Aston Villa vs Sheffield United Pre-Match

[LeeB]

But where is St Stephen? You guessed it! In a box.

Deep and crisp and eaten (by worms)

[OCD]

Their fans know how shite they are and have given in already, they are expecting a cricket score.

I just hope Emery has spent enough time on this one rather than focusing on Old Trafford.

This is Emery we're talking about.

[Hookeysmith]

Looks like we're getting some tacky pre-match coldplay light show with our mobile phones or something?! If only we could get an effin signal within half a mile of Villa Park?!

Jesus Christ, why not hand out vuvuzelas & those plastic happy clapping contraptions while we are at it? 🤨

A) We have an American at the helm of all things customer service etc - so no surprising they are trying to introduce razzamataz into the game "experience" - bet it will not be long that the players enter the pitch by running through a banner like in college NFL in US

B) We have a potentially a new and much younger fanbase looking to be associated with us - i am in and around the family areas at the ground and the kids certainly love all the smoke, fire and flashing lights stuff. I still shit myself when the CO2 things go off right next to me.

The height of sophistication for us oldies at a game was having pepper on our Bovril - times and tastes change (not always for the better)

[Legion]

Prefer that to those bongo cams from a few years back.

[brontebilly]

An early goal for us would surely be decisive.

Agreed, they come out of their shell and we will crucify them on the counter I think. Need Bailey to start. Good few selection decisions for Emery, dependent somewhat on Tielemans and Torres fitness. Might be best trying to play Ramsey into form but I think Emery will stick McGinn on left to squeeze Bailey in on the right plus one of Diaby or even Duran in from the start.

------------------Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres/Lenglet, Moreno
-------------Luiz, Donk
McGinn------------------Ramsey
-------Bailey, Watkins

[usav]

Not Donk.  He's alright to bring on for the last 20, not to be starting.

[brontebilly]

Not Donk.  He's alright to bring on for the last 20, not to be starting.

He should be ok next to Luiz, just needs to give him the ball at every opportunity. I don't like McGinn or Tielemans in there, Tielemans was awful there v Bournemouth.

[Nev]

Looks like we're getting some tacky pre-match coldplay light show with our mobile phones or something?! If only we could get an effin signal within half a mile of Villa Park?!

Jesus Christ, why not hand out vuvuzelas & those plastic happy clapping contraptions while we are at it? 🤨

A) We have an American at the helm of all things customer service etc - so no surprising they are trying to introduce razzamataz into the game "experience" - bet it will not be long that the players enter the pitch by running through a banner like in college NFL in US

B) We have a potentially a new and much younger fanbase looking to be associated with us - i am in and around the family areas at the ground and the kids certainly love all the smoke, fire and flashing lights stuff. I still shit myself when the CO2 things go off right next to me.

The height of sophistication for us oldies at a game was having pepper on our Bovril - times and tastes change (not always for the better)

I don't mind any of that, it's not meant for me and I don't see it anyway, my arse touches my seat as the game kicks off. I do like those light shows at our ground and others where they flash the LED floodlights in broad daylight. Ace.

[RamboandBruno]

An early goal for us would surely be decisive.

Agreed, they come out of their shell and we will crucify them on the counter I think. Need Bailey to start. Good few selection decisions for Emery, dependent somewhat on Tielemans and Torres fitness. Might be best trying to play Ramsey into form but I think Emery will stick McGinn on left to squeeze Bailey in on the right plus one of Diaby or even Duran in from the start.

------------------Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres/Lenglet, Moreno
-------------Luiz, Donk
McGinn------------------Ramsey
-------Bailey, Watkins

Think I pretty much agree with this team, other than possibly Digne for Moreno then Moreno starting at Old Trafford

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

I wonder how long it will be in the rematch build up and commentary before we hear " of course Villa would have been relegated if the goal line technology had failed? 

I'll go out on a limb and say they're better than that. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a compromise though...mentioning that it's a rematch of the first game played after football returned following Covid.

Obviously the Blues forum will go on about how lucky we are and that we should have gone down etc etc.

THAT goal was that one we should have been given against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (Lansbury?) in injury time in that season! That's one hill in my life I will die on...

[Monty]

You never know which Donk you're going to get. He's been pretty good sometimes, especially Newcastle at home last year when he was tremendous, but other times he's properly floundered. You'd hope you can trust him against Sheffield United - but then, you'd also hope Luiz and Tielemans would dominate against them too, so we'll see.

Hopefully we'll be in a position to make a few changes, rest a few ahead of Man Utd, maybe give players like Diaby and Zan a few more minutes for getting into form.

[Risso]

I think I'd go:

Martinez

Cash Konsa Torres/Carlos Digne

Bailey Luiz McGinn Moreno

Diaby Watkins

If we're going to try full backs out wide, I reckon Moreno would be miles better at it than Cash, and he'd have a proper full back behind him so would have to do less donkey work.

[Monty]

Oh I'd be resting one of Moreno and Digne so that the other is fresh for Man Utd. Also that's really a midfield four with two wingers, definitely not how we play.

[Risso]

Oh I'd be resting one of Moreno and Digne so that the other is fresh for Man Utd. Also that's really a midfield four with two wingers, definitely not how we play.

Not sure either of them really need a rest. I think Sheffield United is the sort of game where we really need to go at them, but happy to drop Diaby and play Tielemans instead if he's fit.

[Monty]

Oh I'd be resting one of Moreno and Digne so that the other is fresh for Man Utd. Also that's really a midfield four with two wingers, definitely not how we play.

Not sure either of them really need a rest. I think Sheffield United is the sort of game where we really need to go at them, but happy to drop Diaby and play Tielemans instead if he's fit.

Or Bailey, depending on how his fitness is.