Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Pre-Match Thread

[darren woolley]

I have a good feeling about this game can't wait these are the dog heads we are playing and I reckon with our home form we are very capable of getting a good result so I will say we will win this 2-1.

[The Edge]

There's no denying that wolves are a good side but so what? I have never feared us playing anyone at Villa Park especially with a big crowd there. There's plenty of times when my blind faith in AVFC has been misjudged but that was against the likes of Man U under Fergie, Liverpool in there pomp and various illustrious clubs from all over Europe. So I'm not about to get worried about a bunch of scruffy fuckpigs from Tipton. 2-1 to the club unrivalled within an 80 mile radius of Aston.

[The Edge]

            Johnstone
Elmo, Chester, JT, Hutton (if fit)
               Thor
          Hourihane, Jack
Snodgrass               Adomah
                Grabban

Agreed. Hogan seems to be blowing a bit cold again and Grabban is more of a handful. Need some legs in midfield so Thor gets it over Mile. JT and Snoddy did both get some treatment at Sunderland so hope they are fit.

Thor over Jedinak? I think that's the biggest selection dilemma Bruce faces. The energy and mobility of Bjarnasson or the rock like enforcer of Jedinak. I'd worry that Wolves tricky players might just play their way around Jedinak so on balance I'd start with Barney.It's a crucial decision that the manager and his coaches have to get spot on.

[andyh]

The single biggest thing, for me, is the way Wolves players are able to find space. That has been the stand out thing every time I have seen them on the telly. We have to press and deny them space...do that and we can beat the ‘scruffy fuckpigs from Tipton’ .....( I love that, well done).

[cheltenhamlion]

Thor over Jedinak for the weekend. Grabban over Hogan and Jack starts. If we press the ball all game these won't be able to take it. Doubtless they have some good players but they really aren't the dogs dangly bits they think they are.

[Brassneck]

Thor over Jedinak for the weekend. Grabban over Hogan and Jack starts. If we press the ball all game these won't be able to take it. Doubtless they have some good players but they really aren't the dogs dangly bits they think they are.

This for me as well.

[McGraths Dry Cleaning]

Leeds are awful. The Wolves I saw at Fulham last weekend were ordinary and beatable so we're more than capable of getting a good result.

[AsTallAsLions]

Can't see anything better than a draw here realistically. They had a blip, they bounced back, they're highly unlikely to let Cardiff any closer as they are a much much better team. Bruce will set out to frustrate them, 1-1 for me - it won't be exciting but could be a valuable point.

We had a blip and bounced back with six points and seven goals in two away games.

Can't see anything better than a draw here realistically. They're highly unlikely to let Cardiff any closer as they are a much much better team. Bruce will set out to frustrate them, 1-1 for me - it won't be exciting but could be a valuable point.

[footyskillz]

Thor over Jedinak for the weekend. Grabban over Hogan and Jack starts. If we press the ball all game these won't be able to take it. Doubtless they have some good players but they really aren't the dogs dangly bits they think they are.

This for me as well.

Entering this discussion as feel needs a challenge here.
I understand youse reasoning but in context If Bruce was deciding between 2 Jedinak would be involved.

Thinking how Bruce would play it would have to be jedinak for a start he is needed to win a role battles and at defensive set pieces needed. Priority wise don't we think it's going to  be the experienced man that plays. I hear playing round mile could occur in theory due to less mobility but practically mile would cover the places necessary  as he's experienced player. And in games like this take the player who has done it. That's why we have him

Bjarnason is an unknown as such. I argue that Bruce would not take a risk of a midfield 2 of Hourihane and BB.
I do like Bjarnason but feel his versatility means he more of a player who will come in when needed.
If Hourihane was such a goal getter I would have had Bjarnason in there instead.

                           SJ
          Elmo JT Chessie Tayls
Snoddy Mile Hourihane Adomoah
                     Grealish
                          Grabban

Worried about their wide play and that they create chances for fun and feel Bruce would like Grabban as he can hold the ball as well as turn and move wide. Grealish provided fit enough to come in at expense of Hogan. Mile jedinak for Whelan as discussed.

2-1 villa.

[postal]

Wolves are a good side that have slipped lately.

Are we a better side that faced them at their ground? I'd risk a "yes". So get at them.

Still think it will be a draw tho

[VinnieChase84]

It’s a tough decision with Thor or Mile. On the one hand I’d go with energy of Thor as wolves movement could just play around Jedinak. On the other, they have a few big lads and we could do with the aerial presence of Jedinak

[Brassneck]

Thor over Jedinak for the weekend. Grabban over Hogan and Jack starts. If we press the ball all game these won't be able to take it. Doubtless they have some good players but they really aren't the dogs dangly bits they think they are.

This for me as well.

Entering this discussion as feel needs a challenge here.
I understand youse reasoning but in context If Bruce was deciding between 2 Jedinak would be involved.

Thinking how Bruce would play it would have to be jedinak for a start he is needed to win a role battles and at defensive set pieces needed. Priority wise don't we think it's going to  be the experienced man that plays. I hear playing round mile could occur in theory due to less mobility but practically mile would cover the places necessary  as he's experienced player. And in games like this take the player who has done it. That's why we have him

Bjarnason is an unknown as such. I argue that Bruce would not take a risk of a midfield 2 of Hourihane and BB.
I do like Bjarnason but feel his versatility means he more of a player who will come in when needed.
If Hourihane was such a goal getter I would have had Bjarnason in there instead.

                           SJ
          Elmo JT Chessie Tayls
Snoddy Mile Hourihane Adomoah
                     Grealish
                          Grabban

Worried about their wide play and that they create chances for fun and feel Bruce would like Grabban as he can hold the ball as well as turn and move wide. Grealish provided fit enough to come in at expense of Hogan. Mile jedinak for Whelan as discussed.

2-1 villa.

I can live with that - There is normally no right or wrong decision in football terms. Both BB & MJ have merits. It's interesting though that in the last 2 games, Bruce has been happy to sacrifice MJs height for the much smaller Whelan.

[SoccerHQ]

PNE players were buzzing around "Big Mile" no problem. I say that as a Jedinak fan aswell.

Good point thought on the set pieces and that has been a bit of an issue most of the season with Johnstone struggling to command his box.

Main thing for me is we get our own creative players in the game and they don't spend majority of game in their own half defending.

[Toronto Villa]

We need to go out with the desire to win the game from the very start. If we let Wolves have the ball we play into their hands. They will punish us. But if we play our game we can win. It’s not like Wolves are unbeatable at all. They’re not Barcelona. But our attitude and especially that of Steve Bruce needs to be spot on all week and going into the game.

[cdbearsfan]

It’s a tough decision with Thor or Mile. On the one hand I’d go with energy of Thor as wolves movement could just play around Jedinak. On the other, they have a few big lads and we could do with the aerial presence of Jedinak

I'd go with Jedinak, then bring Bjarny back midweek as I don't like the Aussietollah playing two games in a week.