Aston Villa v Leicester City Pre-Match Thread

[Dave]

Leicester have only lost two league games all season, not bad for a team that hasn't cost an absolute fortune. I think it will be 0-0.

They have been incredibly lucky with injuries. Their squad depth hasn't been tested; what happens if Mahrez and Vardy get injured?

....They probably wouldn't be as effective, but nor would any team in the league if their two best players were taken away from them.....

Exactly. And here Villa are with Amavi and now Traore, the only players we have - that I've seen - who can whip a ball into the mixer, out on long term injuries.

I don't see why it's particularly relevant to Leicester then. Yes, if their best players get injured they won't be as good as if they don't get injured. Just like us, Spurs, Everton, West Ham, Man City... everybody.

[SoccerHQ]

They played very well v Spurs in the cup with no Vardy or Mahrez, Okazaki is a very decent striker in his own right.

[Witton Warrior]

Leicester have only lost two league games all season, not bad for a team that hasn't cost an absolute fortune. I think it will be 0-0.

They have been incredibly lucky with injuries. Their squad depth hasn't been tested; what happens if Mahrez and Vardy get injured?

....They probably wouldn't be as effective, but nor would any team in the league if their two best players were taken away from them.....

Exactly. And here Villa are with Amavi and now Traore, the only players we have - that I've seen - who can whip a ball into the mixer, out on long term injuries.

I don't see why it's particularly relevant to Leicester then. Yes, if their best players get injured they won't be as good as if they don't get injured. Just like us, Spurs, Everton, West Ham, Man City... everybody.

I think the point is a relative one - some clubs have a group of decent second-string players (eg Man City) whereas a lot rely on squad-fillers (eg us!)

[QuintonVilla]

The Premier League, The Premier League
Is upside down, Is upside down
The Premier League is upside down
We should be top, but we're bottom
The Premier League is upside down!

[Witton Warrior]

The Premier League, The Premier League
Is upside down, Is upside down
The Premier League is upside down
We should be top, but we're bottom
The Premier League is upside down!

;-)

[Le Lapin]

A win and maybe we might start to believe again. Play the same team again as Tues,  that team has a bit of fight and self respect. Leicester got a great result at Spurs,  hopefully the will think themselves as billy big bollix playing us and be complacent. Delusion is a powerful state of mind.  I like it.....

[thegreatdane]

                     Bunn

Bacuna Okore Lescott Cissokho

     Veretout Gana Grealish

gill                               ayew
              kozak


id change westy for grealish for a bit of creativity, thats all!

[tomd2103]

A win and maybe we might start to believe again. Play the same team again as Tues,  that team has a bit of fight and self respect. Leicester got a great result at Spurs,  hopefully the will think themselves as billy big bollix playing us and be complacent. Delusion is a powerful state of mind.  I like it.....

For probably the first time this season, we have something to build on.  I agree that we should keep the same team as Tuesday.  From what I have seen of them, they play a 4-4-2, so hopefully we can try and outnumber them in midfield. 

[HK Villan]

This is probably the most important game in our recent history. We need to build on the Palace result (which so often Villa have failed to do) and if we win it will put us back in a position where we can reasonably hope there may be a chance of catching up with the other relegation candidates. 

The away game at Leicester was a defining and very negative moment in our season and Sherwood should have been sacked that evening.  Hopefully this game can be the opposite.  I think the events at Wycombe had the effect of putting a rocket under the team to show some fight, some pride, and they did. Hats off to Lescott in particular.   Provided the selections are right and they fight for their lives we can win this one as well.  If we do, I think we can push on and at least get close to contention with the others.  And then...

[Drummond]

Their comeback win against us was the turnaround in fortunes that decided both our destiny until now.

Let's hope for a reversal this time.

[CT]

They've lost 2 all season. We've won 2 all season.

Their second looks handy enough to beat our strongest!

But I feel we owe them - this won't be easy but I'm going for another 1-0 with Libor getting the winner.

It's the hope that kills me! 

[paul_e]

The big thing about this fixture is that the late defeats in the reverse of this and palace are what caused us to be where we are, better management decisions and we could easily have been on 10 points after 5 games and the whole season would feel so different for it.  Winning this after the win in the week would be like exorcising those demons, it might be too late to save ourselves but the confidence of righting these wrongs is probably the only thing that could give us a chance.

[AVH87]

Sanchez, Grealish and dare I say Gabby back available for this. Just Amavi, Traore and Hutton (no loss) out injured.

I'd be tempted to bring Sanchez in for Westwood, but when you've waited so long for a win I guess we probably shouldn't change it.

[PaulWinch again]

                     Bunn

Bacuna Okore Lescott Cissokho

     Veretout Gana Grealish

gill                               ayew
              kozak


id change westy for grealish for a bit of creativity, thats all!

I don't see Grealish as a centre mid at all. Also if Westwood plays like he did the other night then he's got a role to play.

[rob_bridge]

Sanchez, Grealish and dare I say Gabby back available for this. Just Amavi, Traore and Hutton (no loss) out injured.

I'd be tempted to bring Sanchez in for Westwood, but when you've waited so long for a win I guess we probably shouldn't change it.

I'd discount Gabby. Sanchez for Westwood still makes sense.