Aston Villa vs Manchester United pre-match thread

[The Edge]

I predict a draw. 2-2 with us taking a 2-0 lead and their equaliser coming in the 18th minute of stoppage time.

[Mellin]

I predict a draw. 2-2 with us taking a 2-0 lead and their equaliser coming in the 18th minute of stoppage time.

Would make a nice change.

[Skerra]

Rambo, I know what you mean about the patient build up but, the last few games has taken it to a whole different level. With Martinez having one of the highest touched of the ball in a match, I think that tells us something. Earlier in the season it was a slow and then quick balls to attack. Now, the attacking quick ball seems to have disappeared. Even when we’re losing, with 20 minutes to go, we seem to spend half of that time passing between our defenders and goalkeeper with each player looking to play it backwards with not much thought of a quick forward ball. By the time one of our players decides to play it forwards our attackers are all marked so very difficult for them to find space.

[KevinGage]

It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed.

I'd like to see a bit more high octane football at times and to certainly start a bit quicker.

But nine wins at home already this season and a run of 15 in a row in the league suggests that they definitely can be arsed.

We're clearly playing to instruction; keeping possession until we work a gap and trying to exploit it with the pace of Watkins, Bailey or Diaby.

Our overall record for the best part of a year suggests we are quite good at it.

We've been hamstrung recently with the loss of two defensive rocks that were better at covering if the ball went in behind.

[Villa Lew]

Bailey's a key player, if he finds his A game, then that improves our chances greatly.

[edgysatsuma89]

It’s very difficult for us as fans to be really raucous when the team is playing at slower than walking pace, offering nothing to get excited about and, generally looking as if most of the players can’t be arsed.

We're clearly playing to instruction; keeping possession until we work a gap and trying to exploit it with the pace of Watkins, Bailey or Diaby.

But how do you exploit them with pace if we've slowed the game down enough for them to get back in position and set themselves? I mean he his plan has clearly worked for most of the season but I'm not sure utilising Diaby's pace is something we have really done much of.

[waynejames]

A decent 2-2 with no VAR crap going on will do me.....
Keep them off our tails with that points gap, then we push on the rest of the season for 4th
Watkins 2  Shit Freddie Mercury and a n other for Newton Heath in the 21st min of 'their time'
How this lot are so high up the table with that goal difference is unreal......they have been shite most of the season

[JUAN PABLO]

theres only one claret and blue team getting smashed today .

[tomd2103]

Win would be great, but a draw wouldn't be the worst result and it would take us back up to 4th.

I do expect a reaction today from the disappointment of midweek.

[AV84]

We'll score an early goal that gets ruled out on review and then we'll fall apart. 0-3 to them.

[tomd2103]

Looking at their team, I think they'll be looking to get the ball wide as quickly as possible and get at our full-backs.

If Bailey is going to play in his usual wide position, it will be interesting to see who will be in the no.10 position.  McGinn maybe?