

I would go with this team next week
Guzan
Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cisoko
              Westwood
      Cleverley        Delph
Gil                              Sinclair
           Benteke

[steffo]

We have a big problem as our team (barring the defence) is unfit.

Mr Sherwood want's us to play an attacking game which means unselfish running and probing runs. Since August we have have been playing in 10 metre circles. Yesterday was a classic example of having physical fitness where you are not blowing out your arse & your brain thinks seconds earlier.

Both goals conceded were late in each half. 

[ChicagoLion]

The 2 substitutions hurt us, we lost composure for the first goal down the right. Gil was occupying 2 players and Weiman was awful as usual in that position.
Vlaar at fault for both goals.

[ChicagoLion]

I would go with this team next week
Guzan
Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cisoko
              Westwood
      Cleverley        Delph
Gil                              Sinclair
           Benteke

Same here I think that is about as good as it gets.