Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa Head Tennis Match Thread

[brontebilly]

We need a win so he’s put our most creative player on the bench. Pathetic.

Mental stuff, strong looking team mind. Hourihane hopefully playing a lot further forward today.

De Laet, Terry, Samba, Taylor, Lansbury, Whelan, Kodjia, Davis, Green, Flabby all unavailable ?

[auntiesledd]

Wibble.

[Legion]

The thread title will probably be the highlight of this afternoon.

[Villa Lew]

Can only think he reckons Jack needs a rest, will surely come on sometime. Good to see the 4 kids on the bench, particularly RHM.

[Clampy]

We need a win so he’s put our most creative player on the bench. Pathetic.

Mental stuff, strong looking team mind. Hourihane hopefully playing a lot further forward today.

De Laet, Terry, Samba, Taylor, Lansbury, Whelan, Kodjia, Davis, Green, Flabby all unavailable ?

Terry, Samba, Lansbury, Kodjia, Green and Gabby are all ruled out or returning to fitness. Not sure about the others.

[Toronto Villa]

[paulcomben]

First hat trick since Blackburn for Gestede?

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Snodgrass picks himself again! Another easy game for the opposition left back

[ozzjim]

Bruce on WM - Davis and Whelan out with illness. Then says something about whether we can cope without our best players - we will see in about 2 hours. Fucking bollocks Steve.

No doubt Onomah will be playing up front and Hourihane in some odd deep role. We have more than enough to cope, but we will be sent out in a 4-4-2 and play long ball no doubt.

Pulis seemed to have picked 4 strikers which will be fun.

[Clampy]

Gestede scores and loads of posts saying Bruce should never have sold him will follow.

[Toronto Villa]

Gestede scores and loads of posts saying Bruce should never have sold him will follow.

If Gestede scores it will be just that very quickly Pulis will have found a way to use him at this level. Something he's done very well in the past. Something that he's failed to do with Hogan despite having purchased him for a lot of money.

[ozzjim]

Gestede twice, with an Adama 3rd late on just to ice the cake. All 3 made by Downing. Written in the stars. But at least Steve has got the excuses in before kick off by talking about "coping".

[Mossie Hennebry]

Is this game on the wireless?

[Toronto Villa]

Gestede twice, with an Adama 3rd late on just to ice the cake. All 3 made by Downing. Written in the stars. But at least Steve has got the excuses in before kick off by talking about "coping".

Drives me fucking insane. Coping is when you have next to no money like Brentford or Cardiff. Two teams that have embarrassed us this season. Excuses are most certainly laid out already.

[Clark W Griswold]

This would be one of the extremely rare occasions I would agree with everyone that Grealish should play, he did pretty well last game and I would certainly have started him ahead of the two loanees.

What's happening with Whelan? I wouldn't disregard him like some have on here but a break would make sense since he hasn't had much of one and his form has dipped recently.