Aston Villa vs Birmingham City Pre-Match Thread

[Tony Erdington]

I think it'll be the same team, depends on how fit Gil is.

I worry about our right side. Gil doesn't have the defensive discipline to pay wide. He'll leave Hutton exposed.

I'd play him dead centrally. Get him coming deep to get the ball.

Unsure to if Sinclair is a better option than Gestede. Gestede would give us the 'lump it' option, but I worry he's not strong enough to actually make it be effective.

I actually quite like the thought of Gestede and Sinclair up front - Sinclair is wasted in the current formation and is the most likely goal scorer, makes better runs than Gabby, then again so do I....

I think we need some pace out wide, so would play Sinclair on the left with Bacuna (only real option at the minute) on the right.  Gestede up front with Grealish or Gil just in behind and I think that will be a much more balanced attack.

That is very attacking, granted were playing against a team (laughs up sleeve) that will finish best mid table championship, but there going to kick us, and Jack the lad will go missing from any physicality, i'd change him for Vertout or Clark, other than that , with you.

[PGW]

My team for tonight:
Guzan, Richards, Lescott, Clark, Bacuns & Amavi
Sanchez, Veretout & Grealish & Gabby
Gestede
Would love to see Adama fit to start  and if so would leave Gestede out of starting line up. Just let Adama run at em....they would shit themselves, would be able to play a little more centrally with the 2 wing backs flying forward. You could argue that with 2 wing backs therefore hopefully better service then there may be a case for starting Gestede...not sure...all about opinion ain't it

[QuintonVilla]

Buzzing. This is why the Albion game doesn't compare. I'm full of nervous energy, can't wait to finish work and 'get on it' as the kids say.

[robbo1874]

Hold it down blues
Your team's getting blurrrrred
We know you can't stop thinking of us
By all means we can vibe with your chimps
is karen smelly on her piece?

[PeterWithe]

I'm not sure this is a game for Vertout, he looked some way off the pace on Saturday.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

My team for tonight:
Guzan, Richards, Lescott, Clark, Bacuns & Amavi
Sanchez, Veretout & Grealish & Gabby
Gestede
Would love to see Adama fit to start  and if so would leave Gestede out of starting line up. Just let Adama run at em....they would shit themselves, would be able to play a little more centrally with the 2 wing backs flying forward. You could argue that with 2 wing backs therefore hopefully better service then there may be a case for starting Gestede...not sure...all about opinion ain't it

cant see him going for a 3-5-2 and whole change of formation for a game as important as this, although we are talking about Sherwood

Cant see Adama playing any part whatsover unfortunately

[Tony Erdington]

I suppose this is the pinacle of their careers playing at VP tonight, some will freeze others will play above their ability, I was at stan andrews that night when we undoubtedly had a far superior team , but complacency is what did us, we went out like it was a training game and they were in our faces,

no never again, as much as it hurts me , we must show them respect in that we are professional and up for the fight, match their tenacity and our better quality play will see us serving them up with yet another losers meddle

[Chris Jameson]

Hold it down blues
Your team's getting blurrrrred
We know you can't stop thinking of us
By all means we can vibe with your chimps
is karen smelly on her piece?

I don't understand most of that.

[Tony Erdington]

Hold it down blues
Your team's getting blurrrrred
We know you can't stop thinking of us
By all means we can vibe with your chimps
is karen smelly on her piece?

I don't understand most of that.

think Robbo is at it!

[tomd2103]

I think it'll be the same team, depends on how fit Gil is.

I worry about our right side. Gil doesn't have the defensive discipline to pay wide. He'll leave Hutton exposed.

I'd play him dead centrally. Get him coming deep to get the ball.

Unsure to if Sinclair is a better option than Gestede. Gestede would give us the 'lump it' option, but I worry he's not strong enough to actually make it be effective.

I actually quite like the thought of Gestede and Sinclair up front - Sinclair is wasted in the current formation and is the most likely goal scorer, makes better runs than Gabby, then again so do I....

I think we need some pace out wide, so would play Sinclair on the left with Bacuna (only real option at the minute) on the right.  Gestede up front with Grealish or Gil just in behind and I think that will be a much more balanced attack.

That is very attacking, granted were playing against a team (laughs up sleeve) that will finish best mid table championship, but there going to kick us, and Jack the lad will go missing from any physicality, i'd change him for Vertout or Clark, other than that , with you.

Fair point, but I just worry that whichever way we play a three in midfield, the personnel we currently have available means it is going to be unbalanced.  A midfield three of Westwood, Sanchez and Veretout looks horribly one dimensional to me, with all three being too similar.  I suppose if we are going to go with a three, then Richardson could come in on the left just to balance things up. 

[Chico Hamilton III]

Hold it down blues
Your team's getting blurrrrred
We know you can't stop thinking of us
By all means we can vibe with your chimps
is karen smelly on her piece?

I don't understand most of that.

think Robbo is at it!

It is late night in Orstrailya. It's a Queensland Haiku

[Mossie Hennebry]

I think he'll go:

Bunn

Hutton Richards Lescott Amavi

Clark

Gil Westwood Grealish

Gabby

Guzan, Sinclair, Gestede, Veretout, Gardner, Sanchez, Kozak

Mind you, I would start with Sinclair instead of Gil and Gestede instead of Gabby

[Dave]

Taking the team from the last round as a guide, I'm expecting something like:

Bunn

Richards
Bacuna
Amavi

Gil
Grealish
Sinclair
Agbonlahor
Ayew

Kozak
Gestede

[Savospit]

We are Aston Villa and we are superior to them in every way it is possible for one football club to be superior to another football club. That will remain the case, regardless of tonight's result.

We have spent over £45m against their £850,000 ..and we have the history so how can we not be superior?

[Richard E]

We are Aston Villa and we are superior to them in every way it is possible for one football club to be superior to another football club. That will remain the case, regardless of tonight's result.

We have spent over £45m against their £850,000 ..and we have the history so how can we not be superior?

This is getting rather tedious now....