Aston Villa v Everton Match Thread

[ASHTONVILLA]

Weird bench too, a gazillion defenders on it. At least with Bailey, Buendia and Archer we have some options when it inevitably doesn't work.

[Axl Rose]

A boring lineup.

Please play your best players, Gerrard. Jesus Christ

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Everton’s formation doesn’t look overly expensive, giving us the initiative to play on the front foot but have we got the guile to break them down?

[Flamingo Lane]

So in the match predictor on the club website I had predicted Bailey to score our first goal of the game (and indeed our only goal of the game) after 17 minutes. Best go and see if I can now edit that prediction.

Update: no, I can't.

[Villafirst]

What sort of team selection is that? The standout performer Bailey, in pre-season is dropped after one game. How on earth is he going to get fully match sharp? Buendia should also be in the starting lineup. Not confident at all.

[gpbarr]

Cue “you don’t know what your doing”

[PhilVill]

I think with that line up, they better win otherwise he will be under intense pressure two games in, maybe he wants off and wants to make sure there's a pay off? Anyway, really hope they click and a full house gets a performance it deserves. Phil C is obviously untouchable whereas Bailey can join the rest of the talent who get a small sniff and then bombed off

[DB]

Only half the bars open in the upper Trinity, queues are huge...and sweaty.

[Villa Lew]

Very tough on Buendia and Bailey, looking forward to seeing Kamara.

[Risso]

So the solution as to whether to play Bailey and Buendia together is to play neither. Great.

[djbone]

Clueless starting 11. Starting to feel very roll the dice, Bruce-ball style. Prove me wrong Villa!

[brontebilly]

Given that Everton play 3 CBs, the two up front sort of makes sense here

I'm not a fan of Watkins/Ings as a pair but for the reason above it might not be a bad shout today against an Everton trio playing together for the first time. Ings won't last more than 55 mins anyway so always option to change it. Playing a genuine 10 is also a positive, though PC is ahead of EB on reputation only.

Not a fan of that midfield three but they can't be as bad again. Playing our strongest CB against these again is a logical decision. Maybe player/coach have had to swallow their pride during the week, if so that's a positive. Sanson not on the bench is nonsense but that aside it's a much better balanced team than last week.

[Lastfootstamper]

That team has all the pace and artistic craft of a cluster of colour blind hedgehogs…..in a bag.

Watkins AND Ings? Doing precisely what we've done eighteen times before is exactly the last thing they'll expect us to do this time!

[Nelly]

Not a great midfield, Ramsay and McGinn have been off colour for ages now. Coutinho can be invisible and WatkIngs don't play well together. Or haven't yet. I don't see why you wouldn't give Sanson a few games. And everyone knows why Buendia never gets a start.

Hard not to be a cynical about the lineup, but I still hope we win handsomely, as always.

[ozzjim]

This is his fall back,  stick Watkins and Ings in and hope for the best.