Aston Villa Vs. Bitter Birds part deux 7th March Pre-match thread

[supertom]

I fancy us to win, if we keep up the same intensity. Certainly that seems to be the style Sherwood is going for. Lots of pressing, and get it forward quickly. We controlled midfield and we gave their backline, Lescott in particular, a torrid time. That will play on their minds. VP will be buzzing.

It's not often I've fancied a win this season, but I do on saturday.

2-1 again. Benteke, Grealish.

[DB]

Yesterday was what we needed both for the points and the lift. Sat is a bonus...looking forward to it.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I reckon they will nick it. I won't be that gutted if we can get something out of the next league game.

[montague]

I reckon they will nick it. I won't be that gutted if we can get something out of the next league game.

Ill be gutted - i'm not getting any younger and I want to see us win the FA cup. Just once will do for the set.

[Toronto Villa]

re whether or not we rotate the team for the cup match, I don't think it's an easy decision to make.

If we get knocked out, it isn't the end of the world, which is one reason he'll be tempted (as all managers are in the circumstances) to change the team, but then again, you have to wonder, confidence is much higher already after last night, even apart from the fact it means a Wembley trip, how much of a confidence booster it'd be to win again on Saturday.

It's all about momentum now. Another win, and while it would be in the cup, the rest of the season looks easier. Off course it isn't and the games still need to be played but the sense of optimism and renewed belief just makes the world seem a better place. The players when they train again will be full of energy and smiles and I imagine Sherwood will want to keep that feeling going by not making too many changes. I can see at most (including Hutton) 2 or 3, but the core, especially the strike pairing will remain in place. In fact if he kept the exact line up from last night minus Hutton it wouldn't surprise me.

[brontebilly]

Definitely think we need to rotate a bit apart from at right back. Vlaar for Okore would be no harm, same for Given replacing Guzan and Grealish or Gil for Nzogbia too.

West Brom will defend a lot deeper at the weekend to counteract Gabby's pace so we will need someone else to step up I suspect.

Thought James Morrison had a good second half for them last night and I expect they will use him to target Lowton more.

[curiousorange]

I've always thought that Pulis would use yesterday as a glorified scouting exercise, playing for the draw in order to try and spot weaknesses. I also think he's banking on the derby factor and the necessity for three points to have completely drained us. It'll be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show.

That said, I don't think he banked on so many players improving at once for Villa. It'll be a different game on Saturday - has to be, if Pulis has anything about him - but if I was Sherwood, I'd be playing on that Wembley factor, that sense of making people happy. They know they can best that lot, they can enjoy themselves. I really want to see us at Wembley again, so I hope Sherwood has them relaxed and confident.

[silhillvilla]

So you'd drop Lowton for someone who plays for Doncaster? And drop Delph? And Clark?

I think he will rotate and rest a few legs for Sunderland.

[aj2k77]

You can't rest players in an FA Cup quarter final.

[Clampy]

I don't think he'll rest anyone either, not a game away from Wembley.

[Legion]

I think he will play Given instead of Guzan.

[KevinEaton]

I think Sherwood always planned to rotate players. He has done this already in the 3 games he has been in charge and I'm sure I read a quote somewhere from him saying that the players know if they are out the team one week they could well be back in next week.

The high intensity play we keep talking about will require some rotation to keep people fresh especially after his comments last night about the players not quite being as fit as he would like for the type of play he wants. I'd expect to see Gil and Sinclair play a part at some point in this one.

[PeterWithesShin]

Rest players for a QF when we don't play for a week. Jeeze.

[andyh]

You can't rest players in an FA Cup quarter final.

Precisely!

[Nastylee]

A draw wouldn't surprise me. Only way I can see them winning is an ugly 1-0 but if we score first I cannot see us losing the game. If Pulis changes tactics then it might be open but I think that will depend on the fitness of their forwards. Expect Sessignon (sp) to come if for the £10m bloke and they'll flood the midfield.