Aston Villa v Barnsley - Pre Match Thread

[avfcpg]

As far as predicting Villa results I used go with a win, right up until I see the line up.
So as with the last few games, I'll stick with "fuck knows".

[Risso]

I think it's going to be another horrible one, where that little bit of luck just isn't going for us, and individual mistakes that you can't legislate for will mean we lose 2-0, undeservedly.

[Skerra]

Des, I'll be at the bookies first thing in the morning and, ask them for their odds on Villa giving someone a good hiding in the very near future. At 1,000-1 I'll be putting a £10 bet on!!!!! With tongue firmly in cheek and likewise, wallet firmly in pocket!!

[manic-road]

I will go for a boring 0-0.

[Three Spires Villa]

Wait and see what stupid formation he puts out. Feel the same as the last days under Lambert. Thanks Steve

[Witton Warrior]

They have worn me down.
My season ticket will stay in my wallet on Tuesday and I ain't bothering to go.
I really, really can't be arsed.

Thank goodness it isn't only me - I'm just bored with it...

[Malandro]

We are going to give Barnsley a thumping.

1:3.

[Gareth]

I'd go;

                         Johnstone

Bacuna       Chester       Baker      Amavi

                         Gardner

               Hourihane    Lansbury

Kodja                                           Adomah

                          Hogan


Bunn, Taylor, Hutton, Elphick, Bjarnason, Grealish, Davis


This is assuming Jedinak, Bree and Hepburn-Murphy are injured.

I'd play Green instead of Adomah but the rest I agree with...don't need 3 defenders on bench so would leave out Hutton for Adomah as he can play right wing back if needed

[frank black]

4-0 someone's due a mauling surely ;-)

[darren woolley]

Another 0-1 defeat.

[adrenachrome]

Gregg Evans, writing in a disgraceful and doomed local rag has opined thus:

Steve Bruce has already admitted that he could abandon his new-look formation less than a fortnight after introducing it.

So if the Villa manager does change his system against Barnsley, how is he likely to set up?

Well, there are certainly plenty of options for him to consider.

Bruce may well revert back to a flat back four with one of Nathan Baker, Tommy Elphick or James Chester dropping out.

That would then see Alan Hutton and Neil Taylor moving into their deeper full-back positions rather than acting, on average, as the most advanced Villa players behind the front two, based on stastistics from Saturday’s defeat to Ipswich.

I’d expect the midfield to remain the same with Henri Lansbury, Conor Hourihane and Birkir Bjarnason all fitting in somewhere across the central areas.

Jack Grealish is available after suspension but may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Bruce has said that he is happy to play both Scott Hogan and top-goalscorer Jonathan Kodjia up top but he will also need to consider the option of playing with wingers.

Andre Green and Albert Adomah could offer the width on either side with one of Kodjia or Hogan playing centrally.

I think Villa have played their best football in that 4-3-3 formation so maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to revert back.

James Bree (knee), Mile Jedinak (groin) and Gabby Agbonlahor (hamstring) are expected to miss out.

[Des Little]

If it's not Elphick dropping out I think I'll spend the 90 minutes crying like a baby

[Perthvillan]

We shouldn't play 532 at VP even against Chelski let alone in Div 2 it's defeatist at best.
How about trying to take the initiative as the home side as happens in any professional football league in the world.
We are going backwards and SB needs to show some faith in his new signings.
We are playing Barnsley for f--k sake show some balls.
So sick of this boring non-attacking football.

[Jimbo]

The rot has to stop somewhere, and I reckon it'll stop here. A win, and some much needed relief.

[Ads]

It would be nice. First goal has been key for us for a while.

It's maddening the players we have. I don't think he will.completely drop the conservatism but I would ideally like to see the back of 352 and Lansbury playing so deep.