Aston Villa v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar Pre-Match Thread

[ironmaidenmania]

Kamara and Diaby to be rested after their knocks, Tielemans and Ramsey in as replacements. Moreno on the left if he is fit, give Digne a night off. Carlos in at centre half, and that should still give us enough quality to win.

[Rigadon]

Kamara and Diaby to be rested after their knocks, Tielemans and Ramsey in as replacements. Moreno on the left if he is fit, give Digne a night off. Carlos in at centre half, and that should still give us enough quality to win.

The question is whether Digne would still bloody his nose even if watching from the stands.

[rougegorge]

I want us to start with a strong team especially as rotation or resting players hasn't worked well in recent times.

Our group could get close, although goal difference isn't the first thing that determines positions when teams are level on points:

1. Points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
5. Goal difference in all group matches;
6. Goals scored in all group matches;
7. Away goals scored in all group matches;
8. Wins in all group matches;
9. Away wins in all group matches;
10.Disciplinary points (direct red card = 3 points; double yellow card = 3 points; single yellow card = 1 point);
11. UEFA club coefficient.

[tomd2103]

You have to get game time in to the squad players or else there is no point in having a squad.
We are going to need them and expecting them to play at the appropriate level when needed without actually playing is unrealistic.

Yep, think the plan at the start of the season would have been to use the squad players in these games, with the expectation that they would perform.  The fact that they haven't has cost us a bit, but I think we'll still have to stick with that plan.

On the other hand, they might want to target the home games, so might go full strong.

[VillaTim]

Emery confirmed again Saturday EPL is the priority so expect the squad to be used in full again on Thursday. He'll have one eye on the Dingles game

[pauliewalnuts]

You have to get game time in to the squad players or else there is no point in having a squad.
We are going to need them and expecting them to play at the appropriate level when needed without actually playing is unrealistic.

Yep, think the plan at the start of the season would have been to use the squad players in these games, with the expectation that they would perform.  The fact that they haven't has cost us a bit, but I think we'll still have to stick with that plan.

On the other hand, they might want to target the home games, so might go full strong.

You just can not expect to not rotate when playing so many matches.

It's only just October, too, this is early days. It will get much more challenging than this.

[Duncan Shaw]

Emery confirmed again Saturday EPL is the priority so expect the squad to be used in full again on Thursday. He'll have one eye on the Dingles game

He did say after the Everton defeat Premier League and Europe were important, so maybe will rotate "less" perhaps tomorrow?

[lovejoy]

If we cant beat these with our reserves we need better reserves. We cant expect the first team to play twice a week all season or we will pay for it later in the season. I'd rest the cherished players and give the reserves another go. We lose, we lose. Much rather beat Wolves sunday.

[Ads]

Martinez

Konsa
Torres
Carlos
Moreno

Ramsey
Tielemans
McGinn
Traore

Zaniolo
Watkins

[Border villan]

Watkins could do with a rest,Duran up front as a starter?

[Bully2345]

Martinez

Cash
Carlos
Pau
Digne

Kamara (Dendoncker if injured)
Tielemans
McGinn
Ramsey

Zaniolo
Watkins

Within that, I imagine Unai will have pre-planned subs (possibly half time) to manage workload so something like

Chambers for Cash
Lenglet for Pau
Duran for Watkins
Kellyman/Traore for McGinn

Konsa has played every minute so probably needs a rest. I'd also go as strong as possible first half rather than have the first team coming off the bench to do a rescue job

[TonyD]

I think we beat Hibs to get the guaranteed revenue of 3 homes games.   But no intention of giving it 100%.  The PL is clearly the only show in town as far as they are concerned.  I hope I’m wrong and would be great to win the Euro Conf. 

[Lastfootstamper]

There's only 3 things to aim for for Europa League qualification. Win this competition, win the FA Cup, or finish 5th. That's a narrow target area. I expect us to have a right good go at all 3.

[SoccerHQ]

The most important thing is mentality.

Look at the world of difference between what Luiz put in v Everton and Brighton.

Against Brighton Doug was his usual top class self. Against Everton he couldn't pass water so I get the feeling UE probably gave the impression it was an expendable competition and the performance level for the first hour reflected that. Also experimenting with stuff like McGinn as inverted LB which obviously didn't work.

Warsaw away game we just underestimated playing a european game in hostile atmosphere and got done.

VP will be a different story with our record over last six months so it's up to the current fringe players to get focused and step up.

Dosen't say much for Tielemans if he's moaning about not starting games in international breaks and then can't dominate midfields against Bosnian teams so I'd expect him to get on the ball and make things happen tomorrow.

[coreyfeldman]

Fully expecting Ramsey to absolutely batter this lot tomorrow