Aston Villa v Man City League Cup Final Pre Match Thread

[Risso]

Elmo is a Championship player for me. Guilbert is a player I like a great deal and he did very well with Sterling up at their place.

I'd play Elmo in front of Guilbert.  He's better defensively than AEG or Trez, and offers nearly as much going forward as AEG, and more than Trezeguet.

[RamboandBruno]

I wouldn’t play Elmo instead of Guilbert, think Freddy despite last weeks game, is just a better player. Would be tempted however, to play Elmo wide midfield ahead of Guilbert, just as he can throw in the odd outstanding cross and he is more defensive minded. I think he might move to a flat back 4 and have two wide midfielders tucking in. After smiths mini outburst last week I can’t see el ghazi being the only player dropped. Think Luiz may be benched.

                            Reina

Guilbert.       Engels.   Mings.  Targett

                          Nakamba

Elmo.                                   Hourihane
                           Grealish

                            Samatta

Felt really flat earlier in the week, but nerves are kicking in. And delusionally have a feeling we’ll win, which would be one of the great cup upsets. Several beers in the box park will continue this delusion until 4.30pm at least!!

[Goldie.7]

                            Reina

Guilbert.       Engels.   Mings.  Targett

                          Nakamba

Elmo.                                   Hourihane
                           Grealish

                            Samatta

Quick maths.

[Pat McMahon]

I was talking last night to a mate of mine who is a Wednesday fan. Discussing Man City’s win at Real and our dismal showing last weekend and he said we just need to treat it as a one off, give it a go and die for the cause - in an intelligent, well set out way, not a a Kevin Keegan way. He described it as a day out with a free pass. I’m trying to get myself into this mindset instead of shutting myself at 17% possession!

[RamboandBruno]

                            Reina

Guilbert.       Engels.   Mings.  Targett

                          Nakamba

Elmo.                                   Hourihane
                           Grealish

                            Samatta

Quick maths.

I haven’t even had a drink yet!! 😂 Luiz can back in them alongside Nakamba.

I was at the club shop this morning and there three lads there over from Belgium, clubbe Brugge fans, who went to see the game at old traffic on Thursday then came down to villa as we have so many of their ex players. They were absolutely raving about Nakamba, said he was their best player and they looked a bit crestfallen when I said he’d been a bit hit and miss for us.

[aev]

18-1 to win in normal time. Having some of that.

[Legion]

I can't see us scoring as many as 18 if I am being honest.

[Rudy65]

                            Reina

Guilbert.       Engels.   Mings.  Targett

                          Nakamba

Elmo.                                   Hourihane
                           Grealish

                            Samatta

Quick maths.

I haven’t even had a drink yet!! 😂 Luiz can back in them alongside Nakamba.

I was at the club shop this morning and there three lads there over from Belgium, clubbe Brugge fans, who went to see the game at old traffic on Thursday then came down to villa as we have so many of their ex players. They were absolutely raving about Nakamba, said he was their best player and they looked a bit crestfallen when I said he’d been a bit hit and miss for us.

Hit and miss is being kind. The worst of our signings in my view

[Villan82]

Staying up was the aim this season.

This has become a bloody distraction.

[Drummond]

Staying up was the aim this season.

This has become a bloody distraction.

We're in a cup final! I'm amazed people can't be happy about it.

[Villan82]

Staying up was the aim this season.

This has become a bloody distraction.

We're in a cup final! I'm amazed people can't be happy about it.

We are sleepwalking towards the quagmire of the championship-and likely to lose players we have had an affinity with.

Its depressing as fk

[RamboandBruno]

Up to you but find it a bit mad the night before a cup final to be thinking along these lines, there’s every other week of the season to be thinking like that. I hate the idea of going down, losing grealish etc. But if I couldn’t get the night before nerves and excitement of a cup final weekend, I’d be asking myself what the point of it was.

[tomd2103]

Need to get tactics spot on tomorrow if we are to have any chance.  Sherwood got it badly wrong in 2015, whereas I remember a Big Ron getting it spot on in 1994 using Graham Fenton in midfield. 

I would personally go 3-5-2, with Grealish being in a more advanced role with Samatta.  None of the midfield options are exactly great, but I would try and shore things up a bit with three in there.

[PaulTheVillan]

Need to get tactics spit on tomorrow if we are to have any chance.  Sherwood gig it badly wrong in 2015, whereas I remember a Big Ron getting it spot on in 1994 using Graham Fenton in midfield. 

I would personally go 3-5-2, with Grealish being in a more advanced role with Samatta.  None of the midfield options are exactly grata, but I would try and shore things up a bit with three in there.

Smith needs to make the decision of packing the defence or packing the midfield. Personally I would pack the midfield, why add more defenders who can't defend.

[remy]

Staying up was the aim this season.

This has become a bloody distraction.

We're in a cup final! I'm amazed people can't be happy about it.

How about being tonked 6-1 by them, they just beat Madrid on their own patch and have £50m players on the bench. Football since our 96 win has gone so lop sided.