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

[DB]

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.

Me too, but getting knocked out by the Tesco’s would be a bit shit.

[GarTomas]

If we get through Leeds will be tough. I think they stopped us playing at a Elland Road well with their energy.  But there will certainly be some spice there.

That being said I think Derby could Nick a result as they will feel aggrieved after Spygate and the penalty from the first leg.

[The Edge]

Danny Murphy waded in with his twopenneth on Talk shite this morrning. He said Gayles second yellow should be overturned as there was NO CONTACT with our keeper and him feigning an injury caused the booking. He called him "that silly goalkeeper for villa" What an absolute tool Murphy is.

[oldtimernow]

What if we played with ElGhazi to have free rein on either wing with Keinan and Tammy to shake up their 3 some at the back?

[VILLA MOLE]

Danny Murphy waded in with his twopenneth on Talk shite this morrning. He said Gayles second yellow should be overturned as there was NO CONTACT with our keeper and him feigning an injury caused the booking. He called him "that silly goalkeeper for villa" What an absolute tool Murphy is.

He seems to have a real hard  on for us for some reason ??

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Danny Murphy waded in with his twopenneth on Talk shite this morrning. He said Gayles second yellow should be overturned as there was NO CONTACT with our keeper and him feigning an injury caused the booking. He called him "that silly goalkeeper for villa" What an absolute tool Murphy is.

He seems to have a real hard  on for us for some reason ??

Seems Liverpool fans, of which he's one, never forgave us for celebrating Slippy Gee's birthday at Wembley. Tossers.

[paul_e]

If he's on Twitter someone really needs to link the last few seconds of this to him:

Suggesting a yellow is harsh is one thing but saying there's no contact is obviously bullshit.


Onto the 2nd leg 0-2 with a goal fairly early on causing them to not know whether to stick or twist with the 'defend and hope for one on the counter' tactic and then another with 15-20 to go that kills the tie and leads to them losing their heads. I reckon there'll be a load of cards for them again and very possibly another sending off. I just hope we don't get dragged into any silly shit or lose anyone to injury.

[chrisw1]

AA played himself out of the team on Sat I thought. Was getting in Elmos way for a lot of it. There might be a goal in Green, had another decent half chance late on Saturday.

Think Hourihane has to start. Two games in 4 days is a long way past Whelans capabilities. Hause for me comes in for Taylor too. Better on ball and crucially far better in air which WBA are going to target all game.

I think this game suits us and am confident we will do it. 2-1 win again with a vastly improved display from McGinn being key.

--------------'Steer
Elmo, Axel, Mings, Hause
--McGinn, Hourihane, Grealish
Green, Abraham, El Ghazi

Seems like they will have to go with a front 3 of Phillips, Rodriguez and Murphy. Rest of their team is very much injury dependent but I'll be delighted if Johansen doesn't make it.

I've read this a few times now.  I can't see any prospect of Taylor being dropped.   I must have been one of his biggest critics since he joined, but can see that he is playing extremely well at the moment.  Yes he gave the ball away a couple of times on Saturday, but he also made some great challenges and linked up well going forward.  Much as long term I'd probably prefer Hause to Taylor at left back, now is definitely not the time to make that change.

[paul_e]

I'd agree with Chris, I don't think there's any need to swap Taylor right now. Next year we need someone who can offer more going forward (and doesn't look so fucking terrified of shooting and crossing) but going into the 2nd leg of the playoffs isn't a good time to make unforced changes in defence.

I'd keep the same team with the possible exception of starting Hourihane, mainly because I don't trust Whelan to last much after half time after such a short rest.

[chrisw1]

Hostile reception.

First response to this is brilliant...
https://twitter.com/hipkin81/status/1127588950875496448

[AV82EC]

Hostile reception.

First response to this is brilliant...
https://twitter.com/hipkin81/status/1127588950875496448

As one of the replies said that’ll gain some traction with his 8 followers.

[darren woolley]

Draw 1-1.

[Colhint]

I think it is time for Kortney. With their main striker out, I think they will rely a lot on crosses, set pieces  etc. I think Kortney will handle that better.

[The Edge]

Hostile reception.

First response to this is brilliant...
https://twitter.com/hipkin81/status/1127588950875496448

Can't wait for one of our players to rattle one in their net at the Snorethorns. Then give them the shhhhh sign.

[tomd2103]

What if we played with ElGhazi to have free rein on either wing with Keinan and Tammy to shake up their 3 some at the back?

One of the big problems we have out wide is that 3 of the 4 players who have been playing in those areas in recent games (Adomah, Elmohamady and Taylor) can't beat players 1-v-1 and instead turn back pretty much every time.  El Ghazi can, but I still find him a bit too hit and miss. 

Albion were pretty effective for 70 minutes of that game as they were able to block up the middle of the pitch where our best players operate and force us to play wide where we haven't really got that same quality.  I thought it needed Green and Kodjia to come on quite early into the second half simply because they are able to beat players 1-v-1 and it would stretch the Albion a bit more.  We desperately need some more quality in wide areas whatever division we end up in next season. 

That said, Adomah is better defensively than Kodjia and Green, so he might start again tomorrow night.