SHA v Aston Villa: Pre-Match Thread

[wolfman999]

Monk pleading for Villa to let them play Gary Gardner at the pre-match press conference:

Happy with that. As long as they don't want to play him on Sunday😜

[malckennedy]

There are only 4 truly decent players in our squad - Mings, Abraham, Grealish and McGinn. To leave 25% of our really good players out would be extreme folly. Especially as the main characteristics of the two midfield players that McGinn should replace are being slow in the one case and physically weak in the other.

[PeterWithesShin]

I could just make 1 change and put Mile in at CB as a right sider

[wittonwarrior]

Having had a look at what some of their fans are saying, it's probably the understatement of all time to say they don't like us.

Far too much 'Villa are lucky fannies' type moaning on there, though. The way they bang on makes us sound like we win every week and are close to winning the quadruple.

If they win this weekend it sounds like it'll be the highlight of their entire lives. Recently there was a thread about suicide, and how Villa winning might push him over the edge. Deary me.

I dare them if we do win 90% are wannabe villa fans so it’s all bravado I’m afraid to say

[auntiesledd]

I went past a house today that was 102 The Villa, so I immediately thought it was a prediction for the outcome at The Sty. I did, of course, rule out an outcome of 10-2 either way: so used the zero as a dot. After a jammy ricochet puts the Knuckle Draggers  1-up, we'll be level at HT - until Jack sticks a screamer in the top l/h corner, in the 93rd minute (after being kicked black & blue throughout the match). Bosh.

UTV

[remy]

Yes it's true, this is the highlight of their lives.

Two I work with. One actually lives in Aston but walks into Mordor as often as possible.

The other (poor mare) had the misfortune to be shunned when her father, grandad and brothers all stood on the holte for years and flatly refused to take her. So she shacked up with a nose and hasn't looked back. She actually gets all heated with anticipation on the match considering they haven't beaten us in the league for 14 years?

Fair play she thinks it will be a 2-2, they will try to hobble Jack, surround the ref at every opportunity and time waste if they go 1-0 up within 2 minutes.

I am going for a 2-2 aswell with Whelan starting in place of McGinn and then when he tires in the 2nd half - Enter Super John to pick up where he left off with the canny plan of nipping in when 4 orcs surround jack. Play right into our hands fools! (Evil laugh).

Onwards! Upwards! For the nerds out there, picture the Rohirim coming down the hill towards the evil hordes in Two Towers.

[Lastfootstamper]

I went past a house today that was 102 The Villa, so I immediately thought it was a prediction for the outcome at The Sty. I did, of course, rule out an outcome of 10-2 either way: so used the zero as a dot. After a jammy ricochet puts the Knuckle Draggers  1-up, we'll be level at HT - until Jack sticks a screamer in the top l/h corner, in the 93rd minute (after being kicked black & blue throughout the match). Bosh.

UTV

I've read it as One-Nil To The Villa.

Not what I think, though. I reckon your 10-2 might be closer. Jack's back, we're playing like we were beforehand, they're falling apart at the seams. We're still susceptible at fullback, but they won't have near enough.

Us to win by at least 3.

[KRS]

I could just make 1 change and put Mile in at CB as a right sider

Jedinak at CB or Taylor at LB? I'd move Hause over to CB. SJM also has to start in place of Whelan, Hourihane or Adomah.

[Ads]

Hause and Mings centre halves for me. Both physical, big, good in the air and can transition out of defence.

Dominate the ball and Taylor won't be so exposed.

[XXVilla]

Hause and Mings centre halves for me. Both physical, big, good in the air and can transition out of defence.

Dominate the ball and Taylor won't be so exposed.

Agree. Hause is a centre half so really looking forward to seeing him there as he’s been so good out of position at LB

[villan from luton]

Whelan had his first really good game in literally ages. And I'm delighted he did. But when you have a fully charged John McGinn available you play him. It's a massive upgrade.

I thought Whelan did well at Stoke to be fair

[villan from luton]

There are only 4 truly decent players in our squad - Mings, Abraham, Grealish and McGinn. To leave 25% of our really good players out would be extreme folly. Especially as the main characteristics of the two midfield players that McGinn should replace are being slow in the one case and physically weak in the other.

We are in the championship and think at this standard we have far more than 4 decent players

[Sexual Ealing]

Hause and Mings centre halves for me. Both physical, big, good in the air and can transition out of defence.

Dominate the ball and Taylor won't be so exposed.

Agreed.

[Ads]

We carry ,uniquely, the name of this great City of Birmingham ...
we set the standards and those mincers degrade this City.
So proud to be Blues .... they ain't got a fekkin clue

The usual tropes coming out.

Of all the relentless bollocks they come out with, this is the most curious one. That they seriously believe any Villa fan has ever cared about their name is just odd.

You feel like you're watching some Attenborough documentary about unusual creatures who inhabit the midnight zone of the deepest oceans. Starved of light, these creatures shouldn't exist, yet they do, with their grotesque and puzzling appearances, habits and ways.

Never change Small Heath.

[Lastfootstamper]

I'd love to hear of these standards they believe they set.