Aston Villa v Birmingham City - Match Thread

[UK Redsox]

For use once the teams are announced

[SoccerHQ]

Taylor back in at LB.

Bacuna still in midfield.....

Jack in with Hogan and Adomah upfront.

Gabby on the bench again out of nowhere.

[UK Redsox]

Damn...it's the video announcement again

[VillaAlways]

#AVFC XI: Johnstone, Hutton, Baker, Chester, Taylor, Jedinak, Lansbury, Bacuna, Adomah, Grealish, Hogan.

[SoccerHQ]

[kippaxvilla2]

Bacuna instead of Hourihane.  If we lose this Bruce deserves everything that's going to come his way.

[VillaAlways]

[SoccerHQ]

108 year old Paul Robinson starts as CB...really wish Kodjia was in for this.

[PaulWinch again]

Hourihane has definitely fallen out of favour.

[Jimbo]

No RHM? Stupid.

[Steve67]

Bacuna instead of Hourihane.  If we lose this Bruce deserves everything that's going to come his way.

I agree. That team lacks goals. Hope I'm wrong though. A real chance to screw the Blues and help send the feckers down!

[PaulWinch again]

I have a real feeling this is going to go badly.

[Olof's Beard]

I can see the logic re Bacuna. We are very one paced through midfield with Jedinak, Lansbury, Hourihane and Grealish in there. Bacuna at least brings energy and running power, even if he isn't very good. Bruce bought both Lansbury and Hourihane though so he needs to work out how to play them in the same team. Hourihane delivers a great ball and has an excellent assists record, there should be a lot more to come from him.

[ozzjim]

Hourihane looked like he was finding his feet in that spell where we win a few and has now been dropped for Bacuna coinciding with us losing games. No pace in the team and RHM should have been on the bench! No need for 2 midfielders as Bree can play in there. Bruce has a lot to do to convince me he's the right man at the moment.

[SoccerHQ]

I can see the logic re Bacuna. We are very one paced through midfield with Jedinak, Lansbury, Hourihane and Grealish in there. Bacuna at least brings energy and running power, even if he isn't very good. Bruce bought both Lansbury and Hourihane though so he needs to work out how to play them in the same team. Hourihane delivers a great ball and has an excellent assists record, there should be a lot more to come from him.

I Honestly think Bruce tells Bacuna just to run around and make a nuisance of himself as that's all he really does when playing.

Hourihane's a miles better passer though and surely you need a bit of calm and composure in derby games?