Aston Villa vs Middlesbrough (League Cup) Pre-Match Thread

[cdbearsfan]

Saving for holiday so, for once, can't be arsed attending.

We couldn't beat ten first team players last week, hopefully we will be able to beat eleven of their reserves this time.

I think we will. 3-1 with goals from Hogan, Samba and Bjarnason.

Hope Bjarnason is no where near playing! He's shown nothing so far. Give O'hare a chance or Doyle-Hayes. Anyway, 2-1 Villa, Hogan with both goals.

He played well in the last round, scoring and setting one up. He's more or less certain to play, I would have thought. No reason why we can't play all the players you mentioned, as we did against Wigan.

[RichardBatchelor]

1-0 to us aet.

[in exile]

2-0 Villa in 90 minuets

[KRS]

Bruce said Elphick will get a game so pretty safe to presume he'll start with Samba or Chester and Hutton/De Laet.

O'Hare and Hogan should both get a start, and I'd also like to see Snodgrass, Kodjia and Adomah get some game time to get their match fitness up.

If he plays a team like that then we should win inside 90 minutes, but if he opts to play a weaker team then it could go to penalties.

[SoccerHQ]

Given how early we start in this now, I've lost track of how many rounds are left if we win this tie. Is it last 16 or Quarters after this?

League is obviously priority but we've seen lower league teams reach semis or final (at our expense) of this competition before so it's not impossible if we keep getting home ties.

[eamonn]

Must still be 32 teams left at least if the 20 Prem teams only enter now.

[XXVilla]

Must still be 32 teams left at least if the 20 Prem teams only enter now.

Didn't WBA play last round?

[PeterWithesShin]

This is the 3rd round, so 32 left as 5th round is the QF. PL sides that qualified for Europe joined this round, the other PL sides entered in the last round.

[Toronto Villa]

Must still be 32 teams left at least if the 20 Prem teams only enter now.

Didn't WBA play last round?

Most PL teams enter in round 2. Round 3 is where teams playing in European competition join in. I think that's how it works.

[tomd2103]

Given how early we start in this now, I've lost track of how many rounds are left if we win this tie. Is it last 16 or Quarters after this?

League is obviously priority but we've seen lower league teams reach semis or final (at our expense) of this competition before so it's not impossible if we keep getting home ties.

Yep.  We've got a few rounds in, so there is no reason not to try and progress further.  Saying that, I'd like to see a couple of youngsters (O'Hare and Doyle-Hayes in particular) get a run out alongside some of the more senior players. 

[olaftab]

This is Round of 32. Next round is last 16.

[Drummond]

We should stick with the team that won on Saturday. Momentum is required.

We have the squad to cover any potential injuries that may come.

Cat in hell's chance of it happening mind.

[rob_bridge]

Bore draw
Boro on pens

[ROBBO]

I there any point to this competition anymore?

[Clampy]

We should stick with the team that won on Saturday. Momentum is required.

We have the squad to cover any potential injuries that may come.

Cat in hell's chance of it happening mind.

I thought the same before the last round but I suppose it's good to give the likes of De Laet and Samba a game.