WakefieldVillan

Pretty much what I chose (& expected) apart from Nakamba starting (I had Ramsey) who may still get a bit of game time from the bench. Although Fulham have rested the obvious two in Cairney and Mitrovic it still looks a decent side on paper and it will be a good test and should be a good game with a few goals. (Get backing 0-0 now ). I don't think it matters personally that we've gone back to what looks a 4-3-3, it will be a much different side against Leicester and I would be amazed if we didn't return to 3 at the back for that game given the performance against Burnley, our result and performance against Leicester in the league and the way Leicester themselves set up - at least it leaves them guessing on our formation and we can become less predictable. I hope to see some improved performances from the likes of Jota, El Ghazi and Kodge!

We all know how winning breeds confidence and it would be a great boost going into the Leicester match on the back of consecutive wins. The severe injuries to Wes and Heaton have been extremely tough to take but I don't think it should deter us from competing in this one and aiming to progress into the next round, though I admit it is the last of our three priorities given the late stage we have reached in the Carabao Cup. Difficult to select a squad today without knowing the fitness of certain players but I trust Smith, Terry and co to get the right balance for this and Wednesday nights game at the King Power. I think Wednesdays semi final team needs to be stronger than today and once we get past that we can reassess fitness of the players for Man City - which is going to be an extremely tough task regardless of who starts. Dependant on fitness and any potential new signings, my team for Leicester would be (3-4-3) Nyland, Konsa, Mings, Hause, Guilbert, Luiz, Nakamba, Targett, Trezeguet, Davis, Grealish therefore today I would go (4-2-3-1) Nyland, Elmo, Engels, Chester, Taylor, Lansbury, Hourihane, Jota, Ramsey, El Ghazi, Kodjia. I think Nyland needs to start today and hopefully he can continue where he left off against Liverpool, Mings and Grealish should be nowhere near the squad and possibly Kodjia & Davis could be swapped around. I'd like to see the likes of Archer, Sulliman, Vassilev and Wright on the bench too. 1-2 villa (Hourihane, Kodjia)

Continuing the 'B' theme.. Leeds look like signing Cauley Woodrow from Barnsley, who I think is a decent player but perhaps may struggle in the Premier League. For me it's a signing that suits Leeds as they no doubt are just looking for a back up to Bamford. (I think he has a similar style). But.... what if its Bamfords replacement .. nah I know he won't be.. but I'm interested to know what peoples thoughts would be if we were in for him?! (Besides being a word removed, I actually rate him and think he would be an asset).

Let's sign all the 's Benrahma, Batshuayi, Bowen, Butland, Benteke, B......... I'd have all the above to be honest, well maybe not Christian... Still think Batshuayi is a long shot but would prefer him over Giroud (even more so with a loan to buy option) but would be happy with either. Although Butland's form has considerably dropped if we could get him on the cheap (8 to 10m?) then could be a bargain.

I was gonna post something on signings, but got sidetracked on Twitter

**** get in BIG Wes !

Fear this one will go the same way as the Sheffield United and Watford games where we could get out-worked, out-muscled and out-thought. Man for man, I believe we are at least as good as they are and we possess the best player on the pitch by some distance BUT we need to go out there and dare I say it "roll up wor sleeves"! Crucial that we have Mings back, just as much for his leadership qualities as is playing abilities. I think Kodjia or Davis (if fit) needs to start because Smith ain't doing himself any favours by sticking with Wesley. Apart from big Wes I do think Smith as a rule has been trying to play players who have done well in the previous game and omit ones that have been poor, but for whatever reason the ones that start each game are just not consistently playing well. I'd like to see either a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation to (at least) give something else a try, because the current formation is just not working and we are conceding way too many efforts on goal. Although Jack can play anywhere, with McGinn out he needs to play central. Depending on certain individuals fitness I'd go either; Heaton Konsa Engels Mings Guilbert Targett Luiz Nakamba Grealish Davis Kodjia Or; Heaton Guilbert Engels Mings Hause Luiz Nakamba Hourihane Grealish Davis Kodjia

It's my worry he's lost the dressing room. I know the masseur at Sheffield Utd, who was also at Wales, he was having a beer with Neil Taylor after the Sheffield Utd game, maybe sour grapes from Taylor (with him not playing) but he said that he thought Villa were certainties for relegation, the dressing room was split, the new foreign signings weren't arsed about the club and the positivity/camaraderie of last season just wasn't there anymore. Worrying. I think we need Mings back ASAP, for all his little mistakes this season on the field we are definitely missing his leadership qualities. I've been a big fan of Smith and he does talk a good game as others have pointed out but he's not helping himself picking the same formation week in week out and if anything our form is getting worse each week which again, is very worrying. I expected defeat today but not in the manner it came about, we really need to see a response at Burnley or the pressure will really mount.

Really want him to turn it around but I fear a sacking is just around the corner. Worryingly I have heard today that there is no team spirit the dressing room is basically shite and they are certainties for relegation!

I get the feeling some posters are actually disappointed we won that, but I will leave that there! We were fortunate today, we didn't play well collectively and Norwich can consider themselves unlucky not to have come away with at least a point. But... today was ALL about the 3 points. Nothing else really matters. Confidence is low, the pressure was on and it was never going to be a performance of free-flowing football. So what?! At least the application was there which is the bare minimum we expect but didn't get last week. Grealish MOTM again (running out of superlatives for him!) closely followed by Hause who was solid throughout - which seems an odd thing to say bearing in mind the chances Norwich created?! Heaton was very good, but made saves I would expect him to make, Konsa played well as did Conor when he came on. Great block on the line by Luiz who also worked tirelessly but needs to stop conceding needless free-kicks in dangerous areas which just invites pressure. Our weakness yet again was in wide areas, I don't like knocking our players but Trez and El Ghazi were ridiculously poor today. I really hope we get a late xmas present in a Benrahma or Bowen. Anyway, much needed 3 points. Hopefully gives us confidence to kick on again. UTV

Fair enough I didn't realise that A) Chelsea were having their transfer ban lifted in this window and that Lampard was in for another striker, which would make more sense to people suggesting Batshuayi coming to Villa. To be honest I would take either Batshuayi or Giroud on loan as I think its crucial that we strengthen in that department but I think only the latter will leave Chelsea, personally. I'm shocked by the Clarke comment to be honest, thought it was more that Bielsa didn't quite trust him in 'footballing' terms. Can't see it happening anyway, but the kids got talent and needs to be playing.

I admire your optimism but I think we have absolutely zero chance of acquiring his services. He may not be starting many games for Chelsea but he his always in the first team squad and regularly is the one that replaces Abraham late on - No way are Chelsea and Frank going to let him go. I think Giroud would be a lot more likely but I can't see that happening either. Bowen has been outstanding again this season and I could see him leaving in January, whether we would be in the market at the reported figures, again not too sure. Although reasonably happy with our signings in the summer I always felt that we needed Phillips and Maupay to really give us a good chance of staying up, in fact I think with the addition of those two alone, with the way the league is panning out, we would be in the European places right now. I think we need 3 signings in January to try avoid relegation, unfortunately we have no chance with the above mentioned, but I would get Benrahma in first (this will no doubt come at an inflated cost to Dean) failing that, how about Jack Clarke from Spurs who's not getting game time at Leeds? He ripped us apart at VP last year and I think he would be a decent alternative to our current wide players? May be the step up would be too much?! I would get JT on the phone to Frank to see if we could get Reece James in on loan too, absolute baller and could fill in for McGinn whilst he's out injured. Predominantly a RB but would add some steel that we are evidently missing?! A centre forward is a must too, I wasn't too sure at first with the Morelos links, but the more I think about it the more I think it may be a good move for us, we really need some more fire power and some more aggression to our squad and he would definitely give us this.

I advocated 3-5-2 for the Sheffield Utd game, thought with Mings out and the way the blades set up it was a perfect time to try it, this game I'm not too sure but one things for certain we need to try something or it will be another horrible day at Villa Park. Teams have completely figured out how to get at us and it is imperative that we put a stop to it with some kind of formation or personnel change. This is a massive, massive game and I think we need some experience to guide us over the line therefore I'd recall Chester and Elmohamady for this and see if we can be more solid. I'd go; Heaton Elmo Chester Konsa Targett Nakamba Luiz Grealish Jota Wesley Kodjia I think the limitations in our squad are there to see, and in the team above, but what we all want to see is more desire, more passion, more hunger and more fight, today was a bad day and we need to bounce back and show these traits because if we do I still think we are genuinely good enough to stay up! UTV

Can't wait for all the comments when we come back to win 3-2 UTV

That's the spirit! Good job our management and coaching staff don't feel like that along with the players or there would literally no point turning up! Will it be difficult? Yes. Can it be done? Damn right it can. And I am usually a glass half empty kind of guy. A narrow defeat at the King Power and a storming comeback at a packed VP under the lights with the 12th man behind us, I don't think we should write it off mate. I also think United might beat City and we have shown already we are capable of giving them a game.

Best scenario we could have hoped for I think. Just need an injury for Steptoe prior to our games to give us more of a chance

Interesting posts from this match reaction thread and probably the most split reaction I have seen our fans on how the game played out. I think the fact our keeper got 50% of the MOTM votes is quite telling to me and if (and yes I know it is a big IF) they had taken one of their early chances we could've been looking at a very different outcome. End of the day, the 2 goals settled us down and I do get we were playing within ourselves (in the second half) but overall I wasn't impressed with lots of aspects of our game, IE passing, moving, pressing off the ball ETC. I don't think one player from last night really justified a definite call up for Saturdays game against Southampton which for me was a shame as I thought they would be chomping at the bit. That said I get we made a lot of changes, some were a bit rusty and in the end it was a comfortable passage into the semi's so job done - I am sure we will field a strong team in the semi's and given a bit of luck who's to say we can't go all the way!

Great to be in the semi finals but was underwhelmed with our performance though it really must have been a strange game to play in and fair play to their youngsters they looked decent on the ball and the scoreline was harsh and but for Nyland (MOTM for me) they would have had at least one. Positives; Kodjia - although a touch rusty, may have done enough to get the nod for Saturday (his running into channels gives us another dimension). Nyland - made some great saves, fair play. He's probably earned a semi final spot. Chester - back on the pitch, good to see, but he's a bit off the first team squad yet (for me). Big Wes - Tidy finish which will do him a world of good. I know he has lots of haters. But I'm not one. And yes I know it's only a goal against youngsters. Terry/Smith - Real touch of class going into the opposition dressing room after, makes me proud of what our club is about Negatives; Sloppy in possession, no cohesion, gifted several chances, we didn't dominate midfield enough and individually thought Taylor & Trez were very poor and Jota who obviously can pick a pass is just so lightweight, thought he would stand out more tonight to be honest. UTV

Be nice to see him back out on the pitch. We just need to go out there with the right attitude and we should be fine. My boss is a Liverpool season ticket holder, follows them to the big European games and all the home games - he just discussed the likely Liverpool line up and he's only heard of THREE of the players. I hate that people seem happy to write this cup off though (even if we get passed Liverpool), personally I don't feel like it is a choice between our Premier League status or a League Cup win / final - why not both?! Sure it will be difficult with the teams that are left, but there has been plenty of shocks this season and who's to say we can't produce a couple of our own!

Was gutted we never got him in the summer and really hope we can get him in the January window but unfortunately I think the price will (still) be too much for what we are willing to pay, shame. If we stay up this season I think there is a very good possibility he will be wearing claret and blue next season, so fingers crossed

Nyland Elmo Konsa Hause Taylor Lansbury Hourihane Trez Jota Kodjia Davis (If all fit) Get the job done! UTV

I wouldn't have a problem with that either as it's usually the wide players that we have that are the most inconsistent (though currently the whole team are going through a dodgy spell). I think Smith has tried to keep the team as 'settled' as he can - which I get - but I think we need to mix it up a little from time to time.

I said pre-match we should have lined up differently and basically to match up with their formation but I knew it wouldn't happen. I am not saying it would definitely have got us a better result but for me lining up the way we did it was a banker home win and I'm shocked people are surprised by the result. This is one criticism I have with Deano is him not trying a different formation when things are currently not going to plan. I think we had the personnel to play 3-5-2 today and it may have served us better. I'd personally prefer us to try a 4-2-3-1 too. But ultimately I think the players (not the formation) need to take a look at themselves. I think a good win on Tuesday would lift the players and comes at a perfect time for me before Southampton's visit. Let's see where we are after that! For the record, talk of sacking the manager is downright embarrassing as are some of the posts on the match threads. At what point did people think this season wasn't going to be a struggle? Of course it was. Let's get behind the team or those fickle comments just get more and more accurate! UTV

To be fair the original poster does have a point, goals do change games. We had extremely good chances to go 1-0 up on a couple of occasions and with confidence lifted, the crowd behind us, the game could have been a lot different. That said, when the third went in Leicester did look a class apart.

I'm not quite sure why this thread is always bumped to the top page, probably cos of people like me chipping in but for what it's worth, my two penneth... Bruce is not the devil like some would believe and overall he did an OK job at Villa. He got the feel good factor at the club back, steadied the ship and got us winning football matches (albeit not in a particular 'attractive' way). He led us to a play off final but we ultimately came up short against a much better 'footballing' side. He obviously has good traits as a manager which currently seem to be rubbing off at Newcastle but long term I don't think he is the answer. For them. Or would have been for us. His style of play may be picking up a fair number of points so far but ultimately I very much doubt it will last. It will only get you so far. As for Smith, I think he has been pretty much spot on with every decision he has made since he arrived here. The achievement in getting us promoted was fantastic and the style of football and the desire to win EVERY game is a breath of fresh air. We are in a different league now against much superior teams and as a manager he is learning but he definitely deserves the trust and patience of ALL our support for a long time yet. I thought tactically against Leicester he got it wrong (first time I've questioned him to be honest), I think we underestimated their strengths and played way too open. I would hope that he develops a different side to our game because there are times when you need to grind out results a la Bruce and not rely on outscoring the opponent but I am confident that he is the man to do this. UTV.