Aston Villa vs Chelsea pre match - March 4th 7.30pm

[Holte L2]

We can't keep persisting with Bailey, Buendia and Sancho and expecting something different to happen.
It's clear Onana and Luiz can't play together so we need to try something different in midfield.

If only we had the quality that Asensio and Rashford gave us in the Chelsea match last season!

[eamonn]

Aside from Cash, who's been eternal for us all season.

Nah.

[eamonn]

I would definitely start Maatsen, he was one of the very few, who does deserve some credit from last Friday, would also like to see Alysson come on a lot earlier, around the 70 minute mark.

And another one to tick the "show your former club what they're missing" box. Barkley, too.

Sancho, Alysson, Tammy and Barkley. If you can't do it for Villa, do it to deny Chelsea.

[brontebilly]

Without either McGinn or Mings there does not seem to be any leadership on the pitch when the going gets tough.

Was badly missing the last day. Buendia and Rogers needed to be told to chill out after about 5 minutes. Wolves were all over the place but Buendia was hyped to the max, kept fouling and giving away possession. Rogers lost focus very quickly too.

[achilles]

Can't see Emery changing his system, which has become the problem!
So yet more slow numb boring football that will see us lose unless we score a couple (at least) worldies!

[Monty]

...OK maybe we're a bit fickle.

[eamonn]

He said that we played the first half how he wanted so...yeah, expect more slow, scared shit.

[Drummond]

 I'd go radical and incur the wrath of CD.

                Martinez
      Konsa    Mings     Pau
Cash                              Maatsen
             Onana     Luiz
       Sancho               Rogers
                Abraham

Subs:
Watkins for Sancho
Alysson for Mings
Bogarde for Onana
Barkley for Luiz

Width, runners, passing ability. Can switch to a back four at any point by leaving Cash/Maatsen up as a wide player, and change that probably by Alysson for Mings. And Lindelof can replace a centre back or CM too if needed.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'd go radical and incur the wrath of CD.

                Martinez
      Konsa    Mings     Pau
Cash                              Maatsen

It was nice knowing you, Drummond.

[Paul.S]

I think we have to pack the middle of the pitch and leave it to Rogers and Abraham to try and cause havoc in front of them.
Barkley should start with Maatsen giving us some pace on the left. I’d also bring Mings back in for some leadership.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

...OK maybe we're a bit fickle.

Fans of every club the world over are fickle!

[Ads]

It might help having a team coming onto us a bit, it's been low block merchants for a while now.

I'm clinging to this faint hope.

Been ages since a had a Chelsea come onto me.

Can really see your accent changing now you've been in Italy.

[brontebilly]

I'd go radical and incur the wrath of CD.

                Martinez
      Konsa    Mings     Pau
Cash                              Maatsen
             Onana     Luiz
       Sancho               Rogers
                Abraham

Subs:
Watkins for Sancho
Alysson for Mings
Bogarde for Onana
Barkley for Luiz

Width, runners, passing ability. Can switch to a back four at any point by leaving Cash/Maatsen up as a wide player, and change that probably by Alysson for Mings. And Lindelof can replace a centre back or CM too if needed.

Little or no point playing three centre backs up against Joao Pedro who floats around anyway. You end up with Konsa and Mings on the ball far more than we want. They ran rings around Kamara/Tielemans for 60 mins earlier in the season so no chance Onana/Luiz in current structure will hold them. We will get no legs or energy with playing Barkley or Sancho at 10.

Think the below might be our best bet. Rogers to drop into a midfield four out of possession with Alysson a bit higher up. Huge ask for him to come into a game like this but I can't see Bailey or Sancho again.

Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen
Bogarde, Onana, Luiz
Alysson, Tammy, Rogers

[Demitri_C]

Cole and james fot for them. Cucrella and estavao may also be back.

Wonderful

[dorsetvillian]

I think Bogarde deserves a start. The Onana Dougie is just not working.