WakefieldVillan

4 hours ago, Jareth said:

Think this will be a fun entertaining game - Chelsea have to win it and will come at us, and we will be relaxed and enjoying the atmos and I can see Jack being right at it. I'm going 4-4. 

200/1 Skybet, worth a quid.

I think you're right though, I can see it being a high-scoring entertaining game.

Same team that started Spurs for me, it had good balance.

31 minutes ago, rjw63 said:

We won at Leicester too

Ah yes we did, forgot about that one 

We've had three cracking away performances (& results) this season - at Arsenal (0-3), at Everton (1-2) and now at Spurs (1-2). These are the teams we need to be competing with over the next season or two and I really believe with a couple of quality additions we will do so.

Add into that, away wins at Leeds, Saints, Wolves and its been a really good season, tonight we were deserving winners and it really could (should) have been 5!

Voted Mings because I think without him we're just not the same team but McGinn was excellent as was Marvellous and the tireless Watkins. In fact right through the spine with Emi / Jack it was solid. 

The icing on the cake would have been the Carney shot nestling in off the post but what a great sight seeing our future come on and play with such maturity.

If we get the next couple of windows right then the future is definitely claret and blue

Don't think it matters what team we put out to be honest - we will only have a chance of getting something from tonight if our attitude is right.

Hoping to see a much improved performance from the Palace game, but expecting a comfortable Spurs win and the inevitable Kane w***fest.

Hopefully Mings back in for Hause (for his presence alone) and I would start Jack to give us a bit of a lift.

I'd go - Emi; Elmo, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn, Barkley; El Ghazi, Watkins, Grealish.

All nice n easy for 25 mins but as soon as they put their foot in we didn't want the battle and they ran out deserving winners.

We are definitely a team at the beach and that lies at the managers feet, but calls for him out are ridiculous despite wrong selections / subs / timing of subs ETC.

We are just too powder puff and when the referee let's lots of the niggly stuff go  for them (like today) the result is inevitable.

Hoping for a big summer window.

3 hours ago, Dante_Lockhart said:

McGinn is not a holding midfielder. If we insist on playing with one put Nakamba in who played quite well in his last few starts.

Nah he probably isn't - but I'm not sure Luiz is and he's played there numerous of times, and he sat deeper at the end of the Man Utd game when Douglas went off - albeit we were chasing the game.

I prefer McGinn further back, I think when he's on song we play well and he snuffs out the opposition better than all our other midfielders, possibly Nakamba aside (but obviously better on the ball than the latter).

I did mean to put it as a 4-2-3-1 though to be honest - with Barkley in front of SJM and Ramsey. 

                            Martinez

 Cash        Konsa            Mings        Targett

                             McGinn

                 Ramsey          Barkley

 Traore                 Davis              Grealish

If we play like we did at their place and don't get f***** over by VAR/Ref then I will be more than happy.

I think they might nick it 1-2 because it will probably take Jack a few games to get firing (EURO's!!!). 

I'd like to see a couple of the younger lads get some game time (regardless of the score).

Big game for Davis (should he start) hope he takes his chance and bullies their backline. 

When our wide players play like that we look a top 8 side easy, they both were quality tonight just behind Ollie who set the tone...

There's nothing better than 3 points, other than 3 points and a great performance.. UTFV

Cracking first half, 1-3 Villa would have been a fairer reflection of the game.

First game I've watched us play since Jack's been out where I've not missed him! 

Not been Traore's biggest fan of late, but fair play tonight, he's looked very naughty.

Only downside is the conceding of a poor goal but overall this is the Villa I ❤

5 hours ago, zab6359 said:

No chance! One of the few flair players we have on the pitch without Jack madness to drop Traore for KD. 

And I like KD!

I agree he has flair, but he has been below average (being kind) for a while now. I'm not writing him off, he's shown several glimpses of quality. But I think players should be picked on form or it sends out the wrong message. I think a front 3 of Watkins Davis and El Ghazi pose plenty of attacking threat and who knows dropping Bertrand to the bench might give him a kick up the backside he needs to start producing more.

Anyway, just my thoughts. I think Smith will play him anyway

8 hours ago, zab6359 said:

Doesn't deserve a start but deserves to come on earlier if things are going to plan.

He deserves a start over Traore for sure - and a couple of others. The problem is unless we change formation or Watkins plays wider (or Davis does) then he ain't going to play.

I am in the "we've nothing to lose" camp and we should experiment a little but I don't think it will happen and it will be the tried and tested 4-3-3.

I personally think its either Barkley or Traore as they both offer very little without the ball - And Ross actually played ok against WBA so he would get the nod for me.

So.... Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Watkins, Ramsey, McGinn, Barkley, El Ghazi, Davis.

Prediction - another Desmond.

Big Sam is such a bitter clearing in the woods.

I didn't think we were that bad and certainly deserved a point, possibly more.

A combination of silly mistakes (Konsa), poor refereeing, subs on too late, maybe is what cost us the 3 points but I don't think we played as a team who's "on the beach" just the quality and consistency is lacking at times and obviously we miss you know who. 

These hit Chelsea for 5 recently, are fighting for their lives and have a player in Pereira we should be looking at bringing to VP next summer, they're extremely physical and used a weak referee to their advantage tonight.

Anyway, we've effectively finished them off now and I'm so pleased it was the much maligned Keinan Davis. In 8 minutes he nearly had a hat-trick, things happen when he's on the pitch, wish people would cut him some slack.

Finally, Smith out calls are just nonsense BTW.

10 minutes ago, Stratvillan said:

Can any of the 7 people who voted Smith as very poor explain why?

He made the subs most people would have.

He made attacking changes.

I don't get the judgements. 

I voted poor because I think he chose the wrong starting line up and at least one wrong sub but it probably wouldn't have made an iota of difference - it was MEN vs boys

We looked so leggy/weak in midfield, literally chasing shadows all game. They are good but Leeds...

Only kidding.  

We really do make some ridiculous decisions..

HT against 10 men at any level of football

"do not do anything to get sent off" 

Cash 2 bookings in 3 mins

Ross coming onto the pitch 

"Play yourself into the game, easy couple of passes"

Ross - tries 40 yard defence splitting pass - cut out

Without wanting to be insulting (I'm gonna be) I get the impression Matty Cash isn't the brightest lad off the field either...

Oh lord it's Ross

**** idiot Cash absolutely brain dead.

1 minute ago, KenjiOgiwara said:

Trademark Deano vs 10 men. I'm off. Enjoy predictable frustration.

To be fair he's made an attacking sub we all wanted - their just so much better than us (unfortunately) 

I'd haul Luiz, put Ramsey central and Watkins coming in from wide to support Davis. 

We don't have to go gung ho a point would still be a cracking result 10 men or not. 

Oh and keep our heads. Any opportunity the ref gets to even things you just know he will. 

Yes we all know we're crap against 10 men. But against City it's a lifeline. Before that it was finishing 1-6 again. Hey, who knows it might still finish that. But I know I'd rather be facing 10. It will give our players a lift that they badly need. 

Don't get me wrong City are quality all over the field, Foden n Mahrez scare the sh1t out of our team (& us fans), but we need to do better in midfield. Only noticed Nakamba once in that half. Luiz has been dreadful and McGinn not much better (goal aside) he looks gassed! 

We are second to every ball and we look to soft. Lets get amongst them a bit. They won't want to know, days before a cup final

Now get Davis on at HT and let's rattle them 8-6

Thats red

Glad I didn't put my mortgage on it, was fully expecting AEG over Ramsey but I don't expect it changing the scoreline in any shape, way or form. 

I doubt it is but that 4 would work better in a diamond

        Nakamba

  Luiz            McGinn

          Ramsey    

With Bertrand playing behind Watkins...

Wont be tho

17 minutes ago, WooJung said:

We were brilliant against Burnley to be fair, probably best football we've played all season. Missed too many chances and concedes soft goals though and we ended up losing a game we really should have comfortably won. 

Have a terrible feeling about tonight, the prospect of playing against city with our current form and with Traore and El Ghazi on the wings is depressing and leaves virtually no. Room for hope or optimism. 

I'd almost be tempted to go 5 at the back, nakamba mcginn and Luiz holding and watkins and Davis up top to lump it up. Not gonna happen though. 

Yeah I agree we were fantastic (especially first half). I couldn't bring myself to mention this one though because I still cant believe we lost! 

Wouldn't argue with the rest of your post either!

I would however put my mortgage on a line up of Emi, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, McGinn, Luiz, Traore,  Watkins, El Ghazi.

After the last couple of days of ESL drama I feel rather apathetic about this one - We all know the outcome right?  

Looks like both teams will have their best player missing, City with KDB and us with Trez  Jack, unfortunately for us they have an abundance of world class players to step up in De Bruyne's absence whereas we have recently proved we... erm.. don't.

I think it will be either nil v 2, 3 or 4 - Depending on when City get the inevitable first and how easy or hard they go with us (*awaits gif) .

It's been 15 games since we played them at the Etihad and although we have beaten Newcastle, Saints, Arsenal, Leeds and Fulham in that time, I haven't really enjoyed any of those games - Ok the defensive fight against Arsenal was nice to see but the quality has been lacking - In fact I think the 2-0 defeat against this lot was probably our last good performance (until we got robbed!). - This just exemplifies our reliance on Grealish. 

That aside, I hope we come out fighting and try to play some decent stuff, it's a free hit but I'll be amazed if we are in the top 10 AT 10 later this evening!

I'd go with - Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Luiz, McGinn, Watkins, Davis, El Ghazi - Formation could either be used as (4-1-4-1) or (4-5-1 / 4-3-3).

UTV f*** the greedy 6!

I don't think even the most pro Keinan admirers on here think he is going to turn into prime Drogba, I think we all know he has limitations (scoring being the obvious one and crucially the most important thing as a striker) - we ALL get that. But what we are saying is that he has other attributes to his game that could give us a better chance of winning / playing better football.

I do think Smith is a fan (regardless of his lack of opportunities) but he seems adamant that we will play 4-3-3 and that Watkins is the main striker and that's that. When Grealish plays this is fine, cos he is that good he lifts us from being a relegation-battling team to a European contender but without him though this formation / team is not working so why not try something new? 

That's all a few of us are saying.

I personally would have started him yesterday let alone bring him on and yes we can say we we're a fraction away from picking up a point at Anfield (the Trez shot) and to be honest the game looked like it was peetering out for a draw but we were terrible for large parts of the game and Traore n Trez were a big reason for this. 

So frustrating because we're about 3/4 players away from being top 8 no problem (probably higher).