Aston Villa vs Manchester United pre-match thread

[Bobby Boy]

Well, Manchester Utd will follow through the hole in the wall that Newcastle and Chelsea knocked down. Or at least they will try to.

If Unai faces up to the risk and has the team as a group playing deeper and being more compact to deny them space and time then we have a chance.

If he continues with the existing game plan then we will lose again.

Unfortunately, I fear that Unai is not for turning.

[Woody17]

A complete no show from Villa and another home loss, it’s what happens when we play these. Condition yourself to it so that it doesn’t spoil the end of your weekend.

[tomd2103]

Not so sure.  Both Newcastle and Chelsea dominated us in central midfield, but it's one area where we could potentially be stronger than Manchester United.

[Ads]

If a genie was to appear before me right now, then 1 of my wishes would be this. To have the chance to come on in the 89th minute on Sunday with us 5-0 up and with 8 minutes of time to be added. 8 minutes would be enough time for me to fulfil a dream of snapping that ****** Bruno Fernandes into next week. I think I'd start off with a bullying shoulder barge to floor him and then follow up with a straight through the ball, you and your ancestors scything tackle. Yellow card in this day and age. So to finish, a Tana Umaga on O'Driscoll style spear tackle. Eat that you horrible rat.

[Ads]

Newcastle didn't dominate midfield, they totally bypassed it and we had no answer.

[TaxDodger]

Surely our centre mids, all of whom are clearly extremely good players, can't be that shit again? I'm very concerned about both Lenglet and Carlos - there's clearly a massive drop off in quality from Torres and Konsa. I'm very unconvinced that Torres will be fit for Sunday.

Frankly I'd take a draw, which is an odd thing to say when playing at home to a team we're eight points ahead of, but it keeps them well behind us and would mean we'd at least be joint 4th going into a reasonably kind run of fixtures.

[VillaTim]

Set up for a 0-0 . Frustrate them and hit them on the counter. It's the only way.

[Paul.S]

We can win this but have to change what we do due to the injuries. I’d play Bailey and Diaby wide of a central midfield 3. Without Konsa and Torres we can’t let Cash or Moreno fly forward and leave the space we do behind. Neither Lenglet or Carlos have pace and to do the same as last night will lead to exactly the same result as the last 2 home games.

[ozzjim]

Newcastle didn't dominate midfield, they totally bypassed it and we had no answer.

Spot on. They just got Guimares to stick the ball behind our full backs and ran in on goal. Much like Chelsea last night. Drop them back and be hard to beat for a few games.

[London Villan]

I just can't see Emery making a massive change in the system like a 433 - which we have the player for - it just doesn't seem to be how he operates.

[pauliewalnuts]

I have a feeling this is going to be a decisive match for the rest of the season.

Unfortunately, I also have a feeling it is going to go badly, because the last two home performances have been absolutely woeful.

[Risso]

Garnacho and Rashford will fill their boots against our back four. It's not going to be pretty.

[LeeB]

We need a fast start and to get in front early, otherwise we're fucked.

[levico]

The smart money would be on us getting a right mauling on Sunday but I think that somehow Unai will devise a Plan B and we’ll grind out a narrow victory. I’m going 2-1.

[PaulWinch again]

We absolutely have to protect the back four more. The fullbacks have been terrible in the last two home games, but they’ve been left completely exposed. The midfield is neither protecting the defence, or creating coherent attack. We must, must, must get the midfield influencing the game or Garnacho will have a field day.