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

[ChicagoLion]

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

FA cup but 4th ...


I don’t think it is that simple, we will need our best players deeper in the competition so I think you have to think about the season.

[Toronto Villa]

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?

He also qualifies what he says by saying he consults the sports scientists and physios. I think it’s a collective effort. We will definitely see changes for Friday.

[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.

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

No, only when the vet has the gun ready.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Play as many of the first team as possible. Momentum is massive to team mentality. They have a 5 day break after this game. And they can relax and regenerate over the weekend and early next week. Maybe even give Barkley a 30 minute work out .....

[dave.woodhall]

Play as many of the first team as possible. Momentum is massive to team mentality.

Remember what happened after we lost in the League Cup?

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

I remember it well Dave. But we cannot use what happened then as a template. We are in a completely different place now, with ambitious owners and a much stronger first team. Along with being at the beginning of a transfer window. We have just had a full week of recovery and i am sure the coaching and medical stats team can monitor and determine if anyone needs resting. But only 15 games i am sure most players would rather play a competitive match than just train for 10 days. Lets go get them .......

[rob_bridge]

He will play a weak team and I doubt we will rest too many 3 or 4 and when we do that this year it isn't like dropping off a cliff facr. Maybe some re-organisation - Fred in, maybe Heaton and Trez in for AEG or Bert.

Villa comfortable win. 2 up at HT and 3-1

[London Villan]

We are likely to get enforced breaks due to covid, so let’s go for it.

[tim]

I can't help but feel Villa will be "concentrating on the league" after this one...

[Dave P]

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

If you win the cup, you get both

[Big Ming]

Play as many of the first team as possible. Momentum is massive to team mentality. They have a 5 day break after this game. And they can relax and regenerate over the weekend and early next week. Maybe even give Barkley a 30 minute work out .....

Not forgetting the full seven day break we have just enjoyed.

[Ads]

Martinez

Targett
Mings
Konsa
Cash

Luiz
McGinn
Barkley

Grealish
Watkins
El Ghazi

They've had 7 days off, Liverpool will be strengthening their side by playing the reserves, lets win the fucking thing.

[dave.woodhall]

I remember it well Dave. But we cannot use what happened then as a template. We are in a completely different place now, with ambitious owners and a much stronger first team. Along with being at the beginning of a transfer window. We have just had a full week of recovery and i am sure the coaching and medical stats team can monitor and determine if anyone needs resting. But only 15 games i am sure most players would rather play a competitive match than just train for 10 days. Lets go get them .......

It was the start of the season, hardly in a different age. Same owners, same squad, same manager. This idea of 'momentum' gets rolled out every time we lose a cup game and it never makes the slightest bit of difference. Twelve months ago a Wembley final was a distraction, our two best runs under Steve Bruce came after losing in the cups.

[Risso]

I remember it well Dave. But we cannot use what happened then as a template. We are in a completely different place now, with ambitious owners and a much stronger first team. Along with being at the beginning of a transfer window. We have just had a full week of recovery and i am sure the coaching and medical stats team can monitor and determine if anyone needs resting. But only 15 games i am sure most players would rather play a competitive match than just train for 10 days. Lets go get them .......

It was the start of the season, hardly in a different age. Same owners, same squad, same manager. This idea of 'momentum' gets rolled out every time we lose a cup game and it never makes the slightest bit of difference. Twelve months ago a Wembley final was a distraction, our two best runs under Steve Bruce came after losing in the cups.

If anything, winning well against a decent team seems to have given us the very opposite of momentum for the most part this season! We're just inconsistent this year. Good to very good in some games, decnt in others. All a massive improvement on last season when we were consistently dreadful.

[eamonn]

We've only really been under-par for a few halves this season (Sheffield United, Southampton, Leeds and Brighton) and the only one we deserved to lose (and even then we had good chances) was Leedz. Away from home we've been complete ballers and deserved 4 points from West Ham/ManUre.