Millwall vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Got the time mate?

1-0

KMac tries his luck with a few players in the right positions but they've forgotten everything they ever knew about playing there.

Given that the centre backs are likely to be Bree and tuanzebe I think it would be a brilliant result to win this

[Allan C]

For the first time in two years I’m feeling positive about a match  I’m going for a confident 2-0 win with all the players playing in there correct positions

[Matt Collins]

For the first time in two years I’m feeling positive about a match  I’m going for a confident 2-0 win with all the players playing in there correct positions

That's a bit melodramatic isn't it?

You didn't feel at all positive in the middle of seven straight wins last season? Or after we beat wolves?

[Three Spires Villa]

For the first time in two years I’m feeling positive about a match  I’m going for a confident 2-0 win with all the players playing in there correct positions

That's a bit melodramatic isn't it?

You didn't feel at all positive in the middle of seven straight wins last season? Or after we beat wolves?

You just knew how it would go & we were not wrong

[footyskillz]

Millwall one of worst teams in league and are down the bottom like Preston . Inept at defending 
Our players are better but they have the cohesive team.
1-3 villa though 

Villa scored every match so that not stopping just getting a grip of midfield and take a victory.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Millwall one of worst teams in league and are down the bottom like Preston . Inept at defending 
Our players are better but they have the cohesive team.
1-3 villa though 

Villa scored every match so that not stopping just getting a grip of midfield and take a victory.

They came back from 2 down against Forest to get a draw.
They'll be up for it.I hope our flakes are.

[Lastfootstamper]

Millwall one of worst teams in league and are down the bottom like Preston . Inept at defending 
Our players are better but they have the cohesive team.
1-3 villa though 

Villa scored every match so that not stopping just getting a grip of midfield and take a victory.

They came back from 2 down against Forest to get a draw.
They'll be up for it.I hope our flakes are.

We just fought back from imminent defeat ourselves with ten men to snatch a valiant draw, only a wonder save denying us a spectacular win in what would've been a seven-goal thriller.

We'll batter them.

[villa `cross the mersey]

4-4 with a missed penalty in the 95th minute

[ChicagoLion]

0- 1 to us, a late Cole slawed by the cabbage.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Millwall one of worst teams in league and are down the bottom like Preston . Inept at defending 
Our players are better but they have the cohesive team.
1-3 villa though 

Villa scored every match so that not stopping just getting a grip of midfield and take a victory.

They came back from 2 down against Forest to get a draw.
They'll be up for it.I hope our flakes are.

Our flakes have representatives of a new manager to impress, allegedly.

[JUAN PABLO]

get O' hare in - just scored a hatrick U23

[adrenachrome]

It will be interesting to see if the team selected has the  sufficient character, gumption and nous to organize themselves into a cohesive unit. If they do not, that will tell us and the incoming manager a great deal.

[adrenachrome]

Birmingham Live

'No, not for this one' Kevin MacDonald reveals his Aston Villa selection worries

MacDonald is in temporary charge of AVFC at Millwall this weekend



Kevin MacDonald’s head is spinning as he takes temporary charge of Aston Villa for a third time.

The caretaker boss will name his starting XI on Saturday morning after what promises to be another sleepless night of deliberating over his line-up ahead of the clash at Millwall.

MacDonald has promised only minor changes, insisting that the team who has failed to find lift-off this term, simply needs fine-tuning before it explodes into life.

After taking charge of his first training session on Friday morning, MacDonald said: “I picked about 10 different teams last night and it will probably be another 10 teams before I tell them in the morning!”

His first major dilemma is who to start at centre-back.

James Chester is suspended and Mile Jedinak misses out with a hamstring injury so the expected defensive partnership will see James Bree fill in alongside Axel Tuanzebe.

Alan Hutton will be named the captain in Chester’s absence and it’s unlikely there will be many further changes.

MacDonald certainly won’t be calling on any of his youngsters in the high-pressure environment at The New Den.

When asked if he had considered calling up the kids, he replied: “No, not for this one.

“It’s a time for experience, if I’m being honest, so it will be the same.

“If they play to the best of their ability, they can be then they will be one of the best sides in the division.”

The delicate goalkeeper situation could provide his sternest test as caretaker boss.

Error-prone Orjan Nyland was dropped for the 3-3 draw in midweek as sacked boss Steve Bruce decided to take him out of the firing line.

Replacement Mark Bunn failed to make an impact, though, and was partly to blame for two of the three goals conceded.

Youngster Andre Moreira is still seen as relatively raw having only played in the cup competitions, but could come into consideration.

“I will look at one or two of the clips,” MacDonald said when asked about the goalkeepers.

“But there are one or two other decisions I have to make as well.

“It’s three games in a week and I need to see how, physically, some of them are.“I’ll speak to some of the others, Mark Delaney and Brian Eastwick and get their thoughts.

“But I’ll make the final decision.

“They have asked me to take charge.

“I am the one who is going to have to make the decision.”

[PeterWithesShin]

[adrenachrome]

His disappointment is palpable; let's  hope the players on the pitch can organize themselves to get the job done.