Aston Villa (0) vs Nottm Forest (1) - EL SF 2nd leg pre match

[Stu]

There is no doubt whatsoever that Gibbs-White will be fit.

100%

[Crown Hill]

He has to solve the problem of lacking a defensive midfielder or we cede the midfield to Anderson.

Struggling to find a decent performance without Kamara or Onana.

So I think my solution would be Lindelof to win duels and then play it simple.

I’d also play Maatsen for his attacking instincts.

[john2710]

I'm indifferent to whether Gibbs-White plays or not. Because there's no way he's putting in a performance with that injury.

If we pull off a victory, it'll be one to remember.

[RamboandBruno]

There's no way we're going to go with some wacky players out of natural position game plan in a European Semi Final 2nd leg with a deficit of only 1 goal. It's not panic stations, we don't need to throw Forest off or ourselves for that matter. Have a bit of faith with the team and plans that have got us this far in the first place.

Nailed it.

Emi
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Digne
Youri
DL
McGinn
Buendia
Rogers
Watkins

This team.
There is no way Unai is dicking about now with defenders in midfield and centre backs at right back for the first time all season.

Until this minute I have been trying to disengage all day and enter a zen mode, just too much nervous energy when I start to think about it.

[Jane]

It's mine and Stu's wedding anniversary tomorrow and we met at a Villa match. That's got to be a lucky omen, surely!?

[Sexual Ealing]

Congratulations and everything but that's like pissing in the gods' blue WKD at a charity function for lame foxes.

[Jane]

Haha - very true!

Edit: It was pretty much tongue in cheek btw

[Halfway to Moseley]

Just had a flick through the forest forum. They seem very confident, bordering on cocky. I hope their team feels the same way.

We have a tendency to pull a performance out of the bag when least expected - that gives me some hope.

[Martyn Smith]

Not beaten us at home since October 1994. Lost all 4 since they came up with an aggregate score of 12-4.

Oh wow yes I remember that game. We were a few mins late getting into the ground and heard the roar from the away end when they won a penalty and another when it was dispatched. Then they got a second. I don't remember us doing anything other than labouring badly, especially Deano.

That was really the last time they beat us at home? Wowsers. BFR was still (just) in charge and I was just about to marry Wife #1. Been with Wife #3 for close on 16 years now. That's how long ago that was...

[Sexual Ealing]

Not beaten us at home since October 1994. Lost all 4 since they came up with an aggregate score of 12-4.

Thanks for this.

[Clark W Griswold]

There's no way we're going to go with some wacky players out of natural position game plan in a European Semi Final 2nd leg with a deficit of only 1 goal. It's not panic stations, we don't need to throw Forest off or ourselves for that matter. Have a bit of faith with the team and plans that have got us this far in the first place.

Nailed it.

Emi
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Digne
Youri
DL
McGinn
Buendia
Rogers
Watkins

This team.
There is no way Unai is dicking about now with defenders in midfield and centre backs at right back for the first time all season.

Until this minute I have been trying to disengage all day and enter a zen mode, just too much nervous energy when I start to think about it.

Think I'd go
Martinez
Cash
Digne
Konsa
Torres
Mcginn
Tielemans
Maatsen
Rogers
Sancho
Watkins

Tielemans class and McGinns engine in the centre, Maatsen left attack, Rogers centre and unfortunately the one duffer in Sancho who at least doesn't keep giving the ball away. Could change it at some point, Luiz for Sancho and push McGinn to the right but I'd like to see this...

[Toronto Villa]

There is no doubt whatsoever that Gibbs-White will be fit.

And that he will score with a bullet header and as we search for an equalizer clear one of the line with his head.

[rob_bridge]

There is no doubt whatsoever that Gibbs-White will be fit.

And that he will score with a bullet header and as we search for an equalizer clear one of the line with his head.

And look like Terry Butcher 1989 to boot

[TonyD]

I’d play Linderlof in defensive midfield. 
He has always been solid there when needed. 

[Beard82]

I have such weried feelings about this game - I cant think of another game I felt quite like this.   I have had varying degrees of nerves and excitiment for games - but never this sense of dread. 

Its like having a big work pitch for a contract you know your unlikely to get but really need to pay the bills.  At the same time you know if you go in with a defeatist attitude, you def wont get it.  But then if you psych yourself up and really go for it dare to believe you just know it will hurt more when the likely outcome happens.

Fuck it - better to risk it then die wondering - UTV