WakefieldVillan

Home game - check Rivals - check Sell out - check Chance of progression - check I think it's a perfect draw to be honest, they will be away in Bratislava the Thursday night, then they face the Toon on the Sunday before our game on the Tuesday or Wednesday night, no way will they be fielding the big guns and our squad players have shown that we are more than capable of producing decent performances and much like the tie with Brighton I really fancy us under the lights with a big crowd of reaching the quarters. The rest of the draw is favourable too. Two potential big hitters will be gone. Not going to lie.. I can smell the

Absolutely buzzing to be through to the next round, some people may not have given a shit, but thankfully our manager did. Great team selection, great move bringing on Jack to kill the game and confidence is now high going into Saturday's important game. Who's to say we cant stay up and have a trip to Wembley?! A bit of luck in the draw and you never know! I fancy us to win on Saturday! Happy days!

I am not necessarily disagreeing with you here and am more than happy with that midfield 3 starting tomorrow, but since our away game at Palace prior to tomorrow's fixture, they will have played twice in 25 days, they really shouldn't be knackered! Maybe with McGinn it's the amount of running he does, Nakamba 2 games in, adjusting to the league ETC, but (probably for another thread) aren't footballers mollycoddled! Us average footballers will do a 9 hour shift at work then go straight for a game then, repeat week-in-week-out! Anyway, I like the team above, just feel that the game is important for building momentum & confidence.

Not sure if you are on the wind up but I have responded nevertheless. UTV

I feel the mindset of the players could be a factor too, it shouldn't happen at this level (or any level really) but when an opposing team go down to 10 men, certain players may feel that they don't have to work as hard whilst the team going down to 10 know that they have to dig in that little bit more and just that slight decrease in work-rate can have a big effect, especially against the top teams. That said, and as others have alluded to, I don't think we are patient enough when we are with a man advantage, key to breaking teams down, is to keep the ball moving, retain possession, drag opposition players out of position, tire them out and then hopefully execute some chances.

Winning games breeds confidence and it gives the "squad players" a perfect opportunity to stake a claim for a starting place on Saturday, I for one hope we are bang at it on Wednesday night. In the Championship we were playing 3 games in 7 days quite regularly therefore fitness shouldn't really be an issue, particularly coming off the back of an International break - that said I am more than happy resting a few as we have more than capable players who should be chomping at the bit! I would be more than happy with either @Keyblade or @Czechlad's team above to be honest, I think on paper we should be good enough, however I have seen us many times go out with a whimper in these cup competitions and I really would like this year for us to have a decent cup run. We're ASTON VILLA FC, 7 FA Cups, 5 league cups ETC, it's been far too long since our last success (play off aside), let's change the mentality, it doesn't have to be lose tomorrow / win Saturday, how's about WIN tomorrow WIN Saturday, what a week that would be heading into the fixture with Norwich.

Obviously Saturday is more important than this one, but imagine what a boost of confidence it would give us to get a victory here, on our travels, against a premier league rival - it would do us the world of good. I think it is a perfect opportunity to try a different system, give some fringe players game time and still remain competitive. I would go 4-2-3-1 and line up with; Steer Guilbert Konsa Mings Targett Luiz Lansbury Jota Grealish Hourihane Davis Subs; Heaton, Elmo, Engels, Hause, Trezeguet, Wesley, Archer Fancy us to win this one - 1-3!

Any talk what so ever of sacking Smith is absolutely mind blowing, it really is, thankfully I think our owners aren't that stupid. We all knew that this season was going to be tough and I think even the most ardent supporter would have taken a 17th place finish come the end of the season, so I really don't get all the dejection after what, six games?! Unless we lose 10 on the spin and he completely loses the dressing room would I then contemplate sacking him, but that is not going to happen, we are competing, we have been in contention in each game and there are positives to take for sure. Don't get me wrong, he has made mistakes (I'm sure he's aware of this), he's not flawless, but who is? Klopp? Guardiola? Let's bring one of them in shall we. End of the day, he's one of our own, he is a positive person, he talks a good game, he won us promotion with a 10 game winning streak and one of the main reasons we got promoted last season was due to the players, management and fans all being together and the only way we will stay in this league and progress is for us fans to get behind them again - (to be fair, at the games we are doing that and it is a pleasure to see, long may it continue). I have only seen highlights of the Arsenal game (couldn't find a decent stream) and it seems the biggest issue amongst fans was with us sitting back and inviting pressure - However listening to his post-match analysis it seemed that this wasn't the HT instruction, therefore I think the players have to take responsibility there as much as Smith. I think the players do need to believe in themselves a little more. Another blame was laid to the lack of substitutions which I get totally, it sounded very much like the players were absolutely knackered after 60 mins, I think this is definitely something that the head coach needs to look at, freshening things up sooner - I am sure he is regretting this now but hindsight is a wonderful thing. With a bit of luck (we have had less than most this season) a bit more guile (when we are winning, seeing out games) and a bit more doggedness (see Sheff Utd) we would be sat on about 9-10 points - I think it's been a frustrating start to the season but not a disastrous one. Some BIG home games coming up where I feel we will get some positive results

Extremely disappointing after being in the lead twice and playing against 10 men for 50 minutes, BUT... Some of the comments on the match thread are absolutely ridiculous! We are playing a top 6 side with class forwards and nobody really expected us to get 3 points today, its Arsenal away not Barnsley at home!! I get the concerns regarding Smith's in-game tactics, but he (like the players) is learning too at this higher level! We're all totally pissed off, me included, but we've come a long way under this team, they are a very likeable bunch let's get behind them rather than than some of the sh!t Wesley got in the match thread, no wonder we get labelled fickle! UTV

That's the team I would like to see at some point, but like you said it wont happen Sunday and I can see why Smith wont go changing formations just yet, we're competing ok but obviously can improve. I think the team (or even formation) above would be worth trying at Brighton in the cup. I think we would be able to get Jack and John further up the pitch and press higher, giving more support to big Wes. Anyway, Sunday, I think same team as the West Ham game but with Trez coming in for Jota. I would be shocked if we got anything from the game but usually I am wrong so fingers crossed. Head says 3 - 1 Heart says 1 - 2

Sorry but no way do we leave Jack out

Good post. I think with Nakamba having a solid debut and Luiz more settled in, and added to the fact that the wingers aren't quite "at it", I would definitely look to playing that team above (more so if or when Targett is fit) - I think it 'could' work well. Newly promoted I can see why Smith is keeping to a settled formation but Brighton away in the cup would be a perfect chance to try something different IMO.

Overall he was pretty solid, but I thought he looked the weaker of the centre halves. He had a tough battle with Haller (who looks a good player), but it was nice to keep a clean sheet and good to see a nice partnership with Engels blossoming.

Grew into the game after a couple of misplaced passes. Showed good energy levels and a very competent debut.

Pretty poor tonight to say the least and it's the home games like this where he needs to make an impact. When he receives the ball on the half way line I genuinely am not sure which team he's going to get the assist for! Rather see him off the bench or maybe playing in a more central role (4-2-3-1) and I think tonight was crying out for a 'Benrahma'.

Taking off the claret and blue specs.. oh... I think a point was probably a fair result. We had the better chances, they looked more composed on the ball. Tale of two halves for Jack, probably our best player in the first 45, possibly our worst in the second period. Slightly disappointing we got worse with the man advantage, if anything it hindered our play with them sat back and hitting us on the counter. Engels MOTM for me, had a really solid start to the season.

Realistically I would have hoped for at least 5 points after our first four games (Expected loss at Spurs, a win against Bournemouth and a point in the others), so we're 2 points off what I thought we would be, hardly catastrophic. Think we need to be aiming for 8-10 points in the next 5 and we will be doing just fine, won't be easy, but we never thought this league would be anything else. The crowd at VP as such a huge part to play. My main worry is if we go several games not picking up any points and how it will affect our confidence.

I agree... to an extent. I would still have him on the bench in away games, but not as a starter. I like him, he is a nice, intelligent footballer and can pick out some wonderful passes just think he may be a bit of a luxury away from home when we need to dig in a bit more.

This for me. Jota should not be starting away games, most of the games where we are going to be up against it and playing more counter attacking. But this is probably for the Jota thread. Will give Luiz plenty of time before judging him, but think some supporters were overrating him after 15 average minutes at Spurs. The potential is there so hope he lives up.to the hype.

Definitely nothing to fear in this game, we head here off the back of two decent victories and will have a new-found confidence. As long as we settle into the game well, with no mistakes (IE unlike Bournemouth) then I feel quite confident we can take 3 points or at least 1. I think if we get the service into Wesley he can bully their two centre halves (whether that be Cahill, Dann or Kelly) and exploit a possible lack of pace?! Would start with @wedge team, but with El Ghazi instead of Jota (purely because I feel that he offers more defensive cover on the flanks and for me that is Palace's biggest strength, whether that be with Zaha, Meyer or Townsend.

I think most people are in agreement that his strength, hold up play, the bringing of other players into the game are all strong attributes to Keinan's game with the main concern being the lack of goals. Well hopefully the one he scored last night will give him the confidence to perhaps back himself a little more and to get more goals which will be a great thing for Villa and put pressure on Wesley which is what it's all about - pressure for places.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but found it astonishing that posters wanted us to go with a full strength team tonight. Perfect team selection, perfect night barring the injury to Taggart (hopefully nothing too serious), delighted Davis got on the scoresheet, Nakamba looks a great addition, Lansbury produced two moments of real class and a great finish from Guilbert. Good fitness for the fringe players and I think the likes of Hause and Konsa needed the 90 minutes because at times we were shaky at the back. Meanwhile Crawley knock out Norwich and Crewe beat them only last week! Good night all round though, now for Palace...

I don't think anyone has said this, I think some people just think we should have enough quality with our so called "second string" to get the job done against a league two side. Whatever side we put out I would hope and expect 100% commitment.

Reading many of the comments on here it seems that it's pretty divided on whether we go with a full strength side (and take the competition seriously) or we make wholesale changes (and effectively go out with a whimper!). I really do not believe, under this current regime, that we will take this game lightly whether we make the changes or not - I may have to come back on here later tonight and eat my words, but I will be amazed if our "second string" do not get the job done if that's the route that Smith takes. I think we are all in agreement the Premier league takes priority, but don't for one minute think that we can't also have a good cup run, because no doubt about it we can. What I like about our squad at the moment is that there is good competition in each position (the way it should be) and not a "huge" amount of difference in terms of quality of performers should we alternate the starting eleven. I personally feel that picking up any injuries / suspensions to real key players (basically our spine) is, after the result, the most important thing tonight and also I feel that by not selecting the fringe players (as they currently are) it sends out the wrong signal to them and could bring disharmony to part of the group. So with all that said, (if all fit) I would go with Steer, Elmo, Konsa, Hause, Targett, El Ghazi, Nakamba, Hourihane, Lansbury, Kodjia, and Davis. Prediction 1-3.

Think you're being a tad harsh and it's easier to say after a victory but on another night they go away with a point at the very least. Although Heaton didn't have a shot to save, they had one cleared off the line, hit the post and missed a complete sitter, if that was the other way around I would be thinking "what if"... That said, Calvert-Lewin as your main striker doesn't bode well.