Aston Villa vs Birmingham City Pre-Match Thread

[Brassneck]

I think the other thing that most are overlooking is that Bruce will be keen to get Grabban involved as well.

Personally, I'd like Gabby to be on the bench but it's difficult to see him getting the nod ahead of Grabban and Davis. Even though he's looking a tad tired, Davis is a great option to have from the bench when you are trying to see a game out and want the ball to stick when played to the striker.

Gabby would give both the crowd and the team a lift, as he did last year if he came on with 20/25 minutes remaining but I suspect that the options of Grabban and Davis will be more attractive to Bruce.

[Bad English]

Not putting such a mighty talisman in the team would be a canny demonstration of supreme confidence in our abilities.

[LeeB]

Maybe he can help the groundsmen out at half time. Everyone's a winner then.

[Brassneck]

Not putting such a mighty talisman in the team would be a canny demonstration of supreme confidence in our abilities.

You on about Davis or Gabby?

Playing 2 up top would also be a canny demonstration of supreme confidence. it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do though.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

A big win could put us top in Europe.

https://www.whoscored.com/Statistics/Teams

[The Moose]

Grabby not Gabby!

[SheffieldVillain]

I wouldn't pick Gabby on the basis that he's done f all for years. I'd still ask him to warm up at various intervals in front of the Bloosers though. It'd confuse them.

[eamonn]

Cheers Hookeysmith. They’re small rucksacks, so I think they’ll be alright. They’re in North Stand Upper.

For the 5-1 derby ten years ago (Christ!), both myself and a friend were in the same situation and also with tickets in the North Stand. We alighted at Witton, both rocking suitcases on wheels like a pair of tits, causing delays in the hordes of people making their way to the stadium much to general chagrin all-round. The staff at the entrance to the North Stand kindly relieved us of our luggage for the duration of the match and we were able to stretch our knees and feet a little bit more in the hitherto cramped rows of the good old North's user unfriendly layout. Not sure security are so amenable these days what with Isis, Trump an'shit.

[auntiesledd]

Oh how I'd love to see us rack up a cricket score against those hate-filled no-marks. Unfortunately I'm thinking it'll be a tense, tight affair: thus it's got 0-0 or 1-1 written all over it for me. I live in hope for a thumping Villa victory (of course) - with the unwashed, nose imbeciles scurrying off to their hovels as the fifth goes in. UTV

[Bad English]

Not putting such a mighty talisman in the team would be a canny demonstration of supreme confidence in our abilities.

You on about Davis or Gabby?

Playing 2 up top would also be a canny demonstration of supreme confidence. it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do though.

I don't think you have read the discussion.

[Legion]

100 lines.

[Brassneck]

100 lines.

Not standing in the corner with a dunces cap on for an hour?

How could I possibly have not read the discussion when I've contributed to it on several occasions?

It's horses for courses and there's no right decision and there's no wrong one. Just because Bad English says we shouldn't have Gabby on the bench, that doesn't mean a line is drawn under it. Whilst he is unlikely to make it, there is still an argument in his favour for doing so.

There's 3 strikers available and only two (maximum) will make the bench. Each has their own merits and by the same token, each one has their own disadvantages. IMO, it is just as negative having Davis on the bench (who won't score) as it is Gabby (who probably won't score). So not having Gabby on the bench is not a demonstration of supreme confidence.

[Walmley_Villa]

Have visions of Grabban this time coming off the bench and becoming a hero.

[Bad English]

There may have been a bit of flippant irony in my post regarding supreme confidence. Brassneck, you asked if I was on about Davis or Flabby. If you had read the posts you would know that I had only mentioned  the fat waster and not Davis.

[Brassneck]

There may have been a bit of flippant irony in my post regarding supreme confidence. Brassneck, you asked if I was on about Davis or Flabby. If you had read the posts you would know that I had only mentioned  the fat waster and not Davis.

Yet you fail to see the irony of my asking which player?

Of course I know you meant Gabby. You were hardly likely to call Davis a "mighty talisman" were you?