Aston Villa vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Pre-Match Thread

[ADVILLAFAN]

A Leeds-supporting mate was eulogising about Wolves; the best team he’s ever seen in this division. He claims they are quick, clever and strong. He particularly noted their large DMF (I don’t know the Wolves team so cannot name him).
So, can we raise our game?

Boly I think. I didn’t know him before, but thought he was really good.

[Mister E]

A Leeds-supporting mate was eulogising about Wolves; the best team he’s ever seen in this division. He claims they are quick, clever and strong. He particularly noted their large DMF (I don’t know the Wolves team so cannot name him).
So, can we raise our game?

Sounds like he's deflecting from how utterly shite Leeds are. They were Sunderland with a bit of headless chicken running.

Maybe. I trust his judgement. Maybe Wolves are the real deal.

[Ads]

I watched it. Wolves played well but it was so easy for them. Leeds were utterly wretched.

The defending for the goals, the first in particularly was jaw droppingly bad.

[Matt Collins]

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/11280471/leeds-0-3-wolves

Gulp

[Axl Rose]

A Leeds-supporting mate was eulogising about Wolves; the best team he’s ever seen in this division. He claims they are quick, clever and strong. He particularly noted their large DMF (I don’t know the Wolves team so cannot name him).
So, can we raise our game?

Boly I think. I didn’t know him before, but thought he was really good.

I think it's N'Diaye, and he's a very decent midfielder. For me, he's the main man in their team, and if we win that particular battle on Saturday evening, we have a great chance of taking three points.

Boly is their rock at the back, and also very good.

It'll be a great match I reckon.

[Ads]

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/11280471/leeds-0-3-wolves

Gulp

Yes Leeds defending is hard to swallow.

[Matt Collins]

I hope so. We were going so well up to the blues game

We’ve picked up results wise but performances haven’t been great

Hopefully they really raise themselves and the return of grealish helps us find our groove again

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

I think we'll rise to the big occasion again. I also think we could play Whelan on crutches, put Gabby up front on his own and blindfold the defence and we'd still give Wolves a tougher game than Leeds did. Leeds were so bad I assumed Mendes had chucked them a few quid. Yep, Wolves are good, but so are we.

[footyskillz]

I think anyone who appreciates good football knows that wolves dominance of the ball , style of play and results on matches this season is up there with other best championship teams over the years. They are pretty stand out and credit nuno for that. Some of those players will thrive in the premier league.

Neves to me is a key player and probably best midfielder in league.

Ideally way villa beat this mob is keeping the ball and doing what Fulham did. However over 90 mins that's not how Bruce plays and sets up. What can be done is though keeping the ball as much as we can and high up the field.

Also essentially  to keep a disciplined shape starting with defence. And to frustrate wolves in middle then Mile Jedinak is going to Marshall that middle ground both arieal and on the ground.

Elmo will need help from snoddy as will tayls from Albert.
What is dangerous is villa being exposed when we have our own attacking set plays and corners and this a real risk which wolves can  punish.

Similarly villa are very good at counter attacks especially in space from defending at own  corners.
In both these situations teams are out of shape so there is chances to take advantage.

The hope here is that villa want this. That villa players, experienced heads will step up.
Remember that 1 - 1 V Brighton away last season. Perhaps our of all the performances under Bruce that was the most impressive to me.
And villa should have won.

This is a match where a organised disciplined shape and attempt to frustrate wolves is needed.   By both defence solidarity and organised team play when attacking,( the set play specials are vital, Villa most headed goals in league) then can gain all 3 points.

I recognise other mention draws on here and that would be a sensible prediction I went with the 2-1 win. Maybe it's 1-0 but close margin victory.

The shots from distance or outside the penalty area could be the winner goal here. Villa have Snodgrass and Hourihane and Grealish and Adomoah to do this and a big advantage would  be to get shots in on goal.

Excited for the match on Saturday and hope Bruce can set it up to get the whole 3 points.

[The Edge]

I'm hoping obviously for a win if only to shut up the smug Dingle at work.

Funnily enough he's got lots to say this season. Todays latest gem was "I see its the same ref as the last time we played you. Lets hope he see's any stamps from Grealish and sends off Chester this time when he commits two yellow car offences"

Normally I would refrain from replying but today had to ask him how long it took him to get back from Leeds. Only to get a blank look.

Hopefully the same ref will be bringing those same yellow cards for when Cavilero chucks himself to the floor every 30 seconds also

Phew, glad no-one noticed I posted 'two yellow car offences'

"Taxi" for you

[footyskillz]

A Leeds-supporting mate was eulogising about Wolves; the best team he’s ever seen in this division. He claims they are quick, clever and strong. He particularly noted their large DMF (I don’t know the Wolves team so cannot name him).
So, can we raise our game?

Boly I think. I didn’t know him before, but thought he was really good.

I think it's N'Diaye, and he's a very decent midfielder. For me, he's the main man in their team, and if we win that particular battle on Saturday evening, we have a great chance of taking three points.

Boly is their rock at the back, and also very good.

It'll be a great match I reckon.

Have to give credit to conor coady, nuno developed him and he plays defender role something he has been moved into. I don't totally rate him as much as some of the others and would be a weak link defensively. I remember Grealish giving him trouble and would imagine Grabban or Davis would certainly expose his defensive capabilities. Footballing wise his abilities have improved but as a defender he is one that could be exposed.

Doherty and Douglas are also players who fly and show good abilities moving forward but they can be exposed too.

[adrenachrome]

Express and Star

James Chester reckons Aston Villa now a different beast to the team brushed aside by Wolves five months ago

By Matt Maher



Tomorrow night’s return at Villa Park represents both another vital fixture on the run-in and a chance for the hosts to banish a few demons from one of their most chastening experiences of the campaign.

Perhaps only Cardiff can claim to have outplayed Villa this term in the manner Wolves did back in October.

The result – and in many respects the performance – was symptomatic of a first half of the season in which Villa remained among the front-runners without ever quite convincing enough to firm up a status as genuine promotion contenders.

Five months on, those credentials are no longer in any doubt. Villa have won nine out of 11 in the league and sit four points behind second-placed Cardiff.

The form of Jack Grealish, along with several other key men, has been key to helping boss Steve Bruce find a consistent formula for success. Better results have led to a better mood and an increased confidence in the dressing room.

“We’re a very different team now,” said Chester. “Earlier on in the season we were very up and down.

“We didn’t start the season well, we then went on the run and faded a little again.

“Since Christmas we have been bang on it and in good form. We have enough experience in the dressing room to grind out results and play in big games. Hopefully that will show on Saturday.

“It was a really difficult afternoon (at Molineux). I don’t think we got things right on the day with the shape they played and it was a long afternoon, they were worthy winners.

“But the form we are in at the moment, I am sure it won’t be the same on Saturday.”

There is no better player better placed to talk about the changing face of Villa than Chester. After all, he has witnessed almost the entirety of their Championship adventure first-hand, having played every single minute in the league since signing from Albion one game into last season.

Chester is Villa’s Mr Dependable in every sense.

“I think the biggest difference, compared to where we were last season, is the experience in the squad,” he said.

“Even when we don’t play very well, like on Tuesday night at Sunderland, we have enough mental strength to win games.

“The manner of the victory doesn’t matter, it is about getting three points.

“The game on Tuesday night, the one before at Sheffield Wednesday, they are the games you need to win to stay in the hunt.”

Both teams will be desperate for victory but Villa’s need is undoubtedly greater due to them playing catch-up.

Their deficit to Cardiff is far from decisive, but with the games counting down, they cannot afford to see it grow much larger.

Tomorrow’s game kicks-off another busy week which includes a rearranged home game with QPR and a trip to Bolton before the international break.

“Wolves have been the best team in the division all season,” added Chester. “Are we looking to prove a point? I’d say that’s probably right.

“But it is three points at the end of the day, whether it is Tuesday at Sunderland or on Saturday against Wolves, that is the most important thing.”

[SoccerHQ]

A Leeds-supporting mate was eulogising about Wolves; the best team he’s ever seen in this division. He claims they are quick, clever and strong. He particularly noted their large DMF (I don’t know the Wolves team so cannot name him).
So, can we raise our game?

Boly I think. I didn’t know him before, but thought he was really good.

I think it's N'Diaye, and he's a very decent midfielder. For me, he's the main man in their team, and if we win that particular battle on Saturday evening, we have a great chance of taking three points.

Boly is their rock at the back, and also very good.

It'll be a great match I reckon.

N'Diaye isn't actuallly a regular, Romain Saiss and Neves is their regular midfield two.

[TonyD]

This game will hinge on us being able to take the blows and defend like crazy and hit them on the break.  I can’t see us with our limited midfield being able to match them with Bruce’s limited abilities.  So we need to suck it up and hit them on the break. Jack is crucial.  First goal is also crucial.

[TonyD]

Bookies have them slight favourites which I think is wrong considering we are at home. We can turn up and beat them on Saturday. As long as we don’t try to beat them at their own game.  Quick breaks with Jack, Albert and Snods we can rip into these.