Aston Villa vs Arsenal pre match thread - Feb 6th 12.30pm

[ChicagoLion]

We have made the fewest starting X1 canges 18, the most being Manure 65.
The dilema is how many can he rest without severly weakening the team?

[tomd2103]

We don't play until next Saturday after this one do we?  In that case, I wouldn't be making too many changes.  Nakamba or Sanson for Barkley, with McGinn moving forward would be one and Traore or Trezeguet for El Ghazi on the right. 

Honsetly can only see them making one change though and that will be the latter one above.

[CT]

I didn’t realise Tierney is out for them tomorrow, he’d been in great form.

Let’s hope we’re bang at it after Wednesday. 1-0 to us.

[Deano's Mullet]

I thought McGinn looked knackered against both Southampton and Hammers although his defending on the line vs Saints was fabulous. I think if Sanson replaces anyone it will be him.

[Steve67]

Traore in for El Ghazi.  That's the only change I reckon, unless SJM who hasn't been so SJM just lately gets the push for Sanson.

[olaftab]

Barkley needs a rest. He looked totally knackered against West Ham.

[Steve67]

I don't disagree with you Aftab but I reckon Dean will play him if he's anywhere near fit. I agree with you and would like to see McGinn further forward with Sanson in next to Luiz.

[ChicagoLion]

I think they all looked knackered but the most obvious AEG Ollie Barkley Luiz SJM and To a lesser extent Jack.
And therein lies the problem caused by a “ players don’t get carried off for exhaustion “ attitude”
But they do lose energy, touch and form as we saw on Wednesday.

[RamboandBruno]

The closer it gets to the match, the more I think Dean gave an indication of his thinking in the post match interview after West Ham. Something along the lines of, we changed it up (presumably reference to El Ghazi coming in, but he also referenced slightly different role for McGinn) and it didn’t really work.
On that basis, I think it will be Traore (or poss Trez) for El Ghazi and possibly that’s it.

On another point a colleague of mine who is a Liverpool fan (he’s from Belfast so can be forgiven), said to me he thinks Villa always look much better when there is the normal gap between their games and it’s obvious that proper coaching has taken place in training. Stating the obvious maybe, but his point was also not all teams are coached that well. Just interesting to hear an outside perspective on us.

[TelfordVilla]

The closer it gets to the match, the more I think Dean gave an indication of his thinking in the post match interview after West Ham. Something along the lines of, we changed it up (presumably reference to El Ghazi coming in, but he also referenced slightly different role for McGinn) and it didn’t really work.
On that basis, I think it will be Traore (or poss Trez) for El Ghazi and possibly that’s it.

On another point a colleague of mine who is a Liverpool fan (he’s from Belfast so can be forgiven), said to me he thinks Villa always look much better when there is the normal gap between their games and it’s obvious that proper coaching has taken place in training. Stating the obvious maybe, but his point was also not all teams are coached that well. Just interesting to hear an outside perspective on us.

  this is so true. When we have a week to plan and prepare for a match we have a clear game plan. Understood by all the players and strengths and weaknesses all accounted for. When we have to add lib, it looks disjointed and lacking.

[TelfordVilla]

I think this is because it is a young team and they need the coaching more than an experienced group would.

[TelfordVilla]

I think this is because it is a young team and they need the coaching more than an experienced group would.

[PaulWinch again]

Traore in for El Ghazi.  That's the only change I reckon, unless SJM who hasn't been so SJM just lately gets the push for Sanson.

I love Douglas but he looks like he could do with a rest.

[PaulWinch again]

If Runarsson is playing for Arsenal today we really need to get plenty of shots on goal.

[Allan C]

Traore in for El Ghazi.  That's the only change I reckon, unless SJM who hasn't been so SJM just lately gets the push for Sanson.

I love Douglas but he looks like he could do with a rest.

I agree but I don’t think he’s gonna get it. I’m thinking Traore for AEG and possibly Sanson for Barkley (maybe after 60 mins depending on how it’s going)