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

[Drummond]

So why bother entering in the first place?

It's the hope that kills you!

I'd like to see Kodjia, Adomah, Jedinak, Snodgrass and Hogan given game time tomorrow.

Why? They are all first team regulars, almost first pick, so why not play the lot? Why is it that in the past clubs would stick with a team, develop a system and then slot players in as required but now we have to let some of them play in a devalued competition in order to keep them match fit?

It's farcical, the competition is devalued which in turn means it's not proper game time because nobody really cares about the result. Make players  fight for the jersey. When you're in it, it's yours.

There are reserve competitions and behind closed doors matches for those that don't make the first eleven.

[SoccerHQ]

I there any point to this competition anymore?

I actually prefer it to the FA cup. More shocks and more variety in the actual finalists.

[tomd2103]

I there any point to this competition anymore?

I actually prefer it to the FA cup. More shocks and more variety in the actual finalists.

I think the shocks come because Premier League sides field very weakened sides with virtually no game time between them against lower league outfits who are already up and running in their season. 

[footyskillz]

                Steering

Daelet  Samba  Elpsick Clark Borg

Bree  Lansbury   Bjarnasson Agbonlahor

                  O' hare   Hogan

3&1 villa.

O'Hare
Samba header
Hogan

[KRS]

So why bother entering in the first place?

It's the hope that kills you!

I'd like to see Kodjia, Adomah, Jedinak, Snodgrass and Hogan given game time tomorrow.

Why? They are all first team regulars, almost first pick, so why not play the lot? Why is it that in the past clubs would stick with a team, develop a system and then slot players in as required but now we have to let some of them play in a devalued competition in order to keep them match fit?

It's farcical, the competition is devalued which in turn means it's not proper game time because nobody really cares about the result. Make players  fight for the jersey. When you're in it, it's yours.

There are reserve competitions and behind closed doors matches for those that don't make the first eleven.

Because its a feckin long season playing 2 games per week, so if we can avoid niggly injuries by resting a few key players, utilising the squad (after all that's what its there for) and increase competition for places by keeping players match sharp then so we should. The players I listed above need match time for fitness and/or confidence, so playing them alongside players not currently in the first team shouldn't weaken us too much whilst also resting players to avoid injury and increase performance levels of the squad overall.

[Damo70]

I am so fixated on us trying to get promotion I don't really care about tonight's game. Although, like a typical hypocritical football fan I will of course be delighted if we win and gutted if we lose.

[cdbearsfan]

I there any point to this competition anymore?

I actually prefer it to the FA cup. More shocks and more variety in the actual finalists.

I think the shocks come because Premier League sides field very weakened sides with virtually no game time between them against lower league outfits who are already up and running in their season.

There have been virtually zero shocks so far. The advantage of the lower league clubs playing against Premier League reserves has been cancelled out as everyone rest players now.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

                Steering

Daelet  Samba  Elpsick Clark Borg

Bree  Lansbury   Bjarnasson Agbonlahor

                  O' hare   Hogan

3&1 villa.

O'Hare
Samba header
Hogan

5-4-2?

Worth a try I suppose.

[Legion]

Is that a new goalkeeper?

[West Derby Villan]

Is that a new goalkeeper?

He can arf motor

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Is that a new goalkeeper?

He can arf motor

Is this something to do with the Villa engine ?

[St AustellAVFC]

2-1 win. Hogan with them both. The Boro youth are playing in the cup v Accrington tonight so no idea what their lineup will be. TBH no idea what ours will be either.

[JUAN PABLO]

4-1 tonight

to us

[Des Little]

                Steering

Daelet  Samba  Elpsick Clark Borg

Bree  Lansbury   Bjarnasson Agbonlahor

                  O' hare   Hogan

3&1 villa.

O'Hare
Samba header
Hogan

We'll piss it with 12 players

[tomd2103]

Rotation rotation rotation

We're in a run of sat - tues - sat games. This isn't a priority. No brainer

To be fair we've got quite a few players who need a game as well.  Something Like:

                                 Steer

Bree / Hutton       Elphick            Samba             De Laet

Bjarnason      Lansbury       Onomah           Agbonlahor

                       O'Hare        Hogan


Edit - still want to win though. 
                     

I've had a bit of a volte face about this.  After today there are only three games before another international break, so we could go pretty strong with a couple of changes here and there.  Give Steer some game time, rest Whelan and Terry (Chester played twice for Wales in the last break and will do so in the next one, so he might need a rest), but apart from that I think we should go as strong as possible.  A decent draw in the last 16 and we could be looking at the QFs.  I think we'll see quite a few changes though.