Aston Villa v Chelsea Pre match

[Brend'Watkins]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

[Smithy]

If Gerrard is going to keep this job, it's games like this that will turn it in his favour with the fans.  It's all well and good getting a few points from the teams around us, but until we actually go out and beat the champions league teams, there will always be noises about him not being good enough.  And right now those noises are pretty bloody loud.

Personally, I think it's too late for him now, it's just a matter of 'when' not 'if', but a win against Chelsea would almost guarantee he's here until after the World Cup.  Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening.  Here's hoping they score less than four, and we score more than none.

[Risso]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

[Smithy]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

Agreed, for all the dirge we've seen in the last couple of months, that match wasn't part of it.

[TheTimVilla]

If I was Gerrard, I'd be setting up something like this:

            Martinez

Cash   Konsa       Mings     Young

Luiz        Chambers/Dedoncker

Buendia/Bailey       Ramsey/McGinn       Coutinho/Buendia

                   Ings/Watkins

Basically a 4-2-3-1 with the three behind the striker given more licence to attack without as much responsibility for defending as well. I think I'd start Ings over Watkins. Watkins has been in dire form, and Ings is a completely useless sub so reverse the roles for a few games. Any combination of Buendia/McGinn/Ramsey/Bailey/Coutinho you like.

Pretty much the formation I would play. The 2 DMs able to cover our full backs going forward and making us harder to play through.

[London Villan]

He has shown no intention of playing 4231 sadly. Which is crackers.

[PaulTheVillan]

Stroll in the park for them.

0-4

[darren woolley]

I really really want us to win but I just can't see it.

[Toronto Villa]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

Which makes you realize we actually do have players that can play to a very high level and makes you wonder why the fuck we don’t try and play like that against every team. Instead he very intentionally sets us up to slow the game down, play deep and hoof the ball long to a forward you can’t hold on to it and has no support around him. It’s bizarre. We knocked it around quite nicely against one of the top teams in the world. Yet the other night we couldn’t find a way to beat the top team in Nottingham.

[ChicagoLion]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

So why he didn’t build on that performance I have no idea.

[Nev]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

So why he didn’t build on that performance I have no idea.

Because it happened despite him, not because of him. I was as thrilled as anyone with the performance and the endeavour and left the ground buzzing but in the days after had the nagging feeling it was a one off.

[Goldenballs]

A battling 1-1 with the crowd bang up for it. Just enough to keep his head above water for a little while longer.

Unless they get a couple of early goals. Then it could all turn rather sour.

[Cliftonville Villlain]

A very vocal Villa Park crowd to start the game and an even more vocal Villa Park crowd after the game. Second-half collapse.

[Risso]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

So why he didn’t build on that performance I have no idea.

I think part of it is down to the opposition. Man City don't set up ultra defensively, so in the 30% of the match when you have got the ball, you can hurt them, which we did. Our problem is breaking teams down. Southampton were ultra defensive and shit and we struggled but managed to get one in. Leeds first half we were OK, but after the sending off they kept everybody behind the ball for the rest of the match. Forest did that from the word go. When faced with a static wall of opposition, our players have no idea whatsoever, and just end up passing it sideways and back before hoofing it forwards.

I'm hoping that bizarrely we'll do better against Chelsea because they'll come to play. Probably a forlorn hope, but you've got to hang your hat on something.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

So why he didn’t build on that performance I have no idea.

He said "sometimes you just have to be pragmatic."
I reckon being pragmatic for EVERY game would be a pretty good idea.