WBA v Aston Villa. Play Off Semi Final Second Leg Pre-Match Thread

[Clampy]

I reckon they will start with that Johnathan Leko kid and play him in Gayle's place, even if he is a winger but I can't think of any other forwards with pace they have. It's just a shame we didn't get a third goal on Saturday. I'd bring Hourihane and Green in for us to freshen us up a bit.

[Richard]

My initial reaction after the game on Saturday was that WBA would have to go for it on Tuesday and give us a chance to counter attack. On reflection, I don't think they will do this. They will gamble that Dean Smith only knows one way of playing. 

So you think they'll park the bus with 541 and try to counter with the long ball or knick one from a set piece again? I would like to think they'll be more open than that but there may be some sense in continuing playing the defensive grid iron system for them as if they try to out football us then we'll run rings around them.

Remember Boro in the second leg last year well this is a Pulis mark 2 side

[The Edge]

My initial reaction after the game on Saturday was that WBA would have to go for it on Tuesday and give us a chance to counter attack. On reflection, I don't think they will do this. They will gamble that Dean Smith only knows one way of playing. 

So you think they'll park the bus with 541 and try to counter with the long ball or knick one from a set piece again? I would like to think they'll be more open than that but there may be some sense in continuing playing the defensive grid iron system for them as if they try to out football us then we'll run rings around them.

Remember Boro in the second leg last year well this is a Pulis mark 2 side

I thought that on Saturday. The Pulis mentality is still deeply ingrained in them. But they don't have to worry in the return leg as apparently it was all the refs fault they lost. Also Grealish throwing himself to the all game. Every team we beat say the same thing about him. Funny he's never been booked or even spoken to about it?

[Lambert and Payne]

Anyone else flipped the heart and head theories role? In my head now I know we’re good enough to beat them if they’re full strength, now they’re missing key players and have to come at us which suits us.

But in my heart I know Aston Villa are capeable of doing an Aston Villa and it’s teally starting to worry me!

I need a beer

[UK Redsox]

I'm still of the 'going up this year is a bonus' mindset.

[QuintonVilla]

Anyone lucky enough to have got a ticket, sing your hearts out for 90 minutes. Be loud and do us proud.

[Monty]

Anyone else flipped the heart and head theories role? In my head now I know we’re good enough to beat them if they’re full strength, now they’re missing key players and have to come at us which suits us.

But in my heart I know Aston Villa are capeable of doing an Aston Villa and it’s teally starting to worry me!

I need a beer

All of this.

[Drummond]

I think they'll go Bruceball. They are only a goal behind so will try and stifle us and nick one on the break or from a set piece. They've only got Rodriguez left up front so can't exactly go for an attacking formation.

We will do them by two clear goals as the game opens up in the latter stages.

[Risso]

I think they'll go Bruceball. They are only a goal behind so will try and stifle us and nick one on the break or from a set piece. They've only got Rodriguez left up front so can't exactly go for an attacking formation.

We will do them by two clear goals as the game opens up in the latter stages.

I think you're right Drummond, they'll stick Rodriguez and Phillips higher up the pitch, both of whom will be meat and drink to Tammy and Axel.  I'm expecting a comfortable 2-0, with a goal in each half as we relax our way into the final.

[Lastfootstamper]

Of recent times... Bruce, played bruceball, lost
Pulis, played pulisball, lost
Shan, took it down to a whole new level with shanball, lost

I see a pattern there.

[robbo1874]

Went for a 2-2 in the home leg and would honestly take that at their place now. A comfortable 1-0 would be nice, but really, who cares, as long as we go through? Big shout to everyone going to the match. Really hope you leave with big smiles on your faces!

I’ll be waking up Weds a.m and will have to do the usual handv match thread and guardian mbm thread. Hopefully it will be better than when I woke up after the playoff final. That day I reached for my phone, saw the 1-0 score line, thought yes! We’ve done it, then went back to sleep. It wasn’t until I woke up later and read the match report, that I realised we’d actually lost! Jeez, that was a bad one to take!

[Richard E]

I'm still of the 'going up this year is a bonus' mindset.

I’ve already talked myself into ‘I can’t see us beating Leeds’ mode.

[tomd2103]

Early goal for us to give us a two goal lead could be crucial.  You could quite clearly see that their game plan on Saturday was focussed on stifling us.  They can still approach the game that way when they are 1 goal down, but 2 being two goals down would change that.  I think they would have to open up a lot more and like the latter stages of the game at the weekend, we would find space a in their attacking third a lot easier.

The tie is by no means over, but we are in a decent position going into tomorrow. 

[Hookeysmith]

I would rather be us than them - would not have fancied having to go there and break them down and score 2. This is a difficult tactical choice for Shan and co as he has to stick or twist.

I think we need a very strong ref performance as if they concede first then the cynical side of their game will come into force.

I think if it is tight in the last 10 they will resort to an aerial bombardment and then we can counter with the Jedi.

We do have strength all over the bench to cover each eventuality and a tactically astute management team so I am very hopeful.

I just feel we will score

[St AustellAVFC]

I’m confident we will score at least once. My only change from the starting lineup from Saturday would be to drop Adomah and start Green. As said on other posts, our bench has options for all eventualities.