Aston Villa (3) v Bologna 1909 (1) Pre Match

[Dave]

They couldn't blow Forest away. And we're loads better than Forest.

[RamboandBruno]

They couldn't blow Forest away. And we're loads better than Forest.

Apart from at their gaff

[Nev]

Despite the fact that we are 3-1 up I can guarantee there will be plenty of impatient calls for us to be "quicker" and "play it forward" from the stands (at Villa Park).

Control and not using unnecessary effort is where Emery comes from and it will be the same on Thursday and I will be happy to relax and watch the game played out with us maintaining our advantage throughout. It will be more fractious on Sunday where we need to win the game from the off.

An early goal for them will set off the nervous ninnies, which is all of us of course, and I think they'll score, but so will we.

1-1

[shipscat]

Cash got booked in the first leg-Do they tally up and will he miss the first leg of the semi if he picks another up? I'd have a tiny bit of an eye on Sunday and probably bench Rogers, Watkins and Mcginn- A plan B if required.

[The Edge]

They couldn't blow Forest away. And we're loads better than Forest.

We couldn't blow Forest away either

[Mister E]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?

[LeeB]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?

I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.

[Dave]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?

I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.

I think it's to do with the lack of a decent attacking outlet on the right. Konsa there in 23/24 was with the good version of Bailey ahead of him and I think a big part of Bailey's good season was having Konsa behind him, so there was little to no defensive responsibility. We had a defensive defender and an attacking attacker. With Cash and McGinn we have two who do a bit of both. McGinn tucks in with Cash providing the width, but with McGinn in the side you can't make Konsa do what Cash does.

I guess the counter-argument might have been that when McGinn was out, that was the time to stick Konsa there and just tell Bailey or Sancho to run at their full-back and not bother coming back because Konsa isn't coming forward.

[brontebilly]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?

I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.

Really? Matty Cash isn't far off our player of the season. Thought we could have tried it at Old Trafford alright, Bogarde struggled and Konsa was diabolical.

[Dave]

Cash got booked in the first leg-Do they tally up and will he miss the first leg of the semi if he picks another up? I'd have a tiny bit of an eye on Sunday and probably bench Rogers, Watkins and Mcginn- A plan B if required.

Townley reporting:

Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Matty Cash, Lucas Digne and Victor Lindelof would miss a potential Europa League semi-final first leg if they receive a booking on Thursday night.

I'd look at something like:

Bizot

Bogarde
Lindelof
Pau
Maatsen

Douglas Luiz
Onana
Tielemans
Buendia

Bailey
Abraham

Sancho in for Bailey if he's fit enough.

[Ads]

Rest Rogers, McGinn, Cash and have Maatsen over Digne for width.

Emi, Dougie and Bogarde for the others

[Hookeysmith]

Rest Rogers, McGinn, Cash and have Maatsen over Digne for width.

Emi, Dougie and Bogarde for the others

Would not even consider Bogarde at RB against Rowe - if he makes a change it has to be Konsa who can just muscle him about. A couple of "robust" challenges and Rowe will shrivel.

If Sancho fit - play him instead of SJM

If Konsa is to stop Rowe then we need some forward pace on the left so play Maatsen.

I am not sure Allyson is even in the Euro squad never mind being fit

[Ads]

Bogarde is fine defensively, he is just where Villa attacks go to die.

Sancho rubbing his hair with both arms and appears to be in full training. Would have him start wide, Dougie into the middle, Youri into 10 for control, Emi to be a pest. Absolutely no Bailey.

[LeeB]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?

I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.

Really? Matty Cash isn't far off our player of the season. Thought we could have tried it at Old Trafford alright, Bogarde struggled and Konsa was diabolical.

No I agree, just when he's been unavailable or to give him a breather.

[brontebilly]

Bogarde is fine defensively, he is just where Villa attacks go to die.

Sancho rubbing his hair with both arms and appears to be in full training. Would have him start wide, Dougie into the middle, Youri into 10 for control, Emi to be a pest. Absolutely no Bailey.

Konsa at RB has same issue but physically might be better able for Rowe.

I've a funny feeling Bailey might start. If he can't be trusted at home in a tie we are two goals to the good then he's done.