Aston Villa v Liverpool (FAC3) Friday 8th January 7:45pm KO - Pre Match Thread

[Risso]

I think he'll make big changes. Hause, Guilbert, Nakamba, Davis all in.

[cdbearsfan]

If Liverpool put out a side similar the one they played in last year's cup, our reserves should be good enough to win. Would definitely rest McGinn, Grealish and Watkins, but have all three on the bench in case we need them.

Expect it to be something like...

Heaton

Guilbert
Engels
Hause
Taylor

Elmo
Hourihane
Nakamba
Ramsey
Traore

Davis

Subs: Steer, Targett, Konsa, Luiz, El Ghazi, McGinn, Grealish, Barry, Watkins

Possibly Barkley/Trezeguet involved if back from injury.

That is a shocking team, if it's anything like that I'll be fuming, and I don't get as misty eyed about the cup as some do on here.

Fume away. It's about as good as the team that beat them 5-0 last year. It would be madness not to take the chance to rest players with three successive huge matches afterwards.

I want us to win the cup, too. As part of a Double. Let's not jeopardise our chances of the title by knackering the team in a match against a bunch of kids/reserves.

[mr underhill]

I agree with you - and wonder how the team you list would fare in the championship?

[hipkiss92]

If Liverpool put out a side similar the one they played in last year's cup, our reserves should be good enough to win. Would definitely rest McGinn, Grealish and Watkins, but have all three on the bench in case we need them.

Expect it to be something like...

Heaton

Guilbert
Engels
Hause
Taylor

Elmo
Hourihane
Nakamba
Ramsey
Traore

Davis

Subs: Steer, Targett, Konsa, Luiz, El Ghazi, McGinn, Grealish, Barry, Watkins

Possibly Barkley/Trezeguet involved if back from injury.

That is a shocking team, if it's anything like that I'll be fuming, and I don't get as misty eyed about the cup as some do on here.

Fume away. It's about as good as the team that beat them 5-0 last year. It would be madness not to take the chance to rest players with three successive huge matches afterwards.

I want us to win the cup, too. As part of a Double. Let's not jeopardise our chances of the title by knackering the team in a match against a bunch of kids/reserves.

That's the team I would play too. We have 2 games a week after this through to the first weekend of February. A few players in risk of suspension with multiple bookings as well.

We don't want to end up in a MO'N situation where the main 13 players are all exhausted come March and the reserves have got hardly any game time. Good chance the fully utilise the squad.

[OCD]

Equally though there's no point in making changes for change sake. If there are players who are showing no sign of fatigue, they should still play.

[cdbearsfan]

But fatigue doesn't work like that, does it? If they're not showing signs now it doesn't mean that they might not later because of taking part in this game, the first in a run of (possibly) two games per week for the next nine weeks.

[john e]

Given a choice which one would you take

Win the FA Cup
Finish in a Europa spot (5th)

the answer to that question probably affects which team you think we should put out

[stubbsyandy]

Yes we could win the cup but I would prefer to keep the momentum going in the league after such a good start and change in how we play.

[Risso]

But fatigue doesn't work like that, does it? If they're not showing signs now it doesn't me that they might not later because of taking part in this game, the first in a run of (possibly) two games per week for the next nine weeks.

I wasn't really impressed with Smith's "I've never seen a footballer carried off with exhaustion" line. Seemed like something one of the old school arsehole managers would say, and reminded me of Gregory's "What's he got to be depressed about" comment. They're elite athletes, and I would think a 10% drop in performance would affect the player and team quite a bit.

[Lastfootstamper]

Playing has to be better than training. If they're getting tired, ease up at Bodymoor on the hill climbing or whatever the newfangled equivalent is.

[Drummond]

But fatigue doesn't work like that, does it? If they're not showing signs now it doesn't me that they might not later because of taking part in this game, the first in a run of (possibly) two games per week for the next nine weeks.

I wasn't really impressed with Smith's "I've never seen a footballer carried off with exhaustion" line. Seemed like something one of the old school arsehole managers would say, and reminded me of Gregory's "What's he got to be depressed about" comment. They're elite athletes, and I would think a 10% drop in performance would affect the player and team quite a bit.

He's right though, and you don't often hear about players complaining they are playing too much.

[robbo1874]

The only one I can think of currently who looks like he needs a rest is Watkins and previously SJM after the Scotland internationals when they qualified. As I recall Grealish also looked a bit tired when he came back from the England games. Apart from that, I can’t recall any others. If the first choice players for this one are fit and are keen to play then they should. Maybe if any of them have any niggles then yes leave them out and rest Ollie, but other than that, let’s going all out to get through to the 4th round. If we can get rid of Liverpool at this stage, that’s one of the main contenders we don’t have to worry about in the latter stages. We’re a very good chance for the cup this year, as we’ve shown we can beat the best sides in the land.

[Risso]

But fatigue doesn't work like that, does it? If they're not showing signs now it doesn't me that they might not later because of taking part in this game, the first in a run of (possibly) two games per week for the next nine weeks.

I wasn't really impressed with Smith's "I've never seen a footballer carried off with exhaustion" line. Seemed like something one of the old school arsehole managers would say, and reminded me of Gregory's "What's he got to be depressed about" comment. They're elite athletes, and I would think a 10% drop in performance would affect the player and team quite a bit.

He's right though, and you don't often hear about players complaining they are playing too much.

So the only time a player should be rested is when they're physically too exhausted to play?

[TelfordVilla]

We have an excellent performance analyst team who monitor all the players throughout the week. They will be well aware of who needs a rest and who is fir to play. I expect a strong line up with some key players rested, ollie and jack to be two of them on the bench.

[OCD]

We have an excellent performance analyst team who monitor all the players throughout the week. They will be well aware of who needs a rest and who is fir to play. I expect a strong line up with some key players rested, ollie and jack to be two of them on the bench.

You saved me a post . Yes, we've got sports scientists as well as a performance director who will have a number of metrics they monitor and know what's happening to individuals. Analysts talk about entering the red zone when a player is showing signs of fatigue. By the time we play Liverpool it will be almost a week since they've played. We've got the youngest average age in the league and some of our players are some of the best athletes in the league. We don't have to change the whole 11.