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

[RamboandBruno]

I wonder what the reaction would be if Unai was to play both Watkins and Abraham with Rogers, McGinn dropping back into central midfield alongside Youri?

The one thing you can expect from Unai is to expect the unexpected. It would certainly mean Forest having to change formation from a favoured back three. More space in midfield? What ever team he selects I hope every Villa fan will support every single Villa player. I'm also wondering who is going to be our unlikely hero tonight?

Pau Torres header

[aj2k77]

The more I think on it the more he needs to play Lindelof in midfield. I can’t remember when we have played well without Kamara or Onana. Failing that move McGinn into the centre. It’s crucial we win the battles and dominate possession,

There is no situation where Lindelof playing out of position in midfield is the right choice in a Semi Final. You're over thinking it.

[AV82EC]

Definitely, it’s a mental suggestion.

[PeterWithesShin]

Energy. Atmosphere. Enthusiasm.


https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1578451943804560

[BoVillan esq]

Difficult to call, was positive last week after losing 1-0 that was easily recoverable, we probably always needed 2 goals at Villa park, problem now is the blistering form Forest are having, they are well in the groove, that in itself is not impossible but what makes it really a problem is by the same measure Villa's form has nosedived, therein lies the problem, so very difficult to call this.

Had we beat Spurs I would have had nailed on we would beat Forest, we need a fast start and an early goal because with their confidence pretty sure they will throw everything at us and equally want the early goal to silence the crowd, all this will almost certainly play out differently but here we go.

Over to the lads tonight at Villa park.

[Holy Trinity]

I've woke up today feeling like I can run through walls.

After being really down all week and being convinced we are going to fluf it once again I am now convinced we are going to smash them all over the park. I predict 4 or 5-0

[Proposition Joe]

Difficult to call, was positive last week after losing 1-0 that was easily recoverable, we probably always needed 2 goals at Villa park, problem now is the blistering form Forest are having, they are well in the groove, that in itself is not impossible but what makes it really a problem is by the same measure Villa's form has nosedived, therein lies the problem, so very difficult to call this.

Had we beat Spurs I would have had nailed on we would beat Forest, we need a fast start and an early goal because with their confidence pretty sure they will throw everything at us and equally want the early goal to silence the crowd, all this will almost certainly play out differently but here we go.

Over to the lads tonight at Villa park.

I think you're right, I expect Forest to come at us hard from the start, the risk/reward of an early goal to puncture the atmosphere and probably guarantee at worst extra time makes sense. I hope we've been doing drills this week where we go more direct.

[claret+blue ed]

It's our time, i'm sure it won't be easy, but let's get it done and have a good old party in Istanbul

UTFV

[HK Villan]

Happy to be corrected, but didn’t Lindelof play there once earlier in the season?  I don’t recall which game, and maybe he came on as a sub, but he did well. More confidence than Bogarde, who often looks panicked.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

Beginning to get nervous now. Need to try and eat a decent amount of food before tonight. Could be a long one...

[brontebilly]

If we start Bogarde in midfield tonight then Forest are heavy favourites to go through.

Will be interesting to see if Forest continue with two up top or put another body into midfield. Likely the former, Id back Luiz/McGinn/Tielemans to outplay them and at least let Anderson know he's in a game this time around.

[LeeS]

The more I think on it the more he needs to play Lindelof in midfield.

If we haven't thought it worth experimenting with that up to this point, there's absolutely no way that tonight is going to be the first time.

Not sure I agree. Previous games we’ve played haven’t been dress rehearsals for this one. They have been important games in their own right. If he ever decides he wants to play that way he’ll do it. He doesn’t have the luxury of testing formations out beforehand.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm also wondering who is going to be our unlikely hero tonight?

Pau Torres header

Good call.
I'm going for a Bogarde world class display. Tonnes of humble pie served up post match in the Warehouse.

[Dave]

The more I think on it the more he needs to play Lindelof in midfield.

If we haven't thought it worth experimenting with that up to this point, there's absolutely no way that tonight is going to be the first time.

Not sure I agree. Previous games we’ve played haven’t been dress rehearsals for this one. They have been important games in their own right. If he ever decides he wants to play that way he’ll do it. He doesn’t have the luxury of testing formations out beforehand.

He does a bit. Lindelof sat on the bench for 90 minutes while we turned 3-1 into 6-1 on aggregate with an hour to play against Bologna.

If there was ever a plan to do this, there's a nice easy chunk of a game which Onana didn't have to play to test it out, for starters.

[john2710]

On team selection, the only decision is Bogarde or Luiz & Digne or Maatsen. Everything thing else is settled. I suspect it will be Bogarde & Maatsen. I don't see any evidence he'll pick Luiz, when he's ignored him for weeks.

Sunday's selection & performance is irrelevant to the game tonight. Have Forest turned us over badly in the two games we've played in the last month? Absolutely not.

They're not world beaters.